Page 6 of Coyote Underground (Monsters of New York #9)

A Near Miss

D iego

As the Pack Reyes Alpha, it’s my job to make sure my pack is protected at all times.

And that includes the men who work for me but aren’t technically part of the pack.

Typically, coyote shifter packs are small because we share an Omega.

Which is why my actual pack only consists of Zo, Zac, and me.

We’ve been through a lot together, and I love those two with my entire heart.

I can’t wait until we have an Omega to share our love.

Could that be Ana Sofia? Perhaps. I know if Zo has his way, it will be. And from Zac’s reaction to her, I think he feels the same. I can’t tell them I agree, because I’m almost old enough to be her father. Why would she even want me?

No, I won’t think about claiming this Omega now. Instead, I’ll focus on finding her sister, and then we can return to whether or not this is a bad idea. I know it is, no matter how much I want her. But for now, I’ll let it go, focusing on the job at hand.

We enter The Gin Room, nodding to Dave at the door.

People lined up outside protest as we bypass the line and walk right in.

Membership has its privileges, after all.

And we’ve done enough jobs for the owners that we get special access.

It also means we have to be careful. Enough people know us here that it may be difficult to find what we’re looking for.

Tonight is about recon and collecting information. We need to find someone connected to the recent disappearances. I don’t expect them to be openly discussing it in the middle of the club. But there should be signs. As long as someone knows how to read the clues, it will be obvious.

I stalk through the main bar, past the live music, and into one of the back rooms. The seedier exchanges are completed back here, and if we’re going to find out anything, it will be in one of these rooms. I turn my attention to the conversations happening around us, motioning for Zo and Zac to do the same.

I can’t worry about Ana Sofia right now.

I have to trust Zo to keep her safe while we start our search.

****

A na Sofia

I can tell that the guys have switched to work mode, ignoring me and focusing on the task at hand.

I’m not happy with being dragged along like a plaything.

I wait until they’re all distracted and head off on my own to eavesdrop on conversations.

I know that’s what they’re doing, and even though I’m not trained or skilled in that area, I’m not going to let them do all the work.

I can help find my sister, and I’ll prove it to them.

I’m not just a pretty face to be toyed with.

This room smells different than the others.

There are more humans here. It’s not unusual for a shifter bar to have humans in it, but this particular room seems to be overrun with them.

And that does seem off to me. I turn to see where the guys are, just in case I find something and need to get to them quickly.

I don’t see any of them, and that makes me nervous.

I won’t let it deter me, though. I have to find my sister. Besides, if I get cornered by a bunch of humans, I can always shift and escape that way. I have nothing to be afraid of here, but still the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I follow that sensation to a booth near the back of the room.

It’s occupied by three men in camouflage pants and black shirts.

They look like they could be members of the same military group or organization.

Something about them feels off, though. I don’t think they’re actually military, or at the very least, not United States military.

Getting as close as I can without being seen, I listen to their conversation.

“When is the next shipment due to go out?” one asks.

Another, deeper voice responds, “Next week. We have to collect more cargo first, though.”

“How many more do they need?” the third man chimes in.

I can’t help wondering what exactly they’re talking about, but I suspect it’s the missing shifters. I don’t have any proof, and before I can move away, I see Lorenzo frantically heading toward me. He’s going to draw attention to my presence if he doesn’t slow down.

“Fifteen more. Seven days to collect and ship. It’s not going to be easy, especially with the SRA breathing down our necks,” the deep voice answers.

I gasp at the number he says, and feel their attention shift to me. The three men are out of the booth and surrounding me before I can move. “Are you spying on us?” a deep voice asks. I shake my head, trying to force my voice to work.

“You know, it’s not a good idea to hide in the shadows and listen in on conversations that don’t involve you. Unless you want to get involved here, you should mind your own business,” the third man says.

A strong hand grips my arm, and the three men exchange a look. “Fourteen more, then.” Fuck.

Before they can drag me away, Lorenzo appears in front of me, staring at the hand on my arm. “Take your hands off my Omega, now,” he orders. The three men look at him, eyes wide. None of them move. I want to scream, but still can’t get my voice to cooperate.

“This is your Omega?” the first guy asks.

“I just said she is. Now get your dirty fucking hands off of her before I rip them off of you,” Lorenzo says quietly.

Rage radiates from him, and for a moment, I think he’s going to shift and tear these guys apart.

I have to admit, it’s hot the way Lorenzo threatens the man and claims me as his own.

I wish his words were true, even if he and his pack drive me crazy at work.

