Read Online Passion's Prey: The Shadow Shifters by A.C. Arthur - Free Book Online Page A

dense trees and a small creek that almost gave the impression of their home in the Gungi. Well, not almost, but probably as close as they were going to get. The Virginia location was about an hour and a half away from their law firm in DC.
    “What are you thinking?” Rome asked.
    “Something’s not right,” Nick replied immediately. “Why didn’t he bring her back here? Why keep her in the city? And what the hell is she doing stripping?” He figured he’d be the one to approach the subject since he knew Rome was probably thinking it.
    When he turned to look at his friend he was rewarded with a look of relief on Rome’s face.
    “I wondered that myself. Do you know where she’s been for the last five years?”
    Nick rolled his neck, listened as muscles cracked with the effort, and tried to let his shoulders relax. “She didn’t say. I told X to look into it but he hasn’t gotten back to me with a report. I know she’s always loved to dance and was even enrolled in dance school before she left. This just doesn’t sound like Caprise.”
    Rome nodded. “She seems different now. I’ve noticed it in the weeks she’s been here.”
    “Ary’s been talking to her. She thinks Caprise is starting to adjust. But I don’t know,” Nick admitted.
    “She’s still not happy about being a shifter, that we all know for sure.”
    Nick shook his head. “She’s never been happy about that. I thought at least she’d come to terms with it by now. But she’s still in denial.”
    “Which isn’t good for us if there are Rogues roaming the streets, out for shifter or human blood,” Rome stated.
    “X was investigating Athena’s because Sabar’s savior drug was reportedly circulating there.”
    “You think she may be taking the drug?” Rome sounded skeptical but the question still stung.
    “No,” Nick replied adamantly. “She’s not on any drugs. I would know.” Or at least he thought he would.
    For the last few weeks he’d seen Caprise every day. Some days she looked almost happy and others she was sullen and agitated. Yesterday he remembered she’d made some remark about their parents and everyone having secrets. He’d been running late for work and so hadn’t stopped to ask her what the hell that meant. Now he wished he had.
    “It’s just a thought, man. I know she’s your sister but we’ve got to keep an open mind about this. I don’t believe in coincidences,” Rome said.
    “So the fact that Caprise was stripping at the same club X was investigating for the savior drug and they run into Rogues there is all connected?”
    “What do you think?” Rome asked.
    Nick sighed. “You’re right. It’s connected. I just hope—”
    His next words were cut off as his cell phone rang loudly. Reaching down to the case at his waist, Nick pulled the phone free and answered, “Delgado.”
    “Nick, it’s me, Caprise.”
    She was talking fast and she was whispering. Nick was instantly on alert.
    “Where are you? What’s wrong?”
    “I’m locked in the bathroom at X’s place. Some cop just came in talking about arresting him for murder.”
    “What?”
    “Just get over here as soon as you can!” she said. Then the line went dead.
    Rome had already stood and was glaring at Nick when he clicked off his phone.
    “What’s up?”
    “X is being arrested for murder,” he replied quizzically. Then he turned and quickly left Rome’s office.
    *   *   *
    The pounding at his door was incessant and irritating as hell. X rolled out of the bed cursing fluently as he moved through the condo, heading toward the door. He wasn’t wearing anything but the scowl he knew was on his face, and whoever was at his door at this ungodly hour deserved to get a damn eyeful.
    After disengaging the locks he pulled the door open and was shocked to see Agent Dorian Wilson standing on the other side.
    Agent Wilson was likewise shocked to see X in the state he was in, as witnessed by the widening of his eyes then the setting of