Chapter Two
Logan pulled his Dodge truck up in front of the bar and shut off his headlights, letting the vehicle idle as he stared at the front of the Den. It didn’t look like much. Logan didn’t know what he’d actually expected, but the rundown wood building wasn’t it.
During the drive, he’d had his computer running searches on the two shifters who were his suspects, plus anyone with a known connection to them. There wasn’t much information about Calvin Montgomery—only that he’d grown up in Wyoming and graduated from high school there. He’d then moved moving on. He’d worked various types of labor jobs before finally settling in Brookside.
Douglas ‘Duffy’ Gordon owned a tattoo shop in Brookside, although his home address was the bar. His mother had been killed several years ago by his father and he’d gone to live with an uncle.
Neither man had any criminal record, so Logan wasn’t sure how’d they gotten mixed up with a fox troop.
The other name that had popped up in his research was that of Mackenzie Gordon. Mackenzie had served twelve years in the US Army before buying property in Brookside. He owned the land the bar sat on, along with Duffy’s tattoo shop, plus a couple of other buildings. He’d made a life for himself and his nephew. Logan admired what Mackenzie had accomplished. But he had to push that aside and find a missing girl.
He’d pulled over right before he’d reached the town population sign and changed clothes. Luckily, since he did quite a bit of driving and he never knew when he’d be called out to an investigation, Logan kept a packed bag in his trunk. He’d figured he’d get a warmer welcome in jeans and a T-shirt than his suit.
Logan turned off the engine then opened the door and climbed out.
The first thing that caught his attention was the abundant mixture of shifter scents. Several different species.
A chill raced up his spine. It was not common for shifters to congregate together. Too many dominant urges and fearful responses. The predators and the prey. Logan picked up the scent of both here.
This was a very interesting town.
He strode to the door with long, sure strides. He was one of the most powerful shifters in the world. He was also a trained agent of the Shifter Coalition, and he had a mission.
There was no one hanging around, so he pulled open the wide door, preparing himself for anything. Stepping inside, Logan relaxed immediately. There was no threat waiting to jump out at him. Instead, he walked inside a regular-looking bar. Music played quietly from a jukebox in the corner. The décor was mostly rock-and-roll memorabilia and neon beer manufacturer signs.
A few people glanced up at him then returned to what they’d been doing before he’d entered. No one appeared to care much about him.
Two coyotes, bobcat, bird of some kind… He noted all the different species of shifters quickly. There was even a human drinking a dark ale. Unbelievable. Logan stalked toward the bar, where a breathtaking black-haired beauty was cleaning glasses. She glanced up at him, giving him a long once-over, and smiled.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
There’d been interest in her gaze. A slow curl of arousal spiraled down his spine to settle into his balls. What a lovely find here in the middle of nowhere. He gave her his best grin. “Whatever you have on tap,” he replied, taking a seat on one of the stools. He breathed deeply. Feline. Good, but there was a tint of something he couldn’t place. An unusual aroma of…bark? He didn’t know what he picked up.
“You got it,” she said.
When she turned around and bent to grab a cold pilsner from a cooler, he couldn’t resist checking out her ass. It was a very nice ass. She poured the gold liquid from the tap for him with expertise.
Before he got distracted by his cock or curiosity about her animal, he angled himself so he could look around the room. The bar wasn’t big, with only half a dozen men drinking. He didn’t spot the men he was looking for.
“Here you go.” The bartender slid his beer in front of him. “Get you anything else?”
“You sell food here?” He probably should have stopped on the road and picked up some fast food, but he hated eating and driving. Actually, he hated having any kind of food in his truck. He’d grown up in filth and would never live that way again.
“Sure do.” She reached under the counter and pulled out a laminated menu. “My name’s Annabelle. Just holler whenever you’re ready to order.”
