by Crissy Smith
Not only were her two partners in the room, but so were Caspar, several of the agents in charge and three other agent teams. Even Damon and two of his Enforcers had arrived. She wished Kieran had been brought in, but he had his patrols and the threat of his father hanging over his head. Kieran had enough to deal with.
“As you can see, there have been two other instances where these rituals have taken place. In each case, the rituals started with animal sacrifices, moved to humans, then shifter. The humans were civilian, but the shifters killed were agents who worked for our Organization,” she said. Dakota glanced at Damon. Caspar had agreed to bring the Alpha IN as long as Damon signed a non-disclosure contract. He wouldn’t be able to talk about what he was hearing with anyone who wasn’t currently in the room.
“At this time, we have no reason to believe that your Pack is in danger,” she said. “But with the rituals taking place in your territory, I’m advising you to take precautions. They haven’t used a shifter’s territory before that we know of. They may target your Pack.”
“Understood,” Damon stated with a firm nod.
“If they continue to keep to their schedule, they might try for the next ritual tonight. I’d like to take you up on your offer to have our agents in the area,” she said.
Damon pressed his lips together as he studied her. “If I allow your agents to trespass all over my territory, I insist that my Pack be involved.”
Dakota looked over at Caspar. She couldn’t give Damon the permission he requested, although having him and his Pack with her would make her feel a lot better.
“You are a civilian,” Caspar pointed out. “If this group is linked to the other cases Dakota has found, we can’t authorize putting you or your Pack in danger.”
“I’ll be involved whether you want me to be or not,” Damon stated. “This is happening in my territory, as I’ve said before. Also, you’re not some civilian agency that has a rule book that must be followed. We both know that you use civilians or anyone that falls within your paranormal parameter. I just happen to be volunteering.”
Caspar didn’t look to be swayed by Damon’s statement.
“It is a big area, sir,” Dakota said. “We could use all the help we can get. Plus Damon’s Pack knows the area.”
There were several long moments of tense silence until Caspar nodded. “They’ll be your responsibility. Are you willing to take on so many untrained shifters into your op?”
Good question. Dakota was already dealing with a case that could blow up in her face. If they lost any innocent humans or agents because she missed something or didn’t move fast enough, if would be her fault. So how would she feel if someone from Damon’s Pack was injured or worse? Of course, if she didn’t have Damon’s help, it would be hard to end this investigation tonight. “I think I have to,” she decided. Dakota looked at Caspar. “I think we need to do whatever we have to if we want to find these people before they begin to sacrifice humans.”
Caspar nodded even though he looked as troubled as she felt. “Get your plan worked out for tonight.” He looked over at Damon. “We appreciate your assistance.”
Damon smirked. Everyone in the room knew that Caspar wasn’t happy with Damon’s involvement. That didn’t matter to her, though. Dakota had to come up with a plan that would keep everyone safe.
Caspar stood. “Have your plan of action on my desk by thirteen hundred hours.”
Shit, that only gave her about three hours. “Yes, sir.”
Caspar left, with the other upper management agents with him. That just left Dakota, the agents who would back her up and Damon and his two shifters. Dakota rose and snatched one of the maps from the conference table. She unrolled it before motioning for Damon to join her.
“Can you mark the spots of the ritual spots you’ve already found?” she asked. Dakota handed him a red marker then picked up a green one. “Then we need to decide on which locations are the most likely to be used tonight. Green will be the highest possibility, orange the next, blue the next. And so on. We’ll spread out as many teams as possible to cover what ground we can.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I won’t have untrained shifters running around. I have several military Pack members who will be perfect for this. They can blend into their environments and know the area well. I’m not sacrificing my Pack. I’m trying to protect them.” Damon bent over the map as he spoke.
His words did make her feel better, but the worry that had been eating at her since she’d put together the information was still there. Twice the same rituals had led to humans being taken and killed. Twice they’d lost agents, first in Texas then outside of New York City. After sixteen rituals, the group had disappeared, without leaving much evidence behind. The first and second case had never been connected.
“Here, sir.” Damon’s guard—Seth, Dakota thought his name was—pointed to a section of the map. “I noticed the last time I was out that way there were more footprints than usual. It leads to a hard hiking trail. Not many people without experience could make it all the way. I’ve had bodybuilder types give up and turn around halfway.”
“Good,” Damon said. “That’s good to know.” He circled the area in green. “Anywhere else?”
“Let me make a few calls,” Seth replied. “I’ll find out. Rich and some of the other guys were going for a run this morning.”
“Shit, I forgot about that,” Damon said. “Call everyone back in. I don’t want anyone running around on their own. We don’t need to give them a target.”
Dakota nodded. “I’m still waiting on some of the case files from the other two instances. I can’t tell if they kidnapped the humans or agents in advance or took them straight to the ritual sites.” She needed those damn files.
“Okay.” Damon took a deep breath before meeting her gaze. “Let’s talk this out.”
Chapter Four
Kieran pulled his bike into the empty parking lot of an old dentist’s office a block from the Organization. It was where he parked his bike instead of in the parking garage at the office. He wasn’t really surprised to see a man leaning against the black SUV waiting on him in his secret parking place.
