Dev let out a slow breath, wanting to put Alex at ease. She had assisted them beyond expectation and at the very least he owed her his respect and patience. “Well, Alex, you’ve only been with us for a short time, so I wouldn’t expect you to have a clear understanding of everything we know and don’t know in relation to the Valta’s dealings. Trust me, if anything has taught me just how much we don’t know about the inner workings of the Valta, you have shone a spotlight on that reality.”
Dev moved back to sit behind the desk and continued, “For example, how is it that you’re Valencia’s daughter and we had no knowledge of her even having a daughter? How is it that your brother was able to build three fucking torture prisons inside my territory yet we couldn’t find them without your help?”
He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, confident that he was beyond being surprised about anything she might tell him when it came to the Valta.
“So tell me, darlin’—what new information do you have for me now?”
Alex hesitated, then took a step forward. “Well,” she began shakily, “Tre mentioned that the Coteri believe there haven’t been any Valta hybrid babies.”
Dev sat up straight and brought his hands down to grip the arms of his chair, his blood turned to ice in his veins. “Yes. And?”
Her hands were still turning in front of her. Dev could tell she was scared out of her mind to tell him whatever she had to say. He stood and slowly walked toward her and grasped her hands in his. “Make no mistake, Alexandria, I welcome you here within the confines of my home. You are under my protection. But I need you to finish telling me what you started. It doesn’t matter to me if you didn’t realize we needed to know. But you need to tell me now, darlin’.”
Tre stood, then, and tried to insinuate his way between Dev and Alex. Dev immediately nailed him with a hard stare. “Warrior, you’d better back the hell off on this.”
Dev watched as rage burned behind Tre’s eyes. The young warrior was on his feet and ready to take him on just for touching Alex. But Dev didn’t give a shit. He had a feeling that what Alex was about to say was too important to worry about the delicate sensibilities of his newly attached second in command.
Dev continued to hold Tre’s angry gaze with a hard stare of his own. “I said back off, warrior.”
He watched as Tre took a step back but noted that he stayed close enough to Alex to intervene if he felt the need. Dev would have laughed if the situation hadn’t been so serious. Given all the shit Tre had given Talon and Mathias about their matings, the two generals were going to thoroughly enjoy giving their smart-mouthed friend a little payback when they saw him acting so possessively over a female.
Dev nodded in response to Tre’s acquiescence and watched some of the tension leave the man’s frame, before turning back to a very shocked and obviously scared Alex. “Now, Alex. What is it you have to tell me, darlin’?”
Alex took a deep breath. “Well, there are hybrid babies, Dev. At least, I think there may be. Two of them. From what I know, one was born in Germany and the other in the Midwest somewhere here in America. I have no idea where they are now but both are little girls and both were born healthy.” She was talking fast, the information spilling from her lips in an anxious rush. “I can’t even tell you whether my mother knows. The last time I spoke with Luca about them, he said he wanted to wait to tell her and allow the babies to grow and gain strength. And after that, he refused to speak to me about them at all, which is why I’m not even certain whether the information is valid.”
Dev let go of Alex’s hands and lifted his jaw off the floor. Complete shock was coursing through him and he was surprised his eyes hadn’t popped out of his head. The female standing in front of him just told him what the Coteri had feared for years—the Valta had figured out how to successfully breed with human women. Dev began to pace, trying to process everything Alex had told him. But if the Valta had figured it all out, why weren’t there more babies? No, it had to be a fluke, like Mina and Sean. No way in hell had Luca figured this out and not taken full advantage of the information. And if he had figured it out, he would have no use for Alex and her research, which was clearly not the case.
Fuck.
Dev also didn’t believe that Valencia knew about the children. If she did, there would be no stopping her, regardless of whether the births were lucky accidents or not. No, if Valencia knew, she would be scouring the Earth for women to use for her breeding, and the body count of human female victims would have skyrocketed. There was no way in hell the Coteri would have missed that.
Dev led Alex back to Tre’s side and moved quickly to the door. He turned back to face them. “Alex, thank you for telling me this. I have to let Isla know this new information immediately. We have to find these babies, if they truly exist. Tre, coordinate tonight’s scouting work quickly and let me know if anything new turns up.”
Dev shook his head and took a quick glance at his watch. “Shit, Valta hybrid babies.” He left the room in search of Isla.
Chapter Seventeen
Once Dev had left, the silence in the room was deafening. The weight of her family’s deceit and her own culpability suddenly bore down on her with a force that nearly broke her. Alex felt her knees go weak just as Tre took her in a steady hold and led her over to the sofa.
“Sit, baby. You look as if you’re about to drop. Let me get you something to drink,” he said soothingly as he stroked her cheek.
Alex moved numbly and sank into the soft cushions, her mind swirling with the realization of the dangers yet to come. She watched Tre leave the room and her chest tightened. She didn’t want anyone else hurt because of her or her family, yet she knew the risks Tre and his team would face when going up against her brother the following night. And she definitely knew the risks the Coteri were taking by agreeing to allow Alex to stay with them.
