by S. E. Smith
“Let me guess, you are Mak’s friends,” Tansy said dryly.
One of the men came forward only to stop when a growled escaped Mak. Brock, his brother’s head of engineering, stopped a few steps away. Merrick, Leader of the Eastern Clan, and Lan, the palace’s head of security, watched from where they were sitting on the couch and chair.
“Go get dressed,” Mak hissed out under his breath. “In fact, stay in the bedroom until I get rid of them.”
“No way, Tarzan,” Tansy said drily. “My name is Tansy, not doormat. I’ll get dressed but I’ll be right back out here. Cosmos, did you order some food? I’m starving.”
“Yea… yeah!” Cosmos said rubbing his throat with a scowl. “Dude, you have got to quit trying to choke me,” Cosmos said with a glare at Mak. “I just got healed from the last time.”
“Where is Terra?” Mak growled out swinging around to look at Cosmos while trying to keep his eye on Tansy.
“She’s with Tilly and Angus. Tilly promised to keep her hidden from everyone but your mom,” Cosmos said gruffly. “Do you think I would be stupid enough to leave her here when there might be a threat to her?” Cosmos bit back sarcastically. “I told you I would kill anyone who tried to take her from me.”
Tansy’s surprised gasp drew all eyes to her again. “You… kill someone? Mr. Laid-back-never-get-stressed-out?”
Cosmos raised his middle finger at Tansy with a grunt. “Screw you, Tansy. I might be a scientist but I know how to do more than you think.”
Tansy chuckled. “I’d love to see that! By the way, thank you for all your help getting me out,” she added softly walking up to him and brushing her lips along his chin. “I thought for sure my time was up.”
Mak released his breath in a deep sigh before bending and picking Tansy up, making sure the towel caught under his arm so her ass wasn’t showing. He ignored her squeal of indignation and outrage. If she wouldn’t leave the room on her own two feet, he would pick her up and take her.
“You are mine!” He bit out. “That means, no showing your body to other males, no kissing other males, and listening to me when I tell you to do something.”
“In your dreams, King Kong!” Tansy snorted out ignoring the astonished looks and chuckles as he slammed the door to the bedroom behind them.
*.*.*
Forty minutes later, Tansy leaned back with a happy groan and rubbed her full belly. She almost snorted when all conversation stopped and five pairs of men’s eyes followed her movements. She guessed it could have something to do with the silk, white dress she was wearing. The designer had done an excellent job of tailoring it to emphasize her curves. The neckline was modest but still showed a substantial amount of cleavage. She had left her hair down and it fell in glossy waves of rich, dark red to her waist. She had added a touch of makeup to bring out her eyes and high cheekbones. She knew she looked good but it still amazed her when guys acted like they had never seen a good looking gal before.
Not good-looking, beautiful, Mak whispered with a flash of desire in his eyes.
Whatever, Tansy whispered back in exasperation.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Tansy glanced in warning for the men to be quiet. They hadn’t heard from Rico or the others this morning. It was possible it was them at the door. Tansy picked up the small pistol she had set down on the table. Rising, she moved to answer the door when the knock sounded again.
“Wait,” Mak growled out nodding to the other men to spread out just in case.
Tansy paused long enough for the men to move into several different spots. She waited for Mak to give her the sign to continue. Pushing a strand of hair back, she stepped to one side of the door.
“Who is it?” She called out in a light cheerful voice.
“Rico and company,” came the cheerful, slightly accented response.
Tansy unlocked the door recognizing their code that all was safe. “Hey Rico, morning Helene, Natasha,” Tansy said as she turned and walked back to the table and her coffee. “Have you guys eaten yet? Cosmos ordered plenty and there is still some coffee left.”
“Thanks Tansy,” Rico said heading for the cart filled with food. He stopped and paled as the other men came out from where they were hidden about the room. “Madre de Dios, Cosmos! There are more?!” Rico swore as he glanced warily at Lan, Brock, and Merrick.
