Shifters Eden

by Tia Didmon

  Racheal frowned. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

  Hunter rubbed Racheal’s back. “You okay, honey?’

  Racheal smiled hugging him. “I’m good.”

  Jane’s head leaned to the side. “How did you know Jordan’s samples were slightly off? I was told you didn’t have any left from the last time.”

  Racheal glanced at Brock. “I don’t but our cat’s have an identic memory. I can call up that information at will.”

  Jane felt a sliver of hope. “Will I be able to do the same thing?”

  Racheal smiled encouragingly. “Yes of course. You’re one of us.”

  Jane’s stomach rolled. She couldn’t decide which was worse. Racheal hating her for the things she had done. Or her complete acceptance despite her past. She felt guilt form in her stomach, knowing her actions were for the benefit of her sister didn’t make up for the fact she had let good people be victimized by Kevin Kallan while she did nothing. Racheal’s kindness was like a knife in her chest. Reinforcing the code of ethics Jane had ignored over the last three years.

  Brock touched her arm, forcing her gaze back to him. “You okay, Jane?”

  Jane pushed her guilt aside and addressed Racheal. “If Carla had a cat would she regain her memory?”

  Racheal put her knuckles to her lips before answering. “Possibly but Carla would need a mate to induce the transformation.”

  Jane’s heart fell. “She can’t. She has the IQ of a ten-year-old.”

  Racheal glanced around the lab. “For now.”

  Jane stepped forward. “You think you can raise her awareness level?”

  Racheal looked her in the eyes. “I will do everything I can to help her. She’s family and so are you.”

  Jane felt something inside break. Her body stiffened as she fought the overwhelming emotion, not trusting her voice to respond.

  Brock grabbed the black case. “Thanks Racheal. We’ll contact you once we have the meet lined up. We expect Kevin to call shortly.”

  Hunter nodded, as Brock led Jane to the SUV.

  Her body shook in silent sobs as she climbed in the seat. She sensed Brock’s concern but she couldn’t give in to the emotion. She had one day left as the Red Widow. Nothing would stop her from completing her mission.

  Jane ran her hand over the cold storage case after Brock placed it on the dresser in the bedroom. “He should call soon,” she said, more to reassure herself than Brock.

  He pulled her to him. “The exchange isn’t until tomorrow. He may not call until morning. He likes games and will enjoy keeping you on edge.”

  Jane huffed. “I know. He always holds all the cards. Say what you will about Kevin but he is fiercely intelligent. I’ve never been able to get the upper hand and I’ve tried.”

  Hunter caressed her blouse before undoing the buttons. “You’re intelligent enough to outsmart your opponents but you lack the killer instinct that Kevin posses. You don’t belong in his world.” He slipped the blouse off her shoulders. “You belong in mine.”

  He undressed her slowly before removing his own clothes. They made love at leisurely pace. Jane wanted to savour every minute, knowing that tomorrow would change everything. She fell asleep with Brock curled behind her.

  His low groan woke her up. She blinked her eyes rapidly, attempting to clear the cobwebs from her brain, unsure why she was struggling to bring the room into focus.

  Victor was smiling when she finally opened her eyes. His gun rested lightly against Brock’s head.

  “Brock?” she said, fighting the fog.

  “He has been given the same sedative you have. Kevin wishes him to remain alive. For now.” Victor said in disgust.

  “Whether I kill him now is up to you. I gave you a low dosage of the tranq. You can walk but if you cry out or try to warn anyone here. I kill him now. Your decision.”

  Jane sat up, looking at the dart in Brock’s back. She glanced down looking for hers.

  “I took yours out after I shot you. I only want you docile for a short time,” he said silkily.

  “I’ll come with you. I planned to complete my transaction,” she slurred.

  Danov leaned toward her. “Oh, I know you did but your marks always have to be taken out of the picture.”

  Jane tried to focus on his words. “My marks?’

  “How did you think you got the nickname red widow? Do you honestly think every man you tricked into believing you were interested in, died of natural causes?” he asked mockingly.

