The One Thing Money Can't Buy (Custom Solutions Book 1)

by Lisa Oliver

  /~/~/~/~/

  Things were less tense once the food was being served. Quaid was aware of Christian and Dolph wandering around, ensuring everyone was happy and well fed. They appeared at the table randomly, showing support when there was little of it in the room. Cari gave a good impression of being oblivious to the stares and muttered comments, but Quaid wasn’t.

  The media were tucking into the free food. The wolves at the table to Quaid’s left were whispering and growling a lot, but they were eating, which was a positive sign where wolves were concerned. The cat coalition were sitting with the council elders which was an interesting development Quaid planned to follow up on later. Cari’s mother seemed to be arguing with the prickle leader – probably about the prickle’s banishment policies.

  All the waiters for the evening were Christian’s fighters. Highly trained and extremely loyal. Every window and door to the room was alarmed, and there was another dozen bodyguards stationed at key points around the ballroom.

  Quaid glanced up at the skylight above their table. It was the only entrance point not monitored for a reason. Ranger had been put in charge of the “attack” team – the men concerned told only that it was a training exercise, designed to encourage more people to use Christian and Dolph’s security services. In other words, everything was set, the attack due to occur just after deserts had been served.

  “Excuse me.” It was Ranger himself, setting down Quaid’s entre. Quaid moved aside to let him put the plate on the table, but then Ranger surprised him by muttering, “Don’t draw attention to us. Christian suggested Cari be fitted with a bullet proof vest before the arrangement, just in case any of the newbies get trigger happy.”

  Looking around for Christian, Quaid saw he was talking to the council elders.

  “I’m just going to escort him to the bathroom. Bron’s waiting there. We’ll be five minutes. No, don’t get up,” Ranger’s hand was heavy on his shoulder. “It’s going to look really weird if you both go to the bathroom together. People are watching us.”

  “Five minutes only then,” Quaid warned, settling back in his seat. “The whole point of this will be ruined if he’s attacked outside of this room.”

  “We’re fine,” Ranger soothed. “The guys aren’t due to go for another twenty minutes. I’m going to tell Cari there’s a phone call for him, okay? Christian insisted on scent blockers for this shindig, he won’t scent a lie. I’ll tell him it’s the bank, something about his account.”

  “Good idea.” Quaid picked up his knife and fork. “Don’t be long.” When Cari got up to leave a minute later, Quaid winked at him and kept eating his food.

  /~/~/~/~/

  “Why would the bank be calling me at this time of the night?” Cari protested as soon as they left the ballroom. He knew Ranger was one of Quaid’s best friends, but he didn’t like the smug twist to the man’s lips, or the grip on his arm. “I can walk by myself, you know.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Ranger’s grin turned feral. Twisting, Cari saw a lethal looking syringe in his hand. “Night, night.”

  Cari opened his mouth to scream, but before any sound could come out, he was already falling to the floor.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  “Was that Ranger I saw taking Cari out of the room?” Christian swung into his chair across the table, eying his food with a twist of his lips. “I swear, talking to those council meatheads has cost me my appetite.”

  “Back up a minute.” Quaid put down his knife and fork. “You know why Ranger took Cari out of here. Ranger told me you said for him to take Cari to the bathroom to be fitted with a bullet proof vest in case the newbies got trigger happy.”

  “We did discuss that possibility, three days ago.” Christian frowned. “But then we decided there was no need for it because none of the men will be armed with anything but knife and claws.”

  “But then….” Quaid waved his hand in the direction of where he saw Cari walking away. “You don’t think… not Ranger, surely?”

  “Ranger’s loyalty to me and this company is as strong as yours. There’s probably been a change in the plans,” Christian whipped his napkin off his lap and stood up. “You wait here. I’ll go and check the comm’s room, see what’s going on. Some smartass probably jumped the gun, or thought he’d show initiative, trying to get in my good books.”

