Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

His smile just about smoked my insides. "You're welcome to try."

My hormones were all for trying right there and then, but I had a brother to rescue first. I opened the door and started to climb out. Quinn reached across the car, his fingers wrapping around my knee, a heat that burned past the snakeskin leather and slithered deep into my bones

"There is one thing I must make clear, though," he said, his low tones holding a hint of warning

I glanced at him. "What?"

"There can never be more than a casual dance between us. I have no intentions of getting seriously involved with another werewolf."

I raised my eyebrows. "What makes you think I want anything more than casual? I'm a wolf - and like all wolves, I want the soul mate and kids ideal. You can never offer me that."

"I'm just warning you."

"So I consider myself warned." I slipped out of the car and took off my coat, throwing it back inside. His sharp intake of breath made my grin widen. "Consider this outfit your warning, my dear vampire."

I blew him a kiss and slammed the door before he could make any sensible reply. Grin still wide, I strolled down to Acacia Street, crossed the road, and began an exaggerated, saucy walk far enough away from the walls for the cameras to see me. A soft buzz filled the silence as they began tracking me

I sensed Rhoan within minutes. He was still there, still in those same rooms I'd sensed him in earlier. I sighed in relief. All we had to do was try to get him out

Lights cut across the darkness behind me. I kept walking, listening to the throaty purr of the engine, knowing it was Quinn simply because I could sense him with the same ease I was currently sensing Rhoan

He stopped beside me and the window slid down. I strolled over and leaned down, flashing the cameras an eyeful of butt

"He's there."

"Right now, with you looking the way you're looking, I'm not particularly worried if he's there or not."

"So the front seat of the Ferrari is suddenly looking good?" I teased

My phone rang before he could answer. He reached into my bag, clicked the flashing vid button, then held it up so I could talk without blowing our cover

Jack came online, and he didn't look happy. "Riley, where are you?"

"Outside Moneisha," I said. "Why?"

"Well, when you grab Rhoan, don't bring him to the office. There's been some trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Someone's just tried to kill me."

"A pretty stupid someone, I'd say."

Jack gave me a crooked grin. "Well, yeah, seeing he missed his target and was caught. Unfortunately for us, he killed himself before we could question him too much."

I frowned. "Where did this all happen?" I couldn't imagine a shooter getting through the Directorate's street-level doors, let alone down to the guardian levels

"I was on my way home."

"I thought the Directorate was your home?"

"Only most of the time."

"So whoever sanctioned the shooting knew your movements pretty well."

"Exactly. And combined with Rhoan's disappearance and the attempt on your life, I think we'd better start playing extra safe. Once you snatch Rhoan, don't go home or come here. They'll expect those, so go somewhere else and ring me once everyone is safe."

"Will do."