“I don’t think we will,” the deep voice says. “She’s coming with us.”

Another voice breaks through. “No, she’s not. Our Omega is coming home with us,” Diego’s authoritative tone leaves no room for argument.

The three men look at each other, then from Lorenzo to Diego.

Deep Voice lunges toward Diego, falling back quickly when Diego’s fist connects with the man’s jaw.

The other two stare in disbelief. It was clear that deep voice was their leader and the toughest of them.

With him defeated, they have no hope of winning this conflict.

The man holding me immediately releases my arm, holding his hands up in surrender. “No harm, no foul. We’ll take our guy and leave. Okay?”

The glares they get from Lorenzo and Diego nearly make me laugh.

I glance down at my arm, where a hand-shaped bruise is starting to form.

I pull my sleeve down to cover it. I’m not sure how the guys will react to it, and I’m not trying to get anyone killed right now.

I just want to find my sister. And I think these guys could be the key to that.

Arms wrap around my waist and pull me out of the way as the humans grab their fallen friend and dart out the door.

I turn to see Isaac holding onto me protectively.

As soon as the threat is gone, I find my voice again.

“I think those guys were involved in my sister’s disappearance.

They were talking about a shipment next week, and needing fifteen more.

After the guy grabbed me, one of them said fourteen more.

They’re taking shifters. Please don’t let them get away. ”

I hate begging, but I feel like I have no choice. The only lead I have to find my sister is getting away. And these three are standing here staring at me as if I’ve grown a second head.

“They were going to take you, and you want to chase after them? Are you crazy, kitten?” Isaac asks, not releasing his grip on me. I throw my head back against his chest, unable to break his hold.

“Look, princess, we know how you feel. Don’t worry. They’re not getting away. Zo snuck a tracker in the guy’s pocket when I punched him. We’ll track them and find out exactly what they’re doing.” Diego’s words shock me.

“Did you know about them already?” I ask, unable to stop the question from falling out of my lips.

Diego nods. “We’ve suspected them for a while but didn’t have proof. Given they just tried to take you from a crowded bar, I think that’s all the proof we need to assume they’re part of the group responsible for the shifter disappearances lately.”

“So, what do we do? Follow them?” I ask, dying to chase after them and find a way to make them tell me where my sister is. I can’t take this, and it’s wearing me down.

“First off, we aren’t doing anything.” He gestures to them and includes me. “ We ,” he motions to the three of them, “are going to track these guys and see where they go and what they do. You are going back to the brownstone and stay safe.”

I growl at him, disagreeing with his decision.

“I can’t just sit by and wait while you guys search for her.

I need to do something.” Tears fill my eyes, and I fight to hold them back.

I don’t want to admit that as much as I want to help them find my sister, I really don’t want to be left alone.

I want to stay with them, where I feel safe.

“And you will. But right now, we need to go back to the brownstone and figure out what these guys are up to. They may not even be the ones who took your sister. We have to make sure we have the right guys, or it won’t do us any good,” Lorenzo offers.

I relax against Isaac, trying to hold back the tears, and let my fears slip out. “So, you’re not leaving me alone?” I want to pull the words back into myself the second they’re free. But I can’t.

Lorenzo looks at Isaac and Diego, smiling. Then he turns his attention back to me. “No, buttercup, we’re not leaving you alone. Never again, if I have my way.” He pulls me from Isaac’s grip, embracing me tightly. I wrap my arms around his waist, settling my head against his shoulder.

Why do these men make me feel so safe? For the second time this week, I was nearly kidnapped myself, and here I am hugging one of the men who protected me instead of breaking down.

I never realized how strong I could be until Val disappeared.

I have to find her, though. She’s not safe, and doesn’t have anyone to protect her.

In Lorenzo’s arms, I let the tears fall.

They discuss their next move, all but ignoring me as I cry against his shoulder.

It’s decided that returning to the brownstone is the best option.

They have computers to track the men, and everyone needs some rest. I don’t want to rest, but I’m exhausted.

I wonder briefly if I can get Lorenzo to stay with me tonight, so I’m not alone.

Why am I thinking about that instead of worrying where my little sister is?

I realize it’s because I trust these three men to find her.

I still want to be involved, but I trust them to find her and bring her back to me.

Something in me knows they will do everything they can to make sure she’s safe.

And they’ll do it for me. But why? I can’t spend time pondering that right now, no matter how much it weighs on me.

I have to focus on Val, and staying strong until we find her.

Lorenzo leads me to the car, and we return to their home.