Awakening Kiss (Watcher's Kiss Book 4) (20 page)

“They look dangerous,” she said.

“Probably are.” He shrugged. “But I’ve never seen anyone cross Zach and his rules.”

“Good to know,” she murmured. “Aside from the scary guys, and the sex, it almost seems mellow in here.”

“Just wait. It’s still early.” He chuckled. “And it’s not a fertile season.” They rounded the edge of the dance floor, and Brenin came into view, obvious with his long blond hair and huge physique. He sat at a small table with a pretty, dark-haired woman leaning in and looking like she wanted to stake a claim on him.

Brenin spotted them and gave a chin lift to Rhys. “Dude. You’re late.”

Rhys sat across from Brenin and pulled Enza down onto his lap. “Had to get ready.” A sly grin spread across his face as he pushed Enza’s hair away from her shoulder.

“Hi, Enza,” Brenin said. He talked to her like a friend, or a sister, so casually. As if they weren’t in a werewolf bar, as if he didn’t know she had used her power earlier. Just a regular guy—who happened to make the women in here gawk and drool. “This is Kat,” he said, draping an arm over the dark-haired woman’s shoulders.

“Hi, nice to meet you.” The woman, Kat, gave a friendly smile and curled closer to Brenin. “Wow, two Lash and a Deserati. Something going on in the city today?”

Enza shrugged and looked to Rhys, who took that moment to nuzzle her neck and sift his fingers through her hair. After their time in the tunnel, even a simple gesture like that became amplified, making her hypersensitive skin spark with desire. She sighed and turned into Rhys. “Is she a wolf?”

“I heard that,” Kat said.

“Yup,” Rhys said, pulling back with a chuckle.

“Um, I’m sorry, that was probably rude.” Enza’s cheeks heated.

“No worries.” Kat’s hand dropped near Brenin’s thigh, then below the table level, and Enza tried not to stare as she moved it. She was groping him right here? “I would have thought you’d know by scent, but everything here is a bit off. Filtered through sex pheromones.”

“Standard for this place,” Brenin murmured, then grabbed Kat’s hand and pushed it behind her back as he bent to nuzzle her ear.

Rhys locked an arm around Enza’s waist and slid his other hand under her shirt, caressing her ribs, stopping just short of her breasts. She released a slow breath, trying to stay in control. This place was so weird. Everyone seemed preoccupied with sex. Was that how werewolves were?

Who cares? The irreverent thought skittered through her mind. She was sitting on Rhys’s lap. Her legs still ached from earlier, from the need to feel the hard length that she’d shamelessly rubbed on after the street festival. She shifted her position and wiggled—
there
. God, he was as turned on as she was. He groaned and his hand came down to tease the top of her ass.

“So…do we just hang out?” she whispered.

“Yup. Our presence won’t go unnoticed.” He set his talented mouth against her neck, and when he spoke, the sensation was a double shot of audible and sensory bliss. “Looks like management is heading over here right now.”

She moved to look around, but he captured her jaw and held her in place while he kissed her neck, licking, nibbling, sucking. The stubble of his chin scratched her and her eyes slid closed, despite her worry about just who was walking over here.
Trust him.

She did. Completely.

“Two Watchers,” a booming voice rumbled. “Should I be honored or ready to throw you out?”

“Don’t be an asshole, Miguel,” Kat scoffed.

Brenin assessed the wolf, seemingly unfazed by his rudeness. “It’s been a while since we’ve been to your fine establishment.”

“Save the bullshit.” Miguel folded his arms. “It’s early for you to be out on patrol, no?”

“Join us,” Rhys said, straightening but keeping one arm at Enza’s waist. “We may be able to reach a business agreement.”

Miguel grabbed a chair from the next table and whipped it around so it was backwards. He straddled it, lowering his big body and setting his arms across the chair back.

Were all supernatural men this big? From what Enza could tell in the dim light, he had olive skin and short dark hair. His eyes settled on her. “Haven’t seen you before. I’m Miguel, beta of the Chicago pack and manager of this club.”

Enza blinked. Should she shake his hand? What was proper etiquette for meeting a wolf? “Hi. It’s my first time here.”

Rhys growled.

Miguel shook his head. “Relax, demon. Not interested in your girl. Never was a fan of Deserati tails, anyway.”

Um, okay. She pressed closer to Rhys. He and Brenin acted as casual as ever, but this guy seemed like he held some kind of important wolf rank.

