The Tiger's Heart

by Marissa Dobson

  Ty, Raja and Jinx sat in the middle of the conference table going over the information that was already accumulated. “I spoke with Adam this morning. Victor checked into the hotel. They’re standing down to see if the Russian makes an appearance. No information has been found as to why they’re meeting. Unless Victor flees they’re going to observe,” Raja said, tossing aside another folder.

  “We’ve got less than twenty-four hours to find out whatever we can about this Russian. Otherwise, Adam and the team will have to take down Victor. Taking down Victor will upset the balance of Pierce’s gang and hopefully make him think twice before any future attacks.”

  “Now this is interesting.” Raja pushed a strand of hair that fell from his tie back out of his face before handing the folder he was reading to Ty. “It would seem as though Victor’s mother is Russian. His financials appear that he is receiving money quarterly from an account in Russia. Connor, can you trace the money, find out where it’s coming from?”

  “If there’s another laptop around here, I can start the process to narrow it down as I continue with Robin’s trail. When it’s finished narrowing down the points of origin, I’ll give Lukas what I have on Robin and attend to that.” Connor didn’t look up from the laptop. “I don’t mean to sound demanding, but if we could set up a computer station. I’d be able to run multiple searches simultaneously.”

  “Start the search. Then find whatever you need online and order it. Rush the shipping if you have to. We’ll turn one of the smaller conference rooms into what you need. I apologize we didn’t think of it before.” Ty read the papers Raja handed him. “Felix, I have an extra laptop in the top drawer of my desk. Would you please get it. I also want you to find out whatever you can on Victor’s mother. Who’s his father? Siblings? Who was Victor before he became Pierce’s right-hand man?”

  “It will take some time to find what you’ve request.”

  “Unfortunately time is one thing we don’t have. Lukas, can you handle tracking Robin’s course?”

  “Sure. Right now we are a few months behind her.” Lukas stabbed another colored pin into the map then grabbed a marker to put the date she was seen there.

  “Good. Connor, focus on Victor, see what you can find, and quickly. I know you both are working around the clock, and we appreciate it. No one else here are computer experts like you two are. Maybe we can recruit or train others to help you in the future, as right now this is a need to know only situation.” Felix returned with the laptop, handing it to Connor as Ty spoke. “Ahh, here you go. When you find something let us know. In the meantime, Raja and I have some other things we need to attend to. Shadow, Felix with us. The rest of you keep working.”

  * * *

  Bethany and Tabitha where in Ty’s quarters hunkered down in front of Ty’s laptop, shopping, with Styx standing guard.

  “Are you two spending all our money?” Ty teased, gracefully taking a seat on the opposite couch. “We were gone for over two hours, and you’re still shopping?”

  “Women can spend a day shopping. You make our task harder having to do it online. We can’t see how it will look on us, or how it feels,” Tabitha told him before pointing to something on the screen. “This would look great on you, Bethany.”

  “I can’t believe you’re the same woman I took shopping in Pennsylvania who barely bought anything.”

  “That was different. First because I had a target on my back and I wanted to get out of town. Second because it’s more fun to shop with another woman. I’m just giving my expert opinion on what would look good on her.”

  “So you’re not buying then?” Ty questioned.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “We left our women with our credit cards; did you really expect to find them finished shopping?” Raja leaned against the arm of the couch. “I know you both prefer jeans and sweaters. Nevertheless, make sure you order a couple dressy outfits. It’s possible you will need them as things progress.”

  “See and I told you this would look great on you.”

  “Okay, but that’s it. I bought enough clothes,” Bethany said, adding the dress to her shopping cart.

  “You don’t get off that easy. You need shoes to go with these and the other outfits.”

  “While the women finish their shopping spree, why don’t we take this to my office?” Ty rose and stretched before strolling toward his office.

  Inside the office, Raja grabbed four water bottles from the micro-fridge, handing them Shadow, Felix, Ty and keeping one for himself. “What’s this meeting about ,Ty?”