  Quaid didn’t like it, but Christian was his boss and friend. Picking up his utensils again, he picked at his meal. Maybe not a boss for much longer? Quaid was thinking about Cari being upset, and knew he’d have to make some changes if he wanted his mate to be receptive to cuddles in bed at night. He was considering different ideas, when someone slid into Cari’s chair.

  “Geoff Hardly, Paranormal Gazette.” A friendly young man in a tired suit smiled, holding up a small recorder. His scent indicated he was human who spent a lot of time with shifters. “You didn’t seem as though you were enjoying your dinner and I wondered if I could ask you a few questions about your mating?”

  “Cari will be back shortly,” Quaid pushed his plate away. “What did you want to know?” Need the media on our side, Christian’s words floated through his brain. He managed a tight smile of his own.

  “You’re a lion shifter, yes? One of the most powerful of all shifters. What our readers want to know, is how do you reconcile your alpha image being mated to someone who has the capacity to kill people with a single thought? Don’t you worry he might lose control during a spat over who does the dishes?”

  “Now, see, this is exactly the type of misinformation we’re hoping trusted members of the media will be able to dispel.” Quaid leaned his forearms on the table. “Cari’s not like that.”

  “You mean he does the dishes without argument?” Geoff chuckled to show he was teasing. Quaid was not amused.

  “What I meant was, that some of us predatory types are trained, and have a mindset that allows them to kill someone and go out for take out afterward,” Quaid said through gritted teeth. “Alpha types like me, who have been in the forces, who’ve worked as a council enforcer, and who’s spent years honing my skills.” He flashed his fangs, pleased when the smaller man leaned back.

  “People like Cari, on the other hand, have a more trusting nature. He cares about people, and doesn’t want to harm anyone. Part of his power,” Quaid thumped his chest, “part of using that power is the intent behind it. I’ve seen Cari use this so-called killing capacity twice already. Each time he was protecting himself or me. Each time, the people concerned walked away with nothing but bruises. He’d be devastated if he seriously hurt someone, let alone killed them.”

  Geoff was still wary but persistent. “Anecdotal evidence shows that a white mated hedgehog killed an entire wolf pack. What do you have to say about that?”

  “I’d say, that happened a thousand years ago,” Quaid fumed. “I’d say it was one incident that could have been wrongly reported at the time.” He glared at Geoff. “We all know how often that can happen. I’d also add, that there’s a good chance the white hedgehog, whose home was being attacked at the time, by a full pack, could have just stunned the attackers with his power, leaving his wolf mate to go out and slit their throats afterwards.”

  “Surely, something that obvious would’ve been reported.” Geoff was sounding doubtful now, and that was a start.

  “Who knows?” Quaid spread his hands. “It was a thousand years ago. Times were different then. Thinking was different then. We’ve come a long way as a society in a thousand years. The paranormal world was totally hidden to humans then. You wouldn’t be sitting here talking to me about paranormal matters if we lived back then.”

  Geoff nodded. At least he seemed to be listening although how much of it he’d use in a story was a different matter. “What I will tell you,” Quaid continued, “and this is what should be the focus of any story printed from tonight, is because of that one solitary historic anecdote, there hasn’t been any others, hundreds, possibly a thousand white hedgehog shifters have been k
illed either as soon as they’ve shifted for the first time, or before they were claimed by their fated mates. Many of those mates then died too. It was a form of genocide and it kept on going right up until recently. That is wrong among any species. Cari was kicked out of the only home he knew, because he was a white hedgehog.”

  “His mother seemed pretty upset she wasn’t allowed to sit with him,” Geoff observed.

  “His mother could win an Oscar for her performance,” Quaid said bitterly. He saw Christian hurrying towards him. No sign of Cari. “Look, I have to go, but would you consider what I’ve said? I can get you proof. I can get you an interview with Cari personally, if you do the research and start seeing past that one horrific incident and focus on what’s happened since with an open mind. Can you do that?”

  Nodding, Geoff stammered, “A… a… an exclusive interview with Cari personally?”

  “Totally exclusive.” Quaid nodded. “I just want you to give him a chance. And for the record, I do the dishes because Cari cooks. Now go, leave your contact details with the guy at the door, and you have my word we’ll be in touch.”

