The Tiger's Heart (8 page)

* * *

“
We heard a roar. What’s
going on?” Bethany asked, the panic filling her voice when Raja
entered.

“
Tabitha, Ty’s in the
hall. I need to speak with Bethany alone.”

“
If you need anything,
Raja can reach me.” Tabitha stood, giving Bethany’s hand a squeeze
before leaving.

“
What’s going
on?”

“
I told you before that we
received a video, which is how we knew you were taken. Connor, our
wolf computer geek, was able to trace it.”

“
What does that have to do
with the roar I heard?”

“
We received another one.”
Raja dropped into the chair next to the bed, his head in his
hands.

“
Then go save her like you
did me. I’m fine. I don’t need you hovering when there is someone’s
life in jeopardy.”

Raja looked up, his heart in his
throat. His heart was breaking for her. The news he had to deliver
was horrific, with no easy way to say it.

“
Raja…” concern thick in
her voice.

“
It’s not the same.” He
took a deep breath, saying a silent prayer for the strength and
words to tell her.

“
What do you
mean?”

“
Oh Bethany,” he leaned in
close to the bed, wrapping his hands around her small, delicate
ones, “it’s your family.”

“
What about them? They’re
home in Virginia, safe. Right?” When Raja didn’t say anything, she
continued. “Tell me what’s going on. You’re starting to scare
me.”

“
Pierce, the guy that
ordered your kidnapping, attacked your parents’ home.”

“
But they’re fine, right?”
She leaned forward to reach her cell on the nightstand, tears
already gleaming in her eyes.

Raja took a firmer hold on her hands,
not letting her reach the phone. His gaze met hers as the tears
sprang free from her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“
No, you’re wrong. They
were supposed to go to the cabin…they wouldn’t be home. You have to
be wrong,” she pleaded.

“
I watched the video
myself.”

“
Jamie? Is she
okay?”

“
I’m sorry.”

Bethany’s tears flowed freely now.
Raja stood, setting his gun on the nightstand. He eased himself on
the bed next to her, careful not to disturb her injured knee. He
wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into his embrace, and he
leaned his head on hers.

After a few minutes of uncontrollable
tears, she moved her head away, leaving a wet spot, but he didn’t
mind. She tilted her head up to look at him. “I want to see the
video.”

“
No!” he
growled.

“
I want to see it,” she
stated with more determination.

“
It’s out of the question.
I won’t let your last memories of your family be tainted by their
murders. Bethany, just leave it be. I won’t have it,” he growled,
his tiger pacing inside him from the fury.

“
I have a
right.”

“
Please…” He wanted to
yell at her to make her drop it, but she didn’t need that
now.

“
It’s that bad? It was you
roaring.” Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes
again.

Raja nodded, unable to bring himself
to say the words.

“
I’ll have to go home…to
deal with things.”

“
We’ll make arrangements,
but we haven’t to wait for the police to contact you. If not they
would want to know where you received your knowledge.”

“
Why can’t we take the
video to the police?”

“
He shifts in
it.”

“
To keep your secret safe,
my family dies in vain? No justice for their murders?” she accused,
pulling away from him.

“
Your parents and sister
will get justice. I’ll see to that. This is bigger than you, or
even your family. He killed Tabitha’s parents years ago as well. We
have been hunting him for some time now.”

“
He just gets to run free
for years? If someone would have fought for justice for Tabitha’s
parents, maybe mine would be alive,” she hollered at
him.

“
Bethany, you know nothing
of the situation,” he spat at her before bringing himself under
control. “We have been searching for him all these years. Hunting
him every time a lead comes up. Until recently, we thought he was
dead. We’re working hard to find him and take him out of the
equation.”

“
Why did you think he was
dead?”

“
We haven’t heard of or
seen him in years. Turns out he was lying in wait for Tabitha.
She’s coming into her tiger, and he wants to stop it. That is what
has brought him out of hiding.”

“
What does she have to do
with any of it?” She shivered as if she had a chill.

“
Come here.” He opened his
arms to her again, hoping that she would relax in his embrace. She
did, resting her head on his chest, tears freely falling down her
cheeks again. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
She belonged there. Her body fit snugly against him. “It’s a long
story.”

“
I don’t have anywhere to
go.” His voice cracked with tears.

He chuckled. “To make a long story
short, she’s the Queen of the tiger shifters. If she dies before
she can carry on the line, legend has it that we’ll all die with
her.”

“
She’s a
tiger?”

“
She will be. She has the
tiger in her but hasn’t completed the change yet. You can feel it
when you’re around her that she’ll shift soon.” He lazily ran his
fingers up and down her arm.

“
You can?”

“
A shifter can. Humans
wouldn’t know or understand what to look for.”

Chapter Fifteen

Bethany finally fell asleep in his
arms, leaving him unable to get anything done. Usually he was
restless just sitting still, but with Bethany in his arms he felt
content. He enjoyed the feeling of her body next to his.

Tabitha entered the room with the
Captain of her Guards, Felix. “Ty told me what was in the video. I
wanted to make sure she was all right.”

“
I don’t think all right
is the best word, but she is dealing with it the best she can. She
wants to go home, to take care of things.”

“
I expected as much.
However, Ty and I have spoken about this and don’t feel it is wise
at this time.”

Raja’s body stiffened, unable to
believe what he was hearing. “You’re asking her to miss her
parents’ and sister’s funerals?”

