Alpha Unleashed by Kathy Lyon (17)

Alyssa gave all the files to Detective Kennedy, but his response wasn’t encouraging. He was a gang cop. He had no legitimate reason to be talking to the CDC and didn’t know anyone in authority who was shifter-aware. Worse, every cop was helping to contain the unrest as people began to feel the effects of the quarantine. The gangs were being especially violent, but so were bankers and soccer moms. And worse, by afternoon the news confirmed that a third wave of outbreaks was sweeping through the area. It was like the entire city was on edge and rather than pulling together, people were throwing knives at each other. Or bullets.

At least they’d managed to get a good lawyer. That was Kennedy’s recommendation, too, and he turned out to be young, handsome, and sharp as tack. He was there when Alyssa gave her statement and he sat by Simon, too. Apparently, he’d been up all night as members of the Griz gave their statements and bartered their deals for turning state’s evidence. It was a messy business and Alyssa did her best to keep up, but mostly, it was a Law & Order episode with too many people involved for her to keep straight. Plus, she’d never really liked that show because it always ended on a “life sucks” note.

Simon spent the whole day in that neutral expression place where his mind was a steel trap. Nothing escaped his notice, and no emotions leaked through. Similar to yesterday, he was a Spock-like machine as he answered questions, directed his people whenever possible, and didn’t give her anything more than orders. Not a soft look, not a gentle caress, not even a whispered “thank you.”

Years ago, she would have been hurt by his attitude. Now she just accepted it. After all, she understood what it was like to focus solely on getting stuff done. No distractions, no interference, and none of those pesky emotions clogging up the flow.

Great, except she’d just declared her love this morning. She’d said out loud that she was his. And no, she hadn’t expected him to drop onto his knee and swear eternal devotion. They’d been on the phone. But she’d thought he’d give her some sort of reaction if only a kiss. Something to say, I’m yours, too.

It hadn’t happened. He’d asked for updates on the cleaning crew and had her run through his email out loud with him. And when she was busy driving to the police station, he had her pull up a Sesame Street program on her phone so he could learn his alphabet. Instead of a declaration of love, she heard “C is for Cookie, that’s good enough for me.”

Don Juan, he was not.

And so they churned through the day. There were a thousand things to do at the Griz headquarters. And when Simon was closeted with Joey the accountant, Alyssa had to deal with a disaster at the laundry. People doing laundry were usually mellow. Especially ones who wandered down the street to get some pot. Not so today. A fistfight broke out over use of a dryer, and now Malik was nursing a broken nose and a bad attitude.

She’d sent him home, but that meant she had to cover his shift, which made Simon even more frustrated. He had to confess to Joey that he couldn’t read, and that meant one more person in on Simon’s biggest vulnerability. That made them both jumpy, but there was nothing she could do about it. The streets were heating up, grocery stores being the biggest battlegrounds. Everyone wanted food now. And gas. And a way to blow off steam after two more “monster” videos appeared on the Internet.

It was enough for her to beg Vic to stay in his apartment. Especially once the news hit that a guy with a too full beard was shot on the street because someone thought he was a monster. Scary times for everyone. So why was she obsessing like a teenage girl about whether her boyfriend loved her?

“Hey, are you sure Simon said the water was bad?”

Alyssa looked up from repairing a broken washing machine to see her brother coming in the laundromat front door. He was dressed in shorts and a tank and drinking from a refillable sports bottle.

“Yeah. Said we shouldn’t even shower in it.”

She looked closer at him. He’d been working out, probably running through the nearby park, and as she watched, he squeezed the last of his drink into his mouth.

“Really? Tastes fine to me.”

“Was that tap water?” she cried as she stood to face her brother.

“Yeah. Refilled at the drinking fountain.” Then he curled a lip at her. “Don’t get pissy. I needed to burn off some energy. I called Simon and since he didn’t need me, I thought I’d go for a run.” He sauntered around the busted washer and headed for the sink. Popping on the tap, he started refilling his bottle.

