With Caution

Please be better. The inconsistent thud against Remi’s hand stopped and Zack exhaled.
    No. Remi moved his hands, bringing them up to look at them. They were covered in blood. It dripped down his forearms into the grass with the rest of Zack’s blood. This couldn’t be happening. Shaking his head, Remi wiped at his eyes again with the back of his wrist. Zack couldn’t be dead. He’d saved Jake. He couldn’t— Remi shivered, freezing all of a sudden in spite of the fact he was sweating. A sense of emptiness overwhelmed him and took his breath away. Zack is gone. Remi could feel it. A connection had been severed. Not only was Zack a friend, but Remi’s body seemed to know he was also pack.
    He could feel where all the men were, at least his mate and their immediate pack. It was strange and he hadn’t been aware of it until now, but he had a bond with the six men who made up their core pack. It wasn’t like he was psychic or anything, but he was always aware of their presence…their feelings.
    The wolf that stayed in the yard with Remi and Zack shifted. Remi didn’t know him.
    “Remi?” The muscular, dark-haired man tugged him away. “We have to take Zack away. The police will be here soon.”
    “He’s gone. I couldn’t help him, I tried but—” He shook his head. Zack was dead, his mom was dead. Dirk was— Remi tried pulling away from the stranger, even though his senses told him the man was pack.
    The other wolf who’d been there from the beginning, Nick—how could he have ever thought all wolves looked alike?—was standing over Zack. He lifted his head skyward www.samhainpublishing.com 215
    J.L. Langley
    and let out a mournful howl. Somewhere in the distance another wolf howled back, then another and another.
    Jake came through the back gate followed by the wolves he’d left with. “We lost him.”
    Remi looked at the unknown pack member lifting Zack into his arms. He had tears in his eyes. Remi started forward and two strong hands pulled him back.
    “It’s okay. Bambi is Zack’s brother.” Jake wrapped one arm around Remi’s chest and addressed the others. “Shift and get dressed. Did someone call the police?”
    Bambi? Remi stood there feeling numb all over and stared at Zack’s lifeless body.
    Gadget nodded, watching Bambi carry Zack out of the yard. “The police are on their way. So are Rhys and Sterling.” He followed Zack’s brother.

    * * *

    Sitting on the back porch, a cup of coffee in hand, Remi stared at the spot where Zack had been. The police were still swarming all over the place, talking to Jake and Nick. Bambi, Zack’s brother, had come back a few moments ago and was standing with them. Someone—Gadget, Remi thought—had pushed a cup of coffee in his hands and wrapped a blanket around his shoulders. All of his and Jake’s inner circle were here, except for Zack and Rhys. From what Remi had gathered, Rhys had called them to patrol the house and make sure Remi and Jake were safe for the night.
    His mother was still missing, but Dirk had been caught and arrested. Not just for arson and assault, because Rhys had gotten the diary to the authorities and Dirk was being held for questioning by the FBI as well.
    Remi was trying his best not to worry about his mother. She’d survived beatings before, maybe…
    He glanced up to check on Jake again, even though he didn’t need to. Nick and Dago stood guard as Jake talked to a policeman. Jake turned his head in the middle of his conversation and gave Remi a weak smile.
    Remi tried to smile back, but he didn’t think he was all that successful.
    216
    www.samhainpublishing.com

    With Caution
    “Lassiter?” A cop Remi knew from working fire, came up. Douglas, something?
    Sheffield? Yeah, that was it, Douglas Sheffield. Sheffield looked like he was going to a funeral. He glanced around, his gaze not meeting Remi’s for a few moments.
    Remi closed his eyes, barely holding back his tears. He already knew what Sheffield was going to say. “You found her body?” He opened his eyes and glanced up at the officer.
    “Yes, I’m sorry.” Sheffield seemed like he didn’t know what to do and Remi felt for him. Delivering that kind of news wasn’t easy. He’d done it once, accompanied by a policeman after a fire had swept through an apartment complex.
    “Can you give me any information? Where you found her? How she was killed?”
    “Out back of her house. Officially, it’s under investigation”—Sheffield glanced