Redford was still clearly not happy with the idea, but not protesting in horror anymore. "I just don't like the thought of you in a stupid collar," he muttered.

Jed's smile faltered.

The cage. The G.o.dd.a.m.n bas.e.m.e.nt. And here Jed was throwing that s.h.i.t around like Redford wasn't still that scared kid, tied up and thrown away by the one person who was supposed to take care of him.

His whole face crumpling in guilt, Jed wondered if he could beat his head against the wall. Probably would be rude to do that to someone else's walls, and G.o.d knew his thick skull would break something. G.o.dd.a.m.n, he was so stupid it was a wonder he kept breathing without hurting himself somehow. Immediately, Jed gathered Redford into his arms, kissing his shoulder in penance. "It's not going to be like that," he murmured. "No collar. No leash. Not if you don't want it, not for either of us. I'll just go and let you do the talking." Jed tried for a little smile, not quite making it. "I can be real quiet. Subtle, even. Like a mouse."

That, at least, made Redford smile. "No, you really can't."

"I wasn't aware mice used such copious amounts of explosives," Victor hummed, peering over the tops of his gla.s.ses. "How unusual."

"f.u.c.k you all," Jed responded, but more cheerfully, only really caring that he'd pulled a smile from Redford. Turning to the Lewises, he nodded. "We'll get the info and then give you a call." Jed hesitated, glancing over at Redford. "And...." f.u.c.k. Being second in command after all this time alone was not the easiest thing in the world. Popping up out of his chair, Jed bustled about, clearing dishes. "Redford, why don't you talk details or whatever you need. It's your job. I'm just here as a silent and extremely good-looking shadow."

Jed made his way into the kitchen after loading himself up with bowls and cups and spoons. He poked around a little, once he'd filled up the dishwasher. The fridge was decently stocked, as was the pantry. Nothing fancy, lots of meat, most of it looking like the butchered pieces of things they'd caught. Jed wanted to give Redford some s.p.a.ce, the chance to do things his own way. The guy was more than capable of handling everything, really. Jed just wanted to give him a chance to realize that.

Redford and the Lewises got down to talking, the sounds of the conversation washing over Jed as he looked around the kitchen. A few minutes later, Redford sidled up to him. "Jed," he whispered urgently, "How much is gas right now? I need to know for the budget."

After a moment, Jed huffed out a little laugh, taking Redford by the shoulders and tugging him in, kissing his forehead, the bridge of his nose. "Nervous?" he murmured, ignoring the question for a moment in favor of ma.s.saging the tense knots he could feel in Redford's neck.

"Very," Redford admitted. "I don't know how you do this. There's so much to think about, and I can't keep any of it straight in my head."

"Sure you can," Jed responded. He kissed said head again before wrapping his arms around Redford. They fit together so G.o.dd.a.m.n well. It still amazed Jed sometimes. "Remember the Southfield job two weeks ago? Instead of just charging gas money, you charged mileage. That way it paid for the wear and tear on the vehicles too." Although Jed's version of wear and tear was slightly different than other people's. Removing some stains from upholstery was apparently more expensive than just ripping the seats out and starting over. "Just use that amount and charge them per mile."

He pulled back just enough to study Redford's face, fingertips brushing along the man's cheek. "You can do this," he repeated, absolute conviction in his voice. "You're brilliant, and you're d.a.m.n good at the planning part of things. Just take a deep breath and do what you do best." He smiled at Redford, and he could feel the expression mostly in the corners of his eyes, in the softness of his gaze. "Use that beautiful big brain of yours."

Redford, as suggested, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. At the end of it, he leaned in to kiss Jed, resting against him for a moment. "You're right," he said, nodding. "I can do this."

"d.a.m.n straight." Jed smirked a little, tugging gently on a strand of Redford's hair. "I only have the best for my partner." He softly nudged Redford back toward the dining room. "Now go in there and be amazing."

"You make it sound like you auditioned for a partner," Redford huffed, amused.

"Kinda did." Jed wasn't good at the big, grand declarations. He'd never been one for genuine emotion. But he met Redford's eyes steadily, for once not hiding behind a manic grin or a c.o.c.ky smirk. He just was, he was just Jed, and Redford got to see all of him. The only person who ever really had. "Waited my whole d.a.m.n life for you, didn't I?"

Instead of replying right away, Redford just tugged Jed into a tight embrace. "Me too," he said. "Now are you going to come back out to the table with me? We're partners, and I want you there."

