Jana Leigh (19 page)

Joel Lipit was well and truly screwed…and he knew it.  He stumbled onto something during an investigation that had blown a massive gunrunning ring wide open.  He had gotten a tip, but what he found was something he still couldn’t believe.  Corruption in the FBI, he had no idea who to trust anymore, considering his boss had been ass deep in the cover up.

So he did t
he only thing he could think of and went underground until he could figure out who wanted him dead so badly.  So far, the two people he tried to contact for help had tried to kill him.  Now he wasn’t sure who he could trust.

Joel had relied on one of his q
uestionable contacts to help him hide for the time being.  The only thing the guy understood was money, and Joel had plenty of that right now.  His brother’s death benefits were keeping him alive right now.

“
Did you get it?” Joel asked when Dev, his contact, walked in the door.  He was for lack of a better word his snitch.  If Joel wanted information on the gangs, he went to Dev.  Now the streetwise kid was saving his life.

“
Yeah, got the max,” Dev said.  “And the dude will be at the diner in a few hours.”

Finally, someone Joel could use to get a message to the one man he trusted, Drake
‘Lobo’ Viser.  His brother’s friend and teammate.  Joel needed someone who could help him and Drake would, without question, drop everything and come.  If only he had programed the man's new cell phone number into his phone before he left.  He knew Drake lived in Healing, Wyoming, now, but so far, no one from the town had been able to help him get Drake a message. 

The man from the family support on the base finally answered
his phone yesterday.  He was coming to meet him.  Joel would finally have someone that could get Drake the message.  He took a deep breath, hopefully this was going to be the last night he slept on the lumpy couch.

A few hours later, Joel put the cap on hi
s head and looked in the mirror.  His hair once dirty blonde and long, was now copper and short.  He also had not shaved in a few weeks, which gave him a grungy look.  Heck, if Brian could see him now he would laugh.  For the first time in their life, they would look like brothers.

He put his head down and headed out of the ratty apartment.  The diner on the corner wasn
’t too bad.  The coffee at least was strong.  Joel hated weak coffee.  Strong and black, able to peel the paint off the siding.  That was the only way to drink it.

As he walked into the diner, the waitress waved at him.  She knew exactly what he needed, and soon he was sitting in the booth waiting for his contact drinking his coffee.  At least some things were going as planned.

He drank three cups before the man arrived.  Joel was beginning to think that he had been stood up, but when he looked at his watch, he discovered that he had been early.  Joel really needed to get out more.

“
Mr. Lipit?” the man asked and held out his hand.

“
Yep, sit down.  Let me get you some coffee,” Joel said.

“
Great,” he said, then they waited for the waitress to leave before Joel asked the man for help.

“
Mr. Robertson, I need to get a hold of Drake Viser.  He has since retired, but was a part of my brother's unit.  He gave me his number but I lost it.  It is imperative I get him a message,” Joel said.

“
Oh…well, Joel, I am not sure you really need to talk to Drake.  I think you need to talk to me and tell me everything you know,” the man said.

Joel shook his head.  “
What?”

“
That’s right.  I am not the family support man.  I am undercover for the CIA, you are under arrest,” the man said and laughed at Joel.

“
What the hell are you talking about?!” Joel yelled and stood.  He grabbed his head as it began to swim.

Mr. Robert
son looked at the man who called him in shock.  He hadn’t said a word, except for hello and sat down.  Joel Lipit had started talking to him and before he could answer, he began yelling.  Something was very wrong.

When he received the phone call from Joel,
he logged it in.  A flag had been put on the man's name telling whoever spoke to Joel to contact the SEAL Commander.  Mr. Robertson had strict orders to tell Joel to come to the base.  He needed protecting.  There was a car waiting for them outside with an armed escort.

Joel had to get away.  He looked, there were men coming at him.  He tried to remember the layout of the diner but he couldn
’t, so he did the only thing he could think of.  He picked up a chair and threw it through the window, then jumped out after it.

