Buried and Shadowed (Branded Packs #3) (26 page)

“I’ll walk before I get in that thing,” she said.

His lips twitched. “I’m kidding, sweetheart. I was trained a couple of years ago to fly military helicopters,” he assured her.

She frowned. Why would he train to fly a helicopter? Then she gave a faint shake of her head. Did it really matter?

As long as he was competent and could handle the dangerous machine, she was satisfied.

Gingerly, she climbed into the seat, allowing Sinclair to strap her in and arrange the helmet with built-in headphones on her head.

Then, trying to remember to breathe, she watched as Sinclair climbed in beside her, putting on his helmet before studying the instrument panels that looked far too complicated. Did he really know what to do with all those dials and buttons?

As if reading her mind, Sinclair sent her a wicked grin as he started the engine. Overhead, the blades began to turn, whirling faster and faster. Then, as they lifted off from the roof, Mira desperately sought something to distract herself from the knowledge that they were rapidly rising away from ground.

Glancing around the small cabin, she caught sight of the steel briefcase that was half shoved beneath her seat.

Hmm. It looked like something important.

With a tug, she was lifting it onto her lap, surprised to discover that it wasn’t locked. She was even more surprised when she realized what was inside.

“Yes,” she breathed, excitement racing through her.

Capable of hearing her through the headset, Sinclair sent her a curious glance before returning his attention to the wide-open sky in front of them.

“What is it?” he demanded.

“A laptop,” she said, quickly opening the computer and typing in the password to enter the SAU’s private network. She’d stolen it during her time at the air base, as well as the ability to hack through the various firewalls they’d put in place to try and prevent anyone but the top officials from gaining control of the world’s infrastructure.

“Can you use it to send Bree the tape?” Sinclair asked.

Mira already had the flash drive in the computer, downloading the large files directly into the SAU cloud. She wanted to make sure that no one could interfere with her plans.

“Oh, I can do better than that,” she promised, excitement tingling through her as her fingers flew over the keyboards.

Sinclair was a dominant leader, and a lethal predator, but this was her talent.

And she didn’t need fangs or claws to draw blood from their enemy.

“Better?” His gaze remained on the various instruments, as they swooped through the air. “What are you talking about?”

She continued to open the various portals that would allow her to take control of the news media.

“This laptop is connected to the SAU internet,” she said.

“And?” he prompted.

“And they can take control of every network in the world.”

“Christ.” She felt him stiffen his shock beside her. “You mean you can show that video on every TV?”

“Every single one.” A smile of anticipation curled the edges of her mouth. “Even those at the Capitol Building in DC,” she added, recalling Markham’s statement that the head of the SAU, Colonel Ranney, was going to speak before Congress.

She heard the rasp of Sinclair’s breath through the headphones as he turned to send her a glance filled with blatant awe.

“You. Are. Brilliant.”

She hunched a shoulder, her face flaming with a combination of embarrassment and raw pleasure at his admiration.

“It’s not that hard.”

“Brilliant and modest,” he said. “Is it any wonder that I love you?”

Mira jerked, her eyes wide as she met his warm gaze. “You love me?”

Abruptly realizing what he’d said, Sinclair wrinkled his nose and returned his attention to his task.

“Damn. I didn’t mean to say it when we’re in the middle of saving the world,” he growled. “My timing sucks.”

A joy that felt too large to contain swelled within her. Sinclair had implied that he cared about her, and even that he intended to make her his mate.

But for her, those were very different things than being in love with her.

“You’re sure?” she asked in soft, hesitate tones.

The rich scent of his musk filled the cabin as his fingers tightened on the control stick until his knuckles turned white.

“Mira, I love you in every conceivable way,” he assured her. “And I intend to spend the rest of my life earning your heart.”

“Sinclair,” she breathed, trying to bend toward him, only to be halted by the rigid seat belt. With a rueful chuckle, she settled back in her seat. “You’re right. Your timing sucks,” she said, wishing she could throw herself into his arms.

She’d waited so long to find someone who could love her for who she was.

A nerdy, overly curvaceous woman who would never be glamorous, or beautiful, or blessed with a social skill that most men preferred.

She didn’t know why fate had been kind enough to offer her a male like Sinclair, but she wasn’t going to risk losing him. Not again.

This time, she intended to snatch happiness with both hands.

Just as soon as they saved the world.

Clearly agreeing that they needed to concentrate on the precious opportunity to expose the SAU as liars, Sinclair glanced toward the laptop.

“How long before the video is loaded?”

“It’s loaded,” she told him, glad that Donaldson was willing to spend government dollars on a top-of-the-line computer. It worked at lightning-speed. “Give me five minutes to make sure it’s streaming to every station.”

Sinclair pulled out his phone, waiting for the bluetooth to sync before calling his Pack.

“Rios,” he said when a male answered. “I’ve got what we need,” he said, a tense satisfaction edging his voice. “Warn Bree that the party starts in five minutes.”

****

Sinclair had just bathed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt when he caught the scent of the approaching jaguar.

With a glance at the naked woman who was tangled in the sheets of his bed, he reluctantly headed toward the mouth of the cave that served as his private lair.

It’d been almost twenty-four hours since the video had hit the television stations.

The reaction had been as cataclysmic as they had hoped.

It wasn’t just the videos that had been incontrovertible proof that the head of the SAU was responsible for the Verona Virus. Or the knowledge that it was the shifters that had provided the necessary blood to create a vaccine to save the human race.

