by Lisa Kessler
I plucked the black velvet pumps from the box and slipped them on. Tight, but I wouldn’t be crippled. Still…I popped them off and picked up the patent-leather sling backs with rhinestone buckles. Much better fit. I walked over to the mirror, proud of myself for maintaining my balance. Heels weren’t part of my usual gear.
Sebastian came up behind me, his dark eyes on mine in the mirror. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I wish it could be under better circumstances.”
I turned around, looking up at him. “Will your father be there?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Tonight we need to convince him that I’m using you to keep the Sedona Pack on task for the final mission. He has to believe you’re committed to working with me against Adam’s Pack. It’s the only way to get you into the compound tomorrow.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “Okay.”
He took my hand and surprised me by lacing our fingers together. His voice softened, barely a whisper as his eyes searched mine. “I promised Madeleine I would bring her home.”
I nodded, not quite sure why he seemed so…desperate.
“I’m…afraid, Isabelle.”
And there he was. The real Sebastian stood in front of me, dropping all his defenses and leaving him open to be wounded.
He was fucking brave.
I reached up with my free hand to caress his cheek. “We all are.”
“You don’t understand. I’ve never protected anyone. Usually if I fail, someone lives. I can’t fail her…or you. Your lives are on the line.”
“So is yours.”
He pulled away, walking to the window. “My life is inconsequential.”
“Not true.”
He faced me, pain lining his brow. “You’ve seen all my scars. Until you, I’ve stitched them all myself. No one will miss me. Most will be glad when I’m gone.”
“I would miss you.” I blinked at the confession that fell from my lips. My voice squeaked. “You’re not in this alone. Not anymore.”
He crossed the room to take me into his arms. I returned the embrace, my heart racing like a fucking Thoroughbred. He whispered against my ear, “I need you to trust me tonight.”
Trust. I blew out a pent-up breath and nodded. “I’ll try.”
He straightened, walking me toward the door to the other room. “It starts with helping convince Adam to give himself up.”
He opened the door before I could respond. Adam and Vance spun around. Vance whistled. “Looking great, Isabelle.”
I chuckled, rolling my eyes. “Thanks.”
Sebastian was all business. With his back to the door, he crossed his arms. All eyes were on him. “Before we attend the fundraiser with my father, I need to be sure we’re committed to the plan.” He scanned the room. The cold-blooded assassin mask was firmly in place again. “Madeleine is inside the main building of the compound in an underground room in our laboratory. The only way I’ll be able to get both wolves inside tomorrow is if my father believes Isabelle is working for Nero.”
Adam lifted a brow. “And how will I get in?”
Sebastian met his eyes. “You’re coming in as my prisoner.”
“No.” Adam shook his head. “No way.”
Sebastian frowned. “It’s the only way to get you through the gates alive. I told my father you were willing to trade yourself for the girl.”
“And how do I know she’ll get out safely?” Adam clenched his jaw.
Sebastian’s hands fell to his sides. “Because if we succeed, you’re going to be the one to get her out.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sebastian
Adam pushed his chair out, pacing the room. “How exactly am I going to get her out if I’m imprisoned at Nero?”
“That’s where Vance comes in.” I glanced at my only friend. “For now, my father doesn’t know you’re here. I’ll do my best to keep it that way.”
Vance straightened, all business. “You’ll need to get my name added to the daily access list at the gate.”
“I will.” I cleared my throat. “You shouldn’t come to the compound until I send you Adam’s location. Once I know where they’re keeping him, Isabelle and I will be sure my father is occupied with plotting the attack in Reno.”
Vance nodded. “I’ll get Sloan free, and we’ll make a run for the girl.”
I deliberately kept my attention on Vance. If I allowed myself to look at Isabelle, I might not be able to get the words out. “Send me a text when you have the girl, and I’ll create a diversion for Isabelle to meet you outside.”
“No.” She stormed toward me. “If we leave you there—”
“It’s the only way,” I interrupted. “I have to keep him distracted long enough for the three of you to get out of the compound with Madeleine. If I come, too, my father will know. We’ll never get out alive.”
“He’ll kill you when he figures out what you did.” She shook her head. “There’s got to be another way.”
“I know my father better than anyone. This is the only way to get Madeleine back to Reno.” I met her eyes. “He might torture me, but he won’t let me die. Not without an heir in his custody. He won’t be happy about it, but I’ll be all he has left.”
My chest ached, and it had nothing to do with the stitches.
Adam stopped pacing and lifted his head. “Thank you for your help, Sebastian.”
My gaze locked on his. “Your daughter is a miracle.” I paused and added, “Promise me one thing.”
Adam nodded. “All right.”
“Don’t tell her that Uncle Sebastian was an assassin.”
“You got it.” Adam crossed his arms. “I’ll tell her you’re an ice cream man.”
I chuckled. “She does seem to like ice cream.” Sobering, I looked him in the eyes again. “This isn’t going to be easy, and I can’t guarantee your safety. I don’t know what my father will have in store for you once you’re inside the compound, but I’ll do what I can to make this right.”
