Casey’s eyes ballooned. “Holy shit. Do you realize that Eclipse is one of the pack’s main headquarters? A third of the crowd was probably werewolves. I’m surprised they didn’t eat you alive.”
My voice spiked an octave. “They eat people?”
Laurel put a hand on my arm. “Casey means metaphorically. They hate our family.”
“I gathered. Why? He said you were dangerous and told me not to contact you.”
They’re criminals. They deal in illegal arms and materials.
Laurel pressed her lips together. “Of course, we’re dangerous. Casey can throw fireballs. I’m one of the most lethal people in Magic Side. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to dump my long-lost niece in the lake the moment she shows up. He was using your ignorance about this place to manipulate you.”
I had suspected as much, but for some reason, Jaxson’s warning wouldn’t quite go away.
“Considering Jaxson owns Eclipse, I hope he didn’t make you pick up the tab,” said Casey, snickering. I sat back against the couch and put my head in my hands, and Casey passed me a whiskey. “Welcome to Magic Side. Be prepared to get dicked over by wolves.”
It was a little early to be drinking, but I took a sip anyway and let the cool liquid heat my throat, while Laurel stared across the room, lines of fury fixed on her face.
Had Jaxson been laughing at me the whole time? Of course he had.
And of course the cop would recommend his restaurant. He’d played with my obvious ignorance of magic and werewolves.
“He was toying with me,” I muttered.
Casey swirled his whiskey, then clinked his glass against mine. “Yep. They like to do that shit. I’m betting he neglected to explain why your car stalled out.”
“I’ve got transmission problems. I’m just lucky it got me as far as it did.”
“Nah. He let you believe that. The bridge is enchanted with a spell that knocks out the engine and electrical systems of any car that drives over it unless it’s got a thing called a magic regulator installed. It’s supposed to help keep normal people out, though since they can’t even see the island, I don’t know what the big deal is. The wolves run the bridges and give a cut to the mages who maintain the spells. It’s a total racket.”
I set my glass on the table so I wasn’t tempted to throw it across the room. “So my car didn’t break down?”
Casey shook his head. “It just needs a doohickey installed. But that’s wolves for you. They like to shake your hand with their right while they dig their claws in with the left.”
“He had it towed to Savage Body, which—”
Casey rapped his knuckles on the chair. “Belongs to the pack. He’s got your car hostage.”
I rocketed to my feet. That bastard.
He’d paid off Randy at the auto body shop to trap me in Belmont. I’d stolen his keys, and now he’d stolen my car right from under my nose.
“You’re leaving?” Aunt Laurel rose in surprise. “You just got here!"
I tightened my fists and headed toward the door. “I’m going back to Dockside to skin me a werewolf king.”
14
Jaxson
The loading cranes whirred and ground as they lifted the containers off the ship and onto the dock.
I shouted at my brother-in-law, Billy, over the noise. “Everything accounted for?”
He held up the manifest. “So far. Still waiting on that last batch of parts.”
We’d have to unload those discreetly. They’d been procured by the lower Michigan pack, and we had to make them disappear. Thankfully, Magic Side had a number of vendors that were happy to overlook a few details for a better deal.
“Good.”