Page 10 of Tossed into the Mob (The Wolves of La Luna Noir #4)

TEN

brOCK

“Your dad, Niles, is alive.”

That wasn’t right. Dad was dead. He died from a gunshot. This was a sick joke. I gulped and fisted my good hand, ready to punch Flint. His wolf might attack me, but I’d bloody his nose first. And if I broke my hand, it’d be a badge of honor.

I stared at this man who from everything I’d learned, commanded fear and respect, but not from me. He was an ass, and he was trying to trick me. The man who'd raised me was no longer among the living.

“I’m so sorry I kept it from you. It must have been hard.”

“What would you know about pain?” I raised my injured arm, though my wound was the least painful aspect of the past four days.

“Flint’s father and grandfather were assassinated,” Rudy intoned.

Shit. This guy was the head honcho, and his wolf might take my head for being insolent.

“Dad, no.” Flint held up his hand to Rudy. “This is not a pretty story, but it has a happy ending. Your dad is okay.”

He dialed a number, and when someone answered, he said, “Put him on.”

“Brock? Is that you?”

My dad’s face appeared on the screen. He was in bed and hooked up to a machine. I couldn’t speak, and my sobs drowned out what he was saying. I rubbed my fingers over the screen, wanting to feel him and hold him and never let him go. I wanted to forget I’d become involved with the mafia.

Dad gave me a thumbs-up and told me to come home. His face vanished, and a voice said Dad had to rest but he was going to be fine.

“I have to get on a plane now.”

“I’ll arrange that, but first you should hear me out.”

Flint launched into an explanation. He’d heard rumors that my alpha father had a family and had sent Riggs, one of his men, to find us. But Dad got spooked and pulled a gun, and Riggs shot him.

“Riggs thought he could fix his mistake by eliminating you.”

“He was your guy?” Treyton’s words floated back to me where he said Riggs was one of them. “That was who shot me and Dad and I killed?”

I needed to get out of this place fast. These mafia people were who they were portrayed to be. I’d grieved my dad, and my excitement at him being alive shouldn’t make me forget what I’d been through.

Flint told me he’d been informed of the incident and had gotten Dad whisked away to a shifter clinic and declared dead until he could find the would-be killer. I was supposed to be with him, but I’d vanished.

“I couldn’t admit Niles was alive until we found Riggs. But you did that for us.”

“You’re welcome,” I snapped. “You need to up your tracking game if you lost both me and Riggs, and Treyton and I escaped from the apartment complex.”

Everyone in the room, except Flint, stiffened. They’d probably never heard anyone talk like that to him. But he chuckled and agreed with me.

“But just so you know, it was more than that. He hated me because of what my father had done.”

Flint sighed, and I got up, wanting to get to the airport. I had the photo and letters, and I’d read them together with Dad.

“And my alpha father? Did one of your men kill him?”

Flint brought out a photo similar to the one on the wall at the apartment. He flipped it over and showed the list of names. One stood out: Emilio Santoro.

“Your father was my righthand man, and I trusted him with my life. He objected to me mating a human, and he conspired with others to kill me and my family. Your father and I fought as our wolves, and I killed him.”

Taking deep breaths, I yanked at my hair ‘cause the pain was a distraction from what I’d been told. “Is this what your life is? Death, near-death, treachery, and secrets? So many secrets.”

No one said anything, and I caught Treyton’s eye.

Except him. Yes, he’d fibbed to the bodyguard and tricked the person on the phone, but that was nothing.

And he’d done it all for me. Not for any personal gain.

But once he was rid of me, he could return to doing what he did best: helping omegas give birth.

“Being part of La Luna Noir is who we are. We accept the good and the bad, but ultimately, the only people we can trust are family.”

I quirked a brow. “Except the in-laws were a bunch of outlaws.”

Treyton raised a hand and spoke for the first time since Flint told me about my dad. “I told him about your mates.”

“Thanks, Treyton. Remind me to bleed you for that.” Ranger grinned. Perhaps that was a mafia joke or the man who’d looked after me was going to lose a lot of bodily fluids.

