Bad Wolf (Wild Men 4)

“Nobody. Just a crazy chick. She thought she knew me, is all.” I take one more swig and pass the flask back to him.

Jesus, it’s colder than a witch’s tit out here in the dead of night. Plus, I finished my shift at the bar more than an hour ago, and I’m famished. The alcohol sloshes in my stomach.

“Really?” Angel says, lifting the flask to his mouth, not even wiping it. “She knew your name. Maybe you know her after all?”

I fold my arms over my chest. “I said I don’t know her. So fuck off.”

“You don’t get to mouth off like that to me, boy.” Angel’s smirk is dangerous, but I’m too tired to care tonight. Tired of everything. “Answer the question. We can’t afford loose ends.”

“She knows nothing. Forget about her.”

He frowns, tugging at his short beard, but then just shrugs and screws the lid back on the flask. “Not my problem, dude. Just a friendly warning. If you let slip anything…”

Sweat trickles between my shoulder blades. “Got it, man. I won’t. I’m not an idiot.”

“Yeah, you’re not. But I wouldn’t say the same about your brother.”

Wait… He thinks Seb would rat me out? Not that there’s anything to rat me out for, but if there was…

Nah. Seb is a druggie, but when he isn’t high, he’s not that bad. And he’s my brother. No matter what, he wouldn’t. No way.

The door of the warehouse bangs open, and Mav walks out, followed by Jorge and Seb, then the gang they’ve been dealing with, one of the bigger ones controlling the city. Bunch of gorillas in suits and golden chains.

I don’t know their names, and I’m keeping it that way. I’ve done my best not to get too involved in the gang’s business.

The only reason I’m here is my brother, whether he fucking likes it or not.

Mav shakes hands with the other gang leader, and they split. Angel slips the flask back inside his jacket, zips up and follows our people. I fall into step with him, keeping behind them—close, but not too close. No way of knowing whether Seb is high right now or not, if paranoia hits him and he comes after me again.

It’s already hard work, keeping my eyes on other gangs coming at us. I want to think I don’t have to be scared of my own brother all the goddamn time.

Last night was a one-time thing, right? A random thing. Seb appreciates that I’m there for him, that I have his goddamn back.

I fucking know it.

“Wait here,” Mav tells me, pointing at the alley mouth. “Don’t move from the spot. Call me if you see anyone suspicious.”

Like I’m his watchdog or something.

“Don’t you worry, Mav,” I drawl, shoving my hands into my pants pockets. “Got you on speed dial.”

I guess I am his watchdog. Just another thing that pisses me off, even if it was my choice. Let’s just say my choices have always been limited.

Sometimes I think I have no choices at all.

Sebastian glares daggers at me before he turns to follow Mav into the bar through the back door. Angel shakes his head, like he’s worried about me, but I know better. Hell, after his veiled threats about Gigi, I doubt he gives a shit about anything to do with me, except maybe keep me on a tight leash.

Watchdog and leash. Makes perfect sense.

The metal door clangs closed behind them, and I’m finally alone in the cold. Nobody watching, nobody I need to appease and lie to. Despite the dark shadows crawling along the alley and the sense of danger that never quite goes away, in my dreams and in real life, my shoulders relax.

Leaning back against a wall, I brace one booted foot against the bare bricks and close my eyes. Just five seconds without the responsibility, without that weight on my chest.

Patting my back pocket blindly, I draw out my pack of smokes and my lighter. Between working at the bar, and for the gang, looking out for Sebastian and stopping him from stealing my money…

Shit.

Don’t bitch about it, I tell myself. Suck it up. You’re lucky and you fucking know it. Your life could have gone so much worse. If it hadn’t been for the Lowes…