  “Once Adam and the team detain Victor, we’re going to need a place to take him. Raja and I decided we don’t want him here at the compound. Remember Taber, the Kodiak bear shifter from Nome? His family has a few cabins about an hour’s drive from here, less in the helicopter. I’ve already contacted him, and he agreed to meet us there.” Ty took a sip of water before setting it on his desk, and plopping down on the office chair.

  “Are you suggesting taking your mates?” Felix sat in front of Ty’s desk, water bottle untouched in his hands.

  “It’s something Ty and I have gone back and forth on. Pierce knows the location of the compound, making it more dangerous here. In addition we would have to leave some of the key people behind to protect the mates. Whereas if they were with us, kept safely in a farther cabin we would still be able to protect them while having the key group together to interrogate Victor.” Raja set the half drank bottle of water aside. He didn’t want it. Instead he wanted coffee. Soon, he promised himself.

  “But there would be no perimeter set up. No guards on guard duty.”

  “Good point, Felix. I’m sure Taber could bring a couple of his family members to patrol the grounds, or…” Raja’s attention was diverted from Felix when Shadow let out a soft moan, grabbing her temple. “Shadow? What is it?” Raja stood quickly, catching her as her knees buckled.

  “Ahh,” she moaned at Raja gently placed her on the chair he just vacated.

  “Should we get the doctor?”

  “No. I just need a moment.” She let her eyes close while everyone else stood around watching her. “No cabin. More dangerous.”

  “Are you sure, Shadow?” Raja kneeled in front of her.

  “Yes. Someone that Taber knows, I’m not sure who, owes Pierce a favor. He’ll squeal that something is going on at the cabins…there will be an attack if you go there. Have Taber come here without telling anyone. The cabin on the edge of the compound. It needs work but it would do for this. Put Victor there.”

  “Having him here might raise the chance for attack.” Ty looked out the window. “It puts more lives on the line. Not just the guards but mates, women and children.”

  “It does, but there are more guards here to protect everyone. We’ll raise the security level and keep everyone on call. It’s the best chance to keep everyone safe if Shadow’s vision is true. Splitting our guards between two places will make us weaker.”

  “Okay, Felix, Shadow I want you to take the guest rooms. I want you in the main building with us. Even with other guards on our mates, I want you within seconds away from them. If there’s an attack, I want the women guarded together if it’s safe enough to move one of them. This will allow for more guards on them.” Ty closed the curtain before facing them again. “Tabitha and Bethany’s training starts tonight. I want them well versed in shooting a gun. I have started Tabitha’s hand to hand training but if there’s an attack, their best chance is weapons that allow them to keep their distances.”

  “Give us about an hour to debrief the others then meet us back here to go to the firing range.” Raja rose from his kneeling position in front of Shadow but still eyed her cautiously. “Are you okay now?”

  “I’m fine.” Shadow stood and followed Felix out, leaving Raja and Ty alone.

  “I’ll let you have the honor of telling Tabitha and Bethany. After all, you’re Alpha here.” Raja caught Ty’s evil eye as he opened the office door.

&nbs
p; Chapter Thirty-Four

  The shooting range turned out better than Raja could ever expect. Bethany’s father taught her how to shoot a gun, and she was a decent shot. Tabitha wasn’t too bad either for someone who only held a gun once before, and that was only since becoming Ty’s mate.

  “You’ve both done very well. I want you both to keep the guns with you. If you want shoulder and thigh holsters, we can get them for you. Even with your guards, I want you armed in case something happens. Once Victor arrives, Pierce might decide to attack.” Raja grabbed a box of bullets off the shelf.

  “Raja, Connor found something. He’s requesting you join them in the conference room.” Felix came to stand closer to the group instead of watching the area with Shadow and Styx.

  “I’ll tend to it. Bethany, go with Ty, Tabitha and the guards. I’ll come for you at Ty’s when I can.” He slid his reloaded gun back into his holster, kissed Bethany and jogged toward the main compound.

