JAKE Bannaconni’s home was entirely unexpected. Meiling didn’t know what she was expecting, but an authentic, sprawling two-story ranch house wasn’t it. Clearly the helicopter had taken them to a working cattle ranch.
They were escorted to Jake’s office by a stocky man with thick, dark hair and watchful green eyes, clearly a shifter. He introduced himself to them as Tavin and indicated for them to follow him. He took them quickly through a back entrance. Meiling noted large floor-to-ceiling plants, creating the effect of a jungle, and a life-size bronze leopard crouched at the foot of a staircase as they moved away from the main part of the house down a wide hallway to what was obviously a private part of the house.
Faintly, from upstairs, Meiling heard the sounds of children laughing and a woman’s low voice murmuring to them. She didn’t try to hear what was being said, but just the fact that Jake’s wife and children were in his home gave her comfort.
Sometimes it bothered her that Gedeon was treated like such a pariah. She knew he deserved his reputation and even needed it for his work, but she wished he wouldn’t have to be so alone.
I’m not alone anymore, Lotus. I have you.
His voice was a caress, painting strokes of color through her mind. Their colors. Blues and purples. She couldn’t stop herself from following his masculine frame moving so fluidly, flowing like water over the hardwood floor, every muscle rippling powerfully beneath his casual clothing. He hadn’t dressed in a power suit. He had come in a pair of loose jeans and a tee stretched over his thick chest.
Jake Bannaconni represented power. Gedeon would never try to act as if he were as powerful. He didn’t have Jake’s money or move in his elite circles. He had asked a mutual friend for a favor, and Gedeon arrived at the ranch in that role—a grateful man prepared to plead his case and nothing else.
Meiling and Gedeon had pored over blueprints and what little information they could learn of the closely guarded security of the ranch. They would have no advantage there. Jake had mainly shifters on patrol, at the gate and as bodyguards for his family. If it went badly for whatever unknown reasons, the only thing Meiling and Gedeon could do would be to kill as many as possible to get a clear path out and run. They hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Gedeon had Drake disclose to Jake that Meiling’s female had emerged and would continue to do so throughout the next seven days. They would have to have a place for her to run with her mate. Jake had promised to provide a safe area for the two leopards should it become necessary.
Because they were in San Antonio, Gedeon also contacted Timur to let him know they were in the area. He immediately invited them to stay on one of the family properties and indicated they could have the run of the place without interference. Meiling found herself hoping they would have time to visit with the shifters she’d met in San Antonio so she could get to know them better.
Gedeon’s hand was suddenly on the small of her back, startling her. He never did that. Never touched her when they were on a job and in a situation where there was possible danger to them. Jake Bannaconni was a man shrouded in mystery. Rene couldn’t find out much about him other than some of the most powerful men in the world were afraid of him.
Are you paying attention, Lotus?
I keep getting distracted, she admitted. I’m not sure why. She wasn’t the kind of woman to be distracted, not while she was working. You don’t think that little hussy, Whisper, is waking up already, do you? She didn’t wail it, but she felt like it. I’m sore and exhausted. Can’t she give us twenty-four hours?
Another thought occurred to her. I don’t want to embarrass you. That would be so terrible. She always was professional. Always. I could ask to wait in the car just in case.
Gedeon’s hand slid up her back to the nape of her neck. His fingers sank into her tense muscles. We stay together. It would be impossible for you to embarrass me. Settle, Meiling. Just breathe. We’ll get through this together, like we always do.
Meiling sent him one emotion-laden look and then gazed around the enormous room Jake Bannaconni called his office. The space took up an entire wing of the house and was soundproof. The hardwood floors gleamed. Meiling was certain the very large wooden door off to her right led to an extremely spacious bathroom. As it was, the room made her feel very small. The desk in the middle of the room was even intimidating. It wasn’t messy. Everything had a place. The top was wide. A variety of business tools were laid out on it.
The man sitting behind the desk stood. He looked as if his face could have been carved from granite, those lines etched deep. His eyes glowed icy gold, nearly all cat. He had wide shoulders and dark hair to contrast with his eyes that changed color to an icy green.
“Gedeon, Meiling. I’m Jake Bannaconni.” He waved them away from his desk. “Just around this corner, there’s much more comfortable seating.”
