“They’ll be right where you can reach them, but Rogue and I won’t leave your side. I’ve given you my word, Maya. We’re in this together. The two of us.”
“I let them see me, Gorya. No one has ever seen what I’m capable of.”
Her voice was a soft murmur, but there was alarm in it. She knew she was gifted, and she would be hunted if others knew about those gifts.
“I will protect you with my life.” It was a vow.
10
DrakeDonovan was young to be head of an international security company. His name alone commanded respect throughout the world of shifters and humans alike. Along with running a huge security company responsible for bringing home kidnap victims from all parts of the world, he was leader of the lair in New Orleans.
Donovan was built like a shifter, with ropes of powerful muscles, chest dense and muscular, shoulders wide. His hair was thick and blond, and his facial features were carved in strong lines. He had the fluid movements of the leopard and wore the mantle of authority easily. Drake wasn’t a man to lead by throwing his weight around. He was quiet, but when he spoke, he did so in a way that had everyone listening to him—even Gorya.
They sat around the large conference table with Donovan and Jake Bannaconni, a shifter businessman with shrewd gold eyes with flecks of green that could take overquickly if he became angry. He was a billionaire and brilliant in everything he did, especially finding oil and taking apart companies and putting them back together. The two men were accompanied by Jeremiah Wheating.
Gorya greeted the newcomers. “Thanks for coming on such short notice. I realize my message must have sounded cryptic, but I couldn’t take any chances. I have disturbing news and I couldn’t take chances it would get out. I know this room is secure and those in it are one hundred percent loyal to Drake and his cause.”
Maya sat in the shadows in the corner of the room, her smaller figure nearly disappearing, but he knew the men were acutely aware of her. They were respectful. Gorya hadn’t drawn attention to her, so other than glancing her way once, the men didn’t comment or look again, waiting until he introduced her. He was grateful for that sign of respect. She would always be uncomfortable around other men, although she didn’t show it.
Timur had positioned himself in front of her, partially blocking the others’ view of her. He wanted to point that out to her, but didn’t, hoping she would see it on her own and realize his cousin was taking his screwup seriously. He regarded her as family now and was determined to make amends. It was hard not to admire Timur. The life he’d led had shaped him into a very protective, dominant alpha, but when he made mistakes, he owned them.
“My woman has been tracking criminals for quite some time, and her investigations have run into ours. She has uncovered far more than we have, including traitors in our lairs. Jeremiah, you were invited to this meeting for a specific reason, but I’m going to give you a warning, and I need you to listen carefully. While we know and trust you, she doesn’t. She has had to conceal her identity her entire life. My family is one of the worst offenders, but the fact that you come from Panama condemns you as well. She will have to determine for herself that you are nothreat to her. If you are asked questions, answer honestly and without your usual attempt at charm or sarcasm. If, for any reason, and that includes being disrespectful to her, I have to tell you to leave, you will no longer be included in this circle and will not be privileged to any information. Is that understood?” Gorya willed the man to understand he meant what he said.
Jeremiah nodded. “Of course.”
“She saved my life three days ago, but unfortunately was wounded and is recovering from an infection. We would have waited longer, as her leopard is also coming into her first heat and is unpredictable, so it isn’t the best of situations for her. Still, the situation is problematic enough that we thought it best that you be informed as soon as possible.”
“We appreciate the complications,” Drake said.
Are you ready, baby? You don’t have to do this. I can explain it as best I can if you want to duck out.He’d made the offer several times. She was still running a fever on and off, although the antibiotics were doing their job. They were also holding Wraith’s heat at bay, which was fortunate, because shifting would hurt like hell with that laceration. In fact, it could open it all over again. Leopards healed quickly, but three days was asking quite a bit.
I have to get used to working with your people sometime.
That was true. He would have to get used to sharing her. If he was being honest with himself, he didn’t like the idea. He was that selfish. He wanted her all to himself. She’d slept most of the last three days, and he’d slept next to her, something he’d never done in his life before with another person. He hadn’t thought he’d be able to do it, yet he’d fallen asleep, and it felt right. Much to her astonishment, Maya had slept as well.
“Drake, she has worked for your company using the name Teona Kyva. She also has done research for othersconnected to our project, as well as the research she was doing on her own, looking for leads she needed.”
Drake turned his head for the first time to pierce the shadows where Maya sat very still. “Teona Kyva? She happens to be the best researcher of anyone we’ve ever hired. Not once has she let us down. What a crazy and fortunate coincidence that she turned out to be your woman, Gorya.”
“And that you found her,” Jake added.
Neither sounded as if they doubted her in any way. That was a relief to Gorya.
“Teona, you have no idea how many times you’ve helped us rescue kidnap victims. You’ve saved countless lives,” Drake said. “That talent you have is beyond anything I’ve ever seen, and I’ve come to rely on it. I try to convey to you each time our mission is successful so you realize what you do is truly valuable.”
“I’ve always appreciated that you let me know lives were saved,” Maya answered. “That’s part of the reason it was important to push this meeting forward as quickly as possible.”
She emerged from the shadows, and as always, Gorya was taken with how completely innocent and young she appeared. Even knowing she was wounded and undergoing treatment for an infection, she looked pale but perfectly composed and serene. He knew what it cost her to face those seated at the conference table, but looking at her, nerves didn’t show at all. She appeared completely at ease.
She smiled at Drake as she moved around the table with the fluid ease of a leopard, coming to a halt near Jeremiah’s chair. She was just to the right of him, at an angle, where Gorya knew a swipe of her blade could cut Jeremiah’s throat. He had no idea he was in peril, but Timur did. His cousin froze, but to his credit didn’t protest or make a sound.
No one else seemed to realize Gorya’s woman was a threat at all. He couldn’t blame them. She had perfected her role as a deceiver, the girl next door, an introvert, shy and reclusive, with a gift for tracking criminals with her computer. It would never occur to them that she took her work a step further and assassinated the criminals she hunted.
“Jeremiah, your family comes from Panama. Would you mind telling me the lair you belong to?”
Such an innocent question. Gorya heard that mild note in her tone as if it were a casual inquiry, not mattering in the least, but he felt the stillness in her. That waiting.
“My father, very early on, disliked the direction of the lair and he took our family away from the others. We were all very young. He wanted us, especially my sisters, to stay away from the other shifters. I thought that was shortsighted of him. They would need mates.”
