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

“Your sister’s a stubborn, bossy woman.”
    “Yeah, she is.” Julio glanced at the open doorway where the others were still engrossed in their card game and lowered his voice. “Have you heard anything about a handful of wolf mercs turning up dead? Patrick McNamara showed up the other night, busted to hell and back.”
    “Aw, shit. No, haven’t heard anything…but I bet he knows how to make a body or two disappear.”
    “He says his vendetta’s over, but I don’t know.” Julio met Alec’s gaze. “I think some things get to be a habit.”
    “Yes, they do.” Alec rubbed a hand over his beard, his eyes unfocused. “Did Patrick shove off again, or is he sticking around this time?”
    “He made a quick trip to Atlanta, but he’s back now. Staying at the apartment over Mahalia’s. Want me to talk to him?”
    “Maybe your brother. I wouldn’t usually ask him to snoop, but a telepath could give us a heads-up if Patrick’s about to go over the edge.”
    Alec deserved the warning. “If Anna finds out…” Julio made a face.
    He got a blank look. “If Anna finds out what?”
    Shit, he really was out of touch. “That we’re wondering what to do if loverboy goes all Apocalypse Now on us.”
    Alec’s mouth fell open, and he gaped at Julio as if he’d lost his mind. “Are you telling me Anna Lenoir has gone soft over a human?”
    “Not totally mushy, but soft enough to rip our heads off if she thinks he’s in danger.”
    “Well that’s some goddamned end-of-days shit.” Alec shook his head with a muffled laugh. “Anna’s still living with Sera, isn’t she? Maybe she can provide a soothing influence, keep Anna from blowing her top.”
    “Maybe.” Julio hesitated. “He’s a friend, Alec. It’ll be okay.”
    “I trust you.” And they weren’t just words. The way Alec slumped back against the wall, his very weariness a weakness, proved it. “Listen, I know it’s hard now, with us in New York and you knowing your sister’s having a shit time…but this won’t be forever. We’re digging our heels in because we’re making some progress, and it’s worth some shit in the short term. So hold this town together, huh? And hold yourself together too.”
    He wasn’t the one in danger of falling apart. “Take care of her, Alec.”
    “Never a question, man. Not even a little.”
    “Then leave the rest of it to us.” They hadn’t been doing a bad job, even if they were a bunch of misfits. Maybe because they were.
    “Fair enough.” Alec straightened. “How’s Sera doing without her dad around? He’ll want an update when I meet them tonight.”
    “Fine.” Beyond that, Julio held his tongue. He’d promised not to raise an alarm about the strange phone calls and hang-ups, and there was no quicker way to do that than to have Alec tell Franklin.
    Alec watched him for a moment, an oddly speculative look in his eyes. “Keep an eye on her for him, would you? She’ll ask for help if her problems are supernatural, but she’s incapacitated by pride on the subject of money. He’s worried she’ll go without something she needs instead of getting some damn help.”
    “Anna lives with her,” he reminded him. “She’d help out if she could, and say something if she couldn’t.”
    “Fair enough.” But Alec didn’t look away. “You still seeing Callum?”
    “Got another appointment in a couple of days.”
    “And you’re doing okay?”
    “Making it.” Talking to Callum barely helped, and talking to Alec would be useless. “Carmen’s waiting for you, right?”
    Alec sighed. “She is. Take care of yourself, or she’ll come back here and make you.”
    “I know. She always has.”
    The door behind them shoved open, and Wesley appeared. “You taking off, Alec?”
    “Yeah.” Alec held out his hand to Julio. “Maybe you should too, Wesley, before McNeely flattens you.”
    He grinned. “Maybe it was supposed to happen this way. Maybe this is how it happens.”
    “Or the poor guy was