Rick

 

Austin’s number lit up Rick’s phone. He was at the casino frantically trying to deal with losing Dave as his manager. Rick didn’t feel any remorse over what he had done to Dave. He felt betrayed, and was still angry especially now that he was knee-deep in applications for a new manager. Not to mention he had to make up for the workload that Dave usually handled. More than anything, Rick was nervous he would hire another chameleon. Austin called again.

“Yeah,” Rick answered, continuing to read the resume in front of him.

“I think Greg’s my chameleon,” Austin said, his tone dark and void.

Rick tossed the resume down and leaned back in his chair. Greg and Austin were as close as Rick had been to Dave. He felt the betrayal rip through his body for his friend. Rick’s bear growled, more than ready to fight on Austin’s behalf.

“What do you need from me?” Rick asked.

“Meet me at the bar. Call the others. Call everybody.” Then the line went dead.

Rick immediately started to dial his phone and ring the others. Then he put Justin in charge of contacting the others in the pack that weren’t immediate pack members. His assistant, Danielle, stuttered and begged for him not to leave. He knew she was taking the brunt of people’s annoyance at his absence. He would reward her with a handsome raise once his life calmed down. He told her if there was a decision she felt comfortable making, to make it. He’d sort it all out later. With that, he left.

He thought to call Stella, but decided against it. The healer in her would want to help Greg, or at least keep him alive. Rick knew Austin had other plans. He hit the gas, urging his truck faster on the interstate. When he finally skidded into The Kamp parking lot he saw the others’ trucks there as well.

When he walked inside, they were all huddled at their table. Rick grabbed a beer and then joined them.

“I called Greg and asked him to come over. He’s been sick for a while now. I don’t think it’s that. I think whatever Stella did to the bar, it’s keeping him away.”

“Do you think he’ll show?”

“I told him I had lost my key and I just needed him to bring me his.”

Rick nodded, taking a long drink of his beer. The ice-cold liquid felt good against his body, which was warm with anger. Stella called him, but he ignored it.

“Does Kate know you’re here?” he asked, knowing that eventually Stella would start calling the women.

“Yes, she knows my suspicions. She’s at home with the baby.”

Rick nodded again. Kate could fill Stella in on what was happening. Hopefully by then they would be done, and she wouldn’t be needed. A crack of thunder sounded outside. It had been beautiful when Rick walked in, but that was New Orleans. One minute it was beautiful, the next the rain would pour down for days.

“He’s here,” Austin said.

Austin stood and walked to the door. He motioned for the others to stay behind. They did as he asked, but they kept the door open and stood close. Chameleons were tricksters, and they couldn’t be trusted. If Greg had been suspicious of anything he could easily have other chameleons with him. As soon as Greg got out of his car, Rick’s bear growled. A growl rolled through the room as he realized they were all uneasy.

Rick felt that something bigger was around them. He felt Stella through their mate bond.

“Rick, you cannot let Austin confront Greg,” she pleaded.

Rick tried to shut the mate bond down. Stella surged through, pushing her power into him. He could feel her fear.

“Greg is a chameleon. He chose his own death.”

“Greg’s not the chameleon, Rick. He’s the handler. He’ll kill Austin. He’ll kill you all!”

Rick stumbled forward just as Greg roared to life in his true form. Then all hell broke loose.