The Tiger's Heart (17 page)

“
I believe you.” He put
his hand on her waist, pulling her closer to him. “Why?”

“
You fell asleep on me. I
couldn’t sleep not knowing who this Chris was.”

Raja laughed, a rich laugh that gently
caressed her skin. “Sorry. I was exhausted. I didn’t mean to fall
asleep on you. Did they answer your questions?”

“
Somewhat. He deceived the
clan.”

He nodded, kissing her neck. “He gave
me information on Victor, Pierce’s trusted advisor. We have a team
ready to move on him if the information is true. Connor’s working
on it. There’s a briefing at ten you’re more than welcome to
attend.”

“
The plane…”

“
Oh, that’s right, your
parents’ and sister’s bodies will arrive for the services today.
We’ll find out what time. I’ll reschedule the briefing if I have
to, I’ll be there with you.”

A lump rose in her throat as her loss
struck home again. She swallowed forcing it to go away, and took a
deep breath. “Uncle James will be there, if you have other things
that you need to attend to.” She ran her hand over his chest,
playing with his soft black chest hair.

“
I’ll be there.” He kissed
her forehead. “I love you, Bethany.”

“
I love you too. Are you
still tired?”

“
Why?” He played with a
loose strand of her hair.

“
I want to feel your hands
on my body. I want to feel you in me.”

He smirked. “Come here.”

Chapter
Twenty-Seven

Raja and Ty stood at the end of the
conference table, their mates sitting on their respective side of
each them. Felix sat next to Tabitha and Shadow next to Bethany,
giving the clear picture of the hierarchy. Marcus, Thomas, Adam,
Connor and Styx took the remaining chairs.

“
Connor, what did you
find?” Raja took a slip of coffee.

“
It would seem the
information is correct. Victor is flying out of Dulles
International Airport in Virginia on Friday and has booked a hotel
room close to the airport in San Francisco through the
weekend.”

“
Careless for him to book
in his name.” Ty watched the information Connor mentioned come on
screen in front of him.

“
He’s cocky. He doesn’t
believe he would be caught, that no one would be able to track him
or want to track him.” Connor hit a button, and the flight and
hotel information was replaced with a picture. “This is his most
current picture. Taken less than a year ago.”

The man on the screen before them
looked to be in his late fifties. His dark salt and pepper hair
more white than dark, gave him a weathered look. His dark, soulless
eyes stared back at them as if he didn’t see you, but merely saw
through you. People were just a pawn in his game.

“
How can a man this old be
so naïve? He has to suspect you could be monitoring the travel
arrangements made in names of anyone associated with Pierce.”
Bethany eyed the board with disgust.

“
Maybe he’s encouraging us
to try to take him down.” Tabitha leaned forward in her chair,
angling herself to get a better view of the man. “I know
him.”

“
You know him? How?” Ty
touched his mate’s shoulder.

“
He came into the
restaurant I worked at in Pittsburgh. He was there the day I came
home to discover Ty’s letter attached to my door. Two days before
Pierce turned up at my apartment. I waited on him.”

“
Did he say
anything?”

“
He mentioned he was in
town to reacquaint with an old friend…” She looked at Ty with
glossy tears in her eyes. “You don’t think…he meant me, do
you?”

The room pulsing with Ty’s rage. Raja
could see Ty was thinking how differently things could have turned
out. If he’d been a little later finding Tabitha, she could have
been at the mercy of Pierce and his gang.

“
I won’t lie to you,
Tabitha. It’s very likely it was you. You’re safe here. We’ll bring
him down.” Raja turned to Conner. “What else do you know about him?
Does he have any family? A mate? Children?”

“
No family on record.
Parents are deceased. He’s a born shifter and joined forces with
Pierce shortly after Pierce’s change. His beliefs are different
from Pierce’s. He wants to rid the world of the lesser shifters and
believes the mate, or mates in his version, are only there for
breeding.”

“
Mates?”

“
According to what I have
found about him, he believes we have multiple mates. Our first true
mate will lead us to our other mates.”

“
Interesting. Especially
since he’s unmated. One would think he would put his beliefs into
action.” Raja glanced at the clock on the wall.
Forty minutes until the plane lands.
“He’ll be there in two days. We’ll send two teams, along with
other men from Jinx’s clan in West Virginia, to take him down. If
possible brought alive to a secure location.”

“
Lance and Spencer are
standing by to leave. Leo, if you would go pack your stuff and join
them, you will be a part of the second team. Adam we would like for
you to head the team, reporting directly to Raja.” Ty rubbed his
mate’s shoulder as he watched the young guard with
interest.

“
Yes, sir. I’m honored.
Thank you.” Adam rose to follow Leo out.

“
You earned it. Give us
another few minutes of your time and then you can pack and brief
the team before the plane leaves.”

Adam nodded, returning to his seat.
The door closed behind Leo.

“
Adam, it’s doubtful
Pierce will be there but if he is, we’ll send more soldiers. Do
your best to find out what his reason for meeting with the Russian
tiger is. Confiscate whatever evidence that might be in his room,
anything that might assist us. Lastly, if possible take him alive.
We’ll want to interrogate him. If he has others with him, do
whatever you deem necessary. Jinx’s men will be leaving late this
evening and will meet you there. I’ll be available at any time, and
we’ll have more men standing by.” Raja grabbed the coffee pot on
the table before him, pouring more into his cup. “Unless you have
any questions, you’re dismissed.”

“
Thank you. I won’t let
you down.” Adam stood quickly, leaving the room in a
hurry.

