Esteban stood and signalled for the young woman, Anna, to approach. “You can tell the good sister that I’ll be back to check on this patient soon.”
“Sí, señor.”
He left the infirmary, nodding to the guards as he exited the compound. They crossed themselves as he passed and the corner of his mouth twitched. The locals had created quite a folklore around him, whispering that he could magically appear and disappear, that he was one of the ancient gods come back to life, that he lived in a palace deep in the jungle. The stories were amusing and somewhat true. Of course, no one ever said as much to his face likely fearing his wrath would rain down upon them. He made no effort to dispel that fear. It was useful. Los capos de dragos avoided him, too, and he enjoyed his solitary existence...for the most part.
Once out of sight of the orphanage, he shifted forms and headed towards the edge of the jungle where he’d instructed Stone to meet him. Hopefully, the Lycan had been successful.
Stone sat in the jeep, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for Esteban. He was later than he’d planned. The police had been milling about, questioning the man who had been tied up and everyone else in the vicinity. It had taken some work to sneak back into the hotel, ditch the waiter’s uniform and gather his own clothes without being seen. There was only a slim chance that anyone would recall the incompetent waiter who’d doused guests with water earlier in the day, however he wasn’t taking any chances. Being detained was the last thing he needed right now.
Admitting his failure to dispose of Dante was going to stick in his throat. Esteban would lord it over him, he was sure. But there was a bigger issue at hand and he’d need the cat’s assistance to deal with it.
Organ harvesting from unwilling participants. The very idea made him ill. It had to be one of the vilest crimes out there.
Yes, sometimes the impoverished were coerced into selling a kidney. It wasn’t completely ethical but at least they were consenting adults. But this went beyond that. There’d been talk of children! That a Lycan would stoop low enough to be involved in such an activity had him seething with rage. His wolf was almost uncontrollable, its eyes red, lips curled back to expose its fangs.
When we find him, we’ll show no mercy. Justice shall be served. His lungs will be ripped out for every set he has stolen. His heart, his liver, his kidney. I will tear him to shreds one piece at a time.
Stone let the animal rant. It was what he’d be doing himself if he didn’t have to plot his next move. Dante wasn’t in this alone. The Sister Denise that had been mentioned at Mendoza’s home was likely Deirdre. It would be too much of a coincidence if it wasn’t.
Deirdre. In his mind, the woman was no longer his sister. There was no pack connection left. He’d shown her mercy once based on the past. Never again. He would kill her with no more compunction than he’d squash a mosquito. Nothing could justify what she was doing. Nothing.
His phone rang. It was Reno.
“What happened with you and Dante?” Reno didn’t even say hello.
“The bastard managed to out manoeuvre me.”
“He’s good.”
“I know. I’ve been chasing him for over a year. Every time I’d get close, he’d pull another trick out of his sleeve.”
Reno grunted in agreement. “And what about the buyer? Saul, I think you said his name was.”
“I’ve no idea. I didn’t see him anywhere. He likely saw the crowd around the truck and left as fast as possible. Did you manage to get hold of an official agency to track him down?”
“The U.S. government is on it.”
“Good. Now if I can just get my hands on Dante and rip his heart out—”
“Listen, if you catch Dante give me a call before you kill him. I have a few questions for him.”
“Sure. I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks. Any luck finding Tina’s body?”
“Not yet but I have a strong lead.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Stone ended the call, idly wondering what Reno wanted to question Dante about. The man was as slimy as they came so who knew what crime Reno was trying to pin on him.
A movement in the bushes drew his attention. Esteban.
Stone climbed out of his vehicle and waited for the cat to become human.
“Well?” Once again the feline wasted no time with social niceties. That suited Stone just fine.
“Dante got away.”
“Really?” The man’s mouth curled derisively but Stone cut him off.
“We have a bigger problem here than you being ticked off over sharing your territory.”
Esteban narrowed his eyes. “What?”
“There’s an organ trafficking ring operating in the area and it appears it’s planning on targeting children.”
“Children?” Esteban’s face darkened. “What proof do you have?”
Stone related what he had discovered. How the cat would react, he wasn’t sure. Felines tended to be solitary creatures who were difficult to deal with.
When the facts had been relayed, Esteban shot him an accusing look. “This is your fault. Filthy Lycan dogs have been nothing but trouble since they appeared here.”
“You can’t lay this all at our feet. Yes, it appears a few Lycans are involved but who else is in the mix is anyone’s guess. There’s good and bad in all species, Esteban. If you want to get right down to it, this could be your fault.”
“Mine?”
“You say this is your territory, but this has been going on right under your nose for who knows how long.”
“I don’t involve myself in the affairs of other species.” Esteban crossed his arms, a haughty look coming over him. “That has never been the jaguar way.”
“No. You just prowl around with your nose in the air never helping anyone. You could have helped the Lycans at the embassy, spared the two pups from being orphaned.”
“I helped the witch.”
