Chapter 24

 

 

Gaby sat on the balcony with a cup of coffee, enjoying the morning sun. The plethora of birds singing, frogs croaking and hum of insects felt like the middle of the Amazon jungle. Paradise. Two days of peace and relaxation with hot sex added to the mix. Safe. Steele in wolf form trotted the perimeter, sniffing and marking his territory. She smiled. Except for his enormous wolf frame, he was no different than a pet dog exploring a new environment. This was the perfect place to settle down. Far from lycan society, and no Project Sabertooth to bother her again. Was it possible to hide here forever? Would Kiara ever give up on claiming Steele? Even if her name was cleared, she’d never be safe from the bitch’s wrath. She batted away a fly. Yet, how could she live knowing new criminal assassins for hire served the black market? Stopping Tomlin was the only way she’d be able to live without the guilt of knowing others would die if she remained hidden.

The wolf stood at the edge of the lagoon, looked back at her, and then shifted. He stretched his brawny arms. His muscular back reminded her of an ancient statue of a powerful naked warrior.

A few feet from where he stood, an alligator’s snout surfaced, big bulbous eyes opened. Steele growled.

“He won’t harm you,” she said.

Steele walked toward the balcony, big, naked, hers. He raised a brow. “Because you are the new queen of the Everglades?”

“Only within a small radius.”

“Yet, you still escaped Hallie’s pursuit.”

“That’s all the distance I needed. I had thirty crows fly with me, in case she fought through the murder and followed.” Her guilt shadowed her victory at escaping the warden. “I hope I didn’t get Hallie in trouble.”

“Hallie is inexperienced, but I have no doubt even an alpha wolf couldn’t have kept you from escaping.”

“So you don’t think she’ll be demoted?”

“Nah. However, Rylee is disappointed you couldn’t trust her.”

“I just don’t trust anyone. Never have.” She sighed and smiled as she gazed at him. “Except you, of course.”

Steele chuckled. “Good to know. I’d hate to have your alligator buddies challenge me to water wrestling.”

“I bet you could take down quite a few.”

He reached for his trunks on the rail and donned them. “Maybe two or three, but not more.” He pointed to the forest behind the cottage. “I smelled at least ten pythons. Are those your friends?”

“No. They don’t belong in the Everglades. Although, I could have them surround the cabin at night.”

Steele sat on the bench next to her and draped an arm over her shoulders. “Time to contact Tomlin.”

Paradise couldn’t last forever. Gaby sighed and leaned against him. “I just wish we had more time.”

Steele kissed her head. “The thought of staying here with you forever has crossed my mind, but it’s only a matter of time before the packs find us.”

She straightened and lifted a brow. “How?”

“Kiara’s father Milton is powerful, and though he is not in line to be king, his influence runs deep. Rylee thinks a mole could have been planted at the LIA.”

“Right under her nose?”

“The LIA vets its staff with a fine-tooth comb. Yet, it’s possible one of our own could have ties or might have come from Kiara’s pack.”

“So a member from any pack can join the LIA?”

“The application process is rigorous and each werewolf must have a skill that benefits the agency. For example, Cricket is adept at pretending to be human. Lev is powerful enough to take on a small army and Jesper is brilliant as an accountant and archivist.”

“And you?”

“Like Slade and Lev, special operations and warrior class.”

Without a doubt, hot warrior category. “I met Manny the main techie.”

“Manny heads the cyber community. If there is a mole, he should have gotten wind of him or her, but he is only human.”

“Or rather just werewolf,” she chided.

“Yeah, didn’t mean to imply being human is a weakness, but compared to our senses, we usually don’t get tricked.” He sighed. “Although, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had a mole.”

Their security appeared top notch. Comparable to her former lab. “Long ago, right?”

“Actually, just last year. A mole from a rogue pack stole genetic data from Dr. Becker’s lab.”

“And here I thought werewolves were all knowing.”

Steele laughed. “I wish.” He stood. “I’ll call Rylee and check if Manny has found any breaches in security from within.”