  Please let this be a break we need. I hate feeling Bethany’s panic. Tabitha and Bethany have been through enough recently—they don’t need more stress.

  After pulling the conference room door open, he found the room full of anxiety and all eyes trained on him. “What’s going on?”

  “We can’t let the meeting Victor has scheduled happen,” Connor announced, plugging the projector into the computer to allow whatever was on the screen to appear on the wall.

  “Why? What did you find?”

  “The man is Victor’s father. He heads a small terrorist group of shifters in Russia. That’s where the money is coming from. From what I can find is this meeting is to discuss joining their forces, making both of them more treacherous than before.” Connor displayed a table with numbers on the wall. “This tracks each transition back to the organization Victor’s father heads. Victor Senior arrives tomorrow evening. My suggestion would be to have the team take down Victor tonight and get them out of San Francisco.”

  “Great job. I’ll deal with Adam and the team. Marcus, gather any guard not on duty in the ballroom, meeting in thirty minutes. Either Ty or I will brief everyone. Anyone on duty will be noticed following the briefing. From this moment on everyone is on high alert and on call at all times. Thomas, you help him. Connor and Lukas, I want you both working on Robin, as I’m concerned this will put her in more jeopardy.”

  * * *

  Raja spent the next fifteen minutes filling in Ty, Felix, Shadow and Styx on what Connor found. “Adam and the team need to take Victor down tonight. We can’t leave this to chance any longer. If Victor Senior gets there before he’s detained, it could meet a full-on assault.”

  “I agree. Contact Adam and I’ll brief the guards.” Ty turned to the women. “You’ll stay here with guards.”

  “Ty, with Victor soon to be on the grounds. I’d like Tora’s family to take the final guest room here in the main building. If Marcus is called away, it leaves Tora and Scarlet easy targets.”

  “Agreed. Deal with Adam then see to Tora. Inform her that if there’s an attack on the compound and if safe to move within the main building, she should find Tabitha and Bethany. She’ll be safe with them,” Ty had his hand on the door handle when he turned around to face Raja who already had his cell phone out and was dialing Adam’s number. “Tell Adam in the medical kit Doc sent him with there a strong muscle relaxer that’s used on our kind. I want Victor sedated for transport.”

  Raja nodded, hitting the call button. “Are you somewhere private?” he asked Adam as his voice filled the line.

  “Good. The Russian is his father, Victor Senior. He heads a shifter terrorist group in Russia. Victor needs detained tonight. We want him sedated and brought bound and blindfolded back to the compound. Do you need more men?” I pray not. There might not be enough time to get more men there. “Great. Contact me when the job’s done. Stay safe.”

  He hit the end button before clipping the phone back on his jeans. “I need to go see to Tora.”

  * * *

  Bethany watched Raja leave and closed her eyes. What the hell was I thinking to get involved in all of this? All I wanted was a quiet life.

  “Bethany, you okay?” Tabitha laid her hand on her leg.

  “Okay? No, I’m not okay.” Tears wetted her eyes as she ran her hand across her face. “How do you deal with this?”

  “With our men running off? The guards? The danger?”

  “All of it. Don’t you worry about, Ty? Aren’t you scared that you’re going to be the next to die?” Bethany snapped the ponytail holder off her wrist and pulled her hair back in a messy ponytail, just to get it out of her face.

  “I always worry about Ty, as well as Raja and the rest of the clan members. I don’t want to see anyone else die because of this. Pierce has taken too many lives as it is. I deal by realizing that it has to be done. If not Pierce is out there with a free killing pass. I can’t live with that. I’ll do whatever I can to see him pay for what happened to our parents, Jamie, and countless other victims. There’s danger but there’s danger everywhere. You could walk outside and a bus hits you. I’d rather live my life to the fullest with the man I love then cower in fear.”

  “But we are cowering behind the guards.”

