Rafe opened his mouth to reply, but Bram cut him off. “Rafe has earned his right to be here. Whatever you have to say, it’ll stay in this room.”
Aaron gave Rafe one more doubtful glance before shrugging. “If you say so. The secret is huge, though.”
Kai grunted. “Just spit it out, Aaron.”
“Fine, fine.” Aaron put out his hands. “Killian O’Shea isn’t the leader of Clan Glenlough.”
“What?” everyone asked at the same time.
Aaron smiled. “I told you it was a huge secret.”
“Aaron,” Bram said in warning as he took a step toward the dragon-shifter. “Get to the point.”
“Their leader is actually Killian’s sister, Teagan. Apparently, Glenlough has a history of female leaders,” Aaron answered.
“A female leader,” Nikki murmured. “I had always thought they were myths.”
“Don’t get any ideas, Nikki. At least, until I’m dead,” Bram said. He then looked to Aaron. “What’s the reason for the deception?”
“To most males, hearing ‘female’ equates ‘weaker.’ To avoid proving herself over and over again, a male is always the public face of the clan.”
“Just something else we need to try to change,” Nikki muttered.
Jane leaned forward. “You don’t suppose I could talk to this Teagan, do you?”
Before Aaron could answer, Kai jumped in. “First, tell us if the mission was successful. My guess is that the Glenlough didn’t want electronic or even voice communications in case someone was listening.”
Aaron nodded. “There were quite a few reasons for the restrictions, which I’m not yet able to disclose. However, I worked with Killian—who is Glenlough’s head Protector—and we found the few dragon hunters looking for recruits. They had no idea we were looking for them.” He looked to Rafe. “For that, thank your source.” Rafe nodded and Aaron continued, “If Bourne thought picking off Glenlough would be easy, he should now think differently.”
“I don’t like the secrecy, but I’m glad the hunters didn’t succeed with Glenlough,” Bram replied. “What are the stipulations for Brenna’s return? I have a feeling they were reasonable, or you never would’ve left her.”
Rafe was starting to see how much Bram trusted certain members of his clan. It took a lot of faith to delegate high priority duties and decisions.
“Teagan wants an in-person meeting with you. Until that happens, Brenna volunteered to stay.” Aaron smiled. “Not that volunteering was any hardship for her, I think. Brenna was rather taken with the idea of a female leader.”
“I will arrange a meeting as soon as I can. But we have some more pressing issues to deal with.” Bram dismissed Quinn and Sebastian. Once the pair were gone, Bram explained about Jonathan Christie’s appointment and Rafe’s idea to find concrete evidence linking Christie to the hunters.
It looked like Rafe and Nikki’s plan had been approved.
Bram continued, “The human male we need to find used a fake name, but Zain managed a composite sketch before the prisoners were handed over to the human authorities.”
Aaron looked around the room. “So you want to connect the person with the highest authority over our kind to a staged hunter attack and all we have is a bloody composite sketch from a bunch of rebel hunters?”
“Aye,” Bram answered.
Rafe half-expected Aaron to moan, but instead, the dragonman slapped his hands together and rubbed them. “When do we get started?”
Bram wrapped his arm around Evie and squeezed. “Evie’s trying to find out what she can with the DDA.” He waved toward Jane. “Jane is trying to find the source for the video footage of Nikki being shot down that was used on the broadcast.” He pointed to Nikki and Rafe. “You’ll be working with those two on identifying the man behind the attack.”
Rafe met Aaron’s gaze. After the dragonman had assessed him a second, he looked to Nikki. “So that means you’ll be my boss for this assignment?”
Nikki smiled. “I’m in charge of the Stonefire contingent, so I guess yes, that does make me your boss.”
Aaron winked and Rafe was tempted to growl. However, Nikki leaned against his side, cooling his jealousy at the dragonman flirting. Nikki only had eyes for him. Rafe needed to remember that.
Bram spoke up again. “Everything said here today stays in this room. Zain can be included as he already knows all this anyway and probably can provide more information from his interrogations. But no one else.”
