She slumped over him. “So you didn’t do it on purpose?”
“No. We could have prevented it if we’d been smarter and
used contraception. But like I said, your Selection was for more than a mating.
This child is meant for us, love.”
She blinked a tear away. “A child.”
“Yes. A spark of light resting in you.”
She stroked her belly. “I’m going to have to get used to all
this.”
He took one of her hands in his and kissed the back of it.
“I know. I’m sorry this is all so sudden for you.”
“My whole life is changing fast,” she agreed. “But I finally
sense I’m where I need to be.” The smile lit her from the inside out, and Romy
didn’t think he’d ever seen her look so beautiful. And then it faded. “My
family is you and me, but it’s also Mannie, my brother. I need to know he’s all
right. I have to talk to him.”
Romy blinked at the change of subject but nodded. “Call
him.” He pointed to the vidphone by the bed. “Actually, why don’t you cover up
first,
then
call him.”
She flushed. “Good point.”
After a shower with Tara, whom he couldn’t leave alone, Romy
dressed in his trousers and double-checked Tara’s Otra statuette. It remained
safe in the room’s vault, and if Romy were right, the thing had to be worth a
small fortune. It felt old and powerful. Probably another draw to a man like
Trotter.
His mate drew on a robe and dialed her brother. The phone
rang several times before the screen cleared and a man with blond hair and blue
eyes answered. He seemed familiar. Then Romy recognized the badge around his
neck on a chain.
“Who the hell is this?” the guy growled.
“I’m Tara Drake. Why are the police picking up my brother’s
phone?”
His aggression vanished. “Tara?” He peered closer, his eyes
widening when Romy stepped close to Tara to get a better look at the vid.
“Talson?”
“Sean?” Romy stared in surprise. “I thought you worked at
Port Townsend.”
“I transferred to Port Chase six months ago. Nicer weather
here.” His obvious interest in them told Romy her brother would no doubt hear
about this call soon. “So I see you two are friendly. I’m glad you called.
Tara, where’s Mannie?”
“How do you know my brother?”
“He’s a good friend of mine. And apparently he’s missing.”
Sean stepped back from the vidphone, giving them a view of a messed apartment.
“Someone trashed his place, and when he didn’t show at the bar last night, I
figured he’d had a change of plans. When he didn’t call me today, I popped by.”
His eyes hardened, and Romy was glad to have at least one member of the law on
their side. Who knew how many officers Trotter had on the payroll?
“Can you meet us here in an hour?” Romy gave Sean the
address.
Sean nodded and disconnected.
“This isn’t good.” Her brother missing? This had Jonah
Trotter written all over it. “I’ll look into it.” Using his
psychei
,
Romy saw the Yal brothers knock Mannie unconscious with a stunner before
hauling him away in a nondescript craft. “Definitely Trotter.”
She bit her lip, and he hugged her tight, wanting to offer
what comfort he could. “Tell me what all you know about him, Romy. Please.”
“Hell. None of it’s good. Trotter is the son of my parents’
friends. That’s the reason they hired him, that and he supposedly knew what the
hell to do in a shipyard. But after a few months, my brothers and I noticed the
numbers not adding up. But when we checked with my father, he refused to hear
anything bad about Trotter. So Val, Roarke and I decided to look into things.
“Consider yourself lucky Trotter thinks he’s in love with
you. Otherwise he’d have raped and killed you like he’s done so many others.”
She swallowed hard, and he hated to see the fear in her
eyes. “He’s killed others?”
“Yeah. Apparently Trotter’s girls never do repeat
performances for more than a few weeks. He either kills them or sells them. And
that Majesty he’s pushing? He’s trafficking the stuff throughout the
southeastern states. He’s a major player, and my family has unwittingly given him
more leeway to do it.”
“Maybe I’ve been a little harsh on the Talsons.” Her eyes
softened as she studied him. “It’s not your fault, Romy.”
“We should have looked into his background before we hired
him, but my father has a weak spot when it comes to family and friends. That
and I think Trotter has a very strong ability to persuade.”
“A big
pusher
, hmm?”
Romy grimaced. “He has tremendous power. I’m just glad you
were immune. You have no idea how badly he wants you,
veyou
.” He
gathered her to him, ignoring her tension. “I really am sorry I misled you
about my identity. But I had no idea I’d walk into a situation as bad as this.”
“We’ll fix this.”
“You’re damn right we will. I have hard evidence on Trotter.
I just need to get it and turn it in. But I have a feeling my cover’s been
blown.”
She gave him a sly grin. “That’s not the only thing that’s
been blown recently.”
Pleased his
iriu
could make light when she had plenty
to worry about, Romy treated her to a nice massage and regaled her with stories
about his annoying brothers.
It was enough to take her mind off her brother, at least
until Sean arrived.
