Double Linked: DIB

CHAPTER ONE

The wolves ran the streets of Sin City.

In the early days of Las Vegas, they controlled the vicious gangs that roamed unchecked in the City of Sin.

By night, they clashed with fangs and fur for total control of the city. One pack left to rule them all.

One hundred years later and nothing changed. 

Humans waltzed about the city, drinks in hand and wallets shelling out coins at every slot machine they passed. Humans didn’t understand the threat that lurked behind every smiling face in the casinos.

Cassie Lanksy knew her history - her pack’s history. 

Twelve packs consistently fought for control of the city, until the DIB opened and began to hunt the wolves down.

One by one, the Sin City lost crime family after the next.

Three remained.

Cassie held no disdain for blood or money under the necessary circumstances, but her grandfather’s demand was horrifying. 

I will not do it. She came just short of stamping her foot on the expensive Italian marble tile.

I did not ask, Charles Lanksy took a drag of his cigar, letting out a puff of smoke he knew his granddaughter hated. We are an endangered breed, not long for this world if the DIB gets what it wants.

Have you ever tried talking to the DIB? Anything besides what you’re asking.

Her grandfather scoffed, nearly spitting the cigar from between his cracked lips. Wolves do not ask. We take.

No. We fight. We draw blood and we claim territory.

Little girl, it is not wise to upset a man as powerful as I am. Dark brown bushy brows knit together as the displeasure curved his lips downward. Did I not raise you to be respectful to your elders?

Shoulders sagging, Cassie blew out a breath, not missing the way she countered a billow of cigar smoke in the process. You raised me that a woman can do what she wants and to not let men control me.

Which is precisely why you are taking on this mission for the family.

This isn’t a mission! This is my life. Her snarl echoed off the curtained windows and vaulted ceilings as intensely as the howl of her wolf might have.

That is enough, the exclamation rang of the walls and shook the crystal ashtray sitting on his desk. You are not alpha. You will not be alpha until I die - which will not be anytime soon. Or you stop fighting me on this.

Not unless the DIB gets you. she muttered.

Excuse me, bambina? Charles leaned his palm on the desk as if meaning to intimidate her.

You are a great many things, Grandfather, but you would not harm me physically. Even if you seek to destroy me mentally.

Cheer up, Cassandra. This is how the families like ours does things. This will help to eliminate the threat the DIB brings every time they spot a flash of a wolf’s tale in the desert where we do not belong. He smashed the cigar tip into the spotless ashtray, snuffing it out as a metaphorical threat he would not make good on. Not on his granddaughter at least. Your father was reckless, and he paid the price. I raised you to be smarter than your father.

It burned the tip of her tongue not to point out he’d raised her father,