Total pages in book: 172
Estimated words: 155984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Terry Orsan was a tall, dark-skinned man with a ready smile and the roped muscles of the shifters. He wore his hair longer and it tended to curl around his head in ringlets, although the only one who could get away with calling the long dark curls ringlets was his daughter. She was ten now and adored her father. Jet Vicks was short in contrast to Terry, but equally as muscular, with a thick lion’s mane of graying hair that was wildly out of control, tamed only by a loose tie. It was clear the two men had worked together for a long time. Jet helped the young woman out of the 4Runner while Terry watched their backtrail. In spite of being on private property, they were both wary, very cognizant of being responsible for their client.
“Blaise, this is Shanty Jacobs. She’s come to speak with Flambé,” Jet said.
Terry and Jet both scanned all around them, looking up on the rooftops and over to the trees as if they were nervous.
“Are you expecting trouble?” Flambé asked, standing, drawing their attention. She didn’t come out of the alcove, very conscious of Sevastyan’s orders. “I’m Flambé, Shanty. I’m so sorry I couldn’t meet you in South Africa, but my female was rising. Her first heat.”
“I understand,” Shanty said. Her eyes were a delicate blue, but she looked as if she’d been crying for days. Her eyes were swollen, her face puffy. She looked at Flambé once and then down at the ground. A tremor went through her body.
“I don’t know about trouble, Flambé,” Terry answered. “I’ve got this feeling in my gut. I’ve had it for a while now. When I get it, it’s not a good thing to ignore.”
Jet nodded. “He’s never been wrong yet.”
“Shanty and I are going to sit here for a few minutes and talk,” Flambé said. “If you gentlemen would give us space. A good deal of it, please. Leopards have excellent hearing and I would prefer that you get out of range. We’ll put on some music to help mute what we say to each other as well, but this conversation is strictly between us. Blaise, in the cooler there are two ice-cold water bottles. Would you mind?” She gave him one of her sweetest smiles.
Blaise immediately handed the two women a bottle of water each and then stepped off the porch. “I don’t like getting too far from you.”
“It’s not like anyone can get to us,” Flambé pointed out. She made certain she didn’t look at the front door, which was only a few steps away. Inside that house was a team of Sevastyan’s men ready to surround her and Shanty with safety if she could just get Shanty to make a call to the men holding her husband hostage.
Blaise nodded and the three men left them. Flambé waved Shanty to a chair. “This must have been a very long, scary trip for you and the children. How are they?”
Shanty nodded. “I think they’re good,” she mumbled.
“Where are they?”
“They were taken to the safe house by the other members of the team.”
Shanty was speaking so low, in spite of the fact that Flambé was leopard, she could barely hear her. Flambé looked her over. The woman was thin. She looked utterly miserable. Her skin was red, her face blotchy. Flambé took a deep breath. It was now or never. She pushed a sheet of paper across the table at Shanty. Flambe turned on a small fountain set sitting on the table and leaned close to it allowing them to whisper, the water interfering if Shanty was wired.
“They’ll have toys for them. Jack and Lyndon are really great guys, they’ll watch out for them. And both men believe in ice cream treats. The kids will be spoiled rotten.” She poured enthusiasm into her voice as Shanty read the note.
Both brows came together. Her face flooded with color. It was a simple enough question. Was there a bug planted on her so someone could overhear their conversation? Shanty stared down at the note for a long time. She shook her head several times and her eyes filled with tears. Her hands trembled.
She pressed her fingers over her mouth and nodded.
“You’d usually stay at the safe house for a week before being taken to the main property where you’re housed. Because you have children, I’m hoping we can put you up in one of the little houses.” Flambé poured enthusiasm into her voice as she pushed the second note at her. “We’re trying to make one available as quickly as possible.”
Shanty read it.
Betrayal for money? Or what?
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. They have my mate. My Reiner.” She whispered it leaning into the fountain.
“I suspected as much.” Flambé spoke softly. The others may have moved away, but she didn’t trust that leopards might not overhear.