“No.”She strode to the door and wrenched it open.“Get out.”
“What?You’re kicking your husband from your bedroom?What about my rights?”
“Get out,” she snarled.
“I’ll tell your father we’re having marital problems.”
She whirled toward him, her eyes full of ire.She crossed the carpeted floor with giant steps and shoved him toward the door.“Get out!”
Mikhail didn’t fight her fierce pushes and let her herd him to the door.On the threshold, he dug in his heels.
“We could help each other,” he said.“Think about it.”
24
Itrained,heavyandunrelenting, the temperature plummeting.The surface water turned the track into a quagmire, and their vehicle skidded and slid, no matter how hard Gregory tried to steer it to the center.
“The rain will keep the guards inside,” Ivan said, breaking the taut silence.“My bet is they’ll make a cursory check of the grounds before hustling back to shelter.That will benefit us.”He glanced at Edwina, who sat in the rear, her knuckles white from gripping the seat.“Are you positive you’re up to this?”
“Yes.If this changes, I’ll let you know and step back,” she promised.No way in hell was she letting her mate stay in this place for one minute longer.
Ivan’s phone beeped, and he studied the screen.“Roscoe and the others are in position.”
“We’re five minutes out,” Gregory promised.
Ivan tapped his screen and pocketed his phone.
When Gregory pulled up alongside a black truck, the doors opened.Three men exited the vehicle, and Edwina saw they were disrobing, ready to shift.She followed suit.They’d already discussed their plan, and each understood their place in the rescue attempt.
Edwina shifted to her leopard form, her transformation more sluggish than usual.She centered her mind as her parents had told her during her first change and pushed away the pain.Finally, she stood in her leopard form.The others were waiting and scrutinizing her difficulties.
She released a grunt, and the others burst into action.Roscoe took to the wing, struggling against the wind before he entered the currents higher in the sky.He disappeared into the darkness, and Edwina transferred her attention to the tiger in front and their surroundings.
The hole in the fence was still present, and they squeezed through.Rain dripped off the trees and plants and plopped on her face.Thunder sounded in the distance, and a shiver ran through Edwina.Water splashed beneath her paws, and mud splattered her belly.
Ahead, one of Roscoe’s shifters froze.A security guard hustled past, his body curled inward against the driving rain.A hood covered most of his face, restricting his vision, and it was clear he was desperate to escape the inclement weather.
The problem with the weather was that Mikhail wouldn’t likely venture outdoors.Not in this deluge.They hadn’t factored in heavy rain when they’d discussed their plan.The longer Mikhail stayed here, the worse the danger for all of them.Fear followed her footfalls as they slinked closer to the property.
Tonight, they crept nearer the house without spotting Mikhail.They paused at the garden’s edge, and Edwina was positive each of them was wondering what they’d do now.
The main door opened, the quick flash of light bringing joy.Mikhail.He glanced both ways before stepping away from the house and slipping into the shadows.He didn’t wear a coat, yet the rain didn’t deter his determined steps.
The crunching of gravel had Mikhail pausing, then sliding farther into the darkness.Edwina detected what he’d heard—the approach of two security guards, and judging by their tension, they knew Mikhail had left the house.A hidden camera or another type of warning system?
The two men halted not far from where Edwina crouched in the undergrowth.
“Where is he?”one asked, frustration shimmering in his voice.
“No bloody idea.He hasn’t tripped another of the warning systems, so he must still be close to the house.”
“What are we meant to do when we catch him?”the first grumbled.“I don’t see how Pavel expects to get rid of his brother-in-law.Miss Bridget and Mr.Konstantine will ask questions.”
“Pavel intends to do it himself.He has a real hard-on for this guy.”
“What’s the husband like?”
“The indoor staff like him.Say he’s a gentleman.Polite and undemanding.They say the boss is happier when he’s around and holding his own against the cancer.I mean, he’s not getting worse.”