“You can’t drink that!” She grabbed for the bottle, but he elbowed her out of the way.

“It’s fine. Simon’s hyper.”

“Damn it, Vic, it’s serious!” She reached again for the bottle but he knocked her back. She stumbled backward into a machine, which was bad enough, but he followed her with a hand on her throat.

“I like it,” he hissed.

She stared at him, hardly daring to breathe. She was caught with the largest washing machine behind her and the hard length of her brother’s bigger, stronger, and definitely bad-smelling body. It was the BO that came with the monster, and she didn’t need the pinpricks of claws against her throat to see he was changing.

She had two choices. She could try and fight him, but he’d most likely take out her throat first. Or she could try to talk him down.

“Vic, what are you doing?” she rasped as calmly as she could. “Think.”

He wasn’t listening, and he wasn’t thinking. He leaned forward, his breath harsh in her face. “I like the water.” And then, out of spite, he turned the bottle upside down and squirted it in her face.

She sputtered while he laughed, and that gave her the opportunity. She pulled up her knee as hard as she could while simultaneously knocking aside his arm. The good news was that she nailed him hard.

He doubled over with wheezing gasps. The bad news was that he changed right there. Full-on monster, tearing his tee and stretching his shorts to breaking. He swiped at her, his jaw snapping loudly and too close to her face. The only thing that kept her from being disemboweled were his shoes. Too tight for his monster feet and he fell over while trying to walk.

Which is when it got immeasurably worse.

Ms. Turley came in. She was munching on a tin of cannabis-laced popcorn, but what she saw was Vic. And she started screaming and pointing.

“Run!” Alyssa screamed, but it didn’t work. The woman probably couldn’t hear her over her screeching. And then, Ms. Turley shifted as well. Right there in her muumuu, she suddenly sprouted fur and a muzzle. The screams became howls and her fingers became claws that dropped the popcorn in favor of swiping at Vic.

Vic spun, his nostrils flaring as he scented the new stench. He growled at the woman and she growled back.

“Stop it!” Alyssa screamed, but it was no use. The two were siting each other and whereas Vic was hobbled by his shoes, Ms. Turley had been in Crocs that were easily kicked aside. “Don’t you dare!” she bellowed at the woman. And when that didn’t work, she tried any of the other screams that had sometimes worked.

“Take it outside!”

“I’m calling the cops!”

“I don’t fucking believe this!”

Holy shit. She was hysterical, and that wasn’t going to stop her brother and a sweet old lady from attacking each other. Which is when she saw the fire extinguisher on the wall.

It was her only hope and she grabbed it like the lifeline it was. She popped the pin with fumbling fingers, then aimed and shot. She got Ms. Turley in the face and then she went for Vic. Both of them snarled at her and advanced, but she didn’t stop. It wasn’t exactly a water hose, but it was enough. Before long, the two were hissing and spitting on the slick floor. And while they were gasping for breath, she tried again to reach them.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Vic? You had it under control! And Ms. Turley, aren’t you hungry?” She scrambled around as fast as she could to grab the popcorn tin. Then she slid it across the floor straight into the woman’s side.

Ms. Turley’s nose started twitching and she looked over. A moment later, she was muzzle deep in the tin, eating without the use of her hands.

One down. One to go.

She glared at Vic who was wiping away the foam with hands, not claws. And that gave her hope.

“You in there Vic? You got it together yet?”

He didn’t answer. At least not at first. She caught a flash from his eyes as he glared at her, but he didn’t attack. Then he jerked himself around, flopping onto his ass as he grabbed at his shoes.

“Fucking things,” he muttered before he kicked them off.

She feared he would leap up and attack then. He had mobility. But instead, he leaned back against the side of coin machine and released a heavy sigh while he stretched out his feet.

Alyssa blew out a breath. “Vic? You in there?”

“I’m never wearing shoes again.”

She liked them. That was twice now that she’d managed to escape him because he was hobbled by his own shoes.

“You ready to listen?”