Cosmos grinned at his old friend before slapping him on the shoulder. “Hey Rico. What’s up?”
“I’ll tell you what is up, my friend… my blood pressure. You seemed to have forgotten to tell me a few things about this assignment,” he muttered as he walked cautiously over to the cart and pour himself a cup of coffee.
Brock and Lan started when they heard the feminine chuckles following Rico’s muttered comment. “You should have been there when Natasha and I first saw Tansy’s man. He scared the shit out of me,” Helene said as she started to walk over to the cart as well.
She had only taken a few steps when Brock stepped in front of her with a low rumble escaping. She jerked back startled and glanced up at him in surprise. She must not have been happy with what she saw in his eyes because she turned with a sharp glare to Cosmos.
“Call off your hound dog or I’ll put a leash on him,” she snapped out trying to walk around him only to find herself stopped again when he stepped back in front of her. “VChat te futsk?” She cursed in Russian.
Brock glared down at Helene. “What did she say?” He demanded frowning.
“She isn’t happy you are blocking her way to the food,” Natasha laughed as she walked over the couch to drop her jacket on the end of it. She winced as she straightened and held onto her side. “But, that is ….,” her voice died as she found herself trapped suddenly.
A low growl sounded from the man standing in front of her. “Tansy?” Natasha called out quietly, a slight quiver in her voice was the only indication she was unsure of the man towering over her.
Tansy was having a hard time keeping from laughing. Helene was looking at Brock with no small amount of hostility. Natasha, on the other hand, was standing like a deer caught in the headlights of a semi looking at Lan with raised eyebrows. Her hand had moved to the pistol tucked in the back of her waistband. Both of the men were emitting a low, rumbling growl.
“Mak, call off your friends before Helene and Natasha shoot their asses,” Tansy said sipping her coffee while Cosmos looked on in exasperation, Rico looked on in horror, and Merrick looked on with resignation and a slight amount of envy.
Mak said something sharply to the two men and they glared at him for a moment before taking a reluctant step back, giving both women more room to move. Helene and Natasha looked at the men warily before edging around them and moving to the same side of the table as Tansy.
“Cosmos, you need to tell your new friends to not mess with your old ones,” Helene bit out as she filled a plate with food. “We don’t necessarily fight fair.”
“Natasha, are you okay?” Cosmos asked in concern when he saw the brief flash of pain cross her face as she leaned over the cart and lifted the carafe of coffee.
Natasha waved her hand nonchalantly. “I’m fine, just a little stiff and sore still,” she replied pouring herself a cup of coffee and moving back to the couch. “The stitches are pulling and some of the bruises are being a little difficult. Nothing that a few more days will not cure,” she added with a stiff smile.
“You are hurt?” Lan growled out menacingly, taking a step toward her again.
Helene snorted. “She is lucky she is not dead! If she had been a foot closer when my car exploded we would not have been able to pick the pieces of her out of what was left of it,” Helene said grouchily.
“I am just glad both of us were not injured any more than we were,” Natasha said settling back into the cushions. “Tansy, Helene and I will accompany you to the charity function tonight. I will go as a guest…” Natasha began.
“And I get to go as the serving girl,” Helene mumbled glumly. “
Why do I always have to be the serving girl?” She grumbled.
“Because you are the one who insists on having blue hair,” Natasha said with a smirk.
Helene’s eyes flashed in mock outrage. “I can be a rock singer!”
“Yes, but what if they ask you to sing something? No one would believe it then,” Cosmos said reaching over Helene’s shoulder to grab a piece of bacon.
A grunt escaped him when Helene elbowed him sharply in the stomach. “I was drunk when you heard me singing,” she said glaring at him. “That does not count.”
“That wasn’t the only thing you were doing,” Cosmos whispered in her ear before he jerked away from her elbow again.