Gedeon, keeping one hand curved around the nape of Meiling’s neck, extended his hand toward Jake. “Thank you for agreeing to see us. I know time with your family must be at a premium.”
“No problem. Emma understands. I explained you were worried about a woman who had disappeared. That was all it took.”
Firm handshake. No games, Gedeon reported as they followed Jake around a slight corner to find a sitting area with comfortable-looking chairs grouped together and end tables set between them.
Meiling and Gedeon took the small love seat, sinking into the plush cushions. Gedeon turned his body slightly toward Meiling, one arm curving around the back of her shoulders. She snuggled under his shoulder, making herself appear even smaller. Guard at six o’clock in the shadow. He appears to be Tavin’s twin.
Another one standing just at the opposite wall, Gedeon told her. Shifter. Could be our man. The one we’re looking for.
Why would Guy Hawkins hire a shifter to protect his wife? That doesn’t make sense.
I doubt he knew, Lotus. He went to someone and asked who the best was. They recommended Drake International and he ended up with Edge Wilson. He wanted the best, could pay for it and was sent Wilson.
Meiling turned that information over in her mind, lowering her long lashes submissively as Jake took the chair opposite them. A shifter would hear a lie each time Guy Hawkins uttered one. If the man had planned to kill his wife or was in any way mistreating her, a shifter would know. Everything that Gedeon and Meiling suspected made even more sense if the bodyguard Guy Hawkins had hired turned out to be a shifter.
“Before we get to the reason you’re here,” Jake began, “I want to make a couple of things very clear. In this room there are three male shifters without mates. Those men are bodyguards, and although I like to think I’m the boss, I’m not. I keep my promises and I agreed to bodyguards at all times, so I had to put them potentially in a very uncomfortable position. Gedeon, you have a reputation. These men are here to do a job. If your mate’s leopard begins to rise, we will leave as fast as possible, but I want your word that you will do everything you can to protect my men.”
Meiling did her best to control the wild color rising. She couldn’t do anything about the alluring scent her female was throwing off, calling to every male in the vicinity. She had never considered that even after being claimed, Slayer might have to fight off other males.
This is normal in our world, Lotus. You have no reason to be embarrassed. Emma, Jake’s wife, must go into heat occasionally. There are other mated women around them that must do the same. They live and work in a lair with a mated couple.
Gedeon’s hand dropped to Meiling’s shoulder and then curved around her neck. “Of course, Jake. We should be good, but truthfully, her little female is unpredictable.”
Jake didn’t smile. His eyes were glacier cold as he turned his full attention on Meiling. “I understand this is your female’s first life cycle. She must be very frightened and uncertain of what is happening to her. You must be as well. The heat can be brutal and very violent.”
Here it comes.
There was an edge to Gedeon’s voice. Although he remained perfectly at ease on the outside, she felt the tension in him coiling like a snake ready to strike. Along with that came a tendril of something else. It felt like a stream of energy, white-hot and frightening in its intensity. That energy began to wrap itself around the ever-present rage coiling inside Gedeon, so ready to strike out at his enemies.
No one is going to take me away from you, Gedeon. We belong. Sometimes, like now, her love for him was so strong the emotion felt overwhelming.
I was born for one thing. One fucking thing, Meiling. I was born to be your man. To stand with you as a partner. In front of you as a shield. Behind you to guard your back. I feel you in my soul. I know you’re there. You are the only thing that makes sense of why I’m alive. I don’t care how many shifters he’s got between us and freedom, he’s not taking you away from me.
Meiling suddenly didn’t care at all about her role as the submissive little girlfriend too frightened by the circumstances of her female leopard going into heat. She dropped her hand onto Gedeon’s thigh and sat up a little straighter, tilting her chin and looking Jake right in his piercing, golden eyes. Waiting. Studying him. Woman and leopard both.
Jake looked a little startled, but he continued. “In the first life cycle, as the female emerges, there are times in the heat of the moment that she accepts a male who is not her true mate. I want to verify that you are comfortable with the man you have chosen, and your leopard is comfortable with the male she has chosen. If not, say so now and we’ll help you.”