It was also Bree’s press conference where she’d answered a seemingly endless barrage of questions with a calm composure that soon had even the most rabid journalist satisfied that they were telling the truth.

Once it had ended, they’d joined together as a Pack and celebrated for hours, singing and dancing with a joy that they hadn’t experienced in far too long.

None of them were foolish enough to think it was all over. Although the shifters were leaving the compounds, they all understood that the prejudices against them wouldn’t vanish overnight. And, certainly, the bitterness the shifters felt towards humans wouldn’t instantly disappear.

It would take time and effort to heal the wounds and come together to build a new future.

But for now, it was enough to know that they were free.

And for Sinclair, the night of celebration was even more life altering.

Mira had not only agreed to become his mate, but she’d requested that they exchange their vows in a human wedding. It had been her way of offering her love and commitment for the rest of her life.

It was a gift he deeply cherished.

Now he leaned against the chilled stone of his cave, watching as Rios appeared out of the early morning mist.

“Hey, sorry to bother you,” the younger man said, his jaw recently shaven and wearing a pair of black slacks and a crisp white shirt.

Clearly, he was prepared for the day.

Sinclair shrugged. “That’s okay. Mira’s asleep.” His lips twisted in a rueful smile. The poor woman had passed out a few hours ago. He hoped she spent most of the day sleeping; otherwise, she was going to be very sorry she’d drunk that last bottle of wine. “She’s not used to shifter parties.”

Rios flashed a smile. “We’ve had a lot to celebrate. The freedom of our people. The end of the SAU.” His smile widened. “The upcoming wedding of our Alpha.”

Mira was nothing short of a hero after she’d managed to upload Lowman’s video to every network and thus transmit it to every TV across the world.

“The SAU isn’t ended yet,” Sinclair warned. He didn’t want them to forget that there was still danger.

Rios reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. Then sliding his finger over the screen, he turned the phone toward Sinclair.

“Take a look at the morning paper,” he said.

Sinclair leaned forward, reading the headline out loud.

“
Colonel Ranney to be publically tried for treason
.” His breath hissed through his teeth, a savage flare of satisfaction racing through him. When he was young, he’d had a picture of the bastard taped to the wall. He’d intended to rip out his throat with his fangs. Strangely, however, he had to admit that the thought of the pompous ass suffering a public humiliation was even better. “I’ve waited twenty-five years for revenge,” he said with a low growl. “It’s as sweet as I anticipated.”

Rios nodded. “And now that you have your revenge, what are your plans?”

Sinclair didn’t hesitate. “Now I intend to concentrate on pleasing my new mate,” he said. “What about you?”

Something that might have been a blush stained the younger man’s cheeks.

“I’m leaving with Bree.”

Sinclair arched a brow, pretending to be surprised. Did Rios think that the entire Pack hadn’t noticed when the two had snuck away from the party long before it was over?

“Really?”

“She’s going in search of her parents,” Rios explained. “I intend to help.”

Sinclair nodded. There would be a lot of families eager to reunite.

“Does she know about your intentions?” he asked.

“I thought I would let it be a surprise,” Rios said with a soft chuckle.

Sinclair reached out to grasp his friend’s arm. “Good luck,
amigo
.”

Rios smiled, his gaze skimming over Sinclair’s shoulder.

“When I get back, we’re going to have a discussion about you moving into a new house,” he warned.

“What’s wrong with my lair?” Sinclair demanded with a frown.

“Besides the fact that it’s damp, dusty, and not fit for a delicate human female?” Rios asked in faux innocent tones.

“Hmm.” Sinclair waved his friend away. “You take care of your female, and let me take care of mine.”

“I’m just saying,” Rios said, turning to disappear into the mist.

A silence descended as Sinclair considered his friend’s teasing chastisement.

Dammit. Rios was right.

He had a vivid memory of Mira’s house with the kitchen table and single chair.

He wanted her to have a home.

A place where she was surrounded by family and friends and she never, ever felt lonely again.

Starting tomorrow, they were going to design the house of her dreams…

“Sinclair?” Mira’s sleepy voice interrupted his thoughts, and instantly, he was hurrying to join her in their bed.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “And I’m never going away.”

THE END

We hoped you enjoyed reading
BURIED AND SHADOWED
. This is just the start of our dark and gritty Branded Packs series. With more to come, we can’t wait to hear what you think. If you enjoyed it and have time, we’d so appreciate a review on Goodreads and where your digital retailer. Every review, no matter how long, helps authors and readers. You won’t have to wait long for more in this series! Happy Reading!

The Branded Pack Series:

Book 1:
Stolen and Forgiven

Book 2:
Abandoned and Unseen

Book 3:
Buried and Shadowed

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Make sure you’re signed up for her
MAILING LIST
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www.CarrieAnnRyan.com

Redwood Pack Series:

Book 1:
An Alpha’s Path

Book 2:
A Taste for a Mate

Book 3:
Trinity Bound

Book 3.5:
A Night Away

Book 4:
Enforcer’s Redemption

Book 4.5:
Blurred Expectations

Book 4.7:
Forgiveness

Book 5:
Shattered Emotions

Book 6:
Hidden Destiny

Book 6.5:
A Beta’s Haven

Book 7:
Fighting Fate

Book 7.5
Loving the Omega

Book 7.7:
The Hunted Heart