Adam came forward and clasped my forearm. I didn’t hesitate to return the firm grip. The Alpha magic filled his eyes and colored his voice. “You’re Pack now. Never forget we’re stronger together.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed that, but staring at the others, werewolves and jaguar, mortal enemies working as a unit to save a little girl, the fear of failure receded. I hoped we were stronger than I realized.
We needed to be.
…
Normally, I’d call our subcontractor to bring a car to pick us up, but that would give my father a trail to find the hotel where Adam and Vance were staying while I was busy at the political function. Parking was sometimes nonexistent, so having a limo drop you at the door was a more expedient and preferred transportation method.
The hotel valet pulled up with my black BMW and handed me the keys before he jogged to the other side to open Isabelle’s door. Once the doors were closed, I glanced her way. “Ready?”
Isabelle smiled, stealing my breath for a moment. “No, but that’s never stopped me before.”
I reached over to caress her cheek, unable to keep from touching her skin. “Every man in the room will envy me tonight.”
She chuckled. “I don’t know about that.”
“I do.” I put both hands on the wheel. “I need to tell you something.”
“All right.” She was watching me, but I didn’t allow myself to glance her way.
I pulled into traffic. “I’ve spent my entire life justifying my father’s actions, and today when I saw Madeleine wiping her tears and asking for her father…” I huffed out a breath, shaking my head. “There is no justification. Yes, his blood runs in her veins, but abducting a child—” I narrowed my eyes at the traffic. “This isn’t fulfilling a military contract or eliminating a dangerous rival. This…”
I swallowed the hard lump in my throat. “This is wrong.” I finally turned toward her. “I’m going to make it right.”
She rested her hand on my thigh. “When you say things like
that, I start to think maybe my wolf isn’t crazy after all.”
A smile tugged at my mouth as I brought my hand to cover hers. “You’re a good influence on me.”
She chuckled, shaking her head. “Depends on which side of the board you’re sitting on today.”
“Touché.” I lifted her hand to my lips. “We’ve got about a half hour to come up with our backstory.”
She toyed with the necklace. “Undercover work is my specialty. How are we going to play it?”
I’d never had a partner before. One of our strengths as jaguar shifters was our ability to work alone, to be self-reliant. But something about knowing Isabelle would be with me…it didn’t make me feel weak.
Not even close.
“I told my father that you’re here with me to watch the Alpha and be sure he doesn’t escape. My father thinks we drugged him so you could accompany me to the gala tonight.”
She nodded and removed her hand from mine. “And we’re lovers.”
Hearing her say the word warmed my blood. “Yes.”
“And in trade for helping you bring in Adam Sloan, you’ve promised our Pack…”
I smiled. “You’re good at this.” I paused and added, “I guaranteed the Sedona Pack would have Nero’s protection from any retaliation from Reno.”
“Won’t your dad be pissed? He doesn’t give a shit about us.”
“No.” I chuckled. “He would never expect me to live up to my end of the bargain anyway.”
“Ugh.” She shook her head. “Your side of the board sucks.”
I didn’t respond. What could I say? I opted for changing the subject instead. “Senator Hanson is the chairman of the armed services strategic forces committee. My father donates heavily to his reelection campaigns to insure that our work at Nero remains classified.”
“Which part of Nero is that—the kidnapping women and biting them so you can breed more jaguars part, or the assassins sold to the highest bidder? Or are there even more secrets I don’t know about yet?”
I gripped the wheel a little tighter. “There is plenty you don’t know about, but our military contracts deal with DNA enhancement and supersoldiers. Hanson isn’t aware of our other endeavors.”
“Does he know you turn into a jaguar during the new moon?”
“He knows shifters exist.” I glanced her way. “He doesn’t know that my father and I are shifters, though.”
She raised a brow. “All right. So this guy must know General Miller Sloan, then.”
I frowned. “How do you know about the general?”
“Vance gave us his card to call if he didn’t come back. Adam told me who he was.”
I nodded slowly. “Yes, the general and Nero work behind the scenes to be sure Hanson keeps his Senate seat. If our research was ever declassified, we would all be in danger from our own government.”
There were other factors involved, but there wasn’t time for me to lay out our tenuous relationship with the Defense Department right now. “We just need to get through the event and make sure my father is convinced of your loyalty. Then tomorrow you can accompany me when I bring in the Alpha.”
“Adam.” She looked over at me. “He has a name, and a family.”
I made a right turn, clenching my teeth. “I’m well aware of that, but in my line of work, names lead to attachments I can’t afford.”
“I’m surprised I have a name.”
I glanced her way. “You’ve always had a name.”
She fidgeted in her seat but didn’t say anything else. I found a parking garage a block away from the venue. As she came around the car, I offered her my arm, unsure if she’d take it.
Her bright green eyes almost glowed in the yellow light of the garage as she looked up at me. “Before you morph back into the pompous ass your father expects, I want to ask you something.”
“All right,” I said as she slipped her hand into the crook of my arm.
“If we somehow live through this, and Madeleine gets home to her mom, where will that leave you and me?”
The truth was, if my plan worked, I would probably be the only casualty. I buried that knowledge and laid my other hand over hers. “In a perfect world, I would love to take you to the theater…or just take you.”
