Quirking an eyebrow at her, Aria crossed her arms over her chest, silently regarding her. “If you say so.”
Sighing, Gabriella stabbed a hand through her hair to keep her hands from nervously fiddling. “What do you want from me, Aria?” Biting down on her bottom lip, Gabriella attempted to prepare herself for what the answer would be. Did Aria intend to ransom her back to Malca? Did she want to kill her in some way of taking revenge against Malca? Or did she really want information like Robert had said?
“As laughable as it is; I don’t plan on hurting or killing you, Dr. Vega.” Aria began with a hard look. Pausing to watch Gabriella’s reaction, Aria continued. “I need your help. I need to find Malca.”
Scoffing, Gabriella paced away from her. “You don’t need me for that! It’s widely known around the labs that Malca is itching to get you back. Take a walk through New York City and I promise you she will find you.”
Aria’s golden brows rose with interest. “New York City? That’s where she is?”
Gasping as she realized what she’d unknowingly gave away; Gabriella clamped her lips tightly together. What was she doing? She wanted to expose Malca not get in the middle of some private war between Aria and her.
As Aria approached her, Gabriella quickly scrambled back. She expected Aria to threaten to hurt her if she didn’t speak, but instead Aria surprised her with a soft plea.
“Dr. Vega—Gabriella, I need your help. I know that Malca is planning something else, something beyond experimenting and creating enhanced soldiers. I need to find her before she hurts more people.”
Shaking her head, Gabriella couldn’t believe the heartfelt words as they tumbled from the lips of her old tormentor. This wasn’t the woman that all the scientists in the lab feared. It had to be an act to win her trust, Gabriella reminded herself.
"How noble of you,” Gabriella sneered, not believing Aria’s words for a second. “Everyone; including you seems to believe your some type of hero, Aria. But you’re not; if anything you’re a villain."
A choke of a laughter bubbled between Aria's lips. Planting her hands on her hips she turned toward the door, the sound of her amusement softly echoing through the room. Stopping by the open doorway, she turned back around. "That may be true, Gabriella. But I never claimed to be a hero."
"Good. Because you never will be one as long as you live. I've seen firsthand what type of person you are, you’re more of a villain than Malca will ever be."
Nodding solemnly, Aria’s lips pinched together as she fought off the flashes of old memories."It’s true. I've kidnapped innocents. I’ve lead people to their deaths and I've even paid naive people to allow Malca to experiment on them with the hope that they would be free afterwards. However; I am no longer that person. I never pretend to be good, because I know I’m not. But what I do know is that I will kill Malca and any that stand in my way."
"Does that include me? Will you torture me for the information you need? Maybe have those brothers come in to break my bones?"
Shaking her head, Aria smirked at her. "Don't be so dramatic. First off; I wouldn't need to torture you. I have other ways of getting you to tell me what you know. I have no desire to kill you because I know you have no love for Malca any more than I do."
When Gabriella turned away, Aria slowly walked into the center of the room, stopping just a foot from Gabriella. "I may be a villain. But did if ever occur to you that you may need a villain to hunt a monster?" When Gabriella’s guarded expression softened lightly, Aria offered her a soft smile. "Help us find Malca and discover what her next move is and I promise to help you in return."
Not trusting the honey dipped words, Gabriella scoffed. "Even if I agree to help you; I’m a hunted woman now. Malca wants me dead. What could you possibly do to help me?”
"You’re right. It’s evident that Malca has no interest in letting you walk away from this alive. Do you remember Raoul; one of Malca's enhanced soldiers?"
Hesitantly nodding, Gabriella replied. "Yes. He had a clone."
"The key word here is ‘had’. Raoul works for us now. He has proven to be very good with computers, not to mention other things. If you help us; we'll set you up with a new identity and a clean slate. You can start over anywhere and far from Malca's reach."
Gabriella wanted to latch onto Aria’s words like a lifeline. At some point she would need to trust somebody if she truly wanted to expose Malca to the world. Perhaps this was her big chance?
