Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [28]
I need to get my head on straight.
“You gonna drink that or just keep rolling it between your palms?”
“When did you get here?” Braden glanced around Caleb. “And where’s Chase?”
“On the phone. You were sound asleep on the couch when Chase and I came in last night. Still haven’t gotten lucky, huh? How long’s it been? A week, two?” Caleb smiled maliciously. “Losing your touch?”
“Shut up.” Braden pushed Caleb away as his brother made a grab for the beer. “Get your own.”
“Ah, don’t worry, everyone strikes out every now and then.” Caleb’s expression turned wicked. “Besides, the way I hear it you get the occasional, shall we say, exotic offer.”
Braden choked on his beer. “Chase! You little shit!”
“No need to be embarrassed.” Caleb moved around him to retrieve another beer from the fridge. “The way Chase tells it, he—I mean she—was quite the looker. Long, powerful legs, short skirt, killer heels…”
“Caleb.” Braden set his beer down on the counter.
“Shut up?” Caleb asked with a smile.
“Yeah.” Braden cracked his knuckles.
“Alright, alright. Out of brotherly respect I’ll drop it.”
Chase came in and dropped into the black leather club chair across from Braden. “We need to talk.”
“Fuck, what now?” Braden asked.
“Jason just reported in.”
“And?” Braden leaned forward, lines creasing his forehead.
“He’s been tailing Markko off and on for over a week now. He’s a slippery bastard.” Chase frowned and glanced out the window; Braden knew he was itching to get out and start looking for Markko.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“You can’t keep me here forever.” Chase snapped his head up, fury tightening his expression.
“A week or two isn’t going to kill you.”
Caleb made a frustrated noise. “Enough. Chase, stop acting like a child. Braden, stop acting like his mother. What’s the bad news?”
Chase ran his hands through his hair. “He’s been following you some, Braden. He’s also been to Angie’s.”
“Fuck.”
“It gets better.” Chase stared steadily at Braden. “We think he may be following that girl.”
“What girl?” A tendril of unease unfurled in Braden’s mind, sliding down his spine like water down an icicle.
“The one you’ve been seeing.” Chase released a strangled breath, as if he anticipated an explosion any second.
“Just what the hell are you saying?”
“Just that he seems very interested in her.”
“And what?” Braden forcibly uncurled his fists and stretched his fingers. “And what else, Chase?”
“Look, we know he’s been following you, usually when you’re with her,” Chase said, his voice flat.
“Since when?” Anger exploded through Braden. How long had Markko been following them, following Beth?
“Since the first night you went out.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you say something sooner?” Braden hissed.
“Because we don’t know what he wants. Or why he’s here. He keeps switching motels, slipping the people assigned to him. But we know he’s been watching the two of you when you’re together. I felt it was worth waiting to see if he tipped his hand,” Chase said, the words carefully measured.
“Jesus, Chase. Bad enough he’s been following me. I can take care of myself. But how many times has he been to Angie’s? Or followed Beth when I wasn’t around? He’s dangerous.” Braden growled, shoving his fingers through his hair in an effort not to throttle his brother.
“Look, he hasn’t been back to Angie’s since the first night you went out with the woman. From what Jason said he didn’t stay long and he didn’t go in. After that he walked a couple blocks, waited around in an alley for a couple hours.”
“Waited for what, exactly?” Braden asked, fury burning away the rest of his unease.
“Mostly he just stood there smoking. Left a pile of cigarette butts in the alley. After you said good-night to your date in the parking lot, he left.”
“But what the fuck was Markko doing there in the first place?” A slick wave of dread consumed him—Markko had obviously witnessed the kiss he’d shared with Beth. Would he consider her leverage in whatever game