“Pierce took it over when your mother died.”
He let out a howl, as if to tell her yes.
“How did your mother know Pierce? She had to know him to leave him the house, and for him to take you in.”
She wanted direct answers, but all she was getting were bits and pieces of things. Her brain was too tired to put the puzzle into a whole. She rubbed her temples, trying to figure out how everything went together.
“Tabby, why don’t you get some sleep? You can question him more when he shifts back.”
“What will happen to him while I sleep?”
“He’ll be made comfortable. Once he shifts back, he’ll be tired and need to rest. When he wakes, you can continue this. Right now there’s nothing more that can be done, you’re only going to stress yourself out.” Ty sat down next to her.
“I don’t want him in the cells,” she whispered.
“Tabby…”
“No, they know where the cells are. I won’t risk losing him back to their hands.”
“He isn’t a stray dog you can find a new home for,” Ty said roughly.
“I never said he was. He needs help to get out of this situation, and I want to help him. He’s giving us information. It’s the least we can do.”
“Least we can do.” He snarled. “Did you forget he was on the team that came here to kill you?”
“No, but he didn’t kill me and he didn’t want to. He surrendered to Marcus.”
He let out a deep growl. “Woman, you’re going to be the death of me.”
“Just put him in one of the guest rooms with guards, then we’ll both be happy. He’ll be secure and comfortable.”
He just stared at her before nodding. “Raja, arrange it.”
“You won’t do anything stupid that makes me regret this decision, will you, Connor?” His mind told her his thoughts were already on a nice, comfortable bed. “Connor, focus one more time. There was another man with you tonight. Who was it?”
She saw a picture of an older man with gray hair and a limp. The man lived a hard life, and if the memory was correct, didn’t look as though he had long to live.
“Any idea who it was?” Ty asked.
“I see the man, but I don’t know who he is. I’ll ask him about it later.”
“They’re ready for him,” Raja said, getting off the phone.
“One last thing. Did you know Chris?”
Nothing came to his mind. “Ty, do you have a picture of Chris? Maybe he doesn’t know him by name but by face.”
He grabbed the picture of the clan from a nearby shelf. “Last one, second row on the right, but you’re not getting near him to show him.”
She grabbed the picture out of his hands and set it on the floor, halfway between Connor and the door.
“On your way out, look at the picture.” She moved to Ty’s side.
The wolf trotted toward the door, stopping at the picture. Memories flooded her mind, of him and different people, but she couldn’t make sense of it.
“Think about it and we’ll talk about him and everything else when you wake.” The wolf howled in frustration. She could tell there was something he wanted her to know, but he couldn’t get it across to her.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The next morning, Connor woke feeling refreshed. He hadn’t slept that well in ages. For the first time in a while, he didn’t have to worry about someone coming in to kill him while he slept. He wasn’t constantly checking over his shoulder for Pierce. There was a weight lifted from his shoulders, allowing him to breathe easier, even if it was only for a bit.
He wasn’t an Alpha and never had the desire to be. After his mother’s death, he’d wanted the comfort and security of a pack but because of Pierce, no one would accept him. He was a lone wolf, and lone wolves didn’t survive long.
Pierce took him in, gave him a place to sleep and put food in his stomach, but Connor never was a part of the pack. Pierce only allowed him to stayed out of loyalty to Connor’s mother. Loyalty. What does Pierce know about loyalty? More like guilt. Guilt over getting her killed.
Sprawled on the bed, he know there was a guard outside his open door to make sure he didn’t try to escape. Whatever they do to me, it’s better than what Pierce would do if he found out I was still alive. How will I ever get myself out of this situation? Maybe if I can help them… He racked his brain, trying to figure out a way.
The man in the picture from last night, he recognized him. Chris. He got wrapped up in this mess to save his stupid sister. Didn’t they say he was taken from one of the prison cells?
Knowing Pierce that meant Chris was dead. He wouldn’t let someone survive who could hold something over him. Without Chris, his sister didn’t stand a chance.
Chris? Maybe he’s the key to all of this. If he was anything like his sister, he would have kept records.
Jumping out of bed, he slipped into his jeans that someone had remembered to grab. Zipping up, he found the guard standing in the doorway. “I need to speak with your Alpha and his mate.”
“They will speak with you when they’re ready.” The guard didn’t even glance at him.
“I have information they need. Please, just tell her I asked to speak with her.”
The guard unclipped his phone from his belt and hit a button. “It’s Adam. He’s awake and demanding to speak with her.” He ended the call. “She will get the message. Hang tight. There’s a television out here if you wish to watch something while you’re waiting.”
He hated waiting. It made him want to climb the walls, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Forcing the situation wouldn’t help.
“He’s awake and wishes to speak with you,” Felix said, pouring coffee into a mug for Tabitha.
“Finally.” She let out a sigh of relief.
“Finish your brunch, mate, and then we’ll have him brought in.” Ty eyed her over his e-tablet as he read the reports from the guards.
