CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

ZAC

I was ready to leave my old job for something a little tamer. I don’t miss the overseas missions much. They were fun for a while, but then they got old.

When a partnership opportunity with Caleb and Jake presented itself, I took it. We started Empire Security with a focus on security work, some of it illegal, but only if necessary. Before this, we were Navy Seals—part of a special team of wolf shifters. Humans don’t know about us unless they marry one.

I grew up in southern California in an unorganized pack. My family life was horrible. It didn’t bother my parents when I left and joined the Navy after high school. I haven’t been back since.

I met Caleb and Jake at Seal Qualification Training. We became instant friends and still are to this day. That’s how we ended up partners in this business.

We work out of New Orleans. All three of us like the area. Caleb was born here. Our office building is on the outskirts of town in a warehouse that’s designed specifically for us. The front of the building holds offices and a conference room. Firearms and extra gear are held in a secure room in the basement. The garage out back houses our vehicles.

There’s an apartment on the second floor where Caleb used to live until he met Natalie. They’re expecting their first child, so they moved into a house. Jake has taken over the apartment now. I reside four blocks away in a condo. It meets my needs, which isn’t saying much. Give me a couch, TV, and bed, and I’m good.

* * *

I’m the one who was nominated to install home security systems for wealthy homeowners. I’m forced to deal with touchy-feely women who sashay around the house offering their own personal services. I’m not that kind of guy.

When I get back to the office after another groping session, I grumble to Caleb that we need to stop taking these smaller jobs. I knew in the beginning that they helped pay the bills, but now we don’t need them as much.

“We’ll get someone else to do them, okay?”

“All right.”

Caleb won’t do those types of jobs because Natalie doesn’t like him to. We don’t ask Jake because he scares women with his personality. We keep him busy at places where he’ll be left alone.

After complaining to Caleb, I find Jake sitting at the conference table looking at files. He nods when I walk into the room. “How did the install go?”

He only asks to get under my skin. He gets a kick out of lonely, middle-aged women fondling me. I ignore his question and sit down in front of my computer; I have to do billing from the last job.

“About done for the day?” I ask and rub a hand down my face. “What are you doing tonight?” Sometimes we gather for a beer after work.

“I’m beat.” Jake stands and stretches. “I’m going upstairs to eat and go to bed.”

“Sounds good. Have a nice evening.”

“I will.”

Jake puts his files in the cabinet and leaves.

I work awhile longer until it’s time to go home. It can be such a depressing place sometimes. It’s so empty there. I’ve been getting an itch for something new, but I don’t know what. Doesn’t matter.

I stop at a diner on the way home to get something to eat. Never been to the place, although I’ve passed by a time or two. It’s set up like a fifties diner with plenty of chrome and red vinyl decor. It’s not a place I would normally stop—and it’s probably why I hadn’t—but it’s worth a shot. As long as the food is good, that’s all that matters.

I order a burger and fries to go because how can you mess that up? While I sit at the counter and wait, I get a whiff of something exquisite, and it’s not the food. I glance around and spot the source. It’s a blonde, green-eyed goddess in her early twenties. Despite her oversize clothes, I can tell she has an awesome body. My heart flutters and I drool. The woman is a knockout.