by C J Matthew
“Understandable,” Murdoch said. “Tell us the news.”
Vic looked straight into her camera. “He’s decided to hold an auction.”
“Son of a bitch,” Murdoch hissed.
“Shit,” Ryan said under his breath.
“Which means we’ve lost control?” she asked.
“Exactly right,” Vic said with a weak smile.
“How long do we have?” Murdoch asked.
“Forty-eight hours.” Vic looked sick. “I can call in a couple more people.”
“How close are you, Vic?”
“Thirty minutes ago, I thought I had him. It could happen any time, but no more than twenty-four hours.”
“Then keep going by yourself. If any of this leaks out, the publicity will kill us.” Murdoch cleared his throat. “Do you need anything from us?”
“It’s no longer simply a matter of money changing hands. The bastard is going to announce to selected buyers that our protocols are for sale. When…when I locate him, we need the Feds to act immediately on our information.”
“I’ll make those arrangements,” Murdoch said. “Then, the timing gets even tighter. As soon as the Feds make a move, we need to recover our property, and make what amounts to a simultaneous announcement to the press. All a hoax, false alarm, nothing to see here. Muirdris Shipping isn’t missing a damn thing.”
“That’ll be you again, Murdoch,” Ryan said. “Why don’t you let me and a couple of the guys handle the recovery? I’ll contact you the instant I have our property in my hand.”
“Thanks Ryan. Pick your team and tell me if you need anything,” Murdoch said. “I’ll be ready to face the press.”
“Excuse me?” Annalisa spoke up. Murdoch nodded to her. “Sounds like location and communications are critical. Murdoch and I will be attending the ship christening late this afternoon followed by the ball tonight. I’m getting a smart phone today and will text each of you to confirm numbers. Murdoch will be carrying both his satellite and smart phone. Or have them close by.”
“Thanks everyone and good luck to us,” Murdoch said. He stood, lifted Annalisa to her feet and hugged her so tight it almost hurt.
The shopping trip to the village went like clockwork. Annalisa was setting up her new phone while Murdoch pushed a shopping cart through the grocery store.
Last stop was the check in with Chief O’Malley. He met them at the door to the police station. “Come-on back to my office. I’ve got bad news.”
“Shit.” Murdoch said under his breath. “Chief, this isn’t the first bad news we’ve had today. Any reason my head of security, Ryan can’t join us right now?”
“Bring him in. I know Ryan. Good man to have in a pinch.”
Murdoch turned, went back outside to the Escalade, and invited Ryan to join them. “Chief said bad news. That’s all I know.”
“Damn.”
“Agreed.”
Seated in metal folding chairs around a scratched oak desk, in an office that smelled of burnt coffee, they waited for the Police Chief to speak.
“I talked to the State police. They ID’d the guy we took into in custody. He’s a mental patient from New York. He was locked-down in the rehab facility when the truck was heisted.”
“Just terrific,” Ryan mumbled. He dropped his chin and rubbed the back of his neck.
“So,” the chief said needlessly, “Our guy couldn’t have stolen the truck or rear-ended Annalisa’s rental car. He certainly couldn’t’ve planted the car bomb in the Muirdris parking garage.”
“Bottom line,” Murdoch said quietly, “If the man who rear-ended Annalisa’s car is still at large, then Annalisa is still in danger.”
Chapter 17
Murdoch
The silence in the Escalade during the ride back to Murdoch’s house was oppressive. All the human tensions crammed into the enclosed space, combined with Murdoch’s own apprehension, had his dragon pacing like a tiger in a zoo. Murdoch kept sensing someone was following them. And dismissed the notion. It hadn’t originated from a legitimate dragon-instinct, but because he was suffering from a bad case of jitters. He’d gone back to fearing for Annalisa’s safety.
His beast, on the other hand, claimed to know that someone, or something, was watching them. Again, Murdoch scoffed. Normally, the dragon’s insight into the location and movements of enemies was extremely reliable, but in this atmosphere?