Looking around wildly, he ran down the street.  He needed to get somewhere safe.  Everyone he called was against him.  How was he ever going to stay alive when everyone he contacted tried to kill him.  What the fuck was going on?

“Brian?” Joel whispered and came to a halt.  His brother was in front of him.

“
Bro, you need to get to the base.  Drake is on his way,”
Brian said.

“
No!  You aren't real.  You are dead,” Joel said and looked around.

“
Yeah, and so will you be…soon.  Get your ass to the base,”
Brian said.

Denver Pack Series

Alpha's Mate

Tey's White Wolf

Devon: The Beta's Double Trouble

Cloe: Two for the Bite of One

Reggie:  A Wolf's Changing Heart

Blaine:  A Wolf's Second Sight

Lacy: Seeing Double

Jordan's Misunderstanding

Trinity: Heart of the Shifters

Argus:  Meeting the Challenge

Trace: Following His Destiny

Shea: The Last Hope

Denver Pack Twelve 1/2

Chosen Wars Series

Cat
’s Choice

Dante
’s Dream

Finally Home
– Taming of a White Wolf

Other books include

Dangerous Series

Dangerous Trio

Dangerous Two

Dangerous Finale

Dangerous: Working Against the Clock

Dangerous: Off Limits

Dangerous: All Bark and No Bite

Cassidy Family Series

Playing With Zack

Killing Jared

Holiday Surprise

Drekinn Series

The Mating Call

Healing Cherri

Mob Moms’ Christmas

Reaching Rissa

Surprise Mating

Taming Team Ten

Boots, Chaps, and Cowboy Hats

Raising a Cowgirl

Deadly Spurs

Fire and Ice

Halfway Between – Coming Soon

Meridian Warriors by Jana Leigh and Zach Collins

Meridian Warriors: Xander and Des

Meridian Warriors Book Two
– Coming soon

Shifter Justice by Jana Leigh and Bryce Evans

Perfect Reflections

Infiltrating the Pack
– Coming Soon

I would love to hear from you!

Website: www.janaleighauthor.webs.com

Email:
[email protected] 

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/#!/janaleigh731

Denver Pack Book One

By Jana Leigh

Quin went into his office and answered the phone that was blinking at him,
“Hello Father.”

“
Son, what progress have you made with the Rogues?” A gruff voice responded to him.  His father, never a man for long discussions, was always quick and to the point.  When he was growing up, his mother was the one who dispensed the hugs.  His father, though Quin knew he loved him, was more serious.  His father also believed the Alpha of every Pack had a greater responsibility than even to his own family.  This is where they differed.  When Quin finally found his mate, he was going to make sure she knew exactly how important she was to him.  His children would know the same love his mother had shown him.

“
We had a skirmish last night in a suburb, but so far we can’t seem to find their lair.  I hope they will show themselves soon.  We have heard their Alpha is a wolf named Roark, but we haven’t been able to find him,” Quin said turning in his chair so he could watch the last of the sun setting.

“
You may have to send out more patrols.  I heard from Roan in Northern Ireland, and his Alpha in the States is having problems too.  He has lost three females and one Enforcer in the last week.  You need to watch the Pack,” his father warned.

“
I know what is at stake here, father.  I will talk to my Beta and the Enforcers.  We are planning a retreat next week, but I do not want to leave the Pack unguarded.  We may have to postpone, at least while this mess remains.  They will understand, even if they are itching to run,” Quin said.

“
I agree.  Do you need any more people?  I could send your brother and a few others to help,” his father asked. 

Quin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.  He was the Alpha of this Pack.  He loved his father, but he was still set in the old ways.

“Let me talk it over with the others, I will let you know.  I may have to have some more help if they try to take one of our females,” Quin replied.

They spoke for a few more minutes, and then Quin hung up the phone, hoping he would be able to give his father a better report the next time he spoke to him.  He didn
’t want his brothers to come here unless the need arose for that particular action.  They were all working on settling their own Packs.  All except for his youngest brother Adrian, who was just concluding his training.  He hoped to offer the young wolf a place in his Pack.  It had been too long since he had seen his family, and he wanted to have that connection again.

