What was the point of running when nothing was left of the life she cherished? Maybe giving up the fight now and letting things play out how they were meant to, was the best option, even if it meant her life. The front door opened, bursting her thoughts. She stepped into the shadow of the curtains, hiding from whoever entered. Staying undercover helped keep her alive up to this point.
“Robin, it’s only me.” Adam glanced around the cabin, his sense of smell quickly narrowing in on her. He shut the door and walked toward her, his hands in the air, still trying to reassure her that he meant no harm.
Moving away from the curtain, she pushed away the thoughts of running. She didn’t want Adam to get suspicious. “Do your friends want me to leave?”
“You’re not the reason I met with the Elders. I have commitments to the clan, to keep the Alpha’s mate safe. They needed to know when I would be able to step back into my position. As the second-in-command of Tabitha’s guards, my unavailability is straining on the Captain of her Guards, Felix.” Adam leaned against the arm of the chair and sighed.
“I don’t mean to hold you back from your duties. If you could give me a ride to an airport or car rental company, I’ll get out of your hair.” She was successful at keeping the anticipation from her voice, but she doubted it went missing from her scent. She wasn’t used to anyone being able to smell her emotions.
Shaking his head, he smiled at her. “You’re trying hard, but you can’t hide anything from your mate. You’re not getting away that easy.” He approached her, reaching out to place his hands on her arms. “I know you’re scared. I swear I’ll protect you. I need to know what you’re so scared of. What are you hiding? Please, tell me and I’ll help you.”
“The only thing to say is, I shouldn’t be here. I need to go. They’re going to find me. I’m a risk for your clan, and your Elders. Just take me to the airport.” It was stupid to hold out for hope he’d let her walk out of his life. She didn’t want to deal with any of this. Was having a normal life too much to ask for?
“That’s not going to happen. Even if rogues weren’t after you, I wouldn’t let you walk away from our connection.”
“There’s nothing between us. Nothing.” She stressed her words, hoping he’d take the hint. He seemed like a nice guy, and her body was affected by him, but she didn’t want to get involved with the same kind she was running from. Robin couldn’t befriend a shifter no matter how much they tried to probe into her life.
“There will be, you’ll see. We’re meant to be together. First, I have to gain your trust.” He slid his hands up and down her arms. “As your mate, I can’t lie to you, and you could feel a lie if you focused.”
“What do you mean?” Fear ran through her mind. It was one thing for him to feel her emotions, but to know she was lying…how would she keep anything from him? She had to get out of here.
“Come sit and I’ll show you.” He slipped his hand into hers, leading her toward the sofa. Once they were both sitting, he turned to face her. “Clear your mind and focus. Ready?”
She nodded, unsure what to expect. She was as relaxed and focused as possible under the circumstances.
“I’m a guard for the Queen of the Tigers.” He paused, as if letting his statement sink in. “Do you feel the truth to the statement—the sweetness on the back of your tongue, the honesty in the words?”
Running her tongue over the top of her mouth, she took in the taste. “I don’t know. I mean, I guess. I do have a sweet taste in my mouth, almost like rich chocolate.”
“Now, feel the difference with this one.” He gave her a moment to focus again. “I work for Pierce and he sent me to find you.”
Her body stiffened and a lump formed in her throat. When he laid his hand over hers, she fought the urge to pull away.
“I know that statement frightens you. It’s only a test for you to be able to sense the lie. Focus on my words. The hairs on the back of your neck should be standing, the air should be heavy and harder to breathe, and the taste in your mouth changed. It’s now coppery. Those are the signs that it’s a lie. Can you feel them?”
Her mind screamed for her to run. Surprisingly, everything he described was there. “How can that be?”
“It’s a safety feature for mates. If we were in a situation where a lie might be needed, our mate would know we were lying. Shifter mates have a couple of safety features, that’s one of them. The connection will get stronger once the mating is complete. Other links will develop as well. Since you’re not a shifter, you don’t understand the full process. Your body isn’t recognizing the signs yet, but you will. I can feel your emotions without even thinking about it. It’s why I know you’re hiding something. Tell me, so I can help.”
