Critical Intelligence

by Mandy M. Roth

  Melanie nodded, but didn’t look too sure herself. Roi knew what was wrong with her. The condom broke while she was fucking Lance, his fallen I-Op team member. The minute Lance’s semen entered Melanie’s body, he put her at risk. If she was now pregnant, she’d never survive. Humans simply couldn’t handle the pregnancy. Melanie was probably expecting and at some point soon she’d lose the battle waging in her body. And Roi knew Missy wouldn’t get over the loss. Losing a friend was hard. He knew. He’d only just lost Lance.

  “Roi, what are you doing here?” Peren asked as a slow smile spread over her face. She sat down across from them and gave Roi an innocent look. He wasn’t buying it. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear that Peren already knew why he was there.

  “Don’t you mean Geoffroi?” Missy asked, teasing him.

  He nudged her with his elbow and shrugged. “I go by Roi or Pig’s Asshole. Depends on who you’re asking.”

  “I don’t know,” Missy said with a sigh. “I kind of like Geoffroi. It’s French, right?”

  He nodded. Roi’s lycan abilities allowed him to sense when someone was telling the truth, and from all he could gather, Missy really did like his name. That meant something to him, but he wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like he really gave two shits what anyone else thought of him.

  He did know one thing—if Missy was on Parker’s list of targets then she wasn’t safe, and he’d die before he let anything happen to his mate.

  Damn, there I go with the mate thing again. With this thought, I thee wed. Man, I need to get out more.

  Melanie rubbed her temples. “Guys, I think I’m going to head upstairs and get some rest. Sorry I have to cut our night short, but I’m not feeling very well.”

  “Head upstairs?” Roi glanced around the bar and wondered why anyone would stay within twenty feet of the place with a headache.

  She nodded. “Yeah, my apartment’s up there. Not the most ideal location, but since my family owns this place, the rent is free. Plus, it makes my brother and dad happy to know that I’m not far from either of them. They’re both within four blocks of the place.”

  “Do you want me to stay with you tonight? I don’t want you alone right now.” Missy leaned forward and touched Melanie’s hand.

  Roi’s insides lurched. Why couldn’t she make that kind of offer to him? He’d love to hear those words uttered from her rose-colored lips with him in mind. Reaching down, he adjusted his raging hard-on.

  Yep, I’m going to die of erection overload.

  Around Missy, his dick seemed to be in a constant state of arousal. Too bad she wouldn’t be the one easing his ache. No, she’d made it very clear she wanted nothing to do with him. Any other woman he wanted would have already creamed herself with the idea of getting a piece of him. Missy was different. She didn’t seem to find him the least bit attractive and he was sure she liked men—just not him. As soon as she was safe, he’d find a nice little blonde number and let her have the pleasure of sucking his dick, but only if she was a good girl.

  Yeah, and then think about Missy the entire time and feel like shit.

  Peren caught Roi’s gaze and held it. He nodded, answering her unasked questions. She wanted to know if he’d been in contact with Lukian. Peren smiled softly. “No, you know what—I’ll stay here with Melanie tonight. Roi can give you a ride home since I drove you.”

  “What?” Missy asked, aghast. “I’m not riding him…er…I mean with him anywhere.”

  Her Freudian slip wasn’t lost on him or his cock. It was going to explode and take him with it if he didn’t get the hell away from her and either jerk off or fuck someone soon.

  Peren gave Missy a serious look. “Roi will be a perfect gentleman. Won’t you, Roi?”

  “Oh yeah, perfect gentleman. Scout’s honor.” He saluted no one in particular and waggled his eyebrows.

  Missy groaned and dropped her head down on the table. It sounded like it hurt. She didn’t seem to notice. She mumbled something and all of them leaned in to hear her. Glancing up, her eyes narrowed. “What?”

  “Just wondering what you said, baby doll.”

  She gave him a wicked look that sent even more fire through his loins. The little woman held more power over him than anyone ever had.

