by Arthur, Keri
He wrapped a hand around my neck and pulled me close. His kiss was fierce and hard and long.
“You should have asked, Riley,” he said eventually. “I would have answered your questions.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, still playing the game though I knew the game was over. “I came here to ask you questions.”
“Maybe. And maybe you were meant as a distraction.”
I couldn’t move, couldn’t retreat. Truth be known, didn’t want to do either. He was too close, felt too good. “What makes you think that?”
“The fact that three minutes before you walked in I was notified that someone had broken into my Collins Street office.” His smile was tight. “They can look all they like. They won’t find anything.”
“And you’re so sure that you’ll let them look?”
“Oh yes.”
Heat pressed through me, against me. Heat that was Misha as well as the other wolves crushed against us. Every breath was an intake of hunger, and in the blue wash of the lights sweat glistened like diamonds against my skin. I could barely even think, the fever was so bad, and yet I knew I had to keep my wits about me. I could not afford to forget that Misha might well be the enemy.
“How did you know?” My breath was little more than a pant of air.
“I have always preferred to rely on more than the latest in technological wizardry.”
He didn’t explain it and I didn’t have enough air left to ask. His hands tightened against my waist, his fingers hot and bruising as he lifted me onto him. I wrapped my legs around his waist and began to move.
“The bait will earn her answers tonight, believe me,” he growled.
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. My blood burned, my heart hammered like a steam train, and all I wanted was to ride this lean and angry man until the slow waves of pleasure lapping my skin became a molten force that would not be denied.
And that’s exactly what I did.
We climaxed as one, the strength of it tearing a strangled sound from my throat as his body slammed me into the backs of others, his movements fast and furious.
The shudders eased. He was still hard inside, but that wasn’t surprising, simply because the power of the moon was at full force. The moon heat granted all wolves the potency to celebrate again and again during the weeklong phase, but tonight and tomorrow were peaks, with recovery time down to zero. Perhaps it was nature’s way of making up for the change she forced us through at the full moon. The night of the full moon was the one night we had no control over which form we took. That night, we ran solely as wolves.
He began to move inside me again. His expression was tight, intent, and I knew he intended to exact payment in full before he said anything more.
The fact that he was there, fucking me, when he was well aware that his offices were being broken into and examined assured me there would be nothing incriminating found. Whether that evidence was somewhere else or whether there was simply nothing to be found was anyone’s guess.
We stayed in that sweating, gyrating mass for an hour before moving out. We continued at the table, in the shower, against the wall, on the stairs. Each time was hard and furious, and most of the time he took without giving. The wolf in me was having a damn fine time, but the woman was getting a little pissed.
He finally led me back to the table, and I heaved a silent sigh of relief. I was bruised and aching and only partially satisfied, and knew it was intentional. He was making me pay for what he saw as a betrayal.
I slid onto one of the benches and grabbed a beer off a passing waiter. I didn’t drink it immediately, instead pressing the icy bottle against my fevered forehead.
Misha sat down on the opposite side. “Ask your questions.”
His silver eyes gave nothing away.
“Tell me why you had a file bearing the name Genoveve Confectionary on your desk a year ago.”
“It was a company I was considering buying.” He raised a pale eyebrow. “You have a very good memory.”
“Exceptional, considering the circumstances.”
The smile that played across his lips was at odds with the ice of his gaze.
“And did you?” I prompted, when he didn’t say anything.
“No.”
“Who did?”
“Konane.”
“The same company who owns Moneisha?”
“Yes.”
I flipped the cap off the beer and took a long drink before asking, “So who is the owner of Konane?”
He smiled. “Try another question.”
His expression said he’d tell me. Eventually. I wondered how many hours’ “payment” he would exact before he did. “So what has chocolate and research got in common?”
“Maybe the owner was simply diversifying his portfolio.”
Something in the way he said that itched at my instincts. “You don’t believe that.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He leaned back in his seat and studied me for a second, his expression both arrogant and amused. “Because the owner of Konane and I share similar interests, and have, in the past, been business partners.”
I forced a smile. “You never told me you were interested in chocolate.”
There was something cold and hard about his expression. I had the strangest feeling that this man, the man who had taken me so ruthlessly that night, was the real Misha. That the Misha I’d been allowed to see the previous twelve months was merely a means to an end. What that end was I had no idea, but had a bad feeling I’d better find out.
I lowered my shields and reached out with my mind. I wasn’t surprised to hit a wall around his thoughts—but it wasn’t electronic. His shield was as natural as mine and just as strong.
I took another drink of beer and tried to ignore the urge to leave. I had a job to do, and besides, the moon still burned through my blood.
“It wasn’t the chocolate that caught our interest,” he said softly, “but the fact that Genoveve was supposedly built over the top of a military installation.”
Would the plans in Alan Brown’s office match the installation Genoveve was supposedly sitting on? Probably. “I’ve read about the World War II tunnels and arms caches they’ve uncovered in and around Melbourne, but never have I heard a whisper about anything bigger.”
