The Tiger's Heart (21 page)

“
Tonight, I promise. Now
go over to Tabitha’s, because she’s letting me borrow her cupcake
rack. I was digging around in the cabinets trying to find something
to display the cupcakes on when she stopped by earlier.”

“
You made
cupcakes?”

“
I make a delicious devil
food cupcake with buttercream icing. I made them when you were
discussing guard schedules with Shadow. I thought it would be a
nice dessert after the roasted chicken, rosemary potatoes and
vegetables.” She seasoned the last of the potatoes before placing
them in a baking dish and putting them in the oven. “Now, go get it
so I can shower and get ready.”

* * *

Bethany iced the last
cupcake and placed it on the rack. She licked the spoon clean of
the remaining icing as she looked around the room.
Everything seems ready but I feel as if I’m
forgetting something.
She left the cupcake
rack on the kitchen bar and grabbed the dished to set the
table.

“
Bethy.” She turned to
find her Uncle James.

“
Uncle James, I’m glad you
came.”

“
I wouldn’t miss it. You
look beautiful. What can I do?”

“
Thanks. Everything’s
almost ready. Tora and Marcus should be along soon. Until then we
are just waiting. Can I get you something to drink? A beer? Coffee?
Soda?”

“
Have a beer with me,
James.” Raja came strolling into the kitchen freshly showered and
dressed. His hair still damp from the shower hung loose, giving him
an angelic look.

Wow. I thought he looked
killer in jeans. It’s nothing compared to how he fills out those
dress slacks and pullover green sweater. Keeping my hands off him
until everyone leaves might be a challenge. Wonder if anyone would
notice if we slipped away? What am I saying—they would hear
us.

“
Sure, I’ll have a
beer.”

“
I’ll get them,” Raja told
Bethany as she set down the plates and turned toward the
refrigerator.

Her eyes followed him as
she sat the table.
I want to run my hands
over his body.
She took a deep breath,
trying to push the lust from her thoughts. “You’re having a beer?”
She was shocked he was drinking anything but coffee.

“
Once in a while it’s okay
to enjoy a cold beer.” He ran his hand down her arm and kissed her
check as he walked past. “Tora texted while I was in the shower.
She’ll be here shortly. Scarlet spilled her apple juice down the
front of her dress. Marcus was giving her a quick bath, as she was
a sticky mess.”

“
Ahh, that must be her.”
Raja handed a beer to James before answering the door.

“
I hope you won’t be
uncomfortable tonight,” she whispered to her uncle as she neared
him, placing the last plate at the end chair.

“
It’s fine. They’re part
of your family now. Tora did a beautiful job on the
service.”

He’s right—they’re my
family now. Then why am I so anxious? Deep breaths, you can do
this.

“
How’s my Scarlet?” Raja
took his niece from Tora, tossing her slightly in the air to make
the toddler giggle.

“
If you make her sick,
Raja, you’ll be cleaning it,” Tora scolded.

“
She loves it.”

Bethany stood close to the kitchen
counter, watching them. When Tora rolled her eyes, she couldn’t
help but laugh. “Thank you for coming.”

“
It’s our pleasure. I wish
you would’ve let me bring something. Can I do anything in the
kitchen?”

“
I told you she’s used to
being in control when it comes to family dinners.”

“
Thank you, Tora, but I
have it covered. Everything’s in the oven and should be ready in
fifteen minutes. Until then please make yourself at
home.”

“
Have a seat. Marcus, want
a beer? Tora, that revolting root beer that you prefer?” Raja asked
as Scarlet tugged on his hair. When they nodded, he placed Scarlet
on the floor and headed to the kitchen. “Where’s
Daniella?”

“
Tonight’s the night for
the monthly chat for her online college class. She’ll be over after
that to take Scarlet home. I brought her a few toys that should
keep her occupied.”

Bethany watched as Scarlet came
toddling toward her. The pudgy little legs looking unsteady as she
made her way across the room. When she came close, she tugged on
Bethany’s jeans with her little chubby fists.

“
Seems as if she likes
you.” Tora laughed. “She wants you to lift her. She’s our cuddling
kitty.”

Bethany leaned down and picked up
Scarlet as if she was fine china.

“
She won’t break,” Tora
teased.

“
I haven’t been around
children this young in a long time. Jamie was the last toddler I
had any real contact with, she’s…umm…was…seventeen.” Scarlet
wrapped her arms around Bethany’s neck, bringing her closer, before
giving her a slobbery kiss.

“
You were always so caring
with Jamie. You were like a little mother to her. You’ll make a
wonderful mother when your time comes.” James leaned against the
wall, drinking his beer and watching Bethany closely.

“
She’ll have you wrapped
around her fingers before long. She’s had Uncle Raja there since
she was just an infant.” Tora unloaded the bag of toys she had,
putting them on the living room floor for Scarlet to play with.
“Look on the bright side—she’s the perfect introduction to your
own.”

Chapter
Thirty-Three

The table was cluttered with documents
and pictures. Two different groups were working on different
situations. Connor and Lukas sat at the far end, their eyes
unblinking from the laptops in front of them. Behind them, there
was a board with a map of the United States, with different colored
pins poking out. Each pin represented a place Robin was seen and
her trail zigzagging across the U.S.A. While at the other end of
the conference table Marcus, Thomas, Shadow and Felix worked
feverishly, trying to gather information on Victor and the Russian
tiger that were set to meet in less than twenty-four
hours.

Ty, Raja and Jinx sat in the middle of
the conference table going over the information that was already
accumulated. “I spoke with Adam this morning. Victor checked into
the hotel. They’re standing down to see if the Russian makes an
appearance. No information has been found as to why they’re
meeting. Unless Victor flees they’re going to observe,” Raja said,
tossing aside another folder.

