by Sydney Addae
The pressure eased off his chest as tension rolled off him when no one mentioned a census or accounting of the Wolf Nation. Turning in his seat, his gaze clashed with Admiral Bents heated glare and he knew in his gut the man hadn’t given up, no matter what the Joint Chiefs said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
JARCEE TROTTED DOWN the long dark hall. His nails clicked on the concrete floor as he searched for her. Every now and then his beast would stop, inhale and change directions. Their mate was close.
Somewhere in this realm, she waited for them. The need to ensure her safety drove him faster. Compelled by her absence he searched for her in his dreams.
In the distance, he sensed her presence and ran forward. “Faye.” His heart leaped for joy as her scent invaded his being, drawing him closer. She lay still on a bed with white sheets, head elevated, eyes closed.
Asleep.
He sat back and stared at her for several seconds before morphing to his human form.
“Faye,” he said softly needing to touch her, his fingertips grazed her cheek.
Her eyelids fluttered open, her lovely gaze met his. “Jarcee?” she looked around. “What? Where are we?”
“Dreaming,” he said and then smiled at her shocked expression.
“We’re dreaming?” she looked around. “Why is it so dark? So blah?”
“What do you want it to be? It’s your dream,” he said.
“A sunny day at the beach, or in a park, anything is better than this.”
The next second they sat next to each other on a beach, with drinks in their hands.
“I like how you think,” he told her as he took her hand in his. “What happened? You didn’t come home.”
She frowned and pursed her lips. “You’re right.” She told him about the meeting with Agent High and her instructions to get tested.
“I’m sorry. They must have kept me overnight.” She stroked a finger down his cheek. “I’m dreaming of spending time with you on the beach, we have to make this a reality soon.”
He kissed the back of her hand and placed it on his chest. “Anytime, anywhere.”
She smiled. “They asked a lot of personal questions.”
“Who?”
“The doctors. A lot about Knight but some of you, the size of your penis and performance in bed.”
Jarcee’s beast bristled but he kept him leashed.
“They didn’t believe me. I think they ran tests.” She didn’t look at him.
If she knew they were mates, and shared that information, the testing would be more severe. They wouldn’t stop or release her until they learned as much as they could about mated pairs. They might kill her, or he would kill someone, putting the pack in danger as well as his mate.
He placed his hand on her belly. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” He had an idea of how they verified her ability to handle someone of his size. It took everything within him to remain calm for her. But he’d deal with them one day.
“I slept through it.” She moved slightly and winced. “I’ll be fine. Hopefully, be home tonight. I miss you so much.”
“I miss you, too.”
“I’ve had dreams before, this seems so real,” she said holding his hand tight.
“My love for you is real. I’ll always be here for you, will always find you,” he promised. “Come home to me.”
“I’ll be home soon,” she said fading.
The scenery changed. Jarcee sat on top of a green mound overlooking a wide valley. In the distance, pups ran around playing. He sensed the old Alpha and stood.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds. Dressed in a long dark robe, with long white hair that passed his shoulders, the Alpha wore a serene expression as he waved. “Sit back down, rest.”
Jarcee sat and watched as the older man sat across from him. For several moments neither spoke.
“Your mate?”
“Yes,” Jarcee answered without thinking.
“You’re asleep.”
“My Alpha believes it’s best.”
“And you?” The old man’s green eyes peered at him. “What do you believe?”
“I would start a war to get her back,” Jarcee said simply.
“Then perhaps it’s best.”
Jarcee nodded.
“You were wise to keep the information of being mates from her. They would never release her if they knew or suspected how important she is to Silas. She would become a bargaining chip for power that could change the fabric of this battle.”
Jarcee frowned. “How? I don’t understand how they could use my mate that way.”
“Your Alpha and his Mistress love you as their own. Haven’t they pledged to do whatever’s necessary to help you and your mate reunite?”
Jarcee nodded, recalling his Alpha’s confident words. Words that brought Jarcee from the brink of despair and disaster.
“Those words were spoken from their hearts. Indeed, Jasmine heart is broken knowing you’re suffering.”
Jarcee swallowed hard and hung his head. He would never cause Mistress a second of discomfort but had no idea how to prevent her pain in this instance.
“If their enemies understood the depth of their commitment to you, your happiness, of which she is the key, they would use her. Do you understand what I’m saying to you? It’s important to control your beast and not tip their hand?”
Jarcee gave the matter serious thought. How far would Alpha and Mistress go to keep their word? Alpha never instructed him not to tell Faye after they discovered she was a spy. Could Faye be used that way?
He hadn’t given his mate’s position much thought, but it was an important piece. As long as she was in the military, she could be used or compromised. Frustration rolled through him as the old Alpha’s words found fertile ground.
La Patron would fulfill his promise to Jarcee no matter the cost, that was absolute. The challenge was to minimize the damage to the pack.
