Page 13

13

BOAZ

It was Rhodes’s and Maynard’s turn to host the monthly family dinner.

I was dreading when we had to cook for my brothers, as neither Keane nor myself were great in the kitchen. Maybe we could order takeout and pretend we made it. Nah, my brothers would suss out the deception and never let me forget it.

On the way to my brother’s new house—he’d sold his luxury apartment—set back from the road, on a large piece of land and with high-tech security courtesy of Ezra, plus he’d hired armed guards, we bought wine and a potted jasmine that they could plant in the back garden. When it flowered, it’d give off an amazing scent at night.

This was Keane’s first time meeting Rhodes and their little one, Luna. Even though Rhodes was human, he and my mate were both outsiders who had been welcomed into the family and the pack through mating. I hoped they’d become friends.

“Been cuddling bunnies today?” Thiago quipped as we walked in.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

“What’s that about?” Keane asked.

“He thinks he's being funny.”

“Nah, he’s been in a meadow, skipping through the wildflowers before picking some and sniffing them as the sun kissed his cheek.” Riggs ducked, apparently expecting me to throw something at him.

But I let my wolf shine through my eyes.

“Tell me,” my mate insisted.

“Boaz was always the hard-ass brother.” Rhodes, the relative newcomer, had experienced my displeasure and wrath on our first meeting. “But now…”

“Now he’s a little pu—” Lake froze, his lips pursed.

I understood what he was going to say, but my mate was a cat, and he couldn’t say I was a pussy without offending him.

But Keane winked at me. “I love when he purrs and brushes against my legs, wanting to be fed or patted.”

My brothers glanced at one another, their eyes darting around the room.

“It's a joke, guys. Lighten up. Besides, he doesn’t purr, he meows.” My mate giggled, and after a moment's hesitation, everyone joined in.

“Please sit,” Maynard ordered.

Lake and Riggs helped bring the food out; my little brother probably figured being in the kitchen, he could sneak a taste or two.

During the meal, my mate continually checked his watch.

“You have somewhere to be, Keane?” Thiago asked as he stabbed a piece of carrot with his fork.

“Work. My new job starts today!” He was bouncing, he was so excited.

“What?” My mate had insisted he had to get a job, and he’d told me he had found one in the service industry. But to me, that was serving behind a counter in a department store or waiting tables. What was he doing at night?

“I told you, love.” He placed a hand on my thigh and squeezed. He was either signaling he wanted sex or for me to shut up. I guessed it was the latter.

I’d been so absorbed with work, a possible war, and the influx of drugs, that I hadn’t been paying attention to Keane’s job search. But now I perked up, wondering what he was doing in the late evening. Was he a valet at a high-end restaurant?

“Yes, I know.” That much was true. He had, and I’d responded that he didn’t have to work. “But tell me again exactly what you’re doing. It slipped my mind.”

“Psst, Keane.” Ezra beckoned Keane across the table. “That’s Boaz code for I have no clue because I was concentrating on something else.”

“Not true,” I protested. It was, but I didn’t want my mate thinking I didn’t listen.

“It’s the Moonbound.”

There was hushed silence at the table, with pairs of eyes on my mate and the rest on me. Anger, confusion, doubt, and anxiety flooded my mind. What was he doing there? It was a well-known haunt of gangsters, and not our kind of criminals. Bad dudes, who’d stick a knife between your ribs if you blinked wrongly. It used to be owned by a drug lord, but a consortium of high-flying businessmen took it over after he was assassinated.

Maynard handed me a glass of water. Smart guy. He understood I’d blurt out something I’d later regret. I guzzled the cool liquid and some dribbled over my chin. Thiago shoved a napkin at me. My brothers knew me so well and were trying to save me from being a total asshat.

No one said anything as they waited for me to respond. My brothers were never quiet, even when we were watching a movie, so this was an indication of how they were weighing the situation and waiting to see what I’d do.

I formatted a sentence in my head, dismissed it, and came up with another one as the seconds ticked by. Keane’s pinched expression was a sign he was worried about my reaction.

“Interesting. What do you do at the club?” Maybe he was a bartender or a bouncer. Nah, not the latter. While he was tall, he was small-boned and slim.

