I poured wine. Wine was always a good deterrent to thinking about anything that took additional brain power. I wasn’t certain I had that tonight.

  With the glass in my hand, I was ready to head to the living room to watch some comedy show. Maybe that would put me in a better frame of mind.

  The fact my phone was ringing was both annoying and disturbing. Maybe Agent Drummand was finally going to grace me with her call.

  What popped up on the screen wasn’t unknown or the number I remembered calling. I also debated not answering until I realized how ridiculous I was being. “Hello?”

  “Sedona.” His voice was dark, deep, and sensual.

  And the husky tone made me smile. “Jackson.”

  “Jax, please. You make me feel old or in trouble when you use my given name.”

  I settled against the counter, my mood already improving. “I’m curious. How did you get my number? You left without saying a word or bothering to ask.”

  “Ouch. Well, you were dead asleep and I didn’t want to bother you.”

  There was that word again. Dead. I wanted it erased from the dictionary and English language. “I had a good reason or two why.”

  He laughed and it sent a thrill through me. “I am one of the most powerful men in the world. I can find any number I want.”

  I heard the hint of a teasing voice and it was just what I needed. “Uh-huh. You’re actually checking on one of your plebs?”

  “You are tenacious like a bulldog.”

  “So I’ve been told.”

  “Am I calling too late?” he asked.

  What man did that any longer? “Not at all.”

  “Good. What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  Locking myself in the house after being chased by werewolves. “I don’t have any plans.”

  “I’m glad to hear it because I’m going to take you to dinner. A very special place in Chicago I think you’ll enjoy.”

  First of all, he didn’t ask. He commanded. And Chicago? I was already fretting. What was I going to wear? Did he expect me to spend the night? Who was going to take care of my baby girl?

  I had no intention of going through hoops again so soon with Emily. Nope. Not even for a hot man.

  “So far?”

  His laugh was right there again. Not chastising, just… pleasant, as if I was unexpected to him. “I’ll send a car.”

  “You’ll send a car. What are you, some millionaire dude with dozens of servants hopping to your beck and call?”

  “Yes, in the millionaire part plus a few bucks, but no on the servants. I can do things myself including repairing a toilet.”

  “Well,” I told him in a cutesy little way. “I’ll know who to call for a plumber next time.”

  “You do that. Happy to come over. I do have a driver so that would be no problem.”

  “Afraid to be seen in a car with me?”

  “I have a board meeting for Wolfen Industries tomorrow in Chicago. It could run late.”

  “Ah. Don’t worry about it. I’ll drive.”

  “That’s silly.”

  “I’m a big girl. I think I can handle a forty-five-minute drive.”

  His growl did what it was supposed to do: cause me to do a happy dance inside. “I’ll text you some details. Prepare to stay the night. I have a feeling our engaging conversations will run long.”

  “Duly noted. I’m glad you called, even if what you did in obtaining my number was highly illegal.”

  “I’ll do anything and everything to get what I want. I’d keep that in the back of your mind if I were you.”

  “Thank you for the warning. Now, I should get to bed. I have a long day tomorrow.”

  “A shame I can’t tuck you in.”

  “Maybe next time.” It was good to finally have a conversation with a man where I felt wanted.

  Even needed.

  While I was under no illusion that what we were sharing meant anything more than a few dates and nights of delightful bliss, I was a pragmatist. I knew the score. I wasn’t the required bloodline for anything but wickedness between the sheets.

  Not that I wanted anything to do with something serious.

  Maybe ever again.

  I held the phone against my chest for at least thirty seconds. A silly gesture, but it allowed me to continue wallowing in the desire he had a way of bringing to the surface.

  At least I’d be smart and hire a babysitter. Ugh. Last minute. With a naughty smile on my face, I dialed Mattie’s number.

  “Hey, girl. Tell me all about the drink.” Mattie had a way of demanding everything she wanted to.

  “I will, but only if…” I was using my singsong voice, which she hated.

  “Oh, God. What? Do you need me to fix a toilet or bring over Band-Aids for a scraped knee?”

  She’d teased me of being helpless more than once just for fun. “I think I have my own private plumber in the future and we’re all good here. Very good in fact.” As if I was going to tell her about the incident at the morgue. Not a chance in hell. Since she was a doctor as well, she might have me committed to the local psyche ward. I certainly would if I heard a nutty story like mine.

  “Ooh-la-la. I think you have juicy treats. What’s the favor?”

  “Will you come over and spend the night with Britney tomorrow? Pretty please?”

  Instead of issuing a snide remark, she burst into a typical squeal. This time it was so loud I had to jerk the phone away from my ear, wincing as I did so.

  “That’s all you need to tell me about that hot man,” she finally purred like some big white Persian cat who was wearing a tiara. The visionary aspects had been something I’d done with her and only her since the beginning of our friendship. “Of course I will. But I do want details about this all-nightery later.”

  That could require me to tell her about the first close to all-nighter. Maybe some dirty little secrets were meant to be kept locked away.

