Dragon Intrigues

by Isadora Montrose

  Great-Grandfather nodded. “Indeed. Unfortunately, Blythe, Vector will remain a major problem for some time. As I said, SPAR hopes Dom to lead them to the tier above his, but eliminating the criminal masterminds running Vector will almost certainly be more difficult.”

  Blythe was practically bouncing with indignation. She just didn’t get the big picture. “What do you mean, several lines of products and the next tier?”

  “What Great-Grandfather means, Blythe, is that the dirty-glass crystals were just one type of weapon in an extensive catalog. The lock picks and stun guns were other examples. And that smog yet another. Vector is set up like a drug cartel with each level of agents only loosely connected to the one above. And like a drug cartel it will be hard to stamp out.”

  “Huh.”

  He gave her fingers a squeeze. “But it’s no wonder you’re confused, sweetheart, trying to understand this thing is like looking into a fun house hall of mirrors.”

  “Exactly,” Great-Grandfather smiled approvingly.

  “Have you noticed how utterly ruthless this bunch are?” Neil asked.

  “I noticed that they had no hesitation in targeting your bride,” Great-Grandfather returned fiercely, “or in planning the most brazen daylight attacks.”

  “Blythe tells me that Jinx admitted to shooting two accomplices she referred to as Tom and Jerry. And there were a bunch more deaths in Seattle almost certainly linked to this thing.”

  “Does that mean we’re still in danger?” squeaked Blythe.

  Neil patted her hand. “No. We don’t know everything about Vector’s operation, but I think we can forget the revenge scenario. It doesn’t fit with a syndicate this large and slick. What about that wolverine shifter, Alden Reilly? Has he told us anything?”

  It had occurred to him that while the wolverine’s crystal had turned off his scent, it had also blinded Reilly. He hadn’t picked up on the presence of two werewolves and a dragon doing surveillance. Those weapons were doubly dangerous and a bit of intel would come in handy for future operations.

  But Great-Grandfather’s face grew even graver. “I’m afraid that Mr. Reilly hanged himself while awaiting his bail hearing. And before you ask, Lazarus was also found dead in his cell this morning. An apparent overdose. SPAR has a team waiting in case Jinx makes bail.”

  “Always supposing she survives that long,” Blythe put in.

  “Hmm. You know, Dom deliberately triggered the explosions as he left, intending to take out Jinx and Lazarus.” Neil thought aloud. “Every one of those sentry boats was wired. If the hawks hadn’t disabled the bombs, I’ll bet the guards would have gone up at the same time. In fact, the only hoods not dead, or supposed to be dead, are the ones SPAR grabbed.”

  “It does seem that we are looking for a coldblooded crew,” Great-Grandfather agreed, “with little respect for human life. Your point?”

  “Something about the way this is coming together is a little off,” Neil mused.

  “It’s a bewildering muddle, if you ask me.” Blythe threw up her hands. “Dom has to be the missing puzzle piece.”

  Neil shook his head. His instincts said no. “Vector is too elaborate an operation for Dom to be CEO. The guys at the top of sophisticated criminal organizations don’t risk their own necks. He probably was conning Jinx and Sweet, and Vector may have sent him to do just that, but if so, he’s not in charge. At most he’s middle management.”

  Blythe buried her face in her hands. “I give up. This thing is so twisted it makes spaghetti look like a grid.”

  Neil patted her thigh. He needed to think. “But whether Dom inserted himself into Sweet’s operation, or was sent by head office, he’s dead meat. Because either he conspired with Sweet to steal from Vector, or he failed to regain their property. Vector doesn’t give second chances. His most pressing need is to disappear before Vector has him terminated. SPAR needs to bring him in ASAP.”

  Great-Grandfather was smiling. “That’s my boy,” he said proudly. “That’s the kind of thinking that will make you an asset to the team.”

  “What team?” Blythe looked between them in alarm.

  Oops. His mate was still unaware of the delicate negotiations he and Great-Grandfather were engaged in.

  “SPAR. What else have we been talking about?” Great-Grandfather was genuinely surprised by her obliviousness.

