Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Stop worrying about it so much. You’re building up the problem, making it insurmountable in your mind when it isn’t.
Not only was there truth in what he was saying, at least the part about her building it up, but she also felt she needed to take another calming look at the situation. If Gorya and the two leopards were so certain they could overcome every obstacle, she needed to listen. She wanted to make it work. She just had to have more confidence and give things time, like Gorya said. She had to stop being so afraid. She wasn’t sure how to do it, but she was willing to try. Having Gorya and a life for all of them was worth it.
12
You’ve got company, Gorya.”
Gedeon’s voice was quiet, but the low warning brought both Gorya and Maya awake instantly. He was out of bed and dressing in clothes that were easy to shed if he needed to shift. Maya was doing the exact same thing.
“He’s alone,” Meiling reported. “Clearly doesn’t want to be seen. He’s watching his back trail.”
“Do you recognize him?” Gorya asked, his tone curt.
“Yes. Leo Bugrov,” Gedeon answered. “Definitely more worried about his back trail than having you or me come after him. I’ve always liked Leo. Never thought he’d be a traitor.”
“I didn’t get that from him either.” Gorya swept his hand down Maya’s hair because he couldn’t resist touching her. “He’s married. Seems devoted to his wife. He has a daughter around fourteen or fifteen. He always laughs when he’s with his family, but I noticed he doesn’t so much when he’s around quite a few of the other families in the lair. He and his wife own one of the local businesses, a clothing shop.”
“Why would he be skulking around in the dead of night?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it?”
“He isn’t approaching as a leopard,” Maya pointed out. “He’s coming to the front door as a man.”
“But he doesn’t want to be seen.”
“Let me answer the door,” Maya said.
“Not on your life. You stay out of sight.” His voice didn’t just rasp, he growled the order.
He should have known Maya would laugh. She seemed to do that a lot when he issued commands. Everyone else in the vicinity took him seriously, but not his woman. Her eyes lit up and that mouth of hers curved into sweet temptation. It was a kick right in the gut.
“Gedeon and Meiling will handle the door and security,” Gorya said, attempting to cover his mistake with her. Ordering Maya to leave his security to others was never a good idea unless he could give her a good reason. “You stay out of sight and be backup, especially when we bring him into the house. If he doesn’t see you or know where you are, you’re my ace in the hole.”
That should satisfy her. And it was the truth. Maya was fast and she could kill in seconds. So could Gorya. If Leo had come to assassinate him, he would never get near Gorya. He’d be dead. It was important to him that Maya was as protected as possible. It wasn’t that he didn’t think she was lethal as hell, he knew better, but she was his world. If anything happened to her, he wouldn’t be able to overcome it. Neither would Rogue.
“No worries,” Maya agreed as they moved together toward the front door.
Gedeon met them in the foyer. Meiling was nowhere to be seen. It didn’t surprise Gorya to see Timur moving into a position to defend his cousin. He stayed out of sight on the second floor landing overlooking the great room, where he had a clear view of most of the seating area.
Gedeon opened the door without turning on lights. “Leo, strange time of night to come calling.”
Leo nodded. “I’m sorry, Gedeon. I couldn’t take the chance of warning you. I need to get inside as quickly as possible. I can’t be seen.”
Gedeon stepped back to allow him entry and closed the heavy door after him. Leo stood just inside, not making the mistake of moving until Gedeon thoroughly searched him for weapons.
“Sit down, Leo,” Gorya invited, waving his hand toward one of the comfortable chairs facing the fireplace. It also faced Timur and put him directly in Maya’s path. She was in the shadows just to the right of the fireplace.
Leo dropped into the chair as if his legs could no longer hold him upright. He put his head into his hands. “This wasn’t always such a bad lair, Gorya. There was a time when most of the families here were worthwhile. Now I can’t say that. I don’t know who to tell you to trust. Not that there aren’t some who would stand by you if they could.”
He lifted his head and looked directly at Gorya, his dark eyes drowning in sorrow. “It’s too late for most of us, but it isn’t too late for you. Get out of here. They plan to kill you. They’ll kill your woman and Gedeon’s woman. No one is safe. A few of us thought, when we saw you fight for leadership and you immediately gave the order to shut down the trafficking, there was a chance, but there isn’t. We thought we could protect you.” He shook his head.