“Thanks.” She really was quite pretty, with her long dark hair cascading down her back, and bright, expressive green eyes. Her makeup was heavy around her eyes, but the flawless skin seemed natural. Annabelle was probably in her mid-twenties, which put her at least five years younger than him. He considered making a play for her, but he needed to concentrate on the job first. There would be time later.
She nodded, picking up a coffee pot then walking out from behind the bar. A large man with a full beard and a sharp gaze sat at a table in the corner with an unopened book in front of him. Logan hadn’t even noticed the biker, which made him uneasy. Years of training had taught him to be aware of his surroundings, to know when a threat was near, and he’d somehow missed the biggest danger in the room.
Logan swiveled around to face the bar but kept his eyes on the mirror behind the bottles. He could track Annabelle’s movements as she stopped by several tables, saying a few words while making her way to the lone guy.
The man watched Logan, though. Their gazes met in the mirror. Logan sat still, waiting. If there was going to be trouble, then it would be with this guy.
Annabelle reached the table and poured coffee into a white ceramic mug. The biker said something to her, causing her to lean down to hear him better. Logan ignored the glimpse of her breasts from her low-cut top. Or at least, he tried to. Sitting with an erection was not comfortable, but he had bigger worries at the moment.
Her gaze shifted to him before she nodded and straightened.
Logan wasn’t surprised when she walked directly behind the bar. She set the coffee pot back and turn to him.
“Did you decide?” she asked.
That wasn’t what he expected her to say. Caught off guard, he simply nodded. He hadn’t actually even looked at the menu, so he glanced down quickly.
“Can I get a bacon cheeseburger with everything and fries?” he requested.
“Sure.” She took the menu from him, replacing it under the counter. “I’ll put your order in. If you want to take your beer over,” she nodded in the direction of the biker, “Mac would like to speak to you.”
“Mac?” he questioned.
“He owns the place,” she said as she left him. Her demeanor had changed. She no longer looked at him with interest, but instead concern filled her gaze.
Ah, Mackenzie Gordon. The photo Logan had seen was an old one, from when Mac had still been in the service. Mackenzie was almost unrecognizable now.
Logan picked up his glass then slid off the stool. He kept his gaze on Mac’s as he sauntered across the room. Mac lifted his head and nodded toward the seat opposite him.
“Have a seat, Agent.”
It took all his control not to flinch in surprise. Instead he pulled out the chair and sat. “Good evening.”
“Well, it was,” Mac said. “Until a member of the Coalition showed up in my bar.” Mac leaned forward and his gaze hardened. “What’s the Coalition want here?”
Suspicious fucker. Logan liked that. “Can’t a guy stop in for a beer?”
“The closest office is over an hour from here,” Mac said. “Try again.”
Logan leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “How’d you know?”
“I have my ways,” Mac replied.
Logan snorted. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”
“It’s my job to protect the shifters in this town,” Mac told him. “I take that responsibility seriously.”
“Quite a bit of responsibility,” Logan stated in disbelief. “For one man.” He sniffed. “Even if you are a bear.”
Mac didn’t appear impressed. “I have help,” he admitted. “A pack of sorts.”
“Your bartender is feline and the woman in the kitchen some sort of bird. I’ve also picked up hyena, deer and wolf strongly. They’re here a lot.”
“Yes, and it works,” Mac said. “Without any interference from the Coalition.”
Okay, so Mac had issues with authority. Logan wasn’t really that surprised. “I’m not here to cause you any problems.”
This time Mac snorted. “You just being here is a problem. So I’ll ask you again, what do you want?”
He was disappointed but wouldn’t let it show. The place was so interesting and he wanted to learn more about it and its occupants, especially the pretty little waitress.
Logan leaned forward to pull his cellphone out of his back pocket. He scrolled through his email until he got to the picture of Samantha Jones, then slid the device across the table.
Mac reached down and picked it up.
“Have you seen her?” Logan questioned.
“No,” Mac replied, looking him in the eye.
