Page 1 of Coyote Underground (Monsters of New York #9)

No Answer

A na Sofia

“Two hours, Agent Scott. I’ve been waiting to get started for two hours. Can’t you get these guys moving any faster? At this rate, I’ll be here all night to get the clean-up finished,” I say into my phone.

Diego glares at me from inside the apartment.

Lorenzo, by his side, smirks and winks. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

I mean, sure, he’s cute, but they’re in my way.

And they know it, because I’m not being quiet.

After listening to Agent Gus Scott ramble about how the Reyes pack has the best trackers and their methods provide results, I realize I won’t win this one.

So much for making it home in time to hear about Val’s day and have dinner with her. The glance I got of the apartment was enough to tell me this won’t be an easy clean-up job. But what choice do I have? My little sister depends on me.

“I understand, sir. I’ll just have to call my sister and let her know I’ll be late.

Thank you,” I say before disconnecting the call.

I’m annoyed at how much favoritism the SRA gives to its bounty hunters, but it is a government agency, after all, and they are the ones who catch the bad guys.

I just clean up the mess so the humans don’t get upset.

I stare out the window for a minute, replaying my last conversation with my sister.

“I’m worried about how much you’re working all the time,” she’d said, meeting me in the hall of our apartment because I’d come home after midnight. Again.

“I know, Val, but I’m doing it for you. Those college classes aren’t cheap, and I don’t mind. I love you,” I’d insisted. She hugged me and went back to bed, but not before making me promise to be home in time for dinner tonight. So much for keeping that promise.

“Look, doll, you can take a break. Gimme your number, and I’ll call you when we’re done,” Lorenzo offers, walking over to me.

I jump at his voice, realizing he’s closer than I expect.

As much as I wish I could take him up on the offer, I know I can’t.

I don’t completely trust these guys, and I’m not willing to put my job on the line to find out if my gut is right.

It doesn’t matter if they star in all my dirty fantasies, I can’t give in.

“Nice try, but I’ll wait,” I insist. When I refuse, he walks away, heading back into the apartment. I hope that means he’s actually going to do his job so I can do mine.

I dial Valerie’s number and bring the phone to my ear again.

No answer. Fuck. I’ve called her six times already over the past two hours.

What is she doing that she’s not answering me?

I leave her a message, letting her know I’ll be home late because of this job.

I apologize and promise to make it up to her on my day off.

I tell myself that Val is a good kid. She gets straight A’s and is taking college classes during her senior year of high school.

I know she’s not doing anything she shouldn’t, so I don’t have to worry about her.

Except that I am worried now. And I can’t just run home to check on her.

I have to wait until these assholes get done poking around my crime scene before I can clean it up and head home.

I glance at my watch. I’ve missed lunch, bringing my total skipped meals for the day up to two.

Last night’s dinner, a PB&J after my conversation with Val, was a long time ago, and my stomach is starting to protest. When a delivery guy from Sal’s Pizzeria shows up with a large bag of food, I wonder if I’ve somehow gained a new ability.

“You call for a delivery?” the kid asks, holding the bag out to me.

I shake my head, but before I can respond, Lorenzo races out the apartment door. “I ordered those.” He thrusts a wad of cash into the kid’s hand and takes the bag from him.

“Thanks, Mister,” the kid says as he stares at the money in his hand.

It must have been a good tip, from the kid’s reaction.

With the way Lorenzo grins at me, I suspect he’s trying to show off.

Instead of being impressed, I’m annoyed that he’s ordered lunch to a crime scene while he’s supposed to be looking for clues that will lead him to the person responsible, and get them out of my way so I can do my job and head home.

I turn away from them, staring out the hallway window at the city below.

Maybe I should consider taking Val and moving out of New York City, but this is where we grew up, and it still feels like home, even without our parents.

I hear footsteps fading as the kid pads down the hall to the elevator, then I wait another minute or so, hoping Lorenzo will head back inside and leave me alone.

****

L orenzo

I smile at Ana Sofia’s back, knowing she’s waiting for me to leave.

She doesn’t see what I do. Diego won’t admit he’s interested in her, because he thinks it’s unprofessional to date people we work with, even indirectly.

I don’t care. I’ve been convinced she’s our fated mate since the day I met her.

That Omega will be ours, and no one can stop it from happening.

I’m just not sure how I can help that along.

Yet. But I’m sure I’ll figure it out soon enough.

When she finally turns around, I’m still smiling at her. I’m also holding out a sandwich from Sal’s. I’ve been around her enough to know she doesn’t take care of herself the way she should, and it bothers me. Her suspicious glare nearly makes me laugh.

“It’s not going to bite you,” I say, shaking the sandwich at her until she takes it from me. “You need to eat. I know you’re annoyed about having to wait until we’re done to get started.”

“Thanks,” she says with a little growl. I think I’m starting to get to her. With a nod, I duck back into the apartment, taking the rest of the sandwiches with me.

“Any leads yet?” I ask Diego, handing him a sandwich before tearing mine open and digging in. He glares at me, similar to the way Ana Sofia just did.

“You ordered lunch to a crime scene, while we’re working?

I don’t need to tell you how stupid that is, do I?

” Diego says, shoving the sandwich back at me.

I drop his into the bag and laugh. Most people would be cowering if their Alpha looked at them the way he’s looking at me.

I just laugh it off, because I know he’ll agree with me after I tell him why I ordered lunch.

“How else was I supposed to get her to eat?” I ask, tilting my head at the open door, so he could see that Ana Sofia had finally given in and started to peel open the sandwich I gave her.