  “I don’t see it as cowering. We have a job to do for the tigers. We have to be kept safe until the job is complete.”

  “That might be fine enough for you. You’re their Queen. Me, on the other hand, I’m no one.” Bethany leaned her head back, resting it on the back of the couch.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Bethany. Without you we could never do what the future holds for us.”

  “What?”

  “After I came back to the clan, the book you’ve already seen told us that Raja had to find his mate before we could start the process of bringing the tigers together. You’re part of this destiny as much as the rest of us. You’ll play a key point in this. Don’t doubt that you’re meant to be here or that Raja would give his life for you.” Tabitha squeezed her leg.

  “That’s the problem. I don’t want him to give his life for me. I don’t want to live without him.”

  Shadow moved from the window, coming around the couch to squat near Bethany. “I’m sure Raja has told you of my gift. That I know things, mates, the future, pasts. I can tell you there’s nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to happen to Raja. You’ll be together for many years. One way to protect your mates, don’t fight them on your guards. They want to keep you safe. You are their top priority, but they also have other things they must worry about. If they know you’ll listen to your guards and we’ll keep you safe, it will allow them to focus on whatever task is at hand.”

  * * *

  As expected Tora fought Raja—she didn’t want to leave her cabin, until Marcus returned from the briefing and put his foot down. “I agree with Raja that it’s a precaution that we should take. Now go pack what you need for yourself and Scarlet. You have twenty minutes. I won’t have you and Scarlet alone as a target when I’m needed to defend the compound. At least in the main building you’ll be safe. There will be more guards there.”

  After Tora stormed out of the room, leaving them alone, Marcus turned to Raja. “Taber will be landing in ten minutes. Ty’s meeting him at the landing field. I’m sure you would rather be there. Also Adam’s team will move in on Victor within the hour.”

  “Appreciated. Get her moving. I want her in the main building long before Victor is detained.”

  After leaving Tora’s cabin, he pulled out his cell phone to text Shadow. Moving to the landing strip. Taber’s due in. Adam’s moving on Victor within the hour.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Taber, this is my mate Bethany and Ty’s mate Tabitha. Ladies, Taber is a Kodiak bear shifter. He’s been generous enough to come look intimidating while we interrogate Victor.”

  “Wow,” Tabitha and Bethany both quietly whispered.

  “I know my size can be daunting, but I promise you unless provoked, I’m a big teddy bear.
Ty, Raja and I go back many years. I’m just here to help.” Taber stood almost seven-foot-three, every part of his body was toned and tight. His massive frame made people shy away at first glance but not Tabitha and Bethany—they stared at him with open mouths.

  “I’m sorry.” Bethany blinked a few times. She looked as if she wanted to pinch herself to make sure she was truly awake. “I just never…”

  “Don’t worry, Bethany, I get that reaction a lot.”

  “I didn’t mean to be impolite.”

  “I understand. Raja tells me shifters are new to you, so I’m sure I came as a surprise. I hope you won’t hold my size against me.”

  “I should apologize as well,” Tabitha said, coming to senses.

  “Now that we have the stares and apologies out of the way, maybe we can move on.” Raja laughed, watching the women react to Taber. “Bethany, Taber is going to bunk in our guest room since the main guest accommodations are full. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, that’s fine. I hope you’ll find it suitable.”

  “Where’s Ty?” Tabitha looked to the door as if expecting him to be only moments behind Raja and Taber.

  “He went with Milo and Thomas to check on the cabin we’ll be using. He’ll be back shortly. When he gets back, we’re going to have some downtime. Anyone who wants to catch some sleep before shit hits the fan better do it. Adam’s team is taking down Victor within the hour. If all goes well within the next six hours, they should be here.” Fatigue was beginning to make itself know to Raja as he dropped to the couch like a ton of bricks. Too much stress, long hours and not enough sleep finally was catching up to him.

  “You want some coffee?” Tabitha asked.