He scraped foam off his arm and chest then gave up the task as useless. “The water’s bad,” he said, his voice deadpan. “I drank a ton at the fountain and then refilled the bottle.”

“You said you liked it.”

“The monster likes it,” he said. Then he looked up at her, his brown eyes wide and rimmed with red. “The monster likes it a lot.” Then he turned to look at Ms. Turley. “She probably had it in her tea.”

Yeah. Ms. Turley enjoyed a pot of her Chinese herbs every morning and another in the afternoon. Especially during allergy season when her migraines were the worst. That’s why the woman bought the popcorn. She’d feel a headache coming on and reach for her tea and popcorn. Between the tea and the THC, she said her pains would dull enough that she could function.

“She’s okay right now,” Alyssa said. “I’m more worried about you.”

Vic looked up. “It’s like ants under my skin. Fire ants with pinchers. And yeah, I want to kill someone.” He took a deep breath. “I want to hurt whoever did this to me and to an old pothead like Ms. Turley.” He must have seen Alyssa tense because he shook his head. “I’m under control.”

“Yeah?” she challenged.

“Yeah.” Then he looked at Ms. Turley. “What are we going to do with her?”

Like she knew? But of course, she had the answer downstairs. “Let her finish the tin. That will quiet her enough to get her into one of the cages.”

He nodded as he slowly stood up. She couldn’t stop herself from tightening her grip on the fire extinguisher. If he went nuts again, it was her only defense. His eyes narrowed when he saw it, but then he sighed.

“I guess I should go in there with her.”

God, part of her wanted to say yes. When he went monster, he scared the hell out of her. But she needed him in control. And locking him up wasn’t going to give him the practice Simon said he needed. Which meant he had to make the choice himself.

“Do you feel like you’re going to lose it again? I mean, you just drank the stuff. Is it getting worse?”

He went quiet, obviously considering. She watched him close his eyes and his fists. He took a deep breath and then curled his lips in a growl. But he didn’t make any sound. Instead, he opened his hands and his eyes. “It’s close, Alyssa. I don’t want to hurt you. Or anybody.”

 “Then keep it together.” She took a deep breath, reaching for logic. “Look, the first couple times we had to knock you unconscious. But yesterday and now? You ended it yourself.”

He didn’t answer. He was looking at his hand, his teeth grinding as claws popped out and fur sprouted. And then, a moment later, they faded back. Human hand. Smooth skin. Then he opened his hand and flipped it over to show his very human palm and wrist.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? I mean, I’m kind of like Wolverine.”

She nodded, a slightly hysterical chuckle building in her throat. “Well, you kind of look like a black Hugh Jackman. If I squint. Or am really drunk.”

He snorted. “Please, I’m hotter than that guy any day.”

“Yeah, right,” she drawled. “Okay Mr. Clooney, help me get Ms. Turley downstairs.”

The woman had finished the popcorn tin and was now lying back with a soft smile on her doglike face. Definitely not a bear monster here, but either way, she needed to be contained even if it was just to keep her apart until her human face returned. Fortunately, she’d eaten enough popcorn that she’d be high as a kite for hours. Which meant when Vic squatted down and pulled her arm over his shoulder, she did little beyond a soft whine.

“Come on, Ms. Turley,” Vic said. “I’ve got brownies downstairs for you.”

“Not the brownies she likes,” Alyssa muttered. “That popcorn was the extra-large tin, you know. It usually lasts her a week.”

“I might have one or two in my apartment,” Vic said as he grunted under the woman’s weight. “I get the feeling that I’m going to need more control in the future, not less.”

She looked in her brother’s eyes and saw a growing maturity there. She hated that he was a…a whatever he was now. She didn’t like the risk or the uncertainty. But she couldn’t deny that the change had helped him grow up. He was acting more adult every second.

“Don’t know why you wanted pot to help you laze around the house doing nothing. You’ve been doing that since you were eight,” Alyssa said.

“Only because you kept picking at me. Play Barbies with me or I’ll cry. Waah waah.”