Alex had listened with rapt attention when Dev had explained the strategy to his warriors. They planned to hit the levee compound the next evening, then move on to Braithwaite to take care of the birthing center. She knew the second location was going to be tricky. It was housed behind Scarlett Plantation, where several human weddings took place over the course of a season. There would be people there day and night. From what Luca had told Alex, Marleigh, the wedding coordinator for Scarlett, was one of the humans under his control, and she protected his presence.
The actual compound was located on Big Mar Lake and the only way to gain access was to go through the plantation grounds. The buildings designated for the birthing center were camouflaged by the marsh and brush of the area and were nearly impossible to find if you didn’t know exactly where to look.
Alex had never been there but thanks to her brother she knew the specific location. And now that she knew the truth of what Luca was doing to those innocent women, she hadn’t hesitated to provide Dev with the necessary information. Now she simply prayed that Tre and his team would find the buildings free of any innocent victims. She didn’t think her psyche could stand the added guilt if more women were found, knowing she had been an unwitting participant to their trauma.
Alex felt chill bumps on her skin. She was certain no hybrid births had occurred here in Louisiana, and if she had anything to do with it, none would ever happen at the hands of the Valta. Alex vowed to do whatever it took to prevent Luca from hurting another innocent woman.
She knew how important her reproductive research was to Luca and her mother. Yet even without her assistance, hybrids existed. The two Valta children she was aware of and the two Coteri, Mina and Sean, meant it wasn’t a stretch to believe there could even be more out there they were unaware of. Her stomach knotted at the thought of the danger those hybrids could be in if they were unaware of their true heritage.
Her scattered thoughts turned to her family, her heart still struggling with the contrasting emotions of the love and trust she’d felt for them throughout her entire life versus the reality of who and what they really were. And n
ow she had betrayed them by changing allegiances, she feared to what lengths they would go to get her back.
She shivered at the ramifications and then immediately felt Tre’s warmth as he placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked up to meet his gaze as he held out a bottle of water for her. She could feel the strength in his touch and it made her feel safe, protected.
Alex rose from the sofa and took the water. Tre moved in behind her and placed a soft kiss on her neck. She felt her heart melt at his small gesture.
“You look a little lost, baby. What are you thinking about?”
His deep voice smoothed over her frayed senses, calming her. He was a hard warrior and was in charge of the dangerous operation of taking down both of Luca’s hideaways, but without missing a beat he still let her know he was there for her. That was something she could get used to all too quickly. But would it last?
She had been alone for so long. Very few Valta men knew her true identity and even fewer wanted to take the risk of actually forming some sort of intimate relationship with her. Over the years a small number had braved the potential wrath of her mother and brother but none had stuck around, which was fine by her. She knew they were only after the thrill of daring to fuck Valencia’s elusive daughter, and when she felt the need to give in to her body’s demands, she let them because in a way she was using them too. She knew her mother wouldn’t allow her to have a long-term relationship with anyone, instead wanting Alex to concentrate solely on her research. So that was exactly what she’d done. And until Tre, Alex hadn’t realized just how lonely her existence had been.
And look at her now. Sitting in a Coteri command room with her own Coteri warrior gently wrapping his arms around her, supporting her. She was front and center with her former enemies, feeding them all the information they needed to stop her family. It amazed her how much her life, her perspective, had changed in just a few short days.
Her stomach suddenly dropped at the thought of what was truly happening. She was giving up her life and everyone in it. Everything she knew. Everyone she had ever come into contact with throughout her entire life. Gone. Because now she knew the truth.
The finality of that thought scared the shit out of her, even though she knew there was no other choice for her to make, and she felt the panic rise in her throat. She quickly tried to pull free from Tre’s comforting grasp, but at her movement he tightened his hold and pulled her close. She felt his warm breath on her neck, sending shivers across her skin. “What’s wrong, sugar? Talk to me.”
She dropped her head and closed her eyes. “I think I need a bit of air, Tre. Everything just hit me all of a sudden and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.”
He loosened his grip and she stepped out of his embrace.
“Let’s go back to my room, Alex. I need to meet with the team to go over more details of the mission and you can rest while I’m doing that.”
He laced his fingers with hers as he led her out of the conference room and back down the hall toward his room. Unfortunately, they had to walk through the main atrium, where several Coteri warriors had gathered waiting for Tre’s orders for their scouting excursion that evening.
She immediately froze when she felt all eyes on her. Tre pulled her closer to his side, obviously noticing her discomfort. As she looked around, she saw a host of different reactions to her presence. Seth flashed an amused grin and gave her a wink. Marcus reflected a mask of indifference, barely looking up from the hand-held video game he was playing. Jude simply gave a quick nod in her direction. Her gaze landed on the warrior in the far corner, Michael. He scared the shit out of her, especially after his reaction to her at the warehouse. He glared at her with such intense hostility that she actually leaned in closer to Tre and averted her eyes. Movement to the side caught her attention as Sean rose from his seat and gave her a genuine smile.
Tre squeezed her hand, lending her some of his strength. Alex knew that if she was to have any hope of acclimating and becoming a true member of the Coteri, she needed to start with these men. Tre’s team. She knew this was her chance to let them know she was serious about their cause and would do anything within her power to help them stop her family.
