The Shifter's Conspiracy (Paranormal BBW Werewolf Romance Novella) (14 page)

Elias could sense where Tess was headed before she even knew it herself. He knew that when all this was over, that once he’d dealt with Mr. Cipriano once and for all, that he would find her in the hotel. He knew she’d be scared, waiting for his comfort, waiting for him to tell her that everything was OK, that it was all over. What bothered Elias was that he didn’t know if he’d be able to tell her that. As far as he knew, he might not make it out of this situation alive. Who knew what was in store for him?

Elias paced around the car. He knew that Mr. Cipriano was inside reloading his gun. He glanced sideways, his large furry head turning just in time to glimpse Tess as she ran beneath the bright light of a streetlamp. Then her beautiful body slipped back into the shadows and he lost sight of her.

He heard Mr. Cipriano’s gun go off, but his supernatural spatial sense allowed him to dodge any bullets sent his way, at least in this instance. He heard the hollow click of an empty cartridge and knew Mr. Cipriano would be forced to reload again. This was his chance to make a move.

Elias slammed his huge frame into the side of the limo, toppling it onto its side. Then he crunched down on it with his enormous fangs, their absolute sharpness piercing the metal of the car frame. With all the strength he could summon he lifted the full weight of the limo with his powerful neck muscles and gave it a vicious shake, forcing Mr. Cipriano to fall out of the hole in the car’s side and onto the sidewalk. Now the unrepentant mobster would be forced to confront him.

Mr. Cipriano lifted the gun up toward Elias, but it was quickly swatted away by Elias’s enormous paw, it’s sharp nails cutting the skin on Mr. Cipriano’s arms. He screamed in agony, holding the open wound with his unwounded hand.

Seeing that the threat was no longer eminent, Elias shifted back into his human form, quickly retrieving the loaded gun that he’d just knocked to the curb. He walked back calmly to face Mr. Cipriano, whose arm was now bleeding substantially.

“Paul, your game is up. I want to know what you’re hiding,” said Elias, forcing the cold metal of the gun up to his neck.

“Fuck you,” said. Mr. Cipriano. “You’re a dead man. As soon as my men hear about this, your days are numbered.”

“I thought you were shifter, too,” said Elias.

Mr. Cipriano laughed cynically.

“Me? No, I’m not a freak,” he said, a sick smile crossing his face.

“So you made a deal with my kind?”

“A deal? That’s pretty naïve.”

“I may be naïve, but I’m the one with the gun. So you better start talking.”

“I’ve been doing deals with shifters for the past decade. I’ve had them working directly for me for almost as long,” said Mr. Cipriano, gasping for air as Elias forced the neck of the gun against his throat.

“Doing what?”

“They’re enforcers usually. Tough guys. They make sure the deals fall through.”

“What about the deals you’re doing with them?”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

“If you want to know anything else, you better get me to a hospital. I’m losing a lot of blood here,” he said, his voice starting to sound weaker.

“I’ll call you an ambulance, but I want to know a few things first,” said Elias.

“OK,” he said. “What?”

“Is your crew responsible for these abductions?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Mr. Cipriano.

“Fuck you. I know the answer to this question. I just want to be able to tell the jury you were cooperative with our investigation you piece of shit,” said Elias, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him back against the limo.

“I want immunity before I give a full testimony. Can you promise me that?” asked Mr. Cipriano.

“Yes. But I want answers now.”

“Yes. My crew is responsible.”

“What’s the operation?”

“We kidnap young women and sell them to the shifters,” he said bluntly.

“You sell them for mates,” said Elias matter-of-factly.

“Yes.”

“For how much?”

“Depends on the girl. Usually millions.”

Elias dialed 911 and called for an ambulance, giving the crossroads closest to the accident. The call was probably unnecessary, given the sirens he could already hear in the distance. After ending the call he smashed his phone against the sidewalk so he couldn’t possibly be tracked as he disappeared into the night.

He left Mr. Cipriano with a warning that if he said so much as a word to the police about his presence at the crime scene that his life would be in danger at every single moment. Mr. Cipriano seemed to understand.

As police lights appeared around the corner he shifted back into his wolf body and scurried up the metal stairs of a fire escape. For now he’d be forced to travel once more over the skyline of the city, staying out of sight and out of harm’s way.

The wheels of his mind spun as he mulled the case over, his mind feeling oddly separate from the majestic body that soared through the cold wind of the dark night, his enormous frame bounding from building to building and rooftop to rooftop. But ultimately, thoughts of his detective work were cut short as his mind focused on Tess. He had to go to her, to wrap her in his arms, and assure himself that she was OK.

