Free Search (The Empire Chronicles #2) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

side of the road. I followed her into an unassuming building that could have been any sort of place if it weren’t for the beer signs in the window.
    “This is where I fell in love with New Orleans,” Allie said softly as we slipped past the guy at the door. He didn’t blink or ask for ID, so I assumed he recognized her. Did everyone in New Orleans know the Laurents were important?
    “You mean it’s where you fell in love with Levi.” Hailey laughed.
    “We did have our first kiss here, but that’s not the point. I fell in love with the music. Rebirth is playing. It’s perfect for your mood.”
    Hailey maneuvered her way toward the bar. “No one can stay in a bad mood listening to this music.”
    “Why would I be in a bad mood?” I tried out my sarcasm on the girls.
    Hailey chuckled. “No reason at all.”
    Hailey got beers for all of us. It was Abita. I’d never had that kind before, but it was supposedly one of the local brews. I wasn’t all that into beer, but this one was refreshing, and the perfect complement to the music that started moments later.
    The floor shaking sounds of the brass band had me jumping around with my new friends. I loved all the horns, and the sound that I knew was uniquely New Orleans. I got it. I understood why Allie picked the place, and Hailey was right. It was impossible to be in a bad mood listening to the music. The beat and rhythm enthralled me. We sipped our beers and danced until we decided to take a break and sit out on the patio.
    Hailey and Allie discussed the wedding while I listened in contently. For one evening, I let myself forget about all the craziness of my life.
    “To Casey.” Allie held up her beer in a toast.
    “To me?” I asked in surprise.
    “Yes. To my future sister-in-law, for joining me in this crazy, yet loveable, family.”
    I laughed and tapped my bottle against hers. “You have the crazy part right.”
    Hailey joined in. “Something tells me things are really going to be changing around here.”
    I knew she was right. I only hoped the change would be for better.

Chapter Ten
Jared
    “She’s here in New Orleans?” I gave Levi a blank stare. I’d contented myself with the idea that Casey was halfway across the country. Knowing there was physical distance between us made the pull I felt toward her easier to resist.
    “Yes. Georgina brought her down.” Levi settled back in his desk chair. We’d been meeting in his office more frequently. Our friendship was starting to seem second to the employer-employee thing we had going. He’d even made me start giving him daily reports. Things were under control with the rebels, but I’d talked to enough shifters to know the mess was far from over. The problem was no one seemed to know exactly who was behind it. Murphy was working for someone. The challenge would be finding out who that was.
    “And you didn’t override her? Your grandmother shouldn’t be able to boss you around.” I had to throw the jab in.
    “I agreed with her decision.”
    “What? Why? You still don’t know enough about the situation. She may be working for someone.”
    “She’s a scared girl who happens to be my sister. Even my dad agrees none of this is her fault.”
    “Your dad? Robert knows she’s here?”
    “Yes. He refused to talk to me about it, except to say it wasn’t what I thought, and he needed time. Are you sure you won’t rethink your decision?” He watched me carefully.
    “No. I’m not working with her.”
    “Why not? You liked her enough to sleep with her. Surely you can handle helping her learn about her new abilities.”
    “I can’t be near her.” I couldn’t trust myself. I still wanted her, and I’d end up doing something stupid. “Just let it go.”
    “Let it go? No. She isn’t just a girl you can avoid. She’s my sister, and Allie really likes her. That means she’s going to be around a lot.”
    “Allie likes a lot of people.” I couldn’t blame Allie for enjoying Casey’s company.