Turning around, Aria didn't wait for a reply as she walked to the open doorway. Pausing just outside the door, she stopped long enough to look back at Gabriella. "Think about it and we’ll talk about it tomorrow." Curling a finger, beckoning her, Aria flashed a friendly smile. “Come with me, we’ll get you some food and find you a comfortable place to rest.”
Without realizing it, Gabriella found herself taking at step toward Aria; her once feared enemy and now it would seem; her ally. A few days ago she would have thought that her worst problem was Malca’s enhanced soldiers hunting her. Now she was a somewhat unwilling guest of shifters and people that wanted to bring down Malca as much as she did.
Taking a leap of faith, she followed behind Aria as she was led down the bright hall of the medical wing. She may not trust Aria fully, but she remembered Robert’s vow. With a grizzly bear on her side, what did she really have fear?
13
Groaning in frustration, Gabriella resisted the urge to slam her hands against the keyboard of her laptop. No matter what she did to attempt to access the files she’d downloaded from Malca’s personal server nothing worked. Across her screen a long length of red computer code that continually loped over and over. There was something missing to allow her to open the files. It wasn’t a password; she knew that at least.
Too tired to fight with it any longer, she slammed her computer closed. Rubbing a hand down her face, she turned to look at the windup alarm clock on the table beside her bed. It was past midnight. In the morning she would have to hunt down Raoul that Aria had mentioned. Perhaps he would know a way to access the files that eluded her.
Shoving at the blankets that covered her legs, Gabriella slid out of the queen size bed that dominated the center of her room. Grabbing her laptop she promptly stuffed it back into its case before shoving it beneath her bed. Smoothing a hand down her ankle length nightgown, she allowed her eyes to fully take in her room. There was little furniture other than the bed and a tall five drawer dresser.
The window on the right side of her bed gave her a wide view of the compound’s main grounds. Below her she could see countless personal cabins erected through the grounds, no doubt housing other shifter that lived within the heavily guarded walls. Even now she could see an occasional armed man or woman walking through the grounds. Seeing this almost put her in mind of Malca’s labs.
When she’d hesitantly accepted Aria proposal to work together, she’d half expected to be staying in a basement room somewhere. Instead, Aria had led her to a large kitchen where several people were enjoying the mid-day meal. Once she’d eaten her fill, Aria had given her a brief tour of what she called, “The Main House.” The tour ended with the guestroom that she was presently in. Instead of being treated like a prisoner she was beginning to feel like an odd type of guest.
In the last few hours she was beginning to see what Robert had been telling her about Aria. Aria wasn’t the same as she’d once been. Though she still possessed a dark void of secrets lurking in her eyes, Gabriella could see a ray of goodness in her. There was a need to right the wrongs that Aria had once contributed to. It was a cause that they both had in common.
Feeling she had done all she could for the night; she began to crawl back into bed. Before her head could even touch the pillow a firm knock echoed through her closed door. At once her heart seized. Who could that be at this hour? When she made no move to answer it, the knock repeated again only this time it was accompanied by a hushed voice.
“Gabriella, its Robert,”
&n
bsp; Ignoring the way her heart leapt at the sound of his rough voice, she slid out of bed to rush toward the door. Once she stood within reach of the door, she froze, uncertain. Why was he here? What could he possibly want? Maybe it would be best that she simply locked the door and pretended that she hadn’t heard him?
“Would you prefer I opened the door?” He bit out, irritated.
Staring at the doorknob like it was aflame; Gabriella made no move to open the door. Worrying her lower lip with her teeth, she took a retreating step back. Hopefully Robert would assume she was asleep and leave.
“If you don’t open this door—I will.” The whispered threat dashed all her hopes in mere seconds.
