Shifter Wars (Mind Sweeper Series Book 3)

by AE Jones

  Jean Luc mused, “Bruce could be our way into the poacher’s organization.”

  “I don’t like throwing him to the wolves,” I said.

  “He’s already probably going to work for them,” Jason said, “wouldn’t it be better if he knew the truth?”

  Before I could respond, Ken, Bruce, and the other two men emerged from the restaurant and walked toward their cars.

  “Who should we follow?” Jean Luc asked.

  I only hesitated for a second before answering. “Bruce. We need to talk to him.”

  Jean Luc followed the truck. Bruce went straight to the body shop and was stepping out of his truck as we drove into the lot and parked next to him. Bruce tensed until Jason opened the back door of the van and we both climbed out.

  Bruce’s brows lowered. “What are you guys doing here so late?”

  “We need to talk,” I answered.

  “About what?”

  I gestured toward the door. “Can we get in out of the cold? This might take a while.”

  Bruce unlocked the front door and walked in, flipped on the lights, and turned toward us with a wary expression. When Jean Luc, Misha and Matthew followed us in, he scowled.

  “Kate, what the hell is going on?”

  “My name isn’t Kate.”

  Bruce took a step back. “Excuse me?”

  “My name is Kyle.”

  He studied me for a second. “If you’re running some sort of scam, I don’t have any money. All my assets are tied up in this business.”

  I shook my head. “Jason and I are working undercover.”

  “For who?”

  Misha spoke up behind me. “FBI.”

  “Let me see a badge.”

  Misha took a badge from his pocket, and I had to work not to goggle at it. He could make millions counterfeiting if he wanted.

  Bruce tensed and clenched his hands into fists. “Did Jim do something illegal?”

  It was interesting to note he assumed it was about his brother. “It’s not, Jim. It’s Ken and Mark Brennan.”

  “Mark Brennan? He hasn’t worked here for months.”

  I decided to change tactics. “We monitored your meeting tonight at the Steak House.”

  His eyes widened. “You’re following me?”

  “We followed Ken,” Jason said. “We were very surprised to see you there.”

  I asked. “I take it this Lucas is a potential new customer?”

  “Yeah. I thought I was meeting him tonight, but he sent the other two instead. Apparently he lives somewhere out west, but he’s moving back here soon and wants me to refurbish some cars for him.”

  “How did he find you?” Jason asked.

  Bruce hesitated for a second. “Ken knows him.”

  “That’s it?” Jason continued.

  “What else would there be?” Bruce scowled.

  I interrupted them. “If this Lucas is the leader of this group, he’s a dangerous man.” Before Bruce could ask any questions, I continued, “They kill people for sport, including kids.”

  Bruce’s jaw muscles rippled. “Ken’s involved in this? And Mark? Is it why Mark took off?”

  “Mark’s dead,” Jason said.

  He shook his head. “No, Ken talks to him.”

  “Ken’s lying,” I said.

  Bruce ran his hand over his hair. “What do you want me to do?”

  I hesitated for a moment. “We could use your help. But, honestly? The safest thing you could do is tell them you’re not interested in the business and be done with it.”

  He stared at me hard for a second before responding. “They’re hurting kids?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’m in.”

  Jean Luc asked the next question. “When are you supposed to meet with them next?”

  “They mentioned going to some sort of cabin.”

  “To hunt?” I asked.

  “Yeah. They asked me if I like to hunt.”

  “This hunt could be our only opportunity to stop them from killing others,” I said.

  “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything from them.”

  I smiled. “Thank you.”

  “They were pretty gung-ho about the whole hunting thing, but they were vague about what they hunt.”

  “Have you ever read the story The Most Dangerous Game?” I asked.

  Bruce flinched. “Shit.”

  My thoughts exactly.

  Chapter 28

  Bouncing from foot to foot to stave off the cold, I rang Griffin’s doorbell and waited impatiently for someone to answer. Tim opened the door and motioned me inside.

  “Kyle.”

  “Tim, is Griffin available?”

  “He’s on a conference call but should be finished in a few minutes. Why don’t you go into the living room, and I’ll let him know you’re here.” I handed him my coat, and he hung it in the closet. “I want to thank you for warning us someone was after me.”

  “Matthew was the one who overheard the conversation. I’m just glad we were able to prevent them from getting to you.”

  He led me down the hall toward the living room, and I blurted, “Why do you think your family is a target? Is it because you’re next in line to lead?”

  Tim thought for a second before responding, “Maybe. At first I thought it was revenge for us killing Mark Brennan when he took Trina, but now I’m not so sure.”

  I stepped into the living room, and the warmth of the fire enveloped me immediately. I turned to face Tim, who remained standing in the doorway. “Why are you not the leader, Tim?”

  His eyes narrowed on me for a moment. “Griffin is the rightful ruler, and that’s all you need to know.”

  It wasn’t all I needed to know, but before I could protest, Trina came bounding into the room. “Kyle! I could tell you were here somewhere.”