He took a deep breath. They’d all be much calmer once everyone was safely back inside his property. Our Lair, the dragon corrected.
Murdoch swallowed a snort. Now there’s an out-of-date term. Anyway, it was time to reveal his dragon to his mate. No pressure. Only his future happiness hinged on her reaction, her acceptance. The dragon was fully committed. Murdoch hated to imagine his reaction if Annalisa was afraid of the beast. Or simply rejected him. There’d be hell to pay.
No backing out now, the arrangements had been made. Shifting into his sea dragon form took a lot of space and demanded privacy.
As the Escalade drove through the opening gate, Ryan signaled to the guard on duty.
“Ryan,” Murdoch said, “are the arrangements all set for our security staff to meet at Murphy’s estate?”
“Yes, sir. Per your instructions, that’s the last man here. As he leaves, he’ll set everything on your property to automatic for the next three hours. But under the circumstances, I can have him call all the men back, have them here in—”
“No, not yet. Let’s stick with the plan. Park by the door, and check that your man is gone. I need to speak with Annalisa inside, and in private. To share something top secret. After she and I talk, I’ll text you to join us. I’ve decided I want you to know as well.”
“Thank you, Murdoch,” Ryan said as the car stopped by the front steps. He turned back to look at Murdoch. “I appreciate the vote of confidence. And whatever it is, my lips are sealed.”
His dragon stopped pacing. Ryan knows.
Suspects, maybe. But he will know in a short time.
Annalisa glanced back and forth between him and Ryan. During the pause, she took his hand.
Murdoch continued, “I’ve allowed time for questions, if you have any.” That was a joke. Of course, they’d have questions. “Also, I want to take Annalisa down by the dock, show her the cliffs and the house from below. While we’re there, I need you to keep watch for any boats approaching.”
“I will, boss.”
“While we’re on the dock, call the men back. I want two full shifts of guards here when we get back upstairs. And for the foreseeable future. At time and a half pay.”
“Are you still going to the shipyard?” Ryan asked.
“Absolutely,” Murdoch said. Oops. He turned to his mate. “Sorry, I ‘m assuming again. Do you still—?”
“Absolutely,” she said, imitating his tone. “And I think we should open the ball with a waltz and close it with a country line dance.”
“You heard the lady, Ryan. Assign as many cars and bodyguards as you like, but we’ll both be officiating at the ship’s launch and tonight I’ll be partying with the belle of the ball ‘til they toss us out.”
“Yes, boss.”
The locks unclicked as he reached for the handle. “Stay here, Ryan, until we’re inside. Then watch for my text.”
He held the car door for Annalisa then hurried her inside the mansion. “Living room?”
“Kitchen.”
He led the way to the spacious open kitchen beyond the dining room. They had several seating options. The central marble-topped island offered ten bar stools, or the smaller table in the breakfast nook boasted seating for six. And a bay window overlooking the coastline.
“By the window,” she added.
He made sure she was comfortable, seated close enough that he could hold her hand, and then he blanked. She leaned forward, kissed him, squeezed his hand.
“Thanks,” he breathed. “I don’t know exactly how to tell you except to just come out with it. I was born a sea drag
on shape shifter.” He waited a moment for that to sink in.
“I have a human form—" he swept his hand down “—and I can shift into a large sea dragon. In that form, I look like a combination of sea serpent and dragon.”
“Oh no, Murdoch. Seriously?” Her forehead wrinkled with frown lines, she compressed her lips into a thin line. And she studied him. “Are you joking or—”
“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I expected this reaction. Get your jacket back on. I’ll text Ryan. We’ll go out onto the side lawn and I’ll show you.”
He texted Ryan: “Bundle up. Meet us at the front door. Going to the side lawn for show and tell.”
Turning back to his mate, he found her clutching the puffy outerwear, still staring.
“Hon,” she whispered, “you aren’t going to embarrass yourself in front of Ryan, are you?”
He wrestled the jacket from her grasp and dropped a peck on her lips. “I’d thank you for the hon, assuming it’s short for honey, but I think it just slipped out. Now, put this on.”