There wasn’t a doubt in Meiling’s mind that Jake Bannaconni meant every word he said. He sat across from Gedeon, a man known to be dangerous, fast and without mercy and not only threatened to take his woman from him but stated that he would. That took courage and resolve. It also earned him respect, as far as Meiling went.
“Thank you for caring enough about women to worry, Mr. Bannaconni,” she said. She always spoke in a low voice. That was her nature. But she kept her tone very firm. “Gedeon was my choice before I knew about my female. He was my choice when she was rising and I was a mess. His leopard is my female’s choice absolutely. She wouldn’t want any other. I have no idea if I influenced that because I’m so in love with Gedeon. That’s a possibility. I had no way of manipulating his leopard, but if I could have, I would have. His choice was my female.”
If Jake could hear truth, her tone had to have rung with it, because every word she uttered was the raw, honest truth. Gedeon was her choice. There was no other man and there wouldn’t be. She hadn’t looked away from Jake’s golden eyes. Those eyes were going green. Little green flecks had shaded the gold and were now taking over.
“I had to ask. To be sure. Someone has to protect you. You picked a pretty tough man. Gedeon, you’re a lucky man. I don’t know how men like us manage to be gifted with a miracle, but we have been. I treasure mine, and looking at you, I can see you feel the same way. I know I don’t deserve Emma, but I do my damnedest to keep her safe and happy.”
Meiling liked that Jake had put himself in the same category as Gedeon. “I’m very happy. Thank you for caring. We brought you a file we prepared. We didn’t put anything online because Guy Hawkins has enough money to hire the best hackers and we don’t want him to have access to anything in our investigation we don’t fabricate or approve for him. He also has a very dangerous man shadowing us.”
Jake cocked his head to one side as he studied both of them with his unusual eyes.
Gedeon didn’t seem to be in the least affected by that penetrating stare. He held out the folder to Jake. “This is part of what we’ve uncovered and our best conclusion. If you don’t agree with us, we’ll walk out and head into San Antonio for more footwork. If you do agree, we’ll take it from there and show you what else we’re contending with.”
Jake took the file and then opened it. Silence filled the room. He read it thoroughly twice. Word for word. No one interrupted him. No one whispered or talked together. They waited just as Gedeon and Meiling did.
As they had pieced together everything they could find on Guy Hawkins behind the façade he’d built around himself, Meiling had begun to really worry about Laverne. Hawkins had the best PR group to handle his image in the media and they had been doing a tremendous job for years.
Laverne, on the other hand, was a sweet, giving, kind woman without the kind of money her husband had. She had no PR team to watch over her in the media. Lately small shadows had crept in, rumors of late-night partying with drugs, quickly squashed, but once the rumor started, it was there for all time. Meiling and Gedeon were certain those rumors had been carefully planted by someone Hawkins paid.
Jake looked up from the typed report. “I’ve met Guy Hawkins on several occasions. I thought he was a pompous ass with an ego the size of Texas, but if half of this is true, he’s a serial killer.”
Gedeon hitched forward. “He’s a serial killer who will never be brought to justice in the normal way. He keeps his hands clean so there’s no proof leading back to him. I need to speak with Edge Wilson for a couple of reasons. The first: I need to know Laverne is safe before I can take the next step. And second: his life is in danger until I can make my move.”
Meiling once again found Jake Bannaconni’s leopard staring at them with focused eyes. Gedeon used terms like “make my move” and “take the next step.” She knew that meant Gedeon would go hunting.
They gave Jake the evidence they had on Hawkins and the women they had linked to him who had disappeared. They’d related their evidence to Drake, but it wasn’t the same as seeing it in black and white.
“Edge, I’d like you to read this,” Jake said. “If you prefer not to, that’s all right. It’s your choice.” Jake continued to look at them even as he called out to the bodyguard. “Edge is working for me now. I thought it more expedient if he was close. I won’t order him to cooperate.”
The bodyguard came out of the shadows and took the report Jake gave him. He barely flicked Gedeon and Meiling a glance before retreating to the wall to read through their findings.
“Are either of you hungry or thirsty? I should have asked you that first,” Jake said. “Emma has been trying to instill manners in me for years, but I fail at civility quite often.”
“At least you’re giving it your best shot. Gedeon does a lot of growling. Guests find it off-putting. I can’t imagine why.”