Knowing that Robert was a man of his word and wouldn’t hesitate to do as he said, she reluctantly clasped the doorknob in her hand before pulling the door open. Shrouded in the shadows of the dark hallway, Robert stood with his arms crossed over his bare chest. Heat flushed up her face as her eyes dipped lower to the simple sweats that he wore. The man would make wearing a paper sack sexy.
Um…excuse me, but this is the man that kidnapped you. You’re not supposed to be gawking at him…she chided herself. Blinking, she mentally shook her lusty thoughts away. Nervous, she licked at her lips before focusing on his unreadable expression. The man sure did scowl a lot.
“What do you want?”
“Can I come in?” He asked gruffly, tipping his chin toward her room.
Looking between the length of the dark hall and the inside of her room she shook her head, “Why?”
“There is more that we need to talk about.”
His words sent a chill through her chest causing her arms to pebble with gooseflesh. What more was there to say? Was this about what he’d told her earlier? Robert had warned her that the knowledge would put her in danger. As her fear of the unknown mounted inside her, she jumped when his hand closed around the door, pushing it open further he stepped into her personal space.
With shaking hands, Gabriella moved to close the door in his face as she shook her head. “There’s nothing more to say.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
Shoving past her, Robert pulled her away from the door as he shut it behind him. Leaning his back against the door, Robert ranked his eyes up and down her form causing her cheeks to flood with heat. It wasn’t a lecherous look that his eyes possessed. Instead it seemed like he was assessing something and it only seemed to irritate her further.
“What are you looking at?” She bit out after growing uncomfortable during his leering pause.
“I’m just wondering if you have a thing for large cotton coverings.”
Crossing her arms defensively over her chest, she scoffed. “What are you talking about? Did you force your way in here to insult my nightgown?”
Smirking darkly, he shook his head. “No, I was referring to your cotton panties and then your nightgown, they’re both similar in the way they hide too much of you beneath them.”
If it were possible for her to feel more embarrassed than she already was—she did. It was true that her nightwear was anything but sexy. Her cream colored nightgown was a simple falling from the below the collar bone to her ankles. Why did he feel the need to comment on her taste in clothing?
Before she could bite out the retort that sat on the tip of her tongue, Robert continued. “Also, you opened the door—therefore extending an invitation for me to enter. I didn’t force my way in.”
“Such logic,” She mused mockingly. “You should go into politics.”
“Hardly,” Taking a step closer, he grimaced. “I came to tell you that there was more that I needed to say to you, but I wasn’t free to with Doyle and Aria listening.”
“Why? Doesn’t Aria know your secret?”
“Aria is my brother’s true mate—she knows. But Aria is different; she’s not a risk to the shifters of my world because of what she knows.”
“And you think I am?” Scoffing she paced away from Robert before spinning back around to face him, the folds of her gown swishing about her ankles. “I have no intention of blabbing to people of what you are nor do I have any intention of being part of your horrific world.”
His eyes blazed with her soured words. “My world?” he snarled with disbelief while stabbing a finger into his own chest. “Need I remind you of what your job for Malca was, Doctor?”
With shame flooding her being, Gabriella held up two placating hands. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I didn’t mean that. But here I thought the worst thing in this world was the abominations that I had helped Malca create and then you tell me about your kind…” she trailed off, speechless.
Instantly seeing how lost Gabriella felt in that moment Robert felt his anger melt away like snow in a desert. Taking the last step forward, he carefully bent to clasp her hands in his. Gabriella wasn’t the person he was mad at. How had he really expected her reaction to be? She didn’t know him. To her; he was nothing more than a shaky ally, but to him; she was everything. She was everything that he could ever dream of and never have.
Clearing his throat, he kept his eyes locked on their clasped hands. “Look, you’re handling everything very well, better than most would.”
Lowering her eyes to her feet, Gabriella shook her head with regret. “No, I’m not. I’m a coward; like you thought.”