“You can’t prove anything,” Helene snapped back with a grin. “I destroyed all the video surveillance from the club that night.”
Cosmos was about to say something else but Brock took a menacing step toward him. Cosmos decided he had enough bruises around his neck from Mak and didn’t want any more. He looked carefully back and forth between Brock and Lan. If looks meant anything, the way Brock was glaring at Helene and Lan was hovering around Natasha meant the two women were about to find themselves in the same boat he was in. Cosmos looked down at the intricate circles on his left hand before he clenched it tightly into a fist. He had a feeling there was going to be a lot of missing person's reports filed soon. Sometimes he really wished he hadn’t invented that damn gateway. No sooner had that thought formed in his mind, so did another. Only this one was of a slender, dark haired alien beauty with burning eyes of silver.
Shit, he thought in aggravation, he was in serious trouble.
Chapter 17
Tansy smiled demurely as she accepted a glass of champagne. She let her eyes sweep the elegantly dressed patrons attending the charity function at the Canadian Ambassador’s house. RITA had created the invitations she and Natasha were using and added them to the list of guests. She was going to have to take a closer look at the programming her mom was doing. She never really appreciated just what a genius her mom was when it came to inventing things until now.
Cosmos either, she thought as her mind instinctively reached out for Mak.
I am here if you need me, je talli, Mak’s soft words flowed through her mind.
I know, I know, Tansy responded making sure she didn’t roll her eyes in exasperation.
It had taken her most of the afternoon to convince him to let her go. She had never met such a stubborn, hard-headed, arrogant…
Wonderful mate, he said finishing off her thought.
Whatever, she sighed as she took a sip of the bubbly drink in her hand.
I will be here if you need me, he repeated before she felt him pull back until he was just a shadow in her mind.
Tansy’s eyes paused on Natasha who was charming the ambassador from Norway before she let them continue their sweep. No one would have noticed the slight tightening of her hand around her glass. It was the only outward sign she gave that she had finally found her target… Craig Knapp, Senior Director for the Collaborative Partnership against Terrorism, or CPAT as the group Tansy belonged to was called. He was talking to the wife of the German Ambassador and a well-known singer from a popular country group.
She smiled at the waiter as she set her glass down on the tray and walked over to where they were talking. She knew Craig wouldn’t recognize her right away in the get-up she was wearing. She had dark brown hair piled into an elegant French twist with decorative silver beads threaded through it. She wore more makeup and brown contact lens. Her dress was an exclusive Zuhair Murad Paris design. The gold, evening gown had a deep vee going all the way down to her belly button and no back except for the delicate gold chains draping down the slender curve of her spine. The wide semi-sheer sleeves allowed her to hide some well-placed accessories. Her feet were encased in delicate, four-inch gold strappy heels.
“Buonasera,” Tansy greeted the small group in a husky Italian. “The ambassador outdid himself as usual, sì?”
“Yes, he and his wife always do such a wonderful job and for such an important cause,” the German ambassador’s wife agreed.
Tansy smiled charmingly and turned to the singer complimenting her on her recent Country Music Award. The next ten minutes were given to relaxing the small group. Tansy gave Craig undivided attention whenever he said anything, leaning into him, and giving all the signs she was hanging onto his every word. The looks he was giving her in return show her he was more than happy to have that attention. When she would turn slightly to one of the women, she noted the flash of irritation that crossed his face briefly. She knew she had him when he moved in closer to her and placed his hand on the small of her back. She leaned back into his hand to let him know she was aware of him.
Move away from him now, the deep voice of one angry alien male echoed loudly through her mind.
Tansy smiled at the ambassador’s wife as she fought the desire to roll her eyes at the demand. She turned her head just enough to catch a glimpse of Helene’s smiling face. The chick glasses she was wearing had a camera embedded in them. Mak was watching everything she was doing from the command center they had set up in a plumbing van a block over. Her eyes moved to Natasha who was charming the Director of CPAT. From all of the information Tansy had gathered to date, Brad Taylor appeared to be on the up-and-up. Nothing showed that he was aware of what his Under Director was doing. Her eyes moved to several other men who worked in CPAT. Three of them were involved and would be falling with their boss. Two of the other men were low-end operators, programmers, paper-pushers, nothing to worry about from what RITA had gathered.
