“You can’t do this. You’ll lose.”
She watched him coming through the doorway. Knowing he was concerned about her made her broken heart flutter.
Even so, she asked, “Are you saying the game is rigged?”
“I’m saying it’s in the house’s favor.” He looked to the dealer. “Kill the game.”
“But she already made her bet.”
Luc’s expression grew threatening, and the bones in his face shifted and settled so quickly she thought she’d imagined it.
“Are you really going to go against my wishes?” he demanded of the dealer.
He couldn’t stop her, not now, not when she was so close. “It’s not up to you.” She couldn’t believe he was interfering, not when he knew how much this meant to her. Another reason to be angry with him. “Unless you can guarantee your father will return Shade’s soul to him, I’m playing this out.”
“If you don’t win, you’re both lost.”
“Why do you care?”
Now the dark glare was aimed her way. She knew the chance she was taking—if she lost, she would be a servant to the Kindred, exactly the reason she’d chanced the high roller room rather than trying to earn Shade’s soul. Though the idea of losing made her head go light, she figured the gamble was worth it.
Besides, no one said she had to play fair.
Don’t interfere, Luc.
Skye looked at the dealer, who drew an ace for himself. The ace could count either as a one or an eleven. If he decided it was a one, he could draw another card and still beat her.
Oh, look, she thought, a nine, a three and an eleven. She held her breath as she waited to see if he would buy it or not. If he did, that would make twenty-three. Two points too many.
The dealer looked puzzled for a moment as if he wasn’t sure. A nine, a three and an eleven, she repeated, feeling a trickle of sweat roll between her breasts.
“Twenty-three!” Luc quickly said.
Her pulse jumped. She flashed a look at Luc and realized Nuala had entered the room and stood next to him.
The dealer was still staring at his cards, seeming even more puzzled. “But—”
“Can’t you count, man?” Luc demanded.
Nuala joined in. “Twenty-three.”
The dealer’s brow pulled in a frown as if he was struggling with that, but he said, “Right. Twenty-three. You win.”
Skye was so relieved, she suddenly felt boneless. “Then I’ll take my brother’s soul.”
“No!” Nuala shouted. To her horror, she told the dealer, “Scratch that.”
The dealer threw up his hands. “Then what does she want?”
“I want Shade’s soul!”
“He can’t give it to you, because you already have it.”
Skye glanced from her to Luc. “What is she talking about?”
He shrugged. “Beats me.”
“You’re wearing it.” Nuala said. “It’s in the pendant.”
Pulling it free of her T-shirt, Skye stared at the sea glass that was glowing softly at her. Was it possible that was her brother’s soul? That she’d had it all along, even before he died? “How?”
Luc looked from her to his sister. “That’s your pendant.”
“Let’s get away from here,” Nuala said, “and I’ll tell you everything.”
“Wait a minute. I still get whatever I desire, don’t I?” Skye asked the dealer.
As if needing confirmation, he turned to Luc, who said, “She does.”
“Okay, then what?” the dealer returned.
“I want The Company to stop any kind of violence aimed at corrupting humans in this city, starting with the fights, whether they be shifters or other animals.” She’d almost said normal animals, then thought again.
The dealer checked with Luc. “Can she ask for that?”
“She won. You have to give her anything she wants.”
“All right.”
To her surprise, he pulled out his smartphone and punched something in.
“Your demand is in the boss’s inbox.”
Knowing Cezar wanted the shifter fights stopped anyway, she was sure he wouldn’t object. This was simply extra incentive. And it meant Cezar would have to find a way to stop the dogfights and any other animal fights that might be going on in the hidden recesses of the city. A bonus for the animals she loved. Maybe she wouldn’t have to spend so much time trailing the ACU.
“C’mon, I’ll take you home,” Luc said. “Let’s get you out of here.”
He took her arm and headed her toward the exit. His touch sent a longing through her that she couldn’t quash. But remembering how he’d left her earlier, she ripped her arm from his grip, took a deep breath, and glanced at Nuala on her other side.