  “You killed them... all?”

  “Every last one,” he said in a proud voice.

  “Why?”

  “No man alive will have touched what’s mine,” he said pulling her to her feet.

  Jane stumbled as she reached for her skirt. She should have felt embarrassed that Victor watched her with lust filled eyes as she put on her clothes. She felt only shame. She had led Brock to his death like so many before him. She had let this happen. Sold her soul to the devil. Now her mate. The only man she ever had loved would die. She was the Red Widow.

  Chapter 10

  Jane fought the fog in her brain and the pain in her heart with every step. She had dozed off during the car ride and hadn’t woken until Victor had pulled her from the vehicle and pushed her toward the plane. Though she struggled with her balance, her memory remained intact. Images of Victor pulling the trigger. Brock’s blood splashing across her face. His laughter as she fell to the floor.

  The images were burned in her mind for all time. A bitter reminder that she had gotten another man killed. This time, it was a good man. A man she loved. Admired. She would forever regret not telling him what he meant to her. That every breath she took from this moment on, would be her own personal hell. One she would endure until she got her sister safe. Then she would join her mate once again.

  She had tried to connect with her animal since waking but her beast remained asleep. Whatever she had been given had put her cougar into a forced hibernation. Either that or she was dying. She didn’t care as long as she got Carla safe before her body gave out.

  She stumbled up the steps to Kevin’s private plane, only to have Victor grab her, pulling her close to his body. She sensed his need to protect her. She wanted nothing more than to extend her claws and rip the bastards throat out. She knew he was under orders and she wanted to know why Kevin ordered Brock’s death.

  Victor led her to a seat opposite Kevin. She plopped into the soft leather unceremoniously, looking at her employer with unveiled contempt.

  Kevin huffed. “Do try to focus, Jane. Your new metabolism should be able to burn the tranquilizer out quickly.”

  Jane blinked repeatedly. “Why do this? I was coming to you.”

  Kevin’s smile was like a viper. “I know you were. Victor was over anxious to re-acquire you but no matter. We have you, the serum, and the information I was looking for. Our deal is complete. Your obligations to the Kallan Corporation are over. You will take up your duties as your sister’s caregiver.”

  “Why drug me? Kill Brock?” she said without emotion.

  Kevin’s face hardened as he looked at Victor. “You killed Brock Cascade?”

  Victor’s face didn’t waver. “Yes. He touched her.”

  Kevin’s hand balled into a fist. “I wanted to monitor his deterioration. It was part of the experiment.”

  “I was unable to hold back,” Victor said.

  Kevin sighed. “I suppose I should have expected that. A quick death seems too good for that arrogant shifter, he would have made such a great guinea pig.” He flicked his hand. “No matter. We will get another.”

  Jane felt sick at Kevin’s complete lack of regard for life. He could have been talking about the weather. “He wasn’t arrogant,” Jane slurred.

  Kevin sneered. “You believed he was your mate, didn’t you? I assure you he wasn’t.”

  “Your lying.”

  Kevin leaned forward in his seat. “Am I? I thought shifters could sniff out a lie.”


  Jane felt her stomach roll. “I can’t detect a lie but you poisoned me.”

  Kevin shook his head. “You were given a sedative but I assure you, we want your abilities intact. You were given a serum that makes you... more appealing to the shifter species.”

  “I was given an agent that made me less reactive to them,” she denied.

  “That’s what you were led to believe and in fact, you were given a suppressant that would give you a day or two before kicking in but in the end you did exactly as I planned.”

  Jane wanted to call him a liar. That she wasn’t his personal puppet, but he wasn’t lying to her and everything he said made sense. Her stomach rolled. She didn’t hold back. She leaned over and vomited at Kevin’s feet.

  He stood quickly, cursing as he pulled his hand back.

  Victor stepped up to him. “No one touches her except me. That was our agreement.”

  Kevin lowered his hand. “So it is.”

  Jane wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “What agreement?”

  Kevin looked down at her with contempt. “We have come to realize that the soldiers need a mate to survive. You will be Victor’s.”

