The Tiger's Heart (2 page)

Raja poured another cup of coffee and
slid it across the counter.

“
Thanks.”

Raja just nodded and took a sip of his
coffee. “You should be sleeping with her. I can deal with the
reporters.”

“
I know you can. I have no
doubts about that. But I needed to discuss something else with
you.” Ty took a drink of his coffee and ran his hand through his
hair again.

Raja could feel his body tense. His
friend wasn’t just tired—there was something else weighing on his
shoulders. Something that had him troubled.

“
What’s going on, Ty?
We’ve always been straight with each other.”

“
I know I told you
Tabitha’s friend Alice was murdered. Well it seems as though the
suspect is out on bond. The team I sent to keep an eye on him has
been unable to locate him. It would seem as if he went into
hiding.”

“
Bond? You’re shitting me.
He murdered two girls.” Raja couldn’t believe what he was
hearing.

“
Seems as though the
justice system is fucked up. Jails are overcrowded. If you have the
money for bond or can pull the right strings, they let you out
while you’re awaiting trial. From what I can tell, it looks like
someone pulled the right strings to get him out, and only one
person who would do something like that springs to
mind.”

“
She’s safe as long as
she’s in the compound. We’ll double her security to ensure
that.”

“
It gets worse.” Ty
finished the last of his coffee. “It appears he has mob connections
and has teamed up with Pierce.”

“
How the hell did they
find each other?” Raja could feel the tension in the air. This made
things more dangerous. The sooner Tabitha could go through the
change, the better. It would allow her to protect herself more if
the worst situation arose.

“
I’m guessing through the
mob connection. We knew that Pierce had limited connections there.
The mob likes shifters in the ranks for extra
protection.”

“
How much longer do you
think until she goes through the change?”

“
A week, two at most.
She’s close. Today proved it.” Ty stood and put his coffee mug in
the dishwasher.

“
Are you going to tell
her?”

“
Sooner or later, yes. But
not yet. She’s too close, and I don’t want to push her into the
change too early.”

“
Then rest with her. You
both need each other now. Let me fill Felix in, and we’ll get a
plan together. We’ll stay on guard while you rest.”

Ty nodded, slipping away to be with
his mate.

Raja poured himself another coffee. It
was going to be a long day. Raja could see the stress of not being
able to make his mate safe was eating at Ty. “If that’s what it’s
like to be mated, I don’t want any part of it,” he mumbled to
himself as he carried his coffee over to the table.

He sat in front of the
laptop, trying to put his finger on Pierce’s next move.
With all of this information, we should have some
kind of lead.

His cell phone dinged, letting him
know that he had a new text message.

She agreed to meet us this
evening. Will let you know how it goes.

Leo was always a short and
to the point sort of person. With a little luck, Pierce’s sister
would be willing to help.
Not that it will
save his ass.
There was no way they could
allow him to live after all of the people that had died at his
hand, and especially not for the attacks on Tabitha. Raja would
kill him with his own hands if he had the chance.

* * *

Bethany danced around the hotel room.
Coming to Alaska was a dream come true for her. She was only here
for five days, and she planned to see and do as much as she could
jam into that time. When she won the trip she couldn’t believe her
luck—she didn’t even remember entering the contest. She’d never won
anything in her life.

She grabbed her cell from her purse
and called her baby sister. When she didn’t answer, she left a
message. “I can’t believe Mom almost talked me out of coming. It’s
beautiful here. Mom’s bad feelings are off. Nothing can go wrong.
Tomorrow a day on the slopes, snowboarding. Tonight I plan to check
out the nightclub the door attendant recommended. My cell reception
is spotty, but I’ll call you soon. Love ya, sis.”

Tossing the phone on the
bed, she glanced at the bedside clock.
Twenty minutes before the cab arrives. I have time to freshen
up.

* * *

“
With Leo gone, I’d like
Adam to be temporarily reassigned to Tabitha’s guards. We need the
expanded manpower,” Felix said when they gathered in Ty’s office
that evening.

While Tabitha was in the shower, they
put together a quiet meeting to discuss the plans to double her
guards without making her aware of any danger. Raja wasn’t
convinced that it was the best way to deal with the situation, but
it was what Ty wanted.

“
As long as he’s teamed
with a more experienced guard. He’s used to guarding the grounds,
not the Queen. If she has another episode like this afternoon, he
won’t stand a chance against the magic she was putting off. We need
someone who will still be able to fight if danger
arises.”

“
Understood, Raja. I’ll
team him with Thomas.”

“
Very well then. We have
the guards teamed up and scheduled. I don’t want Tabitha to know
about this just yet,” Ty said as the door opened.

Tabitha stood before them with a look
of anger on her face. Her face spelled out the truth—she’d
overheard them and they were about to pay. “You don’t want me to
know about what?”

“
It’s nothing, darling.”
Ty rose from behind his desk to go to his mate.

“
Nothing, my ass. You have
been acting suspiciously all day, and I want to know what’s up.”
The anger in her voice was as clear as an Alaskan Tiger’s
stripes.

Raja inched toward the door. He didn’t
want to get involved in an argument between mates, especially his
Alphas.

“
Raja, I never took you as
a coward,” her words startled him. Any intentions of slipping out
the door without her knowing quickly vanished.

“
My Queen, I’m not a
coward, but it’s not my place to get between two mates.”

“
Then just tell me what’s
going on, since my mate would prefer to keep me in the dark.” She
eyed him with irritation.