“You’re right. I thought only of my need to be with my mate, not of the possible outcomes.” If he had followed Faye to the hospital today, the world might have discovered their Nation. He shuddered at the consequences of breaking their sacred rule.
“That’s as it should be. Nothing and no one comes between mates. Your situation is different, your mate works for the enemy of the pack. It’s a temporary setback but has to be handled differently. That’s why I allowed you access in this realm.”
Jarcee nodded. “Thank you. The visit calmed my beast. I don’t know how long they will keep her and would appreciate passage to spend time with her in this realm.”
The old Alpha nodded. “Granted as long as you do not tip the scales. We are at an important juncture. Be careful. Her associates are watching. They cannot know she means everything to you.”
“How would they know that?”
“By your behavior. Things you say and do. You need to appear carefree as if her absence means nothing.” He paused. “For the love of your mate pretend you don’t love her.”
“What do you mean?” Jarcee frowned.
“Humans think along those lines. If you’re seen with a mated female, they will think you’re interested in someone else. The risk is they’ll tell your mate, who may believe them. Choose a mated female who will ease your mate’s mind later.” He shrugged. “Or not. It’s up to you. I’m merely offering suggestions.”
“I’ll discuss it with La Patron.”
“Good,” the old Alpha said rising in a fluid motion. “Have heart, Jarcee, you’re highly favored with your Alpha and his den. Things will work out in the end.”
Jarcee nodded with a heavy heart. It didn’t sound as if Faye would be returning today.
“Your mate’s love for you will cause her some problems short term. When she returns to you, the mating can be completed.”
“I would prefer she return right now,” he said missing her.
“Soon,” the old man said and disappeared.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
TWO DAYS LATER, MÉLANGE exited the dark limo and entered the three-storied building. After walking through the metal detector and clearing a mediocre security check she headed toward the bank of elevators.
Dressed in a snug fitting, sleeveless short black dress with six-inch heels, heads turned to watch the small delectable package wait. She draped her waist-length hair across her chest and pushed her sunglasses up her nose.
The elevator rose to the third floor. She was met by an older woman with a cool smile who no doubt doubled as security.
“This way, please.”
Mélange followed, taking in the empty desks and chairs they passed. When they arrived at the end of the hall, the woman opened the door and allowed Mélange to enter.
“Thank you,” Mélange said over her shoulder without taking her eyes off the lone man in the room.
The woman nodded and closed the door.
Mélange stared at the older man. He had aged quite a bit since she saw him, more girth around the middle, lines bracketed his mouth. When the opportunity arose to meet with him again, she’d been apprehensive but, in the end, agreed.
“You’re looking well,” Admiral Bents said. “It’s been a long time.”
Mélange nodded as she looked around his office and his desk. “I confess I’m curious why you asked to meet with me. Surely you know the Liege has disbanded. I don’t work for them anymore.”
He nodded. “Bad mess there. Sorry to see them go, we worked well together for many years. Had a good thing going.” He paused and looked at her. “Things have changed. I’m on the Joint Chiefs now.”
“Really?” she chuckled.
He smiled. “Are you still in the business?”
“It depends.”
He nodded.
“I need someone located.” He waved his hand. “Not really. What I need is the information he stole from me. It’s important I get them back.”
Mélange looked around the room and moved closer until they stood an arm’s length apart. Using the flat of her palms, she braced herself on his desk.
“I don’t do lost and found.”
He frowned. “My contacts said you were the perfect person for this job. I only contacted you because I remembered you from The Liege and General McNeill used you a couple times for our work.”
She shrugged. “I haven’t done anything like that in a while.” She met his gaze. “Is that all?”
His gaze flicked down to her lips and back to her eyes. “Right now I need that information from a project Lee was working on, find that and I’ll have more work for you when you’re done. In fact, I’ll give you more work than you can handle.”
Her brow rose and she stared at him for a few seconds. “Okay. But I’ll only take jobs that interest me. Is that clear?”
Relief spread across his face as he nodded. “Is your account information the same?”
Frowning, she crossed her arms and nodded. “You shouldn’t have kept that.”
“I didn’t realize I had it until you were recommended again. I thought you retired.” He looked at her expectantly.
“Why would I do that?” She sounded confused.
“I haven’t heard anything about you in years,” he said.
She tilted her head and looked at him. “If you had, I wouldn’t have been doing my job.”
He nodded and released a breath. Picking up a plain folder, he opened it and handed it to her. “This is the information I have on him.”
She flipped through the pages. “What if he’s dead?”
“I don’t care. I need the data, any drives, files, find those.”
Mélange nodded and pulled out her phone. She looked at him with a raised brow.
He walked to his desk and started typing. “If I remember correctly the down payment is always the same, with the balance due at delivery.”
She nodded.
“Should be there in a second or two,” he said.
She shoved the phone back into her pocket and flipped through the file again. “Is this photo current?”
“I believe it is.”
Her gaze flicked to him and then back to the file. “Do you have a current picture?”
“What I have is in that file.”
