Impulse: Southern Arcana, Book 5 Read Online Free Page A

I say about letting him drink?”
    Only one defense against that. “I’m not his mama.”
    Alec cast the final member of their game a questioning look. “Are these meetings always this cranky?”
    Jackson kept his gaze on his cards. “It’d be even crankier, but Zola was busy tonight. You should see the fits that woman pitches when she loses.”
    “Hard to believe you misfits are keeping New Orleans running while I’m shouting at the Conclave in New York.”
    As far as Julio was concerned, it was a small miracle. “Too bad you and Carmen don’t make it down here more often. You could help us out.”
    “Trust me, buddy, we’d both rather be here.” Alec shuffled his cards around. “At least your sister’s doing some good right now.”
    “Sure.” She’d spent the last year working her ass off to improve the lot of wolves everywhere, and Julio had to wonder if she was staying so busy to keep her mind off how miserable things were in New York.
    Alec’s gaze flicked to the corner, where his massive bodyguard had turned down the offer of joining the game in favor of reading a book. “Was there anything else? If we get through business, I can fly out early and meet them in Little Rock.”
    Giselle tossed in her cards. “Word on the street is that things are pretty quiet. We’ve had an influx of new shifters, and by new I mean made. Still wet behind the ears. I took on a few of them and sent the rest Julio’s way.”
    “Andrew and Kat’s doing?” Alec asked, glancing at Julio.
    “Some,” he admitted. “They’re finding wolves scattered all over the place, with no pack and no idea what the hell’s going on. But I’ve heard others say word’s getting around they’ll be protected here, so we’re also drawing small groups.”
    “As long as they don’t stir up trouble.” McNeely’s deep rumble was self-conscious, and he carefully avoided looking at Giselle. “Quiet is a nice change. There’s only so many times I can cover up massive shapeshifter hell-raising in a given month.”
    Jackson laughed. “Liar. You love it, man.”
    “Bullshit.” But the man smiled, just a little.
    Alec tossed his cards into the middle of the table. “My hand’s crap. Julio, have you got a few minutes? I want to catch up and get gone. I don’t like Carmen traveling without me.”
    She probably wasn’t crazy about it either, and Julio shoved down a flash of irritation. “I had nothing anyway.” He threw in his cards and rose, bringing his beer with him.
    Wesley Dade shrugged and dealt another hand as Julio led Alec into the lobby area outside the offices. Alec shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed. “I know she’s okay. I know she’s got her bodyguard and Franklin’s with her, and your sister can damn well take care of herself…but I still hate this.”
    It almost made Julio feel bad for being irritated. “She has to miss you. Don’t forget that part.”
    Alec—unshakable Alec, who faced down the Conclave on a daily basis—flinched. “Just makes me feel worse. She’s been working herself hard to get these clinics going.”
    “What did you expect? She’s not going to have tea and throw dinner parties. It’s not who she is.”
    That earned him a frown. “She could take a weekend off and read a book.”
    “Carmen?” Julio snorted. “You married her. You should know better.”
    “So why are you acting like you want to break my face?”
    Busted. “Carmen runs herself like this when she’s upset. Did you know that?”
    The older man leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. “Of course she’s upset. We both are. We’re gritting our teeth and putting up with hell because it’s not going to get better if we cut and run. God knows I would have, by now, if she’d let me.”
    He was just like everyone else—doing the best he could. “Sorry. It’s hard to see, that’s all. I know you’d make it better for her if you could.”
    “If she’d let me,” Alec corrected with a grumble.