Page 36 of To Hunt A Wolf
Not quite warm but not chilly either.
What a weird day it’s turning out to be.
“It’s been too long, darling,” he tells her.
She steps out of his embrace but allows him to keep his hand on her lower back as they both turn to me.
“And who’s this beauty?” he asks.
Behind him, the three men at the table look on with mild interest.
I meet his gaze. “I’m Mac,” I say.
“She’s my—”
“Apprentice,” I say, cutting my mother off.
I try to hide my horror at the fact that she was about to divulge our familial connection. Rule one of our work is that we never, ever tell business associates that we’re related.You don’t hand your enemy your greatest weakness, Mac. That’s what she always says. And now here she is breaking her own rule.
What the hell?
Who is this guy?
“Apprentice,” Franco repeats, brows raised. I wait for him to point out the physical resemblance between my mother and I, but he doesn’t. “And what can I do for you and your lovelyapprentice?” he asks my mother.
The way his voice catches on the last word makes me want to roll my eyes.
Fine, lying was pointless.
Whatever.
“Can’t I just stop by because I want to see an old friend?”
Franco laughs. It shakes his ample belly. “If only I could ever believe you to be the kind of woman who would do something so romantic.”
My mother smirks. “You know me well, Franco.”
“That I do.” He laughs again. “Come. Sit. Are you hungry? What can I get you to drink?”
He leads my mother toward his table. The three men make room. One of the guards pulls up a chair. I notice my mother’s subtle wave at me to stay put. Fine by me. I do my best work by being underestimated and unnoticed.
Changing direction, I march to the bar and slide onto the last stool. The second security guard rounds the bar behind me, splitting my attention.
“What’ll you have?” he asks.
He’s young. Probably only a year or two older than me. Handsome too. If my wolf weren’t mated…
But she is.
We are.
Dammit.
“What do you have to eat around here?” I ask.
If my mom can treat this place like a second home, it can’t be that dangerous. And my stomach is painfully empty.
The guy smiles. “The best spaghetti and meatballs you’ve ever had.”