“I’m not going anywhere until I hear what your sister has to tell me.”
“Let’s go over to the office area where we can talk privately,” Nuala said.
As they crossed through the noisy casino, where most guests seemed to be having a good time if their raised voices and laughter were any indication, she steeled herself against her feelings for Luc. He didn’t want a future with her. She stared at the glass ceiling where fish swam toward the bright lights. Anything to get her mind off what she couldn’t have. She longed for Luc to pull her into his arms and tell her he was a fool. Okay, he was a fool to give up on them. She believed Luc cared for her, but she also believed he was trying to get her out of the casino as fast as he could.
He was pushing her out of his life.
Touching the sea glass, she concentrated on her brother and what this might mean to him. If his soul could be restored, she hoped he would be able to pass on to wherever good souls went as he should have done when he’d died.
Once they were in the quieter area fronting the offices and out of hearing range of the casino guests and workers, she stopped. Her stomach was churning.
“All right,” she said. “Tell me everything.”
Chapter Forty-One
Luc had never felt so out of the loop when his sister started talking.
“A few days before he was murdered, Shade came to the high roller room against my advice. He was determined to get the information he needed to stop the shifter fights. To find out who was responsible for the deaths he’d been investigating. He didn’t listen to me, of course, and he lost.”
“Pop keeps the souls in his sea glass desk,” Luc said. “How did you get your hands on it?”
“I stole it from the desk when Pop wasn’t there. I transferred it to my sea glass pendant.”
“What if Pop finds out?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. I loved Shade and I would have done anything for him. I still would if he was here with me. I can’t believe I finally found someone to love who loved me and, in a flash, it was all gone.” She touched her stomach. “At least I have the baby.”
“But you fell in love with a human.”
Nuala simply looked at him as if she didn’t understand. “I never abandoned you, did I? Some people are worth fighting for.”
Skye cleared her throat. “The soul?” Her expression was strained, and he could tell she was purposely avoiding his eyes.
Nuala went on. “I hung the pendant around Shade’s neck and told him never to remove it. He didn’t know why.”
“I’m not so sure about that. He gave it to me to protect me at that first shifter fight.” Skye held the sea glass in her hand and her expression was a combination of relief and understanding. “I think he knew or at least suspected all along. He had to feel the difference. I certainly have. Since wearing the pendant, I’ve been able to hear the thoughts of the Kindred in animal form. And in human form, like Shade did. Shade’s soul and my soul have been working together.”
A sudden commotion from inside the casino raised the small hairs on Luc’s neck.
“You’re not getting near one of my girls!” Beatrix’s strident voice was raised over the maniacal music of the slot machines.
&nb
sp; “Mother?”
Nuala hurried toward the casino, but Luc bounded past her. What was his security team doing?
“You’re in business to make money!” a man yelled. “And I have enough to buy one of your whores for the night.”
Connelly.
Luc rounded the corner in time to see the cop trying to get past Nuala’s mother, whose arms were spread wide, blocking the elevators. A few nearby workers had turned to look, but the guests all seemed wrapped up in their bets.
Luc grabbed the man’s shoulder and jerked him around. “I told you never to come back here, Connelly.”
“You oughta watch who you’re ordering around. You’re not careful, I could close down this place.”
“Be careful who you threaten,” Beatrix said, pure venom in her voice. “I haven’t forgotten how you brutalized Katerina.”
Standing off to the side, Skye gasped. “Now I know what bothered me when I watched the footage on Shade’s cell. You were in the audience.” Coming closer, she looked as if she’d just put things together. “Nik said Doyle had plans for the future that included a human partner with political influence,” Skye went on, sounding absolutely sure of herself. “He meant you, Connelly.”
“You’re crazy! Your brother’s death put you off your rocker.”
A sudden emotional upheaval battered Luc, and he realized it came from Skye. She was gaping at the cop, her eyes widening as if she’d come to yet a new realization.
