Gorya and the others laughed with him. Jeremiah reached out and took a handful of cookies. “You’re lucky you weren’t there when Ashe tried baking. She makes a mean latte though.”
“Watch your mouth, kid,” Timur said, but there was no bite in his voice.
“Just saying, boss,” Jeremiah didn’t sound in the least remorseful.
Gorya flashed a grin at the man standing next to Ian and held out his hand. “Gorya Amurov.”
“Liam Kensie. Was just brought in with Ian a couple of weeks ago. Nice setup, and the food’s especially good.”
“You trained with Donovan?”
“We both did. Ian and I arrived around the same time in Borneo, and Drake took us on. When we wanted more training, he had us sent to Bannaconni’s ranch and then here. He’s moving us around to get more experience. We haven’t had a chance to work with Timur yet, but my understanding is your cousin is one of the best security men in the business.”
Gorya nodded. “And exacting. He doesn’t take crap from anyone, nor will he let you shirk your duty. He isn’t tolerant of mistakes. Ask Jeremiah.”
“Mistakes cost lives,” Jeremiah quoted, and stuffed another cookie into his mouth.
Gorya turned to the other two newcomers, greeting each with a handshake. These were the two on Sevastyan’s crew.
“I’m Han Bastill,” a sandy-haired man of about twenty-five introduced himself.
“And I’m Idris Malone.” The second man was a bit older, perhaps twenty-eight, and heavier built, with very dark hair and eyes. “We also trained in Borneo and came to the United States with Drake. We recently signed on for more training under Sevastyan.”
“It’s interesting that all four of you trained with Drake,” Gorya said. “Not surprising though. His expertise with shifters is renowned.” He reached out to snag one of Evangeline’s famous cinnamon cookies. “Where are each of you originally from?”
“We’re all from Panama,” Idris answered. “Grew up together, actually. When we were kids, we were orphaned. A family looked out for us, keeping us fed and clothed, and made sure we had schooling. We never went hungry. We were lucky. We weren’t the only ones they took in.”
“Jeremiah’s from Panama as well.” Gorya turned toward Jeremiah as if he could provide some explanation for them all coming from the same place.
“Panama is a big place, Gorya. I’ve never met them before,” Jeremiah said. “Remember, I do have a mom and sisters. My mom is trying to marry me off to anyone who will have me just to get grandbabies.”
The room roared with laughter.
“I guess there are advantages to being raised in an orphanage,” Ian said, nudging Liam. “It was more a boarding school than an orphanage though. We were required to learn, but we were treated well.”
“Who ran the boarding school?” Jeremiah asked. “I didn’t know many people. I was a punk kid, but my mother knew a lot of people. She might know them.”
“Jaoa and Carolina Escabar Velentez,” Idris replied. “Jaoa’s name carries a lot of weight with shifters in that country. With everyone. He’s done a lot of good for the economy there. Turned things around.”
Gorya thought it significant that Idris was the one the others allowed to speak for them. His voice rang with not only pride but almost a fanaticism. They may have been orphaned by Escabar Velentez and then brought to the boarding school to be programmed and shaped to be used as his agents. Escabar Velentez had seen the Cortez family fail when they’d tried to rule Panama with a bloodthirsty reign of terror. He was much more intelligent and made those around him fiercely loyal to him.
Gorya nodded thoughtfully. “We have a few friends in Panama. I believe they’ve mentioned Escabar Velentez many times and make him out to be a good man, although his opinion on a variety of subjects differs greatly from mine.”
Ian’s eyebrow rose. He caught up another piece of the coffee cake. “What opinion?”
“He believes in human trafficking. I draw the line there. Drugs. Guns. Gambling. Prostitution. There are plenty of ways to make money without selling human beings.”
Liam frowned. “How would you know what Jaoa believes in or doesn’t?”
Gorya sent him an easygoing smile and gave a casual shrug as if the conversation was of little consequence. “I took over the territory in the Atchafalaya River Basin and had to shut down the trafficking ring. There were several in the lair not happy about it.”
“It’s a lucrative business,” Idris pointed out. “Very lucrative. And if done right, can turn an economy around quickly.” Again, there was pride in his voice.
“Perhaps, but on the backs of children and young women and men. You make them sex slaves. They’resubjected to rape, torture and often murder.” Gorya kept his voice low, mild, not in the least challenging. “As orphans, all four of you could have easily been sold into that trade. You were lucky you weren’t.”
“And how many others are saved because of the sacrifices of a few?” Liam asked. “You should talk to Jaoa. If you listen to him, he can explain the pros and cons and lay it all out for you so it makes sense.”
“I grew up in a lair that believed in human trafficking,” Gorya said. “Nothing about it makes sense. My cousins grew up the same way. We witnessed how it tore apart our families and eventually destroyed everything we had from the inside out. It was killing our leopards. Killing our people. We’ve worked hard to rebuild. Trafficking is not something we would ever allow.”