“I serve drinks. Is that a problem?”

“Nope!” I popped that P hard.

“Great. I have to go.” He got up and thanked Maynard and Rhodes for the meal.

I offered to drive him, but he’d already arranged a car, and it pulled up as he was saying his goodbyes. He had refused bodyguards after the incident at the dock, saying it wasn’t necessary.

“Call me when you’re done with your shift, Kitten, and I’ll pick you up.”

“Will do.” He kissed me on the cheek and jumped in the car.

I waited until the tail lights vanished down the drive and out the huge gates, and I closed the door. I should have insisted he take security with him.

“Guessing we have plans this evening.” Lake was helping clear away the dishes while Maynard brought out dessert.

“You did. You all came here,” Rhodes called from the kitchen.

“Not that, my darling.” Maynard pulled out a chair for his mate. “They’re going clubbing.”

“We definitely are, but aren’t you coming?” Riggs asked our oldest brother.

“Can I beg off? Luna isn’t sleeping well.” Maynard yawned

“No, you have to come, big bro.” Lake clapped a hand on Maynard’s shoulder. “All five of us have to be there for Boaz and Keane.”

“Are you checking up on your mate?” Rhodes gave me a piece of pie.

“You bet.”

The club was notorious for drug dealings, and I didn’t like my mate working there. Yes, it was upmarket, but the clients were sleazy, and the deals done in back rooms were not just illegal but immoral. Human trafficking being one of them, where people and money exchanged hands.

I didn’t want Keane near that. Even though he was a shifter and it was easier to escape if he was bundled into a van, I didn’t want to chance anything happening to him.

“You should go with your brothers.” Rhodes nudged his mate. “I’ll get up tonight if Luna wakes.

We waited an hour, though I couldn’t sit still. My brothers played computer games while I researched the club and the regular members.

“Boaz, stop pacing. You’ll wear a hole in the carpet.” Riggs yanked me onto the sofa, but I counted the minutes until I reckoned we could go.

Everyone piled into my car, and Maynard and Ezra fought for the front seat, just as they used to when we were kids.

“What is that noise?” There was a crunching coming from the back, and I worried.

“Lake,” my brothers shouted. Of course he’d brought a bag of corn chips.

“What if they won’t let us in?” Thiago asked as we got out of the car. “They’re very particular about their clientele.”

“Money talks, bro. You know that.”

As predicted we sailed inside after I stuffed a crisp Ben Franklin in the bouncer’s palm.

“Act normal,” I hissed as my brothers hovered around me in a half circle.

“We are.”

“On second thought, that’s a bad idea. Don’t draw attention yourselves. Spread out.”

I don’t like our mate working here . My wolf had been quiet during dinner and Keane’s reveal. But he was on edge, ready to take his fur and pounce if anyone put a hand on our mate.

I almost sneezed at the cloying scent of cologne. These mobsters really went overboard on the aftershave. But scent wasn’t the only excessive aspect of the club. Everything was gold and velvet, and the walls were lined with mirrors. Gods, the flashing lights reflecting off the mirrors would give any human a headache. A mist wafted up from the dance floor. Dry ice.

I left my brothers and wandered to the long gleaming bar. I didn’t want any alcohol, needing to keep a clear head, and the bartender raised a brow when I ordered a soda water.

It was still early and the crowds were sparse. Should have thought about that because Keane might spot one of us. But the place was huge and the lighting dim, but he’d sense me if he came close.

I leaned one elbow on the bar and scanned the room. People were dancing, talking, and roaming around, and from my position, I couldn’t see anything on the second floor.

Lake and Riggs were talking to a guy who looked familiar, and I couldn’t see Maynard, Ezra, and Thiago. My oldest bro was probably curled up in a corner fast asleep.

Taking my glass of soda, I mingled with the crowd, scanning the tables on the upper floor, but my vision was limited by the lighting, so I climbed the wide circular staircase.

But when I reached the top, I spied the VIP room tucked away at the back. And Keane, dressed in a snazzy tight-fitting suit, was chatting to… oh no. Him! He should have been in hiding and here he was in public acting as if his business hadn’t been decimated by our pack.

My hackles rose as my mate laughed at something the guy said.

Oh no! No, no. This wasn’t happening.