[Southern Arcana 3.0] Deadlock by Moira Rogers Read Free Book Online

thought of the retribution sure to follow. “I still don’t buy it, unless Kat is mixed up in some seriously questionable shit we don’t know about. I can’t think what could be worth that risk.”
    Jackson nodded his agreement. “True, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business, it’s that sometimes people do ragingly stupid things. I wouldn’t rule it out just yet.”
    It would be a waste of breath to try to convince Jackson that Cesar Mendoza wasn’t people . He was a ruthless, cold bastard who didn’t make impulsive decisions, or any decision at all, without considering a thousand possible consequences. Alec couldn’t imagine a scenario where hurting Kat could gain Mendoza anything—
    Except an in for his niece. A darkly suspicious thought, but one that held Alec for a split second before he discarded it as nothing but his own paranoia surfacing. A hot Mendoza girl with just enough wolf blood to stir his instincts was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now, but only a fool would trust in the precarious series of events that had led to Alec fighting down an uncomfortable attraction to Carmen Mendoza.
    Her uncle was many things, but not a fool.
    The elevator doors slid open, and Jackson nodded to the end of the hall. “That’s the suite number. What’s your approach?”
    Alec stepped from the elevator and considered the door. “The one thing they’ll never see coming. The truth.”
    Jackson raised both eyebrows. “And if they deny it, but they’re lying?”
    “You asking how I’m going to tell, or what I’m going to do?”
    “Telling’s the easy part. The hard part is explaining to the hotel manager why you slammed the lid of a baby grand on his guest’s head.”
    “I did the piano thing once, Holt. Let it go.”
    “Hey, it was quite the memorable performance.” Jackson lifted a fist and pounded on the door.
    A man built like an NFL offensive lineman opened the door. “Jacobson?”
    “And Holt,” Jackson added genially. “Your boss around?”
    The man nodded once and stepped back. “He’s expecting you.”
    The suite was as lavish as he remembered, and Cesar Mendoza met them with a smile and an outstretched hand. “Alexander.” He was dressed in dark pants and a white Oxford shirt, and he looked as though he’d just discarded a tie. “How have you been?”
    Alec ignored the outstretched hand and hooked his thumbs in his belt. “Been better. Got a wolf in my basement babbling that he mugged our secretary on your orders.”
    Cesar looked genuinely taken aback. “I can assure you that I’ve done no such thing. My brother and I are in town to visit his children.” He gestured to the sofa and sat in an adjacent chair. “Diego’s younger son has been attending Tulane for several years now, and his daughter recently moved here.”
    “I know.” They could take that however they wanted, though they’d probably view it as tacit acknowledgement of the rumor that Alec kept tabs on every supernatural in the city of New Orleans. He waited for Jackson to sit, then leaned against the arm of the couch and raised an eyebrow. “So who’d you piss off so bad they’re trying to use me to break your face?”
    “Could have been any number of people.” Cesar signaled the guard by the door. The man nodded and stepped into the other room. “My presence in New Orleans may simply make me a convenient scapegoat.”
    “Mm-hmm. I assume you know who my secretary is?”
    Cesar smiled again. “I make it my business to know. I think you understand that.”
    “Yes, I do. So you know that this little attack on her isn’t going to end up swept under the rug. What pisses off her cousin pisses off the Alpha’s daughter, and John Wesley Peyton’s already been contacted. An extraction team will be here to take the kid into custody tomorrow.”
    He held up his hands. “It’s in my best interests for him to be questioned by the Conclave. Surely that would clear me of