  “I said,” she bit each word out, “okay, I’ll ride home with you. But only if you don’t mind. If it’s out of your way in any way, shape, or form, please just say the word and I’ll stay here for the night. Really, I’ll understand. I’ll wait until Eadan’s done tonight and ride home with him. It’s not a big deal. Just say the word and I’ll—”

  Roi glanced at Peren. “Does she always ramble on like this when she’s nervous?”

  “Yes,” Peren and Melanie said in unison.

  “I do not ramble and I am not nervous.”

  Melanie rubbed her forehead. “Listen, I really don’t want to put anyone out. I’m fine. You go home to Lukian, Peren, and Eadan will take Missy back to their place. Plus, Lukian will want to spend time with you, Peren. Especially considering he proposed to you.”

  Their place? Missy lives with a guy?

  Roi stiffened and took a deep breath in as Melanie’s words sank in. This Eadan would not be taking Melissa anywhere. She was his. He didn’t share well and he sure as hell wasn’t okay with Missy living with anyone but him.

  Holy shit, I’m not only laying claim to her, I’m wanting her to move in with me. I need a drink. No, make that two drinks. Damn it, I need the bottle.

  Missy smiled. “You know that might be best, Mel. That way I’m not holding Roi up or taking Peren away from Lukian. They need time together and I don’t have to be in until nine tomorrow. Unless something comes up, of course.”

  Peren narrowed her eyes on Missy and then smiled at Melanie. “I already told you that Lukian knows you’re like family to me, Mel. If you two keep pushing the issue, I’ll call him and make him come here and tell you both that he won’t interfere.”

  Roi nodded. “Yep, a man would be out of his mind to step between you three. Plus, I think he’s a little afraid of Peren. Hell, we all are.” It wasn’t a lie. Peren’s blood was a supernatural cocktail, swimming with known shifter, faerie, and even lower level demon DNA.

  Peren laughed softly and winked at him. “Listen to him, Mel, he’s Lukian’s brother. I think that qualifies him as an expert.”

  “He’s Lukian’s brother?” Missy stared at him as though she were expecting his head to pop off at any moment. “I thought it was weird enough that Eadan is Melanie’s brother. This might be too much for me.”

  Giving her a small nod, Roi nodded at Peren. “Yep, brothers.”

  Chapter Six

  Peren’s brow furrowed. “Melissa, when did your employer start making you work weekends again? I don’t know how you do it. Seriously. I told you to go work at one of the countless private firms that attempted to recruit you. Why you picked the government is beyond me.”

  Roi was all ears. He wanted to hear more about Missy.

  “Talk to Eadan. It’s his fault we’re working on the weekend,” returned Missy.

  What? She works with this guy too?

  “If you don’t mind me asking, who do you work for?” Roi stared down at her, suddenly feeling very uneasy.

  Missy gave him an odd look. “I’m a State Department employee.”

  Instantly, Roi’s heart thumped madly. That standard response was notoriously used by CIA, FBI, and PSI covert agents everywhere. That and analysts. Missy was so young, so tiny, and hadn’t really put up any sort of a fight when he’d tossed her backside into a van two weeks prior and took her to a safe house. There was no way she could be an agent with any one of them. No. She was probably a secretary or administrative assistant or something—whatever the current term for it was. He didn’t always bother keeping up with political correctness. Most immortals didn’t.

  Peren gave Missy a hard expression. “Eadan mentioned that you guys were busier than normal again. How two systems analysts could ha
ve a surge of work to do to the point they work seven days a week is beyond me. Geesh, they have you on call twenty-four hours a day too. And they sure the hell send you two out of town a lot. Can’t they hire more people? I mean, having to spend a month in Asia was a bit much.”

  A systems analyst? Works seven days a week? On call all the time? A month in Asia?

  Fear for Melissa’s safety ripped through Roi. If she was what he thought and the bad guys shared his suspicions, then it would explain the notation by her name to eliminate her if they couldn’t retrieve her.

  Roi opened his mental link to Lukian faster than he ever had in his life. Hey!

  Do you have to do that? It tends to take me by surprise.

  Aw, did you piss on your foot again? Roi asked, silently laughing at the time he’d contacted Lukian with urgency, causing him to do just that.