  Tim smiled down at her. “Trina, can you entertain Kyle while I go tell Griffin she’s here to see him?”

  “Sure.” She plopped down on the couch. “Sit down by me, Kyle.”

  Tim escaped before I could ask him anything else. Was I ever going to get a straight answer from any of them about Griffin’s leadership? I sat down next to Trina.

  “Earlier, when you said you knew I was here, what did you mean? Did you see me drive up?”

  “No.” Trina scrunched up her face a bit before answering me. “I just knew it.”

  “Did you smell me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Where were you when you sensed me?”

  “Upstairs in my bedroom.”

  “That’s a pretty good nose you have.”

  She giggled. “I guess.”

  “Do other shifters smell as far as you do?”

  “No, Mommy’s nose is the worst. She hardly smells anything.”

  “And the day I brought Matthew here in his cat form, you knew right away it was him.”

  She nodded. “Yep.”

  I smiled. “You’re very unique for a shifter.”

  Trina frowned at the comment.

  I reached my hand out and took hers. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m a shandin.”

  “What’s that?”

  She ignored my question and flipped my hand over. “Let me see your nails.” She tsked at me like a little old lady. “When was the last time you painted them?”

  “You painted them for me last summer.”

  “Purple passion, like your hair used to be.” She cocked her head and stared at me. “Now that your hair is blond, I think you should have red nails. Do you want me to paint them for you?”

  “Maybe later. I need to talk to Griffin first.”

  “Is it about the men after my family?”

  “Yes.” There was no point in denying it. She had always been a perceptive little thing. “We may have a break in the case.”

  “Does it mean I can go home?”

  “Not for a while yet. Can you keep this a secret for now?”

  Trina held up her hand, palm out.
“Promise.”

  I jumped when a voice sounded from the doorway. “Trina, I think your tutor is looking for you.”

  I turned and encountered Griffin’s green eyes. “How long have you been there?”

  Trina answered, “He’s been there for a while. He likes to watch you when you’re not looking.”

  Griffin growled at her playfully, and Trina jumped up and hustled from the room. He walked in and stood across from the couch.

  “You have a break in the case?”

  “Yes.” And I proceeded to tell him about Bruce and the poachers.

  Once I was done, he paced in front of the fireplace for a while before speaking. “You think he can be trusted?”

  “Yes. So does Jason.”

  Griffin turned toward me. “What does Jason have to do with this?”

  “He doesn’t think Bruce is lying to us. Jason was trained in interrogation in the military. He’s very good at telling when someone isn’t being honest.”

  “Is he, now?”

  I frowned. “You need to get over whatever issue you have with Jason. He’s part of the team.”

  “I don’t have a problem with Jason.”

  Right. I didn’t need shifter senses to know he was lying to me. I decided to change the subject. “Are Trina’s shifter senses normal?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She told me she could tell I was here earlier. She could smell me even from upstairs. And the other day when I brought Matthew here in his cat form, no one realized it was him but Trina.”

  Griffin stopped pacing. “She has one of the strongest sensory systems of any shifter I have ever met.”

  “Earlier when I was talking to Trina, she said she was a shandin. What does that mean?”

  Griffin grimaced. “It means she cannot change. Normally, a shifter turns into their animal self on the eve of their twelfth birthday. But in Trina’s case, she was abducted.”

  I gaped at him. “She still hasn’t turned yet?”

  “No. Tim and Stephanie have tried to help her several times, but she gets agitated and can’t seem to make the transition.”

  I stood. “You didn’t want me to change her memory last year. Maybe you were right and I shouldn’t have interfered.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I erased her memory of the abduction, and now whenever she tries to turn she gets upset. Since she has no memory of the event, she has nothing to attach those feelings to.”

  Griffin laid his hands on my shoulders and began running them up and down my arms. “Don’t blame yourself for this. You saved Trina by changing her memory. Tim and Stephanie told me what she was like before you helped her forget. She wasn’t even functioning.”

  I opened my mouth to say more, but he continued. “Think about the little girl you first met and the one you see now. I was wrong last year.”

  I beamed. “Thanks. Would you repeat that last part, please?”

  His eyebrow rose. “What part?”

  “About you being wrong. I don’t know if you will ever admit it again, so I would like to hear it one more time.”

  He chuckled and hauled me against him, pinning my arms behind my back. “I can admit when I’m wrong.”

  My heart thudded. “You can?”

  He leaned back and looked down his nose haughtily. “Of course I can. The best leader knows he isn’t always right.”

  My eyes widened. “Wow, Mr. Ego actually admits he doesn’t know everything.”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t know everything. Just that I know when to admit when I’ve been wrong.”

  I propped my chin against his chest and looked up into his face. “Do you know what I want you to do right now?”

  “God, I hope so.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. After a couple of tentative kisses, he got a little friskier and his tongue dove into my mouth and did some exploring. Suddenly the room was too warm and my body was on the brink of combustion.

  I came up for air. “The door.”

  He held onto one of my hands as if afraid I was going to take off and walked us over to the door, closing it with a resounding click. Then I was in his arms again.