“If there is a mole from Kiara’s pack, he or she could have gained information on how to frame me.”

“I believe so.”

“Why the hell would she do that, knowing you would be her mate?”

“A werewolf knows when their mate loves another.”

“That’s a given, but she had you and your title to boot.”

He frowned. “Precisely.”

“And why frame me for your niece’s attempted murder? She could have framed me for Cricket’s murder or published an article outing werewolves and using my name as a byline.”

“Trying to kill my niece made it personal against not only me, but against the king.” He narrowed his eyes. “In order to frame you, Kiara must have hired Tomlin.”

“Why risk execution or a werewolf lobotomy?”

“Knowing Kiara, she’d make sure there was no cyber trail between her and Project Sabertooth.”

Gaby frowned. “No way to prove it.”

“Only if she confessed, and I don’t see that happening.”

“All that trouble just to make you her mate.”

“Like you mentioned, my title alone is worth a sham of a mating. After Queen Myra and my niece, Margo, she’d be the most powerful princess.”

“Or if you become king, she’d be the queen.”

“Not such a remote idea. Max, my alpha nephew has given up his title, my niece is a beta and vulnerable to an alpha’s influence. The queen became infertile after her last litter underwent the change. No more children.”

“That’s odd after having pups she’d suddenly become infertile.” Gaby had learned all werewolves were first born as wolves until bitten by the alpha of the pack. Upon reaching wolf adulthood at three years, they then underwent the change and shifted into a twenty-one-year-old human with all the knowledge of an adult. Magic rather than science. Max and Margo were now twenty-three years old.

“Actually, she hasn’t gone into heat. They are seeking help from a clinic in Norway.”

“What if her lack of heat was intentional?”

He shook his head. “Again, you speak of betrayal within our ranks.”

“Humans throughout our history resorted to whatever means possible to gain power. Poison, false accusations or beheading got rid of people to gain ultimate power. Certainly, werewolves are not immune to this.”

Steele’s face reddened and he lowered his head. A pained or rather shamed look on his face. “No they are not.”

He’d never discussed his father, King Conall with her, but Cricket hinted to his father somehow betraying their kind. An oath breaker. He’d been quietly eliminated before word spread to the packs. Then there was his brother Maccon who carried the taint of Griswold and later killed by enforcer Dominic. In time, Steele would confide in her about such skeletons in the closet, but why bring up the painful past? Especially since Steele, like his father was now an oath breaker. Change the subject. “I think we should focus on destroying Tomlin and Project Sabertooth.”

“Agreed.”

“One thing about Tomlin, he’s not going to meet me alone. Too many predators will do my bidding. Knowing him, he’ll bring a small army.”

“It might be fun to meet at a local zoo,” he chuckled.

“You don’t know how many times I thought about escaping to Africa, surrounded by wild game. Fear of recapture always curtailed my plans. It wasn’t until you came that I realized they kept tabs on me with the RFD tracker.”

“At least you convinced him you escaped from our pack.”

“That’s our advantage. He thinks I’m alone and angry.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I was kept as the lowest rank in your pack, and worse, broken-hearted that you chose a proper princess mate. So I escaped.”

“Don’t think for a second I ever stopped wanting you.”

Any doubt she had about him giving her up after he found out his true identity disappeared like a bad dream. She gripped his hand. “My life started when I met you.”

He chuckled. “As did mine.”

Before she shed a tear, he gently kissed her.

Steele released her, moved a hair from her brow and smiled. “Let’s start our life together by clearing your name.”

“Should I call Tomlin now?”

“Let me talk to Rylee about that. In the meantime, I’ll find out if there are any leads about an agent loyal to Kiara’s pack.”

“Okay.”

 

Steele put away his mobile. He spent an hour talking to Rylee and then Manny about a possible mole in the agency. He wiped sweat from his face. Too damn hot for his kind. As much as Gaby enjoyed the Everglades, his body could no longer take the humidity. In wolf form, it felt like being trapped in a sauna while wearing a fur coat designed for Arctic conditions. After Tomlin was taken out, they’d head far north where the only neighbors were polar bears. He stepped out where Gaby stood near the marsh. Bird watching. “Hey.”