Their hands slipped together, just like that, and Redford led the way back out to the table. He sat down with a notepad and a pen, going over numbers and paperwork he'd draft up for the Lewises to sign, contingency fees, and even the d.a.m.n mileage. He handled it all, grasping Jed's hand the whole time, and Jed was sure his heart was just going to balloon up and burst for how much pride he felt, how much he adored seeing Redford comfortable in his own skin.

Anthony gave them a plastic container filled with leftover stew. Edwin darted around them, still on two legs but moving every bit like the wolf, seeing them out to their car, making Redford promise he'd come back. Randall was more subdued, but he went out to say good-bye as well, hovering behind Victor, opening his car door for him with a slight, shy smile.

"Thank you for coming," Randall said. To all of them, but really just to Victor. "It was...." He breathed out a little laugh. "Interesting."

"It was my pleasure," Victor replied. He took Randall's hand in a brief shake. Jed rolled his eyes when he saw Randall's expression brighten at the contact. How Victor could be that oblivious and still keep breathing, he just didn't know. Maybe not being able to look into people's eyes made him miss the most obvious things in the world.

"We'll call you as soon as we have a location," Redford promised. "Hopefully tomorrow."

Jed felt a little like the G.o.dd.a.m.n Waltons, driving away from the Lewises as the three brothers stood on their porch and watched them go. Any second now, someone was going to say Good night, John-Boy and he'd die of some kind of diabetic coma from all the domesticity.

At least they had a job. And as soon as it was done, they could leave the Little Wolves on the Prairie to their knitting or whatever the f.u.c.k and get back to real life.

Chapter 3.

Redford THE CLUB didn't look like much from the outside. They were parked on a little-used backstreet, the entrance to the club nothing more than a painted wooden door and glaringly red lights above it reading Murry's Bar. The cab driver didn't even seem bothered that they were there. There was no indication at all that the occupants of the bar were anything other than human. Redford didn't know what he'd been expecting, but this definitely wasn't it.

Victor had elected to come along for the taxi ride, though he had declined to go in with them. He didn't seem as impressed with the idea of a club of nonhumans as Redford was. Then again, he probably was more used to things like that. "Remember, if you need an exit strategy, I'll be in the diner across the road," Victor said.

"And, what, you'll come in and nag everyone to death?" Jed snorted.

Redford just squinted at the bar sign. "We shouldn't be long," he said to Victor. He touched Jed's shoulder, making sure he was ready. "Show time, I guess." They got out of the taxi, heading in toward the bar. Victor exited as well, in the opposite direction, leaving them very much alone.

The door seemed to open of its own accord when they approached, but a closer look into the shadows revealed a well-dressed bouncer, eyes narrowing as he inhaled. "You're gonna need to put that human on a leash," he rumbled.

Redford summoned up every ounce of courage within himself and met the bouncer's eyes. "I don't need to," he said dismissively.

"Yeah, sweetcheeks," Jed smirked. "I'm just fine right here." Moving forward, dismissing the bouncer, Jed headed in toward the bar. He was stopped by a beefy hand on his chest, though, the large wolf-Redford could smell him, an overwhelming wave of aggression and fur-blocking Jed's path.

"No preters without restraints," the wolf growled, showing his teeth. "Club rules. Either control your little friend here or get the h.e.l.l out." The whole conversation had obviously been directed toward Redford. Jed didn't even warrant more than a glance from the bouncer, as if he were some errant bug that had wandered in and needed to be shooed away.

The thought of putting Jed on any kind of leash sickened Redford, but it didn't look like the bouncer was going to let them in if Jed was free. "We didn't bring anything," Redford said, losing some of his courage when the growl was turned toward him. Jed was remarkably quiet, though Redford could see his fingers flexing, obviously wanting to go for a weapon. Which would be a disaster of the highest order.

"There's a room right there. Lost and found." The bouncer jerked his chin to a small door to the side of the lobby. "Should be something in there you can use."

He gave Jed a little push. Jed's lips split into a grin, not a nice smile. No, Redford knew that look, and violence usually followed pretty close behind it. "How about you keep your meat hooks to yourself, there, bubba?" Jed took a step forward, getting into the bouncer's face.

"Get a muzzle on this b.i.t.c.h." Far from intimidated, the wolf rolled his eyes at Jed, moving back to his position at the side of the door. "He talks too much."

Redford didn't like that idea either. As the bouncer looked away, Redford traded a glance with Jed. He sighed and opened the door. Inside there lay all sorts of things that Redford didn't want to think about too much, including several absolutely barbaric looking contraptions. He settled on a short length of soft rope, hiding a cringe as he picked it up.

