Chapter 8
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to see a text from Ava:
We need to get in front of Liam. Now.
I clench my jaw, staring at the screen. I feel the urgency in her message through the screen. If I try to ignore it, she”ll confront him herself. Logic tells me she”d be able to handle it just fine, but my wolf fights the logic with the primal need to protect our mate.
I glance at Erik, who”s engrossed in a conversation with a few Pack members. He”d be an asset in this situation, but something holds me back. I can”t shake the feeling that I should handle this request alone. I quickly type my response.
Meet me on the street next to the strip club. 30 minutes.
As I make my way through the crowd, I feel the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me. The Pack is on edge, and the last thing we need is more conflict. But if Liam is involved in this mess, I can”t let him continue manipulating us.
I slip out of the meeting hall and into the cool night air. The forest is quiet, and the moon casts a pale glow over the trees. I take a deep breath, letting the scent of pine and damp earth ground me. I”m the Alpha, and it”s my job to protect my Pack, no matter the cost.
The strip club is a seedy dive on the outskirts of town. The neon sign flickers, casting a red glow over the parking lot. I see Ava”s truck parked near the entrance, and I feel a twinge of something I can”t quite identify. When she still lived with the Pack, I knew with certainty that I had to protect her. Except I didn”t when she needed me most, and now I know she”s trained and certified to protect herself and everyone around her. What does she need me for?
I get out of my truck and meet her by her tailgate. We make our way to the nondescript building next to the strip club. The glow of many colors from the light reflects off the dingy exterior. Unease fills me as we approach the door. I feel like I”m walking on a tightrope. Technically, this building is outside my territory, but my Pack sanctions Liam”s business. That makes this building my responsibility. However, I feel dirty as I walk in. It”s as though his underhanded business dealings taint the air in this building. How did I let this ”business” continue for so long as though I condoned it?
”That”s where Zach said he met Liam,” she says in barely more than a whisper as she indicates the door held open by a rock.
I nod as I step through the door. Inside, the building is a maze of cramped offices and storage rooms. The air is thick with the scent of cardboard and dust. This place stores an overwhelming amount of merchandise. I see everything from electronics to clothing, but only a fraction would be useful to the Blackwood Pack.
Ava scans the room, taking in every detail. She points to a hallway, and I can sense her unease. She rests her hand near her holster, clearly ready to pull her gun if anyone surprises her. For a split second, I mourn the loss of the girl who used to slide in behind me at the first sign of trouble. Her trust that I”d always protect her matched my confidence that she”d cover my back.
Memories like that only increase the anger I”m holding in check. I notice how she”s careful to keep her back close to the wall so she can easily see what”s in front of us while also keeping an eye on our back. Her training combined with her instincts makes her formidable.
The sheer amount of merchandise in this warehouse confirms that I”ve let Liam work his schemes for too long under the protection of my Pack. The Pack would never be able to use even a third of the items I see. Some of the electronics, in particular, require access to the internet. We don”t have access to the internet in the forest. He”s threatening the honor and safety of my Pack right under my nose. I slow my breathing to calm myself. I must clear my head if I”m about to confront him.
At the end of the hallway, a door stands slightly ajar. I hear voices through the opening, one of them I recognize as Liam”s. With my senses on high alert, I use my boot to open the door further and wait in the shadows for any reaction. Nothing comes.
As we cautiously enter, I see a small, cramped office filled with boxes and crates. Liam stands in the corner, his back to us. His nonchalant stance doesn”t betray any sense of surprise or unease at our presence.
”Zane,” he says as he turns toward us. A smarmy smile spreads across his face. ”To what do I owe the pleasure?”
I don”t bother with false pleasantries. ”We need to talk, Liam.”
His smile falters for a moment, but he quickly regains his composure. ”Of course. Have a seat.”
Ava and I shake our heads, unwilling to sit with our backs to the door. We are both staying close to the back wall ensuring we have a view of both Liam and the door. Ava”s hand is still carefully placed above her holstered gun.
