Finding the Texas Wolf Page 3

  “They want our country to go to war,” he said slowly. “Unless we obliterate the entire country of West Latvia, they’ll unleash this virus on our general population. It spreads through the air and kills fast.”

  “West Latvia?” She frowned. “Why?”

  “They trade heavily with Russia. Whoever these terrorists are, they want something Russia gets instead. They haven’t specified what exactly. We have people working on finding that out.”

  “You say this senator was found dead?” she asked. “What about the people who found his body? Have they been placed in isolation to avoid contamination?”

  “Yes. The terrorists claim it’s only active while the body is alive. We’ve got people working around the clock to verify this.”

  She nodded. “As you know, I’m a damn good scientist. I assume you want me to join one of your research teams?”

  “Possibly. Though that’s not the entire reason we need your Shadow Agency—and you. Many on my task force are full-blooded Shifters, too. As you know, only a silver bullet or fire can kill us. Normally.”

  Tucking away one wayward blond strand of hair behind her ear, she eyed him. “You aren’t sure if this virus might be another thing that can take your kind out, are you?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Since I’m already dead...” Her slow smile made his heart skip a beat.

  To cover his unwanted reaction, he looked down, pretending to be lost in thought.

  “Hey, it’s okay.” When she reached out and covered his hands with hers, he felt a jolt straight in his groin. His inner wolf, startled awake, sat up and took notice.

  “I enjoy being useful,” she continued. “What I need to do is get you a full printout of our rates. We charge by the hour, plus expenses. There’s a flat fee—a retainer—that’s payable up front and is nonrefundable.”

  Slowly he slid his hand out from under hers. “None of that matters. You’re dealing with a well-funded covert government operation. If you agree to assist us, we can pay you this.” Though doing so felt a bit melodramatic, he opened his briefcase to get a better look at the neat stacks of bills inside. “Twenty-five thousand dollars cash, up front. Another twenty-five once the mission is successfully completed.”

  If he expected her to gape, he was doomed to disappointment. She looked coolly from the money to him. “This is most unusual,” she said. “I’ll have to consult with my partners.”

  But he refused to accept this. “I happen to know your private investigative business is a start-up. You’ve only had one case, I believe. Cash flow has to be important. You can’t afford to turn this down.”

  Stone-faced, she stared at him.

  “And this is important,” he continued. “It’s not just a case. It’s your chance to make a difference.”

  Watching her, he swore he saw that same flicker of interest in her eyes.

  “Fine,” she finally said. “I’m in. Representing The Shadow Agency.” Her chin came up and she held his gaze. “But not just because of the money. I’ve always wanted to make a difference.”

  Admiration warred with attraction. He nodded, closing the one briefcase before pulling a manila folder from the other. “We’ve taken the liberty of having a contract drawn up in advance. I’ll need your signature in three places.”

  Though she accepted the pen he offered her, instead of immediately signing on the dotted line, she began to read through the contract. “No,” she said abruptly. “This part here is unacceptable.” She stabbed her long, bloodred fingernails at the page. “I refuse to keep my partners in the dark about this job. We’re in this together. Otherwise, you’re not hiring The Shadow Agency. You’re just hiring me.”

  Somehow, he sensed this minor issue would be the one thing that could make her walk away. As far as he knew, they didn’t have a backup. “I agree,” he conceded. “Strike through that part and initial it. I’ll do the same.”

  Once she’d done as he’d suggested, she finished her read-through and then signed. Handing him back the papers, she held out one elegant, pale hand.

  “I should have told you,” Rick said, after neatly filing the contract in his briefcase. Then and only then did he slide the briefcase full of cash across the table toward her. “You and I will be partners for this case.”

  She stared. “I work better alone. Plus, I already have two partners.”

  “Not on this case, you don’t. You might want to put that somewhere safe,” he added, gesturing at the briefcase. “Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to let your partners know that you have to disappear for a while.”

  “Disappear?” She didn’t really protest. “They’ll be used to it. It’s kind of what we Vamps do.”

  He laughed, the full, rich sound filling the room.

  “I just need to let Maddie know,” she managed to say, sticking to the topic at hand. “She’s the one I was supposed to meet here tonight. She’s probably out there right now, anxious about where I am even though I texted her.”

  “Let’s go find her, then. After that, you’re coming with me.”

  “Okay. Enjoying this, are you?” she drawled. “You might be pretty, but this is serious business. I don’t need a distraction, and believe me, I could see you becoming a big one.”

  To her annoyance, rather than fluster him, her remark made him laugh. “Nice try, Vargas. But it’ll take more than that to make me go away. I’m going to be stuck to your side like glue, so get used to it.”

  “Fine, whatever.” She gave in sullenly. “I was thinking I’d start in the lab first. I’m assuming you plan to provide me with tissue samples so I can begin to analyze the thing.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” he said. “We’ve already got teams of the best scientists working on that.”

  He’d managed to surprise her, and not in a good way. “I am one of the top biological specialists.”

  One corner of his mouth quirked up. “True, but there are others. We’ve got them in the lab working feverishly for answers.”

