Free RICHIE: New Orleans Wolf Shifters with plus sized BBW for mates (Le Beau Series Book 6) by V.A. Dold, Tori Austin Page A

I can’t involve a civilian. It’s too dangerous.”
    “What if I told you I have special gifts? As a matter of fact, I’m sure you do, as well.”
    Air whooshed into her lungs. How could he know?
    “Look, I need to visit the men’s room. Promise me you’ll be here when I get back.
    “Sure, I’ll be here.”
    “Good. We will finish this discussion when I return. I’ll only be a minute.” Finally, he knew how much danger his mate was in. His wolf was snarling with its hackles raised, ready to do battle. Nothing and no one would be allowed to harm their mate.
     
    *****
     
    Piper watched him go as she walked to the bar to refresh her drink. She was halfway to the table where he'd left her when a shiver ran up her spine. She was about to search the room when a hand clamped around her wrist.
    “Dance with me, hunter.”
    Piper calmly turned, knowing who gripped her arm without needing to look. She forced a polite smile as her suspicions were confirmed. It was him. Qball. The man who’d murdered a family of four in their sleep. And they were only his most recent victims. He’d destroyed five families’ before being caught. His luck held when he was jailed in a facility with a corrupt warden. A large payoff to the right person and Qball was back on the street.
    With her extensive training, he didn’t pose much of a physical threat to her. He was average height and slightly built. For a woman like her, with police academy training, he would be easily handled.
    His features were soft, almost cherub like which only enhanced his completely deceptive appearance that hid a monster from the world. He was a serial killer hiding in plain sight.
    His grin widened, oozing evil, like the stench that drifted from a dumpster in one hundred degree weather. He was clean-shaven and in a suit, camouflaged as a wedding guest. She watched as he blinked and waited. His green eyes were bright with excitement. Not a good look on him. To her, he looked manic, which she knew he was.
    She fixed a blank expression on her face. “I’d love to.”
    She must be extremely careful, if she said or did the wrong thing she might set him off and someone would get hurt. As long as she danced with him, she knew exactly where he was and what he was doing. It was just one dance. She would get through it and maybe figure out a way to get him out of the room.
    The touch of his clammy fingers made her wretch. Bile burned up her throat. Piper swallowed, forcing down her reaction, and allowed him to snatch her hand and lead her to the middle of the floor. Thank God her cousin and his new wife had already left the reception. With their departure, many of the guests had left as well. That left fewer victims to worry about.
    Remain calm and think, she told herself.
    When Qball looked at her again, the intensity in his eyes had cooled to a calm, evil intent she’d seen too many times. The look a killer got before they plunged the knife into their victim. When she held his gaze he glanced away. He was evading her. Why?
    Qball stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her back. Forcing her into close contact with him. Unable to avoid it, she lightly rested her hands on his shoulders, her skin crawling in objection to his touch. The very nearness of him was too many levels of wrong.
    Alarms shrieked in her mind. She couldn’t react to this monster, she needed to remain calm and think her way out of this without anyone getting hurt. She pulled in a deep breath, and considered her options. Nothing. She had nothing. She couldn’t reach any of her weapons without tipping Qball off. That, and the dancers around her afforded no room for hand to hand combat. She was in a hell of a lot of trouble and saw no way out.
     
    *****
     
    Richie was washing his hands when Piper’s fear hit him hard. In his rush to get to her, he pushed a man coming into the men’s room out of the way without apology. His mate was in trouble and needed him.
    He’d always been a calm,