Logan didn’t detect any dishonesty. When someone lied, it was easy to tell. Their body gave off signs. Mac’s heartbeat hadn’t changed, he wasn’t sweating and there was no change of pitch in his voice. Still, Logan knew Mac was hiding something. He just didn’t know what or why.
“Bacon cheeseburger and fries,” Annabelle said, coming up behind him.
“Thank you,” he told her, leaning back so she could set his plate down. Before she left, he reached and snagged his cell back from Mac. “Have you seen this woman?”
Annabelle took the phone from him, brushing her fingers against his. Her eyes widened at the touch and she actually shivered. Damn. He bit down a growl. He didn’t know what kind of feline she was, but the lion inside him wanted to see her submit to him. Logan licked his lips, leaning forward. Annabelle stared at him in surprise. Oh yeah, he liked the way she eyed him.
“Ah-hem.” Mac cleared his throat and Annabelle recoiled from him.
Logan glared at the bear shifter and tapped the photo on his cell. “Have you ever seen her before?”
Annabelle glanced down and frowned. “No, should I have?”
“I guess not,” Logan said, retrieving his phone. Again, he didn’t detect any dishonesty. She didn’t look away from him, didn’t glance toward Mac. So why did Logan still feel that they had been prepared for him? Like they’d expected to see him. There hadn’t been any surprise on Mac’s part.
“I’ll get you another beer,” Annabelle said, hurrying off with a faint blush to her cheeks.
“That was interesting,” Mac commented.
Logan watched Annabelle until she was behind the bar before he turned his attention back to Mac. “Is this where you warn me away from her?”
“I won’t have to,” Mac said. “She doesn’t know who you are, but when she learns, you won’t stand a chance.” He rose then. “Enjoy your meal.”
Mac strode across the room, heading toward the kitchen. Logan really wanted to follow him and demand more answers. To see where he went. What are these people hiding? Instead, he pulled his plate closer to him. Mac might have left, but that did give Logan full access to the woman.
“Do you need anything else?” Annabelle asked, setting his fresh beer down.
“Some answers,” Logan requested.
“Answers?” she repeated slowly.
“How long have you worked here?”
Annabelle’s head snapped up. “What?”
“I believe you heard the question.” He was growing tired of this game. Yes, he was an agent, but he was also a powerful shifter. Respect, especially from another feline, should be given. It took all his control not to order Annabelle to do his bidding. It was hard, but he did manage to push down the instinct. He wasn’t a bully. He might have grown up around assholes who abused their power, but he wasn’t like them. He’d joined the Coalition to prove himself better than them. He relaxed his shoulders and tried to smile. He’d been too harsh, he knew, but before he managed to apologize, she spoke.
“Why are you asking me that?” She took a step back. “Who are you?”
Annabelle deserved to know why he was there, too. Guess I’ll find out if what Mac said is true. He pulled out his wallet and flipped it open, revealing his badge. “Agent Logan Coldwell, Shifter Coalition.”
She paled while jumping away. “A cop?”
“An agent, actually,” he corrected gently. “And I’m looking for the woman I showed you a picture of earlier. Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”
“I haven’t,” she said quietly. “She’s very pretty. I’m sure if she came in here, I would remember.”
“Did you work last night?” he questioned.
“Yes,” she said. “And she didn’t come in.”
“What about Calvin Montgomery or Douglas Gordon? Did they come in?”
He’d hoped to catch her off guard. She tilted her head and the frown returned. “No. I closed up at two and went to bed half an hour later. They didn’t come in while I was on shift.”
“You live close by?”
“I live here,” she answered.
“Here? At the bar?”
“There’s living quarters in the rear. Yes, I live here in the bar,” she said.
“And your relationship to Mac?” he asked. It was more of a personal question than professional, but he’d wrap it up in business.
“How’s that any of your concern? Why are you asking about Cal and Duffy?”
Logan shook his head. “Everything is part of Coalition business.”