Meiling laughed. The instant she did, the atmosphere in the room seemed to lighten. She felt as if someone had flipped a switch and the room grew brighter. She also felt as if everyone was staring at her. It was difficult not to burrow closer to Gedeon.
“Jake, just to let you know, since I met the helicopter and escorted them to your office, my leopard has been quiet,” Tavin said.
The bodyguard Meiling had been certain was Tavin’s brother spoke up. “My leopard is also quiet. I’m Talbert, by the way. Thank your female for the respite. There are only a few female leopards who can quiet others.”
It isn’t Whisper, Gedeon said. It’s you. With your gifts. Talbert is correct. There are a rare few who can calm other leopards, but you have a universal gift, Meiling. Any leopard will respond to you. You may even have the ability to command it.
Do you have that gift? Meiling asked.
Gedeon leaned into her, pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck and then brushed another to her ear. “Yes.” He whispered the affirmative aloud. I practiced taking over for years until I was very good at it. Taking control of another man’s leopard is dangerous, Meiling. To be able to do so sounds like a gift on the surface, but it can be a curse.
She heard notes of regret, anger, fierce determination. That boy, tortured and forced to see his mother trafficked. Forced to see his family murdered. That boy whose innocence was ripped from him, questioning whether he was a monster because he had exacted revenge against those who had taken everything from him.
Even as she smiled at Jake and nodded to the bodyguards, she turned her face up to Gedeon, letting him see her love for him shining in her eyes. You are everything to me, she assured him. We’ll get through this and take care of the problem the way you always do. This is bringing up old memories neither of us needs to deal with right now.
Edge came out of the shadows and took the chair to Jake’s left. “I have no problem answering any of your questions,” he announced as he handed Gedeon the file. “My main concern is Laverne’s safety.”
“Then you can confirm that she is alive,” Meiling said. She didn’t bother to hide her relief. There had always been that underlying fear that Hawkins had killed her and was using them to find her body, or he figured if they couldn’t find her body, no one would.
“Laverne is alive. She realized Guy was getting ready to have her killed. Can you imagine how that would be? Living that lie every day? Knowing your husband was plotting your murder but still acting as if you were the greatest love of his life? She deserves an Oscar for her performance.”
Meiling had never known that her family had been murdered. In her sleep, she knew, but not when she was awake. She didn’t have those horrific memories. Gedeon had the memories and they were all too clear, burned into his mind, coloring his life forever. He knew exactly what Laverne had gone through. He had to pretend and give the performance of a lifetime in the pakhan’s house.
“I heard his lies. So subtle, trying to gaslight her all the time. Making her feel small. Like she was never good enough. He’d make fun of her when they were out with friends. Never anything big, just a little line or two, and he’d pass it off as a joke. She’d laugh, but I could see the hurt on her face. He undermined her confidence. What he was really good at was manipulating everyone around him into believing he was wonderful to be with a woman who wasn’t quite up to his intellect. She wasn’t quite his equal and yet he was so amazing to treat her so perfectly and love her so much.”
Meiling had come across this kind of man before, but she’d not met men like Hawkins, who had the money to back up his killer tendencies.
“At first, I wasn’t aware he intended to kill her,” Edge continued. “She didn’t share that belief with me. Later, when she did, she told me she didn’t believe it at first. The realization came to her over time. She thought she was becoming paranoid or slowly going insane.”
Gedeon tugged at Meiling’s hair and then stroked one finger down the nape of her neck. “How did she come to understand he really was going to kill her? Did she say? Because her escape took careful planning on her part.”
“Laverne said when she was asleep with him, she would wake up and he would be standing over her with a knife, whispering that she needed to die. She would scramble off the bed and huddle on the floor, terrified. A few minutes later he would ask her what she was doing on the floor and act as if he hadn’t done anything. He would tell her he’d been in bed the entire time or that he’d gone into another room to read so as not to disturb her. Eventually, she was afraid to go to sleep.”
Sleep deprivation would only add to Laverne’s feelings of paranoia. Hawkins would know that. Laverne would question her sanity even more.