He shoved her arms into the empty sleeves and zipped the front closed. He grabbed her hand and towed her to the front entry. “Thank you, Sweetling, for worrying about my reputation.” Hauling Annalisa against him, he kissed her hard, and she clung to him.
“Don’t do this.” Tears glistened on her eyelashes.
“Wipe your eyes,” he admonished her. “You only have to trust me as far as the helipad.”
“All right.” Sniffing, she took his hand.
Between the front door and the fluttering windsock, he repeated his announcement to Ryan, and added, “For obvious reasons, I need to swear you to secrecy.”
“Sea dragon or no sea dragon, I swear to you, word of honor, my lips are sealed.”
“A diplomatic answer. Both of you stay here.” He leaned to Annalisa and caressed his mate’s cheek. “Remember, it’s still me, breathing air, but I can’t talk. If you want to touch me, that’s fine, I can’t hurt either of you. After I shift back, we’ll go inside, and you can ask questions. Or have a stiff drink. Or both. Okay?”
Ryan nodded, and Annalisa blinked at him.
Jeez. He jogged from the edge of the helipad to the center of the broad expanse of snow covering the side lawn. Giving himself plenty of room, he called the dragon, who was prancing with excitement to meet their mate. “Steady, big guy.”
The air around him shimmered and the next instant, he stood on four huge clawed feet, his relatively short wings spread wide and his mouth purposely closed over rows of long, sharp teeth. He angled his head and spotted Ryan and his mate, both wide-eyed but slowly walking toward him.
She knows us. The dragon carefully lowered his head to bring his eyes closer to hers. Watch the tail, Murdoch warned his beast. The sea serpent part of their anatomy was mostly located aft, where he sported an extremely long tail ending in a wicked sharp barb as tall as Ryan.
I’d never hurt her.
“I know. Try to look cuddly.”
Annalisa stopped right beside his jaw and looked into his eye. He tried a wink. She seemed to understand. “Murdoch?” she whispered, “Is it really you?”
His head moved slowly up and down. “Oh my God. Your scales are so beautiful. Look how they glint in the sunlight. And all the different shades of green. May I touch?”
Another nod. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, stroked her open hand across the scales beneath his eye. “They’re smooth.” She side-stepped to stoke his neck. The dragon vibrated with joy.
“Ryan,” she called over her shoulder, “come here, you have to feel this. Oh, I think he’s purring.” She moved on the touch his leathery wings and stare down at the short legs and oversized feet and claws.
Ryan touched with his fingertips only. “Damned impressive, boss. This is some wicked awesome secret.”
“I’m going to avoid that tail,” Annalisa said as she returned to his head. “Besides, I have a million questions. If we go back to the helipad can you become Murdoch again?”
The dragon balked.
“Just for questions,” Murdoch soothed. “Then we show her the hoard.” In an instant, the dragon was curled up inside and Murdoch stood, fully clothed, on a massive, sea-dragon-shaped expanse of melted snow.
Inside, he guided his mate and new best friend to the library. “If you’ll light the fire, Ryan, I’ll make us Irish coffees.”
“Plain coffee for me,” Ryan said from beside the hearth. “I’m on duty. And um…recovering.”
“Good on you.” Damn, it was a day for coming out.
“I’ll take Ryan’s portion of Bailey’s.” Annalisa glanced at the man lighting kindling. “It if won’t bother—”
“Not at all.” Ryan assured them. Snagging his coffee mug, Ryan settled in a chair across from where he and Annalisa sat on the loveseat.
“Cozy,” Murdoch said. “Let me start with a wee bit of clan history. Our family started as purebred dragons, in Ireland during the time of the druids. But through the centuries, the number of females dwindled. When an ancestor approached another clan, a group of fire-breathers, about finding mates, he and the entire delegation were blindsided and murdered.”