  CHAPTER 11

  Jax

  Wolfen Industries was well run with offices, production facilities, and dealers in several cities and countrysides throughout the entire United States. We were also in discussions with some European diplomats, although it would seem Italy was pushing hard against our entrance into the arena.

  There was a planned meeting with a group of Italians to try to smooth the way, but I wasn’t certain it would matter.

  From what I knew, it would seem they were terrified that we’d take more of the market than we already had. Was I supposed to feel sorry for them? Not a chance.

  I was considered one of the most ruthless businessmen in the industry for good reason.

  The two production plants between Cartersville and Chicago were the original locations started by my great-grandfather a long time ago. While refurbished with the best and most expensive equipment, they both held the charming appeal that they once did.

  Including a set of offices on the ground floor of the original first building. I understood the history behind our corporation and out mother’s love of watching it grow, but I wasn’t certain why she insisted on meeting here at least twice a year.

  Chase might be my younger brother, but he’d always reminded me that if that was all she wanted as a stockholder and board member, we had to give it to her.

  So here we were, the three brothers and my best friend, who happened to be the corporate attorney, Parker Sherman, waiting for our mother’s usually fashionable arrival.

  She was almost always late. I wish I could say it was because of her attendance at a book club or making a knitting group. Not a chance. Our mother was the oldest woman I knew and perhaps the feistiest. As flirtatious as she was, and as kinky, she could have a young guy in her bed every single night.

  No, it wasn’t my favorite mental subject.

  I had myriad questions to ask her, some she might not be appreciative of, but they were necessary.

  “I don’t like this at all,” Chase grumbled from behind us. “We need some answers and now. I’m not fucking finding some chick I don’t know to mate with. Bull fucking shit.”

  “What is he talking about?” Parker asked.

  “Family business,” Riker answered. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

  “Every time you tell me that, we end up in some corporate nightmare.”

  “This has nothing to do with the company,” I said and closed my eyes briefly. Thoughts and images of the woman flowed through my mind. The memory of her long, thick hair cascading over her shoulders and the way she looked by candlelight caused desire to burn inside me, thick, hot, and possessive.

  Another unusual occurrence in a box full of them.

  I glanced at Riker who lifted a single eyebrow. I hadn’t told my younger brother what I suspected Mother would share with us. He was the most excitable of the group, going off halfcocked more often than I could remember. He’d been the troublemaker as a kid and in some ways, he still was.

  “Why do I have a feeling I won’t like being here today?” Parker asked. The man was very human, sometimes too much so in my opinion. He also knew about our lineage and what our kind was capable of.

  We’d had a few conversations years before over drinks and whatever football team I’d been into and I’d explained our world. What it had been and what it had evolved into. Since then, the fact that I was a wolf almost never entered into a conversation. There was no need.

  “Because you might be right,” I told him.

  “As usual, Mother is fashionably late,” Riker said. I sensed he was still concerned but was able to hide his feelings better than everyone else in the family. “She’s doing this on purpose too. You know how she is.”

  “I do have other business to attend to,” Chase insisted. He walked to the window, staring out at the parking lot. “And if she has some other rules about mating, fuck her.”

  “Stop it,” I snapped. “She is our mother and she’s not happy about the council’s decision.”

  I had business as well, although now I was thinking about dinner with Sedona. I was pushing the envelope. I knew that. Hell, when I’d carried her back to her bedroom, I’d noticed there was a child’s room in her house as well.

  Getting involved with anyone was still risky given my ancestry. Doing so with a woman who had a child placed my actions in another category altogether.

  A risky one.

  Plus, she was human.

  There was always a chance one or all of us would someday need to shift, which would mean destroying any concept of normalcy within a relationship.

  Maybe that’s why the three of us remained unmarried.

  Parker moved closer, stepping in front of me. “What’s going on, buddy?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “But you suspect something is on Mary’s mind.”

  “She’s always thinking,” I told him. And she was. “There was a meeting of the council yesterday and it left some unanswered questions.”

  “Wolves. You have more politics than any humans I know,” Parker quipped. “But your mother is damn good at business.”

  Yes, she was. She’d been the one to think of new body styles and additional marketing methods, her keen sense of knowing helping us create an empire. She was also one of the oldest wolves that I knew, which made her knowledge of the past invaluable. As with all wolves, we aged at a much slower rate than humans.

  She appeared in her late fifties when she was at least three hundred years old. Yet she’d had children much later in life. The specifics of our anatomy were the stuff science fiction novels were made of and scientists would love to expose.

  Even if they had to carve us into little pieces to find the secrets of our longevity. It had occurred before.

  Another reason to remain very human.

  “Don’t kid a kidder, Jax. What is it?”

  I turned my head slowly. He knew when to back down until we were alone and this was one of those times.

  He nodded and headed toward the coffeepot.

  “She’s here, driving her magical chariot.” Chase was laughing.