  He could see she didn’t like that. “Then why do you need me? Honestly, if you want to develop an antidote, I’m of the best use to you in the lab.”

  “We need your help to neutralize the terror group. Time is of the essence. While the president has been fully briefed and continues to be, he’s not sold on the idea of declaring war on West Latvia.”

  She nodded, watching him closely. “Have they given you a time frame?”

  “Yes. Seven days. If war is not declared and troops deployed, they plan to infect Houston. If they release this virus into the general population, we’ll lose a couple million people in one day. No, Carmen Vargas. We need you in the field. You and I are going to try to infiltrate the terrorists. Our job is to unmask them and take them down from the inside.”

  She nodded. “This job is sounding more interesting by the minute. How do you propose to do that?”

  When he grinned, the flash of his white teeth made her fangs ache. “I have my ways. We’ve got people who’ve been working undercover. You and I are going to pose as people interested in joining the terrorist cell.”

  “I thought you didn’t know who they were affiliated with.”

  “We don’t. Not yet. They may be part of a larger group, or might have splintered off from one.”

  “With a name like Sons of Darkness, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out it’s a bunch of teenaged kids,” she said. “Except for the virus.”

  “Except for the virus,” he repeated. “I think we can pretty much rule out teens. Even if one of them turned out to be some sort of genius, I’d think they’d want cash rather than war declared on some small European nation sandwiched between Estonia and Lithuania.”

  “West Latvia,” she mused. “I believe some of my ancestors came from that area, but I’ve never been there.”

  Though he nodded, his mind was elsewhere. When he looked up to find her watching him, he grimaced. “Sorry. I’ve been going over the plans. Are you ready to get started?” />
  She nodded. The rush of anticipation that filled her was unlike anything she’d experienced in centuries. “I am. Tell me what you want me to do.” She frowned. “But first I need to check on my friend.”

  If he hadn’t known better, Rick would have thought Carmen was stalling. He stayed with her, right on her heels, as she proceeded to search the bar for her missing friend. They made two complete sweeps of the crowded place, upstairs and down, before she finally admitted defeat.

  “This is so not like her,” she said as they walked out the door. “She’s really reliable. Always where she says she’s going to be. I hope she’s all right.”

  “Try calling her,” he suggested.

  “I have. Several times. Calls are going straight to voice mail. I left her a message—well, two now.”

  “That’s worrisome.”

  “Maybe.” She lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. “And maybe not. Maddie’s always forgetting to charge her phone. It’s entirely possible that it’s dead and she has no idea.”

  He spoke without thinking. “She sounds like a scatterbrain.”

  “She’s not.” Rushing to defend her friend, Carmen sounded fierce. “We all have our own little character flaws. It’s not such a big deal.”

  “Maybe not,” he agreed, glancing at her sideways. “What’s yours?”

  His question appeared to puzzle her. “Mine?”

  “Your little character flaw. I’ll tell you mine if you’ll tell me yours.” He couldn’t believe he was flirting with her, but then again, how could he not. They needed to get past this awkwardness with each other for the undercover roles they were going to play.

  “I don’t have any flaws,” she snapped. A second later, she appeared to realize what she’d said. “I’m pretty damn near perfect,” she elaborated, laughing. “As I’m sure you are, too.”

  As he gazed down into her smiling face, something shifted inside him. Damned if she wasn’t alluring. He hadn’t expected this sudden craving to hit him so strongly.

  Outside in the alley, he led the way across the street to where he’d parked. “Do we need to move your car somewhere?”

  This made her chuckle again. “No. I walked here.”

  Her statement almost gave him pause, considering that some of the neighborhoods nearby could be dangerous late at night. But then he remembered she was a Vampire. Anyone messing with her would get the shock of their life.

  She settled into the passenger seat of his black Tahoe, even using the seat belt. He couldn’t help but notice how her every movement contained a sensual sort of grace. “What now?” she asked. “Where do we go from here and what’s the plan?”

  Now was as good a time as any to tell her. At least they weren’t inside the crowded bar. “We’re posing as a married couple,” he said, starting the engine at the same time.

  “Married?” One elegantly arched brow rose. “That’s the one thing I have absolutely no experience with. I’m not sure I can be convincing.”

  He glanced at her and grinned. “Just follow my lead, darlin’. That’s all you have to do.”

  From the momentary look of confusion on her face, he guessed she wasn’t sure how to react to the endearment. He hadn’t called anyone darlin’ in years, not since his fiancée had died. But since he and Carmen were going to pretend to be spouses, he figured using it would be particularly apropos.

  “Sounds good, sugar plum,” she drawled, dead-faced.

  He laughed—he couldn’t help it. It had been a long time since he’d been around a woman who could make him laugh. Pity she was a Vampire. But then again, he wasn’t looking for a mate. “I think we’ll work fine together,” he finally said.

  When he glanced at her again, her beautiful face wore a ghost of a smile.

  “Here’s how we’re playing this,” he said, all serious again. “Word has gone out in a certain group of people that the Sons of Darkness are looking to hire someone with a biology background. They’re willing to pay big bucks. You happen to perfectly fit the bill.”

