Page 2

Chapter

Two

T hiago Baldwin hated when he got a bad text and had to give up his particular hunt of the moment.

Which had been the hottest bartender—probably wolf shifter—he’d ever seen.

Or smelled. God, his dick was still half hard even twenty minutes out.

Still, a PI’s work was never done, and he was working on three, count ’em three disappearances in Denver. All young shifter men.

Everyone in the know said that was the bar to go to if someone needed help, if an omega was lost, was in trouble. There was some weird-assed underground situation with omegas being housed, fed, and given a chance for a real life.

He was hoping that the bartender was one of the good guys.

But right now, he’d gotten a tip about one of the young men on his radar, and he was heading to another location. Which meant his plans for seducing said bartender had to wait.

He headed across town, finding himself in a strangely nice, middle-class part of town. He never ended up in a place like this.

Never.

And if he did end up here, it was never good.

He knocked on the door of the address he’d been given and waited.

But no one came to the door. So he knocked again, then looked for a Ring or something.

Nada. He tried the doorknob, just in case, but no. So he circled around to the back.

As he got to the back door, a huge woman appeared, her body filling the doorway. “Can I help you?”

Her voice was low, soft, but so fucking stern.

“I hope so.” He handed her a card, because his instincts told him she was no criminal mastermind. “I’m a private investigator, and I’m looking for Kalen Hanlon. His uncle is very worried about him.”

“Is he?”

“Yes. And I’m just trying to help get them back together.”

She pocketed his card and nodded. “I’m sorry. He’s not here. He hasn’t been here for a while. Last time I heard, he was doing good, though.”

“I’m glad. I’ll pass that along. If anyone else here hears from him, can you let him know his uncle just wants to hear from him?”

“I will.” She grinned slightly. “Now stop skulking about my doors.”

“Hey, I rang the doorbell!”

“You did. You need to get information to someone, you can tell Quin at the Hogg. He has a ton of contacts, and he’s a good man. Solid.”

Of course he was.

Motherfucker, he’d been right there.

“Thanks, lady,” he said, though he was clearly not going to get a name. So he just saluted and headed back to his rented SUV. He had a bike, but the Harley was conspicuous, and if he found one of the kids he was looking for, he needed the back seat.

Back to the bar.

He’d known there was something about that wolf. Something sparkling yet dark in those amazing eyes, and the pheromones were enough to make him want to purr.

Of course, watching the way that the wolf had taken down the asshole at the bar, defending the wee bunny… If Quin hadn’t gotten involved, he would have.

But it had been quick and brutal. One blow, one asshole down. He was fairly sure Quin had called the police before the fight.

And then he’d exchanged numbers with Thiago, that little unconscious wiggle and lip lick making him nuts. Uhn.

Definitely he ought to head back over, see what Quin knew about his new client.

There was no way it could be a coincidence that he’d been pointed to the bar twice in one night.

No way. No way at all. In fact, he was pretty sure that this was a big, flashing, neon sign.

It read, “Pretty Wolf in Need of Fucking Here.”

He chuckled, because he was vain enough to head to the storage unit he’d rented to stay in and get the Harley. He wanted to impress hot and wolfy.

He knew how good he looked, straddling the bike, and he’d seen the bikes that were in the parking lot. This wasn’t some dive bar. This was upscale—leather and smoky drinks and deep kisses in the corners. But there were also clean bathrooms, no rips in the seats, and top-shelf tequila.

He’d have to be careful. He’d seen the muscle that was there at the bar, just sitting there casually drinking, as if they didn’t have a job. But it had taken one or two words from Quin, and they had been all over it.

It had been hot.

No, that wasn’t as hot as it was going to be, though. He could feel it. The energy is in between them. He wanted to bite just a little bit. More than a nibble, though. He wanted to leave a mark.

Funny, wasn’t it, how they used to say that cats were scared of dogs, but it would take an entire pack to take one of his kind down. They were territorial, solitary except for their mates, and they knew what they wanted.

Thiago knew what he wanted.

He rode down to the bar, finding the parking lot mostly empty. Not completely. The lights were still on.

So he parked his bike, and he went in like he owned the place, wanting Quin to see him.

To notice him.

To pay attention.

“Back already.” That wasn’t Quin. “Was it the ranch, mate? It’s damn addictive.”

“The ranch was good.” And he was curious, and a touch disappointed that the wolf wasn’t behind the bar. “Australian?”

“Ayuh. I grew up in the middle of nowhere. Went to work on Bondi Beach for a while, then hopped over to Hawaii. Then California. Now I’m just wandering.”

“And you ended up here?” This one wasn’t a wolf, but he was some sort of a canine. Pretty though. Golden where Quin was redheaded. Sharp features and smaller, leaner.