“He had cut her off from any friends. She had no family. She had no one to talk to. I realized she was in a bad way, so I approached her very carefully. I knew I was overstepping, but I was worried, and at that point I didn’t know half of what he was doing to her. When she eventually confessed the nighttime gaslighting and said she was afraid she was losing her mind, I offered to set up a camera he wouldn’t know about.”
Meiling could imagine how alone Laverne must have felt. Hawkins was the man she loved and trusted. Now she had to face believing either that she was losing her mind or that the man she loved was deliberately trying to drive her insane.
Lotus, I can feel you crying. You’re so soft inside. Sometimes I’m so angry with myself for exposing you to more of these cases. Not all people are this way. We just see the worst of the worst.
She felt Gedeon draw her closer, surround her with his strength. It might be in her mind, but it was very real. After being so alone all her life, she knew what it was like to share a real connection with the man she loved. That made it all the worse knowing Laverne and others like her had endured such betrayals.
I chose to be your partner, Gedeon. I want to work these cases with you. It gives me satisfaction to help these women if I can.
Edge continued his story. “The camera proved to her once and for all that she wasn’t losing her mind. It also convinced me that we were going to have to act fast. There was no doubt in my mind that Guy Hawkins was setting his wife up for murder. The subtle rumors planted in the media about her going to parties and using drugs made me think he would do it that way.”
Gedeon nodded his head. “He could lace a prescription drug she takes with fentanyl. It would be easy enough for him to do. Make it look as if she was doing coke with some friends. He could even invite some people over to the house while he was away, using her phone, and give them coke laced with fentanyl. He wouldn’t mind killing others in the process if it served his purposes.”
Edge agreed. “Just before Laverne and I left, Guy had begun calling me away from Laverne to do other tasks for him. I think he was doing that in preparation for me not being with Laverne when she was given the drug that would kill her.”
“So you got away and disappeared. You knew he would look for her,” Gedeon said. “I couldn’t find anything to indicate that he would be better off with her dead than divorced from her. He had no real reason to kill her. That was what made me look much more closely into his past relationships—that, and I just had a bad feeling about him.”
“We knew he would look. We had to have a plan in place immediately. We had to do it right the first time because there would be no second chances. Hawkins has too much money to think he wouldn’t hire the best to find her. I didn’t want to put Drake or anyone else we knew in jeopardy either. I did call in a favor to get her away safely, and then I asked to be assigned here on Jake’s ranch. I knew even Hawkins would have a difficult time getting to me here.”
“I’m not going to ask where Laverne is. As long as you know she’s safe, that’s good enough for me,” Gedeon said. “Hawkins hired us with a sob story about how much he loved his wife. He told us she is bipolar and when she goes off her meds, she does bizarre things that could end her career. She risks being ashamed of those things and would end her marriage to him over them because she doesn’t want to embarrass him. He claimed he hired you to protect her from herself should the worst happen, and she went off her medication. He said you took advantage. We knew that wasn’t true the moment we saw how long she’d planned her escape. We also became aware he had someone shadowing us.”
Gedeon extracted another paper from his jacket pocket, unfolded it and passed it to Jake and Edge. “That man is McGregor Handler, and he is considered one of the most lethal hit men in the world today. Once set on a target, he doesn’t stop until it’s done. He will use any means necessary to kill. He will kill a man, woman or child. The elderly, an infant—or if innocents get in his way, he will annihilate them. This man is on a retainer with Hawkins. He has been following me and Meiling ever since we agreed to look for Laverne.”
Jake passed the photograph to Edge.
“We believe his intention is for us to find Laverne and then he’ll kill her and us,” Gedeon continued. “I needed to ensure Laverne was safe. I have no actual proof against Hawkins. I’ve gathered circumstantial evidence, but it would never convict him. I know he’s guilty of ordering those other women killed. I believe he would have had his wife murdered and ordered me and Meiling killed as well. I think, Edge, that you’re on McGregor’s list too, but I don’t know that for a fact.”
Edge shrugged. “He can make his try.”
Jake frowned at him. “Emma told me more than once that my arrogance as a shifter was what was going to get me into trouble. Just because we have superior gifts doesn’t mean humans well trained in combat situations can’t be lethal. We let our guards down and they can exploit our carelessness.”
