Eye of the Tiger

by Crissy Smith

  “I’ll be right back,” Zak whispered.

  “Your boss told us to stay here.”

  Zak ignored the reminder, slipping out of the door. He couldn’t see Cody, Jamie or Abilene. Darting behind a SWAT van, he could see his Commander speaking with several men in suits.

  Commander Green waved back toward the vehicle that Zak was supposed to be in.

  The taller of the suits looked in that direction. He was a big guy, at least six foot three with reddish blond hair. The shorter guy next to him looked so much like Luca that Zak had to squint to make sure he was seeing correctly.

  When the Luca lookalike angled more in his direction Zak was certain the guy was related to his friend. This may be an interesting addition to the events. He’d have to wait to see, though. His mission was to reach his friends. He wasn’t going to just sit in a car while they put their lives in danger. He stayed hidden as well as he could to avoid drawing attention. The last thing he wanted was someone to think he looked suspicious.

  Spotting Cody and Jamie to the left, he inched forward. Both men had shotguns in their hands. Abilene was by their side, speaking into a radio. Over their shoulders the glass door of the bank was in clear view.

  One of the armed men stood in front of the glass door with the barrel of his gun pointed into the side of a young hostage. The woman was probably in her early twenties and was crying.

  Zak knew who was holding the terrified girl. He whistled.

  Cody’s headed snapped up as he spotted Zak. Cody narrowed his eyes at him. Zak waved him over. Shaking his head, Cody flicked his wrist, telling Zak to get back.

  Hands on his hips, Zak took a step closer. He knew Cody wouldn’t let him leave himself out in the open. With a growl that Zak could hear from several feet away, Cody stomped over.

  “What!” Cody snapped.

  “I know who that is,” Zak informed him.

  “What?”

  “Yeah, his name is Scott and he hangs out with two other guys—Robbie, who is usually the ringleader of this trio, and Bud. I don’t know Bud’s real name.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “They are puppets—always have been—and whoever is pulling their strings doesn’t care about them,” Zak said.

  “I can work with that.” Cody grinned. “I have an idea.”

  Zak slapped his back. “Good.”

  “Get into hiding before the commander see you,” Cody ordered.

  “Sure,” Zak agreed.

  He waited until Cody had walked off before waving Abilene to him. She walked behind a group of agents loading up their own weapons, taking the long way around to him. Zak appreciated her being careful.

  “How are you holding up?” he asked when she reached him.

  “Okay, I guess.”

  “There is no good ending to this unless Cody can talk them out,” Zak said.

  “Do you think it’s possible?”

  He really wished he could assure her. “If anyone can, it’s Cody. But I just don’t know.”

  “There’s a mom inside with her twin four-year-old girls,” Abilene told him.

  “Fuck.” He hated to hear that. Of course anyone in the bank was in danger but Zak had a soft spot for kids.

  “Yeah, from my angle I can see one of our perps and he is pointing his weapon on the girls.”

  “If SWAT goes in, there’s a good chance no one is coming out alive.”

  “I know.” She reached for his hand. “We’ll do everything we can. Cody sent some of his team to shift and do a fly-by.”

  “Ryder is good at that,” Zak confirmed. He’d worked with Cody’s team numerous times.

  While Cody, Jamie and Zak had all joined the Coalition at the same time, their expertise separated them in what they did. Cody’s background in homicide had him leading a team of agents for investigations. Jamie had worked missing persons before, and he’d had two partners. Zak had several support staff that worked with him. Calvin was actually his partner. Because of Zak’s ability to get in and out of places, he worked with several different teams.

  Cody’s group worked so smoothly together that they were getting more and more high-profile cases.

  “That’s what Jamie said. I hope they’re as good as everyone thinks.”

  “They are,” Zak assured her. “Uh, are they giving you a hard time or anything?”

  “You mean since they know we slept together?”

  “Yeah.” He couldn’t believe he was embarrassed. If they’d had more time this morning, he would have woken up and showed her how he took control. He had a feeling she would have approved. He also made one hell of an omelet.

  “They don’t mean anything by it,” he told her.

  “Zak.” Her hand still gripped his and she squeezed. “I like your friends. I even met Cody’s mate yesterday. They are not going to scare me off.”

  He tightened his hold. She’d picked up on exactly what his fear was.

  “Hey.” She moved closer, releasing his palm only to cup his face.

  He loved the feel of her. He’d found out the night before just how good her touch felt.

  “Don’t worry,” she told him. “I know what I’m doing.” Leaning forward, she pressed her lips softly against his.

  He wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer. Just one taste… If he could get himself calm again, he would be able to think more clearly.

  Sure, she’d told him not to worry but his life didn’t work like that. Zak had too many responsibilities and people who depended on him. He went places where no one else would even consider going.

  Tilting his head to deepen the kiss, he just let himself enjoy Abilene’s flavor. He still hadn’t figured out why she had the ability take away his anxiety.

  “Wow,” Abilene whispered against his mouth.

  Zak let her go and took a step back. “I better get back before the boss sees me.”

  “Good idea.” She stepped away.

  “Does Luca have a brother?” he called out.

