Temptation Rising (29 page)

“He wants her for himself,” Baxter said in his even tone.

Again the man had entered the room without any of them hearing, and again he was as much in tune with the conversation as if he’d been here all along.

“What are you talking about?” Rome asked what the others were definitely thinking. “And how do you know about this?”

Moving to the bar, Baxter emptied the glass Rome had left and put away the bottle of brandy. With all eyes on him, the man moved as if he were simply a butler. Rome wanted to yell the roof off this house. He wanted answers, he wanted to change, he wanted things not to have gotten so far. But it seemed all he was going to get was more bad news.

“It is simple. The two strongest of the species, the leaders of the pack, so to speak, are fighting over a girl. I think that’s quite poetic, don’t you?”

“I think I want to know what the hell you’re talking about. Who else wants Kalina?” Because it was painfully obvious that Rome did—even knowing she was a cop investigating him. A small part of him would wonder if everything she’d said and done had been a part of her job. Then he remembered her scent, the feel of being inside her, the look on her face when he was inside her, the look in her eyes when they’d both reached their pleasure. That wasn’t faked. No matter how decorated a cop she may be, she wasn’t that good.

“He is leading them but he needs her, he needs a mate to fulfill his own prophecy.”

“Oh God, he’s been talking to Alamar.”

“And if you do not wish for the Elder to be in on this conversation, you should all keep your voices down. He’s not happy that you walked out on him this morning and even less pleased that you, the Faction Leader, are doubting the legends.”

Rubbing a hand down his face, Rome signaled just how impatient he was becoming with this situation. “Baxter, I’m going to ask a question and you’re going to answer. It’s that simple, ask and answer. Okay?”

Baxter raised one thick brow then nodded his compliance.

“Who is leading the Rogues?”

“Alamar believes it is Sabar, one of two jaguar brothers raised by Boden in the Gungi.”

“Boden the sadistic cat that raped and butchered villagers and tribal females until he was finally beheaded fifteen years ago?” Nick asked.

Baxter looked at Nick and nodded. “That’s the one.” His gaze shifted back to Rome, whom he asked, “I am allowed to answer his questions as well?”

Rome decided to ignore the butler’s sarcastic question and proceeded. “What does he want with Kalina?”

“Alamar thinks she may be of a pure bloodline, possibly a former Elder.”

That wasn’t necessarily the answer he expected to hear. “Why didn’t he say that earlier?”

As if this were the last place he wanted to be and the imaginary speck of lint on the lapel of his black jacket was as important as the next presidential election, Baxter replied, “How would you have heard him? You stormed down the hall like a spoiled brat afraid to hear the truth.”

Rome frowned at his words. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

Baxter sighed, letting his arms fall to his sides and standing at complete attention. “That is correct, Mr. Roman. You are not afraid of anything. You are also not willing to accept everything that is. Since you were a young boy you’ve rebelled against what will be.”

“Rebelled against what must be?” It was Rome’s turn to roar now as he turned to his butler with an incredulous glare. “I’ve done nothing in these past years but work for this tribe, do what was best for this tribe! I don’t have a life because I’m more focused on what’s going on in the damn jungle then I am with what’s happening right in my own firm. Hell, I didn’t even know a cop was hired to investigate me!”

“She was meant for you. Take a minute and think about that. Accept that first and you will be able to continue with your duty.”

“Right about now I don’t give a damn about duty!” Rome yelled. “You’re telling me she’s trying to find information to have me sent to jail,” he said to X. “And you”—he whirled to face Nick—“you want to kill her and everybody else who breathes the wrong way. Now you.” He was back to Baxter again. “You want me to just man up and save the day for the shifters.”

Silence fell over the room again. Rome felt like everything around him was spinning out of control.

“And what do you want, Mr. Roman?” Baxter asked.

“I want what I’ve always wanted,” he answered.

“To find your parents’ murderers and kill them?”

There were a couple of ways Rome could have answered these questions, but he just didn’t feel like being politically correct at the moment. “That’s exactly right.”

“A good ruler must learn to act in the best interest of those he leads.”

“My personal battle does not endanger any shifters but myself.”

“Your split allegiance endangers us all,” Baxter corrected.

X interrupted. “There’s something else we need to consider here. In addition to finding out that Kalina is a cop, I got a call from my contact in Arizona. The Comastaz lab Sebastian mentioned at our last meeting is working on a new pet project, and it’s top secret.”

“What does that have to do with us?” Nick asked.

“Somebody out there, a human, knows about us.”

Nick cursed again, but Rome and Baxter remained perfectly still.

“You already knew, didn’t you?” X asked Rome. “You knew and you didn’t tell us?”

“It didn’t concern you—” Rome began.

“Bullshit! Rome, that’s pure bullshit! If we’re about to be ratted out to the world, it concerns all of us,” Nick roared.

He was shaking his head. “No. It concerns me. It’s my job, remember, to protect the secret, to protect the shifters.”

“It’s not your job alone, man,” Nick said. “We’ve always been right beside you in everything. You can’t think that would stop now.”

“You don’t understand.”

“What is there to understand? You know we’re about to be found out. For all we know this female might be out to expose us, too.” X’s tone was somber.

Rome walked away from all of them. He went to stand near the window, looking out into the sky. Day was turning into night; the sun was settling, casting the sky in an array of golds and deep oranges. Outside the world went on while inside, inside the world he’d known was being tested, everything he’d been taught and aspired to was being pushed to the brink.

“You don’t understand what it’s like to find out that someone you loved may have been responsible for leaking the secret. How do I punish a dead man for betraying us?” he asked in a soft tone. “How do I hold my own father accountable for the ultimate betrayal?”