  I sighed like a silly debutante, and it spurred him on. He drew me tighter to him as he ran his lips down my jaw and then nibbled my neck. His mouth was wicked, and then his hands went into play, caressing my butt. I practically choked on my own tongue and nearly missed hearing someone knock. Griffin chose to ignore it altogether as he slid his hands up under my sweater.

  The knock was followed by Bea’s voice. “Sorry to interrupt, but Malcolm is on the phone and insists on talking to you.”

  Griffin mumbled, “Tough.”

  Bea spoke again. “I heard that. He is seriously thinking about rescinding his investment. He wants to talk to you personally to assure himself you’re okay.”

  Griffin rested his forehead against mine and took a halting breath. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” I grinned. “I can wait.”

  His eyes flared, and orange sparks burst in his pupils. “I won’t be long.”

  He opened the door and stepped around Bea, who took one look at my face and laughed.

  “It’s not going to happen, huh?”

  “Oh, shut up. There’s nothing worse than a smug shifter.”

  Bea entered the room. “If that’s the case, I don’t know how you can stand to be around my brother.”

  “As a matter of fact, he just admitted he was wrong about something.”

  Bea clapped a hand to her chest and staggered back, eyes wide. “I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

  I laughed and sat in the chair next to the fire. “Exactly what I said.”

  “You’re good for him, Kyle.” Bea perched on the couch across from me. “And don’t ever let him tell you otherwise.”

  “So who is this Malcolm character?”

  “He’s a big investor in the business. He got wind of the assassination attempt and wanted to talk to Seamus.”

  “Is the business secure financially?”

  Bea nodded. “As far as I know, yes. We’ve been doing some PR, but things are settling down for the most part.”

  “I just can’t get rid of the feeling there’s more to this than poachers wanting revenge.”

  “Vengeance is a strong motivator,” Bea countered.

  “I agree, but I still think we’re missing something.”

  * * *

  Twenty minutes passed and still no Griffin. Bea finally ushered me into his office to wait. I strolled around his desk and sat down in his chair. As I stared over the mammoth expanse, I wondered what it was like to be Griffin—responsible for most of the US shifter population.

  I turned, accidentally bumping a stack of files on the corner of the desk, and barely caught them before they scattered all over the floor. I straightened the papers and started to push the chair back from the desk when I noticed the name Jason Watson on the tab of the top file. I hesitated for just a second—who was I kidding?—and opened the file. Jason’s face stared back at me from a photo, along with pages which appeared to be a background check.

  Before I could examine it closely, steps echoed in the hall, so I closed the file and braced myself.

  Griffin stopped in the doorway and smiled. “You look good behind my desk.”

  I stared at him, counting in my head to keep it from exploding.

  His smile turned to a frown. “What’s wrong?”

  “What are you doing?” I grabbed the folder and shook it at him. “Why are you investigating Jason’s past?”

  Griffin walked into the room and shut the door before responding. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Then why don’t you enlighten me?”

  “Jason is a latent.”

  “Okay, you have to drop the shifter-speak and explain to me what latent means.”

  “Jason is a shifter. From the smell of his blood, I would say he might be half-shifter.”

  I stood
and walked around the desk. “What? Is it even possible?”

  “Yes. Shifters can mate and have children with humans.”

  “But wouldn’t he know he was a shifter?”

  “Not if he was raised away from the pack by humans. Shifters’ abilities are oftentimes brought on by being with the pack. We learn from each other, and our powers come into fruition through ceremonies or rites of passage. Jason wasn’t exposed to any of those experiences.”

  “And you got all of this information from his blood?”

  “The first night he was here, he’d been injured. I smelled something other in his blood then, I just wasn’t sure what it was.”

  I had too many arguments running through my brain to accept what he was saying. “Jean Luc and Misha would have sensed he was a shifter.”

  “Not necessarily; I barely picked it up myself. His scent is predominantly human.”

  “So why keep it a secret?”

  “I wanted to find out more about him first. Jason could be a plant.”

  “Get real. We brought him into this. He has no idea he could be part shifter. He has human parents.”

  “Not according to his background check. Apparently he was adopted as an infant by a couple in Wisconsin.”

  “What about his biological parents?” I asked.

  “His adoption records are sealed. We’re trying to dig up more information.”

  “I don’t buy it. He doesn’t act like a shifter. Wouldn’t he feel his powers?”

  “You mentioned to me earlier that he knows when someone is lying. He could be smelling them without even realizing it.”

  “He was trained in the military to interrogate people.”

  “Or it could be his natural tendencies were recognized and used by the military.”

  I paced for a second, absorbing what Griffin had said. “Wouldn’t he have changed into his animal by now?”

  “Some latents never change. In Jason’s case, living with humans might have kept his abilities from maturing.”

  “So what happens if he spends more time with the pack?”

  “His powers might grow, even mature, or it could be too late for him to develop any abilities.”

  I gazed into space for a second. “Are you going to tell him?”