Sidestepping his last comment, she changed the subject back to the bond shifters have. “What abilities do the other shifters have?”
“Some shifters can communicate through thoughts, especially in stressful situations. Some can only do it when in their animal form. Tabitha is able to communicate in human form with animals, and in both forms with her mate. It’s rare but as she’s our Queen, she’ll have abilities others don’t.” He ran his thumb over Robin’s knuckles. “You’re avoiding my question. What are you hiding?”
“Please, Adam, I can’t.” She couldn’t tell him, fearing it would jeopardize her safety. His clan would no longer protect her or they’d want her killed for the same reason Pierce did. If only she had never told Bobby, then no one would know. Why did she think she could trust Bobby? He’d sell his best friend’s soul to the devil if it got him out of whatever trouble he was in.
“Robin, you’re going to have to trust me if you want me to keep you safe. I can’t help you if I don’t know what I’m supposed to protect you from.”
She shot up from the sofa, putting distance between them. “Damn it, I don’t need you to watch over me. I was doing fine before. Let me leave and you won’t have to worry about me.”
“Running from state to state, and from hotel to hotel, you call that doing fine? That’s no life. You can’t run like a scared animal for the rest of your life. We need to stand together and remove what you’re running from. Robin, you’re not the only one running from Pierce’s gang of rogues. He’s killed people I care about. He’s got a long list of deaths in his wake. I don’t want to see your name on the list.” He pushed from the sofa. She could sense the anger rolling off him in thick waves as he came to stand in front of her. “Why won’t you trust me? Do you not understand what kind of danger you’re in? You have to help me, help you. That’s the only way we’re going to work.”
“It’s not that I don’t want your help. I don’t know how to accept it. I don’t want to live like I have been. To trust you and your clan is asking a lot from me. What happens when you find out my secret? You’ll want nothing to do with me. Then I’ve risked everything and I’m back to square one.” Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall. She tried to hold them back. Her hesitation boiled down to not wanting to be alone, and not wanting to run anymore. She longed to be able to trust Adam, to have him by her side, even after he discovered her secret.
He reached out to her. She wanted to accept his touch yet she refused herself the luxury. Any contact with Adam right now would be the final straw that broke the dam holding back her tears. Taking a step aside, she watched him frown and his hand fell away. She saw the disappointment clear in his eyes.
“Like it or not, I’m your mate. Even though we haven’t completed the mating, we’re still bound. It’s my job to keep you safe. I’ll protect you. You’re not getting rid of me, no matter how hard you try. I swear you won’t be alone again. Please let me help you.”
In that instant, she almost told him everything. It would be such a relief to confide in someone. Before she could come clean, his cell phone rang, stealing the moment and once again returning those second thoughts to the forefront.
Chapter Seven
Adam clipped his cell phone on his belt, watching Robi
n from the kitchen. If Ty hadn’t called, she would have told him what she was hiding. The delay wouldn’t stop him from getting to the truth. He swallowed a mouthful of water, and then tossed the bottle in the trash before walking into the living room to confront her again.
“Everything okay?” She turned away from the window to face him.
“Who is Eugene German?”
Her face paled more than he thought possible. He was concerned she was going to faint. Her anxiety coursed through him as if it was his own. He wanted to go to her, to tell her whatever she was hiding she didn’t have to tell him, but he couldn’t offer her that comfort. The clan’s need for this information weighed more than a little discomfort for his mate. Adam couldn’t risk more innocent people dying because his mate didn’t understand the evil they were up against.
“Robin, why does the name instill fear in you? You need to tell me who he is. We don’t have time to play games here. Pierce will kill again. Are you willing to risk someone’s life because of this secret?” He had to get this information before Raja and Bethany stopped by this evening. Raja would definitely not have as much patience, and Adam didn’t want to put his mate through a grueling interrogation.