I found myself walking quickly through the hotel lobby, my eyes averted from the staff at the front desk. I must have looked obviously distressed because I heard one of the staff ask if I was OK and if I needed help.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” I said as I hurried to the elevator.

I didn’t fully know why I was here. I texted Elias. I texted him again and again. When I finally tried calling it went immediately to voicemail. Had something happened to him? If he was in danger there was nothing I could do about it. It might finally be time for me to call the police station. They could send squad cars. Someone would at least be out there looking for him.

I debated this decision as I rode the elevator alone. There was a risk here. If they found out that Elias and I were running an operation off the books, there was a chance we could both be fired. Hell, there was a chance we could both face trial. This wasn’t just a case of misconduct; we’d taken a huge risk with both our lives and the integrity of the department.

There was simply too much at stake for me to phone it in just yet. Besides, something inside me told me that Elias was OK, that he would come back to me if I just gave it time. At times I felt that I heard his voice in my head, reassuring me of this fact. It was this same voice that had told me to go back to the hotel, that I would be safest there; the same voice that told me to wait for him.

When I was finally inside our room I fell back on the bed and closed my eyes. I wanted to sleep more than anything, to forget, at least momentarily, the horrors I’d just been through. But it was impossible. My body was hotly wired, my mind running over the things I’d seen over and over and over again. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest like a loud, fast drumbeat.

I got up and went to the mini-fridge, finding an assortment of airplane bottles and a few bottles of champagne and wine; all the amenities of a luxury hotel. I opened up two small bottles of vodka and poured myself a glass. This was perhaps the only thing that would ease my nerves right now.

I took a few large, steady sips and started to feel slightly more relaxed. I still wondered where Elias was and had the idea to turn on the television. Perhaps news of the accident had reached the local stations.

Images flickered across the screen, each more meaningless than the last. Absolutely nothing about the crash. It was bizarre. Part of me was starting to wonder if it had really happened, and if so, what parts were real and which were purely imaginary. Had I truly seen a giant wolf overturn the limo? Had it really communicated with me when it looked into my eyes and told me to ‘go’?

I filled the glass up again. These thoughts were too much to face sober and alone. But before I took another sip, I heard the doorknob turn. My heart began to beat faster… and then I saw Elias’s beautiful face walk through the doorway. A wave of relief washed over me.

He didn’t know how he would explain it to her, but it seemed undeniable that he’d have to tell her the truth: that he was a shape shifter, a ‘werewolf’, a being with two identities, one of which was his purely animal nature. Part of him knew it was too soon, but part of him knew there was no better time. He had one wish in his heart: that she wouldn’t reject him once she knew the truth about his dual nature.

He debated how he’d explain it as he breezed stealthily over the rooftops of the city, bounding from building to building, hidden by the darkness of the night sky. He counted all the ways he might reveal to her his dark truth, but there was no right answer, no good way to tell her something he knew she’d be so shocked to hear. He also knew that she was his true mate. He’d felt her passion for him; he hadn’t been mistaken about that.

Soon enough there wasn’t any more time to debate his next move, as he found himself alighting on the rooftop of the hotel. He shifted back into his human form and smashed through a door leading into the hotel stairwell. Now that he was near her he couldn’t wait to get his secret off his chest. He would pour it all out, lay it all on the line.

He’d give her one single chance to accept him as he was, to be with him despite his true essence. She’d have one chance to either accept or reject him. At least he would know for sure where they stood. That was his only solace.

I rushed to Elias and wrapped my arms around him, forgetting for the moment that we were colleagues. But professionalism be damned, I was so happy to see him. So many confusing feelings welled up inside of me. It wasn’t just knowing he was safe. It was having him here with me, his arms wrapped around me, feeling their intrinsic strength enveloping me with the most complete protection.

But there was something else in his touch, something deeper, stranger, yet more refined. I looked up into his face questioningly. I wanted to say something, but no words came to mind. Even if I’d had something to say, it would have been impossible, because the very next moment I felt his mouth on mine, kissing me with a heated passion I couldn’t even have imagined before this moment.

I lost myself in that kiss, allowing my hand to move over his muscular frame, enjoying the smooth wet touch of his tongue on mine. But within moments it was over as he pushed me away and looked down into my eyes, practically into my very soul. There was something he wasn’t telling me, and this realization catalyzed my feelings of dread and rejection. I knew this moment was too perfect.

“Tess, I can’t…”

“Dammit. I’m so stupid. I don’t know why I did that,” I said, castigating myself and too embarrassed to look into his eyes.

“I kissed you, Tess. I wanted it as much as you. More perhaps. But I can’t let this go any further until I tell you something.”

“Tell me what?”

“It has to do with who I am.
What
I am,” said Elias, guiding me toward the bed. “It has to do with the abductions case and how I know what’s ultimately behind it.”