“
Now the rest of you, once
Victor is taken down, or he’s aware there are men on him, it could
lead to an attack on the compound. I want everyone on a code red
until you hear otherwise from Ty or me. There need to be two guards
on Tabitha and Bethany round the clock.” Out of the corner of his
eye, the women shot him dirty looks, but he was glad they didn’t
voice their displeasure. “When in their quarters with their mates,
guards are to be outside the main door, or may be dismissed for the
night but on call. Felix and Shadow will assign shifts for each
mate. That will be all for now. Shadow, Styx, if you two could wait
outside while Ty, our mates and I have a word, then we can meet the
plane.”

“
Felix, if you’ll wait
with them.”

The guards filed out of the conference
room, leaving the air heavy with tension. Raja knew it was only a
matter of moments before the women let loose their displeasure over
the guards. Who would be first…his bet was on Tabitha. Bethany
would wait until later when they were alone and she could wrap him
around her finger.

“
Round-the-clock guards?
Is that really necessary?” The disgust was apparent in Tabitha’s
voice.

“
Yes, Tabby, it is. You’re
my mate, and I want you safe. If something comes up and either of
us is called away, we want to know our mates will be safe. If the
situation calls for it, you’ll be guarded together. Four guards are
better than two. I don’t want to hear any arguing from either of
you. Tabitha, you have been here when there was an attack on the
compound. Bethany, you know what Pierce is capable of. Don’t fight
us on this—neither of you will win.”

Raja was only slightly surprised when
both of the women remained silent. All protest from them was
gone.

“
If you believe it’s
necessary,” Bethany said softly.

“
I do.” He laid a hand
over hers. “The plane will be landing shortly. We
should…”

Bethany nodded. Before she could
stand, Tabitha spoke.

“
If you don’t mind, Ty and
I would like to accompany you. Tora has arranged the memorial
service for this evening.”

“
Thank you.” Tears
glistened in Bethany’s eyes, and Raja could feel his mate’s
gratitude. He saw the spark in her that wasn’t there before, as if
she’d found a place within their close-knit group.

Chapter
Twenty-Eight

Raja was overwhelmed at
the number of clan members standing at the landing strip. In front
of the group, Tora stood with Marcus by her side.
It looks as though all the clan members are
here.

Tears streamed down Bethany’s face and
her lips trembled, as she stood staring at the group in
astonishment.

“
We wanted to be here to
support you.” Tora stood in front of Bethany and Raja and placed
her hand on Bethany’s arm.

“
Thank you, Tora.” Raja
wrapped his arm around Bethany, drawing her as close to him as her
crutches would allow.
Maybe I didn’t do
too bad raising that big-mouthed sister of mine. She turned out to
be an amazing woman.

“
Yes, thank you.” Bethany
cried in a tearful voice.

“
Your face will freeze if
you keep crying.” Tora laughed sadly, taking a tissue from her
pocket to wipe Bethany’s face. “Sorry…” She laughed again as if she
finally realized what she was doing. “I guess it’s the mother in
me. Come on, Doc requested a chair for you. He doesn’t want you to
overdo it on the knee.”

Walking through the crowd,
he realized there were only a few members not present.
Mostly the guards on duty are missing.

As if Tora read his mind, she spoke.
“After learning of the memorial service everyone wanted to show
their support. The guards on duty send their sympathies but were
unable to get away.”

“
Where’s Scarlet?” Raja
gave Tora’s hand a squeeze, letting her know how thankful he was
for all she did.

“
She’s with Daniella. It’s
much too cold for her to be out here.”

As they reached the chair Tora
mentioned, it was obvious to Bethany that Raja’s sister had gone
all out. There was a tent set up with a few chairs and a long bench
in the front. A table filled will thermoses of warm liquids and if
he knew his sister, at least one of them had his special, dark
roasted coffee waiting for him.

Tora directed them to the large bench.
“Sit. I’ll get you something warm to drink.”

Raja sat with Bethany to his left,
followed by Tabitha, Ty and Felix. Shadow and Styx sat on Bethany’s
right. When she rested her head gently on Raja’s shoulder, he
wrapped his arms around her.

“
Your sister is
incredible,” she whispered.

“
Don’t tell her that. It
will make things unbearable for Marcus. She already believes he
couldn’t get along without her, not even for a day.” His lips
curved into a smile before laying his lips on her
forehead.

“
I distinctly remember
someone saying men need their mates. We complete them.”

“
You can’t use my own
words against me,” he teased.

Tora came back with a tray of coffees
and hot cocoa for Raja, Bethany, Tabitha, Ty and the guards. “This
one’s your special blend.” She pointed to the cup closest to Raja.
“Bethany, I think you might enjoy the hot cocoa. It’s unlike
anything you ever tasted before.”

“
Bethany, you must try it.
It is amazing.” Tabitha grabbed one of the hot cocoa cups off the
tray, her face glowing with pleasure.

“
Okay.” She took one of
the cups, breathing in the aroma. “It smells delicious.”

“
Taste it,” Tabitha
encouraged.

She took a small sip and moaned. “Oh
my!”

“
I told you. Delicious.
The kitchen staff makes it with real chocolate, none of that
powdered stuff.” Tabitha wrapped her hands around the mug, bringing
it to her lips.

A distant sound of a plane engine
sobered the mood. Raja knew even after hearing from the detective,
the arrangements were made and so on, Bethany was still holding on
to a glimmer of hope that it was all a bad dream. That was all
about to come crashing down around them when the coffins were
unloaded, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Please let my love and
support be enough to get her through this difficult
time.

Her body trembled as the plane came
into view. “I’m here, love.”

“
I’m fine.” She tried to
put on a brave face but Raja could see through it.

Marcus and Tora took a seat on the
other side of Styx, when someone laid a hand on Bethany’s shoulder,
brushing his arm that was around her in the process. Raja growled,
ready to take the head off whoever was touching his mate. He turned
to find James.