“The witch?” Stone blinked, momentarily thrown off by the announcement. “You helped Christina?”
Esteban tightened his jaw, appearing reluctant to say more then finally he nodded. “I did. I found her still alive hiding under a bush. She was delirious, fevered.”
Stone closed his eyes as a pain seemed to pierce his chest. “At least she didn’t die alone. Thank you for that.”
“You realize you haven’t completed your end of the bargain yet. Those Lycans are still at large.”
Any softening of feeling Stone might have had towards the Jaguar ended. “I know and you won’t tell me where her body is until I do.”
“That was our original agreement; however, I’m feeling benevolent.” The jaguar looked away, lips pursed. “What if I told you she wasn’t dead?”
There was a beat before Stone reacted, his brain not even processing what he’d just heard. Then it sank in. “What?” A myriad of emotions raced through him. Shock, relief, joy, anger. “She’s alive and you didn’t tell me?” A rumble rose in his throat and he took a threatening step forward.
“When we spoke, I wasn’t sure she would live.” Esteban gave a shrug. “It would have been cruel to tell you she was alive only to have her die before you saw her.”
“Cruel?” Stone opened his mouth but no words came out. Rage and disbelief at the man’s gall waged inside him.
“You can thank me later for my consideration of your well-being. In the meantime, I suppose you’d like to see her?”
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll take me to her this very instant before I kill you.”
“If you kill me, you’ll never know where she is, will you?” Esteban coolly raised one brow.
His wolf growled in frustration and Stone did nothing to suppress the sound.
Esteban sniffed. “Fine. I’ll take you to her but you’ll need to exercise some patience.”
“She’s far from here?”
“Relatively speaking, no. However, Sister Bernita locks the gates at sund
own and no one is admitted until dawn the next day.”
“Sister Bernita? Christina is at the orphanage?”
Esteban nodded. “She was dropped off there this morning. The bullet in her leg was preventing her from healing. The good sister performed surgery today to remove it.”
Stone recalled one of the guards saying there was someone at the gate who needed medical attention. While he’d been up to his ankles in shit and pushing a recalcitrant cow, Christina had been just yards away. He could have held her, been with her during surgery. Instead he’d left her behind...again.
And yet, if he had stayed, Dante would have sold that man to an organ trafficker. An innocent life had been saved and now there was a chance that the trafficking ring might be broken.
For the good of all. He could almost hear Christina saying the words. She would have wanted him to go if she’d known.
But now… He gave a decisive nod. In the morning he would be at her side again, and this time not even a pack of hell-hounds would keep him away.
Chapter 16
Tina tried to swallow. Her mouth was dry; her tongue felt twice its usual size. Her eyes seemed to be stuck shut and her mind was muzzy, as if her brain were surrounded by bubble wrap and the thoughts couldn’t move about or connect to form any kind of sense. That was okay. She liked bubble wrap. With a bubble wrapped brain, you could float along all warm and cozy and safe.
She hadn’t felt safe in a long time. Exactly why, she wasn’t sure. Random thoughts faded in and out; bullets, drugs, jaguars, wolves. Being too hot, too cold. Pain, fear. At times she’d called out for help, seen visions of a stony mountain, forbidding and icy yet she’d known it meant safety if only she could reach it. The sight had never lasted though. More often, darkness had surrounded, insidiously creeping closer, invading her being, stealing her energy. It had become harder and harder to push it away. Giving in had begun to seem easier than fighting the inevitable.
The darkness was fading now, a pleasant glow filling her soul. She could relax and drift, no worries or cares, just her and her bubble wrap of safety. Sleep beckoned but a vague throbbing in her leg was making itself known. A bell chimed in the distance and faint sounds began to reach her ears. Someone must be popping her bubbles, trying to make her brain wake up and face reality. She frowned not wanting to leave her present state.
A hand touched her brow; a cup pressed to her lips. She swallowed the offered water, the dryness in her mouth receding. Calm and quiet returned for a moment only to be abruptly swept away by a voice. Loud, deep, filled with emotion.
“Christina.”
The mountain had returned and now the bubble wrap around her brain was dissolving. She forced her lips to move. “Bubble wrap.”
“Christina, sweetheart, are you okay?”
“Mmm…”
That answer didn’t satisfy, apparently, for another question was asked. “Can you hear me?”
Of course she could, but he likely wanted a real answer. She forced her eyes open. Stone’s face hovered over her, lines of strain bracketing his features. Too stern.
She rolled her head from side to side. “You’re forgetting the rules.”
“The rules?” He took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. His touch warmed her heart, chasing away any lingering shadows. “What rules?”
“No looking serious on my shift.”
The corner of his mouth curled upward. The look in his eyes softened. “Sorry. I’ll try to remember that.”
“You’d better, or I’ll hex you.”
He outright laughed. “Well if you snag me with a fishing hook again, at least I’m in the right place.”
“Hmm? What place?” She didn’t know what he was referring to.