“Fine. Ten-minute break to eat, and we do it out in the hall. We can’t corrupt the evidence.” He turns to the techs who are collecting for us. “Make sure everything is photographed and catalogued. Yell for me if you find anything odd.”

Snatching the bag from me, he storms out into the hall, stomping past Ana Sofia to sit on a bench halfway between the apartment and the elevator. Not exactly what I was planning, but I’ll have to make it work.

“Would you like to join us?” I ask her as I walk past, following my Alpha. I pass by her near enough to catch a whiff of her delicious pineapple scent. “Then you don’t have to stand up while you eat. I promise I won’t let him bite you,” I smirk.

****

A na Sofia

As much as I want to ignore the two Alphas who just walked past because they’re jerks and I’d rather eat alone, they did buy my lunch. I follow Lorenzo to the bench where Diego is just unwrapping his sandwich. Is it my imagination, or did he almost smile when I walked up?

“Where’s the other one?” I ask, wondering why Isaac isn’t with them. He’s their Beta and usually follows Diego around to keep people from annoying him. I also don’t want to let them know I notice them or even know all their names.

“Isaac? He’s busy with something else,” Diego snaps. So much for polite conversation.

“Thanks for the sandwich,” I offer before digging in and ending any further conversation attempts.

We eat in relative silence for the next ten minutes, then Diego snaps his fingers at Lorenzo and the younger Alpha jumps up from his seat, collects the trash, and tosses it into the trash can across the hall next to the elevator.

I want to call him out on how rude he’s being, but my Omega side cowers at his Alpha attitude. I don’t take shit from anyone, least of all Diego fucking Reyes. But there’s something about him today that makes me not want to be confrontational.

I mean, sure, he’s handsome, even if he’s almost old enough to be my father.

It’s not like a fifteen-year difference is really that much, but something tells me it would bother him.

I won’t admit, especially to myself, the number of nights I’ve spent fantasizing about letting him dominate me, along with his pack mates.

A thirty-year-old Omega living alone with her teenage sister needs some kind of dreams to keep her occupied, after all.

I can’t let that get to me right now. Yes, they bought me lunch.

It was kind of them, but I also see it for what it is—an attempt to placate me so they can take longer with the crime scene.

Since I’ve already called Agent Scott and he isn’t concerned, there’s nothing I can do besides settle in and wait.

After Diego and Lorenzo stroll away, I drag my bag off the floor and drop it on the bench beside me.

With a glance at the apartment door, I pull my e-reader out of my bag and check the battery.Normally, I would never sit at a job and read, but who knows how long I’ll have to wait before I can actually get to work?

Reading proves impossible, though. I can’t concentrate on the mafia romance by my favorite author, Rose Wulf, because I’m worried about my little sister. Dropping my e-reader back into my bag, I dial Val’s number again.

****

D iego

“I can’t believe you barely even spoke to her.

This was our chance to talk and get to know her a little better,” Lorenzo says.

I wish he’d stop bitching at me about this woman.

She’s nearly young enough to be my kid, but he insists she’s our fated mate.

Even if she is, this is not the time to be flirting with anyone.

We have a job to do, and I’m tired of him messing around.

We could have been done and headed home by now if it weren’t for Zo’s immature attitude.

“How do you even know she’s single? Maybe she has a pack lined up already and that’s why she barely gives you the time of day,” I say without looking at him.

I don’t share that I’ve done my own checks on Ana Sofia, and I know almost as much about her as he does.

Maybe more. I know she’s single and has taken care of her little sister since her parents died.

“Because I’ve talked to her. Come on, man. Really? You blew her off when she asked about Isaac, and she stopped talking altogether. Now I’ll never get to find out who she’s been trying to call all day,” he growls.

“She’s been calling her sister, but the kid isn’t answering. It’s surprising, because Valerie is a good girl and has never been in trouble,” I answer, not realizing I’ve just shown him my interest.

“How do you know she has a sister?” he asks, stepping in front of me and blocking me from turning away. I try to ignore him, but he refuses to move. “Seriously, D. What the hell?”

“Fuck,” I respond, closing my eyes for a moment to collect my thoughts. “Fine, Zo, I may have run a check or two after you started droning on and on about her being our fated mate, okay?”

“I knew you’d come around!” he gloats. I roll my eyes and turn back to the blood pool in the middle of the room.

I should be trying to find clues that will lead me to the person responsible for this mess, but instead, I’m hiding the fact that I’m wondering how Ana Sofia is going to clean all this up.

I’ve been struggling to focus lately on every crime scene she shows up at.

And I know it’s pissing her off, because that means it takes us longer to get our part done.

I haven’t been trying to irritate her, but it’s probably better that way. She deserves better than me.

“I never said I was coming around. I said I ran some checks. It’s not exactly the same thing as professing my undying love for an Omega who’s been through way too much for her age,” I admit. I would give anything at this point for him to shut up and let me get back to work.

“Nah, man. I know you. If you checked her out, then you’re interested. I’m right, and I know it. She’s ours. We just have to convince her, and we can’t do that if you snap at her every time she speaks to you,” he insists.

Who knows? Maybe he is right, and she is our fated mate. I’m not about to give him the satisfaction of letting him know I’m attracted to her, either way. We need to focus on this case, and debating Ana Sofia isn’t helping me build a profile.

“Look, Zo, we need to get this figured out. The profile isn’t gonna build itself.

And your girlfriend out there can’t get in here to do her job until we’re finished.

So, if you’re that interested in her, shut the fuck up and get back to work.

” I put just enough Alpha bite in my words to convince him to cooperate.