Wolf at Law by Heather Long Read Free Page A

Chase? The woman wore a wedding ring. Human or not, she was taken. His wolf didn’t give a damn. Whomever had her hadn’t taken care of her. On that point, he and his wolf were in absolute agreement.
    When the train arrived, Ryan boarded the same car as they did. When the rowdy teenagers got to close to the mother and child, he glared at them until they moved on to choose a different place to sit.
    He didn’t even know her name, but he would make sure they got home safe. Once he had an address, he’d learn everything else about them. Satisfied with the plan to hunt, the wolf kept a watchful eye out and Ryan did his best not stare. Not that he had to, since he’d already committed every feature to memory. Her eyes were the color of toffee—perfect and sweet—and the loneliness within them scored his soul. Someone had hurt her and recently. Keeping his position proved the hardest task he’d ever faced.
    Because all he wanted to do was kill whatever had put the bruised look in her eyes.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    Tiffany Taglioni guided Alexis up the steps to their house, violently aware of the man who’d trailed them from the L. She’d seen him twice, though he’d tracked her path and moved across the street when she’d turned around to look at him. She fisted the mace in her purse. It wasn’t much of a defense when she had her little girl in tow, but it would still buy Alexis time to run.
    Tired from their day of traveling from lawyer to lawyer looking for someone willing to tangle with her husband, she just wanted to go home, get Alexis to bed and lay down for a few hours. Maybe she’d be lucky. Maybe Giles would stay with one of his mistresses and leave her and Alexis alone. One thing Tiffany had learned—when she made no complaints, her husband seemed content to ignore her. His distraction would prevent any more incidences. Alexis was old enough to understand, to see the pain her father inflicted on her mother.
    No child needed to see that. Ever.
    “Can I watch a movie, Mama?” Alexis yawned the words and rubbed at her eyes. The third time she’d done so since they’d stepped off the train.
    “You need to brush your teeth and get your pajamas.” Tiffany told her, scanning the entryway and living room. No lights were on, no sounds from the television. So far, so good—no Giles. Her pulse beat too rapidly, but she flicked on the lights.
    No evidence that Giles had been home was revealed by the illumination. The answering machine showed no messages waiting, either.
    “I don’t wanna brush my teeth,” Alexis complained, but trudged toward the bathroom.
    “Go brush your teeth and get in your pajamas,” Tiffany said, repeating the instructions. She put her purse down and made sure the door was locked before following in her daughter’s wake. Alexis’ clothes hit the floor on her way to the bathroom, and Tiffany scooped them up as she went.
    “Can we watch a movie, Mama?”
    “Maybe so, baby girl. Get ready for bed first.” Once Alexis was safely in the bathroom, Tiffany checked the rest of the house. She tried to keep her steps casual, hanging up jackets and generally straightening up. In every room, she turned on the lights until the whole apartment blazed.
    No clothes left behind by Giles. No shoes out of place. No casually strewn papers. No discarded dishes in the kitchen. The bedroom was the last room to check, and she glanced down the hall toward the bathroom. The water was running, and Alexis hummed an off key tune to Aretha Franklin’s R.E.S.P.E.C.T.—a trick Tiffany had taught her. She had to brush her teeth for the length of the song.
    It not only promoted good oral hygiene, it could buy Tiffany valuable minutes if Giles was in a mood. Opening the bedroom door, she braced herself for a flying fist and nearly wept when none came. The room was blissfully empty. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes and sent up a silent prayer. Another night’s reprieve. She’d get Alexis settled