Ripper (Hunter #1)(56)

I had to prevaricate. “I’m meeting with my client tomorrow to go over the investigation.”

“Yeah, well, they probably don’t have anything to do with each other,” the alpha said. “I don’t know why Darren wasted his time on some prey animal when he should be finding a mate. Those deer always end up in trouble when they leave their own. Look, Vorenus, here’s the real problem. Some of my pack is talking about the fact that those two girls were known to…well, to hang out around vampires.”

“You mean they accepted money to feed the vampires.” I was beginning to realize Marcus didn’t hesitate to say things plainly when he needed to.

Joseph frowned and I could see he didn’t approve of the practice. “Yeah, that’s what I mean. Some of my people are saying that this whole thing is a subtle way of forcing us into serving the vampires. The Council is just a front.”

Marcus sat up and stared at the wolf. “That is ridiculous and you know it. Those women are not forced into anything. They choose to work. And the king has done everything he can to ensure the wolves are heard on the Council. Your leader holds a seat and a vote, and he doesn’t hesitate to bully everyone he can into making laws preferable to your kind.”

I heard the wolf growl low in his chest and Marcus stood up. It was clear the vampire didn’t intend to show the wolf any signs of submission.

“Our women whoring themselves to your kind ain’t preferable to me, Vorenus.” Joseph’s eyes turned distinctly predatory.

Marcus was smaller than the werewolf, but he held his ground even as the larger man crowded him. The lounge got quiet as though everyone was waiting and watching the two men to see if they would come to blows. Castle’s hands were twitching like Darren’s had. A need for anger management ran in the family.

“You need to back away from me, Castle.” Marcus’s accent deepened as the air became charged with the potential for violence.

“I know all about what goes on in that vampire club.” Castle didn’t follow the vampire’s advice. If anything he got closer, towering over Vorenus. “I know how you use our women. How many of our potential mates have you f*cked?”

“Several, I’m sure,” Marcus replied simply.

His fangs were out and I needed to take control of this situation. I let my hand drift up my thigh and carefully unsnapped the holster that held the .45. I palmed the gun and clicked off the safety. Gray had taught me how to use this particular gun and I hoped I remembered everything he’d said.

“Damn. Maybe my son is right. Maybe we’ve given up our pride and our souls for a bigger slice of the pie. Maybe we have sold ourselves out to the vampires.” Castle turned and gestured to me. “You like to f*ck our women so much Vorenus, maybe we should return the favor and screw some of your bitches. How would you like that, Councilman? You want to share?”

I felt the charge off Marcus and knew he was about to do something really awful. I stood quickly, quicker than the werewolf could respond to, and I shoved the barrel of the .45 against his chest.

“How about I share my toys with you, Castle?” I asked with a smile on my face. Someone had seen my illegal weapon and was running for security. Damn it, I was going to get tossed out on my ass after all, but not until the wolf and I had come to an understanding. “Tell you what, I’ll give you one of these sweet little silver bullets and we can call ourselves even. I’ll even do you the favor of lodging it firmly in your heart. Back off the vampire and I swear if you refer to me as a bitch again, nothing and no one is going to stop me from hurting you, do you understand?”

“Is there a problem, Castle?”

I looked to the doorway and saw Zack was standing there with four security guards.

“Yeah, there’s a problem, Owens,” Castle all but snarled. “Your security is lax. Marcus’s girl here’s got a gun on me. Thought this was a place of peace, but apparently any old girl can waltz in with a gun.”

Zack crossed his arms and walked into the room. He didn’t seem to be rushing to the alpha’s aid. It didn’t make sense to me. Zack wasn’t an alpha so he should have been submissive to the obvious alpha. Yet Zack stared him down. “I think you’ll find Ms. Atwood is in Quinn’s employ. It’s perfectly legal for her to have her firearm and apparently she needs it. Kelsey, you can let the wolf go. He won’t try anything.”

Marcus nodded my way and I let the gun come down to my side. Marcus quickly gripped my hand and pulled me to his side.

Castle looked me over with a grudging kind of respect. “You’re fast, girl. You sure you’re human?” I didn’t answer and the wolf turned his vitriol on the vampire again. “You tell all those vamps to watch themselves. We find out they’re hurting our daughters and the king will have a real problem on his hands.”

Castle turned and left the room.

Marcus seemed in control once more and I wondered if it bothered him I’d stepped up. Some men didn’t like a woman defending them. It struck at their pride and since Marcus was the epitome of old world, I had probably made a huge mistake trying to save him. I tried to step back, but Marcus held my hand firmly in his. I wondered if I was about to get a stern lecture on letting him handle his business when he pulled my hand to his mouth and placed a fervent kiss there.

“Dove sei stato per tutta la mia vita?” he asked, his dark eyes warm and his lips curling into a smile meant strictly for me.