Alex took a deep breath for courage and moved from Tre’s grasp. She rubbed her now-damp palms down the front of her pants and looked around the room at all the eyes burning holes through her. She knew she had a lot to prove to these men before they would willingly give her their trust. She belonged here with them. With Tre. With the Coteri. She felt it deep inside her soul. Now she needed to prove to the men in this room that she wasn’t the threat they thought she was.
Alex turned and looked at Tre, feeling the fierce protectiveness of his gaze wash over her and through her, giving her the added courage she needed. Tre gave her a small nod, encouraging her to speak. Again she drew a deep breath into her lungs.
Alex fisted her hands at her side. “I know what all of you must be thinking. I am Valta. Valencia’s daughter and Luca’s sister. Raised to hate the Coteri. How can I be standing here and not be a threat to you all? How can you trust anything I say?”
She walked forward and stood in the middle of the atrium. Her gaze circled the room, taking in the faces of the men who probably wanted her dead. She blew out a breath and spoke again. “I was raised from birth as a Valta but there is nothing dark in me. I was lied to my entire life about who and what the Coteri people were and was kept isolated from anyone who might tell me differently.”
Alex shook her head, ashamed of her own stupidity, before she forged ahead. “I understand now the role I unwittingly played in the destruction my family has caused, and it sickens me. And although nothing I do can make up for my past transgressions, if it takes the rest of my life, I will do whatever it takes to help ensure my family is stopped.
Tre immediately came to her side. “They’re not your transgressions, Alex. You were deceived by those you trusted most. And when you learned the truth, you set out to make things right.” He was fervent in his support and she felt the ice around her heart melt even more for this man.
He faced his men, pulling Alex to his side. “She’s not Valta. Alex may have been raised under their beliefs but the choice was never hers to make before now.”
She watched as he looked each member of his team in the eye before he continued. “She now knows the truth and has made the choice to join us as a Coteri. She helped us to save Nic and the other women and continues to help us by providing information to locate and destroy the complexes the Valta are using for their breeding experiments. She is one of us, damn it.”
Tre moved Alex in front of him and placed his hands on her shoulders, presenting her to his men. “I never sensed the Valta darkness in her, even the night we first met, because their vile hatred isn’t in her. Now tell me—use your senses—do any of you recognize her as Valta?”
Alex held her breath as she waited for someone to reply. Scanning the room, she watched as the Coteri men looked at one another, waiting for someone to speak first.
It could have been seconds or hours she stood there waiting, but finally Jude stood. “I don’t sense it in her either, Tre.”
From beside her, Marcus spoke up. “Neither do I.”
Seth rose from his seat. “For the life of me I can’t figure it out myself, but from the minute I saw this girl in her house the night we brought her in, I never sensed darkness. Never felt a threat, even though I knew she was Valta.”
Tre looked at Sean, who leaned against the far wall in a relaxed pose with one foot crossed over the other. He shrugged. “Hell man, I just got here and I’m still trying to figure my way around all this Coteri shit. But I trust you, Tre. And you were right—I do know what it feels like to be on the butt end of being accused of something I’m not. So if you say she’s one of us, that’s good enough for me.”
Alex turned and gave Sean a small smile. She hadn’t expected him to say anything and she absently wondered just what he had been accused of. But regardless, she
appreciated his support as well as the support from the other men.
Michael chose that moment to step forward, his cold stare making it evident that he was still brooding over what had happened to Nic and still held Alex responsible. He turned his gaze to Tre.
“Trust has to be earned, Tre. Don’t ask me to do that after what happened with Nic, because I can’t and I won’t. You want me to believe she’s turned against her family and everything she was bred to believe her entire life just because you fucked her and she miraculously saw the light? Not buying it, man. You’ve definitely got a reputation with the females but even you’re not that good.”
Alex was shoved behind Tre so quickly that she almost lost her balance and went down, and would have if Seth hadn’t rushed to her aid. She watched in horror as Tre shifted, mid-leap, into his wolf form and took Michael to the floor, his razor-sharp teeth mere inches from the other man’s neck as he snarled in rage.
“What the ever-livin’ fuck is going on here?” Dev had walked down the back steps and was standing on the landing. His bellow brought everyone to attention, yet Tre still didn’t release Michael.
“God damn it, Tre. Let him up. Now,” Dev ordered.
Tre’s rumbled growl permeated the silence as his muzzle moved even closer to Michael’s throat. He took a quick nip at the man’s earlobe, triggering a loud yelp of pain from Michael, before he moved away and shifted back to his human form.
“Disrespect her again, cub, and I’ll make sure you regret it.” Tre’s tone was deadly serious as Alex watched Michael slowly move to his feet, blood trickling down the side of his neck from the injury to his ear.
Sean stepped forward to take a look and started to lead Michael toward the door. “Come on, man—let’s go patch you up, then you can take me to your female to check her over. You said I couldn’t examine her without your presence and now seems like the perfect time.”
Infinite Desire Page 14