“You’re in a medical clinic. You had an operation to remove the bullet from your leg.”
“Oh.”
“Do you remember what happened?”
She thought for a moment then nodded. “The children. Are they safe?”
“Yeah, they’re back in the States with their grandparents.”
“Good.” A slow smile spread over her face. “Elijah.”
“Yes?”
“You told me your name is Elijah. Finding out your first name was one of my goals.”
He chuckled. “Well now you can check that off your list.”
“Yep.” She closed her eyes.
“Tired?”
“A bit, but don’t go.”
“I won’t.” He brushed his knuckles down her cheek and exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I left you behind. I said I’d come back for you once the pups were in the chopper.”
“You’re here now.” She nuzzled her face against his hand. “That’s what matters.”
“I wasn’t here when you needed me.”
She opened her eyes, saw the self-condemnation on his face. “You did what you had to do, what I asked you to do. I’m alive. And you saved me by giving me your blood. I remember that. You thought I was vampire.” She tried to make him smile but it didn’t work.
He pressed his lips tightly together and looked away. “No. I didn’t save you. My blood wasn’t enough.”
Another voice spoke, a man came into her range of vision. “What he’s trying to say is that you needed another infusion. You now have wolf and jaguar blood in you.”
She blinked, not knowing who this person was or what he was talking about. “Who are you?”
“Esteban. This is my territory. I found you near death under a bush.” He sniffed. “Chivalry dictated I give you some of my blood to help keep you alive.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know how she felt about a complete stranger drizzling his blood down her throat but when in doubt, simply use your manners. That was her motto. “Thank you. It was very kind of you to share.”
Esteban inclined his head regally. Stone clenched her hand tighter and she shot him a questioning look. He wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“So…” She frowned wondering if there was any magical significance to what had happened. “I guess having both a wolf and a jaguar sharing their blood with you must be rather rare.”
Esteban shrugged. “There’s no particular significance except that your scent is now incredibly confusing. Anyone tracking you will wonder if you are a jaguar, a wolf or a witch.”
“Oh.” She licked her lips. “Um…I suppose that might come in handy.”
The man folded his arms, looking bored. “Are we done here, Stone? You still haven’t kept your half of the bargain.”
A growl rumbled from Stone’s throat. “I’m done when I say I’m done.”
“Fine.” The man rolled his eyes. “I’m going to get something to eat. I might as well inspect the dining area while I’m here. Meet me there as soon as you’re done with the witch.”
Once the man was gone, Tina questioned Stone. “Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why are you squeezing my hand so hard?”
“Am I? Sorry.” He loosened his grip and massaged her hand.
“So what’s the problem?”
He hesitated before answering. “I don’t like knowing he gave his blood to you. It smacks of a certain intimacy.”
“I wasn’t even conscious when it happened. I didn’t even know it happened until this very moment.”
“I know. I’m not blaming you. This is my problem. It’s just that the damned cat drives me crazy.”
Understanding dawned and she grinned at the implications. “You’re jealous.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
“What?” The expression on his face made her laugh.
“It’s an old children’s saying.”
“Ah, like the water spout and the little spider.”
“You remember me singing that?”
“I remember everything about you, Christina.” He reached out and traced her features; her brow, her cheekbone, her nose, her mou
th. The soft touch sent shivers through her.
She pressed a kiss to his finger as it rested on her lips. “I’ve missed that.”
“My finger?”
“And other parts of you.”
“Hussy.” He leaned forward and kissed her softly. “I suspect it will be a while before you’re ready to show me how much you’ve missed various parts of me.”
“Who’s my doctor? Did he tell you how long I’ll be here?”
“There’s no doctor here, at least not a certified one. Sister Bernita removed the bullet from your leg. She takes care of most of the medical problems in the area.”
“Oh.” Tina cautiously levered herself up and Stone quickly assisted, arranging the pillows to support her before taking her hand again. “Is she here? I’d like to know what she thinks my prognosis is.”
“Given that you’ve had two infusions of shifter blood, I’d suspect you’re going to heal pretty quickly now that the bullet is out of your leg.”
“Will that make her suspicious?”
“She already thinks I’m a fast healer so who knows? There’s not much we can do to hide the fact.”
“If need be, you could take me away before she starts to put two and two together.”
“We’ll see.” He took a lock of her hair and twined it around his finger, then watched it uncurl.
She studied Stone’s face taking in his strong jaw and cheekbones. He looked tired, haggard even. His hair was longer now than when they’d met. Not much but it didn’t take long for a military cut to look shaggy. But the grey of his eyes seemed softer when he looked at her, warmer than when they’d first met.
He sighed. “Esteban was correct. I have unfinished business to attend to.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Elijah Stone.” She gave him a warning look but he shook his head.
“That won’t work with me, though I do like hearing you say my name.”
A pointed cough interrupted their conversation.
“Mr. Stone, it’s nice to see you again.”
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