She turned. Her smile radiant. Lips that reminded him of their lovemaking. “You talked for a long time.”

“Got some possible leads, at least about the mole.”

“Oh?”

“There were two LIA members associated with Kiara’s pack. One is Paige, a beta female who works in surveillance, and claimed to escape her pack’s brutish ways. The other member is Caden, an alpha male who married into Kiara’s pack.”

“Special ops?”

It seemed odd Caden chose computers over soldiering, but he excelled in tech so why not? “No. He’s worked in Manny’s tech department for six years. He is also a helicopter pilot and occasionally joins Team Greywolf as tech support. Quiet, but always reliable. If he turned mole, it must have been recent.” Maybe Caden found out about her charm and he had a deep-seated hatred against charmers.

“How long ago did he marry into her pack?”

“Two years ago. A beta he met during a mate circle.”

“Sounds like a dating service.”

“It is. A family member sets up a circle for local packs to meet available partners. They form a large circle and meet while in wolf form. The next day, the aroma that attracts the wolf is combined with the human form. A few find love that way. I heard Caden will move and have pups with his mate.”

“Does his wife live at headquarters?”

“No. Makayla happens to be a midwife and because of it, she’s in wolf form a good chunk of the time.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Midwife to wolves?”

“Yep. In human form, she is an expert on herbs and potions.”

“Probably a witch during the Middle Ages.”

“One with fangs and claws. Then again, your kind probably fingered them.”

“I can’t believe we were always enemies. Wolf charmers could have worked as middlemen between humans and werewolves.”

“That’s still my hope.”

“Okay, time to call Tomlin and set up a meeting.” She sighed.

“He might not pick up if he doesn’t recognize your number.”

“We have a code word to let project members know we are not the wrong number.”

“Go ahead.”

“This probably means we will have to leave paradise.”

“I hate to tell you, but the Everglades isn’t wolf paradise. Too sticky humid, too many bugs and suffocating while I’m in wolf form.”

Gaby smirked. “If I knew you’d join me, I would have considered other options.”

“Actually, it was a good decision. No wardens in these parts. The nearest pack is in Louisiana.”

Gaby reached for her phone. “I’ll text the code, leave my name and tell him to call back.” She entered the code.

“Now we wait?” Steele asked.

Gaby nodded. The phone rang almost immediately. Her eyes widened. She hadn’t expected a quick response. She picked up. “Yes

Steele cocked his head to listen. “I’ve been waiting for your call, Gaby.”

“I’m ready to return.”

“Are you alone?”

“Yes.” She swallowed. “Do you agree to my terms of living away from the new headquarters?”

“I see you are in Everglades. Good choice.”

Gaby glanced at Steele who frowned. “Yes, I found an ideal place to hide.”

“I imagine the gators will protect you from the werewolves hunting you, eh?”

Steele raged. Cutting out the asshole’s tongue out would please him to no end. Tomlin knew she was being hunted. Meaning, he set her up. If only Tomlin knew, he heard his every word.

Gaby played it cool. “Finding out werewolves execute wolf charmers kind of ruined my friendship with Kane.”

Steele flinched. Gaby had mentioned she told Tomlin her fate amongst the werewolves to make her return less suspicious.

“Yes, Prince Steele was never yours.”

“He was just a friend, at least before he got his memory back.”

“I’ve decided to accept your conditions. Now that we are, shall we say, independent contractors, there’s no reason for you to live under the same roof.”

“I’ll accept a million dollars for each job.”

He laughed. “Sweetheart, you’ll be lucky if I pay you fifty thousand. There’s an even bigger price on your head. You made the werewolves’ most wanted dead or alive poster.”

The man knew too damn much. If not Kiara, then another werewolf had hired him.

Gaby kept her resolve. “One million guarantees I have the means to hire security and safe passage to non-werewolf territory.” She shook her head at Steele. “Anyway, they must know I’m not going to out their kind if they stopped stalking me.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”

“Who is the werewolf who hired you?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care to know.”