He turned off his motorcycle before swinging his leg over the bike. Kieran kept his backpack on as he looked the man up and down. Expensive light gray suit with shiny black shoes—Kieran really wanted to mess that outfit up. Maybe step on the tip of a shoe just to be a dick. He braced his feet before crossing his arms over his chest. “What are you doing here?”
James strode forward. “Just making sure you don’t manage to ditch me again.”
“Where’s your partner?”
“Caden’s meeting us at the office. I figured I could give you a ride.”
Kieran had to give the human credit. He hadn’t been scared off the night before and now here he was challenging Kieran. Okay, Kieran could play this game for a while. At least until he got bored. He strode forward. “I thought I told you to lose the suits.” He yanked open the passenger door and put his backpack between his feet, making sure to keep it upright.
James climbed in behind the wheel. “And I told you that I look damn good in a suit.”
He snorted. James was an attractive man in his early thirties. He was built and appeared to spend a lot of time working out. From the file he’d stolen, Kieran knew James was also smart. James had been the lead agent in Wyoming before he’d requested a transfer to Vegas. Kieran couldn’t find in any paperwork why James had made that request. He’d have to keep an eye on the agent until Kieran figured out what had drawn James there. He’d been in town for three weeks and the timing was suspicious.
Kieran watched the other agent out of the corner of his eye. There was a good possibility that James was there to spy on Kieran for his father. Kieran wanted to think he was just paranoid, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to James than what the agent was showing them.
Charlie was manning the gate once again and Kieran was saddened by the fact
that he couldn’t screw with the young guard. Charlie had become one of Kieran’s favorite people at the office. He knew the guard was looking forward to more field time and Kieran was determined that he’d be a good agent. That he’d survive his time in the field.
“Good afternoon, Agent,” Charlie greeted James. “Kieran?” Charlie bent down to peer at him. “Is everything okay?” He looked suspiciously at James.
Oh, this was perfect. He might not be able to screw with Charlie but James was fair game. “No, Charlie,” Kieran replied calmly. “This man is a double agent who has kidnapped me to force me to let him into classified areas. He’s holding a gun on me.”
“For fuck’s sake,” James muttered.
Charlie had his weapon out of the holster and pressed against the side of James’ head before Kieran could even blink. Kieran was going to have to make sure to tell Charlie how good he did. Later. After James got himself out of this clusterfuck.
“Put both hands on the wheel and keep them there,” Charlie demanded.
James slowly followed the command. “Kieran.”
“Don’t say another word,” Charlie ordered. His hand barely even shook as he held the weapon on James.
“Agent Grier, I have a six-four-four at the gate. I am requesting immediate assistance. Code red.” Charlie spoke rapidly into the radio.
“Kieran,” James growled.
“Don’t move!” Charlie shouted at James even though James hadn’t moved at all.
“I’m not moving. I did not kidnap Kieran,” James tried to explain.
“He just jumped in your vehicle?” Charlie asked. “Next you’ll tell me he kidnapped you.”
“No,” James replied. “I was giving him a ride from where he’d parked his bike.”
“He couldn’t walk a block?” Charlie asked. “Kieran never comes through the gate. Especially with an agent that isn’t his partner or Dakota.”
“Agent Grier, please contact the special agent in charge and Special Agent Dakota Reese.” Charlie spoke into the radio again.
“This is fucking ridiculous,” James snarled.
“I’m going to get out now,” Kieran said. “Okay, Charlie? Keep an eye on him. I don’t want to get shot in the back.” Oh, he was going to hell for this stunt. But the look of rage on James’ face was so perfect.
“I got your back, Kieran,” Charlie said. “If he so much as twitches his pinkie, I’ll blow his head off.”
Kieran held back a chuckle. He was going to have to work with Charlie on his threats.
“Don’t you dare leave me like this,” James muttered.
Kieran winked at him. Then opened the passenger door and slid from the vehicle, only pausing long enough to grab his backpack.
The metal door to the stairwell burst open with agents in full riot gear swarming out. Kieran stepped away from the vehicle and laughed.
“Kieran!” James bellowed.
He cackled all the way past the SUV to lean against the building as the agents on site proceeded to drag James out of the vehicle and onto his stomach. A pity that the nice light gray suit was getting dirty as James struggled against getting cuffed.
“What did you do?” Remy asked as he relaxed next to Kieran.
“What do you mean?” Kieran questioned. “I just got here and saw all the commotion. Guess James did something to make Charlie suspicious.”
Remy snorted, not believing a word.
“I’m going to fucking kill you, Kieran!” James yelled.
“Yeah.” Remy gripped the back of Kieran’s neck. “Let’s get you out of here before Caspar arrives. I heard a rumor that your girl hasn’t had a minute to rest and could use a break. No one’s been able to get her to stop for a second. Maybe you’ll have better luck. Everyone else left a couple of hours ago to prepare for the mission tonight.”
Kieran didn’t need to be told twice. He headed for the stairwell with Remy at his heels. “Where is she?”
“Main conference room.”
