Page 20 of Fight (Kitsune #2)

Raine hit a few buttons on the scanner and set it aside. He picked up the note he'd set aside earlier and carefully unfolded it. He lifted both brows as he read the note.

"What?" I asked.

"It says 'You've been warned and still you dirty yourself with the Impostor. His qualifying as an enforcer won't save you now.'" Raine looked up at me, and then over at Devon. "Does this make sense to you?"

"Yeah, it does." Devon said. "I tested last week as an enforcer, pack security."

"Can I ask why?"

"So that when Nickie has to travel for pack business, I can go with her. I can serve as her bodyguard."

Raine nodded, accepting the answer. He laid the note down on the sheet of plastic and sprayed it with the same bottle he'd used on the envelope.

"This one should only have the writer's prints on it.

" He said, waiting for the chemical to react.

After a few seconds, several spots of blue showed up, and Raine looked at them all carefully.

"This isn't going to be any help, they're all smudged too badly to get an ID.

" He picked the paper up and turned it toward me. "Do you recognize the handwriting?"

I looked at the paper a moment. "No. The last note kind of looked like Brandon's handwriting, but this one doesn't, not at all.

" I felt an odd wave of relief; the threat hadn't come from my old friend.

Even if I refused to talk to him now, the idea that he would threaten me like in the note, had hurt.

Devon stepped close and pulled me against him as he looked at the note too.

"I don't recognize it either. Not that I would, but you never know." He held me tighter against him as if sensing my unease.

Raine picked up the small scanner he'd used on the envelope and tapped the screen several times.

"The prints on the envelope aren't in the system, so no help there either.

" He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, thinking.

He sat down, leaned back in his seat on the couch, and then spoke.

"I would say file a report, but other than the notes there's nothing to report.

If we file a report, we'd have to include at least the content of the notes and if possible, the notes themselves, but that would put your secret at risk.

" He watched the two of us for a moment longer.

I stood in the living room, looking at Raine, waiting for him to finish. I leaned into Devon and rubbed my cheek against the soft fabric of his shirt, inhaling his scent.

Raine's lips slowly curved, forming a slight smile. "Do you realize how often you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked.

"Rub your face against him, almost like a cat."

I scowled, thinking about it. "It's not something I’ve thought about, I just do it."

Devon brought the arm not around my waist up to pet my hair, smoothing it as he pulled me closer. "It's a kindred thing, a mate thing." He explained. "My mom does it to Dad, I find it reassuring, comforting, and she probably does too."

"Hmm," Raine said. "it's interesting." He slid forward again, and pealed the gloves off his hands, dropping them into the waste basket at the end of the sofa.

"Since we're not filing a report, I don't have to worry about contaminating evidence.

" He said softly, likely to himself. He picked up the note and ran one bare hand over the surface, closing his eyes as he touched the paper.

After a moment he opened his eyes and looked up.

"Brandon didn't write this, but whoever did knows him.

" He set the note down, and reached for the envelope and repeated the process.

"Whoever wrote the note didn't deliver it, and I don't think the kid who delivered it had any clue what it said.

He was just running the errand as a favor.

" He dropped the envelope on top of the note.

I blinked for a moment, not knowing what to say.

"So I guess asking around to find out if someone saw anyone at her door won't do any good." Devon said, drawing my attention.

Raine shook his head. "No, not really." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, as if trying to compose himself. He looked up. "Honestly, Nick, as much as I hate to admit it, there's nothing I can do here."

"So you have no complaint if I take it to Bill next?"

"I don't like it, I'll admit. But if this is a threat to you," He signaled the note on the table in front of him "you need to. He needs to know what's going on, in order to do whatever he does to keep order in the pack."

I looked at him a moment, trying to read his face.

"All right." I said, "I'll call him later. Thanks for trying." I let out a sigh and dropped my forehead against Devon's chest for a few seconds. After a moment I turned back to Raine. "Can I get you anything? Something to drink? Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"No thanks. I'd like to, but I've got to go. I'm sorry I couldn't do more." He packed the things he'd used back into his case and stood up.

"You did more than I'd hoped you could. Thanks again." I broke away from Devon to hug my brother as he went to the door.

"You take care. Whoever wrote that note isn't playing. They'll hurt you if given a chance."

"I'll be careful, I promise." I said.

"Thanks, man." Devon said behind me.

Raine nodded, and let himself out. I reminded myself to call Bill after dinner.