  “No,” she whispered.

  “Your consent is not a requirement,” Kevin said.

  “We had an agreement.”

  “We do. Your contract with me is fulfilled. You will devote the rest of your days caring for your sister at my expense.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Carla is in the room at the back of the plane. We are taking you both to your new home. Victor’s home.”

  Jane stared at the mess on the floor in front of her. The smell, infected the room as her last vestige of hope died.

  Brock fought through the haze and pain. He tried to connect with his cougar but his animal was silent. He shook his head fighting the fog that surrounded him.

  “It’s okay, Brock. You’re going to be alright,” Racheal whispered reassuringly into his ear.

  Where is Jane? He wanted to say out loud but his mouth wouldn’t form the words needed. He forced his eyes open. Hunter looked relieved as he flipped open his phone.

  “Talen, he’s awake. Racheal gave him the antidote she developed for the serum but it worked slower than we hoped.” He paused. “Will do.” Then he hung up.

  Brock forced the muscles to obey. “Where is Jane? What happened?” he slurred.

  Racheal put a reassuring hand on his arm. “Victor Danov shot you and abducted Jane. Liam and Luca are tracking them but are at a standoff with Kallan’s men.”

  His mind raced through the fog in his brain. He felt incomplete without the input from his cat. “Why didn’t I heal?”

  “It’s the tranq they use. It hinders our animal. Without your cougar you heal like a human. This would have killed you, Brock.”

  Brock squeezed his eyes closed. The pain of failing his woman a bitter pill. “Thank you, Racheal.”

  “Anything, Brock. You know that.”

  “How long till I’m up and around?”

  “I have counteracted the sedative. So, you are healing but slower than we hoped. Talen has Cade and Ryan en-route to us now.”

  Brock frowned. “Why is Ryan coming?”

  Hunter motioned for Racheal to move. She got up and moved to the opposite chair so Hunter could sit by his brother. “Listen Brock, a lot has happened since you’ve been out.”

  Brock’s animal stirred. He could feel it fighting the sedative, angry at its forced hibernation. It snarled in his mind, sensing his mate was no longer close. “How long was I out?”

  “Twelve hours.”

  “What! And you don’t know where Jane is?’

  Hunter sighed. “We know where she is. We just need all the players in place before we go in to retrieve her.”

  Brock gripped his Brother’s arm. “Where the fuck is my mate?”

  “Danov took her to Kevin’s private air strip. Liam and Luca had the strip pinned down, but they took off. They couldn’t risk bringing the plane down with the girls on board.”

  “Girls?”

  “They saw Carla. At first they thought it was Jane until the second vehicle pulled up and Danov pulled Jane up the stairs to the plane.”

  Brock closed his eyes. “Where are they flying to?”

  “Garrett tracked the plane. They arrived in Mexico several hours ago.”

  Brock tried to sit up. Hunter put his hand on his brother’s chest, easily holding him in place. “Stay put Brock. You almost died. Your weak as a kitten.”

  “Fuck you,” Brock hissed.

  Hunter helped his brother sit up in the bed. “Okay maybe not that weak but you need more rest if you want to participate in Jane and Carla’s rescue.”

  “There is no chance in hell I’m not going after my mate.”

  “I know but you need your strength for what we have planned,” Hunter said.

  “Cade is putting a plan in place?”

  “Not Cade. We have an unlikely ally,” Hunter said hesitantly.

  “Who?”

  “Ari Lok.”

  Brock shook his head, unsure if he had understood Hunter correctly. “Ari Lok, as in the man who assassinated Sarah’s father.”

  Hunter ran his fingers through his hair. “Yup.”

  “We’re going to trust him with my mate’s life?” Brock snapped.

  Hunter shook his head. “No. He won’t lift a finger to help us. He simply gave us the information and will arrange a meet with the contact we need in Mexico.”

  “Why would he help us?”

  “He says he made a promise to miss Eden. He says his agreement with Kevin precludes him from physically helping us in any way but he will offer information for this rescue only.”