  “You want Neil to keep working for SPAR?” she cried.

  “He will bring insight and youthful vigor to a bunch of aging warriors,” Duncan declared. “This is a moment of great crisis for the entire paranormal community.”

  Neil held his breath. As usual Great-Grandfather was being both dictatorial and insightful. A job with SPAR would suit him down to the ground and make use his military skills. He hadn’t known that this was what he wanted to do, but it was. Yet no way could he take on a career that upset his mate.

  Blythe’s eyes were glued to his. She sighed gustily. “You do have a gift for strategy and planning. And I don’t imagine being a keeper is any riskier than being in Recon.”

  “Recon is no longer an option,” Neil informed her. “After the medics said my knee would never be the same, the Corps wrote me my big ticket.”

  “They discharged you?” She was indignant.

  “Honorably. I could have remained a Marine, but I wanted to be in Special Ops,” he explained patiently.

  “It was time,” Great-Grandfather said so smugly that Blythe’s eyes narrowed.

  Neil’s heart sank. But she only kissed his cheek. “Go for it, Marine.” She turned to Great-Grandfather. “Just so you know, Neil and I will not always be falling in line.”

  She might as well not have spoken. “Now we head to San Francisco,” Great-Grandfather continued smoothly. “I’ve arranged for the commissioners to interview Neil. He’s being tapped to work at HQ.”

  “The commissioners?” Blythe asked warily.

  “There are five of us,” Great-Grandfather said. “We all have to approve.” But he continued as if that approval was a done deal. “As November, Neil will be tasked with coordinating SPAR’s anti-Vector activities.”

  “In San Francisco?” Blythe bleated.

  “That is where HQ is located. You’ll love the city. Lots of fog.”

  “What about my business?”

  “Ah. About that. Unfortunately, the attempted kidnapping of her two cousins prompted Courtney Olander Slocum to go online and comprehensively damn Warren & Needles. Phillip Olander was deeply upset, but you know how difficult it is to undo social media posts. You have his sincere apologies. But on balance, I believe he has amply repaid his debt to you.”

  “Huh.” His bride didn’t sound convinced. Olander had better add a bonus to her check.

  “Regrettably, you will have to find a new business location, my dear. And a new partner. It seems Ms. Needles is planning to remain where she is, indefinitely. But San Francisco will be an ideal venue for a new venture.”

  “Yes,” Neil said. He kissed his mate’s hand. “I think it’s time you concentrated on your art, my love. The world needs more of your lovely portraits. And making a living from art photography will not pose a problem for you in the future.”

  “I don’t recall handing over running my life to you,” she snapped.

  He met her eyes. Grinned. She was pissed but she couldn’t hide that love light. “I just want you to be happy.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you dragons are bossy?”

  Great-Grandfather’s laughter drowned out any reply Neil could have conceived of. But he noted that she didn’t try to claim that photographic portraits weren’t her true passion.

  CHAPTER 61

  Blythe~

  Neil halted his striptease. “So how do you really feel about Great-Grandfather deciding I should join SPAR?”

  She kept her own voice low. The Dragonfly was spacious, but Great-Grandfather’s cabin was across the passageway. “Truthfully, I’m not thrilled with the idea of you being a paranormal policeman chas
ing crystal enhanced psi-criminals. But mostly, I don’t want you to spend your life knuckling under to that old despot.”

  “I’m deeply devoted to that old despot.” Neil swept her into his arms. “But I’ll say no, if you really object.”

  She sighed. “That’s what’s known as cutting off your nose to spite your face. You know you want to hunt Vector.”

  “You can take the Marine out of the Corps, but you can’t excise the Corps from the Marine’s soul.”

  “You need a job, Drake. Something that will keep you too busy for daredevil exploits. I don’t think spending the Drake money and dandling a baby will be quite enough.” Her hero needed to serve and protect.

  He kissed her nose. “I could find something else to do. Drake Investments can always use another bond analyst.”

  She choked. Covered her eyes. “Spare the bond market. After two days you’d be brooding again. I think November is your fate.”