The change took over immediately. Her bright-green eyes dimmed while she clenched her jaw. “No, it’s not. We’re none of your concern. So why don’t you finish your dinner and move along? Or I could pack it up for you to take with you.”
She whirled on her heel and stomped toward the bar.
He’d obviously worn out his welcome. Which was a shame, since it was the best first bite he’d ever had. The flavor of the meat burst on his tongue and he took another bite before he’d even swallowed the first.
As he shoveled food down his throat, he kept an eye on his surroundings. No one else had entered the bar, but at least one table had cleared out. Mac hadn’t shown back up, but now that Logan knew the place had living quarters, he didn’t expect to see the other man again. He hadn’t spotted Calvin or Douglas, but he needed to return to his office and regroup before he came back and asked about them.
Logan had the feeling that he’d stumbled onto something more than just a missing woman. There was no scent or sign of a fox shifter, so if they did have her, they weren’t holding her at the bar. He’d drive by the tattoo shop and the other locations Mac owned before heading out of town.
He took a long drink of his beer, eyeing Annabelle. Whether or not they wanted him to, Logan would be returning soon.
Annabelle held it together until the Coalition agent left the bar. She went to the window and watched as he climbed into a dark-blue Dodge truck and drove away. Out of habit, she memorized his license plate number.
Once the agent—Logan, he’d said his name was—had pulled out of the parking lot, she spun on her heel and stalked toward Mac’s room. Kelly started to stay something as Annabelle strode through the kitchen, but she held up a hand to stop her.
She passed by the other closed doors until she reached Mac’s. Annabelle burst into the room.
Mac glanced up from the book he’d been reading on his bed. “Is he gone?”
“A Coalition agent?” she shrieked. “What are we going to do?”
“Relax.” Mac tossed his book to the end of the bed. “He doesn’t know anything.”
“He asked questions!”
“Hey! Come here.” Mac caught her hand and drew her down next to him.
“They might find her,” Annabelle said. This was all getting messed up. They’d always guaranteed safety and protection. They had never failed.
Mac had worked all night to find a place for Samantha and in planning for Calvin and Duffy to get back on the road.
Samantha had been extremely thankful as Calvin and Duffy had loaded up one of the SUVs to drive her to Missouri. She’d never been away from the west coast. The area that Samantha would be settled in had beautiful green fields in the summer and got snow in the winter. The farmhouse where she would live needed some fixing up, but she’d even been excited about that. Annabelle wanted Samantha to raise her baby in that wonderful environment.
“What if he knows I lied?” she asked.
They’d never had this kind of trouble before. Sure, the cops had sniffed around and asked questions, but never had the Coalition gotten involved.
“It’s going to be okay,” Mac assured her, rubbing her back as she leaned against him. “Have I ever let anyone hurt you?”
“It’s not me I’m worried about,” she told him.
“You really connected with Samantha, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “She’s already lost one baby, but she’s determined to give the one she’s carrying a great life. When I spoke to her this morning, she really believed she was getting a fresh start. I don’t want the Coalition to take that away from her.”
“They won’t,” Mac said. “This agent is here because of Samantha’s ex. He’s a sheriff and using his authority to try and intimidate us. He could have come after us, but instead he’s using the Coalition.”
“Do you think it’s over?” Please, please let us not have to worry about the Coalition.
“No, honey,” Mac said. “But I don’t think this agent even knows what he’s searching for. He thinks that we took Samantha against her will. We’ll let him poke around and he won’t find anything.”
“What about Cal and Duffy?” she asked.
They were her brothers and if they were going to get in trouble, she had to do something to help them.
“They’ll be fine,” Mac said. “There’s no proof that they did anything other than give her a ride. There’s no evidence.”
She nodded. This wasn’t the first time they’d had to go up against opposition, but normally it was the abusive spouse, the human hunter or someone like that. She was scared of the Coalition. They had the resources to stop Mac’s underground network.
