by Dianna Love
More important. What was she doing thinking about it?
Slapping her business face on again, she followed the men into a twenty-by-forty room filled with kitchen and bar supplies stacked on shelves lined up across most of the room. That left them a twelve-foot-square area with four metal chairs.
This had to be quick or she’d choke on the testosterone flooding the air.
Her window of time continued to shrink.
Shutting the door, she stood in front of it while two of them sat. Gan leaned against a metal shelving and crossed his arms.
“This is not what I asked for,” Scarlett said in Vic’s direction. “I got a message Tess couldn’t make it for this meeting. Why?” She’d been friends with Tess longer than the Gallize. Her friend had recently mated with a Gallize wolf, which was how Tess became Scarlett’s liaison to this group.
Vic’s reddish-brown hair had grown out since she last saw him. He now wore it pulled back in a ponytail. He filled out his six-foot-plus size with a lanky build, but never underestimate a shifter based on his human body, especially a Gallize. He had the kind of clean-cut, nondescript face that would put others at ease if they missed the apex predator staring out through his gaze.
He explained, “Tess is hugging a toilet.”
“She’s got morning sickness?” Scarlett knew about Tess being pregnant but hadn’t expected someone as strong as her to get morning sickness. Guess having a baby was having a baby, regardless of being nonhuman. Tess was not a shifter, but a Gallize female who carried a crap load of power.
“Cole says it’s been going on nonstop the last two days and she’s wiped out. You get me instead.”
With a look in Vic’s direction, she allowed, “You can stay, but I only asked for one of your team to take with me.”
“You’re getting all three of us actually. You know Gan and this one is Adrian.” Vic pointed at the brooding wolf shifter sitting on his left.
What the hell? She’d actually asked for Tess to choose a Gallize for her, because Scarlett hoped to get Tess to agree with her terms that she called the shots, no exceptions. Tess would help Scarlett work things out with the Guardian if Scarlett had to push his man to stand down so that she could sneak Jaz out without anyone knowing.
Shaking her head, she had to straighten this out now. “Call the Guardian and tell him this isn’t what we agreed to. I don’t need a group.” They were insane to think she’d take three apex predators with her. “I’ll take two at the most.”
Taking Vic would be a problem, though, because he wouldn’t risk pissing off the Guardian if she needed him to bend a few rules. She’d bet Adrian would be the same as Vic.
Tiger will help, Chica said, popping into Scarlett’s head right when she did not need a distraction. I want tiger.
She had to get her cat out of her head. I will consider the tiger, but only if you leave me alone to think.
Chica rumbled a laugh, but went quiet.
Scarlett eyed the tiger shifter with the smoldering gaze. Could he not look at her without sending out silent let’s-get-naked messages?
Of course, those messages might be originating with her. She could close her eyes and the room would still feel too small with him here.
She scolded herself. Stop thinking about Gan naked and get back on track.
Maybe she should consider taking him. He hadn’t been a Gallize shifter long. Had he been turned into a true Gallize or was he still angry at them for making him a shifter?
Vic crossed his arms and leaned back. “I get what you’re saying, Scarlett, but this would be doing the Guardian a favor while affording you plenty of backup.”
Adrian had been sitting calmly, but he’d started growling softly like an animal ready to strike. “She doesn’t want us, Vic. Let’s head back to headquarters and let the boss send someone else.”
“She doesn’t want you, wolf,” Gan clarified, clearly happy with his jab. He looked over at Scarlett and winked.
What the hell did he think was going on here?
She hadn’t given him any encouragement.
Standing, Adrian’s arms fell loose at his sides, the way a fighter would to prepare for an attack. “I don’t recall anyone saying they wanted you, Psycho Cat.”
If these two shifted and wrecked Big John’s back room, they’d have to explain to the Guardian why she canceled the alliance with the Gallize. She didn’t need this crap and definitely not two idiots who would draw the attention of every shifter out front.
The minute Big John showed up with his shotgun, she’d clear a path for his aim.
Vic growled. “Cut it out you two. You agreed to do this. The Guardian told me to remind you that your options are limited.”
After a tense moment of staring, Adrian sat hard.
Hold it. She took in every face at that comment. What had he meant about limited options?
Vic told Scarlett, “The Guardian asked that you take all three of us.”
Gan smiled at Scarlett. “You did not know Vic or the wolf would be here. That means I am right. You did ask for me.”
How did that overgrown arrogant ass come up with that logic? His ego could not be allowed to run free unchecked. She gave him a pleasant smile. “How clever of you to figure that out.”
That boosted Gan’s grin.
She settled her gaze on Gan. “Don’t you want to know why I asked for you?”
He nodded, eyes full of gloating. “Yes. Explain for wolf and Vic. They are confused.”
Vic slapped a hand over his eyes and shook his head.
“It’s simple, Gan,” she continued. “You owe me a favor and I figured the Guardian would prefer I chose the one he could best afford to lose.”
Vic dropped his hand to cover his mouth where a grin peeked out past his fingers.
Adrian snorted. “Oh, man. I like her.”
