Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,4

of others.

Around humans he didn"t have to exert as much effort, their feelings were so much easier to shut out. The churning, mercurial emotions of the brood put Brand constantly on edge.

When Brand didn"t respond to the challenge, the tension in the room gradually eased. Erik"s fingers drummed on top of the desk. “It wasn"t one of mine. We were running at my lodge last night, like every week of the full moon. All males accounted for but one.”

Brand leaned forward. “Who was missing?”

“Lucas has been gone for a few weeks. I was going to call you in to help me look for him if he didn"t turn up by the full moon.” Erik ran a hand through his spiked blond hair.

“He"s not aggressive. There"s no way he killed a woman, Brand.”

The sincerity and affection in Erik"s voice was cause enough for Brand to doubt Lucas was the culprit. “I"ll look for him, but if I find out he"s involved, I won"t spare him.”

“Fair enough.” Erik bent his head to write for several seconds, then held out a sheet of paper.

Brand reached for the note and looked down at the address printed in Erik"s neat handwriting. “A young male striking out alone isn"t unusual.”

Erik shook his head. “He wouldn"t leave without talking to me.”

The intercom buzzed. “Harris is on his way up,” the assistant"s smooth voice said over the speaker.

Erik pressed a button on his phone. “Send him in.” Brand stood and turned to leave.

“You should stay for this, actually,” Erik called after him. “It"s a meeting with the Bioden lawyers.” Brand"s company handled the security at all of Erik"s 12

construction sites, so the name was familiar. “That"s the biotech outfit giving you a hard time with the new project?” Erik nodded. “They"ve been glad-handing and paying bribes all over town. I can"t even get a foundation poured at that site off Mississippi Avenue because of the permit and license bullshit they"re shaking up.” Brand moved to a credenza along the wall at a right angle to Erik"s desk and leaned against it. “What"s the problem?”

“Loki only knows.” Erik made a dismissive gesture.

“They claim the construction will cause problems at one of their nearby warehouses.”

A knock sounded on the door, and Erik called for them to enter. The assistant showed two men into the room and retreated once more. Both men had the polished, easy manner of long-time businessmen. The taller of the two wore a navy suit, his dark hair impeccably slicked back. He extended a hand toward Erik.

Erik clenched his sharp-edged jaw and stared at the offered hand as if he were seriously considering biting it.

“Harris, I don"t have time for your idiocy today. Sit down and get to the point.”

Harris swallowed and brushed at his knee as he took his seat. “A hundred-thousand-dollar donation to Mr. Rivera"s leukemia research fund would see this matter resolved without issue.” Erik pressed his hands into the desk until his fingers mottled from the pressure. “That"s ridiculous.” His voice was low and dangerous. “He can have half that.” Harris glanced at the man next to him. After a brief pause, the unnamed associate nodded. Harris"s eyes popped open, but he covered his shock quickly and turned back to Erik. “That will be fine, Mr. Sorenson.” Both men stood.

“We"ll get out of your way now.” Harris crossed the room with the measured steps of a man trying his best not to scurry away, with the other man following close behind him.

13

Erik watched them go from beneath a furrowed brow.

He reached for the phone and slapped the intercom button.

“Molly, have a check cut for Harris and get him out of my building.”

Erik released the button before she responded. He paused to run his fingers through his hair and made the blond spikes stand up even more.

Brand cleared his throat. “I thought you were going to tear them apart. Glad you didn"t. Cleaning up their guts for the rest of the afternoon isn"t my idea of a good time.” Erik smiled, but the strain was obvious around the edges of his mouth.

Before Erik could respond, Brand"s phone rang. Not wanting to take a call in Erik"s office, he gestured to the door and nodded his farewell before exiting into the lobby.

He pulled the phone from his pocket and glanced at the display before answering. “What is it, Cam?” His assistant replied, “I"ve got Detective Grant for you.”

“Put him through.”

Harris and his colleague were still in the lobby, arguing with an annoyed-looking Molly. Brand turned