Wolf's Hunger (Mafia Monsters #5) - Atlas Rose Page 0,41

Unseelie spoke, striding toward the Explorer and climbing inside.

I wanted to call out, hurry. But the engine roared before the words slipped out, and the Fae was gone with a squeal of tires that made me wince.

“How about we continue this inside?” the Vampire lifted his hand, those stony fucking eyes settling on me.

He didn’t like me, didn’t like that I was there…and, with one glance toward Phantom, I knew he didn’t like me with the Wolf. I stepped toward Phantom, sliding my arm around his waist possessively, and gave the Vampire an arctic smile. “Let’s.”

Vitold and Arran sauntered inside first, totally oblivious to the viper in their midst …even if she did wear perfect makeup and a lipstick the shade of blood. My heart ached as I turned to look over my shoulder at the flare of the Explorer’s taillights.

“They’ll be fine,” Phantom assured me, following my gaze. “And be back before you know it. Then you’ll have a whole other battle on your hands.”

“Oh yeah?” I met his gaze. “How so?”

“Walker…” he jerked his gaze toward the others as they disappeared through two massive open doors and into the mansion. “And Ruth.”

My steps stuttered as I winced. I hadn’t thought about that situation. I mean, why the hell would I? For all intents and purposes, Ruth Costello was a case…a purpose. She was a name, a vile, corrupt name. But as I followed the others into the house, a chilling cold swept through me.

Walker…and Ruth in the same house.

Someone was going to end up hurt or dead.

We left the cool night air behind and stepped through the double doors. Movement came from the end of the hallway as the familiar sight of Ruth’s bodyguard headed our way. His gaze cut to Phantom with a nod, before he swept those icy blue eyes in a critical stare over me.

“Russell,” my Alpha greeted.

“Phantom,” he answered back, not shifting that gaze from me.

I knew him, knew him from watching her, knew him from the background checks I’d run in the past. He was a loner, quiet, with a spotless record and an impressive military history. For all intents and purposes, he was a nice guy…such a pity he was with Ruth.

The doors closed with a thud behind us. I lowered my gaze to the spotless shine on the floor and caught movement behind me as Phantom entered at my back. Slowly the events of the last few days faded, pulling me back to the old men, and the better, new and improved, yet older version of me.

Footsteps resounded as we made our way along the hallway and into the expansive house. It was breathtaking, but I didn’t really see any of it. I kept my focus forward and slid my walls up around me. Phantom had known where we were headed…straight into the bitch’s den. Yet he hadn’t felt the need to warn me…curious.

I dropped his hand. “Carina,” he murmured.

I lengthened my stride, pulling away from him. I narrowed in on the Vampires and…her. Glasses clinked and were passed around the room. Arran held out his hand with a tumbler holding Scotch. I shook my head and narrowed my gaze on the Vampires as they spread out in the dimly lit room.

Through the glass doors, the beautiful pool sparkled. Perfect.

Perfect fucking house. I lifted my gaze to the Vampires at her side, taking in the gorgeous, towering male at her side. Dark hair, perfect lips, and a body to die for. She noticed my analyzing gaze and moved closer, marking her territory. Her brown eyes flashed at me as I turned my gaze to the Vampire at her other side. He was smaller than the leader, but no less alluring.

He met my stare with his own, giving nothing away, until Ruth gave a sigh and stepped toward me. “You going to stand there and ogle, or are going to get to business?”

“Sure, seeing as how we’re all here because of you and your family.” The venomous words slithered free.

She stilled for a second, then threw her head back with a deep, throaty laugh. “Oh, that’s so rich. How long are you going to blame me for every little thing that’s gone wrong in your life, Carina?”

“When you and your family start coming clean,” I answered as the seething, Unseelie darkness inside me came to life. "What's left of them, that is."

Gazes snapped toward me, all but hers.

“Carina,” Phantom hissed.

But he could no more stop what was coming than he could hold