He could see Ty’s position, but he was
stuck. His Alphas both wanted different things. “Tabitha, I think
this is something that you need to discuss with him. I can only
tell you we are increasing your protection. We were meeting to
discuss the guard schedule.”

“
Doubling my
guards?”

Ty dropped onto his desktop in defeat.
It was written across his face that he didn’t want to go up against
his mate. “Tabby, things have become more dangerous. We’re only
trying to protect you.”

“
Keeping me in the dark
isn’t protecting me, Ty.”

“
With all due respect, she
cannot afford the stress this is putting on her. Tell her.” Raja
watched his Alphas with a close eye.

“
Oh that will be less
stressful for her, will it? Now you think you know what’s better
for my mate than I do!”

“
This is ridiculous.
Keeping it from me and taking your anger out on Raja is getting us
nowhere. I can’t protect myself if you’re going to shelter me. If
I’m truly the Queen of the Tigers, then I have a right to know what
the danger is.”

“
Leave. I’ll fill her in,”
Ty growled.

Raja
wasn’t sure if Ty gave in out of defeat or because he
realized they were right, but it didn’t matter. Tabitha needed to
know.

Chapter Four

Raja paced his quarters,
unable to calm himself. He couldn’t put his finger on it. There was
something in the pit of his stomach that left him feeling ill. He
checked the surveillance of the compound and everything appeared to
be calm.
The calm before the storm. Oh,
how I hope I’m wrong.

There was nothing he could do but
wait—wait until the other shoe dropped. He never was good at
waiting. Slipping off his clothes, he decided to go for a run in
his tiger form. Living on the compound allowed them to indulge
their animal whenever they wanted.

* * *

The nightclub was like that of any
other Bethany had been in before. The drinks flowed, music so loud
she had to scream to talk and the dance floor crowded.

Partying and nightclubs
weren’t really her thing, but she’d promised her baby sister she
would go. Her sister’s words rang in her ears.
For once in your life, be wild. Let your hair down and do
something you wouldn’t. Go to a nightclub for me, dance and have a
good time.

“
Can I buy you a
drink?”

Turning on her bar stool, she found a
man in jeans and a t-shirt standing behind her. A cowboy hat low on
his head, hiding his eyes.

“
Okay. I’ll have a
cola.”

“
A soda? Live on the wild
side, darling. How about a rum and cola?”

“
Sorry. I don’t drink,”
she said, shaking her head.

“
I hate drinking alone,
but I won’t allow a lady to ruin my night,” he said before
motioning to the bartender.

She was taken aback by the rudeness.
She should have left then and there, but her mom had taught her
better. She would finish her drink and then make her
excuses.

Why did I ever let Jamie
talk me into this?

The room around her seemed to be so
full of life. Everyone was laughing, having a good time, except
her. She was completely out of her element.

“
What brings you here
tonight?” He leaned into her so he didn’t have to shout.

“
I promised my sister I
would hit up a nightclub while I was here.”

“
You’re not from here
then?

“
No. I won this
trip.”

“
Oh, you must be Bethany.
I’m Josh, your ski instructor for tomorrow.” He put his hand out in
greeting.

“
I changed that. I don’t
need an instructor. I decided to go snowboarding instead.”
Finishing her soda, she started to rise. “I really must be going.
It was a long trip, and I’m tired.”

“
Let me give you a ride
back to the hotel. I have to go there anyway to pick up a few
things.”

“
That’s kind of you, but
I’ll get a cab.” She stood, sliding her purse over her
shoulder.

“
Come on.” He grabbed her
arm and pulled her toward the exit.

“
You’re hurting me.” She
tried to pull away from him, but his grip tightened.

“
I’m going to hurt you if
you don’t come with me.”

Her heart beat feverishly,
stomach rolling.
God help me, Mom was
right. I should have listened.

* * *

Raja ran until he was
exhausted before returning to his quarters. A run and a long, hot
shower, and still he felt as if he was crawling to get out of his
skin. His cell vibrated on the desk.
I
hope this will be something to distract me.

It was Leo. “Raja.” He rose from his
bed, where he’d laid while he listened for a moment.

“
I’ll speak with Ty and
get back to you on that. There are some new threats where our Queen
is concerned. I’m not sure he’ll want a strange human within the
compound. But if so, be ready to leave at a moment’s
notice.”

He listened for another second before
ending the call.

It was late, but Ty would want to know
now instead of tomorrow. He hit Ty’s number on the
phone.

Ty’s voice was heavy with sleep, and
he could hear Tabitha in the background asking who it was. “I’m
sorry to bother you at this late hour. I heard from Leo, and I need
to speak with you.”

His eyes drifted closed as he listened
to Ty. “I’ll be right there.” Raja hung up and slipped on a
t-shirt. He pajama pants that he put on after his shower would do
for all the longer it would take to speak with Ty.

Upon arriving at Ty’s quarters, he was
surprised to find Tabitha waiting in the living room as
well.

“
My Queen, I didn’t mean
to disturb you.”

“
It’s fine, Raja. I
wouldn’t be able to sleep without Ty anyway. What did you find
out?”

He saw Ty give a slight
nod.

“
Jessica says she has
information but won’t tell Leo and Connor what she knows until she
meets with you. My guess would be she’s trying to save her
brother’s ass.”

“
I would predict the same.
I cannot travel to speak with her in person, but I can arrange a
call tomorrow.”

“
She’ll only do it in
person. Leo asked about bringing her here. It’s safer than the
alternative,” Raja explained, brushing the hair that fell in his
eyes away.

“
I’m not sure it’s safe,
but it seems as if it is our only choice. Call Leo. I’ll expect
them tomorrow.”