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JARCEE DROVE TO THE art museum fully aware he was being followed. A few hours earlier, he’d woke and had a long conversation with La Patron, sharing what happened in his dream.

La Patron agreed with “Grandfather” to a point. There were things he wouldn’t do for anyone, but he appreciated Jarcee’s willingness to keep his mate and the pack from a compromising position.

When he mentioned the idea of flirting with someone to give the illusion of moving on, Silas suggested Renee. Since Jarcee had bounced Renee on his knee, he balked.

“Storm and Renee would consider it an honor to help you this way. Talk to them about it before saying no. When Faye returns, she’ll meet Renee, attend the wedding and understand that this was part of the ruse.” When La Patron put it like that, it made sense and was difficult to refuse.

Just as her father predicted, Renee was super-excited to play her role in saving Jarcee’s mate. Storm agreed to the ruse and would be on the grounds when Jarcee arrived.

Jarcee pulled into the parking lot of the museum. Three cars were in the over-sized lot that normally held hundreds of cars this time of day. The museum really was a jewel in the Nation’s crown and it was regretful it had been attacked.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out the truck, locked it and walked toward the employee entrance. He sensed the car that had been following him had stopped short of the parking lot. Security confirmed his assessment. Renee opened the door, threw her arms around his neck and pulled him inside. It was a brief moment that probably looked worse than it was.

Renee and Jackie often greeted him that way and given their history, no one thought anything about it. Until now.

Laughing Renee grabbed his hand and pulled him down the corridor toward her workstation where Storm waited.

“They’re sitting in the car watching,” Storm said taking Renee’s free hand and pulling her in for a quick kiss.

Jarcee sat in the chair and ran his hand through his hair. Faye filled his thoughts. What was going on? Were they doing more tests? Would she come home today? Tomorrow?

“Hey, Jarcee,” Renee said looking at him. “Daddy’s got eyes and ears on her. Soon as they get information, you’ll know. Okay?”

He nodded but didn’t speak. Even though he understood, neither he nor his beast liked it. They both wanted their mate with them.

“They just pulled into the parking lot,” Storm said, sounding surprised. “And the passenger is getting out. Ballsy today.” He looked at Jarcee. “What do you want to do? Should I get the door, or do you want the honors?”

Jarcee wanted to grind them into dust for what they were putting Faye through, but he’d given her his word to not interfere with her job. He stood and walked to the side entrance where he’d entered.

The buzzer had gone off a couple times before he opened the door and stared down at the human. Jarcee stepped out and crossed his arms.

“What do you want?”

The guy stared up at him a couple seconds. “When does the museum open again?”

Jarcee pointed to the “Closed until further notice sign.”

“Oh, I see. Well, thank you, um... my name’s John.” He held out his hand.

Jarcee looked at his hand and then at the man. “What’re you doing?”

John dropped his hand and rubbed it against his pant leg. “Just being friendly.”

“Why?” Jarcee sounded as confused as he looked.

John shrugged. “Just something polite. Say hello and exchange names.”

“No, it’s not,” Jarcee said, pleased when John’s cheeks reddened. He looked at the driver and then back at John. “What do you guys want? Are you scoping out the museum?”

“What? No. We’re just looking around.” John looked at the guy in the car and then back at Jarcee.

The guy stepped out the car and walked over to them. He placed his hand on John’s shoulder and looked up at Jarcee. “My name’s High, you know why we’re here, don’t you?”

“No, I don’t.” He wondered if this was Faye’s boss.

“Faye.”

It took everything in Jarcee to leash his beast and not respond. He frowned. “Faye?”

“Yes, she lives with you,” High said.

“I know who she is, I’m trying to understand why you’re here because of her,” Jarcee snapped.

The two men stepped back and stared at him.

Inwardly, Jarcee cursed and forcibly dialed it down a notch. “She told you to come here?” He looked around as if she might be hiding behind a bush or something.

High frowned. “No. She’s out of town. Haven’t you talked to her?”

“Not since she left for work yesterday morning,” Jarcee said, pleased his voice normalized. “Is that why you’re here? Because she left town or something?” He looked from one to the other.

“Is there someplace we can talk?” High asked.

“We are talking,” Jarcee said.

“Someplace a little more private,” High said looking around.

“This is fine, why are you here? You never explained that” Jarcee said.

“Are you dating Faye?” High asked.

Jarcee looked at him but didn’t answer.

“She won’t get in trouble, we just need to verify her story,” High said and asked the question again.

Jarcee exhaled and crossed his arms over his chest. Idiots, he thought, hearing the clicks on their phones as they recorded the conversation.  He turned to return inside.

“Wait,” High said.

Jarcee looked over his shoulder at the man.

“I apologize for this. Can I ask a few more questions?”

“Depends.”

“How tall are you?”

“Seven feet, you?” Jarcee asked.

High smiled. “Five, ten. Is it common for pack members to date humans?”

“I don’t know anything about that,” Jarcee said.

“Is Faye in any danger?” High asked.

The question jolted Jarcee. “Not from me. I don’t know anything about the group she works with.”

“What are the chances I can have a sit down meeting with La Patron?”

“Zero.”

“You know him?”

“Everyone in this area knows him,” Jarcee scoffed.

“Not personally. He doesn’t visit everyone,” High said.

“He doesn’t?” Jarcee said, sounding surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

“Faye says she met La Patron and his wife at your home, is that true?”

“If that’s what she told you, then it’s true,” Jarcee said enjoying the guy’s discomfort over not being able to pin him down.

“That’s not an answer.”

“Of course it is.” Jarcee took another step to the door.

“She says she loves you,” High threw out.

Jarcee smelled the lie and hint of desperation. “Really?” he grinned. “That’s cool. When’s she coming back?” He kept that sickening, self-satisfied grin on his face until High answered his question.

“Today, possibly tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll be glad to see her.” High glanced at the door. “If you have time.” He turned and headed back to the car.

“Hey man,” Jarcee called before High slid behind the wheel. “Thanks for the heads up, the whole love deal. Much appreciated.”

High nodded and a few moments later pulled off.

Jarcee returned inside and leaned against the door. His stomach rolled.

“You okay?” Renee asked placing a cold bottle of water into his hand.

“Yeah. Such liars,” he muttered and took a sip.

“You were great, though,” Renee said bouncing. “Since I know you, I could tell you wanted to drop kick them into next week, but you came across almost bored. It was epic.”

Jarcee released a breath. “Thanks, I was sure I’d blown it, but they were so damn transparent. I don’t think they had a plan if I talked to them and tried to wing it.”

“They weren’t prepared,” Storm said joining them. “The driver is the one in charge. Hawke is running their photos, we should know more about them soon.”

Jarcee nodded. “Thanks. A couple of them were snooping around the house when I left to come here, Security took care of them.” He wiped his face with his palm. “This needs to end soon.”

Renee hugged him. “It will. I’m so sorry this happened and can’t wait to meet Faye, my new god-mother.”

Jarcee chuckled and placed a kiss on the top of her head. “Don’t run her off so soon. You four are a hand-full at any age.”

“I know, right. If she wasn’t in the military, this would be much easier. Daddy says she plans to retire soon, do you know when?”

“No. She just said this was her last job.”

That was something they’d talk about tonight. This separation was hard on both of them but being together last night helped.