“Please don’t hurt him,” I begged and sidled closer to Treyton, needing the warmth of his body to lower the tension.

“Awww, shucks. Okay.” Ranger let out a belly laugh.

“Why did you want to find me?” I asked Flint. “Do you believe in the sins of the father?”

“No. You knew nothing of him or his life. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Well, this has been… interesting, but I gotta go.”

Treyton flinched, and his pleading gaze had me reaching out and brushing his hand one last time. The same soothing stroke that wrapped tendrils around my heart.

“I don’t know why your touch is so comforting but it got me through these ugly days.” Flint and his brothers responded to what I said with odd looks.

“That was my job.”

I hugged him and his chin quivered, but he was different. He’d never smelled of anything, neither good nor bad, but now there was a delicate aroma wafting from him. Huh? How did that happen?

Hunter said he’d take me to the airport, and Flint insisted on sending someone on the plane with me.

“Oh no you don’t. That didn’t work out so well before.” I hoisted my small pack over my shoulder.

“How about someone who has your back?”

There was only one person in the room who I trusted 100%. “Treyton.”

“I’ll do it.” He almost tripped over his own feet but righted himself. I’d have to ask him if quick reflexes were a shifter quality.

“You can visit your parents, Treyton.” Arnie draped an arm over his grandson’s shoulder.

“I have time off because I told the hospital I had mono.” The room erupted in laughter.

“You lied.” Ranger was as delighted as if his kid had won an award.

“No big deal.” Treyton shrugged.

Ranger grabbed Treyton and gave him a noogie. “This guy was outside the door when Matt was giving birth, yelling instructions.” He cupped Treyton’s cheek. “You need to find that person in here.” He tapped his chest. “You were full of enthusiasm back then.”

“I’m tired is all.”

Hunter piped up. “I’ll tell you how Treyton gave instructions on the phone to me and Odell during labor.”

“Sounds like you’ve been a busy guy.” I took Treyton’s hand, and he smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. The warmth from his skin was still there. It was safety and friendship, but what was that damned scent? He hadn’t left the room so couldn’t have splashed on any cologne.

“I have my moments.” He grinned, the first genuine one since before we arrived at the storage unit.

Ranger smirked and asked how I met Treyton. Not wanting to embarrass the guy, I said I waited for him outside the hospital. Treyton blushed, and Ranger sniggered. Damn, maybe they’d seen footage from the parking garage.

“One last question. Were you hoping I was a shifter and you were planning to recruit me?”

“Nope,” Flint replied. “I knew you were human.”

The mafia had its own way of finding out things, I guessed.

“And if I hadn’t killed Riggs?”

“I would have.”

The end, thank goodness.

Hunter drove his car, and we had the usual bodyguards in front and the ones behind us. And as promised, he regaled us with stories of his daughter’s birth.

“They were in a panic room.” Treyton’s thigh brushed against mine.

I didn’t ask why because nothing was as it seemed with this family. I wanted my life to go back to normal, though with Dad recovering and me not wanting to return to our rented house, I wasn’t sure what that looked like.

Hunter handed us first-class boarding passes that included the logo of a well-known airline.

“What, no private plane?” I quipped.

“It’s being repaired.”

Damn, I missed out on that.

“You’ll have to come back when it’s finished.”

I doubted that. They were a tightly knit family who loved one another, while I was an outsider, son of a traitor. Thinking Dad was dead, I’d fought to have a connection with my alpha father, but that was a dead end, literally. I had no part to play in La Luna Noir.

Hunter waved us off, and we were escorted to the first-class lounge where we ate canapés and drank champagne.

I dozed most of the flight, finally able to sleep without grief being on every breath, and my arm was healing.

But Treyton’s new scent niggled at my dreams and urged me to wake up.

It was another unexplained Durand family mystery I wasn’t going to unravel.

But after the meal was served, I asked Treyton to explain more about La Luna Noir

“We’re a wolf shifter pack,” he whispered, putting his head close to mine. I was fairly sure he wasn’t wearing cologne, but his scent got my attention. It stung my eyes and burrowed into my pores. I almost wanted to climb on top of him.

