His brow sloped down and he touched the small scar on his bottom lip. “A mother wouldn’t leave her kid at home alone, so the cousin’s probably still watching her. I’ll check it out and see if they know anything about Skye. You mind telling me why you showed up at the house this morning like someone who woke up in the woods without a clue of what the hell just happened? Trust me, I know that look.”
I decided if Reno was already on the case, he needed to know everything. I gulped down the rest of my milk and pushed the glass aside. “Two men tackled me outside my apartment. They didn’t assault me or take the pile of cash I was carrying.”
His knuckles turned white when he made tight fists with his hands. “What the fuck did they want?”
I shook my head, a wavy swath of hair falling in front of my face. “They forced me to shift. They used a device to lure my animal out. When I woke up, hours had passed and there was no sign of them. Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush. Something’s going on in this club and none of us are safe. I’m not going to sit around putting on mascara while someone is kidnapping these women. The local Packmasters don’t want to be involved because, let’s face it, they think we’re nothing but trash. Maybe all you see on that stage is a pretty girl and a nice pair of tits, but these girls have big dreams, and that’s why they work their asses off so they can take care of themselves.”
“I’m not here to judge,” he said, holding up his hands.
“Neither am I. But you and I need to have an understanding that this is personal. Skye has a baby out there somewhere who’s wondering when her mommy is coming home.”
Reno scratched his bristly jaw. “Damn,” he murmured. “Look, I can’t promise anything. I don’t have enough to go on that’ll tell me where they are, or if they’re still alive. Humans could have taken them for all I know. I see that shit on the news all the time.” He reached out and neatly lined up the salt and pepper shakers, wiping a few granules off the table.
“Count the money and let me know if that’s enough. If the extra work will cost more, then I’ll have to dig into my savings.”
He peered inside the white envelope. “That’s plenty.”
“I want to go with you to see her cousin, so give me a call when you plan to make the trip.”
“Hold up,” he said, sitting back in his chair. “That’s not the deal.”
I scooted my chair closer to him and softened my voice. “If you don’t let me tag along, I’ll find out the address myself and go alone. I’d rather you do the questioning since you know the right things to ask. I just want to make sure her baby is okay.”
Reno’s face relaxed and he gave a reluctant sigh. “Fine. I’m not about to grill a woman, so don’t expect me to pull out my gun and demand answers. She might remember Skye talking about strange calls or someone hanging around her too much. Look, are you going to eat that sausage or not?”
I gracefully stood up and patted his shoulder. “I love a man who can’t say no to a nice piece of meat,” I said suggestively. “Call me when you get the address.”
Reno was already polishing off my plate when I left the table. One of the new girls strutted by and I seized her wrist. “Do you see the caveman sitting at the table behind me?”
She peered over my shoulder. “Mmm. Sure do.”
“Bring him another plate, and pronto. But don’t waste your time hitting on him; he’s mated.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Coming up.”
I adjusted my purse strap and sat at the bar, staring at the blue clock on the right wall. Three more hours until noon.
So I waited.
After Reno ordered two more breakfast plates, he lingered awhile longer. I watched him from my spot at the bar. Wolves fascinated me. Especially how loyal they were to their mates. Not once did he look up at the stage with lust in his eyes. Reno was obviously a sexual man, but April must fulfill all his needs and then some. He only noticed the male customers, and he watched them closely. When Dean waltzed in and barked out a few orders, Reno sat back and clocked every move he made. I realized how exceptional Reno was at his job and why he made a good living as a private investigator. He wasn’t just on a case when he felt like it but seized every opportunity to collect information. He talked with a few girls and then the bartender before finally leaving.
Fifteen minutes after twelve, I slipped off the barstool and headed out. If Austin was a man of his word, then I now had a bodyguard keeping a respectful distance.
The bright sunshine pierced my eyes when I pushed open the door. The heat settled on me like a heavy blanket, and I slipped on a pair of designer sunglasses.
What I really needed to do was go shopping. The club didn’t pay for costumes or accessories—that came out of our own pockets. But if it helped garner more tips, then it was money well spent.