“Why would your parents be targets then?”
I shook my head. “That’s the part I’m missing. If I had a motive, I’d have something to run with.” I sighed. “I shouldn’t let it bother me. It’s not going to help us right now.”
Aren turned me around to face him, his gaze demanding mine. “One step at a time. Let’s get Fonthill first.”
“Good plan.” I walked over to my laptop and quickly opened the LexisNexis website. It was the quickest way to track down info on people since I didn’t have access to the database at the NYPD anymore. After typing in Darrien Fonthill’s name, I started scanning information.
Behind me, Aren’s cell phone rang.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Aren
My twin’s name flashed across my cell phone screen. “Hey, Adam.”
“I need to talk to you about Nadya.”
I frowned. “Everything okay?”
Sasha looked up from her laptop.
“She’s fine,” Adam said. I mouthed the words to Sasha. “Did Sasha mention anything about her sister to you? Anything more than the fact she didn’t know about werewolves and jaguars?”
I glanced over at Sasha, watching her work. “No, just that she was working on her degree to become a teacher.”
Adam was quiet for a minute and finally said, “We need to talk. Where are you?”
“We’re at the top of the Tuscany Hotel right now.”
“Okay. Meet me at Harrah’s in the main bar of the casino. That ought to make it more difficult for him to catch our scents if he’s on the prowl.”
“Will do.”
I put my phone back in my pocket. “I guess I’m meeting my brother over at Harrah’s.”
“I assume I’m not invited?”
“He didn’t say you shouldn’t join us.” He also hadn’t asked me to bring her, but I kept that to myself.
“It’s okay. I’ve got plenty to follow up on now that I have a face and a name to work with.”
Part of me couldn’t believe she was letting me off the hook. But I wasn’t stupid enough to point it out. “All right. I shouldn’t be long. I’ve got my phone if you need me.”
I bent down to kiss her, surprised by how natural it felt.
…
Adam didn’t waste any time. Our eyes met, and he walked through the people on the floor like they didn’t exist, straight over to me at the bar. He took the stool beside me, and I caught the vibe instantly that he was unsettled.
I frowned. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nadya isn’t just a human.”
Before I could laugh, the bartender sidled up and took our drink orders. I watched her leave and glanced at my brother again. “She didn’t look like an alien to me.”
Adam groaned. “You know what I’m talking about. She’s got something more. I’ve never met anyone like her before. Lana has noticed it too. It’s not just me.”
Nothing he said was making much sense. “Then lay it out for me. What’s going on?”
“She knows the babies are more than human.”
It was my turn to look unsettled. “What? How? Did someone say something to her?”
“No.” He shook his head. “The Pack thinks she’s a college student helping Lana with the twins. She’s an outsider. They’d never expose our nature to her.”
“Then how could she possibly know?”
Our drinks were delivered, and Adam took a slow sip of his beer. “I have no idea. But she does.”
“Why would you think that?”
He ran his fingers back through his hair, his eyes sweeping the restaurant. “Because she was drawing with them and she drew a wolf for Malcolm and a jaguar for Madeleine.”
“That’s it?” I picked up my rum and Coke and shrugged. “Maybe she just likes drawing animals.”
“That’s what Lana figured at first, but I think she might suspect things about us, too.”
My eyes widened as I set my glass down. “There’s no way unless someone told her. We’ve still got over a week until the full moon. She’d have no clue.”
“She’s got more than a clue, Aren.” My brother’s frustration was showing. “Dammit, I was hoping you knew something more about her.” His eyes locked on mine. “Who is this girl we took in?”
“I’m not following why you’re so upset by a couple of drawings.” I gripped my drink a little tighter.
“Lana complimented Nadya on the drawings and when she questioned why Malcolm got the wolf, Nadya said Malcolm likes them.”
“That’s it?” I started to grin. “He probably does like them. She just noticed it, that’s all.”
Adam wasn’t smiling. “He doesn’t own a single wolf toy, Aren. Not one. And he can’t talk yet, so he didn’t tell her either. None of this is a coincidence. And there’s more.”
“Like what?”
“Like she knows Lana loves pancakes for breakfast, and she asked if Gareth is mourning someone close to him.”
“Impossible. He wouldn’t tell her anything.”
Adam nodded. “He hasn’t even spoken to her yet.”
“So, she’s intuitive. Very intuitive, that’s all.” I was reaching, but what else could it be?
“Face it, Aren. Sasha’s sister is more than she lets on. This isn’t an average college student, and she’s way beyond simply being observant.” He paused and lowered his voice. “She’s gotta be psychic, Aren. And if she is, Nero might—”
“If she is, then Sasha doesn’t know about it,” I interrupted.
“I don’t buy it.”
My hackles were rising. The wolf inside of me sensed him accusing my mate, and I forced myself to take a breath and calm the storm.
“I’ll go talk to Sasha, but she would’ve said something.” I met my brother’s eyes. “If we met up somewhere, she could talk to Nadya herself. She’d be more likely to tell Sasha than us anyway.”
“It’s too dangerous. If we bring Nadya to meet with Sasha it’s a package deal for the guy who’s after them, and the Pack wouldn’t be backing us up. We’d be sitting ducks.” He took another slow swig of his beer and shook his head. “The only way to be sure we’re protected is to meet at the ranch. The Pack is guarding the property in shifts and Luke, Logan, Jason, and Jared are sleeping in the spare rooms so they can be there if anyone catches his scent.”
“What happens when they notice Sasha’s scent?” That was the million-dollar question.
“I’ll be sure they’re not inside the house.” A muscle in Adam’s cheek clenched. “We’ll need to keep it short, and you have to be certain you’re not followed.”
“We’ll be there at six p.m., before dinner. Be careful. It’s only a matter of time before he connects us and finds you. He may not need to follow us to know about the ranch.”
Adam got up from the table. “We’re ready for him.”
I got up and pulled my brother into a tight embrace. We clasped forearms and, for a minute, I forgot he was my Alpha. In that moment we were just brothers.
He stepped back and nodded. “Six o’clock.”
“See you then.”
Adam left, and I tossed a few bills on the bar. Could Sasha have been hiding Nadya’s gift from me? My mind turned over the possibilities as I took the elevator back up to our room. Why would she have been so insistent that they not tell Nadya they were werewolves if her sister would be able to sense it anyway? It didn’t add up.
Part of me hated that I was questioning her honesty. After spouting off about being partners, I felt like a heel for doubting mine.