“He’s dead,” she blurted out.
“I know that. What I need to know is who he is. What is your connection to him?”
She stepped toward the sofa, sinking onto it, and no longer met his gaze. “He was my father. He died a year ago. What does he have to do with this?”
“Connor found information on him. I want to hear it from you.” He sat beside her, taking her hand in his. He hoped to give her what comfort he could. “Tell me.”
“My father was a scientist. A few months before he died, one of his office assistants came to him, begging for help. She was bit by a shifter and wanted to know if there was a way to reverse the effects. I don’t have any proof. I believe it was Pierce or one of his main people. Bobby said some things about Pierce that led me to believe this. My father wasn’t able to find an immediate cure and didn’t have time to complete his studies, because his car was run off the road. He died at the crash site. I can’t make heads or tails of his notes, but I think Pierce believed my father was close to a discovery that might have cured anyone bitten. He had my father killed.” Tears fell down her cheeks.
“How do you know someone connected to Pierce killed your father?”
“It wasn’t a connection, it was Pierce. Damn it! He made Bobby drive the car that ran my father off the road, and I was on the phone when it happened. It was just like the night Pierce killed Bobby. Pierce always wanted me to know, every damn time he had me on the phone.” Talking about Bobby reminded her of the night he was murdered. “Our marriage was over long before that night, but to hear Bobby trade my life for his confirmed the end. The night before Pierce killed Bobby, I reviewed my father’s notes from the tests he ran on his assistant. Bobby told Pierce what I read, making Pierce’s desire to find me even stronger.”
Adam removed his hand from hers and pulled her against him. “I’ll protect you, I promise.”
“You said I don’t know what Pierce is capable of. I do, he killed two people I cared about. I don’t want to be another notch on his belt.” Leaning into his embrace, she rested her head on his chest.
“We’re closing in on him. We just have to find his location.” His hand slid down her arm.
“He’s mainly in Boston. He also has a place in Virginia where he goes often. Bobby met Pierce on one of his trips to Boston. His company had a branch in there and he did a lot of work out of Virginia as well.”
He lifted her chin with his finger, tilting her head so he could gaze into her eyes. “Do you know the address?”
Nodding, her eyes reflected fear again. “I have Bobby’s calendar. He kept notes on everything. But you can’t go. Pierce will kill you.” Her fingers dug into his shirt, balling it in her fists as her nails scraped along his skin. “Please, I don’t want to be alone again. Don’t go!”
“Shh, love. Nothing’s going to happen to me.” He hugged her tight. “I need his calendar, and your father’s notes. Doc might be able to decipher them.”
An hour later, Adam stood next to Robin in the conference room. Her fear nearly made the air unbreathable. Being surrounded by the Elders and their guards was more than she could handle, so thankfully the Elders understood she wouldn’t be able to tell them what they needed to know if fear controlled her. With that in mind, only Ty, Tabitha, Raja, Bethany, and Felix were present in the room.
“Robin, Doc’s going through your father’s notes now, and Connor’s searching the addresses in Bobby’s book. Did Bobby ever mention anything particular about any of the places? Maybe Pierce’s favorite stops on his travels? Anything that might narrow the search down?” Ty sat next to his mate, watching Robin. To Ty’s credit he tried to sound less intimidating, but as the Alpha, it was nearly impossible for him to sound less authoritative than what he was.
Adam sensed ripples of fear running through Robin. Even with his arms around her it wasn’t enough to get her past the panic that hung in the balance He kissed her temple and nuzzled his body against hers. “It’s okay, love.”
“Adam’s right, there’s nothing to fear. We mean you no harm, Robin. Our goal is to take Pierce and his gang of rogues down. His demise will keep you, our mates, and our clan safe. Once we learn more, you and Adam can go back to his cabin. We’ll do our best to give you the time you need to adjust to your mate, and this whole situation.” Ty leaned forward, placing his hand on the table. Tabitha then laid her hand over his.
