Nicholas~
It's a short drive to downtown Parkerville. The Café Rosa is a quaint, mom-and-pop establishment that has been here as long as I can remember. It's kind of like stepping into a time portal back to old Italy. A quick search, and I find Kyle sitting in a booth he is the spitting image of Ian I slide onto the opposite side, joining him. If I didn't know better, I'd say he is sizing me up a bit.
"What's up, Kyle?" I didn't even ask how he knew I was meeting with his father.
"Were you followed?"
"No."
Kyle collects the folders next to him on the seat and passes them to me. "This is everything I have been able to get out of my father's office without causing suspicion."
The waitress came over, and I ordered a black coffee. She walked away, and I looked at Kyle, still trying to read his vibes as well. Kyle's poker face is on point. My instincts tell me he is being honest. I raised an eyebrow at him, then focused on the files, opening the top one.
Kyle points to a photo paper-clipped to the folder. "This is Lenorad Luccese. He's big time, and I believe he is the one calling the hits in LA."
I know many of the names in the file, including Lenorad. Luccese is a boss in the Italian-American mafia. He wouldn't be killing anyone. He would, however, hire a hit man or two to do his dirty work. That makes the playing field way uneven for my mate. I need to make tracks back to Harley.
I look back up at Kyle. My wolf or my gut has never led me wrong. "Do you think Ian is involved with the mafia, too?"
"Yes, I do. I also believe he intends to use Harley to take over the Coachmen.
This is not good. The Coachmen are an elite group of mob bosses. For obvious reasons, no one knows who the head is, but whoever controls the collective controls the entire West Coast crime syndicate. With Harley as his weapon, he could easily take over.
"We can't allow that to happen. Ian has to be stopped."
"Agreed. You have my full support. You have little reason to believe me, but my only concern here is my sister.
I scrubbed my jaw. "I have already been to LA. I wanted to see for myself. You are right; she does not know who she is." I paused. In for a penny, in for a pound! He might as well know. "Harley is my mate. If she will have me, that is."
Kyle stared blankly at me for a long moment. "Does she know?"
You mean, did we make the most passionate love I have ever experienced? YES! "I am sure she does. My wolf introduced himself." Zeek growls at me.
Kyle heard him, and he chuckled knowingly. "I remember when Knox introduced himself to Becky. You two will always be welcome in my pack if that's what you want.
If only it were that simple. "I can't say where our future will lead. I will do whatever it takes to protect her. Even if it means losing her to a mystical lake that isn't supposed to exist. As long as we come out with Harley safe, nothing else matters much."
"You're in love with my sister." He stated, not said, or asked.
There was no way I was about to explore that powder keg with anyone! I still hadn't had sufficient time to analyze the shit out of what she was doing to me, let alone verbalize it. I stand up, close the folder, and pick it up from the table. "Do me a favor, Kyle."
His grin says it all. He may prove to be a reliable source in the future. It wasn't like I knew the first damn thing about wooing a woman. "What's that?"
"Give me a day to get back and call your sister. She won't be on the run anymore."
I threw a twenty on the table and walked out. It's about a 30-minute drive to my cabin in the woods. That is way too much time for me to have available for my thoughts. Kyle had me a little concerned about what we were about to step into. It wasn't as simple as Zeek making chop soy of anyone who came for us, not in the human world, I will be on my own. And I know if push came to shove, Harley would become just as much of a wolf as I. I wanted neither of us to wind up on an episode of Werewolves Exposed.
My advice to Kyle to call Harley echoed in my head. Picking up the phone, I considered dialing her number. I dismissed the notion I do not know how she will react to the Wolfman's sudden reappearance, especially as an FBI agent. A face-to-face reunion would be best for us. If she outed me, I would deserve no less. I pulled into my driveway off the main road, put the car in park, and killed the engine.
'Harley will accept you, Nick. I am not saying it will be easy, but you will figure it out.
Rest is not even an option for me at this point. I rest my head on the headrest and close my eyes. 'Do you think I am in love with her, Zeek?'
'I can't say Nick. I don't believe anyone can define love itself; it is different for each of us. More than anything, I want to be close to my mate, and I would give my life for her to never know fear again. Is that love?'
I wasn't sure, but if it was, I was ate up with the same disease my wolf got! 'At least we are on the same page.' I get out of the car and strip. We need a run. It always helps clear our heads.
'Just what I was thinking.' Zeek pulls the shift and takes off into the mountains.