Animal Instincts (Entangled Ignite) Read Free Page A

away from Skye Cross and onto business.
    “Alderman Bakula, good to see you,” he greeted the politician. “Leaving so early?”
    “Already shot my wad, son. Another time.”
    “We’ll be looking forward to it,” Luc said, moving along, greeting a wealthy socialite at one bank of slots and a man who worked in airport security at another.
    Pop wanted ears to the ground at every level, his entry point to taking over the city. If Pop succeeded—and odds were that he would—Luc knew he wouldn’t stop at Chicago. Being immortal, Pop had all the time in the world and filled his days and nights by figuring out ways of gaining more power. He was already making deals with Kindred scattered around the globe. Eventually, they would work under him. Pop had big plans for the world. That was the thing that tested Luc’s love of being Kindred. How Pop would do this offended his human side.
    Luc waved to his people in the security office via one of the cameras suspended near high windows that let in the light of early evening. As always, flashes of silver circled the boat. Fish were drawn to the lights of sea glass. Odd how they were so aware of the lower deck casino when people weren’t, due, of course, to Pop’s cloaking spell.
    Then again, the humans in this casino weren’t aware of the potential consequences of their gaming. They thought the dealers in tiger-striped vests and the waitresses in leopard-print sarongs were like them.
    If their luck didn’t hold, which was inevitable, they would face the truth soon enough.
    What if Skye Cross figured it out? Just as her brother had obviously done.
    As if his thoughts had conjured Shade, Luc saw him with Nuala. Again. The man had been after his sister for weeks, no doubt as part of his investigation. Luc hoped Nuala had been careful what she’d told him. Even now, Shade was gazing around the casino as if trying to find some way to bring The Company down. The man was trouble, first appearing at the shifter fight, now here.
    Stalking him, Luc wondered what Shade was saying to his sister. Normally expert at hiding what she was feeling, Nuala hadn’t been herself lately, and right now, Luc could tell she was struggling to contain her emotions.
    She looked his way and her expression closed. “Luc.”
    He put his arm around his sister’s shoulders, and in a low voice asked, “What are you doing back here, Detective?”
    “You know I have a standing invitation.”
    “That doesn’t mean you have to use it.”
    Nuala moaned. “Luc, please—”
    “What is it you really want?” he asked Shade.
    Though after the raid the previous night, Luc thought he knew. And, like his sister, Shade couldn’t be influenced, as Luc had learned over the past weeks.
    “I want a lot of things, Lazare.” He stepped closer, pushing his face into Luc’s. “Number one, stay away from my sister.”
    Good advice , Luc thought. What he said was, “And if I don’t?”
    “Stop it, both of you,” Nuala said, “before you cause a scene.” She seemed in charge of herself again.
    “Do you want me to leave?” Shade asked her.
    Nuala hesitated a moment before she spoke. “No, but I think it would be best for everyone.”
    Luc narrowed his gaze on his sister. Did she have real feelings for this human, who could bring trouble down on them? How could she get herself involved with a cop?
    “All right, then, if that’s what you want,” Shade said. “But you’ll see me again soon.”
    He turned to go, but Luc grabbed Shade’s arm. “One more thing. I hear you’ve been to see my mother.” Who had always stayed away from his father’s world.
    “Gracious woman.” Shade pulled his arm free. “How she got mixed up in all this…” He shrugged.
    “You’d damn well better stay away from her.”
    Shade echoed Luc. “And if I don’t?”
    Blood coursed through Luc. He tensed his muscles so that he didn’t do something he would regret. He locked gazes with the cop, who had no idea of what he was