Nikki chimed in. “Not even Melanie? If there was anyone who could think of ideas to help, it would be her.”
Bram shook his head. “Not yet. The last thing I need is for her children to be targeted because she’s helping us.”
“But you and Evie are helping, and you have two children,” Nikki pointed out.
Bram stared straight at Nikki. “Melanie will be informed later if I think she can help. For now, this is in our hands.”
Even Rafe understood the dominance in Bram’s voice and wasn’t surprised when Nikki nodded.
“So the fate of all dragon-shifters in the UK rests on our ability to show the DDA Director is a bastard?” Aaron asked. “Right, then. We should have this done within the week.”
Rafe sighed. Working with Aaron was going to be the ultimate test of his patience.
But meeting Nikki’s gaze, he knew he would do much worse than working with an annoying dragonman to stay with her. Even a month ago, he never would’ve imagined Stonefire would feel like home. But between his feelings for Nikki, Bram, and Kai trusting him to help with the future of the clan, and him even begrudgingly starting to like his sister’s mate, Rafe was home. Now all he had to do was protect it with his life.
Chapter Twenty
Aaron sprawled out on Nikki and Rafe’s couch. From the frown on the human male’s face, Aaron was succeeding in irritating him.
His dragon huffed. We’re supposed to work with him. The sooner we do, the sooner we can try to set up a meeting with Teagan.
Not this again.
We only saw her right before we left. She’s intriguing. I want to know more.
Our duty is here. Forget the bloody female.
You try too hard to forget her.
No, I don’t.
His beast harrumphed and fell silent. Aaron rarely tried lying to his dragon, but the Irish leader was a problem he definitely didn’t need. The politics between clans was tenuous at best.
So, to forget the tall female with raven black hair and moss green eyes, he worked harder at irritating Hartley by lying down on the couch, dirty shoes and all.
Rafe finally spoke up. “Get your bloody boots off my furniture.”
Aaron wiggled in place. “But it’s so comfortable. I’m tempted to take a nap. I haven’t slept in over a day, you know.”
“That isn’t my fucking problem. You’re here to help us pour through Zain’s information. Unless you can learn through osmosis, get your arse up and help.”
He half-expected Nikki to tell Rafe to go easy on him, but Nikki said, “You may not have to listen to Rafe, but I’m in charge for this particular mission. Either get up or get out, Aaron. Irritating Rafe isn’t part of your job description.”
With a sigh, he sat up. “Are you sure? You two are so lovey dovey these days that I felt someone needs to irritate him. Otherwise, he might start getting ideas about being stronger than a dragon-shifter.”
Rafe growled, but Nikki put a hand on his shoulder. “You might not have much riding on this mission, but I do. So, either help or leave, Aaron, because your behavior is taking time away from securing my future.”
Aaron studied Nikki a second before standing and answering, “You sound more like Kai than the Nikki Gray I know.”
Nikki raised her chin. “A lot has changed. So, what’s it to be?”
With a sigh, Aaron sat down at the kitchen table. “What do I need to do?”
Nikki picked up a file and held it out. Before he could snatch it, she pulled back.
“Are you going to take this seriously?” He nodded, and she handed over the information. “We have the composite sketch of the escaped hunter and know he has a Yorkshire accent. However, we need to narrow our search parameters. Zain collected details on a number of hideouts, meeting places, and even addresses of some of the Leeds hunters. No doubt, some have scattered by now. But we need to narrow the list down to a more manageable number.” She waved toward the file. “So highlight what you think might be the best places for the escaped hunter known as Toby to lay low.”
Aaron thumbed through the stack of papers. “What happens if I find the information first?”
Nikki narrowed her eyes, “Then I don’t kick your arse out of my home.”
He grinned. “Fair enough.”
Rafe kicked him under the table. “Stop grinning at the mother of my child and get to work.”
Aaron debated pushing Rafe’s buttons but his dragon sighed. Nikki is pale. If you tease him, it will irritate her. Be nice to the pregnant female. Would you want someone doing the same if it were your female?
