Tempted by the Jaguar #3: Ramification (Riverford Shifters) by Cristina Rayne Read Free Book Online

spoke of. We must tread carefully, Hunter, no matter how painful it is
for you to do so. For now, you can help the clan best by protecting our most
vulnerable member.”
    An image of lioness-Kylie roaring at the other lioness flashed in his
mind, and Hunter had to lock his jaw to keep from laughing. Vulnerable his ass.
That was an alpha female if he ever saw one. Maybe if he had been thinking with
his brain instead of his cock, he would have been able to see beyond the façade
she had painted and called her bluff.
    “Hunter…” Gaither’s voice suddenly growled in impatience.
    He only just managed not to hiss back.
    Fine. If Gaither wanted to go all politician on him and dance around
the issue, then Maxim and he would just have to take matters into their own
hands. Ryder and Anna simply didn’t have time for all the usual bullshit.
    He had gotten Jack’s number before he had left the poor bastard to rest,
and while he did agree with Gaither that intelligence was the next step, Maxim
could have his security team and various contacts across the state on the case
before any of the wolf clan Elders stepped foot in the clinic.
    “You know how to find me,” was all Hunter said as he ended the call
before the Elder could say another word.
    He quickly put in a call to Maxim. Hopefully his friend had made some
progress in finding Kylie. No matter how painful, the question of her loyalty
was something that absolutely had to be resolved as soon as possible. Now that
the mystery of his brother and Anna’s disappearance had been somewhat answered,
there was too much at stake at this point to leave such a huge loose end
untied. If she was a threat, she had to be dealt with, and if not… A wave of
heat that had nothing to do with anger abruptly washed through him, and he
nearly dropped the phone.
    Christ, he was so fucked.
    “Maxim, where are you?” he demanded a little more roughly than he had
intended the second the call connected. “We need to talk now . That wolf
was a treasure trove of information like you wouldn’t believe.”
    “I’m in my office at the club. Good timing. I was just about to call
you. Some major shit is going down right now in regards to Kylie, and we need
to decide what to do ASAP.”
    Fuck . Was she really—
    “Tell it to me straight, Maxim,” Hunter bit out. “Is she one of those
bastards?”
    For a few seconds, only silence reached his ear, and he felt something
tighten in his chest.
    “While the jury’s still out, some of the things I’ve found out in the
last hour are pointing to no,” Maxim finally replied cautiously, “but it’s not
something I want to discuss over the phone.”
    “Right. I’ll be there in less than twenty.”
    Now to find a ride to his apartment so he could pick up his truck. He
hoped to God Kylie’s pheromones had faded enough overnight. The last thing he
needed was her potent “come fuck me” scent mucking with his brain again.
     
    ***
     
    “You look like you’re in pain,” Maxim commented the moment Hunter stepped
into his office at the club.
    Hunter’s scowl deepened. “Let’s just say that I would have been better
off walking here.”
    His friend’s nostrils flared as he neared. “I see what you mean. I’ll
send a couple of my men to blast the inside of your truck with ozone. Until
then, I’ll loan you one of mine.”
    Hunter collapsed into a chair. “Thanks. I have a feeling I’ll be needed
it a lot today.” He then fixed Maxim with a serious gaze. “Maxim, that wolf saw
Ryder and Anna.”
    Maxim had been leaning back in his chair in his usual casual sprawl, but
at Hunter’s words, he sprang forward so quickly, a wild look in his eyes, that
for a split-second he thought Maxim was about to lunge over the desk at him.
    “When? Where?” his friend demanded. The desperately hopeful look in
those pale blue eyes was heartbreaking.
    “It’s not good. The lions have them, as we thought.”
    Then slowly, excruciatingly, Hunter recounted