Rescued by the Wolf (Blood Moon Brotherhood 2)

Mal fought the urge to keep her close. If she ate, it was good. She smiled at him, stood on tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek, and left with Dante.

“She stressing out?” Anders asked.

Mal nodded, sliding one photo aside. Images of Chase covered the long table. Chase going to the gym, going to the warehouse, going out with Miss Rangell, going to his favorite club—without Miss Rangell. No Cyrus. No Byron the butcher. It was for the best. If Mal had seen the giant sadist, he’s not sure he’d be able to keep his shit together.

He still woke up in cold sweat with the feel of Byron’s teeth on his throat. Nothing could erase the pain he’d felt. Or the fury. Byron had been the one to string him up, forcing Jessa to watch.

“We could do this,” Anders said, glancing at the door. “You know we could.”

Mal nodded. He wanted to.

“We wait too long, and we’re condemning more girls to this shit. I can’t shake it, Mal.” He shook his head. “Tess—think she’ll ever get over it? Lead a normal life? I can’t pretend I don’t know this. I can’t keep doing nothing.”

Mal agreed, 100 percent. “We go.”

Anders stared at him. “No shit?”

“No shit.” Mal nodded. “I’m on perimeter tonight.” He slid more images aside, studying Olivia’s brother with his guards. No matter how much he wanted to take the fucker out, he had to do this right. “These aren’t wolves.” He tapped the image. “They should be with him tonight. We go in as clients, get what we need, and leave.”

“Easy,” Anders nodded.

“No. Clients go through Cyrus,” Ellen said, walking to the table. “He’ll know.”

Mal stared at her.

She pushed through the pictures. “But if you show him you’re rich, get him drunk, pretend you’re interested, suddenly he is your best friend.” She looked Mal in the eye.

“How do you know this?” Anders asked.

“I found a way to stay useful.” Her smile was hard. “It’s easy to be quiet and listen. Cyrus complained about Chase, how he likes to talk and be important.” She rifled through the photos. “This one drives him to the club?” she asked, tapping the man in one picture.

Anders nodded.

“Because this one’s job is to keep him happy, to let him…let off steam? And clean up messes. If Chase leaves with a woman, he hides it. If Chase drinks too much, talks too much, he takes care of any problems. He is dangerous, but he works alone.”

“Wolf?” Mal asked.

She nodded.

“Fucking great,” Anders growled.

“Not so easy,” she agreed. “Nothing important is.”

Anders nodded. “Damn straight. But it’d be nice to catch a break.”

“She just gave us one,” Mal argued. He glanced at the dates on the pictures. “Tuesday and Thursdays are club days.”

Anders shook his head. “It’s Sunday.”

“Finn?” Ellen asked. “Your Alpha won’t be pleased.”

Mal shook his head. “A club is public. The guard is a wolf. Too many variables.”

Ellen’s eyes narrowed. “Your mate?”

Mal frowned. “Doesn’t need to know.”

“Secrets are dangerous.” She sighed. “But I will not waste my words warning you.” She left the office as silently as she’d entered.