“No one knew about those tunnels until they were excavated. All the plans were supposedly destroyed after the war and most of the tunnels concreted up.”
If the plans had been destroyed, how had Alan Brown gotten hold of them? And why hadn’t he destroyed them? I finished my beer and pushed the bottle away. “So why would you think there’s any truth to the rumor about what’s under Genoveve?”
“Because I talked to the man who found an entrance. As did the man who owned Konane.”
“So why does an old military installation hold such fascination to you and the owner of Konane?”
“Because the search for perfection sometimes takes roads the government does not approve of, and in such cases, it is best if the search is conducted in secret.”
Oh God . . . Was he saying what I thought he was saying?
He smiled. “I am not involved in Genoveve or the research being done on nonhuman cloning.”
“I only have your word on that, and right now, I’m not inclined to trust it.”
“I swear on the life of my mother, I have told no lies here tonight.”
No lies, but had he told the absolute truth? I had a feeling the answer was no. “So, you have absolutely nothing to do with cloning?”
Amusement momentarily danced in his eyes. “I am not involved, in any way, with the current cloning endeavors. If you want an honest opinion, I cannot see the sense in it. Until we fully understand all the intricacies of creation, cloning will always be an avenue of imperfect research.”
“You cannot understand something if you do not research it.”
“True. But right now, it is research that is simply throwing good
money after bad. How many years has man being trying to clone himself? Where has it led? He can now create imperfect or sickly images of himself every fifty or so attempts.”
“The body-part farming came out of the cloning research, and that in itself is very profitable.”
He shrugged. “Only marginally. The government has a tight fist on marketing and research.”
But the black market was booming, and the government was having little luck stopping it. “So what research were you planning to conduct under Genoveve, and why didn’t you end up buying it?”
He smiled. “My companies, like many others, are seeking to unravel the secrets of a vampire’s long life. There is a fortune to be made with such knowledge.”
That was an understatement, given the human fixation with youth. “So, when you said Moneisha had been successful in pinpointing the cluster of genes that make a vampire a vampire, you were actually talking about your own research?”
“In part. I was trying to discover how much you suspected.”
“Why?”
He studied me for a moment, then said, “Because I was told to.”
I raised my eyebrows. I really couldn’t see Misha bowing to the rule of another, but then, what did I really know about him? “Who by?”
He merely smiled. I changed direction again.
“Have you succeeded in pinpointing the vampire genes?”
“In part.”
I studied him for a moment. “Research like that doesn’t need to be conducted in a secret installation.”
“It does when your test subjects are unwilling participants.”
“You’re snatching vamps off the street?”
“No. I intended to, simply because the government’s recent regulations have made it tough to get enough skin and blood to conduct research. But I never bought Genoveve, simply because I was outbid. All my companies conform to regulations.”
Currently conform, he meant. But I had a suspicion they wouldn’t in the future. “You know Jack will check.”
He shrugged. “He will find nothing out of order.”
“And is the vampire research all that your companies do?”
He smiled. “No.”
“Then what?”
“My companies partner several others in drug research.”
What was the betting he had a finger in the pie that had made ARC1-23? “Does that mean you knew all about Talon trying to impregnate me?”
Again amusement glittered in his eyes. “Yes.”
Anger whipped through me, and my fingers clenched. “And you approve?”
“No.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you warn me?”
“Because again, I was warned not to.”
I snorted softly. “And you never go against orders? Bullshit, Misha.”
“There are lots of things happening you don’t understand. Lots of restrictions on me that I cannot countermand, no matter how I might wish to.”
That raised my eyebrows. “Care to explain that sweeping statement?”
“Not yet.”
I blew out a breath and thought about the bits and pieces he’d told me over the last few days. “You told me to imagine the supersoldier you could build if you could have all of a vamp’s abilities and none of the restrictions. Is that what you’re doing? Trying to build a supersoldier by crossing human and vampire genes?”
“Perhaps.” He smiled idly.
“Then what about hybrid nonhumans?”
“What about them?”
“Are you involved in creating them?”
“I’ve already said no.”
There wasn’t a flicker in his face or his eyes, and yet I sensed that he’d just told his first outright lie. “Then you know nothing about an attack that occurred shortly after I’d been speaking to you on the phone.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I want to fuck you, not kill you.”
I leaned back, partially wanting to trust him but mostly not. “That didn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, it did.” He hesitated. “I actually tried to warn you, but you hung up.”
“So you knew about the attack in the graveyard?”
“Yes.”
“How did they know where I was going to be?”
He glanced down at the arm that held the tracker, giving me the answer in an instant. I swore softly. “Then how did you know about the attack?”
He gave me that smile again and didn’t answer.
I tapped my fingers against the table. “So are you going to tell me who owns Konane?”
