Shifted Perceptions (Alpha Division) by C.E. Black Read Free Book Online Page A

question?” he asked, glancing at me before turning back to watch the road.
    “Maybe, but if I told you my real name, I’d have to kill you.”
    “You’re funny, you know that?”
    “Hmm,” was all I said. If he only knew.
    “Then, tell me something, Stone. What do you do for a living?” I asked, watching his reaction. He turned the wheel at ease, not a hint of tension at being asked the question. Interesting.
    “I run a couple of businesses.”
    “What kind?”
    He shrugged. “A bar for one. That’s where we’re going now.”
    “Really? You don’t look like a guy who would run a bar. How did you get into that?”
    “Fell in my lap, actually,” h e chuckled. “I came in for a drink one night and the owner was there. He was also the bartender and drunk off his ass. He was spouting nonsense about being tired of the place and asked if I wanted to buy. I thought, why the hell not? And that was that.”
    I narrowed my eyes at the obvious lie. He looked calm, no hint of decept ion in his features and posture, but I could smell it. “Sounds like there’s more to the story. What did the owner say when he sobered up?”
    He laughed, though I heard how off it was. It wasn’t the pure laugh I’d heard earlier that day at the hotel. “He was surprised, forgot all about it actually, but was happy he finally got up the nerve to do it. He was ready to retire.”
    “Wow. Seems you lucked out.” I smiled at him. “ I had thought you to be mysterious, Stone, but now you’re starting to sound like a normal guy.”
    “Oh, I still have my secrets.”
    “I’m sure you do.”
    “Don’t we all?” h e asked, his gaze cutting to mine.
    I smiled and nodded. “I guess so.” And I’ll find out yours soon enough, Stone.

Chapter 9
     
     
    “What do you think?”
    About twenty-five pairs of eyes met mine and I stared them all down. Some shifted their gazes away more quickly than others, but all went back to what they were doing, eventually.
    I glanced around the bar, taking in the scenery. It was old, a bit run down, but looked clean enough and though it looked small from outside, there was plenty of space inside. Some groups sat at tables that were scattered about, while others played pool in the back corner. A few couples danced in the center of the room. And each group had a mixture of shifters and humans. It was the shifters that stared the longest, their expressions saying they knew what I was and would be keeping an eye on me.
    “Charming,” I replied to Stone , as I turned to him. “Are they all regulars?”
    “Why do you ask?”
    I shrugged, “They’re looking at me like I have two heads.”
    Stone chuckled , as a man with dark, unkempt hair walked up from behind the bar. Human. “The usual for me, Doug. What would you like, Foxy?”
    “What’s the usual?”
    “Beer.”
    “Then I’ll have the usual.”
    He nodded to Doug and smiled back at me, but it still didn’t reach his eyes. “You definitely don’t have two heads, but if you did, I don’t think anyone would mind seeing two of your beautiful face.” I rolled my eyes. “You’re right, though. They’re all regulars, and we don’t see new faces around here often.”
    “Sounds comfortable.”
    He only nodded, as I watched him take the beers from Doug. “Come on, let’s get a table.”
    With a nod , I followed him to one of the tables in the back corner and I didn’t miss the fact that he made sure he sat where he could see the whole room, including the front door and the back hallway. It’s where I would have chosen to sit if asked, but I wasn’t asked. Instead of taking the seat directly in front of him, though, I pulled the chair around to sit beside him. It wasn’t the best view, but it was better than putting my back to everyone.
    His eyes widened a little in surprise, but he smiled and took a sip of his beer. I did the same and waited for more of his date questions, but they never came.
    Just as he opened his mouth to say