Wolf's Hunger (Mafia Monsters #5) - Atlas Rose Page 0,82

bigger than anything you’ve ever done in your entire career.” I worked the buttons of my blouse, closing them one by one. “And you’ll let the Wolves go, let them protect this city once more.”

“I can’t close the investigation into the murder of one of our own.”

“I'm not asking you to do that, keep it open while we hunt down the real Wolf who did this. You said yourself, Phantom and the others weren’t a match.”

Harlan swallowed hard and nodded.

That’s it…Chaos whispered, making my stomach lurch and roll.

“And you’ll come to me.” His words were almost a plea. “If you find out more.”

“Harlan,” I stepped closer and reached out, placing my hand on his. “You’ll be the first.”

He looked toward the door, his eyes glazing before he held out his hand for the file. My fingers clenched, and fear crowded my head. That battleground inside me stretched out, right, wrong…betrayal, and protection.

I loosened my fingers, and my nails gouged the folder as my glance caught the keys on the bookshelf, the familiar keys. “You kept them here?” My voice deepened, sounding guttural and raw as I rounded the corner of his desk.

“I knew you’d return.”

Sparkling metal, the familiar burn as I grabbed them from the shelf. “You know what this means, right?”

There was no answer at first, until I clenched my fist around the keys and turned, finding his sullen expression. “We both get what we want,” he muttered.

“You’re doing the right thing, Harlan. The only thing you can do.”

Then I left, yanking open the door, hurrying through his secretary's area until I was outside in the hallway, with the low drone of voices coming from behind the cracked open door of the strategic planning room. There was nothing here for me now. Nothing this office…or this world could give me that I needed more than them.

I hurried for the elevator, stepped in, and rode it all the way down to the parking garage. My heart was racing by the time the doors opened. I hadn’t let myself look before, hadn’t wanted that cruel torture. But now I scanned the cars parked along the far wall of the garage and stilled at the sight.

I had to stop myself from running, had to stop myself from crying.

All for them…

Chaos whispered as I hurried for that familiar black Jeep. Damn, I love this car…Arran’s words echoed through my head as the downpour outside grew deafening. I pressed the button, unlocking my Wolf’s Jeep, and climbed in.

We’re done, Chaos whispered.

Those words plunged deeper than ever before.

There was no more safe house for me now, no more coming back here, no more future as I'd envisioned it. I gripped the steering wheel. There was just them. I fought that fear inside me and lifted my gaze to the rear-view mirror…if they forgave me, that was.

Doubt crowded my mind as I shoved the key into the ignition and started the engine. There was only one place I could go. One place where I could think about what I’d just done. I shoved the Jeep into gear, backed out of the parking space, and headed for Walker’s apartment.

25

Phantom

“Are you sure there’s no sign of either of them?” I forced the words through clenched teeth and listened to that dreaded silence on the other end of the phone.

“I’m sure, Wolf,” Mojin whispered.

The gasping rattle of his breaths told me more than his words ever could. He’d hunted, running until even that dark Unseelie blood in his veins couldn’t keep him from exhaustion.

“I’m not giving up,” Mojin growled. “But we need the Breeds.”

Will they come? The question lingered a heartbeat too long. “I’ll make a call.”

“Already done it. Griffin and his team are on the way.”

“Send in the Wolves,” I muttered.

“Who more than the most brutal, bloodthirsty bastards there are…apart from you, that is.” The Fae growled through the phone, making the corners of my lips twitch.

“It’s only a matter of time,” I muttered and lifted my head to the teeming rain from the steel gray sky. “Are you heading back?”

“Already on my way,” the Fae answered. “I’ll see you when I get there.”

Things have changed, brother. I opened my mouth to say the words, but he was already gone, the line silent. I slid my phone back into my pocket and lifted my gaze to the dark windows of the Hunting Ground.

I scanned the rear-view mirror, catching a car as it rolled past and kept on going. The streets were strangely silent. No unmarked cars sitting outside