Warrior Wolf (Protection, Inc 4)

They stood still and listened. The singer had a beautiful voice, and the song, about a woman who chose freedom despite its cost, stole into Raluca’s heart.

She’s fragile like a string of pearls.

She’s nobody’s girl.

Raluca touched the strand of pearls around her throat, her eyes prickling with unshed tears. She’d had princes and dragons standing in line, but it had taken a wolf from the American streets to see her soul and show it to her in a song.

“Come on,” he said, his voice catching a little. “Let’s order.”

They slid into a booth, with Nick sitting where he could watch the door.

The waitress was a plump middle-aged woman whose shirt bore a tag labeled “Kate.” She smiled at Raluca. “I’m so glad to meet you. We’ve all been hoping for years that Nick would find his mate. I’ve never forgotten the moment I laid eyes on Dan. Your first meeting must have been so wonderful!”

Nick made an odd coughing sound, then another. He shot Raluca a desperate glance.

“Indeed,” Raluca said smoothly, saving him from having to either confess or lie. “It was quite an experience for both of us. And I am very pleased to meet you as well. Some day you must tell me the story of how you and Dan met.”

“I’d love to,” Kate said with a sincerity that made Raluca certain that the story of Kate and Dan contained no misplaced rage, vengeance via giant hairballs and oyster forks, or assassination attempts. “But for now, would you like a menu?”

Raluca turned to Nick. “I would not know what to choose. Order for me, please.”

“We’ll both have the classic burger, fries, and cokes. Thanks,” Nick said.

As Kate headed back to the kitchen, another song began. This one was by a man with a resounding deep voice, fierce and commanding.

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black.

Nick whipped around. Raluca followed his gaze, and saw Dan at the jukebox.

The gray-haired man tipped an imaginary hat to Nick. “Couldn’t resist. She doesn’t know country, so she couldn’t pick one for you herself.”

“What is this song?” ask

ed Raluca.

“‘Man in Black,’” Nick replied, much as he had said, “World’s biggest lobster.”

Nick was also dressed in black, but from the glances he and Dan had exchanged, Dan’s choice of song was more pointed than a simple joke about Nick’s clothing. But as Raluca listened to the song, she understood.

The man with the booming voice sang that he wore black as a reminder of the poor, of the unfairly imprisoned, of young lives lost in pointless wars and old people dying alone and forgotten, of everyone treated badly who deserved better and of all the injustices of the world. He sounded angry. Passionate. Challenging.

“Dan knows you very well,” Raluca said.

Nick started to shrug, then caught himself. “Yeah. He does. And so do you. But just out of curiosity, what did you think about the songs as music?”

“I still don’t care for twanging,” Raluca admitted. “But the woman’s voice was beautiful. The man’s too, in a different way. And both singers sounded as if they truly felt the emotions they sang about. I like that. The ‘Why I Am Drunk’ songs did not sound sincere.”

Nick laughed. “That’s the perfect name for that crap. Congratulations, you do like some country. At least, you like classic stuff like Bonnie Raitt and Johnny Cash. I had a feeling you might.”

Kate, who had stepped up with a platter of food, said, “Nobody is allowed in here if they hate Johnny Cash. Proves they have no soul. Enjoy.”

Raluca had seen hamburgers in movies, but never eaten one before. She watched Nick pick his up in his hands and take a bite, then followed suit.

The meat patty was juicy and savory, the bun soft on one side and crisp on the other. Like her maid’s sausage wrapped in ham, it was simple but tasty and satisfying. So were the crisp potato sticks.

Raluca picked up her glass of bubbling brown liquid and examined it with interest. So this was the famous Coke. It wasn’t available in Viorel, and she’d never gotten around to trying it when she’d seen it in other European cities. It looked like dark beer, but she knew it was non-alcoholic and sweet. Other than that, she’d never heard it described, only seen it enthusiastically drunk in movies and TV shows.

She took a large sip, which she instantly regretted. It burned its way down her throat. Trying to pitch her voice below werewolf hearing, she murmured, “Is there a drink here that does not taste of chemicals dissolved in sugar?”