She was still in her plaid pajama bottoms and tank top as they enjoyed their brunch. Ty had kept her in bed long after they woke. She’d enjoyed the early morning sex and cuddling, but she wanted answers. Rolling her eyes, she popped another strawberry in her mouth. “I’m done.”
“Mate, you’re the most impatient woman I know.” He shook his head. “Have Raja escort him in.”
She stood from the kitchen barstool and moved closer to him. With his attention still on the reports, she kissed his neck. “We have a few minutes,” she whispered after getting the soft purr she loved.
“I need more than a few minutes. You’ll get your answers, and then you’re mine for the rest of the day.”
“Maybe I have other plans.” She took his earlobe into her mouth, gently sucking on it.
“You’ll forget all about them. Remember what I told you about this mating. I can’t get enough of you. You’re always on my mind, I walk around with a constant hard-on. I need you.”
She could smell them coming down the hallway. “Soon, baby, soon.” She leaned down and kissed him.
“Not soon enough for me,” he rumbled.
After a quick knock of warning, the door opened. Raja ushered Connor to the sofa.
“Morning, Connor. I hope you were able to sleep well,” Ty said as they joined him, sitting on the opposite sofa.
“Very well. Thank you.” He ran his hand over his knee. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to convey the message you wanted last night, ma’am.”
“Jumping right in, I see. Good. The man in the picture…from your reaction, I assume you know who that is.”
“Chris. Yes, I know of him.”
“Of him?” she questioned.
“To be clearer, I met him only once, but I knew him through his sister.”
“When he joined our clan, he told us he had no siblings,” Ty stated, his brow furrowing.
“Then he lied to you. His sister got wrapped up in some bad stuff a few years ago: drugs mostly, but then she got with Pierce.”
“Got with
Pierce? What do you mean?”
“It’s unusual for shifters, but you could say she’s his girlfriend.”
“Shifters don’t really date like humans do,” Ty explained, turning to Tabitha. “They might go out on a date or two while waiting to find their mate, but it isn’t the same as when humans date. Born shifters have mates. When we find our mate, we know it and pursue it. Before that, there’s no reason for a relationship. We can get our needs met or go out, but relationships are rare, since we’d know there’s no future there.”
“Pierce isn’t a born shifter.” She tried to understand how it would relate to Pierce.
“True. There are very few bitten shifters, so it isn’t a proven fact, but it’s believed that they do not have mates. They’re like the rest of the human population. They have to find the one they want to be with.”
“Okay, but what does this have to do with anything? We’re after Chris.”
Connor leaned forward in his seat. “I think the reason Chris betrayed you is for his sister. She mentioned to me before that she wanted to get away from Pierce but couldn’t. I believe Chris and his brother, Mike, thought he could exchange the information about you for his sister.”
“Mike?” Tabitha squealed, feeling queasy at the sound of the name.
“He could have come to me. We would have helped him with his sister.” Ty growled.
“Mike lives in Pittsburgh, from what I hear. He visits his sister monthly. They’re close.”
Could it be the same guy? It can’t be a coincidence Alice was dating a man name Mike.
Ty obviously was thinking the same thing she was. He pulled out his cell phone, hit a few buttons and pulled up Mike’s wanted picture before showing it to Connor. “Is this Mike?”
“Yes. What’s he wanted for?”
“Murder. He killed my best friend, Alice. When the police went to arrest him, they found his apartment empty. If he knew who I was, why not turn me into Pierce? My life should have gained his sister’s freedom.”
Connor shrugged, leaving the silence hang heavily in the room.
She pushed it aside to deal with later. “Why lie about siblings when he joined the clan? You said he has been here for years.” She pointed out, trying to get the complete picture.
“They lost touch for many years. He thought she was dead until last year, when she reached out to him for help.”
“I’m not an asshole, he could have come to me,” Ty snapped. “There was no reason to betray me and my mate.”
She laid her hand on his leg. “I’m sure he didn’t see a way out of his situation, and when he traded the information, he didn’t know I was your mate.”
“He knew who and what you were,” Ty hollered. “I’ll see him dead for this.”
“I’m sure Pierce already did that.” When they both stared at Connor, he continued, “You said the cell was empty. There’s no way Pierce would have let him live. He would have assumed he knew too much. I’m sure he’s dead.”
“Then what information do you have?”
“His sister keeps a record of everything. I know she sent him letters and things. I think if you search his personal belongings, you’ll find something that might be useful.”
“Why do you think any of it would be useful?” Tabitha asked.
“If anyone knew anything, it would be her. She’s the closest person to Pierce. If he trusted anyone, it would be her without a doubt. Let me help search the room. I know her smell. I might be able to find anything that’s there quickly.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tabitha was stuck in their quarters with Felix while Ty and the others went to search Chris’s cabin. Time dragged, like watching paint peel. She understood why Ty wanted her to stay here, away from the danger. There was no telling what they would find in the cabin. It might be booby-trapped for all they knew.
“I can’t take this.” She growled and walked to the window again to see if she could see anything.
