Smashed (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8.5)

Chapter Nine

“That was bullshit, Arys. You sent us over there knowing damn well there’d be nothing for us to do.” The feisty leopard was all fired up. Jez flung accusations at me, her eyes flashing an angry green.

Shaz nodded his agreement, letting his scowl speak for him. The two of them were upset with me for sending them on a pointless errand. I offered no apology. Risking two of the mortal people that Alexa loved most in this world hadn’t been an option. It had been easier to just get rid of them for a while.

“I hadn’t expected Briggs to launch his hunt so early in the evening. Don’t blame me.” It was the best they were going to get out of me.

Jez pointed a long finger at me, tipped with red, claw-like nails. “You suck. If you have nothing else for me to further waste my time with, I’m taking off.”

“You’re not going in there, are you?” I nodded toward The Spirit Room. We were back in the parking lot where Jenner and I had filled the two shifters in on the events of our encounter with Briggs.

“What’s it to you?” Jez demanded, though there was a softness in her gaze that didn’t match her tone.

I mustered a shred of a shrug and waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing at all. I just happen to know that there are people who would never get over it if you OD and die in that place.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she quipped sarcastically. “I appreciate the concern.” She stubbed out her cigarette and stared at the building that vibrated with heavy bass tones. I was reminded of what Alexa had told me about Jez’s true father and the darkness she’d inherited from him.

“Jez, if you need anything, even if you just want to talk, give me a call. Ok?” Shaz, the ever generous, caring soul that he was, followed her to the Jeep where they spoke in low tones.

After she’d gone, Shaz turned to me with a look on his face that I had come to know was his pre-fight look. “I want to see Alexa. You can’t keep shutting me out of everything. I have just as much a right to be part of this as you do.”

He expected an argument. The hard set to his jaw and the square of his shoulders gave his stance an air of menace. The young wolf was certainly a virile creature.

“You do,” I agreed. “When the time is right.”

“Oh for fuck’s sakes. Are you kidding me?” Shaz’s fist clenched, revealing how pent up his frustration was.

“Come on, pup. Let’s go talk about this somewhere else. Preferably somewhere relaxing. Low key.” To Jenner, I said, “I need some time with Shaz. I’ll see you back at home. Be careful with that car.”

A gleeful smile lit up Jenner’s face. “But of course.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere with you unless it’s to see Lex.” The stubborn wolf stood his ground. “You owe me that much.”

“I don’t owe you a damn thing. Let’s go to Lucy’s Lounge. It’s been a while. We’ll shoot some pool. You’ll drink some beer. We’ll talk.”

Suspicion marred Shaz’s face. The protests were there, waiting to be delivered. After a moment of consideration, he gave in, much to my delight.

“Fine. But you’re buying.”

Lucy’s Lounge was the only decent place in Stony Plain to hang out socially after dark. Getting Shaz out of the city and back into the small town was better for everyone. The city was teeming with violence and unrest. He was already so wound up due to the events of the last week that I saw no need to feed that fire.

It had been quite some time since I’d been to the small town bar. Back when Alexa and the younger pack wolves had spent a substantial amount of time there, I too had frequented the place. Playing poker with a small group of humans had allowed me to keep an eye on her back in the days before she knew what we were to one another.

The bar had seen better days. It was rather unkempt, making no attempt to be anything other than what it was: a place to drink without any unnecessary frills.

“It feels different,” Shaz observed. “It’s all wrong without the others.”

By others I knew that he meant the young wolves who had once frequented the place along with him and Alexa. Two of those wolves were dead. There was just one wolf present now, other than Shaz, a middle-aged guy who was already shooting ugly glances our way.

“What’s that all about?” I asked, nodding to the watching wolf.

Shaz studied him, boldly meeting his gaze. “I’m not sure. I thought I left on good terms. Maybe I was wrong.”

“Fuck him.” I headed for a pool table, ignoring the watchful wolf gaze upon us. The loud, raucous calls of my former poker buddies drew me to their table where I made small talk, careful not to flash them any fang.