Robin shook her head. “I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt. If I tell you where Pierce might be, someone else could be killed.”
“Shifters are more resistant than those bitten like Pierce,” Tabitha said. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt, especially from my clan, but if we don’t stop him he will kill again. We have to remove Pierce and his gang before more innocent people die.”
“We’d rather take the fight to him, than risk our women and children,” Ty added. “Connor and Lukas are very good at what they do. They’ll narrow the search even without you. However, the time you could save us, might prevent another death.”
Adam understood his Alpha’s persistence. Robin’s delay could cost a life. Shifters had benefits over bitten weres. Humans had nothing. They were easy prey. Pierce had already proven he had no quarrels about killing anyone in his way. “Love, we need to know more about Pierce’s location in order to keep you and our clan safe. The longer the delay, the higher the risk is for all of us. We left Pierce’s men back in Texas, but it won’t take long before they realize I brought you to Alaska. Pierce will come up with a plan, sending the rogues here after you and the clan. I’d rather take him down before he can devise a strategy of attack on the compound.”
Adam wasn’t completely sure Pierce wouldn’t risk his men without a plan. Adam kept that thought to himself to keep Robin from being more on edge. He’d protect his mate from the evil of Pierce and the dangers of shifter life as long as he could. She was fragile, never having any experience with shifters until Pierce dragged her into it. Robin had spirit, but everything she had gone through the last few months had taken its toll. She was probably inches away from a complete breakdown. Shifter life wasn’t for the weak. If Robin gained enough confidence, it would make her a stronger woman and a stronger mate.
She let out a deep sigh and nodded. “I accompanied Bobby to Boston on a business trip, to visit a friend who lived there. The address in Boston is for a warehouse. I had to wait outside for him, so I can’t give you the layout. It’s on the outskirts of town and there’s nothing around. They knew we were coming before we arrived because they called Bobby’s cell to tell me I had to wait in the car at the gate while he went in. The gate was maybe a hundred and fifty feet from the building. They’ll see you first. It will be a death trap. Please, there’s got to be another way.”
“I didn’t say we would attack there, w
e just need to know about the location. We’ll figure out something to will swing the favor in our direction. I won’t risk my people unless I believe we can kill Pierce.” Ty turned in his chair. “Felix, get Connor on the phone.”
While Felix called Connor on the conference room phone, Raja stepped away from Bethany’s chair. “Was there a set schedule when Pierce would be in Boston over the place in Virginia?”
“Bobby’s travels were the same sometimes. Maybe if you look at his calendar. We didn’t talk about Pierce often. I didn’t even know about him until Bobby got in trouble and went to Pierce to bail him out.” Robin’s body stiffened under Adam’s hands. “There’s a house in Virginia. I believe Bobby said he was there a lot, always alone. That area might be your best course of action if you’re going to attack before Pierce does. It might give you an advantage you won’t have in Boston, but I don’t know if he’s there.”
“Don’t worry, we have scouts to find him and then we’ll get a plan in place,” Ty said, as Felix scooted the phone across the table to him. “Connor, you there?”
“Yeah. I was going through Bobby’s calendar and I think I found a pattern.” The wolf shifter’s voice was rattled from the background noise of the computers. Connor’s fingers could be heard speeding across the keyboard. Their geek wolf shifter was always busy on his computer unless he was asleep.
“Good. See if you can figure out if Pierce is in Virginia. If not, then where he might be.” Ty turned to Tabitha when she placed her hand on his.
“Connor, the address in Virginia is Victor’s house. Find out everything you can about it. There was work done. It has a hidden room, and I think there’s someone living in it.” Tabitha frowned.
“Someone is hiding out in that room?” The sound of Connor’s fingers typing on the keyboard stopped, leaving an eerie silence over the phone.
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