She pulled out her phone, made a few taps and looked at the screen. The money had been transferred. After shoving her phone back into her pocket, she went over each page in the file, memorizing them. When she was finished, she returned the file to him.
“Five days. If I don’t find the contents, we’re even.” She waited for him to accept her terms.
“Find the contents no matter how long it takes,” he countered.
“No. I have other jobs scheduled.” She crossed her arms.
“That’s okay, just keep looking until you find it.”
She stared at him, took another look around, nodded and left the office. The same woman stood when Mélange exited the office and walked her to the elevator. They waited in silence. Once Mélange was on the first floor, leaving the building the woman spoke. “Have a nice day.”
Mélange nodded and headed toward her car. The drive to the condo she used for occasional assignments wasn’t that long. Her thoughts raced on what she needed to do. Timing was everything. She went upstairs, changed into a pair of cargo jeans and oversized shirt and hiking boots before gathering her supplies and tools. Within an hour she was in her car headed to the cabin Major General Lee had last been seen.
MÉLANGE ARRIVED AT the cottage and took several deep breaths. Someone had cleaned the place really well. She started searching for places information could’ve been hidden in the living room and found nothing. Then the kitchen, and other than rotted food, once again nothing. She barely picked up any trace except in the bathroom.
Standing at the entrance she looked around. Had Lee hid in here? Or was there something more? She stood and stared at the compact place before tapping the walls, ceilings, and floorboards.
Kneeling, she grabbed a tool from her bag to pull up two boards and looked beneath. A waterproof canvas bag had been stuffed under the floor. She pulled it out and searched for anything else.
Nothing.
She stared at the bag and frowned. Hadn’t someone searched this place already? How had they missed this? She stored it in one of her pockets, replaced the boards and continued to search the bedroom.
Finished with the inside, she stood on the back porch and stared across the way at the other homes in the distance. Had any of them seen anything? Heard anything? She drove over and interviewed everyone who had been at home. Two homes were vacant and according to the neighbors hadn’t been rented or lived in for a long time.
Mélange wasn’t surprised that no one saw or heard anything. What did surprise her that they had seen Lee out and about. For someone on a short leash in hiding, that had been extremely careless.
As the sun set, Mélange approached the first empty house, did a quick search. The neighbors had been correct, it had been empty for a long time. She headed to the other empty house and slowed before reaching the front porch.
The house wasn’t empty although someone went to great lengths to make it appear as if it was. She swallowed down an impatient sigh and continued to the porch. After a polite knock, she looked in the windows, saw nothing out of the ordinary. She walked around the back, counted two heartbeats before trying to open the door. It didn’t budge. She looked in more windows while deciding if she would push the issue or not.
While in the back, a car pulled up out front. She ran to the side and saw a man in his early 30’s stepping out with bags of food. He stared at her as she walked toward him.
“Need help with that?” she asked.
“Who are you?” he looked around. “What are you doing here?” He shut the door with his hips while holding the bags loosely in his grip.
“I’m looking for a friend of mine, the neighbors said he might’ve come over here. Have you seen him? Older guy, short white hair. Little shorter than you?” She shifted
to the side as she sensed the other two heartbeats drawing closer.
“No. I haven’t seen anyone like that, not around here.”
“How long have you been here?” She asked looking away from the house toward the cabin where Lee had stayed.
“Just a couple days.”
She glanced at him and the dark house. “No power?”
He looked at the house and then at her. “Not yet.” Stepping around her he headed to the porch, fumbled with his keys and opened the door.
“Thanks,” she said as he disappeared. She leaned against his car for a few seconds looking toward the cabin and wondering what these three were up to. She pulled the small tracking device from her pocket and pressed it against the car until it heated beneath her touch. Now it was activated and merged with the color of the vehicle, undetectable to the eye.
The door opened. The guy stepped on the porch. “Did you need something else?” he walked to the car, grabbed a backpack, box, and another bag.
“No, just thinking where else to look.” She continued staring at the cabin down below.
“Maybe they went to the store or something and will be back soon,” he said locking his car.
She snorted. “Three days is a long time to be at the store.” She shook her head and walked off. “Anyway, thanks.”
“No problem.”
Waving, she glanced back with a smile and memorized the license plate. When she returned to the condo, she pulled up the information on the rental car at the house and sat back.
A member of the military had rented the car and possibly the house as well. She checked the utility records; the power was scheduled to be turned on tomorrow.
That crew hadn’t been there long, a day short of the three days the guy claimed. That cleared them of dealing with Lee but she included their presence in her report. She placed a call to schedule another meeting with Admiral Bents. He sent a text wanting to meet that night to see what she found.
There was no reason to delay, so she agreed to meet in three hours.
At midnight, the car pulled to a stop in front of the same building she had met the Admiral earlier that day. Most of the building was dark with the exception of a few lit offices on each floor. With the pouch secured beneath her dress, she entered the building. The same older woman waited, signed her in, allowing her to bypass security and escorted her to the third floor. Neither spoke.