”I”ve heard some things about your operation—”
”And you needed a police escort?” Liam raises an eyebrow toward Ava but keeps his expression carefully neutral.
”Not an escort. I have questions and Mr. Blackwood is your Alpha. CIS is required to reach out to him before questioning a member of his Pack.”
”Mr. Blackwood, is it? So, we are pretending you two are only connected by professional courtesy. Interesting. Regardless, I”m happy to help clear up any misunderstanding.”
”We”ve been investigating murders, both human and shifter.”
Liam”s eyes rake over Ava with an appraising gaze. My wolf wants to attack him for his insolence at taking the liberty to look at her with his sleazy eyes.
”That is serious,” Liam says but it”s clear he is not surprised by the revelation.
”Do you have any information?” I let the Alpha power fill my voice to remind him this isn”t a friendly chat.
For a moment, Liam hesitates, his eyes darting between Ava and me. Then he lets out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. ”I don”t know anything about these murders, I swear.”
”But?” I prompt him to continue.
”But... I have heard rumors about someone stirring up trouble between the Packs and the humans.”
”Who?” Ava demands, her voice sharp.
Liam shakes his head. ”I don”t know who, just that it”s happening. I”ve been trying to find out who—”
”Liam, my problem is that you are one of the people most likely to benefit from trouble between the Packs and the humans.”
”I wouldn”t benefit from trouble,” Liam says firmly. ”Maybe I would eventually. But I have a good business going here right now. I have no reason to jeopardize it.”
Ava”s eyes narrow as she leans forward, her gaze locked on Liam. ”So what do you benefit from, if not trouble?” she asks, her voice steady and unyielding.
Liam”s smirk falters before he recovers, his expression smooth and unreadable. ”I have... business dealings with some members of the shifter community.”
”What kind of business dealings?” I ask, my voice low and dangerous.
Liam shrugs, his eyes flicking between Ava and me. ”The kind that benefits both parties,” he says evasively.
Ava”s eyes flash with frustration. ”Cut the crap, Liam,” she snaps. ”We know you”re involved in something shady. What are you hiding?”
Liam”s smirk returns, his eyes glinting with amusement. ”I”m not hiding anything,” he says, his tone mocking. ”But a curious person could learn a lot by talking to Rowan.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of Rowan”s name. ”What does Rowan have to do with this?”
Liam”s smirk widens. ”He”s asked around about ways to earn some extra cash,” he says, his tone casual. ”I may have found him a few... opportunities.”
I clench my fists to keep from lashing out. ”What kind of opportunities?”
”The kind that involves taking advantage of certain... situations,” he says, his tone suggestive.
Ava pulls her cuffs out and takes a step toward Liam. ”Last chance. Next vague innuendo and we will take this conversation to the precinct. Because all you are doing is convincing me of one thing—you”re involved in the murders.”
Liam”s expression falters momentarily before shifting to smooth and unreadable. ”I”ve said nothing of the sort,” his tone dismissive. ”But in my business, it is important to remember dead people do not give me money or secrets. Only trouble. I don”t want trouble.”
”Then why be so vague, if you”re trying to avoid trouble?” I ask.
”Spilling the information shared with me also brings trouble,” Liam says as he sits in his desk chair. ”I gain nothing from these murders. But I can lose just as much by being labeled a snitch. I happen to like the life I”ve built here.”
I turn to Ava. ”Let”s get out of here.” Before I get through the door though, I turn back to Liam. ”If you have any involvement in these murders, I”ll revoke your membership in Blackwood Pack. That will end your business immediately. And I”ll make sure the other Packs know why I did it. You”ll have no chance to scheme your way in.”
”And when you find out I”ve done nothing?”
”If what you”ve told us helps, you”ll remain a protected member of the Blackwood Pack. Does that change anything you”ve told us?”
”Not a goddamn thing. I didn”t murder anyone. And I don”t need to bring trouble down upon myself. I want to keep what I have here just as it is.”
Without a word, I follow Ava”s path back out of the building.