“I followed Quin. We met on the road. We had a moment.” That was a purely evil grin. “He said he had a bar, if I ever wanted to stop, if I wanted somewhere to be. Well, here I am. Tips are good. So are the hours. So is the hunting ground, so to speak. So…”

Huh. He tried not to growl. “Well, I’m Thiago, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Pete. What can I get you? You don’t read like a beer guy.” He sniffed. “Don’t smell like one, either.”

“Whiskey neat.” Okay, this one was really cute. Thiago could see himself tearing Pete up, except that Quin was right here. Close.

“No worries, mate.” Pete poured for him, then wandered off, paying attention. Not being too flirty. Just sort of letting him know there were eyes on him.

In a good and a bad way.

He stayed at the bar, sipping his whiskey and waiting. Quin knew he was here. He could wait. He was patient.

His puppy would be too curious not to come out and visit. He knew it.

Quin actually made it longer than he expected, taking almost an hour before he appeared from the back again. Slowly checking out his tables, the bar.

Then those pretty green eyes found him, glittering and curious. “Welcome back. Did you miss me?”

“I did. I had a surprise visit with someone whose family is missing him. The little lady of the house said you’re the man and in the know when it comes to loss and missing folks, and if I needed anything at all, I should come to you.” He let his gaze drag along that beautiful, tightly muscled body. “I think I need something.”

“Little lady, huh? Now I know Maria. She’s not little. She’s not a lady. She’ll eat your face. It’s a thing.” Quin shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t appreciate when alphas forget that their job is to protect their omegas and love them. It makes me grumpy. I guess that’s gotten around.”

“That you’re grumpy or that you protect omegas?”

“Both. Mostly the part about the grumpy. I’m not a man to be fucked with.”

“Fair enough.” Come play, puppy. Are you a man to be fucked?

Quin’s head tilted. “It depends.”

Oh, this was fun. “On?”

“How hot you are? How much I want it? How much you can give me? All that good stuff.”

“Well. I know I’m hot. It’s not fun if you don’t want it. And I can give you inch after inch of it.” He licked the whiskey off his upper lip, his tongue scratching. “And I guarantee you it’s all good stuff.”

“I can see it would be worth a try,” Quin said.

“I guarantee I take care of anyone who chooses to play with me, love.” He winked.

“You have to wait until I close up the bar.”

“I have my bike now. I can follow you wherever you want to go.”

“Yeah? What kind of bike?”

“1979 Sportster.”

“Nice. How many miles?”

He grinned, knowing this would be his ace in the hole. “Less than 20K.”

“Oh, man.” Quin waved at someone who called to him. “Be right back.”

He waved and nodded, turning to watch the room. When he looked back to the bar, there was a whiskey sitting on it for him, and since no one else was near him, or behind the bar, he grabbed it to drink. The place was really winding down now, and Quin was cleaning.

“Can I help?” Thiago finally asked after he tossed back the whiskey.

“Seriously?”

“The sooner we get done, the sooner I have you in the shower.”

Those pretty eyes went wide, and Quin’s smile made him laugh, it was so wicked. “Now, see, that’s the best offer I’ve had all night.”

“I always start with hot water.”

“You got a room somewhere?” Quin asked.

He splayed a hand over his heart. “You wound me. You don’t just want to take me upstairs?”

“I don’t do that on the first date. And how did you know I live upstairs?”

“Stab in the dark. I like bartenders.”

“Oh, woe to the republic. And here I thought I was unique.” Now it was Quin’s turn to look wounded.

He studied Quin intently for a long moment. The music had been turned down, and Quin was close enough for him to scent the man over the smell of stale beer and other more human odors.

“You are,” he finally said when Quin had started to squirm. “You’re fucking stunning, in fact. I rarely come back once I’ve left a bar.”

“Then I’m lucky.”

“I’m out, boss!” That was the last of the bar servers, which just left the two bouncers and them.

So Thiago reeled Quin in, pressing them together. “Let’s get this stuff done, huh? I do have a room. And it has that rainhead shower thing.”

“Does it have twenty-four-hour room service with carrot cake?”

“It does, in fact. And craft beer.”

“I’m in.” Quin tipped his head back, and the long line of that neck, exposed, made him hard as rock. Damn. And he was going to have to ride like this?

“And I want to ride on your bike.”

“Mmmmhmm.” He nibbled.

“You want us to lock up, boss?”

“I do.” Quin took his hand and led him out to the parking lot, and he waved at the guys at the door.

God, he couldn’t wait to get this one alone. Thiago led Quin to his Harley, straddling it so he could let Quin climb on behind him and scoot up close enough to feel all the good things.

“Hold on, love. This should be a good ride.”

“It had better be,” Quin buzzed against the back of his neck.

So Thiago made sure it was.