“
We’ve got less than
twenty-four hours to find out whatever we can about this Russian.
Otherwise, Adam and the team will have to take down Victor. Taking
down Victor will upset the balance of Pierce’s gang and hopefully
make him think twice before any future attacks.”

“
Now this is interesting.”
Raja pushed a strand of hair that fell from his tie back out of his
face before handing the folder he was reading to Ty. “It would seem
as though Victor’s mother is Russian. His financials appear that he
is receiving money quarterly from an account in Russia. Connor, can
you trace the money, find out where it’s coming from?”

“
If there’s another laptop
around here, I can start the process to narrow it down as I
continue with Robin’s trail. When it’s finished narrowing down the
points of origin, I’ll give Lukas what I have on Robin and attend
to that.” Connor didn’t look up from the laptop. “I don’t mean to
sound demanding, but if we could set up a computer station. I’d be
able to run multiple searches simultaneously.”

“
Start the search. Then
find whatever you need online and order it. Rush the shipping if
you have to. We’ll turn one of the smaller conference rooms into
what you need. I apologize we didn’t think of it before.” Ty read
the papers Raja handed him. “Felix, I have an extra laptop in the
top drawer of my desk. Would you please get it. I also want you to
find out whatever you can on Victor’s mother. Who’s his father?
Siblings? Who was Victor before he became Pierce’s right-hand
man?”

“
It will take some time to
find what you’ve request.”

“
Unfortunately time is one
thing we don’t have. Lukas, can you handle tracking Robin’s
course?”

“
Sure. Right now we are a
few months behind her.” Lukas stabbed another colored pin into the
map then grabbed a marker to put the date she was seen
there.

“
Good. Connor, focus on
Victor, see what you can find, and quickly. I know you both are
working around the clock, and we appreciate it. No one else here
are computer experts like you two are. Maybe we can recruit or
train others to help you in the future, as right now this is a need
to know only situation.” Felix returned with the laptop, handing it
to Connor as Ty spoke. “Ahh, here you go. When you find something
let us know. In the meantime, Raja and I have some other things we
need to attend to. Shadow, Felix with us. The rest of you keep
working.”

* * *

Bethany and Tabitha where in Ty’s
quarters hunkered down in front of Ty’s laptop, shopping, with Styx
standing guard.

“
Are you two spending all
our money?” Ty teased, gracefully taking a seat on the opposite
couch. “We were gone for over two hours, and you’re still
shopping?”

“
Women can spend a day
shopping. You make our task harder having to do it online. We can’t
see how it will look on us, or how it feels,” Tabitha told him
before pointing to something on the screen. “This would look great
on you, Bethany.”

“
I can’t believe you’re
the same woman I took shopping in Pennsylvania who barely bought
anything.”

“
That was different. First
because I had a target on my back and I wanted to get out of town.
Second because it’s more fun to shop with another woman. I’m just
giving my expert opinion on what would look good on
her.”

“
So you’re not buying
then?” Ty questioned.

“
I didn’t say
that.”

“
We left our women with
our credit cards; did you really expect to find them finished
shopping?” Raja leaned against the arm of the couch. “I know you
both prefer jeans and sweaters. Nevertheless, make sure you order a
couple dressy outfits. It’s possible you will need them as things
progress.”

“
See and I told you this
would look great on you.”

“
Okay, but that’s it. I
bought enough clothes,” Bethany said, adding the dress to her
shopping cart.

“
You don’t get off that
easy. You need shoes to go with these and the other
outfits.”

“
While the women finish
their shopping spree, why don’t we take this to my office?” Ty rose
and stretched before strolling toward his office.

Inside the office, Raja grabbed four
water bottles from the micro-fridge, handing them Shadow, Felix, Ty
and keeping one for himself. “What’s this meeting about
,Ty?”

“
Once Adam and the team
detain Victor, we’re going to need a place to take him. Raja and I
decided we don’t want him here at the compound. Remember Taber, the
Kodiak bear shifter from Nome? His family has a few cabins about an
hour’s drive from here, less in the helicopter. I’ve already
contacted him, and he agreed to meet us there.” Ty took a sip of
water before setting it on his desk, and plopping down on the
office chair.

“
Are you suggesting taking
your mates?” Felix sat in front of Ty’s desk, water bottle
untouched in his hands.

“
It’s something Ty and I
have gone back and forth on. Pierce knows the location of the
compound, making it more dangerous here. In addition we would have
to leave some of the key people behind to protect the mates.
Whereas if they were with us, kept safely in a farther cabin we
would still be able to protect them while having the key group
together to interrogate Victor.” Raja set the half drank bottle of
water aside. He didn’t want it. Instead he wanted coffee. Soon, he
promised himself.

“
But there would be no
perimeter set up. No guards on guard duty.”

“
Good point, Felix. I’m
sure Taber could bring a couple of his family members to patrol the
grounds, or…” Raja’s attention was diverted from Felix when Shadow
let out a soft moan, grabbing her temple. “Shadow? What is it?”
Raja stood quickly, catching her as her knees buckled.

“
Ahh,” she moaned at Raja
gently placed her on the chair he just vacated.

“
Should we get the
doctor?”

“
No. I just need a
moment.” She let her eyes close while everyone else stood around
watching her. “No cabin. More dangerous.”

“
Are you sure, Shadow?”
Raja kneeled in front of her.

“
Yes. Someone that Taber
knows, I’m not sure who, owes Pierce a favor. He’ll squeal that
something is going on at the cabins…there will be an attack if you
go there. Have Taber come here without telling anyone. The cabin on
the edge of the compound. It needs work but it would do for this.
Put Victor there.”

“
Having him here might
raise the chance for attack.” Ty looked out the window. “It puts
more lives on the line. Not just the guards but mates, women and
children.”