Probably not.
Good. Then behave. Because when we have a pregnant mate, you’ll understand Rafe’s point of view.
Aaron paused in skimming the interrogation transcripts. We don’t even have a girlfriend. You’re getting ahead of yourself, dragon.
In response, his dragon sat smugly in the back of his mind.
Shit. His dragon had an idea for a female to impregnate, and Aaron had a feeling he knew who his dragon wanted.
He’d just have to focus on his work. Because if it was a certain green-eyed female, Aaron didn’t need that headache. No matter how pretty or feisty she might be.
~~~
Nikki was doing her best to keep her lunch down. The scent of vanilla that ran through the house was making her want to throw up. Which was odd, considering it used to be her favorite scent.
Her beast spoke up. Then sit next to Rafe. His scent will calm our stomach.
But in front of Aaron? I think he’s finally taking me seriously. I don’t want to appear weak.
Her dragon huffed. You can be stubborn or practical. One will help you accomplish your goal faster than the other.
Rafe laid a hand on her back and gently pushed her toward the table. He never took his eyes off the papers in front of him.
Her human was urging her to take it easy while not embarrassing her in front of Aaron.
Sometimes, it was hard to believe Rafe Hartley had ever broken her heart.
Her dragon spoke up again. He’s changed. For us.
Rafe then moved his hand to her arse and squeezed. It took everything she had not to smile at him secretly feeling her up in front of company. Two could play at that game.
Sitting next to him, she placed a hand on his leg and ran it close to his groin. His muscles tensed under her hand. With a light squeeze, she removed her hand and focused on the work in front of her. As she still felt as if she were going to lose the contents of her stomach, Nikki inched closer to Rafe. As her male’s scent replaced the vanilla, her stomach settled.
Just as she picked up the stack of papers in front of her, Rafe tapped the ones in front of him. “I think I found something.”
“What?” Nikki asked as she leaned closer.
Rafe met her eyes and then Aaron’s as he answered, “Most of those we captured are from Seacroft.”
Aaron frowned. “Does that mean something?”
“Probably not to dragon-shifters. But to humans in the UK, it’s rather well known as a dodgy part of Leeds.” Nikki raised her brows and Rafe continued. “It’s full of high unemployment, crime, and more than a few boarded-up dwellings. The hunters tend to recruit young people from the economically disadvantaged areas of Britain. Seacroft definitely fits the bill.”
“But do you really think this Toby escapee would return to Seacroft? Was he even from there?” Nikki asked.
Rafe shook his head. “None of the prisoners Zain interviewed knew where he was from in Yorkshire, although some thought Leeds. But if I were him and wanted a place to blend in and hide, there are plenty of places to do it in Seacroft. The Yorkshire accent is distinct, but wouldn’t stick out there. It would also be easy to move places if he thought someone was on his trail, especially compared to a rural farm or cottage.”
Nikki asked another question. “And how big is the area, exactly? Are there a lot of people?”
“Actually, it’s a highly populated area with over 10,000 people,” Rafe stated.
Aaron waved a hand toward the paper. “Even if this Toby bloke is hiding there, is there anything in those notes so far that narrows down where he might be?”
“I haven’t found anything yet. But, I think it’s time for me and Nikki to reach out to our contacts and see what we can find. While we do that, you can go through the rest of the transcripts. Highlight any locations, find a map, and mark them out. Maybe a pattern will develop. We might even find one of the hunter dens in the process.”
Aaron sighed. “I forgot what it was like to do grunt work.”
Nikki met Aaron’s gaze. “Not every job we do is glorious, but it doesn’t make it any less important.”
She felt Rafe’s gaze on her. Yes, she was using his words as encouragement. He could tease her later.
Spreading out some papers, Aaron nodded. “Right, then I’ll get to work. Keep me in the loop about what you find.”
“Of course,” Nikki answered. Rafe stood and she followed suit. “Let’s reconvene in two hours.” Aaron nodded and Nikki wrapped her arm around Rafe’s waist. “The secure lines are at central command.”