"Sorry, Jed," he murmured under his breath, low enough that even the bouncer wouldn't hear it. "We'll just use this."

As gently as he could, Redford fastened the rope around Jed's throat-Jed had taught him how to tie a range of knots, and the one he used only looked solid, but could easily be tugged apart at a moment's notice if need be. Jed gave him a quick thumbs-up to show he could still breathe.

Once the bouncer saw that Jed had been appropriately attired, he waved them through into a dark hallway that stank of disinfectant, malfunctioning lights flickering on and off, the walls painted a sickly shade of green. Brightly colored posters littered both sides of the hall, the sound of thumping music growing louder as they approached the end.

Redford reached out to open the second door and cringed at the wave of noise that came rushing out. Music, voices, and above all of that, a cacophony of scents that threatened to send his brain into overdrive in the effort to process them all. The dimly lit club was packed full of people, an area off to the left crammed nearly shoulder to shoulder as the crowd swayed to the music.

He leaned over to Jed, putting his lips close to Jed's ear. "I'm going to take us to the bar," he said, raising his voice to be heard. "Do you want anything?"

Jed b.u.mped his shoulder against Redford's, a rea.s.suring weight, grounding Redford as the room pulsed around them. "No, sir," he said with a mischievous twist of his lips. "Thank you for thinking of me, but I'll be fine."

That was strange. Jed was refusing a chance to drink? Redford pulled back to frown at him faintly, and Jed gave a subtle jerk of his chin, motioning toward the crowd. Of course, many of them would have excellent hearing and would likely be highly suspicious about Redford treating a human nicely.

Redford hated this place already.

But he took another deep breath and squared his shoulders. Though he wasn't typically in the business of appearing totally in control, he fit himself into that persona then, thinking back to the Lewises and their comfort in their own skin, particularly Anthony, with his casual confidence. Redford tilted his chin up slightly, pushed his hair back from his face, setting his expression in vague indifference like he wasn't impressed or startled by any of this, and guided Jed toward the bar.

Jed had given him tips on body language before, so Redford settled his hand on the back of Jed's neck, pushing his head down ever so slightly. He didn't like doing it, but apparently doing so gave off the air of control over a lowly human. Jed, he noticed, seemed tailor-made for the club, fitting in easily with his leather and, again, the kind of confidence that Redford could never call up naturally. The blinking colored lights flashed across Jed's skin, turning it red, blue, yellow, a dizzying quick change.

Redford leaned in again. He wanted to tell Jed he looked amazing. Instead, he lightly bit at Jed's earlobe. He hoped it would convey the same message. He used the closeness as an excuse to breathe in deeply, focusing himself on Jed's scent, grinning at the shiver that went through Jed's shoulders.

The man behind the bar turned toward them, revealing a face that had more piercings than free skin. His eyes glittered yellow in the flashing lights, and he smelled of old blood. Vampire, Redford realized.

"Nice," the vampire smirked, nodding at Jed. "Haven't seen either of you around before. He new?"

It took everything Redford had to bite back the growl that wanted to emerge. Instead, he shrugged, the motion casual. "I'm new in town. I just picked this one up," he replied, raising his voice to be heard. "I don't even know his name."

The vampire laughed, fangs flashing as a bright-red light hit his face. "It's better not to know," he replied, filling a gla.s.s from the tap and pushing it toward Redford. "On the house. Everybody gets a free first drink."

Redford took the gla.s.s and faked a sip. He didn't particularly enjoy the taste of beer, but even he could tell that this one would be considered a cheap brand. Tightening his grip on the back of Jed's neck, he nodded in thanks at the bartender and took Jed over in the opposite direction of the dance floor. There were tables set up in the far corner, the kind of place where Jed would typically set himself up-his back to the wall, a place where he could keep an eye on the whole room.

He wasn't sure of the protocol, so he motioned Jed toward a chair. With a quick wink, Jed sprawled out into it, legs spread, arms hanging loosely, looking every inch as though he wasn't scanning the room for possible escape routes or for makeshift weapons, or for anywhere that could be used as a trap. The leash tugged tighter when Redford tried to take the seat across the small table. He slid his own chair closer, making sure Jed had enough slack. Once he did so, Jed nudged his shoulder in close to Redford's, giving him a little smile. "You're doing great," he murmured, just barely moving his lips. "Free drinks! That's a good sign."

Redford just summoned up a sickly smile. If the wolves treated humans like this, he suddenly wasn't so sure he wanted to find them.