He double-timed it, using his speed to reach the right floor in just a matter of minutes.
The door to the conference room was open. Kieran peered in, spotting Dakota leaning over a map of some sort. He walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
Dakota whirled around. “Kieran? What is this shit about you being held against your will by an agent?”
Fuck, she had dark circles under her eyes, her hair had come out of her bun and she appeared exhausted. “No idea what you’re talking about. You must be more tired than you thought.”
“Someone just radioed me—” She waved her hand. “Never mind, you’re obviously fine.”
“Obviously,” he agreed. “Have you even slept?”
She shook her head. “I only had a couple of hours to put together the plan for tonight. Now I’m trying to figure out if I might have missed something.”
Kieran stalked forward until he was pressing up against her. “You need rest so you’re sharp tonight.” If Dakota was running an op, Kieran needed to make sure that he was involved. He’d talk to Caspar but that could wait. Dakota needed him first. “Sit.”
“I can’t.” She blinked up at him. “There’s too much—”
Kieran yanked out a chair and shoved her down.
“Kieran,” she said warily.
“I brought you something,” he told her.
He placed his backpack down on the table before unzipping the top. Kieran pulled the plastic bag out and set it in front of her.
“Chinese?” she asked with need evident in her tone.
“Orange chicken, fried rice and egg rolls. Extra orange sauce,” he responded.
“Oh, God,” she exclaimed. Dakota pulled the bag toward her and ripped into it.
“And!” He produced a cold glass bottle of iced tea.
“Kieran.” She rose then wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
He felt warm and pleasant, having made her so happy. There were so many times that he questioned what Dakota got out of a relationship with him. Kieran had so many quirks and such a horrid past that he would forever be broken. But the delight and love on her face at moments like these showed him that he was doing something right.
“Please eat,” he whispered against her ear. “You can even fill me in as you have dinner. Something might pop as you talk it out.”
“That’s a good idea,” she agreed. Dakota sat then patted the chair to her right. He sat close to her as she opened the plastic container and the aroma of orange sauce filled the room.
“Last I heard, you’d connected this investigation with two others,” he said.
“Yes,” she agreed. “I’m certain this group has been busy for decades. I don’t think humans would be able to pull this off. The fact that they chose humans and shifters as their victims means that they have to be able to overpower their targets.”
“Could still be humans,” Kieran stated.
“Working for over forty years?” Dakota asked. “It’s possible, but I just don’t think so.”
“You have good instincts. If you don’t think so, I would have to agree.”
“Thanks,” she told him. “I’ve been racking my brain to try to figure out what the other agents missed and why they couldn’t find this group before the disappeared.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
Dakota shook her head. “I’m still waiting on the case files from New York. If I make a mistake, someone is going to die. A lot of someones by the end of this.” She paused with her fork sitting in her container. “Now I have Damon’s Pack involved and they aren’t even trained agents.”
“Hey.” Kieran grasped her hands and brought them up to his lips. “It’ll be okay.”
“I hope so.” She leaned her forehead against his. “I’ve never been in charge of such a large operation before. I’m terrified of screwing up.”
Kieran made soothing noises as he comforted his lover. Now was the worst possible time for Dakota’s niece to have shown up. He knew he c
ouldn’t tell Dakota about Kayla when she was already stressed out. He just hoped she wouldn’t be too pissed at him when she found out he’d kept something so big from her.
“Got it!” Dare burst in the room.
“What?” Dakota lifted her head and Kieran barely managed to move out of the way before she clipped his chin.
“The final reports from New York are here. I noticed you hadn’t opened the file yet so I printed it out for you,” Dare said.
“Thanks.” Dakota pulled back, out of Kieran’s embrace, then grabbed the papers that Dare was waving around.
Kieran sighed, already missing the brief moment he’d had alone with Dakota.
The door opened again, but this time Caspar walked in with James trailing behind him. Oh shit, he’d forgotten that little episode.
“Agent Smith.” Caspar only used his title when he was really pissed.
Dakota dropped the stack of papers on the table next to her half-eaten dinner. “What’d you do now?” she asked.
Kieran grinned. “Nothing.” He rose. There was no way he’d let anyone stand over him. With the murderous glare that James was giving him, Kieran was in danger of being punched.
“Nothing?” James repeated quietly.
“Yeah, I bet.” Dakota snorted.
“Kieran,” Caspar said. “Can you explain why you told another agent that James here kidnapped you and was forcing you to get him into classified areas?”
“Classified areas?” Dakota asked. “We don’t have classified areas here.”
“I know!” Caspar roared.
Kieran sat back on the table top and swung his legs. “In my defense, it could have happened.”
“No, it couldn’t,” Caspar stated.
“Maybe Charlie misread the situation,” Kieran tried.
“Jeez.” Dakota turned to him. “You involved Charlie? You know he’s trying to get into the field.”
“Good practice then,” Kieran responded. “He handled himself very well. Stayed calm.”
James stepped past Caspar. “Are you fucking kidding me?” he yelled. “I was dragged out of my car, forced on the ground and cuffed. If Caspar hadn’t arrived when he did, I might be in holding right now.”