“I hear what you’re saying, boss,” Edge said. “It was difficult being in that house watching Hawkins act as if he was always so nice to everyone. He was supposedly kind and generous, which he was in front of cameras. Under the surface he was a cunning snake and his cruelty was often so subtle people had no idea they were even being shaded until everyone was laughing at them and they were forced to go along with the joke. He knew exactly what he was doing and how far he could take something.”
A trace of anger had slipped into the bodyguard’s voice. “I wanted to take care of that bastard, Jake, not just get Laverne out of there. I knew he’d come after her. He really thinks he’s so superior to everyone. I doubt if any law enforcement agency in the world can touch him.”
Meiling knew Guy Hawkins was well aware he would never be convicted of any crime. Even if he were arrested, the weight of public opinion would always be on his side. He’d been careful to cultivate his image in the media, and nothing was going to change what he’d so meticulously built.
She didn’t look at Gedeon. Hawkins had made a terrible mistake when he’d hired him. He’d asked a friend who the best in the business was. He hadn’t done research into Gedeon’s reputation or what Gedeon was about. He should have avoided Gedeon. Jake had clearly investigated him. Drake had. Even the criminal families hiring him to do work for them knew enough to be very selective of what they asked him to do. There was a reason Gedeon had his reputation.
“I appreciate you allowing us to come here, Jake, to sort things out,” Gedeon said. He took the photograph and file and slid both inside his jacket. “Edge, if you wouldn’t mind making certain that Laverne stays wherever she is and doesn’t try to reach out to anyone, I would appreciate it. Also, for the time being, if you could continue to stay off Hawkins’s radar just a little longer, it would give me a chance to set a few things in motion.”
Meiling stood at the pressure of his fingers on her nape. Gedeon stood with her, shaking hands with Jake and then Edge. “We’ll take that helicopter ride you offered to Evangeline’s bakery. Our rental car was delivered there. We don’t want McGregor to realize we were ever here. Again, we appreciate you accommodating us.”
Jake walked with them to the door of the office, where Tavin waited to walk them out to the helicopter pad. “It was a pleasure to meet you both.” He handed his card to Gedeon. “My private number. You need anything at all, give me a call. Next time you’re visiting our town, give me the heads-up and Emma and I will meet you for dinner. She’s going to be disappointed she couldn’t meet you this time around.”
Meiling flashed him a smile. “We’d love that. Please let her know we come to San Antonio often and will make it a point to call.”
She found herself resting her head on Gedeon’s shoulder during the ride to the bakery and nearly falling asleep. Apparently there was a helipad on the roof of the bakery.
Meiling was worn out from the long night Whisper had spent with Slayer, running through the swamp together and mating every fifteen to twenty minutes. She had bruises and bite marks marring her skin, and truthfully, she was sore. Very sore. She wanted to be with Gedeon physically when she woke up, but she was grateful they had to hastily pack a bag, board the small plane Rene had rented for them and go. Now she just wanted to sleep.
Timur has a house for us to stay in tonight. You can rest this evening, as soon as we get there. It isn’t very far from the bakery.
I wanted to visit Evangeline for at least a few minutes while we were at the bakery. Whisper is going to rise no matter what, Gedeon. Whether I’m tired or not.
Other women had done this, and she refused to be a complainer. She loved Gedeon and she loved Whisper. This was Whisper’s time, so for the next week Meiling could handle whatever life threw at her, even if it meant she couldn’t walk. She did intend to ask Evangeline if there was a special soak that helped heal her fast, so she wouldn’t be quite so sore the next time she and Gedeon had wild sex together.
She must have fallen asleep, because she was jarred awake when the helicopter set down on the roof of the bakery. Gedeon guided her off the helicopter and down the stairs to the entrance, where one of Timur’s men waited for them. She recognized the shifter immediately.
“Rodion. Good to see you. How have you been?” She managed to flash him a smile.
Gedeon tucked her under his shoulder, her front to his side, one arm around her possessively. She glanced up at his set features. He looked as if he’d been carved in stone. I’m not sure that finding your mate has improved your mood, Leopard Boy. You’re supposed to be friendly now.
She felt his amusement, although it didn’t show on his face. I am? To Rodion he gave a nod. “Things good?”
“Yeah, quiet for once. I see you two are a bonded pair. I expected that.” If the shifter was upset about it, he kept it to himself. “You carrying weapons?”