“Did you see my brother taking that footage of you?” she asked. “Proof that you were involved with the fights and the casino. You couldn’t let that get out or it would ruin you. It was you, wasn’t it?” She moved closer to him, her stricken gaze focused on his face. “You killed my brother.”
Just then, Ethan Grainger arrived. Shade’s partner carried paperwork that looked like a search warrant. He frowned when he spotted Connelly. “Lieutenant?”
Skye turned to Ethan. “You got here in time to arrest him for Shade’s murder.”
Connelly laughed. “She’s gone psycho on us.”
Ethan’s gaze narrowed on the other man, and he didn’t seem amused. “What are you doing here, Lieutenant?”
“Hey, so I like to gamble. Legally. Nothing against department regulations about it.”
“I looked at some of that footage on Shade’s cell,” Skye told Ethan. “Connelly was in the audience the night Shade was murdered. He might be gambling legally, but being at that fight is a felony. Shade could have put him away.”
“Hey, she’s crazy!” a wild-eyed Connelly said. They found the cell? Fucking Cross! I should have killed him sooner. How am I going to get out of this?
The man’s thoughts confirmed Skye’s accusation. The sudden urge to shift and take revenge nearly overpowered Luc. Connelly had killed her brother and had tried to kill his mother, as well. Both Nuala and Beatrix were privy to the man’s thoughts also. They were staring at him as if he was an insect that needed to be crushed. Then Nuala’s eyes filled with tears and the bones in her face distended.
Luc put his hand on her arm. Get a hold of yourself. Don’t shift. He could feel her struggle, but she did as he ordered.
“He did it,” Nuala told Ethan. “I heard him say he should have killed Shade sooner.”
Connelly grabbed Skye, levering an arm around her neck. “You can’t prove anything!” He started dragging her back past the rows of slot machines toward the habitat. “Stay where you are. I’ll break her neck unless you let me leave right now.”
Luc sensed Skye’s renewed grief and shock had momentarily taken the fight out of her. Fury engulfing him, he waved at one of the slot machine stools behind Connelly, and it went flying hard into the man’s back. The murderer lost his grip on Skye, and she tore herself away from him as Luc sifted, appearing a second later behind the man.
When Connelly turned, it was into Luc’s fist. Blood spurted from his nose and he went down fast.
“What the Hades is going on out here?”
Luc looked away long enough to see Pop coming from his office into the casino.
Long enough for Connelly to lunge for freedom straight toward the habitat.
“He killed Shade,” Nuala told Pop.
“Then he’s the one who tried to kill Elizabeth.” The habitat, you bastard, run straight inside!
Hearing Pop’s silent command, Luc glanced back. A dark aura encasing him, Pop looked scarier than Luc had ever seen him. His eyes glowed spookily in a drawn face and he was reaching out with his right hand, sending waves of energy to control Connelly’s actions.
Skye caught up to him as Connelly went straight through the wall of glass. It shimmered around him. A wild dog immediately moved out from behind a rock and licked its chops. Skye gripped Luc’s arm hard, but she didn’t say a word as Pop choreographed Connelly’s demise.
He’s responsible for what happened to Jez and Hank and the other shifters who died in those fights. Don’t let him get away.
The human part of Luc wondered if he should do something to stop this, but he couldn’t move. If Connelly had been correct that Ethan couldn’t prove anything, how would justice ever be served in Skye’s eyes? Connelly would get away with her brother’s murder.
So, a sick feeling in his gut, Luc stood his ground and watched.
As if finally realizing he’d put himself in a much worse sort of danger, Connelly tried to get out of the habitat, but no matter how hard he pounded, the glass wall wouldn’t give. His face a mask of terror, he turned, his back now against the transparent wall, a pack of predators surrounding him.
