His gaze searched the room before landing on the stained piece of paper sitting on his desk. It had been taped to the outside of the package that had been delivered via the FedEx man, who’d left in a hurry after Barrett gave him a fuck off look. The delivery man had been human and he had no idea of the horrific contents the box held.
He glanced down at the barely legible scrawl.
“Your wolves will pay for your arrogance, Barrett. Make no mistake about that. I will skin each Guardian until there are none left.”
The inside of the box held a hand. He could only guess it was Heimy’s.
His mind raced as he tried to think who would be behind such a horrendous act. He knew as Pack Master he certainly pissed off a lot of Weres, but there was nothing that demanded this type of retribution.
A heavy knock landed on the door. Before he could tell whoever it was to go to hell, the door swung open and Jaxon stepped through.
Jaxon must have caught the look on Barrett’s face because he stopped short. His brows knit together and his nostrils flared as he caught the faint scent of blood.
“Did someone die in here?”
“Not yet,” Barrett snarled.
Jaxon held up his hands and his eyes narrowed. “Does this have anything to do with Lucien?”
“Maybe.”
“If he needs help, then send me.” Jaxon lifted his chin as if preparing for Barrett’s wrath.
“He doesn’t need help. He’s fine on his own.” Barrett turned back to the Pack Master seal that covered the wall. Serve and protect. That was what the Guardians did. They laid down their life for their civilian Weres. So who was going to lay down their life for the Guardians?
The whole thing made him mad as hell.
“I know you sent him on a mission and he wouldn’t say shit to me about where he was going. But if he’s in trouble, then tell me so I can help him.”
Barrett rounded on the younger Were and snatched him up by the collar of his T-shirt. Hauling him off the ground, he held him at eye level.
“Don’t try to tell me how to do my job, Jaxon. You forget your place.” Adrenaline cascaded through his body. His muscles twitched, aching to punch something until it bled.
“Easy, man,” Jaxon said calmly.
He had to hand it to Jaxon. He didn’t try to act like a pussy when he was in his cross hairs. Nor did he beg.
Barrett blinked, released his grip, and stepped back. His gut twisted with regret. He’d never laid a hand on any of his Guardians, ever.
“My bad, boss.” Jaxon nodded his head but didn’t back up. “I shouldn’t have overstepped my boundaries.” He ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m worried about Lucien.”
“I know.” Barrett’s hardened gaze landed on the package. He was worried about his Guardian too. But Jaxon didn’t need to know that.
“I’ll let you know when I need you, Jaxon.”
Jaxon nodded and looked as if he was about to say something else and then thought better of it. Without another word, the Were slipped out the door.
Barrett had to handle this correctly, had to keep things quiet. He wasn't going to let one more of his men get hurt because he’d managed to piss off some psycho.
His gut told him there were no easy decisions in this matter. He was betting everything on Lucien.
If Lucien came up with nothing, then they were all as good as dead.
***
Lucien waited in the obscure shadows of a ramshackle house. He couldn’t imagine why Catty would be in this part of town unless she was up to something. Maybe she had a drug habit he hadn't picked up on.
His brows knit together as he recalled both their meetings. He shook his head. She wasn't on drugs. She didn’t have the usual signs of being a druggie, nor did he smell it on her.
Her scent.
He closed his eyes and inhaled a breath. She smelled hot and sweet, like a breeze coming off the ocean in the middle of a scorching summer.
Her scent was as unique as her sassy mouth. Who would have thought she’d be as strong-willed as Zane?
He let out a little chuckle as he tried to image what life had been like for her growing up. And what had happened to make her end up here?
He’d seen the fear in her eyes when she’d thought her parents had sent him to find her. And the flash of disappointment that had followed when he said her parents hadn’t sent him.
Catty had a wall up. A boundary she kept up between her and the men she danced for. He’d seen it at the club, how she’d placed her mask of sexuality on, and he’d seen it when it slipped.
She didn’t belong there in the bowels of hell.
He caught a whiff of marijuana. He jerked his head in the direction of the smoke, and his gaze met a pockmarked-faced druggie.