“Relax. They’ll call when they find something.”
“I hate waiting.”
“I’d never guess.” His words were laced heavily with sarcasm.
She gave him a look to let him know she wasn’t amused, but he just chuckled. She could hear a faint ring. What is that? My phone. She raced to the bedroom, where her purse was, and pulled the cell from it.
“Don’t!” He yelled at her.
Not listening, she hit the talk button and put it on speaker. She had a feeling she knew who it was, since the only person who ever called her was dead. “Hello?”
“You escaped my grasp again, but know this: Ty can’t protect you forever. When I catch you, you’ll suffer all the more for making me chase you.”
“Then let’s put an end to the games. Where are you?”
“You don’t think I’m that stupid, do you? I know you would bring your guard dogs. Don’t worry, we’ll meet again and soon.” With that, he hung up. She tossed the phone back in her purse.
“Shit!” He stood behind her, growling. “We should have put a trace on your cell, but we never thought he would call it.”
“I’m not sure he’ll call it again but to be safe, do whatever has to be done so we can trace it next time.”
“We should let Ty know.” He reached for his own cell.
“There’s nothing he can do about it. It can wait until he’s finished. He needs to concentrate on what he’s doing. We can’t allow them to be distracted and miss something.”
“You’re making a great Alpha Female and you’ll be an even better Queen of the Tigers.” He smirked.
“He what?” The anger rolling off Ty nearly buckled her knees.
“Just as she said, he called her cell phone while you were gone,” Felix told him again, helping her to the window seat. “Control your anger. Look at what it’s doing to your mate.”
She could feel him trying, but his rage was out of control. “Come here,” she bit out.
Ty sat beside her, and she wrapped her arms around his body. As they touched, the anger started to subside.
“Her phone should have been set up for us to trace the call.”
“No one thought he would call, but I’ll have it set up right away. Either way, she handled it well. You should be proud of your mate,” Felix explained.
“I am, but I want her safe.” He pulled her into his lap.
She didn’t fight, because she wanted to touch as much of him as possible. “I’m safe. Did you find anything?”
“Connor and some of the guards are going through what we found. There were many letters from his sister and what appears to be a notebook in which he kept records of his contacts with Pierce. I came over here to get you. Pierce must have never considered there would be evidence, or he would have destroyed them.”
“Well, let’s go.” Taking his hand in hers, she rose off his lap. “I want to see what we can find.”
After spending hours going through the letters and other things that were recovered from Chris’s cabin, they still had no idea what Pierce’s plans were. They knew where they might be able to find him, different houses and locations he’d used in the past, places he preferred, contacts he had, and a number of the people in his clan, but they were still no closer to stopping him.
“Wait, what about this Jessica?” Tabitha asked from her position on the sofa as she read through one of the notebooks.
“Jessica?” There was surprise in Connor’s voice.
“You know her?” Ty asked, catching the disbelief in his voice also.
“Not really know her but know of her. It’s his sister. She’s human, but she knows about shifters and Pierce’s condition. If anyone would know his plans or where he is, it’s her. She isn’t supportive of his decisions, but still, he confides everything to her. He wants her to accept his life and approve of him.”
“Thomas, see what you can find out about her—location, habits, spouse. I want to know everything you can find.”
“I can help. I’m a master at comp
uters and finding things people want to stay hidden,” Connor stated, somewhat quietly.
Ty didn’t answer right away but looked at her, who gave a small nod. “Okay, go with Thomas. If you two find anything, I want to be notified immediately.”
Connor followed Thomas out of the conference room with a look of determination on his face.
“Now the rest of you, I want you to finish going through this stuff. Same thing stands. I want to know if you find anything. Tabitha and I will check in later.” He reached for her hand. “Come on, mate.”
She laid her hand in his, and he smoothly pulled her to her feet. She eyed him uncertainly. He led her out the door, Felix following behind them.
“I want you and I’m tired of waiting,” he whispered, nuzzling against her neck.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
They made it to the bedroom in record speed. Tabitha was ready for him. The heat and need vibrated through their bodies.
He slipped his hand under her shirt and pulled it over her head. “Mine.”
She ran her hands through his hair, moving it away from his eyes. She loved to look into his eyes. It was like looking into his soul. There was so much love and compassion there.
“You have too many clothes on.” She pulled at the gun shoulder-holster he wore, sliding it down his arms.
“Too slow.” He jumped out of bed and stripped out of his clothes before she could blink. “Now you have too many clothes on.”
She slipped out of her pants. “Better?”
Running his hands over her body, he purred with satisfaction. The heat between them was growing, becoming overwhelming. “We waited too long.”
Beyond words, she let out a hum.
“With a new mating, if you wait too long, it’s harder to control the beast within. It will be rough.”
“I don’t care. Just take me.”
“I won’t be able to control myself.” Ty snarled, his body tense next to her, letting her know he was trying to control his own beast.
Alaskan Tigers Box Set 1 Page 13