Luc glanced at Ethan to see what he would do. The cop had put a steadying arm around Nuala’s back. She stiffened, gave him a look that would intimidate a lessor man, but if he noticed, he didn’t react. Rather he seemed mesmerized by the action in the habitat but unwilling to interfere.
Even at a distance, Luc sensed Connelly’s desperation. The man pushed off the glass wall and ran. The predators followed. A cougar brushed him as if taunting him. A coyote nipped at his heels. He ran until a tiger lunged from a low tree limb and grabbed him by the head.
Connelly went down and quickly disappeared beneath the writhing bodies of the predators.
Tear him apart, Pop ordered. Don’t leave anything left to identify.
Reminded of his kills in Iraq, Luc couldn’t look. He turned away and pulled Skye to him, sheltering her from what he knew would be a horrendous sight.
Chapter Forty-Two
Skye’s heart in her throat, she stayed in the protection of Luc’s arms for what seemed like forever, but what was in fact only a few minutes. She’d heard Cezar’s orders given to the predators. As shocking as Connelly’s manner of death should be to her, she didn’t know how else justice could have been served.
Luc let go. “It’s over.”
His eyes had turned a molten silver and, contrary to his claim after the shifter fight that there was “no together for us,” they slid over her possessively. Her pulse thudded and the possibility he’d rethought his decision stirred hope in her heart.
And then Cezar called, “Luc.” He waved his son to come with him as he headed for his office. With barely a nod to her, Luc followed.
She gaped at his back. Knowing she might never see him again, she felt her broken heart crumbling to bits. This was it, then. Her eyes stung with tears, but her anger with him was as great as her disappointment. Though she wanted to tell him what a fool he was, she refused to cry.
In a daze, Skye looked around. Beatrix was already gone. Only Nuala and Ethan remained. Nuala appeared a little too calm. She sensed Nuala was glad the man who’d killed Shade was dead. Ethan, on the other hand, appeared to be a bundle of warring emotions.
“Now what?” Skye asked Ethan.
“What the hell? I guess I should make out a report.”
“About what?” Nuala asked, forcing herself away from him. “Do you really think there’ll be any evidence left to find in the habitat?”
Ethan ran
a hand through his hair and shook his head. “How would I even make anyone believe me?”
Skye somehow held it together. “Now you know why Shade didn’t tell you what he was investigating.”
Guests were milling about the habitat but leaving the area clearly disappointed.
“Connelly, of all people,” Ethan said. “I never would have guessed.”
Skye thought back. “I should have guessed the day I went to see Luc’s mother. Shade was joined with Boomer. Connelly pulled up as they were leaving. Boomer went crazy as if he hated the man. Shade couldn’t remember why.”
Ethan slapped the search warrant across his other hand. “I have to account for this search warrant, I have to make some kind of report. And the investigation about Shade’s murder will go on and on.”
“He wouldn’t have had to die if you’d been paying attention to what was going on with him in the first place,” Nuala said.
“My brother kept it from Ethan purposely,” Skye said, but that didn’t ease the anger in the other woman’s expression.
“I’m sure you’re looking for an easy way out,” Nuala told him. “So just say you saw and heard what went on just as it happened, but in the end, Connelly ran and you lost him.”
“I’m not looking for easy!” Ethan said defensively. “Just credible!”
Uh-oh, before the two of them could get into it, Skye said, “His car has to be here in the lot, which will add credence to your story.”
She could tell Ethan didn’t like it. But what else could they do?
He nodded. “You think Shade will be able to move on now that his murder is solved?”
“I hope so.” That and her brother’s soul being returned to him, though she didn’t clarify. Ethan was already on woo-woo overload. She had to get home and let Shade know what had happened.
Ethan gave her a quick hug. “Tell Shade I’ll meet him for a beer in the next life.” Then he whispered for her ears only, “And no matter how difficult she may be, tell him I’ll see to his woman and his child.” Another hug and he left.
Apparently, he didn’t know Nuala could read his thoughts.
Animal Instincts (Kindred Souls Book 1) Page 22