Her head tipped back, and the sound of her laughter warmed me all over. She tightened her hold on my arm, her full lips curving into a sexy smile. “I’m good with both plans.”
I stopped walking and pulled her close, my lips claiming hers slowly, savoring the sweet taste of her mouth and memorizing the way her body fit perfectly in my arms. I rested my forehead on hers and whispered, “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
“Likewise.” Her breath caressed my skin. “Let’s get this over with. We have unfinished business.”
I smiled, stealing one more kiss. “You make it difficult to focus.”
“Good.” Her devilish grin and bedroom eyes had my pulse racing, blood pumping below my belt. I wanted to drag her back to the car and take her far from this den of thieves. No woman had ever captivated me like this.
I forced myself to start walking, and gradually more people crowded the sidewalk as we neared the event. Isabelle released my arm, her hand sliding into mine. “Showtime.”
I nodded. “Welcome to my world.
Inside the ballroom, I led Isabelle through the D.C. elite, making our way through empty introductions and handshakes. By the time we reached the table, my father was already seated. Natasha was beside him, narrowing her eyes at me. He stood up and walked right past me to greet Isabelle.
He offered his hand. “You must be Isabelle.”
She nodded, shaking his hand without a smile. “We’ve met before.”
“I remember now. Of course we did.” He glanced at me and back to her. “My son does have good taste in many beautiful women. They blur together at times.”
I moved between them to greet Natasha, forcing my father to stop touching Isabelle as he stepped back. “You look well tonight.”
She air-kissed my cheeks, whispering, “No thanks to you, asshole.”
“You’re still breathing,” I pointed out, ignoring the daggers in her stare.
With the introductions finished, I pulled out a chair for Isabelle, then sat beside my father, effectively keeping him from bothering her, at least for a short time.
The wait staff descended on the tables, filling champagne flutes and delivering dinners of filet mignon or swordfish steaks. Forks and knives clinked against the porcelain plates, drowning the room in a symphony of gluttony. A cacophony of greed and hunger for power.
My father glanced up from his meal and pointed his knife at Isabelle. “How soon will your…group…be ready to travel to Reno?”
We were in mixed company, so we would all be limited in our conversation.
Isabelle didn’t miss a beat. “Whenever Sebastian gives us the go-ahead. With the…leader…here in D.C., it should be a simple task to finish up.”
She popped a bite into her mouth, and under the table her other hand came to rest on my thigh. I covered it with mine and squeezed. She hadn’t been kidding when she said she was good at undercover work. Would she ever stop surprising me?
My father smiled. “Good. If the mission goes according to plan, perhaps we’ll contract your group for other projects.”
She took a sip of her water and met his eyes. “Your money is as good as anyone else’s.”
Hanson’s chief of staff got up to the podium, cutting the conversation short. After his brief welcome and introduction, Senator Hanson stood to rousing applause. For the next half hour, he made promises he most likely had no ability to keep, but it fired up the deep pockets in the room.
That was all that really mattered.
When he finished, the dinner plates were replaced by slices of cheesecake, and the feasting continued as a cover band started playing hits from the seventies and eighties. This was the time when real deals were sealed in the shadows, hidden from prying ear
s by the loud music. My father tapped my shoulder and motioned for me to follow him.
“I’ll be right back.” In spite of the music, my date had no trouble hearing me.
I followed my father through a door behind the head table. Inside a makeshift greenroom, Senator Hanson finished shaking hands with another donor and turned to us.
As the others filed out, he shook my father’s hand. “Antonio, thank you for coming.” Next he faced me with a firm handshake. “Sebastian, it’s always a pleasure.”
I offered a cool smile and stepped back. My role in these meetings was to be my father’s silent witness to any promises made.
Hanson lowered his voice as he focused on my father. “There’s pressure on the committee to encourage General Sloan into retirement. They want new blood for our defense program.”
Antonio shook his head slowly. “General Sloan is a patriot and a firm supporter of your Senate seat. I can’t promise Nero’s continued financial backing in the future if he’s removed from his position.”
“I know, I know.” Hanson backpedaled. “But here’s what I’m thinking. Maybe we can make everyone happy. He could retire and then run for the open Senate seat in his district. Once he’s in, I can call in some favors and we can have him back on the committee again as a Senator.”
“Unacceptable.” My father narrowed his eyes. “Have you discussed any of this with Sloan?”
“No. I wanted your invaluable advice first.”
I marveled at Hanson’s bootlicking.
“Good.” My father huffed. “He’s only useful to us as long as he’s inside the military. If he retires, he would become another politician and susceptible to other…offers from other supporters.” My father chucked Hanson’s shoulder. “We need that strong advocate within our government.”
Hanson nodded slowly. He didn’t look happy about it, but the message was clear. He had to keep the others from forcing General Sloan out or risk losing the massive cash infusion that Nero offered.
“I appreciate your time,” Hanson muttered.
“We’ll talk soon.” My father turned to leave, and I followed. Outside the door, he grumbled, “Do you think he’ll honor his word?”
