Read Online Darkness Returns by Rob Cornell - Free Book Online Page A

He hated drama. Probably meant he’d hate wolf brains all over the carpet, too.
    “No drama intended. But I need to talk to you.”
    “What’s a wolf killing government goon got to say to me?”
    “I’m not government. Not anymore.”
    One corner of his mouth twitched. “That makes me feel so much better.”
    “I didn’t come here as an enemy. I came as an ally.”
    “Bullshit.” The Alpha stepped up close. “Bullshit,” he repeated, sprinkling her face with spittle. “You want something from me, ask for it.”
    “Craig Lockman.”
    “What? You lose him? Last I checked, you two were as cuddly as a bitch and her pups.”
    “He’s not what I want. He’s what you want. And I can get to him.”
    He pointed a finger in her face. “Now, see? That’s the problem with you mortals. No loyalty to your leaders.”
    “If another wolf took you down, what would happen?”
    His eyes narrowed. “That a threat?”
    “It’s a question. Forget it. I know the answer. An Alpha’s gotta earn his place. If he’s too weak, the role goes to someone stronger.”
    He brushed at his face as if moving a lock of hair aside, but all his hair remained oiled back. “The mighty Lockman’s lost his touch, huh?”
    “He’s got a severe blindspot.”
    “So what? You think you can hire us or some shit? My pack doesn’t do dirty work for mortals.”
    “Tell that to the dogs working for Otto Dolan.” The quip came out of her mouth before her self-preservation filter could catch it. If she backed off now, it would make her look not only weak, but stupid. She pushed on. “Oh, wait. Lockman killed both those puppies.”
    The Alpha busted open a fat laugh so loud and sudden, Teresa’s heart seemed to stop beating for a second.
    “You got teeth,” he said. “You’d make a good bitch.”
    Despite the sound of it, Teresa was pretty sure that qualified as a compliment coming from him. She forced a smile. “So can we deal.”
    He shook his head. “Told you. We don’t deal with mortals. You want to run with us, you got to be one of us.”
    Hensha whimpered. “Scud, you can’t—”
    His eyes snapped to her. “Can’t what? You talking back to me?”
    Teresa could feel her gun move against Hensha’s jaw when the wolf swallowed. “No.”
    “Scud?” Teresa asked, balling up every bit of swagger she had left before it poured out of her. “What kind of name is that?”
    “Kind you’re gonna learn to respect when you’re one of my bitches.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You want to help me get to Lockman, you gotta join the pack, babe.” His thick lips parted into a toothy grin. “Yeah, you’ll make a good bitch.”
    The mix of cigarette smoke and the smell of tropical suntan lotion suddenly felt oppressive. Made it hard to breathe. “I’m willing to deal,” she said, hating the tremor in her voice. “But that’s off the table. I got no desire to be a wolf.”
    “As if your desire had anything to do with it.” He turned to Cage. “Use the honeymoon suite. Make sure you get as many of the boys as you can gather.”
    Cage nodded and hurried out of the poker room, knocking against one of the dealers in his haste to obey his master.
    The quiver in Teresa’s voice had spread through her body. She gave a reminder shove of her pistol under Hensha’s chin. “Hey. You lay a hand on me, I’ll scatter her brains.”
    Scud lifted a shoulder. “Then what?” He raised a hand and twitched a pair of fingers. This signaled the guy in the suit to draw a Dirty Harry style of revolver and move forward. He trained the hand cannon’s barrel at the center of Teresa’s mass, taking a sturdy shooter’s stance.
    “Let’s not waste lives here,” Scud said. “I like you. You should be honored to be one of my bitches.”
    “Sounds like a real privilege.” She meant it to come out tough, but she sounded scared.
    “It is, you cunt,” Hensha said. “You don’t deserve it.”
    Scud sighed through his nose, making his