  “What information?”

  Hunter sighed. “He’s told us where the girls will be and how to infiltrate the facility.”

  Brock thought back to his conversation with Jane. “Jane mentioned he was hurt on a job and she tended his wounds. Perhaps this is his way of evening that debt.”

  Hunter frowned. “He’s an assassin. Why would he feel he needs to repay her?”

  Brock rubbed his eyes. “I have no idea. It doesn’t make sense. Jane said he hates coming to North America and makes Kevin pay through the nose when he is forced to take a job here.”

  Hunter rubbed his chin. “Why would an assassin feel he has to take a job? I mean he could turn it down.”

  “Knowing Kevin, he has something on Ari.”

  Brock nodded. “That could be our answer. Perhaps Ari is hoping one of us will take Kevin out.”

  “Maybe, I know I would, given the chance.”

  Hunter huffed. “Any one of us would.”

  “How do you know he isn’t setting us up?” Brock asked.

  “His intel has been good so far. Garrett has verified the plane’s location and confirmed the facility Ari gave us is owned by the Kallan Corporation.” Hunter looked uneasy.

  “There’s more?”

  “Yeah. He gave us the mole.”

  Brock sat up sharply. “What!”

  “It’s Buck.”

  Brock felt a pang of regret mix with the burning feeling of betrayal. “Why would he do that? Was he working for Kevin this whole time?”

  Hunter shook his head. “No. A couple of months ago Kallan had Danov inject him with some kind of drug that’s highly addictive to us. He’s been working for Kevin ever since.”

  “Do you have him?”

  “No, he said he was going to look for his mate and never came back. Ari told us where he is now, though.”

  “Where?”

  “He’s in Mexico, working for Kevin.”

  Brock’s face hardened. “He won’t be able to stay there forever. His coyote won’t allow it.”

  “According to Ari, the animal is just as addicted to this shit as the man is. It will do anything for it’s fix.”

  “What’s he doing there?”

  Hunter took on an expression of disgust. “Kevin runs
a dog fighting ring for the rich and powerful. Big money fights but only a few a year. The next purse in over a million.”

  “Buck is handling dogs? Are you fucking kidding me?” Brock said in disgust.

  “Worse. He’s doing the fighting. Kevin’s senior security officer down there, a man named Demitri Aranoff is acting as his handler.”

  “He’s pretending to be a natural coyote and fighting dogs?” Brock asked in disbelief.

  “Yes.”

  “Those canines don’t stand a chance against him.”

  “That’s why Kevin is giving three to one odds, regardless of the breed you pit against Buck.”

  “That fucker,” Brock raged.

  Hunter nodded. “Aiden and Ryan are disgusted. They say Buck should have owned up to the attack as soon as it happened.”

  “You said Ryan was going. How is he planning to get Buck back?”

  Hunter sighed. “He isn’t, Ryan said he would give Buck one chance to cede the fight. If he doesn’t take it. He’s putting him down.”

  “Wait, how is he going to get near Buck in coyote form?’

  “He’s already been entered as a challenger. That’s our cover. We are already registered for the fights with Ryan doing the fighting.”

  “The fights are going to be held at the facility that the girls are in.”

  “Yes.”

  “So, while Ryan and Buck fight, we will be escorting the ladies off site.”

  “That’s the plan.”

  Brock sighed. “How can we do this to Ryan? We are asking him to kill his best friend.”

  “We didn’t ask. Once Talen found out, he told Aiden and Ryan. Aiden said Buck should be put down immediately. Ryan asked if he could give him a chance. He offered to be our dog in the fight.”

  “Ari could still be setting us up,” Brock said.

  “Ari won’t know the details of the plan. Ryan will be the only shifter fully exposed if things go bad. Besides, Kevin will assume Ryan is expendable to us now that Buck has defected.”

  “That’s true.” Brock rubbed his eyes. “So, we’ve just entered the world of dog fighting.”

  “Yes,” Hunter said in disgust.

  “Well, haven’t we sunken to a new low?”