“Yes, I would love to get a breath of fresh air,” Tansy said with the slight accent she had perfected during the three months she spent in Italy during one of her assignments two years before. “It has been a pleasure talking with you,” she bowed her head graciously to the other two women who continued to talk about the possible upcoming tour the singer was doing in Germany.
“You are breathtaking,” Craig murmured close to Tansy’s ear as he let his hand dip from the skin on her back to the swell of her ass.
Tansy forced her body to remain relaxed even as he squeezed his hand. She dipped her head down to keep the look in them from being seen. She glanced up just in time to see Helene looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Helene adjusted the glasses and glanced to where Craig’s hand was before she moved her gaze back up to Tansy’s face with a smirk.
The loud growl that exploded through her head caused her to flinch. Tansy smiled apologetically. She leaned into Craig forcing her body not to shudder, everything in her screamed for her to pull away from him. She had never felt such an overwhelming need to get away from another human being before.
Tansy, you have to move away from him, Mak’s voice said coldly in her mind. I will not be able to tolerate another male putting his hands on you. This was not part of the plan.
Actually, it was. It was just the part of the plan I kind-of forgot on purpose to tell you about, Tansy replied.
Tansy shivered as Mak’s cold rage flowed through her. She would never be able to carry this through convincingly if he kept growling, snarling and threatening her. There was only one thing she could do and she knew he was going to be royally pissed at her… she had to completely shut him out like he did to her back on the farm in Russia.
Tansy smiled seductively at Craig as he drew her closer to his body. She rubbed against him slightly as he asked the attendant for her fur coat. She gave a breathless giggle as he brushed a kiss along her neck as he draped her coat over her shoulders.
“Tonight you are all mine, my gorgeous little beauty,” Craig murmured in her ear.
Tansy turned her dark brown eyes to his, a small, tantalizing smile curving her plump, red lips. “Oh, yes,” she breathed out.
*.*.*
Mak burst out of the van with a snarl. He was going to wring his mate’s scrawny little neck. He never should have let her go. He should have known it was too easy. Her agreein
g to have Natasha and Helene nearby should have been his first clue she was up to something. Her agreement to let them monitor what was going on from a van a block away was the second. Her agreeing to let anyone else be involved was a glaring third. How he could have forgotten her insistence that she worked alone he would never know, or make the mistake of ever forgetting again.
He glanced wildly around trying to determine which way to go. He had been in the back of the van with Rico and two other men so it took a moment for him to orient himself. He reached out to Tansy again only to encounter a wall higher than the mountains on his home world of Baade. He snarled turning in a circle. Frustrated, he reached for the communication device Cosmos gave him.
“Merrick, Lan, Brock, my mate has gone off with the human bastard,” Mak snarled out fiercely. “Do you have her in sight?”
Cosmos voice came over the link. “She’s getting into a limo with Knapp. I’ll track her. Damn it, Mak! I thought you talked to her!” Cosmos bit out furiously sounding slightly out of breath.
“I did! That does not mean she listens to me,” Mak snapped back. “Where are you?”
“I’m coming along the sidewalk on the south side,” Cosmos said hurriedly.
“Shit!” Rico’s voice exploded over their ear pieces.
“What is it now?” Mak said as he ran down the alley and turned the corner almost running into Cosmos as he broke into a run.
“Natasha and Helene are in trouble! I just caught a glimpse of a guy grabbing Helene and shoving her out through the kitchens. Another has Natasha,” Rico cursed under his breath. “We’ve been made. Fall back and regroup! Mike, get us the fuck out of here!”