Chapter Twelve
“We can’t go on like this,” Andras said.
He exhaled and sat back in his chair. The latest bank account statements were in his hands. He’d gone over the numbers as soon as he’d gotten into the office that morning and had had a pounding headache ever since. He would’ve much rather taken the day off to ride one of his horses on the ten-mile trail near his house instead of dealing with this mess. But it was duty before pleasure. Unfortunately, as of late, it seemed that his life was all about duty.
He was tired, but the finance meeting that he had once a week with Kristof couldn’t be missed. There was too much going on, and even though the Vampires had found and shut down many of the bogus accounts, money was still leaving at an alarming rate and it didn’t look like whoever was behind the embezzlement would let up any time soon.
“No, we can’t,” Kristof added. He had a copy of the bank statements spread before him and a highlighter where he marked the withdrawals. “That’s why we hired the Vamps. They’re supposed to be the best of the best with proven results.”
“I don’t recognize two of these accounts. I think I’ll check them out when I get back to my office.” Trudy studied the copies in her hand.
Trudy served as a vital member of the finance department. She had a sharp eye for detail and came with a plethora of knowledge. Andras made sure that she was at each and every meeting where the embezzlement was discussed to keep her in the loop and get her ideas and perspective.
When the embezzlement had first begun, Kristof and Erzsebet had tried to find out the source themselves. It had only been after they hadn’t had any luck and had been unable to stop the cash flow from leaving that Kristof had decided to hire Trudy’s firm to audit their accounts.
Both Kristof and Erzsebet had taken great measures to ensure that no one else besides Andras, Lajos and Hunter had been aware of their plan. It had been apparent to them that the embezzlement was an inside job.
Inside job.
Just the thought of one of his Pack members working with a Vampire made Andras’ insides twist into knots. How could a Pack member hide something like this from him? It was unheard of. No one in his family could lie to him. He would be able to sense it immediately. But after having a private meeting with each employee, he had come up empty-handed.
Even so, the timing of the thefts and how the bogus accounts had been set up had pointed to the crime being an inside job. Pair that with someone getting wind of the hiring of Trudy’s accounting firm and Andras knew the criminal was right under his nose.
His theory had been proven correct when the Vampire that Hunter and Kristof had caught in Florida had boasted that he was not only behind the plan to bankrupt Dark Wolf Enterprises, but that he had inside help.
But which one of his Pack members would be so naïve as to let a Vampire into their life? That was the multi-million-dollar question.
“Even though I’ve frozen non-essential accounts, we’re still hemorrhaging money,” Trudy continued. She tapped a finger on the conference room table. “If the Vampires can’t get this figured out within the week, I suggest freezing all outgoing transactions. We’ll have to live on cash until we can catch whoever is behind this. Give all the employees a month’s pay outright and we’ll pay bills with money orders.”
“I really don’t want to go that route,” Andras said.
Everyone running around with pockets full of cash would only attract trouble. The Shifters could take care of themselves, but the last thing Andras needed was for some opportunistic human to decide to rob one of them. That wouldn’t go well for anyone involved.
“But it may be our only option, for the time being,” Kristof added.
As if he didn’t have enough on his plate, Andras happened to stare out his office window just in time to catch sight of Hunter barreling down the driveway with Asha seated behind him.
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Can this day get any worse?” he mumbled.
“Say what?” Kristof asked.
“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
“Hunter. Get your ass to my office. Now.”
“What about the updates?” Kristof asked. “Are the Vampires any closer to finding who is setting them up?”
“They’ve seen some inconsistencies and are focusing on those to establish patterns. They’ve stopped eight questionable transactions and, with Trudy’s help, I’ve determined that they were unauthorized.” Andras shook his head. “But as far as finding out who is setting up the accounts. No.”
“What about motive? Are we any closer to finding out why this Vampire is targeting us?” Trudy asked.
“Unfortunately, no. I’ve had phone conversations with the head of the North American Wolf-Shifter House and he’s assured me that none of the other Alphas have any knowledge about who is targeting us, or why. But they’ve taken precautions in their own businesses just in case what we’re experiencing here spills over to them.”
“That Vampire was pretty adamant that he had a personal beef with the Farkas,” Trudy said.
“I just wish I knew why he was upset with us.” Andras balled his hand into a fist. “If I knew the reason I know I could figure out who he is.”
Andras had racked his brain trying to figure out who could possibly have it out for him, his Pack or company this badly. All of their alliances were intact and there were no open disputes that he could think of.
Hunter knocked on the office door. “You wanted to see me?”
Andras waved him in. “Take a seat. We’re wrapping up here.”
Hunter did as instructed.
“I would love to sit with the Vampires.” Trudy said. “I could pick their brains about their research process and find out their thoughts about how these bogus accounts are being set up.”
“Absolutely not,” Kristof said with a possessive growl.
“Why not? If I knew what they were searching for I could help out during the day.”
“You’ve already met one Vamp too many,” Kristof said. “You won’t be meeting anymore in your lifetime.”
“I agree with Kristof,” Hunter added. “These are blood-thirsty monsters—they’re elite predators. The only reason they haven’t taken over the world is because they need the rest of us as a food. Trust me, if they didn’t need blood, none of us would be walking the earth.”
“But I’m safe here,” Trudy said, looking around. “Plus, they have Asha with them, so they must know how to handle themselves around humans.”
