Chapter One
Present Day …
The Stage Bound bar in the East Village was packed, as it always was on Friday night. The tiny lounge club was the place to be for singers and actors, hoping to be discovered by agents and Broadway producers scouting for talent. Connor was running a little late tonight, so he hurried inside and made his way to the tech booth in the back, keeping his head down and shoulders hunched. There was no way he blended in here, which is why he already had a plan in place.
“Hey man,” the skinny guy with a beard and glasses greeted as he walked into the tiny booth. Really, booth was being generous, as it was more like a table and a curtain to divide it from the rest of the lounge. The space was small, and his large frame only made it feel even more cramped. But this was the only way he could stay out of sight.
He grunted in response to the skinny hipster. His name was Greg or Gordon or something; he didn’t bother to remember, just called him Skinny Hipster in his mind. Anyway, he wasn’t here to make friends. He handed the other man a hundred-dollar bill folded neatly.
“Thanks, man, pleasure doing business with you, as always.” Skinny Hipster stood up and let Connor step over his chair so he could scoot to the back of the booth. This was the perfect place to stay hidden, while still being able to see the stage.
Connor crossed his arms over his chest, wondering for the hundredth time what the hell he was doing here. The person trying to kill his brother Quinn and his mate Selena was locked up in the deepest cells of the Lycan Detention Center in Siberia. His brother could hold his own and protect his mate, but those around them were vulnerable. Thus, he’d been assigned to follow Evie, who turned out to be Selena’s best friend and roommate, in case she was in danger.
Though the threat had passed, he kept telling himself that New York was a dangerous place and anything could happen to Evie. She could get mugged, run over by a car, shoved into the subway tracks. She was too innocent and naïve and people could take advantage of her. Yeah, that was it. It was for her own good. Never mind that every moment he wasn’t sure she was safe made that dull pain in his chest come back again and again.
“Okay, Kevin, you can start anytime,” Skinny Hipster said into the mic on his headset. He reached for the knob that turned the house lights down, and the audience began to settle into their seats.
The host, Kevin, came out a few moments later. “Good evening everyone, welcome to The Stage Bound bar’s open mic night. I hope you’re all relaxed, having fun …” Connor tuned out the rest of the spiel, having already memorized it from the other times he’d been here. Usually, after giving a short welcome, Kevin introduced the first performer.
“So, tonight, we’re going to do something a little different,” Kevin said. “One of our regular performers here had a request, so if you wouldn’t mind indulging us for a bit, please welcome, Evie King!”
Connor tensed, and his mouth set into a hard line. Usually, Evie didn’t come on until after three or four acts. What was going on?
Evie walked out onto the small stage, and, even from afar, Connor could see her lips curve into a knowing smile as if she was hiding something. Her long, dark hair was piled on top of her head, a few tendrils framing her lovely face. He didn’t even realize he was holding his breath until she began to speak.
“Good evening everyone, thanks for coming. Now, I know we don’t usually take requests, but I couldn’t ignore this one. Especially one so persistent,” she said wryly. “We’ve got some special guests in the audience tonight. Well, one of them is pretty special to me, and the other tends to be a pain in my behind.”
Connor’s brows wrinkled. Who was this special person in her life? He leaned forward, craning his neck to try and look at the crowd in the darkened room.
“Selena’s been one of my supporters and best friends since I moved to New York,” Evie said, gesturing to the front of the stage. “Aww, don’t be shy Sel, give everyone a wave.”
There was a cheer, and a hand shot up in the darkness, waving back.
Shit. Selena was here. That meant only one thing …
“And that goofy guy next to her is her boyfriend and general pain in my ass, Quinn.”
Quinn didn’t even need any encouragement as he stood up and looked back at the audience. A whistle rang out, and Quinn gave an exaggerated bow, prompting hoots and laughs from the crowd.
Fucking Quinn, Connor thought to himself. The tech booth suddenly seemed even smaller. He had to get out of here. Did Quinn know he was here, following Evie? They must have arrived earlier, but he didn’t notice them. He scanned the room, looking for an exit. Unfortunately, unless he knocked over Skinny Hipster, he was essentially trapped.
“Anyway,” Evie continued, “tonight is Selena’s birthday, and Quinn asked if we could make it extra special. So, I got together with a couple of my friends and put this song together.” She motioned off stage, and four people stepped out and stood behind her. “This particular song is an oldie but a goodie, and I think it pretty much sums up Selena and Quinn. So, Selena, happy birthday. I love you. And Quinn,” she said with a warning in her voice, “if you ever hurt her, I’m going to cut off your balls.”
There was another wave of laughter from the audience, and even Connor had to smile. Evie was grinning, too, but he had no doubt she would castrate his brother if he ever did Selena wrong.
Evie and her friends positioned themselves around the mic. She nodded and began the first line of the song, while the others accompanied her.
Connor felt the air rush out of his lungs, and the electricity that hung in the air almost crackled. It was like the first time he held her when he thought she was in danger. That time had been an accident, and he didn’t mean to touch her, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted—no, needed—to know she was safe. She was soft and plush, and his body reacted immediately, and he never wanted to let her go. But then something in him reared its ugly head. The fucking feral wolf. First, it wanted to rip everything in sight when it thought she was hurt. Being close to her, though, it seemed to want only one thing—her. The wolf was there, making its presence known like never before. From then on, he avoided her as much as possible.