He took a sip of the coffee and said a silent prayer of remembrance for his ancestors. “The surviving males of the clan decided to cautiously look elsewhere. After hearing of a clan of sea serpents with the opposite problem, too many females and a worry about interbreeding, a new delegation went on a specific search. Legend has it that every meeting produced fated mates. The couples recognized each other as mates, which made all the couplings happy occasions. And it only took one generation to produce hybrids like Mu…uh, me.”
“Identical twins.” Ryan said. “Murphy must be a sea dragon, too.”
“Never ask,” Murdoch warned. “It’s his choice to tell or not.”
Ryan raised his right hand, like he was being sworn in. “On threat of death.”
Chapter 18
Annalisa
Annalisa enjoyed watching Murdoch and Ryan interact. Their friendship seemed to deepen every minute they were together. It had certainly expanded earlier when each man—well, one man, one sea dragon shifter—shared his most closely guarded secret. Murdoch apparently trusted Ryan to keep quiet about both his and Murphy’s hidden natures.
Did mates have greater access to sea dragon mysteries than friends? Did she want access? She was getting in deeper and deeper here. Murdoch continued to call her Sweetling and referred to her as his mate. What would happen if she decided to return to California? Go home to her life, and her job? Did the sea dragon shifter clan have mind wipe technology?
Annalisa rubbed her forehead trying for the spot where the headache throbbed. Murdoch took her hand and began to gently massage. Still chatting with Ryan about fighting techniques in sea dragon form, he applied pressure to the web between her thumb and index finger. Her headache retreated to the background.
Sitting up straighter, she silently reaffirmed her goals. She’d come a long way, been through a lot, and she wasn’t going away until the Muirdris spy was identified and in custody. Meanwhile, she needed to pay closer attention to the information Murdoch was offering. On the wild chance she decided to become the mate of a billionaire sea dragon, she’d bet serious money there was a qualifying exam. Or at least an in-depth interview.
“Do you have to fight often?” she asked.
“No. There are almost no territorial disputes any more. We do have an annual obligation to provide protection. But it only requires one or two of us to go and in a defensive capacity only. I’m a full-time businessman.”
“How do you breathe underwater?” Ryan asked.
“I control my body system that allows me to process oxygen like a fish or I can choose to function like a dolphin or whale, returning to the surface for air. In that configuration, I can hold my breath for almost fifteen minutes. But the change-over to gills is fast.”
“The sea dragon clan picked the ideal business to go into,”
Ryan said. “You can observe and protect your ships and cargos from all angles.”
“No comment,” he responded.
“God,” Ryan gasped. “I’m really sorry, Murdoch. Fuck, I didn’t mean to—”
“Ryan, it’s okay between us. But you need to keep a tight rein around anyone else.”
“Maybe I should shut up now and—”
“No.” Murdoch shook his head. “Let’s get more of your questions answered.” He smiled at Annalisa. “Next?”
“Can you fly?” she asked.
“Barely. I’m aquadynamic not aerodynamic. My body is way too long with not enough wing surface. I can shoot up out of the water and flap like crazy to reach a sand dune on shore. But most of the time I waddle ashore and shift right there.”
“And you were dressed,” she said. “How can you come back with all your clothes on?”
“Dragons are mythical creatures and all the ones I’m aware of, shift back with all their clothing intact.”
“Handy,” Ryan observed.
She silently agreed. In her favorite romance stories, the werewolves needed to plan ahead, big time. Whoa…were there… no, she’d ask that question when she had Murdoch alone.
“What about breathing fire?” she asked.
“Excellent question. No fire, but I can do damage by power-blasting water from my mouth, like a fire hose.”
“Got to assume,” Ryan mused, “your best speed is submerged.”
“You’d be correct.” For the first time today, Murdoch’s mischievous grin appeared. “You could say I’m wicked fast.”
“Are you talking Marlin fast?” Ryan asked.
“Wait, you lost me,” Annalisa said. “I thought sailfish were the fastest.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Murdoch boasted, “I can beat them both. Maintain a speed in excess of a sailfish over a distance much longer than a Marlin.”
“Ocean races?” she asked with a curl at the corner of her lip.