  “Yeah, he works for the FBI. Why?”

  “I thought I saw someone who looked like him,” he answered.

  “If you did, stand back at least ten feet. Those two can’t be in the same room together without one of them throwing a punch.”

  Shit, that wasn’t good. He waved before darting back to where he’d left his friend. He didn’t see his commander as he passed the opening to the vehicles again. He turned to go around the back of the van and smacked right into someone.

  Zak bounced back.

  The big guy that he had noticed earlier reached out a hand to steady him. At six foot himself, Zak was by no means a small man. This person was just huge. His muscles had muscle babies.

  “Sorry!” Zak shrugged him away.

  “Zak Lewis?”

  “Uh yeah,” he replied.

  “I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Really?” Immediately going on the defense, Zak spread his legs to brace his weight equally.

  “Special Agent Flynn O’Bannon.” The Fed flashed his badge to Zak. “I have some questions for you.”

  “Sorry but I need to get back…”

  “To where you’re supposed to be?” O’Bannon questioned.

  Zak was not about to admit to anything.

  “We cleared it with your commander to take both you and Luca Perez back to your organization. He wasn’t very pleased with your appearance here,” O’Bannon said.

  His boss might not have been happy with Zak at the moment but he still had Zak’s back. He didn’t miss the fact that Commander Green had Zak returning to the Coalition. Sure the Feds could talk with him but on his home turf.

  He glanced over his shoulder. He really wanted to see that the situation here was resolved. “I could meet you there in about an hour or so.”

  “Or you can come with me and I’ll provide you with a ride,” O’Bannon said with a pleasant tone.

  Zak wasn’t buying it for one minute. “I can drive myself,” he replied
. He was not going to leave his truck.

  “Okay, since you know the way, I’ll ride with you.” O’Bannon grinned.

  He wasn’t going to get out of having the Fed tag along. “Fine.” With one last look at the action behind him, he led the way back to his Chevy Silverado.

  Chapter Eleven

  Abilene watched Zak race away before turning back to the other agents she was working with. Cody was on his cell phone while Jamie was directing Coalition and ATF agents into stake-out positions. Everyone in both groups seemed to have no problem following Cody’s and Jamie’s lead. Abilene knew they had different duties while in the field, but she’d hardly seen two people mesh so well in high-adrenaline situations.

  It made her wonder what would be different if Zak had been able to join them.

  “That’s good, Ryder. If the two of you can get in from the roof, get eyes on the inside. I’ll see what other shifters are close by,” Cody said as she approached. “Keep me updated.”

  He smiled widely. Cody looked like a devil with that grin on his face. “We’re not going to let those assholes hurt anyone.”

  “You have a plan?” she questioned, even though it was obvious. She just wanted to know what it was.

  “Get my people inside. They can take away the threat to the hostages as we send the SWAT team through the front.”

  “It’s still dangerous,” she pointed out.

  “My entire team in made up of flying shifters. All we have to do is get them up unseen, which shouldn’t be a problem. These guys won’t be prepared for that,” Cody told her.

  “You going?” Jamie asked, joining them.

  “Yeah, as soon as Ryder gives the word.”

  “Aubrey’s not going to like that,” Jamie said.

  “It’s my job. She’ll deal with it,” Cody replied, although he did look a little worried. “This is what I do.”

  Jamie shrugged. “I’m just saying.”

  “She doesn’t have to actually know,” Cody said.

  Abilene laughed. She might have only met the woman once but she had a good idea that Cody wouldn’t be able to hide much from his mate.

  Giving her a glare, he ignored her amusement. “Just how fast are you in your shifted form?”

  Surprised at the change of subject, she hesitated until he nudged her.

  “Fast, very fast,” she said with confidence.

  “So if the SWAT made their way to the building and got the door open, you could get through for backup?”

  She saw where he was going with this. “Absolutely.”

  “Oh crap!” Jamie exclaimed. “Zak’s really not going to like that.”

  She turned to Jamie.

  “You think Aubrey would be pissed? That’s nothing compared to Zak. Protectiveness is built into him. He’ll hit the roof,” Jamie told her.

  Abilene didn’t think one night with the man would give Zak any right to have issues with how she did her job.

  “I know what you’re thinking.” Jamie pointed his finger at her. “But he’s already invested with you. Zak doesn’t take just any woman to bed. The fact that he spent last night with you? He won’t like your part in this operation.”

  Her heart fluttered just thinking about the previous night. Yes, there was more than just a casual attraction between the two of them.

  “He’s right. I saw the way Zak was watching you at the bust, but that doesn’t matter,” Cody stated.

  Abilene lifted her eyebrows.

  “The FBI just took Zak and Luca back to the Coalition,” Cody informed them.

  “Why?” Jamie demanded.

  “Don’t know,” Cody answered. “Commander Green just told me.” He tapped his earpiece.

  “They better not try messing with him too bad. Zak will chew them up and spit them out,” Jamie said.

  “And enjoy every minute,” Cody agreed.