But then he heard her sing, that first night he followed her here. The sweet sound of her voice called to him. Her lilting soprano soared over the crowd and washed over him like a wave. He was entranced. Again, he felt the wild wolf responding. Though he tried as hard as he could, he couldn’t stay away and he craved the sight, the smell, and the sound of her. Since then, he’d been coming here, listening to her sing from the tiny booth. It didn’t matter what she sang. Her voice was a siren’s call, and each time he heard her, the feral wolf seemed satisfied, soothed by the sound of her voice.
Conner stood transfixed in that little booth, and it was like everything and everyone disappeared when she sang. The song talked about falling in love forever and giving her heart completely. It was familiar, one of those old songs Archie used to listen to on his record player. He thought the lyrics were sappy and corny, but his adoptive father loved it.
As Evie and her friends approached the end of the song, there was a loud gasp and then a hush settled over the crowd. Quinn had stood up in front of Selena and then went down on one knee. Evie faltered but quickly regained her composure. She put a hand over her heart and smiled as she looked down at her friend as she continued to sing.
Selena was nodding. When she stood up, Quinn picked her up and gave her a long, sensuous kiss. Applause broke out over the entire place even before the song ended and didn’t stop even when Selena turned to the audience, red-faced, while his brother stood next to her proudly, holding out her left hand. That must have been a giant rock because, even from where he was standing, Connor could see the diamond sparkle when the lights hit her finger. Evie immediately walked down to Selena and Quinn’s table, where she hugged her friend and sat with them.
Well, shit. He knew it was coming and, frankly, he couldn’t help but feel happy for his brother. Quinn had a difficult life growing up; they all did. All his siblings deserved happiness, especially after he failed to protect Archie.
The memory of his failure came rushing back, but he pushed it down, deep down to that dark place inside him where the wolf resided. He had to get out of here, and he didn’t care how. With a growl, he grabbed Skinny Hipster’s collar and hauled him out of his chair. Ignoring the other man’s protests, he tore out of the booth, ripping the curtain aside and bumping into a waiter who was carrying a heavy tray. He ignored the sound of shattering glass ringing in his ears and made a run for the exit.
The warm spring air was choking, but it was better than being inside. Fucking New York City. How he hated this place. The crowd, the dirty, mixed smell of trash, body odor, and pollution that he couldn’t escape. He wanted to be back in Oregon, back to Archie’s mansion outside the city where he could breathe the air. Shaking his head, he began to walk away, not caring which direction he went.
“Hey, stop! Connor!” The sound of loud footsteps coming closer made him grit his teeth. Fucking Quinn. How did he know?
“Yo, stop! C’mon, man, don’t make me chase you!” Quinn called.
Connor stopped dead in his tracks and cursed. “What do you want?” he asked without turning around.
“Why’d you run out like that?” Quinn asked, stepping in front of him. “C’mon, don’t be like that. How long were you in there, anyway? Did you see?” His brother’s grin was as wide as the Grand Canyon. “I asked Selena to marry me. And she said yes.” He laughed. “Can you believe it? Me, a married man? Meredith’s gonna freak the fuck out. I can’t wait to tell her.”
“Yeah, well, congrats, man.” He turned away, but Quinn stopped him by putting a hand on his arm.
“Where are you going? Come back. Join us. Celebrate. Have a beer or two.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” Quinn challenged. “Look, I won’t tell Evie you’ve been following her.”
“I’m not,” he said flatly.
“Then what were you doing in there?”
Fuck. “None of your goddamn business.”
Quinn let out an exasperated sigh. “Look, you’re right. Whatever is going on between you two isn’t any of my business. But if you want her, you should just go for it. Just ask her out, like a normal person. And quit it with the creepy stalker thing. Girls don’t like that.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Normal person. Yeah, right.
“Fine,” Quinn said. “Keep denying it and keep trying to stay away from Evie. See where that gets you. But you know you won’t be able to get away from her since you’re going to be my best man and she’s going to be Selena’s maid of honor.”
“Oh, fuck no,” Connor protested. “No fucking way.”
“Awww, don’t be like that, Connor. You’re my brother. There’s no one else I’d rather have next to me when I walk down the aisle.”
“Ask Killian then.”
“Killian’s too busy to do best man stuff, with a kid coming and all,” Quinn reasoned. “C’mon, please?”
Connor let out another growl. “Fine. But don’t ask me to make a speech or talk to people. You know I hate that shit.
“Connor, you hate everything,” Quinn pointed out.
“Right. I gotta go.”
“Where are you going?”
“I got stuff to do.”
“And what is that?”
Revenge, Connor thought to himself. The only thing that would satisfy the animal inside him. “Just stuff.” He walked away from Quinn, ignoring his brother’s calls. It was time, he thought. He was going to start tonight, beginning with a list of names inside the manila envelope in his safe back at the hotel. He already knew the first person on that list who would be meeting the feral wolf.