Free Lessons in Purrsuasion: BBW Paranormal Werelion Surprise Pregnancy Mob Romance (Chicago Catastrophe) by Rory Dale, Anya Nowlan Page A

middleman.
    Stone and he happened to get along great, for the short time they spent together.
    Stone would almost consider him a friend, even though they hadn’t spoken in years. But one time when he and Freddy were having drinks at some hole-in-the-wall bar, Mike walked in and gave Stone a wave, before he noticed he had company.
    Stone didn’t introduce Freddy to Mike, but he later learned Mike was a regular at the bar they had stumbled into.
    Freddy could have easily looked up the bar, asked some questions, gotten Mike’s name and tracked him down using pack resources. But would he?
    Stone still remembered some of the pack-hangouts. Hoping they were still popular, he got in his car and drove to Englewood. It gnawed at him that he’d have to stay away from Selina for this long, but if he knew one thing then it was that what had happened to Mike was no coincidence. He didn’t need anyone getting at Selina without him being entirely prepared for it.
    Half an hour later, he pulled up to a rundown pool hall, the scent of wolves clear in his nostrils. Stone strode in, earning more than a few curious glances. The felt on the pool tables was worn, the air thick with cigarette smoke, the atmosphere unwelcoming. Stone knew a lot more than pool went down here.
    He didn’t need to be a shifter to smell it in the air and see it on the faces of every man there.
    He made his way to the bar, manned by an older guy with a beard. He was stacking glasses, surrounded by the smell of stale beer.
    “I need to talk to Freddy,” Stone called out, demanding the bartender’s attention.
    “Oh yeah? And who are you?” the man answered, turning around and eyeing him suspiciously.
    “Stone Calloway. He knows who I am. Just let him know I’m here.”
    Stone took a seat on one of the stools as if he belonged there and stared at the man. The guy considered him for a solid ten seconds and then sighed before heading to the back room. In about five minutes, he came back out and pointed towards the door.
    “Go on then,” was all he said.
    Stone slipped into the area meant for pack members only. It looked the same as the last time he’d been there. Red paint was peeling off the walls with different couches and chairs crowding the dimly-lit space. Freddy sat in a large armchair with a barely dressed woman in his lap.
    “Stone! Long time no see,” Freddy exclaimed, practically throwing the bird off his lap.
    He patted the woman’s thigh, calling her ‘Melanie’, which prompted her to saunter over and go lounge on one of the couches instead.
    Stone watched as Freddy stood and walked towards him, arms spread open in an implied embrace.
    I should give him the benefit of the doubt.
    “Buddy! How long are you in town for?” Freddy asked, clapping him on the back. “Long enough for a few drinks, I hope? Get the man a cold one!”
    “I have some business to take care of and then I’m off. Thought I’d pay you a visit,” Stone replied, conjuring up a smile and patting the man on the back as they hugged gruffly.
    Freddy grinned at him. He had grown out his hair, the dark brown curls almost grazing his shoulders. His nose was crooked from getting into one too many fights, but it suited him.
    “I can’t wait to get in some trouble with you,” Freddy winked. “Have a seat, I just have to make some calls and clear up my schedule, and then we can go raise all sorts of hell.”
    “You have a schedule?” Stone asked, surprised.
    He took the offered seat and a moment later, a full glass of beer appeared in his hand, courtesy of another scantily clad beauty with a generic name and fake tits.
    “Oh yeah, I’ve been moving up in the world. I run this place now,” Freddy grinned, puffing his chest out slightly with obvious pride.
    Impressive,” Stone said with a nod.
    As soon as Freddy disappeared into what looked like an office, Stone stood, using his feline grace to silently stalk across the room, ears trained to the door Freddy left through.