“Name’s Rhys, and this is Enza. That’s Brenin,” Rhys said.

“And he already knows me.” Kat grinned.

“What brings you here? I know you’re not the social type, unless it’s the solstice,” Miguel said.

“We’re looking for some individuals,” Rhys said. His tone was all business and Miguel slid him an assessing stare. “Two Deserati males.”

Miguel rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Got anything more specific?” Sarcasm filtered through his voice.

“No names. Both have dark hair, both big.”

“Lightning ability?” Miguel asked.

“Probably not. We were caught in the storm today and didn’t see them use it.”

“It was daytime. They may have been keeping it on the down low. What else?”

“We don’t have much else,” Rhys said.

“There are a lot of Deserati in the city now. You could be talking about any two out of hundreds.” Miguel frowned. “Gotta give me more than that.”

“They were willing to risk a daytime pursuit in a crowded neighborhood,” Brenin said. His fingers played in Kat’s long dark hair.

“Where?”

“Lincoln Park. Clark Street, broad fucking daylight,” Rhys said.

“Why?” Miguel leveled calculating eyes on Rhys. “What did you do to incite a pursuit?”

“Why do you think we did anything?” Rhys shot back.

“Because I know there’s more you’re not telling me.” Miguel leaned back and set his hands on his thighs. “Maybe I should leave you alone to play until your memory improves.”

Seconds ticked by. The music pounded and cat calls echoed from the dance area, but Enza didn’t dare look away from the table. Another rumble from Rhys, which vibrated in her chest. “They took an interest in Enza.”

Miguel eyed Enza, then Rhys. “Two of you against the two of them—should be a pretty even match.”

Enza swallowed against the tension. She guessed Rhys didn’t want to reveal her secret. But even she had to admit, the facts they had were pitifully lacking. Finding the courage to speak to the powerful wolf, she said. “I wasn’t interested. That was made clear, and they still gave chase.”

“Assholes,” Kat muttered.

“I’m sorry,
corazon
.” Miguel leveled dark eyes on Enza. “But we have wayward Deserati demons, as you know. Most are good, but some...” He shrugged. “Eh, the dark power can be too tempting. Money too. And I am afraid I cannot help you, not without more information.”

“Wait.” Kat leaned forward, putting space between her and Brenin for the first time. “Didn’t we have two Deserati males in here, now and then, throughout the spring? And they always kept to themselves. I mean, they never came in with others, ever.”

“Still vague, Kat,” Miguel muttered.

“Yeah, but come on. We get a lot of chatty creatures here, especially when they start drinking and getting distracted by the nymphs.”

“Did you talk to them?” Brenin asked.

“No. Not me.” Kat glanced at him, excitement creeping into her voice. “But my friend Angela.” She turned to Miguel. “You know her, right? Long blond hair, big boobs, chats with
everyone.
”

Miguel chuckled. “Yeah, I know Angela.” The name rolled off his tongue like
Ahn-hel-ah
, spoken with the hint of memory and Enza would guess, fondness.

“Okay. So, she’s part of the pack and she’s here a lot, like me,” Kat said. “And a few weeks ago, she got really drunk with two Deserati males. They were drunk too, and she said one of them was totally gone. Totally wasted.”

“Did they talk?” Rhys asked.

“No, better. They took her
home
.” Kat laid her palms down on the table as excitement tinged her voice. “She said the two dudes had a huge fight. One said they never bring girls to their place, blah, blah, blah. And the other was like, it’s just one time, who cares.”

“So we may have an address.” Brenin sifted his fingers through Kat’s tresses.

“If she can remember. Like I said, she was wasted too.” Kat dug in her purse for her phone. “Let me call her—”

“Hold on, Kat.” Miguel laid a big hand on her forearm. “Information comes at a price.”

Kat froze. “You’re right.” She sat back in her chair. “I just want us women to be able to help each other out.” She winked at Enza.

“Gotta talk to the boss first.” Miguel pushed up and stomped toward the back, to the same arched door where the kissing couple had disappeared.

“Thank you,” Enza said to Kat.

“Nothing to thank me for yet.” Kat sighed. “We trade in information, and we can’t give it freely. We’re kind of like the undercover ears and eyes, just logging it all in. You never know when something will be needed by someone.”

Enza wondered what would happen if Kat just decided to call her friend, or spill something in private. Who would know? Maybe it would get back to their leader. Some things had a way of never staying secret. She made a mental note to ask Rhys later.