Hunter leaned forward in his chair. “Asha is their servant,” he said in a low voice. “They keep her around as a food source and to watch over them during the day. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they have any love for her. They’re using her, plain and simple. And, just for the record, don’t ever think that you’re safe anywhere near Vampires. They’re not romantics who’re pining for love. They’re ruthless killers. You of all should know that, Trudy.”
Trudy blanched, and Andras put up a hand. “Hunter, that’s enough. I think she gets the picture.”
Hunter slumped back in his chair.
“I think that’s it for today. Kristof, we’ll meet tomorrow to discuss any progress the Vampires are making. That’s all.”
As Kristof and Trudy got up, Hunter dropped his head to stare in his lap. When they left the room, shutting the door behind them, Andras turned toward him. “What’s going on with you?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Nothing.”
Lie.
“I’ll ask you again. What’s going on with you?”
Hunter looked up. Although his eyes were red from lack of sleep, there was a hint of amber, telling that his wolf was brimming just below the surface.
Andras reached out mentally, getting a feel of what the wolf was thinking. Confusion and uneasiness was heavy within.
“I don’t know. Nothing and everything,” Hunter said.
Andras lifted an eyebrow. “In regards to?”
“Erzsebet.”
“And…?” Andras didn’t like to pry into his Pack member’s personal lives, but when personal problems spilled over and affected someone’s work, it was sometimes necessary.
“And Asha,” he grumbled.
Andras leaned back and steepled his fingers. “Ah, sister and female troubles. Enough to drive any sane man crazy. Do you want to talk about it?”
Hunter shook his head. The fact that he wasn’t saying much didn’t escape Andras. “Ash will be leaving as soon as the Vamps finish their job, and Erzsebet, well, hopefully I’ll be able to help her with the personal issues that she’s going through.”
“Do you need me to speak to Erzsebet?”
“No,” Hunter said too quickly. “I’m responsible for her. I’ll help her through anything that she’s facing.”
“I’m responsible for her, too,” Andras reminded him.
Andras thought back to the day when he and his father and a few other members from his father’s Pack had saved Hunter and Erzsebet from the rogue Vampires. It had been one hundred years ago, and well before he had a Pack of his own. He’d still been living in Hungary and had been second to his father.
Word had spread that a clan of Vampires had broken into his aunt and uncle’s household and taken a young Hunter and even younger Erzsebet away in the middle of the night. Distraught, the elder Aranys had gone after them without waiting for backup. Once in the cave that the Vampire’s had called their home, the Vampires had attacked the elders, killing them slowly in front of children who hadn’t been able to do anything to stop the attack or defend themselves.
When Andras and his father had arrived, it’d been too late for his aunt and uncle, but they had been able to save Hunter and Erzsebet. No matter how much time had passed, Andras would never forget the look on Hunter’s and Erzsebet’s faces. Sheer terror.
They’d killed most of the Vampires they’d found in the cave, but two had gotten away, escaping into the night and out of the territory.
Hunter nodded. “I know. But she’s my little sister. If…if she’s in trouble, I have to do all that I can to get her out of it.”
“To a point. But I hope you understand that if she’s doing anything that endangers the Pack, it is no longer your personal mission, but mine, as well.”
“I understand that.”
Andras eyed him carefully. There was more to it than Hunter let on, but when it came to Erzsebet, Hunter was overly protective and Andras understood why. Protecting her was Hunter’s father’s death wish. Andras could’ve delved deeper, reading Hunter’s personal thoughts, but this seemed more like a family matter. Just because he could read his Pack member’s thoughts didn’t mean he should. If he didn’t afford them privacy, no one would ever want to be around him. Andras made sure that everyone understood that their privacy was never violated unless the Pack security was at stake. Not to mention that Andras didn’t want to hear every thought that everyone had. The noise in his head became unbearable at times.
He trusted Hunter like a brother. If he wanted to handle his sister without his involvement he would let him. Erzsebet was one of his most valued employees and he considered her another younger sister. With everything going on, he hadn’t had time to talk to her like they used to. Everyone was busy trying to save the company.
“And what about Ash?” Andras asked.
Hunter dragged a hand down his face. “There’s no point in going there. She doesn’t live close and I can’t get past who she works for and what she intends to turn herself into. This…relationship won’t progress any further.”
“But you knew this before you pursued her,” Andras pointed out.
Hunter nodded.
“And yet you went after her, anyway. Like a pup in heat.”
Hunter winced. “It was noticed.”
“Yes.”
Hunter let his head fall back. “I can’t get her out of my system.”
Andras raised a shoulder. “It’s not like you to have flings.” Hunter had had companions, but they’d all been Wolf-Shifters who knew, going in, that there wouldn’t be a real relationship, that they were both passing time until life-mates were found.
“She understands this is temporary. I’ve explained life-mating to her.”
“Ah, if it were only that simple.” Andras shook his head and chuckled. “She’s a human and humans see things differently than we do. They romanticize everything, while we’re just giving in to our carnal nature.”
“Since when do you know a lot about human women? I’ve never seen you with one.”
He snorted. “And you won’t. They’re not my cup of tea.” While they were pretty to look at and smelled good, he’d never been interested in taking a human to his bed. They seemed way too complicated for his tastes.
“Then why the lesson?”
“Why? Because even though Asha is with the Vampires for reasons that you and I don’t understand and might not even agree with, she’s still an innocent. Be careful with her heart, because I have the feeling that you’re the only person in a long time who actually understands that she has one.”