Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“This phone was tappable and traceable,” Zolla announced.
“Yeah, I figured. Can you clean it up?”
“Not if you want me to be able to trace calls that come into it.”
“Oh, right. So can you? Trace incoming calls?”
“I can try, yes. Not from here, but from home,” he said, without looking up. “And it depends on if they’ve removed their location software.”
He exhaled. “Great, thanks.” Writing down the license number he’d memorized from the car in the parking lot, he slid the paper across to Zolla. “This is the license plate.”
Zolla nodded. “That will be easy to trace.”
“Thanks.”
Zolla looked at him speculatively. “So what happens to me if it’s Bruce, my new alpha, who’s trying to kill you?”
Ben’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would he want me dead?”
“Come on, Stone. A lone wolf who’s alpha material? Every pack leader around will be thinking you’re angling to steal his pack. Maybe it’s Stanley, have you thought of that?”
“It’s not Stanley. And I’m not interested in stealing any pack.”
“I know that, but what if Bruce thinks you are? What if I’m acting against him by helping you right now? Are you going to have my back?”
Ashley was listening intently. Zolla’s eyes went to her and Ben growled.
The omega dropped his eyes again. “You should really mark her if you’re that territorial.”
“Consider what you just said to me and tell me that’s a good idea,” he said.
Zolla looked thoughtful and then nodded. “I see.”
A wolf didn’t put his mate into danger, and Ben was a walking target. If he even set foot in Venezuela again, he had no doubt he’d be marked for death by Sandoval, the pack leader and drug tycoon who took down his father’s pack. And here in the States, someone had already ordered his death. Whether they were human or shifter didn’t matter. He wasn’t about to tangle Ashley in it any more than she already was.
“Well, we’re back to my original question, then,” Zolla said, levelling him as much of a challenging look as subordinate wolf would dare.
Ben blew out his breath. He didn’t want to be responsible for anyone. He could barely handle his own screwed-up life, and now he had Ashley to protect and deliver from evil, too. He definitely didn’t need anyone else on his tab. But what choice did he have?
“Yeah, I’ll protect you.”
Zolla grinned. “Pack of two, then.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You’re leaving your pack to follow me? You must be nuts.”
“Nah. I’ve always known you were my pack leader. I’ve just been waiting for you to come around.”
A strange sensation ran through Ben’s body—a shudder of something—recognition? Acceptance of his fate? He didn’t know. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “Thanks,” he said.
Zolla nodded. “I’ll search the data from the phone and keep tabs on future calls. Do you two want to stay at my place tonight?”
He looked at Ashley. No way was he letting her spend the night anywhere near another wolf. “Nah, I’ll go find a motel nearby. Thanks for your help. You have my cell number, right?”
“Yep. You should stay a while—we’re about to play another set.”
“No,” he said, and then hesitated when he realized Ashley was giving him puppy eyes. He shrugged. “We might stay for a dance or two,” he said, wondering what had come over him.
Zolla grinned, not missing any nuance. “Enjoy.”
Ashley beamed at Zolla as he departed and Ben had to bite back the territorial snarl in his throat.
Her insides melted like hot butter just thinking about dancing with Ben. Somehow she’d never pictured Stone Man as a smooth dancer, but she’d never pictured him as a giant werewolf, either.
Mr. Macho had ordered drinks and tapas from the waiter in Spanish without asking what she’d like, but she hadn’t minded—she enjoyed the sound of the r’s rolling off his tongue, the sexy lilt to his voice in a language foreign to her. And the sangria and little plates of food the waiter brought were delicious.
“Are you going to teach me how to dance?”
His lips twisted into that faint glimmer of humor she’d come to relish. He stood up. “Yeah.”
She rose and he reached for her hand, his eyes skimming over her breasts, which she knew looked huge in the too-tight shirt. She glanced down and realized her erect nipples were poking through her bra and the shirt. Great. She flushed, then lost her breath at the way his eyes devoured her as he led her to the dance floor. Before she could think of anything to say, he spun her to face him, holding their clasped hands high and resting his other hand on the back of her ribs. His touch was light, but he controlled her body, propelling her forward and backward in a series of steps she didn’t know. She looked down, trying to watch his feet to figure out what to do.