“Do you want to talk about the other thing bothering you?”
She stiffened. Annabelle wasn’t going to deny what she was trying to push down.
“Look at me,” he urged, gently grasping her chin and lifting her face.
“I’m so sorry!”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he said.
She shook her head. “I was attracted to him.” Annabelle whispered the confession even though no one else was close enough to hear. Her face heated and she lowered her head in shame.
Mac chuckled. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Sure,” she said and snorted in disbelief.
“He’s a very good-looking man. Dominant and confident. Just the way you like them.”
Annabelle frowned. “A little too clean-cut.”
“Really?” Mac teased. “Because the way your heartbeat quickened, I—”
“Okay.” She held up her hand. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I think we should, though.”
“Why?” She didn’t understand why Mac was pressing her. “It’s not like I’d actually get involved with a Coalition agent. That goes against everything we do.”
“Does it?”
He sounded so serious that she had to glance up at him. Why was he confusing the issue?
“If he found out what we do here…” She shuddered just thinking about the implications.
Mac had spent his entire life protecting those who needed it.
“You’re going to have to open up to someone at some time. Your reaction to this Agent Coldwell was the most intense and instant I’ve seen from you. That’s not something you can just dismiss.”
“You’re reading too much into a few minutes with a stranger,” Annabelle accused. Her words sounded false even to her own ears, but she had to ignore that. “And I’ve been attracted to plenty of men before.”
“No,” Mac said. “You hook up with guys who you consider safe. Ones who’ll be gone in a few weeks. I don’t think you’ve ever felt any real connection with any of them.”
“Ugh,” she muttered. “You make me sound like a slut.”
Mac laughed. “Since we both know you’ve slept with less than a handful of men, that’s not true. And I’m not even talking about sex. I’m talking about a connection.”
“You’re talking nonsense,” she told him. Annabelle stood before staring down at him. “But you did take away my worry, so I’ll let you get away with it this time.”
“Where you going?” Mac rose as well.
“To protect my family.”
He caught her hand when she turned around. “How?”
Annabelle smiled at the concern in his voice. “I’m going to learn everything I can about the enemy.”
Mac grinned, probably since he’d taught her that. “Okay.”
She kissed his cheek and headed for the door, which still stood open.
“I’ll watch the bar,” Mac said.
“I’m sure Kelly is keeping an eye out,” she said. “She saw me headed back here.”
“Go downstairs,” Mac ordered. “I know you’re dying to get started.”
She really was. Now that she had a plan, Annabelle might forget all about her damn attraction to the Coalition agent and ensure Samantha’s safety. “Thanks.”
As she jogged down the hall toward the hidden door, she heard Mac’s laughter. It didn’t matter, though. She wasn’t going to sit idly while a threat loomed against them. Too much work had gone into the underground network they’d set up.
While disengaging the locks to the hidden area, she thought of all the shifters who’d come through here. At fourteen, she hadn’t actually understood, but as she’d grown up, Mac had involved her more and more in the group. She was now his number two and he didn’t keep secrets from her. She gave him the same respect. He was the father that she’d never had and the guardian she’d needed. Mac had cared about what happened to her. Had taught her, Duffy and all the others that they could make a difference. That it was okay to lean on one another.
That hadn’t been easy for Annabelle. While she’d connected with the seven-year-old Duffy, she’d been wary of the rest. Mac had stayed just close enough to offer support, but at the same time, giving her plenty of space. It was a balance that Annabelle still hadn’t managed. Slowly, the others who’d hung around the edges had become the family that she now had.
She needed to get control and this was a way she would be able to do that.
Once through the security door, Annabelle strode toward Carter. He was working on a laptop, the piece of equipment in several parts. She glanced at the pink top.
“Is that mine?”
Carter jumped before looking at her with a guilty face. “I’m fixing it.”
She knew her mouth hung open, but shit. “It wasn’t broken.”