Dropping her hands like he’d been burnt, Robert’s hand shot out and gripped her chin firmly in his palm, forcing her to look directly at him. “You listen to me, Gabriella Vega. I may not know you all that much, but I do know enough to know you are not a coward.” When her lips parted to argue, he continued on with a hard tone. “Look at what you are going to accomplish. With the intel you must have, we will have the proof needed to expose Malca’s crimes and those that help her. Honestly; I was surprised that you didn’t faint or run from the room screaming after I told you the truth.”
“I’ve accepted what you are. I won’t say I’m not afraid, because I am. Everything right now scares me.” Reaching up, her small fingers wrapped around his thick wrist as best as she could as her eyes searched his. “Malca has a price on my head, I am slightly a prisoner behind guarded walls of a community of were-bears and were-wolves. At this very second my life expectancy is next to zero.”
“I’ve already promised to protect you.”
Allowing her hand to slide away from his arm, Gabriella took a step back. “You’re leaving, remember? You said yourself; this was just a delivery job for you. I’m on my own.”
“That’s why I am here right now. There was more I needed to tell you. After revealing what I am to you, I put you in danger. Aria and Doyle would over look the fact that you know about shifters, but others wouldn’t.” he warned. “Eric. He is the leader of a pack that Doyle signed a peace treaty with months ago. He knows you know about us. According to our laws, if a human becomes aware of our secret, steps must be taken to ensure that no one will be at risk. Doyle would never risk his pack if Eric demanded he ensured what must be done.”
Stepping back, Gabriella collapsed on the end of the bed with shock. What did he mean? Would Eric kill her? Bile clogged her throat as her stomach squeezed with fear. It seemed she had gone from the frying pan into the fire.
“There is only one thing that can ensure a human’s life in events like this, Gabriella.”
“What?” She breathed out, her haunted eyes jerking up to his.
“If the human is a true mate, they can be spared if their mate claims them. If the elders or Eric press the issue, I will tell them that you are my mate. That way they cannot hurt you.”
Baffled, Gabriella struggled to wrap her head around what he was telling her. Robert was offering to lie to his family to keep her safe if needed? Why would he do such a thing? She wouldn’t deny that his willingness to do such a thing warmed her heart, but the last thing she wanted was to cause trouble.
“It won’t come to that, Robert.”
Frustration clawed at him at her stubbornness. Why wou
ldn’t she let him help her? How did Doyle handle Aria’s stubbornness on a daily basic?
Frowning, Robert waved his hand dismissively at her. “I don’t think that’s something you can decide. I’m not demanding that we sleep together, but I am not willing to take a chance with your life.” Spinning around, he made his way to the door calling an end to the conversation. With his hand stilling on the doorknob, Robert turned to look back at his confused mate. She would see he was right in this. “Tomorrow I will tell Doyle that I’ve discovered that you are my mate; he won’t question it.”
“I don’t care if he won’t!” She exclaimed as her hands tightened into tight fists in front of her. If only he would he listen! “As soon as I can access the information on Malca that I have, Aria has promised to help me get a new identify so I start over and be free of Malca forever.” Irritated by the time she finished, Gabriella found that she had crossed the distance between them and now stood beside the door. “I appreciate that you are trying to be noble and protective, but I’m going to take my chances. I believe Aria wants Malca’s files too much to let anything happen to me. Now, I want you to go.”
Her words struck at him like a blow to the gut causing him to go still. She didn’t want his protection? Inside he could feel his bear fill with rage at being denied his right; his right to protect his mate and lay his claim upon her.
Granted; he still fought the need to claim her as his beast demanded, but it was still his place to see to her safety. If nothing else, he’d hoped that claiming her even in just words might appease his animal half until he could find the strength to leave her behind. Strange enough in that moment he couldn’t shake off the feeling of outrage. It was a strange feeling to be pushed aside by your own mate. The bitter sting of fury that grew in his mind was a feeling he didn’t expect.
She doesn’t know she is our true mate. Tell her! His bear urged with impatience in his mind.
Stay out of this. Robert growled back.
Big, Bold & Bearing (Grizzly Affairs Book 2) Page 16