He cast his gaze over the crowd of people again. Unless he spent a decent amount of time here to get used to the chaos, Redford knew he couldn't rely on his nose. Instead, he looked for body language and eyes that might look yellow. There were more vampires off to the side, gathered in a group, some of them sneering at the rest of the room. When he inhaled, he could smell, well, everything: old blood, earthy scents, something that smelled more like fire, another that hit his nose like fireworks. More half bloods than anything else, he a.s.sumed.

Jed nudged his arm slightly, surprisingly quiet. His eyes were on a group across the room, a few older men, a woman with gray hair and a kind smile, and then five or six younger people. They were sitting at a large table, drinking and talking quietly, one girl leaning against another, eyes half-shut as she listened to the music. The group held themselves apart a little. A woman with dark hair was giving Redford sidelong glances. Unlike the side of the bar they were in, with men and women in leather and a few humans in ropes and chains sitting adoringly by the vampires, that one group just looked like some friends out for a few drinks.

Redford liked the look of that side of the room better. He touched his hand to Jed's shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze to let Jed know they were moving, and got to his feet, picking his way through the crowd. As he got closer, he breathed in, and the scents he noticed were definitely wolf.

The woman with the dark hair, twisted into a braid, gave him a faint smile. "Redford," she greeted. "I knew I'd see you around again."

Redford froze in place, trying to remember where he'd seen her before. Recognition sparked at the back of his mind, bringing up a picture of her face in a vastly different situation. Filtiarn's pack. She'd been one of them.

"Sophia," he said, stunned. She smelled like the Lewises did, a real wolf, not stuck halfway in between like him. Since Redford a.s.sumed Filtiarn's pack had all been dosed with his blood, she must have gotten the full treatment. "I thought-"

Jed had blown up parts of the building and presumably taken down a large portion of the pack with it. Maybe more had escaped than they'd thought. That was just fine with Redford though, considering the majority of them had been victims. He'd had no problems with Jed killing the ones that helped Filtiarn with the kidnapping and the violence, but knowing that the ones like him, the people who had gotten pulled in and used, had gotten out? That was a good thing.

Sophia rose, putting her hand on Redford's arm, a more genuine smile lighting her features. "You look good," she told him. "Here, come sit with us. It's a lot more peaceful over here." She pulled out a chair for him but paused when she caught sight of Jed and the rope leash. A frown settled in at the edge of her lips.

"Howdy," Jed said, sounding rather cheerful for a man who hadn't had a drop of alcohol since they'd gotten there. With a graceful movement, he pulled up a seat next to the chair they'd indicated for Redford.

Redford settled his hand on the back of Jed's neck again as he sat, and he didn't miss the looks that the wolves were giving one another. None of them seemed particularly happy that he had a human on a leash. He put his untouched beer on the table, listening attentively as Sophia went around the group, introducing them to him. She was the only one that had been part of Filtiarn's pack, Redford noticed.

"So, Redford," one of the men-who Redford had been told was named Frank-spoke up. "What brings you here?"

Redford found himself having to internally compose his answer before he spoke it. Luckily, he had Jed to use as a suitable apparent distraction, taking a few moments to make sure the rope was still in place and comfortable, that he hadn't tied the knot too tightly. "I'm looking for information," Redford said honestly. Then not so honestly, "I'm looking for a pack to join. Since Filtiarn, I've... pretty much been on my own."

He hated having to say it. He was well aware that Jed knew he was lying, but it felt like dismissing him, somehow. Redford would make it up to him later.

"There's not many of Fil's pack left wandering around alone," another of the group said. "Which is good for them. A wolf without a pack is just about the saddest sight you'll ever see."

Redford tilted his head, curious. He was getting closer to the topic he wanted to discuss. "I haven't had any luck," he admitted. "Are you all pack?"

Sophia gave him a warm smile, leaning against the side of the man sitting next to her. Even in the chaos, Redford could smell that their scents were mingled. "Oh," he said, surprised, and nodded toward Sophia. "Um, congratulations?"

Her smile brightened into a grin that was verging on a laugh. Redford noticed she looked younger, almost. The lines of stress and wariness she'd worn with Fil were gone, replaced with a lightness in her expression. "You too," she said dryly, indicating Jed. "He's not really your pet, is he?"

"I should f.u.c.king hope not," another wolf growled. "That s.h.i.t is for the bloodsuckers. We don't keep pets. We've got enough leeches trying to do the same to us." Redford almost asked him to explain, but he remembered in a flash, the big wolf that Gabriel had kept chained in his office. That wolf had seemed slavishly devoted to Gabriel, to the point of ignoring his own imminent danger in favor of mourning Gabriel's apparent death.

