“What are you doing with her?” Wheeler asked.

Delgado lifted a cigarette case from his back pocket and opened it, removing a smoke and holding it between his lips. “You see, despite the fact I have one of the most legendary wolf fighters in history, I still want what I want.” He flicked the thumbwheel on his slim lighter until a small flame lit up the other end. After a long inhale, he blew a thin haze of smoke into Wheeler’s cell. “A panther isn’t easy to come by. They used to be more open with their identity until cage fighting became a profitable affair. That’s when they started to go into hiding. I used to own a few bars, but then I discovered strip clubs were an infinite source of unattached women in all kinds of shapes and forms.” He took another slow drag from his cigarette, narrowing his eyes to thin slivers.

Wheeler’s lips curled in. “Let her go. We had an agreement. Me for Ben.”

“Yes, we did. But I don’t like deception.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Delgado flicked the ashes from the tip of his cigarette and slowly ambled to the right. “Nosy women piss me off. This morning I discovered someone had been in my office. A personal item of mine was missing—a book. Names, numbers, appointments, and just enough details that—”

“You shouldn’t have been dumb enough to keep it in an unlocked drawer.”

Anger flashed in his eyes and he pulled in another inhale, walking toward the left again. “Had you left the office the way you found it, I might have never known. I rarely go through that book anymore. But someone had turned my elephant in the wrong direction. I’m a superstitious man, and that’s not something I’d easily overlook. That’s when I knew Miss James had gone behind my back. One of the girls in the club confirmed seeing her there with a man. Was that you?”

Wheeler’s grip tightened and he yanked the chain on his right hand in vain.

“Yes, I thought as much. I know how tight packs are, so taking you in was a risk. But I readied my men. After all, I still had another vacancy to fill.” A deep chuckle rose in his chest. “My men waited until Naya and the Shifter neared the house before they attacked. I suppose they were too lazy to carry them very far,” he said with disdain. “They’ll be punished for that. Anyhow, thought you’d enjoy the company. Might be fun to have family here. Brother against brother. Is that man in your pack?”

Wheeler didn’t respond.

When the cigarette had burned down, Delgado dropped it on the floor and crushed it with his dress shoe. “I had high hopes that more men would come for you, but maybe you’re the sort of wolf a pack is glad to be rid of. Dead weight. Where’s the cavalry?”

“Let her go. She’s not a fighter. You haven’t been in this world long enough to know what I know. Our animals have nothing to do with how dangerous we are. This is bullshit! You have what you wanted—you have me.”