  Our mother was also a speed demon. It was good that she occasionally dated one of the police sergeants or the woman would be behind bars for reckless driving.

  I heard the sharp braking action from where I stood.

  “One day she’s going to get herself killed driving that way,” Riker grumbled under his breath.

  “Try telling her that,” I quipped.

  “At least I have good news with the discussions out of France,” Parker threw in.

  Traveling had always been something I’d loved to do. I’d volunteered to visit our other plants and dealers just so I could keep from staying in one place too long. It had grown weary like so many other aspects of life.

  That was left to Chase at this point. He was still in love with airports and hotels, including hooking up with hot chicks whenever possible.

  I glanced out the window and as usual, I had to smile. Mother never took herself too seriously. She had the finest couture clothing, her love of Italy taking her there at least three times a year. When needed, she looked like a corporate mogul.

  But her love of funky, almost gypsy-like attire made her well known in town. She’d told us her vivid clothing kept her young.

  Right…

  As she rushed into the office, tossing her long bleached-blonde hair over her shoulder, she didn’t offer her bright smile as usual. Instead, the moment she removed her sunglasses, I noticed it was obvious she hadn’t gotten much sleep.

  “Gentlemen. Let me get some coffee and we’ll head into the boardroom.”

  Today’s meeting was originally about selecting a new board member. We’d yet to go public, which was on the agenda for this year, so we were in control of those who served. A fifth was needed, Tom Jones dying from a heart attack. He’d been a worker from the pack, a man who’d lived a very long and happy life.

  There was no surprise how he’d died. We weren’t immortal, easily succumbing to everything from food poisoning to horrific vehicle accidents, diseases, and organ failures.

  Still, it had been a significant loss.

  Right now, our choices were limited and we would need someone as soon as possible with the votes on the European opportunities around the corner. We tended to vote two against two.

  Almost always.

  It had become a family joke of sorts.

  I doubted we would be getting to the important business today.

  She remained silent as she prepared a cup of coffee, which wasn’t like her.

  When it was time to head into the boardroom, she took her usual place at the helm. It had been our father’s seat before she’d taken his place.

  Our mother always had her beloved MacBook with her. She took her sweet time pulling it out while the rest of us sat in silence.

  The air in the room was suddenly insufferable.

  “Mother,” Riker threw in. “Can you cut the dramatics? We do have business to handle. We are a major corporation and need decisions made. Now, what in God’s name is the Wolfen council hiding? What are we facing?”

  I was prepared for a quick jab in reply like she always threw out, but she said nothing, did nothing. She just turned on her computer.

  What the hell was going on?

  “Should I allow the family to handle this discussion, Mary?” Parker asked. She’d insisted the moment he’d come on board that she would never go by Mrs. Wolf. She considered her ex-husband the single blight in her life.

  I can’t say I blamed her. The man, our father, was an ass.

  “No, Parker. You need to stay. This will undoubtedly affect you as well.” She was much more polished today, something that should make the four of us sweat.

  Except we never did.

  We were confident bastards who never allowed anyone to notice any hint of aggravation. However, today was different.

  This was her show. Her time to shine. We had to wait and be patient for the bomb to drop.

  When it did, I was the least surprised.

  “I’m expecting a war.” She made the statement far too casually as if she was announcing dinner plans with some sheik.

  “A war? With whom? The Italian team owning Ferrari, or Maserati? Fuck them. Our cars are better made and highly sought after by their clients as well.” Chase was so out of understanding I was shocked.

  “Don’t interrupt me, Chase,” Mother threw back. “This has nothing to do with Wolfen Industries and everything to do with the Wolfen existence.”

  He slumped against his chair.

  I studied her pensive face. There was much more to the story from yesterday.

  Wolf shifters had several attributes that would be coveted by any human, including superhuman strength, hearing, and eyesight. Those abilities had diminished over the years and through the heavy interbreeding with humans. A sixth sense, knowing what others were thinking as well as seeing aspects of the future, had been just another trait to our ancestors.

  Sadly, over time, those attributes had become more selective. Chase had been born with a very limited sense of knowing or reading minds.

  I was no fool. If we had an enemy, our evolution would be used against us.

  “We’re going to be attacked by a much stronger species of wolf. The creature has been lying in wait, salivating at the mouth as we continued to develop weaknesses and lose our abilities given our lack of use and training.” I issued the words like a statement of intent on a contract.

  “Bullshit,” Chase chortled. “We are the strongest creatures alive.”

  Riker was watching me, not turning toward his brother. “Not true.”

  I shook my head in response.

  Parker studied the various family members, his expression unreadable.

  Our mother looked at me directly. She was challenging me as to if I’d felt the change in the atmosphere. “You knew that we could be facing an enemy.”

  Sighing, I drummed my fingers on the table. “I’ve suspected. I gathered a whiff of something unusual.”

  “Then they’re here,” she said. I rarely heard her voice crack, but it did this time.

  “Knew what?” Chase insisted. “Who are they?”