Page 34 of Broken Moon

I didn’t want to admit that shewas right. “I will not allow him to pull us back in, mom. Don’t worry. I swearthat to you.” And then, because she was worried, I brought up the other alpha.“Don’t forget that after he frees my wolf, I’ll belong to Gray Shadow Pack—andso will you.”

“You know, Ihadforgotten that! You’re right. If Jared Walker accepts us, Adam will have tofight for us, and he won’t do that.”

“No way. We’re not worth an asskicking to him.” I smiled, relieved that she was relieved. “And Jared woulddefinitely kick his ass.” I regretted the words as soon as they were out of mymouth.

“Hmmm,” she said.

“Stop,” I told her, with a toneto my voice that said there’d be no more of that talk. She knew me well enoughto drop it and bide her time.

We talked for another fifteenminutes about my role in Noah Hedrick’s rescue, and with a reminder to tell herimmediately if I heard from Adam Thorne, we ended the call. While I’d beentalking with her, someone else had tried to call, so I brought up voicemailbefore calling the detective back.

Whatever else I ended up doingtoday, visiting Mr. Trevor Short was going to be at the top of the list. I’dvisit him after five when he should be home from work.

And I had to check on that neglectedPit Bull.

The voicemail from the caller Ididn’t recognize was a potential client. “Ms. Silver, Kaitlyn, hi,” she saidwith a slight shake to her voice, “My name is Patricia Simon. I got your namefrom a friend who’d heard about you on social media. I moved into a house twomonths ago that needs to be de-ghosted before I have to give up and move out.I’m…well, I’m desperate, really. Please call me back as soon as you can. Thankyou.”

“I need an assistant,” Imuttered.

I returned the detective’s callfirst. “Detective Moreno. Good morning.”

“It’s four o’clock, Kaitlyn,”he said dryly. “Louis Hedrick can see you at six. Because he understands youdon’t want to be thrown into a volatile and public situation, he’ll meet you atmy house. Amy is staying with her boy, but…” He hesitated. “You have somepowerful people at your back, Kaitlyn, should you ever need them.”

“I’m just glad I could help getNoah back. How is he?”

“He’ll be okay. I don’t knowthe extent of what happened to him in that house, but he will get excellentcare to help him deal with it. He is surrounded with love and support.”

“It makes me never want to havechildren,” I said. “Scary fucking world.”

“Yeah.” He sighed, and I couldalmost see him rubbing the bridge of his nose. “My house, six o’clock.”

“All right,” I agreed. “But Idon’t want the mayor thinking I need—” But he’d ended the call, and I wastalking to no one.

I sighed, then returnedPatricia Simon’s call. “Mrs. Simon,” I said. “This is Kaitlyn Silver returningyour call.”

“Thank God.” Her voice wasstill shaky. “When can you come?”

“Tomorrow night at eight?”

Relieved, she gave me heraddress and told me if I got some free time and could come sooner, to let herknow. She was in a hurry, and if there was a mean spirit in her house, Icouldn’t blame her.

Lucy came in just as I wasleaving.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey,” she returned, and handedme a white bag with the bakery’s logo as we passed each other.

“Thanks, Luce.”

She grinned. “Absolutely.”

It was working out, thisarrangement. I opened the bag and ate as I drove to the ‘ville. Two croissantswith bacon and eggs and melty cheddar cheese and a glazed doughnut for dessert.I ate one of the sandwiches and kept the other for the pittie. “A delicioussnack,” I said, between bites.

When I climbed out of my car infront of Short’s house, I took the bag with me. I left my coat in the carbecause I was wearing my demon blade, and I wanted Jessie’s ex to see it. Ihoped that’d be enough to keep him from trying anything stupid. I was gettingin his business, and he was going to be irate.

There was an older white carparked in the little drive at the side of his house. I assumed it was his, andthat he was home. Probably just getting ready to eat his dinner. First I walkedaround the side of the house to the backyard, and the pibble was already up,staring toward me, wagging his tail—indeed his entire butt—like crazy.

“Glad to see me, sweet boy? Ibrought you something.” I glanced into the water bucket, which appeared to havehalf an inch of dirty water, then shook my head as I saw the overturned andempty food bowl. He had a wooden pallet for a bed, where at least the assholeowner had tossed a small pile of straw. And that was it.