In the Shadow of the Wolf 3 - Splintered Lies by RJ Scott, Diane Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

four days.
Dan tapped some keywords into his laptop and then frowned at the results. Joe knew what he was going to say even before he opened his mouth.
"No specific arrest or absolute confirmation of fault." He read lower. "Oscar was found after the second from last wolf/human clash." He sat back in his chair and looked Joe straight in the eye. "Throat ripped out."
"Wolf."
"So what do we think is happening? The senator is finding ways to cull the wolf population in memory of his dead brother? Or as some kind of twisted revenge? This is despite his very visible work for equal rights and interagency cooperation?" Rob wasn't trying to pour salt on open wounds. He was playing devil's advocate. Still that didn't stop Joe from standing in a flurry of motion and half growling his displeasure. Rob didn't need to sound so disbelieving. The riots had been a part of shifter history that remained an open sore. Forever labeled the ghetto riots, simply because they blew out of tension in what were the city's poorest areas, every child at school learned the horror of what had happened. So many human deaths had made fear of shifters almost commonplace for so many years. The tension hadn't gone away in some areas but it was managed.
"It's a place to start," Nick said firmly. Joe looked at his best friend, almost pathetically grateful that at least one person saw some mileage in this approach.
"I say we go and interview the senator," Joe announced. He stood with every intention of going right now but Nick's thoughtful, assessing gaze made him stop. "What?"
"If we go marching into his office, or home, then he will know something is wrong. We need to play this subtly."
Joe let the others argue about the best way for Joe and Nick to orchestrate a meeting with the senator. He didn't have the patience for working out details. Nothing in him wanted subtle. His wolf was barely contained and scratched and snarled to be let free. Whatever they decided they needed to do something soon. He stopped pacing when Rob stood in his way and held up a hand. Joe bristled at the unspoken command but his wolf reacted so very differently he was thrown. It calmed immediately, as if the very act of Rob standing there was enough to take control. He had to stop himself from tilting his head and offering his damn throat, to a fucking human no less.
"There's an open charity event at the Vaughn-Hyland estate this evening. It's a weekly thing for local charities to network," Dan said.
"Cover enough for us to have a look around while he's busy?"
"No. Cover enough for us to attend."
"What the fuck?" Joe looked over Rob's shoulder toward Nick and Dan who both sat with deadly expressions on their faces. That was the big plan? Attending what? A freaking charity event? Joe was sure his expression said it all.
"It's a valid excuse for us to be on the senator's property without raising suspicion and for us to have a nose around."
"Really? And how the hell do you propose we get in?" Joe didn't imagine for one minute that people just up and walked in the front door of a senator's place without invitation.
"Leave that to me," Rob said confidently. That took care of one question. No doubt Rob could get them in, and the invitations would even be real. The guy could be scary like that. Joe had to admit, if only to himself, there was a reason his modern pack had a human alpha.
"We have one problem," Dan said thoughtfully.
"One?" Joe cocked his head at Dan. "Really?" Honestly, the entire plan was so full of holes they should be thankful the thing wasn't a boat.
Dan grinned, his expression wicked. "Do you have a tux?"
    Joe turned the letter of invitation over in his hands, folding it this way and that. Tonight was a joint initiative between various charities, all hosted at the open home of the senator.
    "Don't you realize how ironic this is?" Nick said next to him. Joe couldn't look. In jeans and T-shirt Nick was hot, in a suit he was hot, but a freaking tuxedo? He was sex