"No, I, uh-" Redford gave a sheepish smile. "I was told that it's the only way to get humans in here."

"And it's true," Sophia replied. "We just don't involve ourselves with humans all that much. We definitely don't keep them around on leashes."

Redford wanted to untie the rope then and there. But just because they were on a different side of the club didn't mean they were invisible. They'd have to keep this up until they left.

"Well, I look f.u.c.king fantastic in leather, darlin'," Jed drawled, winking at the table at large. "So trust me, this is not a hardship."

"You definitely do," Redford approved. Not that Jed needed a club to wear it to. He was far too happy to make leather pants or too-tight jeans his everyday wear, and Redford fully supported that choice.

As he sat up straight again, his eye caught the edge of a poster plastered to the wall near the table. In bold, blocky letters it proclaimed Half blood Revolution. There was a picture of a man, angular features, lean build, standing behind a podium. At the bottom of the poster, it said that someone named Phoenix was going to be giving speeches there every Thursday for the next few weeks.

It was the man Edwin had spoken of coming here to listen to. And that wasn't the first poster of its kind that Redford had seen, he realized. They were all over the club. Sophia noticed what he was looking at, and she made a derisive noise under her breath, but she didn't comment on it. "What were you looking to find out, Redford? We know of a few other packs. We could point you toward some."

"Actually," Redford started, dragging his gaze away from the poster. There was something oddly hypnotic about it, like the old World War II posters he'd seen pictures of, with propaganda smeared everywhere. "I heard that there was a big pack looking for the remains of Fil's group. The Gray Lady?"

"That she is," Frank confirmed. "Says she's looking to right Fil's wrongs, or something like that. It's the biggest pack we know of."

"I'd like to know where she is," Redford replied. Then, deciding he may as well be honest, he added, "It's not really for me. I have a friend who's sick, and his family thinks that the Gray Lady might be able to help him. It's not really a case where he can go to the hospital."

Sophia's expression softened. "A wolf sickness?" she murmured, trading looks with the other wolves around the table. "Yes, she would be the best person to go to for that. Frank can give you directions. From here, it's about two days drive."

Redford breathed out in relief, giving her a grateful look. "Thank you." He hadn't antic.i.p.ated it would be that easy. He'd thought he'd have to find someone he didn't know and gradually get the information out of them. Redford watched as Sophia pa.s.sed Frank a slip of paper and a pen that she'd retrieved from her handbag, then turned his gaze to the directions Frank was writing down.

"It's not exactly just off the highway, so you'll have to keep an eye out for landmarks," Frank cautioned. "Once you get into the forest, you're not far from the compound, though. And if you get lost, you can always use your nose." He gave Redford a quick grin, pa.s.sing the paper over to him.

Redford tried to figure out how he could properly convey how appreciative he was. He reached across the table to shake Frank's hand. "Thank you," he repeated. "This really means a lot."

"Don't mention it. We're all wolves." Frank smiled easily, leaning back in his chair. "We might separate off into little groups, but we look after our own."

"Promise you'll find us if you need help with anything else," Sophia insisted, and what else could Redford do but agree? It was odd to him, to have more than one person who wanted to look after his well-being.

He said his good-byes, and Jed stood with him. Redford didn't really want to spend any more time in this club than he had to, so he led them toward the door. He noticed Jed giving a longing look toward every dark corner they pa.s.sed, and a few seconds later, his neck was getting enthusiastically attacked with lips and teeth.

"You're so G.o.dd.a.m.n hot when you're in charge," Jed breathed, sucking kisses along the slope of Redford's throat. "You've got me at your beck and call. Be a shame to waste that, wouldn't it?"

"Maybe when we're not in the middle of a club," he replied, wrapping his arm around Jed, though his steps kept faltering when Jed found a particularly sensitive spot on his neck. Jed knew him far too well.

"Prude," Jed teased, but he was smiling as he nipped lightly, just under Redford's ear. "I wish I could ride you right here and now. Club be d.a.m.ned."

That made him stumble even more, and Redford had to gather every shred of willpower he had to make it out the door. They got into the dimly lit hallway, the blinking lights none too kind on his eyes, but Redford was pretty sure it was the perfect place to tug Jed into a proper kiss. Pressing Jed back against the wall, Redford bit at Jed's lower lip. "You're terrible for my self-control," he said, attempting to sound stern. "I was trying to be all confident, but you kept distracting me."