Steele clenched his jaw. Of course, the werewolf who hired him would never reveal him or herself. Without signing the disclosure contract, Tomlin had to die. Something he looked forward to after he got answers. Unless, Tomlin did sign a rogue pack’s contract.

“So what will it be, accept my contract fee or will this be goodbye?” Gaby asked.

After a long pause, Tomlin said, “Very well.”

“Good. Then you will contact me when there’s a job.”

Steele tilted his head at her. He thought she wanted to draw him out as soon as possible. Then again, if she appeared too anxious to see him, Tomlin would smell a trap.

 

Gaby signaled Steele to move away before Tomlin heard his deep breathing, and then turned her back on him.

Tomlin continued. “I have your coordinates. I imagine you prefer to meet where wildlife can keep you safe from me, eh?”

“Got that right.”

“I hope you don’t mind if we meet in a few hours. I happen to have a job for you.”

She turned to Steele and he nodded. “Okay, text me the details before we meet.”

“Good. When we land, I’ll have the complete target file.”

“If I accept, you need to bring half the money.” What she really wanted was him shackled and begging for mercy. She’d not forgotten how his goons murdered Becks, the trucker.

“Don’t worry; it will be an easy hit.”

“As long as I get a nice month, or more, break in between hits.”

“I’ll see you this evening. Don’t even think of trying anything or I’ll give your location to my wolfish contact.”

Confirmation he’d been hired by a werewolf. “Just bring the cash.” Gaby hung up and looked at Steele. “We might find evidence I was set up sooner than we think.”

He furrowed his brow. “Yes, I heard. I just can’t believe there is an oath breaker.”

A text came in. Gaby shook her head. “Not cool.”

“What?”

“He wants my target killed by a horse she is riding in a competition.”

“An assassination that will no doubt look like an accident.”

Gaby turned to show him the rest of the text. “Target is a CIA operative Emma York.”

Steele’s eyes widened. “I wonder if someone hired Project Sabertooth to kill her or she knows too much about Tomlin.” If Mr. H. was still alive, he’d contact him right away. Who knew if his son had already replaced him?

“I suspect she might know too much. We never went after spies within the CIA.” Gaby rubbed her chin. “Although, his group is now rogue. Maybe a foreign government hired Project Sabertooth.”

“Someone who wants her death to look like an accident, untraceable.”

“Should we contact Rylee to hide her?”

“Normally, we don’t interfere in human affairs, but she might be important to our society as well. For now, your target is safe.”

“True enough. Being that I’m her assassin.”

He picked up his mobile. “I’ll tell Rylee about your target and that Tomlin is on his way.”

“Thanks. I’d hate to think someone might assassinate her early.”

Steele called Rylee on her private emergency line. “Ma’am, Tomlin is on his way.”

“Good. You have permission to eliminate, but get answers first.”

“One more thing. Tomlin wants Gaby to take out Emma York, a CIA agent.”

“No fucking way. Emma?”

“You know her?”

“Yes. I’ll have a team member take her to a safe house.”

“She sounds important.”

“I’ll tell you about her over some good brandy.”

Interesting Rylee didn’t give any details about Emma. No matter. First priority was Tomlin. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good news, Lunara found a scroll about wolf charmers. Might be the key to keeping Gaby safe.”

Hope is what he needed. “And what about the mole?”

“Lev just arrived and will interview each suspect. Keep me posted.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He put his mobile away. He smiled broad.

Gaby lifted a brow. “You look like you just won the lottery.”

“Our wolf shaman, Lunara, found something that might help end our stupid edict against wolf charmers.”

She snorted. “If we can clear my name of trying to kill the princess.”

“Lev is back and he’ll find out if one or both of our suspects are moles.”

“He was instrumental in having you remember.”

“True. Once you stare at his penetrating blue glowing eyes, you cannot tell a lie.” A distant helicopter made him tilt his head. “Tomlin.”

“Way too early.”