“Oh, I like you. You’re cocky.” She glanced at Declan as if to say ‘Can I continue’, and when he nodded, she turned back to Caine. “We discovered the jaguars were trying to buy up land around here that’s gone to auction in hopes of boxing the Pard in. As of half an hour ago, that plan went out the window because the land now belongs to Ghostpoint Systems, LLC.” At the puzzled look on Caine’s face, she flashed a grin. “Ghostpoint is owned by Declan. We’ve used the company to discreetly buy land before when it played an integral part in a job. There is no connection to the Pard so they’ll have no idea that whoever bought it is on your side.”
“Devious,” Caine said with a chuckle. “I like dat. Declan told me what da plan is; are you both good with dat?” he asked the two jaguars.
It was Echo’s turn to speak up. “Hell yeah. We live for this kind of shit. We’ve infiltrated multiple jaguar clans in order to topple an Alpha who thrived on hurting others. We’ve got this.”
“They’re good at what they do, they’re wicked fast on their feet, and they’re deadly in a fight,” Declan put in.
“Bon, bon. Den da plan is set. Wit’ any luck, it’ll all be over by tomorrow night.” Declan was certain that was when the jaguars planned to attack the compound and had shared his thoughts with Caine prior to arriving that evening. How the jaguars thought they’d get in without being seen was anyone’s guess, but it was clear the jaguars were making a play for the Pard’s land.
“If you’ll drop us off back in New Orleans, we’ll make our way to Baton Rouge with our sob story about how the mean leopards wouldn’t give a pair of jaguars, running from an abusive Alpha, a safe haven,” Sasha said in a voice that made it sound like she was close to tears.
Caine blinked at her and Declan laughed. “I told you, they’re good.”
“I can see dat,” Caine replied and motioned to Remy to escort the females back to the city while Declan and the others stuck around to discuss the details of the plan.
Lily
All the way through Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Lily was on edge. She kept glancing out her mirrors to make sure they weren’t being followed, and by the time they were safely out of the Red Moon Clan’s territory, she was a nervous wreck. When they finally reached the outskirts of Houston and stopped for lunch, she turned to Emelise. “Feel like driving until we reach Ozona? I really need a break.”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask me to take over. You’ve been jumpier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, girl. I’ll drive the next stretch. Maybe you should text that man of yours, see how he’s doing without you there. Feel free to partake in a little sexting; I won’t judge,” Emelise replied with a wicked laugh.
Lily smacked her arm. “Gods, you’re awful,” she said and shook her head.
“But you lurve me and you know it,” Eme countered as they stopped at a roadside diner to grab some burgers and fries.
“Yeah, whatever,” Lily said, completely in jest. Soon enough they were back on the road and she pulled out her phone.
Hey, just touching base to let you know we made it through RM territory fine and just finished eating in Houston. Would have texted before now but I was driving. Hope everything is okay back in NOLA.She closed her eyes to rest them a bit while she waited for his reply.
Fucking hell, woman, I was about to send out a search party. You had me worried sick. Don’t ever fucking do that again, doll.
Her eyes snapped open when the text came through and she laughed a little. “Oops, he’s a little ticked I didn’t text him after we were through their territory.”
“You better soothe his temper—no telling what he might do otherwise.”
Lily gave her a dirty look, but Emelise was right, she needed to soothe his temper, and his fear.I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I just didn’t want to risk stopping until I was sure we weren’t being followed. I promise to be more thoughtful next time. I miss you.She knew the admission would surprise him.
You do? Good, because that feeling’s mutual. When you get back here in a couple of days, we will have a lot of time to make up for. You won’t be getting out of bed for a while once I have you in it. I’m also taking you to dinner because what’s between us isn’t just sex, and I want to know everything there is to know about you.
Lily shivered a little in anticipation, then she got a wicked idea, thanks to Emelise’s teasing.Dinner sounds great. As for not letting me out of bed for a while once you have me in it, maybe you should tie me up so I can’t get away.She hesitated in sending it before she finally did, then waited for his response.
Declan
Declan was in the middle of hammering out the final battle plan with Caine and his lieutenants when he got the text from Lily. “About fucking time,” he growled without thinking. At the look Caine gave him, he held up his phone. “Lily, she finally decided to let me know she and Emelise were through Red Moon Clan territory and are safely in Houston having lunch.”
Caine gave him a look. “What are dey doing in Houston?”
“I take it you weren’t told then? They’re on a road trip to Phoenix to get Emelise’s things out of storage because she found an apartment and needs her furniture, or else she’s sleeping on the floor.”
Caine growled at that. “Damn fool woman. She shouldn’t have taken off without an escort. What were you tinkin’ lettin’ dem go?”
“I figured they’d be safer away from the city while we deal with the jaguars. By the time they get back, it’ll be all over and we don’t have to worry about either of them getting caught in the middle of this mess.”
Caine calmed down slowly before he nodded. “Dat’s probably true. Dey are safer away from here, but if sometink happens to dem on da road, you and me are gonna have problems.”
“They’ll be fine,” Declan assured him. He kept replying to Lily, and when he got her final text, he was instantly hard. She was definitely killing him.
You’re fucking killing me, woman, but you just got yourself into a world of trouble. I’ve got just the thing to tie you up with so you can’t get free without a little effort. You have been warned. Now don’t distract me, doll, I’ve got business to take care of. Be careful on the road and let me know when you stop for the night.