He had no clue what the Rogue wolves were trying to do.  Taking female wolves was an act of war, soon he would have no choice but to hunt and kill the Rogues if they could not get them under control. 

He could hear loud voices in the outer office and sighed again.  What else could happen today?  It had been a long day already, and he wanted to have a nice quiet dinner and go to bed.

Just before he reached the door, it burst open and his Beta fell in the room.  Devon was larger than most of his wolves, so he nearly took up the entire space when he sprawled on the floor.  Being the Beta of the Pack, Devon was the strongest wolf.  Quin never wanted to find out who would win if they fought for Alpha, he suspected it would be a close fight.

“Get your ass out of my way,” he heard a female growl come from just outside the room.

Quin laughed when Devon jumped up and looked at him with red cheeks. 
“She caught me off guard.”

“
Right, we’ll go with that, if it’s how you want to spin it.”  Quin agreed and poked his head out of his office to see who had thrown his Beta through the door.  It must have been a large female wolf to do this kind of damage.

He laughed even harder when he saw the small sprite before him.  A small blonde woman stood there tapping her foot with impatience.  Wow, she was beautiful.  Long flowing hair pulled back into a high ponytail and voluptuous curves, the woman stood a good foot below him.  It made him feel like he was a giant.  Quin grinned and looked at the woman with more interest.  He wondered why she was here.  He knew every member of his Pack, and she definitely did not belong.

“Listen buster, I have been sitting out here for the last two hours, waiting patiently for the head dog to come and meet with me.  I no longer have the time, or the inclination to sit here.  Tell your overly important man when he makes an appointment; he should have the courtesy to show up.”  The woman fumed, turned on her heel, and stomped to the elevators.

The Chosen
’s War Book One

By Jana Leigh

“You will not keep me from her, wolf,” Diavolo snarled, as he twisted Adolfo’s arm back further.  “She is mine and will always be mine.”

Suddenly, Adolfo turned on Diavolo and somehow got the Vampire under him again.

“She is not yours, Vampire.”  Adolfo growled into his ear, “I will kill you before I allow you to take her.”

Adolfo started to change into his wolf.  His face elongated, and his claws came out.  He pushed the Vampire further into the carpeted floor.

Then his eyes met hers.  “Caterina, run.  Go to where we planned, as we have talked about doing.  Go there and they will keep you safe.  Run now, Caterina, and never look back.”

At first, her legs couldn't move, but then she found herself flying down the stairs.  She picked up her purse, car keys, the plane tickets that were sitting on the table next to the front door, and then she opened the door to run out.

She looked back at her long-time friend and guardian to see that he had now fully changed and was holding the Vampire down by his teeth around Diavolo’s throat.  Adolfo looked up at her, and their eyes met.  She saw then something she had never seen in his eyes before.  She looked at his side and saw the blood that was matted in his fur and dripping from his side.  She knew at that moment that Adolfo knew he would not survive this fight, that he would not be able to go with her and protect her anymore.

Tears fell from her eyes as she looked into his again. 
“I love you, Adolfo.”

He just growled his response, but she knew it was him telling her he loved her too.

With that she raced out the door and jumped in her car.  She was still in her pajamas and had no luggage with her to take, but she didn’t care; she just needed to get as far away from there as possible.  She peeled out of the driveway and sped down the road.  As she turned the corner on to the road that would take her to the airport, she heard a howl of pain breaking through the night, and knew her dearest and closest friend was dying—dying to save her from a fate worse than death.  She sobbed as she sped along the road.  She was alone now, all those she loved were now gone. 

She looked in her rear-view mirror to make sure Diavolo wasn
’t right behind her.  But when she met her own eyes in the mirror, she couldn’t help but cry harder.  No, Caterina didn’t see hope when she looked at herself.  She never saw hope, and she doubted she ever would.  There was no god—there was no hope.