But after two hours, up and down both sides of Virginia Street, I hadn’t picked up on anyone following me. Maybe setting off the grenade this afternoon was all the excitement he could take for one day.
The delicious scent of barbeque wafted out one of the revolving doors and lured me in. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate. My stomach grumbled, urging me toward the faux brick hostess stand.
“Welcome to Tom’s Grill.” She had a platinum-blond ponytail and a wide smile, displaying perfectly straight, bleached teeth. “How many in your party?”
I stared at the perky hostess, weighing my options. “I think I’ll take it to go.”
“No problem.” She handed me a menu, her ultra-bright smile never faltering. “Let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll get your order back to the kitchen.”
I glanced over the menu. Would Aren want food too? The thought startled me for a second. When did I start caring if he was hungry? Sweeping my hair back from my forehead, I made the quick decision to order enough for two. I could always eat the leftovers tomorrow.
Bright Smile took my menu and my order, then offered me a place in their waiting area. I sat on the red vinyl bench and pulled out my cell phone. If Aren and I were really partners in finding this guy, I needed to let him know where I was.
I searched through my contacts for his number when I caught someone moving in my peripheral vision. Glancing up, my brow creased and the hair on the back of my neck started to rise. The man waiting to my left was about six feet tall with broad shoulders and sharp, jagged features that could cut through you with just one look. I recognized him even before his silver eyes met mine. Darrien Fonthill. I hadn’t seen him since I’d helped get him booted from the police force.
“Why, if it isn’t Sasha Kincade.” He wet his thin lips as he stared at me. “Long way from New York, aren’t you?”
“I took a leave of absence.” I glanced toward the kitchen, hoping someone would call my name. The barbeque smelled heavenly, but apparently it wasn’t already cooked and waiting for to-go orders.
“I heard you had some trouble. Lost a key witness.” He tsked and shook his head. “How the mighty have fallen, huh, sugar cakes?”
I shot up from my seat. “Look, Fonthill, I didn’t take your shit when I was a rookie, and I’m sure as hell not going to take it now.”
“Still a fiery one.” He raised a brow, his nostrils flaring a little. “We woulda been good together.”
His silver eyes flashed, and a chill shot down my spine. He’d lost his badge over a sexual harassment complaint. The female officer he’d attacked was a friend of mine, and Fonthill had done much more than “harass” her. She had bruises that proved it. He was an asshole who didn’t think no meant no. I testified against him at his review hearing.
My phone rang, breaking the tension, and I turned away to answer.
“Sash, where are you?” Aren asked.
“Tom’s Grill downtown. Your meeting is done?”
“Yeah, and Sebastian sent us a message.”
I gripped the phone a little tighter. “Did he find anything out?”
They called my name behind the counter. Propping the phone on my shoulder, I paid and collected my bag of barbeque.
“Yeah, he did. I’ll be right there,” Aren said.
My eyes drifted over to Fonthill only to find him leering at me. I sighed. “I can’t stay here. I’ll meet you back at your place.”
He paused and I waited for an argument, but instead he agreed. “All right. Everything okay?”
Other than an asshole from my past trying to intimidate me?
“Yeah, it’s fine,” I said in my outside voice.
Stowing my phone in my pocket, I pushed my way past Fonthill when he stepped into my path. The brush of his body against my shoulder filled my nostrils with a familiar scent.
And it wasn’t barbeque.
Adrenaline lit up my veins. This was the man who had dug through my pack in Hollywood. The one who stole my underwear and shot at Aren and me. My bounty hunter had found me. And he was no stranger.
Slowly, I turned around, reaching for my gun with my free hand.
He gave me a menacing tight-lipped smile. “Hey, there, kitty, kitty.” He lowered his voice. “Whatcha gonna do? Shoot me dead right here?”
My mind raced. This was a bad cop. When had he become a werewolf? I needed to get a grip, stall for time. I fumbled for something to say. Keeping my voice low, I tightened my hold on the Glock. “How’s your arm?”
“You just nicked me back in LA. Losin’ your touch, Dead Eye. You had the chance for your kill shot.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t miss next time.”
He pressed his lips together until all the color drained from his mouth, his silver eyes sliding over me from head to toe. I was definitely going to need a shower when I got back.
“Once I find your sister, I won’t need to play with you anymore. They’re offering me a pretty price for your head on a platter. Then I can take baby sister and retire.”
“Bastard!” I shoved him, plowing my shoulder into his abdomen with all I had.
Fonthill tumbled backward to the ground just as Bright Smile rounded the corner. Her beaming grin faltered for a moment. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Not a problem.” I gave Fonthill a kick on my way out. “Next time I see you, you’re dead.”
I turned to go, but his growl cut through the melee of the restaurant noise. “You’re mine, bitch, and you’re gonna wish you were dead.”
I didn’t reply. I just got the hell out of there.
…
Aren met me at his front door. “Sebastian found out who Severino hired, and he is a Green Beret.”
I moved past him to set the barbeque on his kitchen counter before I dropped it. My pulse pounded in my ears. “I ran into him at Tom’s Grill.”
“What?” His gaze moved over my body. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” I started unpacking the Styrofoam boxes but finally stopped and shook my head. It was all I could do to keep my hands from shaking. “No. I’m not all right.”
“Oh, Sash.” He stepped up beside me and took my hand. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been there to back you up.”
“That’s not the problem.” I stared into his eyes, his gorgeous, intense green eyes, full of color and spirit. So different from Fonthill’s cold, soulless, silver eyes. “I know this guy. When I was a rookie cop, he started coming on to my roommate. She kept refusing him, and finally one night he stopped taking no for an answer.”
Aren held my hand a little tighter, but he didn’t interrupt.
“He beat the crap out of her, but she got away. I testified against him for her complaint, and he lost his badge. He was lucky she didn’t press criminal charges. She just wanted him gone.” I blew out a breath, trying to keep myself from allowing panic to cloud my head. “He’s like a force of nature. I don’t know if he was a werewolf back then. While I was on the force, I didn’t realize werewolves and jaguar shifters even existed. I guess it doesn’t really matter. He’s a werewolf now, and he’s a sick son of a bitch. He threatened that after he kills me he’ll collect the bounty and take off with my sister.”
I pulled my hand free and started pacing the kitchen. I couldn’t help it.
“Nadya’s safe.” Aren leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms. “He doesn’t know where she is.”
“Not yet.” I stopped for a second. “He knows who you are, and when Adam ran out with you this afternoon, he also learned you have a twin brother. It won’t take him long to put the pieces together.” Running my hand down my face, I started pacing again. “God, I’m still reeling thinking of him working for the government. Give that kind of guy Green Beret training, and well, shit.”