Werewolves of New York: Nathaniel by Faleena Hopkins Read Free Book Online Page A

stretched his arm across the desk. They clasped hands and said together, “Deal.”
    Looking to the door with his mind full, Darik leaned back and sighed, “ An animal escaped from the zoo. Can you believe it?”
    Eli rubbed his head. “We’re lucky so far. They found fur on the body, so…”
    “Yeah. It’s a good thing the police don’t know werewolves exist or they’d be checking that evidence more closely. You’d think after all these centuries, human beings would have caught on by now”
    Eli nodded, thinking about it. “People like to shove their heads in the sand over things they don’t understand. Or kill it if they’re forced to look.”
    Darik frowned. “Do you sometimes wish they knew? Not just the cops… everybody .”
    Eli played with a button on his suit jacket. “Yeah. I’ve thought about it. It’d be nice to not have to hide. But can you imagine what society would do if they realized their horror myths were sitting at the table next to them at Dominic’s?”
    A sardonic smile spread from Darik. “If they accepted us and knew what we were, and you know, didn’t try to dissect us to see how to heal faster and advance science…it’d make life a very different thing. Like what Nathaniel’s going through. You know he just wants to go and tell her what he is and what he did.”
    Eli stared at Darik, surprised he’d figured it out so clearly. “How’d you know that?”
    Darik shrugged. “It’s what I would want if I met someone I’d kill for. I’d want her to see me.”
    Eli snickered, “You’ve been watching Avatar again.”
    Guilty as charged, Darik mumbled, “Well, if the world knew, it would make dating a whole lot easier. I’m just saying.”
    “Or harder. Depends. Most women would be scared to death.” Eli cocked his head to the side, his dimple flashing. “But we’re staying single, so what do you care about women and dating?”
    Darik restrained a grin. “Right. I forgot about that.”
    Smacking his hands on the arms of his chair, Eli rose up and shook his head dramatically. “Fucking women. What they do to us.”
    “If they only knew.”
    At the closed door, Eli turned around, his smile dropping. “Nathaniel’s not going to like this if it doesn’t work out.”
    Darik leaned forward with his hands clasped together, elbows on the desk. “He’ll never know. But this will give us a chance to check her out and see what to do next. If he wants her, we need to meet her and make sure he’s got our best interests at heart. We’re a pack of four, not one.”
    “Now you sound like him,” Eli pointed at the door, and both of them knew he was talking about Dontae. “Nathaniel’s our brother. You’ll see.”
    After Eli left the room, Darik yelled, “Avatar’s a great film!”
    “Softy!” came back the laughing retort.
    “Jerk,” Darik muttered.
    “I heard that!”
    “No shit!” he yelled.
    Muffled laughter as Eli went into his own office and shut the door.

Chapter Seven
    S he paid the cabbie and stepped out of the car, holding her brown leather briefcase in one hand, her white Kate Spade purse in the other. Wearing a coral blouse that flattered her complexion and tasteful heels that matched her tan pencil-skirt, Michelle looked up at the elegantly modern two-story building to the sign that read: D.D.E.N. Inc. Armed with her usual classic style, she felt comfortable she wouldn’t appear too intimidating to whatever male ego might be holding her future big paycheck inside. She was subtle and not overtly sexy despite her curves–always a winning combo for a first-meet.
    “Here goes nothing,” she smiled, opening one of the double-doors.
    The lobby was crisp white, with two white chairs off to the side, a small, white, round table between them with fresh lilies that smelled welcoming resting in a clear square vase on top. The reception desk was empty with a printed sign on it that read, Press Intercom for Help.
    She raised her eyebrows and walked to the white