  “No, November is my job. You, Blythe Warren, are my fate.”

  She kissed him back. “I do love you, I’m even growing fond of your impossible great-grandfather. But I worry about keeping him out of our business. He wants to name the baby Hiram.”

  He chuckled. “An excellent name.” He kissed her again.

  “For a horse.”

  “Just so you know, he was pulling your leg.”

  “More like yanking my chain.”

  “Yup. Great-Grandfather has a strange sense of humor. And one last point about that impossible old man. Arranging for me to work for SPAR means he’s forgiven me for Randall.”

  “Oh. That counts for a lot, doesn’t it?”

  His face gave the truth away. “More than I can say.”

  CHAPTER 62

  Mystic Bay,

  Blythe~

  Despite the arguments presented by Neil’s mother and grandmother, and despite the wishes of her own mom, Blythe had only three bridesmaids. Molly, of course, was her maid-of-honor, and the two Olander cousins made sweet junior bridesmaids.

  Veronica and Megan had been thrilled to wear their black patent leather shoes again. Blythe had insisted on deep violet for their dresses. Mint had no pleasant associations.

  Even though Duncan Drake had thought a floating reception was a grand idea, the Warrens had refused to alter tradition. Warrens held their wedding receptions at the Mystic Bay Community Center. If Drakes were too good for that humble venue, it would cut the guest list to manageable proportions.

  Predictably all the Drakes had accepted. As did all of Neil’s buddies from the Corps. That made for rather a crowd. Although the honor guard had been a lovely touch. The dance floor was a trifle congested with so many guests. It wasn’t just rabbits who enjoyed the bunny hop.

  Molly had dragged her off to the sidelines to prepare for tossing her bouquet. “I should just give this to you,” Blythe teased. “It looks like you and your plus one will be next.”

  Her friend blushed. “Felix wants to get married,” she admitted. “But it’s too soon.”

  “It’s very suitable. Your folks are ecstatic that he’s a Mason.”

  Molly rolled her eyes. “A Mason from California. Not the same thing at all.”

  “A geotalent. And he seems very — pleasant.”

  “He is.” Molly’s blush got deeper. “But he’s too young to be sure of his feelings.”

  “Unlike you?”

  “You know how we Mystic Bay girls are once Cupid dings us.”

  Blythe grinned. “I do. For what it’s worth, I think you should let Felix take responsibility for his own feelings. Either way, Jutway seems safely remote.”

  “Felix says it’s a fortress. He’s not far wrong. And the plant life is amazing.”

  Ever since Dom had escaped the warehouse where Packard and the other SPAR keepers had him penned up, Blythe had felt her friend faced an increased risk. An island fortress was a good place for her.

  Neil insisted that Dom had other problems with both Vector and Spar on his trail, and would have no time to pursue glass tuners. But Blythe couldn’t help worrying seeing as Vector wasn’t a one-person operation.

  “Neil and I love those photographs you gave us. The trees are beyond beautiful. They’ll hang in our new house in pride of place.”

  She and Neil had bought a painted lady in San Francisco. The 1910 house had a conservatory she would use as a studio, as well as plenty of room for a nursery. Irritatingly Duncan had been correct about how much they both loved the city.

  Not least because as soon as her black and white portraits had gone on display, she had been inundated with requests for photographic portraits in the same style. It was galling to have to credit Duncan for launching her new career, but he had arranged for that show too. She’d have to hope the baby took after her side of the family.

  “You’ll have to visit Jutway and see it for yourself. The plants are out of this world.” Molly hesitated. “And thank you for paying off our loan. I owe you. I confess to having been a bit worried about the bank. My salary is okay, but so far my art shots are not exactly making me rich.”

  Blythe waved a hand. “Great-Grandfather’s treat. He makes up for being ridiculously authoritarian by being insanely generous and being genuinely concerned with the happiness of those he’s bossing around.”

  Molly rolled her eyes. “Do I get to be godmother?”

  It was Blythe’s turn to blush. “Shh. Am I showing? My mom and dad don’t know yet.”