“I’m making it better.” He sniffed and pushed his black-rimmed glasses up his nose.
She growled, snatching a pen and notepad off the desk. “I need you to do something for me.”
Carter perked up. “Cool. What is it?”
Annabelle wrote down Logan’s name and license plate number. “I need everything, and I mean everything, on this guy.” She tore off the piece of paper and handed it to him.
“Okay.” He took it from her then turned to his own computer. He typed fast. She could barely keep up with the movement as his fingers flew over the keyboard.
She knew better to rush him, although it was killing her to pace the room behind him. If she spoke to Carter, he’d snap at her, so she chewed on her lip instead.
“Fuck!”
Carter’s curse had her leaping to his side. “What?”
“A Coalition agent?”
“Yes,” she said. “He was at the bar earlier asking questions and we need to know everything there is to find.”
“Are you sure?” Carter asked, cracking his knuckles. It was a nervous tic and she gripped his shoulder.
“You don’t have to,” she said. “I don’t want you getting into trouble.”
“It’s not like I’ll get caught,” Carter told her. “I just haven’t ever tried getting information on a Coalition agent. The FBI, CIA and local cops, yes, but never the Coalition.”
“Maybe this is a bad idea,” she murmured. Annabelle didn’t like the doubt that formed and grew. Even if Logan was coming for them, that didn’t mean she should let Carter get into trouble.
Carter snorted. “Too late. I’m doing this.”
“Are you sure?” She sat on the edge of the desk.
“He was here? In our home?”
Annabelle nodded.
“Then I’ll get the Intel you want. I just need one thing.”
“Sure. What?”
“Leave,” he ordered.
“I’m sorry?” She couldn’t have heard him right.
“This is going to be some delicate hacking. I don’t need you hovering over my shoulder.”
“I don’t hover,” she defended.
“You do. All of you do,” Carter said. “Go order me something to eat and bring it to me when it’s ready. That should keep you out of my hair for a while.”
“You’re getting bossy,” she complained.
“Food!” he demanded with a grin.
“Fine.” She bussed a kiss on his cheek before walking toward the door. “But you better watch it. Anyone else might take a bite out of you.”
“Yeah.” Carter waved a hand but he’d already bent over his keyboard.
She knew she’d lost him. Nothing that was said would penetrate through Carter’s busy brain. He’d gone into work mode.
Annabelle climbed the stairs then let herself out of the security door. Once the barrier closed behind her back, she stilled, listening to make sure that everything was still okay on the main floor.
She heard Kelly humming in the kitchen. Annabelle headed for her friend so she could get Carter’s food ordered. She didn’t think that Kelly was cooking, instead leaving the job to the full-time employee, Micah. But if the owl shifter knew it was Carter wanting to eat, she’d probably demand to make it.
“Hey,” Annabelle said, entering the kitchen. Just as she suspected. Kelly sat on a bar stool as Micah flipped burgers on the grill.
“Are you okay?” Kelly asked as Annabelle stopped beside her. “Mac told me about the agent.”
“Yeah,” Samantha said. “I put Carter on it. He sent me down here for food.”
Her friend jumped off the stool. “I have a new vegetarian recipe I’ve wanted to try. You can help chop.”
“Oh, I was going to…” She waved toward the bar.
“Nope,” Kelly said, pushing her in the direction of the sink. “Wash your hands. Mac said he’d take care of the front of the house and I’m guessing Carter kicked you out of the basement, so you get to help me.”
Annabelle grumbled but complied before taking a seat on a stool and accepting the cutting board and knife Kelly handed her. While she managed to warm up food and actually made pretty good eggs, she tried to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible.
She didn’t want to help right then either, but she also didn’t have much of a choice. Everyone else was busy and she needed to keep her mind occupied so she didn’t start thinking about the sexy agent from earlier.
There was only so much she could do until Carter got her the Intel she needed.