“Heads up, look who’s here.” Brenin glanced over Kat’s shoulder.

A male stalked toward them, danger and authority radiating from him like a cloud. Rhys shifted her so he could stand up, but still held her close. Brenin stood as well. A frisson of unease tensed her stomach. Enza remembered the rule about no fighting, but they both looked ready to throw down if needed.

Jet black, slightly shaggy hair brushed high cheekbones as the new figure approached. He had to be as tall as Rhys and Brenin, and as big. He wore a black T-shirt that displayed biceps as big as Enza’s leg. The crowd parted as he moved, Miguel behind him. All eyes tracked him with awe and respect.

He stopped in front of Rhys. “Welcome to Morso. I’m Zach.”

C
HAPTER
21

E
NZA PRESSED CLOSE TO
R
HYS
as the tension in Morso notched higher. The brawny alpha wolf before them looked like he could tear apart anyone who looked at him the wrong way. But Rhys and Brenin didn’t move, keeping their focus on Zach.

“Name’s Rhys. This is Enza.”

“I’m Brenin.” Introductions were offered as casually as if meeting over a friendly card game.

Zach’s unusual green-gold eyes landed on Enza, knowing. “And you’re the reason these Watchers are here.”

It wasn’t a question. Chills slid down her arms at the sheer power and dominance rolling off him. Enza gulped and nodded.

“Hi, Kat.” Zach pulled the female wolf in for a hug and kiss on the cheek.

Kat retuned the kiss and embrace with a smile. “Hi.”

Brenin didn’t even blink at the sight of the woman he had been making out with suddenly kissing another guy. Did he not care, or was it a standard wolfy greeting between pack members? Another thing to ask Rhys later.

“Sit.” Zach took the chair Miguel had vacated, while the beta wolf stood nearby like a guard.

The rest of them sat, Enza once again on Rhys’s lap.

Zach studied each one of them and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Miguel told me the basics, what you told him, which was jack shit.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Rhys said.

“Two Deserati pursued you in the middle of the afternoon.” Zach spoke with the calm authority of a man who was rarely questioned. “Because of this female.” His eyes went to Enza and she blinked under his intense gaze. He wasn’t sarcastic or accusing, just summing things up in a way that made her squirm.

“That’s right. We need to find them,” Rhys said.

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Zach said evenly. “There’s a missing piece to this puzzle and I want it.”

“Some things are need-to-know,” Rhys shot back.

Miguel glared and his eyes glittered with a weird flickering light.

“That’s right. Maybe you don’t need to know anything more about these guys until you see them again. Then you can find out for yourself.”

The thought of rerunning into—or from—them again made Enza nervous. A tiny shiver crawled along her arms and, though she did her best to suppress it, the resulting goosebumps betrayed her.

She had a feeling the pack alpha missed no details, and she was right.

Zach zeroed in on Enza. “We had a storm today. I can guess why they’re interested in you, and why they risked a chase.”

Oh no. Did she still have that energy that Lisetta had mentioned? Crap. She froze as panic swirled through her.

“I trust you to keep your guesses to yourself,” Rhys growled.

“If there are rogue Deserati in the city, we need to eliminate them,” Brenin said.

“You don’t need me for that,” Zach said. “Nope. There’s a personal reason going on here. Even you, Kat. You want to help.”

“I do. Those guys sound like assholes. Why not?” Kat’s tone was level, but deferential.

Zach’s perception unnerved Enza. She did her best to relax into Rhys’s hold, but the tension hanging over the table was suffocating.

“I’ve seen them here,” Zach said.

Rhys and Brenin leaned in.

“Don’t know their names, but Kat’s right. They’re a pair, a unit. Whatever they do, they do it together and with no one else. Honestly, I’d like some details on them too.”

“So we’re a go?”

Zach turned and nodded to Miguel, who pulled out his phone and showed the screen to Rhys. “Wire transfer the amount to that account. I’m reducing my rate because I’d like to know too.”

The way the phone was tilted, Enza couldn’t see the screen, but Rhys nodded and dug out his own cell to complete the transaction.

“Thank you,” Zach murmured, and turned to Kat. “Call Angela.”

“On it.” Kat’s fingers flew over the touch screen.

Enza could only stare. Was this how things got handled in the supernatural world? It all seemed so fast and civilized. She wasn’t sure what she expected. Then again, if fighting and magic weren’t allowed in Morso, maybe this was protocol?