  “You have a sort of glow and a double aura I associate with impending motherhood. But I won’t say another word.”

  Veronica and Megan interrupted them. “Miss Blythe,” caroled Megan importantly, “you’re supposed to go over there and throw your flowers.” She pointed to the stage where school concerts and plays were performed. “My mom says we can stand with the unmarried ladies.”

  “You bet,” Blythe assured her.

  In the event, Molly caught the bouquet to the cheers of the guests. Maybe her BFF would be married to her young geo-geek sooner rather than later.

  CHAPTER 63

  Neil~

  “Congratulations,” he clapped Merritt on the shoulder.

  Merritt twirled the scrap of elastic and blue lace and turned Blythe’s garter into a slingshot. “Just as soon as I meet the bitch of my dreams.”

  “A tip going forward: You’ll get luckier if you don’t refer to your future wife as a bitch.”

  “Good clean word in my world. I’m in the market for a strong tough bitch who doesn’t object to a lone wolf.”

  “Hmm. Strong and tough are excellent qualities in a woman.” Neil spoke just for Merritt’s ear. “My cousin Ian tells me there’s something fishy going down on Hyde Island. Stand by.”

  He didn’t have to say that the something fishy involved Vector. Since Dom had gone walkabout, SPAR had been scrambling to follow every lead. November was already a busy watch commander. Hyde was just one island over from Mystic Bay and a possible platform for Vector’s expected attack on Mystic Bay geotalents.

  “What’s the word from Packard?” murmured Merritt.

  “Either the basilisk is dead, or the SOB is well hidden.” The werewolf had last reported to November from the California desert. Neil had high hopes for his agent, but Dom remained a formidable enemy entrenched in unforgiving territory.

  Merritt raised his glass. He was drinking beer rather than champagne. “Confusion to the foe.”

  “Confusion.” Neil drained his champagne.

  “Isn’t it time you left on your honeymoon?”

  “It is.” He and Blythe were going to sail down the West Coast, perhaps as far as the Baja Peninsula. The Sanderling was gassed and ready to go.

  He found his wife changed into boating clothes accepting farewell kisses from her family. She sparkled at him. The loveliest dragoness in the world was ready to ride. Bip bop boo.

  Glen Warren wrung his hand. “You take care of our little girl.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Have no fea
r,” Wally Babcock assured his brother-in-law. “Neil’s been looking out for her ever since I gave him the heads-up.”

  “I thought you were warning me off?” Neil blurted.

  “Now, why would I want to do that?” the sheriff asked, “with her being stalked by a creep?”

  Blythe growled.

  Time to move on. “Shall we go, my love?”

  Neil swept his bride into his arms and carried her out to the dock and their new lives.

  Fin

  Keep reading for a look at the next book

  in the SPAR: Rescue & Romance series.

  Bear Intrigues is now in pre-orders. Reserve your copy today.

  Coming Soon!

  BEAR INTRIGUES

  A BBW/Billionaire Bear Romantic Suspense

  SPAR: Rescue & Romance

  Book 2

  by

  Isadora Montrose

  Doe on the run trapped on island with ravenous bear. Will she make it off alive or in love?

  When bear Colin Justice saves BBW Deanna Mead from rogue shapeshifters he accepts full responsibility for keeping her safe — forever. Deanna is in more danger than she knows. But possessive alpha male Colin may pose a greater threat than Vector.

  Can a penniless grazer and a billionaire hunter lie down in peace? How about passion?

  Keep reading for the first 3 chapters.

  Available on Amazon!

  CHAPTER 1

  Sequim, Washington State

  Deanna~

  “You, Sherman, are a freeloader, pure and simple,” she said. “Also totally ungrateful. Heaven knows why I put up with you.”

  Offended, Sherman hopped out of the twisted sheets, turned his back, and stalked away, every muscle stiff. He glared at her from the other side of the room and opened his mouth. It was a threat. Deanna Mead’s stomach clenched. At the very least he was about to get them both evicted. The walls between her room and the next were paper thin. One more complaint and even Mrs. Hammond’s patience would end.