Page 5 of License to Kill

“Sounds like a him problem more than it is a me problem. I’m out.”

“Except there is an alert out on you, and they’re trying to say you’re due to go back to duty in a week. The note does say you are unaware of the return date or the assignment, so you’re mostly covered there, but you’ll face some sort of dereliction of duty charge. They’ll mostly drop it, but you’ll get a token slap on the wrist. So, you’re pretty banged up, you’ve left more blood than most can survive in that trailer with the bodies, and the only clues they’re getting out of me are my shoe size, as I’ve already destroyed the shoes. If you leave it alone, you’ll be flagged as presumed dead with your body taken. Once the FBI starts to move on your murder, the bounty will disappear out of the system, and they won’t know if it’s because the kill was confirmed or if the asshole behind it doesn’t want to get caught. That depends on how long it takes for the bounty to be dropped.”

“Lovely.”

“It’s not all bad. I’m a rogue, and I like the underdog. We’ll team up until you can settle in whatever life you want. If that wolf of yours hadn’t allowed himself to be pressured by his Alphas, he wouldn’t be in the mess he’s in now, so let him suffer a while. No skin off your back. And if the Alphas are right, next year, he’ll be back on the market to be mated.”

I scowled at the thought of Jake pursuing other women.

I’d been wrong before, and my nose hadn’t lied about the women. I just didn’t know why he’d smelled of them all the time. Every time I’d asked, he hadn’t given me an answer. “And if they’re wrong?”

“Once he gets over himself and figures out Alphas can get it wrong, he’ll probably chase you to the ends of the Earth until he somehow gets you back where he thinks you belong.” The woman shrugged. “That’s just a guess, of course. But that’s what most Fenerec males would do. I don’t know what’ll happen if they assume you’re dead. I expect he’ll spend the rest of his time hunting revenge, and then there’ll be mass confusion when he’s not ready to mate again anytime soon, which will make him doubt you’re dead. That will be a problem, although it’s sometimes years before a Fenerec pursues a mate once theirs dies.”

“Why are you being so helpful?”

“I can. No other reason. As I said, I like the underdog.”

“Fox.”

“What?”

“I’m a fox. I’m not a wolf. I turn into a fox.”

The wolf stared at me as though I’d grown a second head. “And they’re fussing because they are expecting you to behave like a wolf when you’re not?”

I shrugged. “My fox wants the pack Jake has, but I’m not good enough.”

The woman flinched. “Right. They’re purists. Out west, there are packs who’ll take just about anyone, but over on this coast, they’re purists. If it doesn’t look like them, smell like them, and act just like them, it’s not welcome in the pack. That’s part of why I left the packs and went on my own. Now I work as a mercenary—or I do my own thing when the law doesn’t work quite right. As a bounty hunter or what have you. I do what’s needed. I just didn’t like somebody trying to off some former FBI agent who hadn’t done anything wrong, so I became involved.”

I could understand that. It was something I’d do. “Well, thanks for that. I think.”

“You’re welcome. The note said you’re probably depressed and possibly suicidal, to add to the fun. I thought you should know.”

I shrugged, as I didn’t see a point in denying it, especially considering the death of my pa.

My ma could rot in hell for all I cared.

Still, admitting the truth might help. Eventually. Or at least keep me out of the deep end long enough to get my feet under me and figure out what to do with the rest of my life.

My ma had wanted me to die, so I’d keep on going to spite her for what she’d done to me and my pa. I could only hope the resentment would last long enough for the grief of the ruins of the rest of my life to wear down to something I could shoulder. “If I wasn’t before, I am now.”

“Yeah. I’m not surprised. As I said, they made quite the file on you and put it on the network last night. A few Alphas from out west have already inquired about obstruction.”

“Obstruction?”

“Regarding why the Alphas are interfering with a pack member’s choice of mate. Hold this close to your sleeve, because your mate will ultimately need to get his head out of his ass unless you decide to go hide out in the west, but that’s an option for you. If you need to go somewhere, the packs feud enough you can probably find a home out in the west without your husband’s pack being the wiser for it.”

“Why are you telling me this? I don’t understand.”

“I really don’t like assholes, and these Alphas of your husband’s seem like assholes.”

“Well, they’re his parents.”

“Ah. That explains things. Asshole Alphas would only want perfection for their son, and they must have decided you’re not it. Typical.” The woman pulled over at a rest stop, got into the back with me, and took hold of my hand, bringing my wrist to her nose. “I smell male wolf. Sure, I have to put my nose to you to get it, but it’s there. You’ve been doing something with a male wolf.”

“Well, not recently,” I muttered.

I’d found ways to keep myself busy or feigned sleep when Jake had been home to avoid him and all of the problems he currently represented in my life.