Gan’s blue eyes turned dark as a stormy winter sky.
She leaned back against the door with her arms crossed. “Now that your ego has deflated enough for us to breathe and have a conversation, back to the discussion at hand. I still don’t understand why there are three of you.”
Vic explained, “Gan hasn’t been a shifter long enough to be in public without backup. Adrian has been out of circulation for a while healing, but he has extensive prior training and needs the field work. I’m here mostly to observe these two and report to the Guardian on if they’re ready to work on their own, plus help with anything you ask of me.”
That wasn’t entirely the truth, but she wouldn’t pin Vic down on which details were colored outside the lines until she had a chance to speak with him alone.
Gan clenched his jaw then flinched as if he had a sharp pain.
What the hell?
Had she made a mistake in bringing the Gallize in on this?
Having Adrian and Vic would offer a better chance of the women surviving the rescue with minimal harm, but Scarlett had her doubts about sneaking Jaz away before one of them recognized her.
Gan, on the other hand, hadn’t been around shifter law enforcement before now. She doubted he would have any idea of Jazlyn’s identity.
Getting the infamous Golden Kodiak wolf past him would be easy.
Chica purred. Yes, bring tiger. She made a slurping sound. Smells delicious.
Scarlett sent back, Floozy.
Chica chortled. Hermit.
If Scarlett turned down this much muscle, the Guardian might get suspicious. She liked the idea of someone with that eagle shifters resources owing her. He must have flown Gan here by private plane to arrive so quickly.
She opened her arms wide in capitulation. “Fine. We all go, but while you may be overseeing them, Vic, I want all three of you to understand that this is my operation. I’ve seen the women they captured. I know where they’re going now and we don’t have much time. Once they reach their destination, I have no idea where they’ll head to next if we miss this opportunity to save those female shifters.”
Vic stood. “We
’re ready to roll. You want to ride in our SUV?”
“No, thank you.” She needed space from all of them, especially Gan. He eyed her as if she’d slapped him with her paw. He needed to be taken down a few notches, but she hadn’t meant to cause that hurt look in his eyes.
She didn’t date and her lack of social skills showed at times. Still, she wouldn’t have fed an ego that large. She did him a favor if he ever expected to have a relationship with a female shifter.
Her gut lurched at that thought.
Whoa. Where had that reaction come from?
Pulling out her keys with a brisk move, she dictated, “I’ll drive my truck. Meet you outside after I settle my tab.”
They filed out of the room, down the hall, and entered the bar again. As the three Gallize crossed the room headed for the door, Scarlett walked over to the bar.
She slapped down a fifty, more than covering one drink. “Thanks, Big John.”
He gave her a nod. That was as much as anyone got from him.
Outside, Vic stood next to his Ford Expedition with Adrian and Gan milling around. Vic called over, “Where are we going?”
Stepping close to keep it as confidential as possible near a shifter bar, she said, “Longtown, North Carolina.”
She gave him the major roads to reach the interstate exit. “At that point, you’ll have to follow me. We’ll go deep into the woods, park and hike in. I’ve got a place to hide our vehicles. Let’s get moving.”
Scarlett headed to her truck.
When she opened the driver’s door, the passenger door flew open, too. Gan jumped in.
She leaned in. “What are you doing?”
He tried for an innocent look, but she doubted he even knew what the word meant. “I am ready to go. What is hold up?”
“Go ride with Vic.”
“Why?”
Because this tiger shifter had her cougar clawing to get out and do more than play nice. Telling Gan that would be a mistake since he already thought everything circled around him. His ego would expand and break her truck in half if he got any indication about her attraction.
An affliction she intended to cure.
She clenched the doorframe. “Get. Out.”
“No. I am tired with Adrian. Too angry.”
She let her fangs drop down. “Then you aren’t going to enjoy riding with me at all.”
Chapter 5
Gan hoped Scarlett would not make him leave. He had to start working on a way to escape the Gallize. That wouldn’t happen riding with Vic and Adrian.
He needed a friend.
When he looked at Scarlett, he wanted more than a friend, but she’d probably claw him up one side and down the other if she could see into his head. He hadn’t been with many women, and only camp whores at that. They saw him as a toy, a prisoner who would do anything they asked for food.
He’d been ashamed to be used that way, but he’d also been hungry.
Never again.
But Scarlett ... she was different. Special in a way no other woman could be. He had no idea why, only that she made him feel things that made him happy and confused at the same time.
Gan spoke in the nicest voice he had, which was not difficult when talking to this woman. “Much nicer to ride with you than those Gallize.”
Vic and Adrian waited in their SUV without looking his way. They were just as happy to be free of Gan as he was to dump them.
He held his breath, hoping Scarlett would give in.
He’d missed her silky hair the color of caramel woven in braids. Today she had them pulled straight back and tied with a band to fall as a ponytail. Soft cheeks and full pink lips had been made for an angel, but one look at those deep green eyes and no one missed the warrior inside.
Looking down, she muttered, “What am I doing?”
She raised her voice when she faced him. “Let’s be clear, Gan. I’m not nicer than those two or happy to have you riding in my truck.”