“Naturally.”
“Had to ask.”
“Meiling?” Rodion persisted.
She nodded. “I don’t go anywhere without them.”
Rodion texted one-handed as he walked ahead of them down the stairs toward the door leading into the building. Meiling, out of habit, scanned rooftops and the alley, every door and alcove she could see, committing them to memory. She knew Gedeon would be doing the same. Rodion opened a door to a hallway. Instantly, the aroma of coffee and cinnamon mixed with apples and spices greeted them.
Kyanite waited at a side door in the hallway for them. “Nice to see you two. Evangeline is serving her rush-hour customers, but if you give me your orders, I’ll slip them in. We reserved a table for you.”
“We don’t want to cause you any trouble,” Gedeon said. “We can grab the keys to the rental and head for the house. Meiling wanted to visit with Evangeline, but we’ll be back soon.”
Kyanite glanced at his watch. “Rush should be over soon. She’d be so disappointed if you didn’t stay.” He pulled open the door to the bakery.
The lines were long at the counter. Two women worked fast, moving as if they were a machine, never getting in the other’s way. The one Meiling didn’t know made drinks, while Evangeline served the customers the pastries and rang up the orders. Evangeline seemed to know most of the customers by name. She never failed to smile at them warmly as she greeted them.
Your choice, Lotus. You look tired. I can put you to bed, or we can stay for a short visit. Gedeon stroked a caress down her back.
I’d like to visit even for a few minutes, Gedeon. I like this place. It seems warm and welcoming, and I know that’s really her gift.
Meiling wasn’t certain why it was so important to her to try to establish her own connection with Evangeline, but the compulsion was there. She didn’t have friends and had never thought she would need them. Or want them. She thought about Evangeline often. She didn’t seem to fit with a man like Fyodor Amurov, and yet evidence pointed to them being a very happy couple. How?
They were escorted to the table held for them. It was close to an emergency exit. Gedeon took the chair with his back to the wall where he could see every door, the front, the hall and the kitchen. Kyanite took their orders and hurried up to the counter. He slid behind it and had a brief consultation with Evangeline and then the other woman. She had thick blond hair. Her eyes were light brown, almost an amber color, but ringed with very dark feathery lashes. She had a beautiful figure that Meiling envied immediately.
“Is that Timur’s wife, Ashe?” Meiling asked.
“Yes,” Gedeon said.
“They work together so well. Look how fast they are.”
“They’re shifters,” Gedeon’s voice held amusement. “You’re fast at anything you do.”
“I suppose.” She leaned her chin onto the heel of her hand. “I like her, Gedeon. Evangeline. I’ve met so many people in our business, but she’s the first person I’ve ever met that I felt comfortable around. The kind of comfortable that I’d be willing to kick off my shoes and put my feet up and just talk and laugh with for an evening.”
“She is rather special,” Gedeon agreed.
“And she’s with Fyodor Amurov.”
“Because he’s a smart man and he recognized right off that she was someone extraordinary. Just as I’m a smart man and I recognized that you are. Men like Fyodor and Timur, they search everywhere, all over the world, looking for that one woman, but honestly, Lotus, they don’t expect to find her. It isn’t just that the world is a big place and there aren’t very many females left, it’s that they know they aren’t good men, and they don’t deserve a mate, let alone someone extraordinary.”
Meiling’s gaze jumped to Gedeon’s face. She knew he was talking about himself. He identified with Fyodor and Timur Amurov. “I love looking at you, Gedeon,” she whispered. “Just looking at you. When I do, I feel safe.” She studied the angles and planes of his face, feature by feature. “And happy. Looking at you makes me happy.”
He cupped the side of her face with his palm, his thumb tracing her lips. “Men like Fyodor and Timur . . . men like me. When we find that one woman who rocks our world, we hold on tight to her and do everything in our power to make her happy. I know you want to be friends with Evangeline, and I think the feeling is mutual considering she asked the bodyguards to make certain you waited until rush hour was over.”
“She did, didn’t she?”
“She’s coming this way now,” Gedeon said. “And she’s beaming.”
Meiling looked up. Evangeline was beaming, but then, she always was when Meiling saw her.