  “This will make my career.” Gathering up his belongings, Geoff left. Quaid tried not to think those words were reminiscent of the ones he heard from Dr. Loup.

  Looking up at Christian, he said bluntly, “Where’s my mate? Couldn’t you find a bullet proof vest small enough to fit him?”

  Christian shook his head. “You need to come now. You need to be silent. Dolph, darling,” he added as the man appeared by his side, “Tell the wait staff to direct any queries or questions to my office where they’ll be handled in the morning. As soon as dessert is over, I want everyone made to leave.”

  The meal Quaid had ingested threatened to make a reappearance. “Where’s my mate?” he growled. “Where’s fucking, Ranger?”

  “They’re both gone,” Christian looked ill. “Along with half of Ranger’s team. They’ve got Cari.”

  Unable to help himself, Quaid stood up and roared. Shattered pieces of skylight fell on the remains of their meals as he and Christian ran out of the ballroom.

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Cari woke up curled up in his hedgehog form, in a strange place with scents he didn’t recognize, and someone poking him with a stick. Not a good omen. Cari kept his eyes squeezed shut and his ears open.

  “You don’t do it like that,” a voice he didn’t recognize said crossly. “You have to stroke a hedgehog’s back to encourage them to open up.”

  “I’m not touching his fucking prickles.” Cari knew that voice. It was Ranger, Quaid’s supposed best friend. “I need him to shift back, that’s all. He’s no fucking use to us with four feet and no thumbs.”

  “Fuck no,” the other man objected. “He’s easier to handle in this form. One well-thrown knife and he’d be skewered, no matter what power he has.”

  Cari shivered. He couldn’t help it. But it seemed on keeping him from being killed, Ranger proved to be an ally of sorts.

  “His power doesn’t work without Quaid around. Fuck, didn’t you listen to any of Le Roc’s briefings about this?” Ranger sounded impatient. “But Quaid will be looking for him, you can be damn sure about that. This little git has got that lion wrapped around his tiny paws. And Quaid’s not stupid enough to come alone – he’ll bring along anyone left loyal to damn Le Roc. We’ve got one small window to claim his fucking money, and to do that, this guy needs to be in human form.”

  “I don’t know why you didn’t just hack his account, like I told you to. Fuck, we have the best technology in the business. Why go to all this trouble?”

  “You just answered your own damn question, Parker. Christian does have the best technology in the business and any trail can be traced. No.” Cari felt another prod on his side and flexed his prickles. “This guy needs to stop playing possum and shift so we can get his ass to an ATM machine.”

  An ATM machine? Cari failed to see how that would help Ranger secure any of his money. His card had a five thousand dollar daily limit. Christian had told him a couple of times to increase it, seeing as he was more likely to buy big ticket items now, but Cari had been uncomfortable with that idea and ignored it. I guess I’d better tell Ranger that and hope he doesn’t get too mad at me.

  Uncurling himself, Cari hissed at the finger that pulled back as soon as he moved, and looked around. Six men, all in the black outfits Quaid wore, were watching the table he was on in fascination. There was a blanket under his feet, but no sign of his clothes. Cari wondered how long he’d been in his shifted form. The room had no windows, and although the lights were on overhead, there was no way of knowing how much time had passed since he’d been at the party.

  Ranger’s face came down level with his, a sneer ruining the line of his full lips, his eyes dark and angry. “Are you going to shift and make things easier for yourself?”

  Cari failed to see the easy part of the equation. He was on a table. Hedgehogs didn’t jump, and rolling off would hurt. Shifting would allow him to get off the table, but he’d be naked, and no matter what Quaid might have tried to tell him, none of the men watching him were his friends, or looking at him in a particularly friendly fashion.

  Ignoring Ranger, Cari scrabbled about with his front paws, trying to get some traction on the blanket under him. If he could get underneath it, he’d shift. Unfortunately, the blanket was thick, and his claws were short, and Cari huffed at his lack of progress.