“
Not exactly. We were
hoping she would agree to have the bodies flown here. Ty wants to
send a team from the West Virginia clan in to search for evidence.
We need to discuss this with her immediately. We also need you to
find out about the uncle of hers. See what she knows about
him.”

“
Give me some time with
her to see what I can find out about her uncle, and then we can
discuss her family’s arrangements with her. I’m assuming you would
prefer not to wait, but otherwise I feel she will be too distressed
to deal with the uncle.”

“
Okay. You have forty
minutes. I’ll bring Ty back then. Unless you want to bring her
upstairs. Doc agreed to allow her to move into one of the guest
rooms.”

“
She can stay in my
quarters,” Raja barked.

“
I guess that means you
will bring her upstairs, then?”

Raja nodded.

“
Good. We’ll see you in
forty minutes in our quarters.”

With that, they left. Leaving Raja to
wake his sleeping mate. “Love,” he whispered gently, rubbing has
hand against her cheek. She moaned.

“
Love, I need you to wake
up.”

“
Humm,” she moaned, half
asleep.

“
Come on,
love.”

“
Love?” Her eyes snapped
open, but there was no anger in her voice.

“
Yes, you are my love.” He
trailed his hand over her cheek before lowering his head toward
hers and kissing her. “Now that you’re awake. Do you have an
uncle?”

“
Dad has a brother, but I
haven’t seen him since I was a child. Why?”

“
What’s his name? Do you
know where we can find him?”

“
What do you want with
him?” she questioned.

“
Pierce mentioned him in
the video. If he isn’t part of this as we believe, then he’s in
danger.”

“
Uncle James was always
more of a loner. I don’t know where he is now, but I remember Dad
saying he had a cabin in North Dakota. But what would my uncle have
to do with it?”

“
I’m not sure yet, but we
will figure it out. I’ll see if Connor can locate James. We have to
meet with Ty and Tabitha upstairs. Doc said you are doing better
and can move to your own room. I’d like you to stay in my quarters.
You’ll have your own room. I want you close so I can protect
you.”
Raja slipped out of bed and grabbed
is gun.

“
Why are we meeting
them?”

“
To discuss your plans to
travel to Virginia.” He steered the wheelchair that someone had the
foresight to leave in the room, close to the bed. “We’ll try to get
you on your feet tomorrow with crutches, but tonight you’ll have to
use this.” He slid his arm under her legs and the other one behind
her back, lifting her. When he stood with her in his arms, as if
she weighed nothing, he snuggled her into his body. “I know this
isn’t the best time, but I’m in love with you, Bethany.” He kissed
her again, but this time deeply and passionately.

* * *

“
I’m sorry for your loss.
We’ll see they receive justice,” Tabitha said, bending to give
Bethany a hug. The open space of Ty’s quarters left Bethany feeling
exposed. The room had a manly feel with soft touches that had to
come from Tabitha. The deep red walls made the white and black
furniture stand out, while the dark wood of the tables and
television stand tied everything together.

Bethany nodded, holding
tight to Raja’s hand as if it was a life raft, as tears threated to
fall.
I will not cry again.

“
Let’s get this over with.
Bethany needs to get her leg elevated,” Raja announced, using his
free hand to wheel her toward the couch where Ty and Felix
stood.

“
What’s this all about? If
you’re concerned that I’ll tell your secret when I leave, there’s
no need. Raja saved my life and keeping his secret is the least I
can do.” Bethany ran her sweaty palm over her thigh.

“
That’s not what worries
us. We’re more distressed for you and your loss. We understand you
wish to travel to Virginia once you have been contacted.” Ty stood
next to the couch, his arm now around his mate. Even entangled with
his mate, he still held a look of danger and foreboding.

“
Yes. I’m the only one
left and would need to make arrangements.”

“
Bethany, I know this is
hard right now, and the last thing you need is another shock.” Ty
came around the couch to stand close to her. “I would like to send
in a team of shifters to search for evidence to help us locate
Pierce.”

“
I’m sure the police will
handle that.” She shook her head, unable to understand the reason
behind it.

“
They’ll miss things. Not
because they are inadequate but because they don’t have the
abilities we do. Shifters can notice his scent, and we might be
able to track him. The police won’t be able to give you the justice
that you deserve.”

“
I doubt you could arrive
before someone contacts the police.”

“
Not from here, most
likely. However, there is a clan in West Virginia. The Alpha and
some of his best guards are headed there now.”

“
You were going to do it
with or without my consent, is that it?” Her voice was low but
anger was apparent.

“
We were hoping to gain
your permission.” Tabitha moved to stand next to him, gently
rubbing her arm across his lower back before he encircled her in
his arms.

“
That doesn’t answer my
question.”

“
You’re right—it doesn’t.”
Ty smiled. “I can’t give you a direct answer. Yes, the men would
have checked the outside of the home to see if they were able to
detect a scent. If they felt it was imperative to go inside, then
yes, the order would have been given to do what was
necessary.”

Bethany sat there staring at him,
unsure what to say. She appreciated his honesty, yet she felt
betrayed.

“
You have to understand
this is about more than just you. More innocents will be killed
unless he’s caught. Do you really want their deaths on your
conscience?”

Bethany heard a soft growl come from
Raja, as he placed his other hand on her shoulder. She shook her
head. “I don’t want to see anyone else die at his hands, but I
would also hate for your men to go to jail for destroying evidence.
Do whatever is necessary.”

Ty nodded to Felix, who stepped away
from the group and pulled out his cell phone.