Hunting Moon (Decorah Security Series, Book #11): A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novel by REBECCA YORK

up Johnny Denato. The man was a big deal in the New York underworld, and Brand expected to see a detailed story about the murder in the New York Times. But there was nothing on the front page or any other page, as far as he could see.
    It looked like someone had killed Denato and hushed it up—like it never even happened? Or what if everything Tory had told him was a lie? He didn’t want to believe it, but he should do some checking.
    After an internal debate, he called the Midnight Club and asked for Tory Robinson.
    “Who wants her?” a gruff voice asked.
    “A friend.”
    “Well, she didn’t come in to work the last two nights, and she didn’t bother to give us any warning. She left us in the lurch. If you see the bitch, tell her she’s fired.”
    So she’d disappeared suddenly without giving notice. That squared with her story.
    He wanted to ask if she’d been dating Johnny Denato, but he knew that was a bad idea. He was using his own phone. He didn’t want anyone associating him with the gangster.
    The guy hung up, and Brand thought Tory would have been a lot better off if she’d called the cops while she was still in Denato’s apartment. But then Brand wouldn’t have met her. And maybe the killers would have been able to eliminate their chief witness.
    It was like the fates had conspired to put her smack in his path. But the circumstances were a lot less than ideal. No matter what was really going on, she was in bad trouble, and he had to snatch her away from a terrifying and dangerous situation.
    Brand turned off the phone to keep from running down the battery.
    He grabbed a notepad and pen and started making a list of things he was going to need tomorrow—starting with a wire cutter. He already had a knife, his gun, rope. Too bad a wolf backpack couldn’t carry too much.
    He’d have to bring only what was essential. Did he need clothing for Tory? Thinking back over their meeting, he remembered that she’d lain down on her bed fully dressed, and her shoes had been on the floor. That was good. He wouldn’t need clothing for her, but he’d better bring some food.
    He switched on the tablet again and called up a geologic survey map of the area, looking for the closest route to civilization. Then he studied satellite photos, trying to find landmarks that might help him.
    He was as ready as he could be when he laid down—preparing for sleep. But even as he closed his eyes, his mind would not shut off.
    He was almost thirty, the age for werewolf bonding, and he’d been certain that the need to find a mate was stirring painfully inside him.
    He’d tried to ignore it, but he’d felt the pressure building. Now that urgency was gone. He felt calm. And it was because he’d met his mate.
    Although he’d fought his destiny tooth and claw, the feeling of inevitability was like a balm, and he wondered why he had resisted it so assiduously.
    Finally calm, he felt himself drifting off, and he was grateful for the respite because he knew that if he didn’t get some sleep, he wouldn’t be in good enough shape to get Tory out of there.
    A disturbing thought prodded him like a sharp stick into his side. Last time, he’d come into the compound as a wolf, and it would be convenient if he had that option again. But he couldn’t do it in front of Tory. She didn’t know that the wolf she’d seen and the man were one and the same. He’d have to find the right time and the right way to tell her, and that didn’t include a nasty surprise that would shock her to the core.

Chapter Twelve
    A persistent buzzing like an alarm clock that wasn’t sure whether to go off or not woke Tory. It stopped, and she opened her eyes, looking around the unfamiliar room. For a frightening moment, she had no idea where she was. The fear expanded when it all came rushing back to her like a tidal wave ready to suck her out to sea. Finding Johnny Denato dead. Trying to get out of town. Being taken north and almost getting away.
    She was