Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
He was right. In fact, Shaya and her father went on many hunting trips there when she was growing up, which was why Nick had bought it.
“It’s a place that humans and shifters alike would appreciate,” Hector continued. “There are locations all over California that would suit the needs of your pack. I am offering you a figure that is more than double what the land is worth. You could use that money to procure vaster territory.”
“You’re not fucking hearing me,” growled Nick. “We’re not selling.”
Hector’s smile lost its openness. “That’s a shame. A real shame.”
“No, it’s not.”
Hector’s eyes hardened. “I want this territory, Nick.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what you want.”
“No, you really don’t, do you?” And that seemed to surprise Hector. “You spent a good portion of your youth in juvie, didn’t you, Nick?”
Jesse blinked. What the fuck did that have to do with anything?
“I heard it was where you met the wolf who is now your Beta.” Hector slid his gaze to the male in question. “Derren, isn’t it? You were found guilty of raping a human girl.”
Ally’s chin lifted. “He was recently exonerated.”
“Oh yes, so I heard. It’s a shame that the Seer who falsely accused you wasn’t around to witness the wrong made right, Derren. From what else I heard, he was presumed dead . . . although a body has never been found.”
A sick feeling slithered into Jesse’s stomach.
“Have you ever been to New Orleans, Derren?” Hector asked casually.
“No, I haven’t,” replied Derren, tone emotionless.
“Odd.” Hector rubbed his chin. “I was under the impression that you, your Alpha, and another wolf you met in juvie—Cain Holt—once went there, searching for the Seer. I believe his name was Neil something-or-other. It was around that time that Neil disappeared. But then, people often disappear in the swamps, don’t they?”
“This meeting is over,” said Nick.
“I’m going to reach for something in my jacket,” Hector quickly said. He pulled out a brown letter sized envelope. “Here. Open it.”
Nick didn’t take it. “Not interested in anything you have to show me.”
“You’ll want to see this. Derren will most certainly wish to.”
Derren pursed his lips. “Can’t say I do.”
“Then perhaps I should hand these testimonies to someone who would find them rather interesting.”
Ally exchanged a meaningful look with Derren. Whatever she’d sensed from Hector worried her.
“There are three testimonies inside,” said Hector, throwing the envelope at Nick’s feet. “One from a barman who can identity the three of you asking about the Seer—I believe Neil worked alongside the barman. The second testimony is from Neil’s neighbor, who swears he saw three males dragging the Seer out of the house and shoving him into a rental van. And the third comes from a swamp guide who witnessed three men dumping a corpse into the swamp. He wasn’t able to identify them, as he was too far away at the time, but he could give their height and build.”
“And this is supposed to make us do what, panic?” Nick snickered. “We were never in New Orleans, and all you have are three witnesses who strangely never came forward. So either the witnesses saw other males or you’ve made this whole thing up. Whatever. But, hey, if you think you can make that stick in a human court, go for it. I’ll be surprised if a court wishes to dredge up the whole thing, given it will highlight all the mistakes the police made in falsely prosecuting Derren.”
“Oh, I agree that this isn’t enough, particularly since his body was never found. But if these statements reached the extremists, reporters, or your childhood pack, you might find yourself with people coming at you from all sides. I’d say life would become very difficult for you.”
Fuck. The piece of shit was right. Reporters would pounce on such a story. And Derren’s childhood pack—most of whom refused to acknowledge his innocence—would likely love a reason to persecute him all over again. He’d been through enough.
“Of course, these statements can disappear if you just give me what I want.”
Nick growled. “You think you can blackmail me? You son of a bitch.” No sooner had he cocked back his fist and lunged than Hector’s two guards each whipped out a revolver. Derren and Eli quickly grabbed Nick and yanked him back.
“Shoot him and you’re all dead,” Derren snarled at the guards. They swallowed hard, but their hands didn’t waver.
“Killing me would get you nowhere,” Hector told Nick, voice a little unsteady. “I have taken measures to ensure my safety.” As Nick shrugged off the wolves holding him back, Hector quickly gestured at the envelope and said, “They are copies. The originals are somewhere safe. My attorney and some others I trust also have copies. If I die, they will release them to the world.”
“Why do you hate shifters so much?” Ally asked. Hector looked stunned by her words. “It’s no coincidence that you’ve acquired a lot of land over the years that was owned by shifters. Seems that they’re not your favorite species.”