Maybe he’d always smelled like that and my nose was stuffed up. But I’d picked up other smells.

He told me they ran legitimate businesses with bribes thrown in to make life a little easier, but they did a lot of retrieval work. I assumed that involved finding people who’d been kidnapped, as he’d spoken of his cousins doing exactly that.

“And how did your cousins marry humans?”

“Flint was the first, and it was a huge deal because the pack didn’t allow human and shifter relationships.”

Human and shifter relationships. That was what Emilio and my dad had, assuming it hadn’t been a one-night stand. Perhaps his bias against humans was the reason he’d rejected us.

“But they’re not married. No, Hunter is. Grandpa officiated.”

I shrugged. No one needed a piece of paper allowing them to be together.

“Shifters mate rather than marry.” He played with the remains of his food until the flight attendant removed it and served coffee. “And my cousins found their fated mate.”

“Is that like check mate or just fucking?” I understood mating in the animal kingdom. It was a lifelong bond for some species, while for others it was a one-and-done.

“Shifters recognize one another by scent. It’s instant, and two shifters might not ask questions, just run off and mark one another.”

Something sparked in my head. Scent. That was uppermost in a shifter’s mind when they mated. I didn’t know what to do with that information, so I patted his arm. “And you’ve not met your mate yet? Poor you.”

Shit. I’d said the wrong thing. His eyes glazed over, and I wanted to take it back. His cousins were happy with their mates and kids, and he had no one. But from what he’d told me, his brother didn’t have anyone in his life either.

“Don’t worry. It’ll happen.”

“I guess.”

We spent the rest of the flight in our own thoughts, and as we landed, I was saddened that I’d be saying goodbye to Treyton. He’d given up his life for a few days so I could get answers, and I was on the verge of tears.

“I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Hey, we made great partners. And don’t forget you were the one that ended the terrifying saga of the guy who tried to kill you and your dad.”

We stood outside the terminal. I was desperate to see Dad, and I hated long goodbyes, but I was reluctant to say farewell to Treyton from my life. “You have my number. Maybe give me a call sometime.”

“Or next week.”

“Yeah. Or you could phone tomorrow just to check on my arm and ask about my dad.”

“I could.” I went to hug him, but my reflexes were wonky and our lips touched before I pulled away. Treyton was my friend, maybe a good friend. That was it.

As the cab left, I looked out the back window, and we both waved frantically until I lost sight of him.

I patted the empty seat beside me, wishing he was here.

Treyton had been at my side during the drive to the trailer, he fixed my arm, fed me, stayed on watch for the gunman, introduced me to his family, told lies, had shot a guy and his wolf fought him.

All of that when he didn’t have to do squat. He was a real friend. And leaving him felt as though I’d left part of me behind. But I wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks and thought of my reunion with Dad.

Flint’s name opened doors, literally, and I was shown into my dad’s private room. We didn’t talk much because he was sleepy, so we hugged and said how much we loved one another.

“Where are you staying? Not in the house?”

I could never go back there, but I’d have to retrieve our furniture and our belongings.

A man entered the room with an earpiece in his ear. “Mr. Durand has arranged for you to stay in a secure location.”

Oh, yikes. Was it with a pack? I really didn’t want to sleep surrounded by wolves.

But I was driven to a smart apartment building and taken to the tenth floor. It had a fingerprint lock, but the bodyguard who accompanied me said it was set for my thumb. And it was. How the heck did they do that?

When I opened the door, the bland color scheme reminded me of the soulless place where Treyton I’d seen the photo.

But it was furnished with our stuff. Even the desk drawer in the entryway with the bits and bobs we put here ‘cause we didn’t know what to do with them.

Plus, it had a lot of things that we’d never bought, like a huge flat-screen TV, a dishwasher, massive fridge, and sound system.

My phone rang. It was an unknown number.

“Do you like it?” Flint didn’t waste time with pointless words.

“We can’t afford this.”

“It’s yours. In your and your dad’s names. Enjoy it.”

It was blood money for his man shooting me and Dad. This place I could get used to. The violence? Not so much.