  “Hey, look,” Parker said, pointing to the slight lump Cari had made in the blanket. “It’s like he’s trying to cover himself. Do hedgehogs shift in front of others?”

  “How the hell do I know?” Ranger snapped back. “The only thing worth knowing about this little guy is the number of zeros in his bank account. Enough money for us to leave the country, buy our own island, and have hot cabana boys at our beck and call.” But, as Cari watched, Ranger grabbed the edges of the blanket, and held them up. “You want to be covered so you can shift?”

  Cari nodded. Ranger lifted the blanket up higher. “Get on with it then.”

  Pointedly looking at Parker and the others who were watching him, Cari parked his butt on the blanket, tapping his back feet.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Ranger huffed. “All of you, turn your backs. The fucking billionaire is shy. What a frigging hassle, just to get a few measly dollars.”

  As a man, all the others in the room turned their back, Parker winking in his direction before he too turned away. Cari didn’t think the wink could be for him. The man had never noticed him before, and his hedgehog form was hardly sexy. Shifting under Ranger’s glare wasn’t easy, and Cari grabbed the blanket as soon as his human limbs appeared, wrapping it around him. The urge to curl up, much as he did in his hedgehog form was strong.

  Sticking his chin out, Cari addressed Ranger. “You made a big mistake taking me. Quaid and Christian are going to be really mad.”

  “Quaid will only be mad because his damn lion thinks he’s attached to you. Le Roc won’t give a shit. The only thing he’d care about is losing a potential financial donor. He’s got a dozen others keeping him in the lifestyle he’s fucking used to.”

  Scrunching up his nose, Cari shook his head. “I think you’re wrong about Quaid and Christian. But it doesn’t make any difference. I can’t give you the money you’re looking for. I mean, I suppose I could ask Ernest to make a bank transfer for me, but Parker already said that could be traced. You’d still get caught.”

  “Not where we’re going, we won’t be.” Cari wondered if sneering was Ranger’s default facial expression. “That’s why so many people get caught. Because they think technology is their friend, when in fact if provides a direct trail to the person doing the stealing. But we’re not going to do that.”

  Ranger pointed to a map on the city map on the wall that was studded with red pins. “A good old fashioned ATM heist. People are so used to moving money around electronically, they forget the machines waiting on nearly every street corner. A
dvantages. Cash is untraceable. It’s the middle of the night so even if someone at the bank is watching your account, they won’t see anything until the morning. We’ll be moving around between the different locations making it more difficult for anyone to trace us. The last stop is right by the airport and by the time you’ve alerted anyone to what’s happened, we’ll be long gone.”

  “I don’t know how far you’re going to get on five thousand dollars.” Cari wrapped the blanket more securely around his body. “There’s six of you. That’s less than a thousand each. How far can you fly with that?”

  “What the hell do you mean, five thousand?” Ranger roared as a couple of the other men looked uneasy. “I checked your account this morning. With interest you’ve got over two billion dollars.”

  “Yes, I know.” Cari shrugged. “But that’s in the bank. I assume you want to use my ATM card and the daily limit on that for ATM withdrawals is five thousand. I’ve never tried to take out even that much, but I imagine if I did try to take more, the machine would just swallow the card.”

  “Un-fucking-believable. Whoever heard of a billionaire with a five thousand dollar card limit.” Ranger started to pace, tugging on his hair. A couple of the men were whispering between themselves. Only Parker was sitting alone, a small smile playing on his lips.

  “Fine, fuck it,” Ranger stopped pacing, his hands on his hips. “Parker, grab the laptop. We’re going to have to risk an electronic transfer. I have not gone through all this shit for the sake of five thousand fucking bucks. We’ll wipe his account out, transfer it in multiple random amounts to all of our different accounts, and get to the bank on the Cayman Islands as soon as it opens. We can transfer any money we can to a completely fresh account manually from there.”

  “It’s still risky.” Parker got up slowly. “Everything will point to the Cayman Islands, and Le Roc has men stationed there.”