He had suffered worse comments and simply asked, “Why do you not like me?”
Blush rose in her cheeks. “I didn’t say that.”
She did like him? He kept himself still, not smiling. Sometimes smiles got him in trouble.
“It’s just that I didn’t want a large group for this operation.”
She was not saying everything she thought.
He decided to help her make up her mind and clicked his seatbelt in place. “Are we in hurry or not?”
Sounding resigned, she said, “Dammit. We have to get moving.” She jumped in behind the wheel and slammed her door.
His tiger snarled at the loud sound, but the animal had quieted the minute Gan sat in her truck.
Even Scarlett winced at the noise, but cranked the engine and got her truck moving.
With her busy driving, Gan wanted an answer. “Explain.”
She glared at him. “Explain what?”
“Why cougar does not like me. Has never met me.”
Scarlett checked her watch, taking her time to answer. “She doesn’t like tigers.”
“Why?”
“We had one try to kill us.”
Gan crushed the seat with his fist.
She glanced at his hand. “Hey, stop that. I remodeled this truck myself. It’s a classic.”
“Sorry.” He dropped his arm to the seat. He’d protected women in the camps, like the one he called sister, but he’d never had a rush of anger hit him so hard as hearing some shifter had hurt Scarlett.
“Who is tiger?” he demanded, determined to hunt down this predator.
She gave him a wary look. “Why?”
“I will make him never touch you again.”
They drove along in silence until she said, “I don’t need a white knight. I can take care of myself.”
“I am not white knight. I am tiger and I do not want you hurt. Ever.”
Scarlett’s scent changed after his words, but he didn’t know how to read what it meant. She still had the wonderful smell that belonged only to her, but he sensed less anger than before and more ... curiosity.
That was good. Cats were naturally curious.
Should he take that to mean she wanted to know more about him?
“What’s wrong?” She sent him a couple pointed glances. “Is it your tiger?”
“No, tiger is not problem.”
“He was bothering you in the meeting.”
“How do you know?”
She laughed. “I could feel the energy building around you, but then you moved around like you had something inside trying to break free.”
“Yes, tiger does not care what I need.”
Her gaze stayed on the road while she spoke. “But most of all, I smelled your ... worry.”
Why did other shifters know these things, but not him?
“There it is again,” Scarlett noted.
“There is what?”
“You’re aggravated about something.”
Shaking his head, he looked at her. “You smell that?”
“Sure. Our senses are heightened so we pick up more than just a smell. Don’t you?”
He propped his head on his fist and looked at the trees passing by. “I don’t know.”
His tiger rattled his insides and growled softly. Feels good.
Gan wanted to ignore the animal, but they had never spoken calmly to each other. He silently asked, You like truck?
Like her.
Before he could ask his animal more, Scarlett grumbled, “What have they been teaching you the last few weeks, Gan?”
“Nothing.”
Her voice went up a notch with an edge. “You can’t be out in our world without understanding how to use your senses.”
He blinked, surprised she had started talking to him. Like a friend. He sat up and paid attention. This might not happen again. “How do you smell lie?”
She shut down.
What had he asked that was wrong?
Grumbling under her breath, she offered, “Let’s try so
mething easy to begin with, okay?”
“Yes.” He would welcome any information.
“When you met me the first time and again now in the bar, you didn’t sense any aggression from me, right?”
He shook his head, his eyes studying everything about her. When she lowered her guard and talked to him in this relaxed way, his chest warmed at a new sensation of feeling normal.
She continued as she drove, working her way around slower traffic. “If I allowed my cougar to rage, even inside me, that would agitate your tiger. Your tiger picks up things from you, me, and other shifter animals. It may take a while, but your tiger can help you with what is going on around you.”
Not his tiger.
That animal only cared about being a tiger. He didn’t care if Gan suffered or needed help. But Gan didn’t want her to stop talking so he said, “I understand.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That smelled very close to a lie.”
He covered his face with his hand. “Hate this. I feel everyone see me, but I see no one.”
“I can understand,” she admitted softly. “But you have to learn to be able to tell if another shifter is acting hostile, friendly, or trying to trick you. Your tiger acted hostile in the meeting. Fortunately, the other two Gallize held their animals under control. So did I. If not, we’d have been at each other’s throats.”
“You feel my tiger now?” he asked, curious.
“Yes.”
“Not angry now.”
Shaking her head, she admitted. “No, he’s very quiet. That’s what you want when you don’t have a threat to face.”
He wanted to tell her that she had made his tiger calm, but she might stop talking again. Instead, he said, “Tiger does not want to kill you.”
“I hope not or you’ll need a driver,” she joked.
But he was not joking.
When he said nothing new, she turned to him. “You’re ... unhappy with me.”
She sounded surprised that he could be unhappy. She had no idea how much of his life he’d spent unhappy.
Running a hand over her hair, she said, “Okay, I missed something. What did I say wrong?”
Because she did not dismiss him, he gave her the truth. “You are first person, or animal, tiger does not want to kill. Is nice to sit here and be quiet inside.”