  Lukian growled. Roi hid his amusement.

  I need you to pull open Missy’s file.

  Melissa doesn’t have a file, said Lukian.

  That wasn’t possible. Roi had filled out paperwork on Missy himself just under two weeks ago. What? We had to write all those damned reports on what happened with Lance and Peren. Of course she has a file. Look again.

  Roi, she doesn’t have a file, returned Lukian, concern in his voice. Brooks received a call ordering him to shred any documentation regarding the girls. He did it. He didn’t want to alarm me since Peren’s my wife, but he suspects that PSI may be having issues with some of its operatives. Brooks didn’t hesitate to get rid of the reports. There was no way he was putting the women’s lives in danger.

  Roi couldn’t hide his worry or his aggravation. Something was going on and whatever it was continued to indicate Melissa was in a great deal of danger.

  Brother, something troubles you. What is it?

  Roi actually debated on keeping vital information from Lukian—a man he saw as not only his king, but his brother as well. This can go no further than our team right now, Lukian. Brooks can’t know yet.

  You have my word.

  Knowing Lukian would never break a promise to him, Roi nodded, even though Lukian couldn’t see him. I remember glancing over Melissa’s report after Brooks took her statement. I don’t remember her listing what she did for a living. That struck me as odd. The girls are here talking around me. Peren is upset that Missy is on call all the time and has to the leave the country at a moment’s notice.

  Missy’s like a sister to her. That’s understandable. I’ll do my best to keep a lid on that fact, Lukian pushed out sardonically.

  No, asshole, that’s not what’s bothering me. Missy just told me that she is a State Department employee. Peren then wanted to know why a systems analyst had to work that much.

  Lukian didn’t respond right away and Roi knew why. He suspected the same thing—Missy was in deep shit. She didn’t fight any of us when she could have. Maybe we’re wrong.

  The “we’re” wasn’t lost on Roi. Lukian shared his suspicions.

  Yeah, I thought of that too but my gut’s telling me that we’re right. I just don’t know what branch she’s with or how far into it she may be. She’s so young. She can’t be—

  Lukian was silent for a second, as if giving Roi time to process everything before he spoke again. Brother, if she’s PSI, which may be possible if she’s supernatural and knows it, they could have recruited her at any age. They don’t exist, remember? They can get away with almost anything.

  The sound of Melanie’s voice drew Roi’s attention from Lukian.

  “I agree with Peren. They ship your fanny off at least once a week and we miss you. Granted, you’re only gone for a night or so usually, but still. You were home less than two hours after we got back from first meeting Roi and the guys before you were running out the door again.”

  Roi noticed Missy’s obvious discomfort and he could understand it. If she truly did work as a covert agent, then she wouldn’t be permitted to share that information with anyone lower than her security clearance level.

  “Eadan and I don’t get a choice.” Her jaw tightened. “If we’re needed at another location, we go. He’s been with them for twelve years and I’ve been with them for close to nine. We’re the ones they pick to see to it that the job is done.”

  “Close to nine years?” Roi asked, not believing that was even possible.

  Missy nodded. “Yeah, that’s not counting the summers I spent interning for them while I was in high school. When I turned eighteen, I was officially brought on.”

  “I still don’t understand how you carried a full load all through college and worked a full-time job. It’s not like you had to, Melissa. Your parents are more than set for life.”

  Missy rubbed her forehead and looked as though she were uncomfortable.

  Peren snorted. “Yeah, well, I can’t believe her father let her start leaving the country when she was only sixteen, with Eadan no less. Sure, he’s Melanie’s brother, but still.”

  Roi wasn’t sure he liked hearing all of this. Lukian, whatever she does, Melanie’s brother does it too.

  What’s his name?

  Eadan Daly.

  Shit, I’d offer to see what I can find out, but the fact someone ordered reports with their names on it destroyed makes me leery to put up any red flags.

  Lukian was right. As much as Roi burned to know all the tiny details about Missy’s relationship with Eadan, he didn’t want to risk her life for the knowledge.