Rafe gave Aaron a piercing glare. “Don’t destroy my home while I’m gone.”
“I wouldn’t think of it,” Aaron answered with a wink.
Rafe groaned. Sensing the pair could argue for a long while, Nikki tugged Rafe’s waist. “Come on. Don’t let him get to you. He does it on purpose.”
Her male surprised her by following her lead. As soon as they were out the door, she looked up at him. “That was rather easy.”
“The sooner we can locate the bastard, the sooner you can rest and let me take care of you.”
“Rafe—”
“No, don’t deny it. You were green earlier and about ready to vomit. Between your injuries and your pregnancy, you could do with a little pampering.”
She sighed. “Maybe. But there’s too much to do. And I can’t let this one go, too, Rafe. Ireland I could understand, but I’m well enough to help this time. Besides, I don’t want anyone else to suffer before we find this Toby.”
He kissed her forehead and murmured, “They won’t. We’re clever and can figure this out.”
“I sense a ‘but.’”
“But, you need to tell me when you need my help. I learned a lot about reading expressions and body language whilst you were in your dragon form for nearly a week. But I’m not a bloody mind reader.”
The corner of her mouth ticked up. “And here I thought you could do everything.”
“Nikki,” Rafe growled.
She chuckled. “Okay. Asking for help in my personal life is difficult, but I’ll try.”
“Don’t try, do.”
After sticking her tongue out at him, Nikki picked up her pace and Rafe matched her strides. She changed the subject. “I think we should involve Jane in this.”
The corner of Rafe’s mouth ticked up. “I was thinking the same thing. She might have connections that can help since she’s done a few stories in that area.”
Nikki didn’t miss Rafe’s deliberate attempt at being broad to keep it from unwanted ears, which she’d expected given his soldier background. “If she agrees and wants to go undercover to ask questions, I wish I could see Kai’s face when she tells him her plan.”
Rafe shrugged. “Jane can be quite persuasive, even with your oh-so-wonderful head Protector.”
“Of course. She just needs to show a little cleavage.” Rafe groaned and Nikki laughed. “You’re so easy to t
ease.”
In the next second, Rafe tightened his grip on her waist and tickled her side with his other hand. Nikki couldn’t do anything but laugh. But as he continued, her head started to spin.
Her dragon spoke up. Tell him to stop.
“Rafe.”
He heard the plea in her voice and immediately stopped. “What’s wrong, love? Are you okay?”
Leaning against his side, Nikki tried not to think about him calling her love. “I’m not sure if I’m going to faint or throw up. Either way, your tickle session is going to have to wait.”
He searched her eyes. “Of course. I can refrain as long as you like.”
“Not forever, Rafe. Just for a little bit. I love your playful side. It’s been a long time coming out, and I don’t want you to ever hide it.”
As he rubbed her back, he murmured, “I was much more playful as a boy, but never had a reason to use it as an adult. Until you wrestled it out of me. Almost quite literally in your father’s house when you pinned and tickled me.”
She snorted. “I was just trying to outsmart you is all.” He grunted, and she looked up to his eyes. “In all seriousness, I treasure the fact I could bring out the fun-loving side of you again. It’ll much better prepare you for our child if he or she takes after me.”
He gave a slow smile and placed his hand over her abdomen. “I hope for a little girl just like you.”
Laying her hand over his, she simply stared and smiled at her human.
Even a week ago, the thought of raising a baby would’ve sent Nikki on a frantic run the other way. But staring up into the eyes of the male she loved, she looked forward to the adventure.
For a split second, panic flared at realizing she loved Rafe Hartley. But as he laid a gentle kiss on her lips, his touch and taste reminded her of all he had done over the last few weeks for her. In her gut, she knew Rafe would never abandon their child. He had yet to say he loved her, but maybe, just maybe, one day he’d feel the same as her. Then Nikki might avoid what had happened to her father and find her happy ending after all.
Surrendering to the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 7) Page 19