“Bullshit,” she retorted, smiling as they bickered all the way downstairs. It felt normal. She and Vic had sniped at each other from birth. The fact that it was happening now was reassurance that life could get back to normal. She hoped.

They locked up Ms. Turley with a bottled water and a blanket. Vic brought her a brownie and Alyssa found the woman’s purse and pulled out her phone. Five minutes later, Ms. Turley was streaming a romantic comedy and munching on brownies. She’d probably fall asleep halfway through the movie and be fine by morning.

Or at least that’s what Alyssa told herself. They went back upstairs while Alyssa considered suggesting Vic eat a brownie. Anything to counteract the effects of the tap water. But the moment they stepped into the laundromat, they both drew up short. Simon stood in the door frowning at the foam that covered a third of the floor. Beside him loitered Joey the accountant, as he unsuccessfully tried to hide his smirk.

The moment she entered, Simon’s gaze snapped up to hers. She felt her face heat in embarrassment and her belly flutter in lust. Clearly, she’d turned into a teenage girl. Fortunately, any tendency toward girlie giggles were rapidly killed as he scanned her from head to toe in the most clinically detached way possible.

“You’re all right.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.” She cut a glance at Vic, but he was already grabbing the mop, his face hidden as he spoke.

“The water is tainted,” Vic said, completely deadpan.

“I believe I told you that.”

“Actually,” Alyssa cut in. “I texted that to him, but now we know for sure.” She sighed. “And we’ve got Ms. Turley locked up downstairs. She’s not a threat. In fact, she’s high as a kite and as happy as someone who looks very doglike can be.”

“Wolf DNA,” Joey said, his tone filled with disgust.

Simon didn’t appear to hear the sneer as he nodded. “We believe that whatever is in the water activates shifter DNA. If you don’t have enough, you just feel sick.”

“You get the Detroit Flu.”

He nodded. “If you have more, then it activates and you become a kind of hybrid.” His gaze was on Vic who stiffened, but didn’t comment.

She started to move a washing machine over so that Vic could mop up all the foam. “What if you’re already a shifter?”

Surprisingly, it was Vic who answered, his gaze coming to rest Simon and Joey. “You get amped up, don’t you? I mean, I’m already a…a hybrid, but this is like bad E. I feel like I could go ten rounds against Ali. And I really, really want to.”

Simon watched her brother, his expression flat. And the longer he held Vic’s gaze, the more her brother flushed. Then suddenly her screwup of a sibling straightened into military correct posture, his shoulders back and his head lifted.

“I was an idiot, sir! I won’t disobey orders again.”

“See that you don’t. Now clean up this mess.”

Alyssa thought that her brother would argue, but he nodded sharply. “Yes, sir!” This must have been how he was in the army, and she had to say that the look was good on him. Meanwhile, Simon turned to Joey who was inspecting the empty tin of popcorn.

“Thanks for the ride, Joey—”

“Your mate’s a drug dealer and yet you want to shut down our operation. Don’t you think that’s a bit hypocritical?”

Alyssa stiffened. She’d already pegged Joey as one of those holier-than-thou pricks who sneered at the poor. He probably had roots in a slum worse than this neighborhood, until a little bit of money and education had pulled his family out of the gutter. But instead of extending a hand to help a neighbor or a cousin, they focused on how much better they were than anyone else. And that set her back up.

“I run a laundromat, asshole—” she began, but Simon was there before her, rounding on the smaller man and stepping so close into the guy’s personal space that Alyssa feared another brawl.

And yet when he spoke, he kept his voice coldly matter of fact. “She is not my mate,” he began. “And do not equate cannabis with what Nanook sold. They are not the same.”

“They’re all—”

“And do not interrupt.”

Joey shut his mouth, but it was pulled into a sullen pout.

“The time for discussion is past.”

“And when exactly was that?” Joey challenged.

“You made your case this afternoon. I have considered it and found it lacking.” His tone made it clear that he found Joey lacking as well. A sentiment that Alyssa cheered. “You may go now.”

