Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(50)

At the front counter stood a woman who was carefully wrapping a brass candlestick. She looked their way. Her face lit up when her eyes landed on Madisyn, and she held up a finger.

Sidling up to Bracken, Madisyn leaned close and said quietly, “That’s Ingrid. Vinnie leaves the running of the store to her.”

With her vintage clothes, old-fashioned updo hairstyle, and antique jewelry, the old woman looked like she’d stepped out of another century. “I take it she knows he smuggles money in the antiques,” Bracken said in a low voice.

“She knows.”

They slowly headed down the narrow aisles, shoes clicking on the hardwood floor. Among the sounds of customers chatting and cloth rustling was the ticking of the many old clocks that hung on the walls, along with oil paintings, gilded mirrors, and carved frames. The clocks weren’t in sync with each other, and Bracken knew all the incessant ticking would drive him crazy if he worked there.

Just as they neared the counter, Ingrid came dashing around the desk and crossed to Madisyn, arms open wide. “Well hello to you.”

“Ingrid, hi.” Madisyn accepted her hug, gently patting the woman’s back.

Pulling back, Ingrid cradled her face. “It’s so good to see you. Is this your man? Oh, he’s quite a dish.”

“Yes, this is Bracken.”

The woman offered him a charming smile. “Hello there, darlin’. I’m Ingrid; it’s a pleasure to meet you. Come with me. My boys are upstairs.” She led them through a door, into a narrow hallway, and over to a thin, curved staircase. Bracken could hear deep, muffled voices even from there.

When Madisyn went to follow Ingrid up the staircase, Bracken shook his head. “Me first, baby.” If there was danger up there, he’d be standing between it and his mate. She rolled her eyes but moved aside, allowing him to pass. Reaching the top of the staircase, he found himself in a small apartment.

Standing in one of the doorways, Ingrid urged him over. “You waiting for an engraved invitation or something, darlin’?”

With Madisyn close behind him and his wolf on high alert, Bracken crossed to the old woman. Three powerfully built males were scattered around a cozy living area, and all three stood as they entered the room.

The eldest locked on Madisyn instantly, and his smile was both warm and paternal. “Maddie.”

Bracken blinked. Maddie?

She stepped into the cat’s open arms. “Hi, Vinnie.”

Resisting the territorial urge to drag his mate away from the other male, Bracken studied the Alpha. Just as his father had told him, Vinnie Devereaux looked deceptively harmless and approachable. He also seemed genuinely pleased to see Madisyn, and it was clear he was as fond of her as Ingrid was.

Vinnie gave Madisyn a quick but thorough head-to-toe scan. “Looking well.” His eyes cut to Bracken, and his smile didn’t dim even in the slightest. “And you’re Bracken Slater. I’m Vinnie. These are my sons, Tate and Luke.” He gestured at the broader of the two tall, lean males. “Tate is also my Beta. And Luke is my Head Enforcer.”

Bracken exchanged nods with each of them, sensing subtle alpha vibes wafting from both males. They might not have the position of Alpha, but either of them could lead the pride at some point.

He frowned when they both took a moment to hug Madisyn. They didn’t appear to be deliberately poking at his possessive streak, and they didn’t look at her in a way that suggested they knew her intimately, but that didn’t stop jealousy from curdling in his stomach. Or stop his wolf from baring his teeth in warning.

Ingrid clasped her hands together. “Anyone want coffee?” She took their orders and then disappeared—presumably into the kitchen.

Vinnie gestured at the sectional sofa and then seated himself in an armchair. “No Makenna today?”

“No, sorry,” said Madisyn, unsurprised when Bracken sat so close beside her that there was barely an inch of space between them. The possessive hand he splayed on her thigh was no surprise either. “She has a meeting with her uncle today.” A man whom Makenna had met only a few years ago, but they were in regular contact.

“Damn,” muttered Luke, leaning against the wall. “She’s such a pretty little thing.”

“She’s happily mated now,” Madisyn reminded him.

Lounging on the other armchair, Tate shrugged one shoulder. “A man can still look. Right, Luke?” As if to prove that, he skimmed his gaze over Madisyn.

Bracken stilled, and his wolf snarled. “Careful.” It was a lethal whisper.

Laying her hand over Bracken’s, Madisyn shook her head at Vinnie. “Your sons are shit-stirring bastards.”

The Alpha nodded, grinning. “That they are.”

She snorted at the pride in his voice. “So why did you ask me to come here?”

“First, tell me how everything’s been going in your life.” Vinnie gave her a mock frown. “You don’t visit us enough these days.”

“Like you don’t already know everything that’s worth knowing.” Madisyn was well aware that Ingrid gave him regular updates on whatever she learned through their calls or her visits to the shelter.

“I knew you were tight with the Mercury Pack and under their protection. I didn’t know Slater here was your mate. Not until I had a visit from the Maverick Clan Alpha.”