  Glancing between the two of them, Abilene tried to follow along. It didn’t make any sense for the FBI to be involved. Other than the situation they were currently involved in, the FBI didn’t have anything to do with their work. Remembering Zak’s question about Luca’s brother, she realized her partner would also be in the same boat. Luca’s brother Sal worked for the FBI, so that did explain their presence there. Sal’s overprotectiveness of the Perez pack was well known to most of the agents Luca worked with.

  Luca and Sal were the two Perez brothers that seemed to clash every time they were together. Out of the five Perez boys, those two were so much alike. She’d met all of Luca’s family numerous times over the years. Sal Perez was the oldest and took great pains in reminding the other children of his position. Luca, the youngest, didn’t appreciate the way Sal tried to run his life.

  And Zak had put a bullet in Sal’s brother. She hoped Jamie was right in his assessment of Zak being able to handle the FBI. She didn’t think that Sal was there on an entirely professional basis. Sal would want to know what had gone wrong in Luca’s undercover mission and would be looking to blame someone.

  “So when do we move?” she asked Cody.

  “Let me contact the commander. He’s the one talking to the occupants inside. He’ll know. I’ll stay in my human form as long as possible so my team can contact me.”

  She nodded.

  “You should go ahead and shift but stay out of sight. We don’t want them catching on to our plan.”

  “I’ll take you to one of the vehicles you can shift in and stand guard,” Jamie offered.

  “Thanks,” she said. Luca was always with her when she shifted into her other form.

  Being the smallest of the large cat species, Abilene had to watch who she shifted around. Lions had a tendency of wanting to make her submit. Abilene didn’t do so in either form. Her biggest asset being speed could only help so much in bad situations.

  She followed behind Jamie as the big guy led the way to a large black van. Jamie wrenched open the back door, startling two agents inside sitting in front of several pieces of equipment.

  “Out!” Jamie ordered.

  They didn’t look like they even considered not listening. Both young men jumped up and hopped past them before Abilene could apologize for Jamie’s abrupt behavior.

  “They about crapped themselves,” she muttered to Jamie as he offered his hand for her to climb inside the van.

  He chuckled. “I know. I love my job.”

  She smiled, unable to help it. There was just something about Jamie. He was rough and loud but sweet and childish when he wanted to be. There had been several times over the last couple of days that she’d just wanted to reach over pat his head like a pet.

  Certain that wouldn’t go over well, she kept her hands to herself.

  “Just let me know when you’re done,” he told her before slamming the door closed.

  Shaking her head, she backed into the middle of the vehicle. She could have shifted out in the open. Most shifters didn’t have a problem with nudity but she did appreciate the privacy. She was just surprised. With Luca not there to insure her privacy it was nice that the others gave her discretion. She had a feeling that her shifting in the van had something to do with Zak. Jamie had gone into protective mode in Zak’s absence.

  Normally Luca was the only one who worried about her. Sure she had other friends—both in and out of law enforcement—but nothing like the bond Cody, Jamie and Zak seemed to share. Zak was very lucky to have people in his life who cared about him so deeply.

  Being with him allowed Abilene to take advantage of that link. Warmth spread through her stomach in happiness that she was considered important to these people.

  As she pulled her T-shirt over her head she caught the light whiff of Zak’s scent on her. He’d seemed pretty pleased earlier when she’d left his house with his smell on her. She didn’t mind it either. Although the second Luca had been close enough, he’d been able to answer his own question on where she’d been when he’d called.

  The smirk he’d kept on his face while they’d discussed the situati
on had been enough to have her almost punching him. But he was still recovering and she had been in too good of a mood. Hopefully she would have many other opportunities to have Zak’s scent all over her. But that led to the question of what would happen between them when the case was over. She hadn’t thought about it the night before, but they worked in very difficult careers. Zak could get sent back under at any moment plus her job could send her across the United States for a good portion of a year.

  Would they even be able to see each other enough to consider having a relationship? She’d never really had to think about it before. Zak was the first man to really make her want to set down roots. Zak was happy in the life that he had. It was obvious in the friends he’d made and the home he was building. Abilene could see how much work had gone into the house that Zak owned.

  Abilene didn’t have the same responsibilities holding her to any one place. Other than Luca, she didn’t have anyone she considered family. Her aunt had passed away when she’d still been at the police academy. Cancer had taken a toll on her aunt’s body and she had died peacefully in her sleep, for which Abilene had been grateful. Her aunt had raised her but with Abilene’s shifter status, they’d never been very close.

  Abilene had resented being held back. Abilene had always had hard feelings for the aunt who couldn’t accept what she really was. They’d mended hurt feelings toward the end of her aunt’s life but the emptiness Abilene had in her heart, that feeling of belonging somewhere, had never been filled.

  She removed the rest of her clothes before taking a deep breath as she crouched down. She needed to concentrate on the task at hand. Zak and their relationship could wait. If she didn’t do her job, not only could she be injured but an innocent could also lose their life as well.

  Allowing the cheetah to come to the front, Abilene gave herself over to the change. The tingle started in her joints before she threw her head back and felt her skin stretch.

  In only a few moments, she was on four furry paws.

  Arching her back before she rolled her head and shoulders, she let the familiar motions take her body over. As the change was completed, she yawned, feeling her mouth full of sharp teeth.