I hated myself for the weak moment. It was like my hand reached out for Aren without any conscious thought on my part, an instinctive need to touch him and know he was with me. At least he didn’t react outwardly. I just felt his large hand cover mine in silent solidarity.
Did he know that was exactly what I needed from him? It didn’t have to mean anything. Nothing about tonight changed the facts.
Seeing Sebastian reminded me of my own mistakes. His dark, handsome face brought back memories of him purring lines of poetry against my ear. He wrapped his long fingers around his coffee mug, and for a second, I could remember him touching me, filling my head with lies about love and destiny, using me to complete his mission and ruin my life. Asshole.
Under the table, Aren’s hand gave mine a squeeze and I loosened my grip on his knee. Damn it. I needed to focus.
“Severino hired a new guy to bring me in.” I lowered my voice a little. “He was carrying a Beretta with a silencer.”
Sebastian sipped his coffee like none of this surprised him. “Before we talk business I need to know why this wolf is at our table. Is he your prisoner again?”
Now Aren’s hand clamped onto mine, almost painfully, under the table, but he remained silent while I replied. “No, and why he’s here is none of your business.”
Sebastian raised a brow and lowered his mug. “I believe it is my business. I have risked plenty to help you, my sweet. I will not take risks for a wolf.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth, fighting the urge to reach across the table and slap Sebastian. “The bounty hunter Severino sent is a werewolf. Who would be better to catch a wolf than another wolf?”
I prayed Aren would stay quiet. I could explain everything later, but I needed Sebastian to buy this. The bounty hunter could’ve told Nero about my sister already, but until I was sure, I wasn’t going to chance it.
If I told Sebastian about Nadya, eventually Nero would know too.
Sebastian started to smile. “Very good point.” His eyes flicked over to Aren. “So how much is she paying you, wolf?”
“Enough,” Aren said.
I squeezed his knee, silently thanking him for playing along and focused on Sebastian. “What do you know about this werewolf on my tail?”
“The last informant that Severino sent for you got word back that you survived the attack at Lake Tahoe. We were all questioned. He suspected me, given our romantic past…” He shot a smile at Aren, which made the wolf’s entire body tense up beside me, but thankfully he didn’t take the bait. “Severino knew someone on the inside was assisting you, so he hired outside.”
“Far outside if he’s paying a werewolf,” I added.
Sebastian shrugged. “And not just any wolf.” He lowered his voice. “He went to the last member of the Lycan Squad.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sounds like a bad horror movie. Are you telling me the government has a division of the military filled with werewolves?”
Sebastian wet his lips. “There are many secrets I cannot share with even you, Beautiful One. I will tell you that when Nero began the government funded our program. There are branches of the military that even top-secret security clearance cannot reach.”
“So this guy could be working for the government and Severino?” I rubbed my forehead, fighting back the headache that was brewing.
“I don’t know that yet. Our communications are not safe right now so do not contact me through the phone or Internet. I will find you when I have more information.” He paused, glancing at Aren before he met my eyes again. “Because of the notations by the doctors in your file, my father has given the authorization to kill you. He’s not trying to retrieve you.”
My back stiffened at the realization that my infertility made my life completely worthless in the eyes of Nero. For a moment Sebastian’s features softened, all of his arrogance melting away. “If I could have made different choices I would have. I never meant for any of this to happen to you.”
“Too late for that.” I nudged Aren who took the hint and got up from the booth. Once I was on my feet, I nodded to Sebastian. “Thank you for the information.”
I turned on my heel and headed for the door. Outside, Aren popped the locks on his car and we got inside. He didn’t say a word until we pulled out of the parking lot.
“Severino is the founder of Nero, right?”
I nodded and kept my focus out the window.
“So Sebastian is the son of the head of Nero.” He bopped the steering wheel. “Perfect.”
I gave another nod, but my mind was far from the car. Between the guilt for my selfish choices and replaying Sebastian telling me that because I was unable to have children I was more valuable dead than alive, I felt like I could snap any second.
Aren touched my thigh. I turned, his gaze holding mine. “Are you all right?”
I shrugged. “Not really. I mean, I knew my life was on the line, but having it confirmed…” I bit off my words and prayed he wouldn’t push any further. My emotions swelled, but crying in front of someone was not an option.
Aren pulled up to a red light. “You didn’t tell him I was hiding your sister.”
“No. Sebastian’s father is business first, family second. They fight a lot and Sebastian’s relationship with his dad is definitely love-hate at best, but if he found out about Nadya, eventually his father would too. It would only be a matter of time.”
“I’m guessing since he hired this werewolf, he doesn’t trust his son either.”
“Sebastian is Severino’s oldest son, but he’s not the only son. He’s got to watch his back at Nero just as much as anyone else does. Maybe more.”
Aren nodded and drove through the intersection, watching the rearview mirror. I took a long slow breath, relieved as the emotional tidal wave subsided a little.
Outside, another light turned green as we approached. Aren gave the Lotus a little more gas, and my head pressed against the headrest. “Thanks for following my lead in there.”
“We’ve got to get back to Reno.”
I don’t know why I was expecting him to ask about the “notations” in my file, but the change in subjects surprised me. It took a second for my brain to shift back into gear.
“No, we can’t.” I shook my head. “It’ll lead them right to my sister.”
“No.” Aren’s gaze hardened. “It’ll lead him to my Pack. I can call Adam and have him take Lana, Nadya, and the twins out of town. One werewolf, even Special Forces, wouldn’t be a match for the group of us. We need the numbers. If this guy really is a Green Beret you and I can’t do this on our own. We’re going to need help.” Aren gripped the steering wheel tighter, every muscle in his arms contracting. “I know jaguars pride themselves on working alone, but there’s nothing stronger than a pack of werewolves. We’ll all work together and get him.”
I peered over at him, studying every line and angle of his face as he drove in silence. After all I’d done to him and his family, how could he possibly want to help me?
It had to be an act.
He pulled into the parking lot of our hotel and gave my hand a squeeze. “You’re awfully quiet over there. Are you waiting until I park to tell me to fuck off?”
Laughter bubbled out of me unexpectedly. “Am I that much of a witch?”
He parked and stared into my eyes. “I could get used to hearing you laugh.”
He kissed me then. It wasn’t the hungry, urgent kisses we shared after my shower. This time his lips caressed mine, savored them. He drew back before I was ready and whispered, “I could get used to kissing you too.”
A red-alert air horn went off in my head. I’d promised myself tonight would be a one-time-only scratch-an-itch kind of thing. We couldn’t be “getting used to” anything.