CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Finn grilled Megan about our capture as soon as the train door shut. Everything that had happened to her—how her night had started, how our kidnapper had captured her, the way the man moved, his skill level of defense.
The way he spoke.
Everything.
My eyelids started to droop in exhaustion when she finally got to the part of her story where I’d been captured. From there, I already knew the sordid tale. I interrupted her, mumbling, “Anyone mind if I contact my parents now before I fall asleep? They have to be worried about me.”
Finn pressed his shoulder against mine, sitting right next to me in this luxury Cooper Corporation train—with the tiger emblem on the outside of it. The tiger was even stitched into the backs of the leather seats we sat on, the cushions hugging my rear like a dream. He brushed a single finger down my cheek, holding my eyes captive.
The beast said, “They were worried. It’s how we knew so soon you were kidnapped. When your kidnapper disabled your bracelet, it sent an alarm to your parents. Your mother fainted at my party, thinking you were dead. It happened right in front of me while I was talking with them.”
I sucked in a harsh breath. “I need to call her now.”
He shook his head, his glacial blue eyes patient. “I already sent them a message when we were secured in here. They know you’re safe and uninjured.”
My sigh was profound, my heartbeat not pounding quite as horribly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
From the seat across the aisle, Megan asked curiously, “How did you find us?”
“My friend, Wolfe Cooper, pulled a few strings with the transportation department.”
“Wolfe Cooper? As in, the president of Cooper Corporation—the biggest technology business in the world?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes widened. “Damn.”
“He was able to obtain the video of Mina leaving my building. We followed the video lead of the train she took and witnessed her abduction.”
I blinked. “That’s mortifying.”
“It saved your life.” He shrugged without remorse.
“Let me guess.” Megan smirked. “After that, Mr. Cooper hacked into our kidnapper’s train for our whereabouts?”
“Of course.” Finn’s smile was gradual. “But that’s not for public knowledge, either.”
“Of course.” She winked. “Rich and powerful people doing illegal things? No one would ever believe that story.”
A burst of laughter stuck in my throat. “They saved our lives, Megan. Try to show a little decorum.”
She rested back on her chair and sighed. “I hate that you’re right. It would have made fabulous blackmail material.”
Finn eyed her. Hard.
Megan cringed from his predatory glare. “I’m not going to. Good grief.”
“If you do, you’ll see the ugly side of me,” Finn responded, perfectly at peace with threatening her. “I have many different blades that aren’t even on the market yet that I’ve been itching to try.”
Her mouth slammed shut.
I blinked. Monster.
He inhaled…and his gaze snapped to mine, blue eyes searching my face before he sighed. “I’m not always a pleasant man, Mina. But I won’t hurt you. Ever.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, evaluating his honest eyes. My nostrils flared, and I stated, “This is irrational of me, but I do believe you.”
He nodded. “Good. Trust is a plus for lovers.”
My mouth bobbed. “I’m going to take a nap now.”
“Do you want a blanket?”
The man had just threatened bodily harm to another woman, yet was now asking me if I wanted a blanket to keep the chill away so I could sleep peacefully. This beast was a mystery to me.
“I’m fine. You’re keeping me warm.”
He grinned, heat entering his eyes.
I pressed my eyes shut and reclined my chair. “Night.”
“Please let me off first,” Megan grumbled. “I can’t take much more of you two.”
“I’m planning on it,” Finn grumbled. “That’s why you’re going to tell me everything you know right now about your kidnapper.”
* * *
“We’re a little overdressed for the park,” I whispered as citizens of New City passed by us. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “Why did you take me here?”
“I thought we could talk alone in a beautiful area but still have others around. You are very skittish of my kind, after all.”
I jerked my head in his direction. “I don’t understand.”
Finn placed one of my arms through his, and we began to stroll down the rock walkway toward the blue water of the natural waterfall. “There’s no need for lying. Cass already told me you know about shifters.”
I swallowed on a dry throat, my black evening gown fluttering in the mid-morning breeze. I didn’t deny his claim, nor did I confirm it. Instead, I asked, “What is a shifter?”
He allowed me to avoid his statement, answering, “A magical creature and only males are shifters—their mates are human females. I’m a shifter. I turn into a white tiger if I want to, but my beast doesn’t rule me. Even in my other form, I’m still me. Shifters have an enhanced sense of smell, enhanced strength, our vision is a miracle, and we can hear far beyond what a human perceives as normal. We also take on a few of our animal’s traits, such as protection, dominance, etc.”
I stared into my memories, allowing the day I had witnessed him ‘shifting’ to come forth. My head cocked as I remembered the wild animals chasing after each other and rolling around on the green grass in the sunlight.
I whispered, “You like to play.”
He glanced down at me. “Pardon?”
I sucked in a sharp breath and steeled my courage. “I’ve seen you shift before. You like to play when you’re a white tiger.”
His smile was slow coming, all his white teeth showing. A tiger grinning at me. He murmured, “Yes, I do. And thank you for putting your trust in me. As I said, I won’t harm you.”
My lips pinched, but I nodded.
“I do need to ask two questions before you begin yours.”
Another nod.
“Who else saw me shift? And who else did you see?”
I blinked. “No one else saw it.”
Mother… It was my mother.
I wouldn’t name her.
He lifted his white brows. Silent. Watchful.
The white tiger didn’t believe me.
I moved on as if he did. “I saw you and your four best friends shift. Though, I guess I should clarify that I’ve never seen Cassander shift. I didn’t know he was a…shifter… until he told me as much. I believe he indicated he’s a fox.”
Finn led us to a bench directly in front of the largest part of the waterfall, brushing off the seat of grass bits—the lawn freshly mowed—before motioning for me to sit down. He sat next to me, his side smashed against mine even though the bench could fit two more people. His arm lazed behind me on the back of the bench, and his eyes roamed over the mother and children walking past and the family having an early lunch in the gazebo nearby.
With his gaze turning to the sparkling waterfall, he pushed for the truth. “You won’t tell me who else saw?”
I kept my mouth shut.
“That’s very loyal of you. Which means, it’s someone you love. I know your parents. They love you very much.”
I sighed. “No one else saw. I already said that.”
His eyes stayed on the scenic view. “Your father?”
I didn’t comment, my eyes narrowing.
“Your mother?”
My shoulders tensed—just the smallest bit.
His lips curved up at the edges, barely a smile. “Your mother then.”