Joey took a step back, but he was shaking his head as he moved. “You’re not in Hicksville anymore,” he sneered. “This is a mistake.”

“Then it is mine to make.” Simon glared down at the smaller man. “I expect a progress report by eight a.m. tomorrow.”

“Which you won’t be able to read.”

Simon arched a brow, but he didn’t argue. He didn’t have to. He was acting as a military commander and expected obedience. Problem was, Joey wasn’t a recruit. And he sure as hell hadn’t been taught when to keep his mouth shut.

“You’re making a mistake,” he repeated as he took a step toward the door. “And she,” he added, gesturing to at her with a dismissive wave, “is a disaster waiting to happen.” Then he curled his lip. “Just hope you’re not around when it all goes boom.”

And with that, he stepped outside and disappeared.

“Fucking poser,” Alyssa muttered when he was far enough away not to hear. “Are you sure you need him?”

“Yes. And he is not wrong. The cannabis is dangerous.”

“What?” Her voice was sharp and angry. She’d noted that he hadn’t claimed her as his girlfriend. Hell, he’d all but said they were nothing to each other and that had hurt so bad it had temporarily stolen her breath. So she’d buried it under a tide of righteous indignation. “Don’t you dare lecture me on the evils of marijuana, you asshole. Set aside the real medical benefits, I’ve never had a problem with someone who was high. Drunks, on the other hand? They get into bar fights, beat their wives, and drive into minivans of kids.” She made a wild gesture out the window. “Besides, I don’t sell it. I just don’t criminalize those who do.”

He listened to her tirade with that infuriatingly flat expression. And when she paused to take a breath, he spoke.

“With the tensions out there, the cannabis dealer is a target.”

“So are grocery stores. In fact, they’re worse. Do you know how many shootings there were today? Seven. Do you hear me? Seven.”

His mouth flattened. “Then you are in even greater danger.” He looked out the window at Mrs. Garcia’s house. “Her business will threaten yours.”

She took a breath to rip into him. Part of her knew that he was right, but she was still smarting from the way he’d dismissed her before. From the fact that he was taking the poser’s side instead of hers. From any lack of softness from him at all when she’d been tied in knots waiting to see him again. But before she could let any of it fly, he held up his hand.

“This is your choice. You will do with it what you will. I am tired, though. May I rest on your couch?”

He was tired? She was practically falling over from the work she’d done in the last two days. And good God, what was wrong with her? She’d turned into a screeching adolescent shrew. Except she wasn’t screeching, thank God. She was holding her words and her thoughts inside. And when he stared at her calmly, clearly waiting for an answer, she had the wherewithal to nod once. Then she dug her house keys out of her pocket and tossed them to him.

It wasn’t until he had left the room for her apartment that she realized Nanook’s apartment was furnished again. She’d gotten the basics in there—all new—and he’d said yesterday that he would stay there. As alpha, that was his home and he needed to stay there until his position was established.

So why was he here?

The teenage girl inside her was spouting all sorts of romantic nonsense as an answer, but she was an adult woman. She knew that if she’d been more than a hot screw, then there’d be more of a connection between them. More tenderness or communication or something that wasn’t issuing orders and a polite request to sleep on her couch.

And yet, she didn’t want to believe she was nothing to him. She couldn’t.

So she abruptly walked to her desk and wrote up a sign that she taped to the door.

It likely wouldn’t help, but at least she’d made an effort. Then she locked the door and turned to her brother.

“Can you finish in here?”

Vic nodded, but he sighed as he looked at her. “Don’t push Simon. He doesn’t work like normal people.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that he hates drama. And girlfriend drama is the worst kind.”

“Didn’t you hear him? I’m not his girlfriend.”

“I heard.” Vic started pushing the mop again. “But I don’t think you did.”

She wanted to curse her brother out for that. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t know shit about what was happening between her and Simon. But she held back her words. Because obviously she didn’t know shit, either. And it was past time for her to find out.