Chapter~4~Gathering the facts.

Nicholas~

After Delilah left, I locked the door and watched her go. A groan escaped as I closed the curtain. The devil knows I have done some low-down, dirty, rotten things in my time and have enjoyed creating most of the destruction and chaos I leave in my wake. But sleeping with my brother's wife was one of my few regrets.

'You could have warned me it was Delilah Zeek.'

'That will teach you to let alcohol be your guide.'

Being shitfaced is not an excuse, and I still don't know how we left the party unnoticed. Nonetheless, while my little brother, none the wiser, was celebrating his twenty-fourth birthday, I was banging the hell out of his wife's tight, hot ass just a few feet away outside the pack house. My father always taught his boys: 'A tisket, or a tasket, it's a condom or a casket.'

The next morning, waking up naked and alone in the back seat of my car with the used rubber still choking my chicken was proof his words sank in. Since then, Delilah has not let it go. I never know where or in what form she will turn up. This is far from the first time she has threatened me because I have turned her away.

'Trust me, I've learned my lesson.'

'For the record, I knew she would not hurt you, and you deserved it. Delilah is another good reason we should go after Harley.'

I'd known he'd bring Harley into it somehow, but on some level, I wish Delilah would confess to Sean. I have thought about it myself, but haven't come clean already, because I know what it would do to our parents. It would also be the final nail in the coffin of my already contentious relationship with Sean.

Sean has never forgiven me for leaving and shifting my responsibility onto him, for good reason. The war that broke out on our planet shortly after I left had left Sean with a glass eye and partial use of his right arm. My kid brother wasn't ready to lead a pack, much less into war, and I knew it, but I also didn't care.

Hardheaded and hell-bent, I took off without a backward glance. You can't change the past; that is my go-to excuse for my destructive behavior. Truth be told, I have always been a selfish bastard. Absent-minded, I run my fingers through my hair, sit at my desk, pick up my cell, dial Ian's number, put it on speaker, and set it back on the desk.

He answers on the third ring. "Where the hell have you been?"

My boot heel was already tapping the floor, and my fist clenched as I spoke through gritted teeth. "My whereabouts are not your concern, Ian."

I know he is seething when his voice gained another pitch. "Didn't you get my messages?"

"I did all 15 of them you found, Harley, and you want me to go after her. The question is, why would I want to do that?"

"$500,000 is why you would want to do that! I have two other hunters who are interested in the job. Are you in or not?"

Ian was trying to blow smoke up my ass, and I knew it. "Where is she?"

Zeek is unconvinced; he growls in my chest, and I know Ian can hear him.

'He's bluffing, Zeek. There are no other hunters, and we aren't trying to piss them off yet.'

'You can't be sure, Nick. I don't trust him!'

"I am faxing you the info, but you must come here for your new credentials the sooner, the better."

"What's your rush, Ian? Harley has been gone for this long?"

"Since when do you ask so many damn questions?"

"I am in the middle of a case that demands my full attention. It will be a few days before I can get to your pack. Send me what you have, and I will look it over."

In a moment, my fax machine lit up. Damn, that was almost too easy, not that I minded playing with Ian a bit, but the lie was to buy me some time. Before I get into bed with the devil, I intend to know the entire story. With Ian, there were always three sides to his truth.

"I will be in touch, Ian, if I decide to take the case."

After disconnecting the line, I wait with bated breath for the fax to complete. The first page is a current picture; Zeek pushes through my eyes to get a better look. Harley has always been beautiful to us. Now, as a full-grown woman, she is breathtaking. The next page is her bio. Harley Steel is now Harvey Gibson.

I'm impressed; Harley has made a name for herself. The Santa Monica Police Department values Detective Gibson. Well, well, imagine that. My wolf seems to be infatuated with my many employers' worst nemesis, and on occasion, mine too.

'It doesn't matter; we have to protect her from Ian!'

I avoid law enforcement for apparent reasons, as a matter of good business practice. Now I'm considering going balls out into an entire building full of the same type of stuffed-shirt mother-fuckers I have dodged, ducked, and chased up a tree of two for the past seven years. Although being the wolf among the sheep had always thrilled me, I wouldn't be the only beast hiding in plain sight.

'Yeah, yeah, give it a rest, Zeek, would you let me concentrate, please!'

With a grunt, I continued going through the file, rolling my eyes, and I had to hand it to Ian; his PI had done his homework. There were telephone numbers, known acquaintances, a work address, and a home address. Still, I don't trust the little varmint. I turned on my computer and entered Harley's new name into my database; no wonder I couldn't find her.

While waiting for the results, my cell buzzed on the desk. I raised my eyebrows, picked up the phone, and looked at the caller ID. This is interesting. Kyle Steel, also known as Harley's little brother, whom I haven't spoken to in years. I think about ignoring him, but something won't let me, so I swipe the green phone on the screen.