His gaze swept down my body, and the fever that had lain in wait ignited. His silver eyes met mine, echoing the hunger that burned through me. I didn’t want to want him, but at that moment, I had no choice. And I needed the answer he’d yet to give.
“I want another two hours out there,” he said, nodding toward the heaving crowd on the dance floor.
“Why?”
His smile was sweet, and yet there was something cold about it. Something very calculating. And in that moment, I saw the similarity between him and Talon. “It doesn’t matter why.”
I guess in the end it didn’t. He got his two hours. Then I got the name.
Talon.
Chapter 14
I headed for the toilets and had a long, hot shower. It didn’t do much to ease the aches of my body, but at least I felt cleaner. And the moon’s heat no longer flicked through my veins. Misha had finally seen to that, if nothing else. Maybe he thought it would ensure I’d see him again.
But if that had been his thinking, then he didn’t know me very well at all. Though what did I really know of him? Or Talon?
At least my questions had been answered—whether truthfully or not still remained to be seen.
But the night had achieved something else—it had solidified my determination never to become a guardian. Because guardians, whether male or female, often used sex to gather information, and being with Misha had given me a small taste of what that was like. I had no problems with having sex with someone I didn’t know. I’d done that most of my life, in many different werewolf clubs, and enjoyed myself immensely. But having sex with a stranger for the sole purpose of gathering information almost smacked of prostitution, and that sat uncomfortably.
Yet wasn’t that exactly what I’d just done? Sure, I knew Misha, but did that really make a difference? The fact that I’d gone into the situation ready and willing to do what was necessary proved I was more like my brother—and more capable of undercover work—than I’d thought.
And that was the most uncomfortable thought of all.
I rubbed a hand across gritty-feeling eyes then glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just past two, and I really had to get moving. I stood under the hot water for a few more minutes, then toweled myself dry and got dressed. Stan and Jimmy gave me cheerful good-byes as I made my way back to the shadows of the lane.
Quinn leaned against the car hood, his arms crossed, face impassive. “Are you okay?”
I shrugged. “I got the answers to everyone’s questions.”
“The answers can wait. You look like hell.”
“Strange. That’s exactly what I feel like.” I stopped several feet away, wishing he’d take me in his arms and hold me. Just hold me. Nothing more—not right away, anyway. I simply needed the comfort of a touch that wasn’t hard or rough or calculating.
But he didn’t move, and I didn’t ask.
“Misha knew Jack and Rhoan were breaking in to his office.”
“That explains the unhappy vibes I’ve been getting from you.”
Was it any wonder he was getting unhappy vibes? Both of my mates were apparently using me for their own ends and never once had I suspected them. So much for trusting my damn instincts.
“Talon made an appearance at the club tonight,” he continued.
Alarm shot through me. “What?”
He nodded. “Went in about forty-five minutes ago and left about ten minutes later.”
“Wonder why?” It made no sense, especially considering he’d seemed determined to kill me after he’d learned of my mixed heritage.
“Maybe he’s reconsidered.”
“No.” Talon rarely changed his mind about anything. If he’d come to the club, it would be for some reason other than wanting to conceive a child with me. “Did you try and stop him?”
“No, but I followed him in.”
I hadn’t sensed either of them. “What did he do?”
“Watched you and Misha.”
“Misha implied that he and Talon had been partners in the past. Maybe they still are. Maybe Talon came into the club for that reason.”
“And maybe realized that while he might not personally like your mixed heritage, you’re still too good a morsel to pass up for research.”
A chill ran through me. I had a feeling he’d hit the nail right on the head.
Quinn studied me for a second, then wrapped his fingers around my arm and pulled me into his embrace. He didn’t say anything, just held me, and it felt so good and warm, and so damn right, that I wanted to cry.
“We’d better keep an eye on Talon. I fear he may be more involved than we currently think.”
“He is. He owns Konane, and he owns Genoveve.”
He kissed the top of my head, his lips a feather-light brush of heat. Then he held me away from him, and the night seemed suddenly colder.
“If that’s the case, we’d better get moving.”
I nodded, though I really didn’t want to go anywhere but back into his arms.
“Here, put this on, then get into the car.” His voice was even, yet I had a sense of controlled excitement. Perhaps he, like me, sensed that the resolution of this whole mess was drawing close.
I took the thin strap of metal he held out. “What is it?”
“It’ll disrupt the chip’s tracking signal and ensure we’re not followed.”
I strapped it onto my forearm as I climbed into the car. “Any word from Rhoan or Jack?”
“They’re finished and waiting at Liander’s.”
We drove in silence to the workshop. Rhoan, Jack, and Liander were seated in the small dining-cum-living room behind the main workshop. Rhoan rose from the sofa he and Liander were sharing and pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back, glad to have someone in my life who was stable. Constant. Someone who loved me for what I was, not what I could do for him or produce for him. Someone who would always accept me as I was, vampire bloodline, wolf heritage, and all.
