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Since the clothes option might not be offered again, she dragged on underwear, jeans and one of Zeven’s t-shirts. She felt safer surrounded by his scent and knew from her research that Zeven's scent might protect her some from this other werewolf. “What do you want Zeven for?”
The man sighed and sank heavily onto the edge of the bed. The seconds ticked by, and she began to wonder if he was going to answer at all. Then with another exasperated sigh, he finally did. “Zeven Ochoa has exceeded everyone’s fears. Seems he's been on the radar and intentionally overlooked for a long while. But that leniency is over. It's time he be leashed or put down.”
Oh shit. “And you’re here to do that?”
“Yes.” The answer was clear and as far as she could tell honest. But there also seemed to be a lot that he wasn't saying.
“And you plan to do that... all by yourself?” She put as much disdain as she could into the words although by appearance the two would be well matched. Not only did they look alike, but they moved alike and were both armed to the teeth. Just how close were these two related? Was there any chance the relationship might offer Zeven an edge?
He looked at her but said nothing.
And the guy had a face that hid his every thought. “If you’re here for him, then why did you follow me?”
He stood and prowled around the room. “Your situation was unexpected.” He answered while moving the debris from the broken chair out of the way. Then he set the door back in its frame despite the twisted hinges and broken lock.
She needed to just keep him talking. Zeven would come back eventually and the more information she knew, the more they could use against this guy. “What does that mean? What did you expect to find?”
“He accepted a contract to kill you and yet here you are completely unharmed. He didn’t kill you and I want to know why.”
Oh. Well, she wasn’t going to dish all that gossip. All it would do is give this man more weapons to use against Zeven. “He told me that his clan was all dead. Did he lie?”
He moved silently over to where their bags sat on the dresser. “He killed his clan. I was long gone by then.” He poked through both bags, pulling a bundle of money from Zeven’s. Even from across the room, she could see the bills in the wad were hundreds. That single stack probably held five thousand bucks. “It looks like murder has been quite profitable for your mate.” The words were a dangerous growl.
The money must piss him off. Better change the topic, fast. “Do you have a name?”
He shrugged and tossed the money back into the bag. “I do.”
“What is it?”
“Deven.” His face was blank but intent while watching her.
As if he was watching for some recognition of the name. But she hadn’t ever heard the name, Deven. Or had she? Once a long time ago in the desert with Zeven he’d whispered a name in his sleep. He’d whispered Deven but denied it when she’d asked him later.
Deven’s face changed, fell with just a glimpse of pain before hardening.
She put it together. “You’re not just from the same clan. You’re his brother.” Zeven had said he was alone that his parents and brother were killed. But he’d never found the bodies. He’d only been five at the time. He had barely survived and wouldn’t have been able to search for them even if they had escaped. “Are your parents alive? Did they survive?”
He looked away. “They died.”
Perhaps this was one time that she should want to run, but something told her that this man and the truth about his existence should be cherished, not feared. She had a crazy urge to try and forge some kind of connection to this stranger. Now that she'd calmed down, he felt completely different from any other strange wolf she'd ever encountered. Something about him felt... safe. As if he was already someone she could rely on. She crossed the room, boldly approaching him. “But you lived.” She reached for his arm, somehow wanting to convey how much his survival would mean to Zeven. “He didn’t know the truth. He believed that you had died with your parents.”
He didn’t pull back. “Perhaps I didn’t want him to know.”
“Why not? You’re family. You’re clan.”
Deven backed away from her. “After what he’s become, I don’t think the reunion is going to be as rosy as you seem to picture. I will be very surprised if we both survive the first five minutes.”
Damn him. The way he said it made it pretty clear he expected to be the one still standing and maybe he was that tough. She just wasn’t about to give up that easily. “It can be whatever you want it to be.”
“The decision regarding Zeven’s life or death is not truly mine to make. We all have our roles to play.”
She tried to read between the lines of what he was saying. The tight look to his eyes, and the slight, ever so slight twist of his lips and the way it pulled at the scar that cracked his one cheek. Maybe he didn't want the bad ending any more than she did. Maybe when he said it wasn't his decision, he was trying to offer a hint. If he was, it wasn't clear enough for her to figure him out. “I just don't understand. You’d still try to kill him, knowing he’s your brother, knowing he is the only family you have left?”
His expression barely changed. “My family if you wish to label it such does not include your lover.”
Oh... there was another hint. “Who are they and what gives you or them the right to judge Zeven?” Her anger spilled up despite her attempt to tamp it down. Much as she didn’t approve of Zeven’s employment choice, she understood what drove him to it, and was nowhere near willing to give him up in the name of justice.
He shook his head and then met her gaze squarely. “Look, I can see you have feelings for him but what happens from here out is in your lover’s hands, not mine. If he chooses well, he can still have a good and honorable future ahead of himself. If not, then it may prove he has lived his life.”
