I looked around the empty flat I’d broken into and nodded in satisfaction. Situated squarely in the area served by Leo’s precinct, it was the perfect location. The small fire I’d set in the sink was burning away merrily, fed by a few squirts of accelerant.
Of course, there was a chance that a firefighter other than Leo would storm in to save the day, but I’d been watching his shift pattern for the past two days and noticed one key thing.
Leo and his wolf shifter friend were always first through the door on a callout. They were either suffering from massive hero complexes or were trying to protect the others on their crew who weren’t immortal.
Either way, it was pretty pathetic, but it suited my needs well.
Sure enough, when the door was kicked open, it was Leo and Danny who entered.
“You took your time,” I muttered grumpily, pouring the bucket of water I had ready over the flames. “If I were human I would’ve died from smoke inhalation three minutes ago.”
Danny ripped his mask off to reveal his snarl. “What the fuck are you playing at?”
“Simmer down, pup,” I said, noting the way his whole body was vibrating. For obvious reasons, wolf shifters were the supes I had the least time for. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”
Crossing the room, I threw open the windows to let the smoke billow out. Once it had cleared, I gestured to Leo. “You can take your mask off now. And stay calm. I’d like to have this conversation without your fiancé removing my spine.”
Danny snarled. “He doesn’t need Ferry to do that. I’m more than capable of removing your bones—shifted or not.”
“As fun as it would be to play with you, I’m just here because I need to talk to Leo.” I gestured at the oversized wolf pup. “Feel free to stay if you like. But radio down and make sure no one else joins us.”
Danny glared at me as he did just that. Leo pulled off his mask and helmet eyeing me warily. “What’s this about?”
His eyes were similar to his brother’s. Too similar. “I need to discuss Matty.”
Both men stiffened, but it was Leo who spoke through gritted teeth. “You stay the fuck away from him.”
I waved off his warning. “I don’t intend on going near him. I just need…information. Tell me who hurt him.”
“What?” Danny barked, wheeling on Leo. “Someone hurt Matty?”
I didn’t like the protective note in the wolf’s voice. A growl rattled up from my stomach as I reacted instinctively, pinning him to the wall. “What’s it to you? Do you think you have some claim on him?”
“Sebastian, let him go.” Leo pulled at my arm. “Now. Or I’ll have Ferry here in less than a minute.”
Right on cue, Leo’s phone began vibrating. He held up the screen, showing his mate’s name flashing at me. “What’s it going to be?”
I hissed in Danny’s face before releasing him. To be honest, I was surprised he’d stayed in his human form. He could’ve shifted and fought me, but he hadn’t.
Behind me, I could hear Leo quietly reassuring Ferry that he wasn’t needed. Knowing how irrational demons could be where their mates were concerned, we probably didn’t have long before he joined us regardless of what Leo told him.
The shifter gave me a shit-eating grin, folding his arms over his chest. “Don’t worry, bloodsucker, I see Matty as a little brother. And as such, I can tell you you’re not getting within fifty feet of him.”
“Seconded,” Leo said gruffly, having hung up with Ferry.
“Like I said already, I have zero intentions of pursuing anything with Matty. All I want to know is who hurt him.”
Danny had obviously forgotten this part when I’d slammed him into the wall. “Yeah. Funnily enough, I wanna know that too. You been keeping secrets from me, Leo?”
Huh. Perhaps Danny being here would be a help, not a hinderance. “You don’t need to tell me details. Just a name. Address. Anything. I can do the rest.”
Leo sighed heavily, pushing a hand through his hair. “Matty made me swear not to tell anyone.”
Danny reeled back. “So something did happen?”
Leo gave a clipped nod. “Few months ago, Matty phoned me in a panic. Some guy took him home from the club. He wouldn’t tell me exactly what had happened, just that the cunt wouldn’t let him leave. He took the phone from Matty and hung up before he could tell me anything else.”
I was deadly still as Leo spoke, every word adding another torture to my list for the perpetrator. “How did you find him?”