  “A biology background?” she snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”

  He continued on as if she hadn’t spoken. “Your credentials and employment are right there for them to look up. You’ve never done any work with law enforcement, so there’s no reason they’d suspect you.”

  “Maybe not, but what’s my motivation? I’m well paid. I like my job. Why would I want to join their organization?”

  Bracing himself, he gave her a sideways look. “You’ve just lost your job. That’s your motivation. Plus, we’ve set it up so that anyone looking will believe you’re massively in debt. You need to find work and find it fast.”

  “Lost my job?” She might have become a statue, she went so still. “Are you serious?”

  “It’s only temporary. We’ve got someone who pulled a few strings to make this happen. I’m sure you’ll be fully reinstated once this is over.”

  Glowering at him, she sighed. “I’d better be. I love my job and I’m damn good at it.”

  “I’m sure you are. But look at it this way,” he said. “You’ve got a chance to save the world. How many can say that?”

  Chapter 3

  Maddie could only stare. This guy, this journalist, had no idea what he’d just asked her to do. She couldn’t, she wouldn’t, and she needed to figure out a way to tell him that wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Betraying her own kind, not to mention the other paranormal beings who frequented Broken Chains, was an act punishable by death.

  “Jake,” she said, swiveling in her seat to face him. “I can’t. The private investigative agency I work for specializes. Your particular request doesn’t qualify.”

  His jaw clenched. Slowly, he shook his head. “First off, I don’t believe you. Second, I’m well aware you know what’s behind that door. I’ve seen you go through it. With or without your help, I will find out what’s going on.”

  Though she knew he had no idea of the magnitude of the danger he’d be placing himself in, she couldn’t help but admire—just the teeniest bit—his dogged determination. Even though it completely mystified her.

  “What is it with you and that door?” she finally asked. “Do you honestly think whatever is behind it is worth you being beaten within an inch of your life? Because I can promise you, if you keep pursuing this, that’s what will happen again. Or worse.”

  “Wow.” He stared at her. “Whatever the secret is that you’re hiding, it must be something big. I can’t believe you’re threatening me.”

  “Not threatening. Warning.” She let her gaze roam over him. Even with his battered and bruised face, he was still handsome. His angular features and the light brown tint to his skin made his brown eyes stand out. She liked his lean muscular build and narrow waist. In fact, if she’d met Jake Cassel under different circumstances, she’d have dated him.

  Even now, despite him ditching her earlier and then stating he planned to continue on his dangerous and foolhardy course of action, she felt a twinge of attraction.

  A jolt of awareness struck her. She realized she had to do whatever it took to keep the truth hidden from him—and by doing so, keep him safe.

  “Jake, look.” She swallowed. “I’ll do it. I’ll take the job.”

  Instead of making him happy, he narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

  That made her laugh. “What do you mean, why? I thought you wanted my help.”

  “I do.”

  “Yet you’re still frowning.”

  “Because I can’t shake the thought that you’re somehow playing me.”

  Good instincts, though of course she couldn’t say that out loud. Instead, she shrugged. “Up to you. We don’t come cheap. I completely understand if you’ve changed your mind.”

  He tilted his head, eyeing her as if honestly trying to read her mind. “Do you have a card?” he asked.

  “Of course.” Luckily, she’d just printed up a batch. She kept several in the console, so she pulled one out and handed it to him. “You can c
all me if you change your mind.”

  He accepted it, put it in his pocket and stared straight ahead.

  “Where to?” she asked. He gave her an address in a neighborhood near hers, but a few streets away. She drove silently, efficiently, keeping her concentration on the road. When they finally pulled up in front of a small yellow frame house, she parked. “I hope you get to feeling better soon,” she said.

  “Thanks.” Still avoiding her gaze, he slowly and painfully climbed from the car. “I’ll be in touch.”

  She watched him walk up his driveway, waiting to pull away until he’d disappeared into the house. Then, because it was her habit, she made a note of the address on a small pad she kept in her console.

  As soon as she got home, she called Carmen. Her friend didn’t answer, which made Maddie suspect the Vamp harbored some resentment over being stood up. Maddie apologized over voice mail, said she needed to talk to her about a potential new case and hung up. No doubt Carmen would disappear for a day or two, as was her wont. When Maddie and their other partner, Shayla, called her on it, Carmen always simply shrugged and told them to get used to it, because that’s what Vampires did.

  Simple chores, like pouring herself a glass of wine and reheating a leftover bowl of pho she’d picked up for lunch yesterday, brought Maddie a measure of calm. A creature of habit, she liked things to happen as planned and in a particular order. This made her feel secure.

  Tonight she’d agreed to meet Carmen for an early drink at Broken Chains. Everything had spiraled out of control before she’d even reached the iconic door. And while she hadn’t intended to spend so much time tracking down Jake Cassel, she knew in her core that she’d done the right thing. There were procedures put in place—some of them primitive and violent—by those who protected their kind from discovery. Jake was lucky he’d only been beaten.