“Your father? What?”

On the small table by the door the phone rang. Baxter stood quietly and answered in a hushed tone. “Mr. Roman. It is Ezra, sir.”

Ezra?

Kalina?

Rome rushed to the phone. With all eyes on him, questions looming in the minds of his two best friends, he answered. “What is it?”

“Some guy just went into her apartment. He stinks like a shifter but I’m sure he’s human. I’ve seen him before hanging around outside, but he just went in about five minutes ago. She’s in there with him alone.”

Not for long,
Rome thought as he headed out of the room.

Chapter 20

Today was a day for revelations, Kalina thought as she slipped into black slacks. The gray silk blouse she wore fit her bodice like an alluring glove. The outfit was complete with three-and-a-half-inch black mules that gave just the amount of casual she aimed for tonight.

Technically, this was her first date with Roman Reynolds. Most likely the reason for the dancing butterflies in the pit of her stomach. All day long she’d managed not to think about the seriousness of this next step she was taking. The other things she was doing were good at keeping her mind off the man.

Dorian Wilson was the DEA agent in charge of this case. Kalina had called him twice today from her desk. When she hadn’t reached him, she’d taken a chance and sent him an email. It was imperative she speak to him about this case, and she wanted to do so in person. That would be the only way she could get a true sense for what was going through the man’s mind. She was willing to bet every penny she had in her savings that this case wasn’t what they’d represented to her three weeks ago.

Ferrell had been texting her all day but she’d ignored him. He was an asshole and talking to him wasn’t going to garner the information she wanted. She suspected he was just a cover for what was really going on and she was going to find out whether the MPD or the DEA wanted her to or not.

As a last-ditch effort that in her gut she knew was going to prove futile, she’d scanned all the financial records on the firm’s database for the name Raul Cortez. Nothing. None of the wire transfers sent to Brazil had gone to the known cartel boss. Relief had washed through her at that knowledge while in the back of her mind the thought that the information could be on Rome’s home computer nagged.

He wasn’t a drug dealer, she told herself. He was just a man. A man with an enigmatic personality that had drawn her in instantly. A man with just the barest hint of sadness in his dark eyes. He had a past, just as she did. His life had been rough, just like hers. That was their connection, the link that had unwittingly drawn them together.

It wasn’t this case. Kalina had to believe that. She had to believe that there was more between her and Rome than a case that was going to fall apart any minute now. Wanted desperately to believe there was more.

Did that make her an idiot? Probably. Did she care? Hell no. She’d waited a lifetime to feel what she did when she was with him. The intensity of their … what? Was it love? He hadn’t said the word and neither had she. Could that be what she was feeling as her mind wrapped around thoughts of him and her body trembled in anticipation of his touch?

Insistent knocking at her door interrupted her thoughts. She looked down at her watch: It was half an hour before she expected Rome. Maybe he was as anxious as she was to get this date started. With one last look in the mirror she smoothed the sides of her hair, toyed with the longer tendrils at the top, and wondered briefly about letting it grow out to a softer, more feminine style.

As she made it through the threshold of her bedroom into the tiny hallway leading to the living room, an uneasy feeling replaced the happy little butterflies that had been mingling in the pit of her stomach a moment ago. Dread and apprehension swamped her with each step she took. The knocking at the door was loud thumping that almost sounded like it would splinter the wood.

It wasn’t Rome.

The feeling she had was different. Whoever was on the other side of the door was bringing a shitload of tension and anger with him. Pausing at the table where her keys and her purse rested, Kalina slid the small drawer open and retrieved her gun, slipping it into the back band of her pants before approaching the door. She thought about asking who it was but figured the odds were slim she’d get the truth. Her gut said whoever this was wasn’t here to wish her a happy evening.

So when she pulled the door open and saw Ferrell standing there she wasn’t as surprised as she probably should have been. He pushed past her, moving quickly into her apartment.

“We need to talk,” he said, moving to the window and looking out before turning to face her.

“Well, hello to you, too,” she snapped, closing the door and turning to face him with all the agitation she was feeling at the way he’d knocked on her door and the fact that he was here at her home at all.

“Where are you with Reynolds? Did you get anything from his place last night?”

Kalina was about to answer him, about to share the information about the Cortez Cartel, when she paused, tilted her head, and stared at Ferrell a little closer. He wore wrinkled khakis and an even more wrinkled white buttondown shirt with huge sweat rings beneath his arms. His forehead was beaded with moisture, his lips still so cracked she thought she could feel their pain.

“What the hell is wrong with you? And how did you know where I was last night?” she asked.

“You!” he yelled pointing a shaking finger in her direction. “You do not question me! I’m your superior! You answer my questions! Now, what did you find out?”

He was out of his damn mind, that’s what he was. As much as Kalina wanted a promotion, she was sick and tired of his verbal abuse. She’d been taught, even if it was by her temporary parents, that to get respect you had to give it. Ferrell hadn’t respected her from day one. And if she had to file a complaint against him she would, but she’d be damned if he was going to come into her home yelling like he’d lost the last bit of mind he had.

“You’ll have my report soon,” she said, keeping her eyes on the man because there was something about him that just wasn’t right. Uneasiness swamped her and even though she stood perfectly still, inside she felt like she was pacing, watching, waiting for the right moment to …

“I want your report now! You tell me what you know about that animal before I…” His voice trailed off as he looked back, out the window again.

Kalina tried to look over his shoulder but all she could see was the crimson coloring of the fading afternoon. She could hear cars going by, but she wasn’t close enough to the window to see if one had stopped outside, or was waiting for him, or what.