  Roi, have you tried asking Missy? She just might surprise you.

  Yeah, or slap the shit out of me. If you’ll recall she calls me a pig’s asshole.

  Oh, this is good. You’re afraid of a five-foot-three-inch-tall woman.

  Hey, Luke, what was that again about you not wanting to suffer the wrath of your mate? She’s what? Five-six? You’re a fine one to make fun of me.

  Lukian shut up and pulled away. Roi concentrated on the women surrounding him. Normally, he’d have been all about having three beautiful women at his fingertips. Now he hoped that the other two would leave him to have time alone with Missy.

  Melanie nodded. “I know, it is amazing that a father as strict as Missy’s would let her leave the country with Eadan nonetheless. Do you think her dad ever caught on that my brother has been into Melissa since he was like seven?”

  Peren glanced at Roi fast, then glanced away nervously.

  Roi was now positive he didn’t like hearing this. Every ounce of him wanted to find Eadan, tear his head off, and parade around the room with it on a stick. Sure, it was odd and slightly immature, but it would prove that no man was to touch what was his—Missy.

  There I go claiming her again.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Missy watching the two men he’d found trying to convince her to dance with them. The instant he spotted her with them when he’d arrived, he sensed she wasn’t comfortable and he wanted to hit them too. He’d watched silently from the entrance to see if she would respond to the taller, sandy blond one’s advances. It was a no-brainer that she’d turn down the one who looked like a seventies porn star but he wasn’t so sure about the other.

  The second Missy made it clear she wasn’t into the man, Roi had decided to act. Since he was doing his best to “control his anger,” he took the calm approach. The walk-up-and-slide-his-arms-around-her one. It worked and won him a prize he’d only dreamed of—a kiss from Missy. When he’d pressed his lips to hers, he’d thought for sure she’d slap his face. Getting to insert his tongue into her mouth and taste her was more than he’d hoped for. Having her return his kiss almost left him coming in his jeans. She seemed to have a gift for leaving him on the edge of that often.

  She’ll be the death of me. I should run now. First, I need to kill Eadan for touching my mate.

  Roi shook his head and gave up fighting calling her his mate for the time being.

  “Missy, are you paying any attention to me? Normally, you’re down my throat about how I’m so wrong about Eadan. You love to go on an
d on that you and my brother are best friends. Then you like to yell at us for not including him in our mix of three. We try to include him. He doesn’t like hanging out with his baby sister. You seem to be the only person he enjoys being around.”

  “Huh?” Missy sat up a bit.

  Roi watched carefully as Missy glanced at Peren briefly and then back toward the two men. Something was going on. Had she rethought her initial rejection of the tall one? If she had, then she was in for a rude awakening. He’d toss her tiny, hot ass over his shoulder again and claim her. Once that happened, there would be no looking at other men like that. He wasn’t going to share her, and the beast that lingered just beneath the surface agreed with him.

  “Sweetie, I’m staying with you,” Peren said to Melanie, pulling his attention off wanting to kill and claim people. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  “Fine, you can stay with me. I do appreciate it.” Melanie pushed her plate of food toward Roi. “Hungry?”

  “Always, and thanks.”

  “No, really. I’ll come up with you two, just to make sure you’re all right. Wouldn’t want to be left out of all that great girl time. We’ve got, umm, toenails to paint and then there’s that whole sitting around with our hair in rollers while we watch chick-flicks thing too,” said Missy, squirming in her seat.

  Leaning down, Roi licked his lower lip. Missy’s gaze locked on his tongue and a slight grin played across his face. “Nervous?”

  She huffed. “No. Why?”

  “You’re rambling again.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Missy wrinkled her nose at him. He would have kissed her then and there if it weren’t for the fact that she seemed desperate to get away from him. Her insistence to put distance between them hurt, but he wasn’t about to let on to that.

  Melanie climbed out of the booth and Peren followed suit. Missy tried to get past him, but he wasn’t about to budge. She was his responsibility now. He’d see her safely to Green’s lab and then he’d get the hell out of her life.