* * * * *
An hour later, Romy and Tara enjoyed a luxurious lunch in
their room. Romy had purchased Tara clothing from a boutique, and now several
hundred dollars poorer, he couldn’t help the pleasure he felt from taking in
her beauty.
She flushed. “Would you stop staring? What? Do I have food
in my teeth?”
He chuckled. “I just can’t get over how beautiful you are.
The Selection only enhances your attractiveness.”
“Great. So I’m going to be attracting Otra left and right
for what, the next week?”
He shook his head. “I’m shielding most of it, taking your
essence into mine. Truth be told, most of your need has passed. What remains
now is the desire for your
iriu
. And to enhance your energy to protect
our child.” His eyes gleamed. He couldn’t begin to explain how much in love he
was with thoughts of their child.
She patted her belly, her gaze introspective.
Iriu? Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you or
the baby.
I can’t help worrying. We both know Trotter has Mannie.
He’ll be all right. Like you, your brother has Otra in
him.
I can’t believe I never knew. I grew up with him, for
God’s sake.
I sensed it the moment I met him. He’s not as strong in
psychei
as you are, but he’s part if not pure Otra.
She shook her head. “You know, Mannie does have this strange
intuition. And his dreams, sometimes he senses things. But I’ve never seen his
eyes turn silver. Well, except just once, recently. It’s weird. I was never
very strong in other gifts, but since meeting you and bonding with you, I think
my
psychei
has grown.”
“As has mine. A true bonding enhances partners.”
“So my healing had nothing to do with my little statue?”
“Not at all. But I’d venture to say that tiny statue is
worth a lot of currency.” Just another reason for Trotter to want Tara.
A chime at the door gave them pause. When Romy saw Sean
hovering at the doorway on the security screen, he unlocked the door and
stepped back. Sean entered, looking frustrated.
“Romy, Tara.” He nodded to both of them, walked past them,
then sat down and started eating the extra sandwich Romy had intended to
devour. The Testing and Selection wore at his energy.
“Help yourself,” Romy said wryly and closed the door, not
surprised when Sean wolfed down his sandwich.
“I can’t find the jerk anywhere,” Sean said around a
mouthful. He balled up a napkin. “He’s real good about keeping in touch. I
can’t help worrying.”
Romy had a feeling Sean and Mannie were more than just good
friends. The cop seemed more than uneasy about Mannie’s disappearance. Under
the cool front, his aura pulsed in a frenzy of worry. Tara took Sean’s hand,
easing his anxiety with her strong energy.
Romy still felt in her that need to heal, but it wasn’t so
all-consuming now that she’d mated. As if her
psychei
knew it had more
to do and worry about, her energies fell under her control instead of driving
her.
At the rate she’d been heading, especially living in her
neighborhood, she’d been close to pushing herself past her limits. A strong
healer, Tara nevertheless needed to regroup. The battered souls living around
her constantly drained her energy. He liked knowing he helped her
psychei
as
much as she helped him control his.
“Trotter has him,” Romy said quietly.
“You’re kidding.”
“Wish I was.” He stared at Sean, wondering how much to tell
the man. A glance at Tara’s subtle nod had him wavering.
Tell him the truth, Romy. He needs to know so he can help
us. I think it’ll take more than just you and your suspicions to bring Trotter
to justice and to save Mannie. Maybe with Sean you can find that evidence you
stashed. He could file it for you.
Satisfaction filled him every time she used their mental
bridge to communicate.
Romy described in detail his suspicions and evidence against
Trotter, to include his undercover roll as Fromer’s pyro.
Sean shook his head. “We found the real Drowe dead this
morning. It was all over the news, so I’m guessing Trotter knows for sure
you’re not working for Fromer. What about this collection of evidence you
personally gathered? Can we get to that?”
Romy nodded. “I buried it in the Yals’ apartment across
town. I figured they’d never look there.”
“Good call.” Sean stood and finished off Romy’s sandwich.
“Nice meal. I’ll have to stay here some time. Now let’s head to the Yals’.”
Tara moved with them, and both Romy and Sean stared from her
to one another.
“You’re not coming,” Romy said bluntly. “I won’t let him
touch you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Mannie’s my brother.”
“You’re my wife, and that’s my baby.”
Sean stared at the byplay, his mouth open. “Baby? Marriage?
Mannie never mentioned you were married.”
“It’s a new situation.” Tara growled. “One that can easily
be rectified.”
Romy took a step forward. “Wait for me in the hall, would you,
Sean?”
His friend grinned. “Hell no. I want to see how you convince
an Otra woman to follow your lead.”
“Who said I’m Otra?” Tara asked.
Sean snorted. “I knew it when I saw you on the vid screen.
And the moment I met Mannie, I knew. Come on, honey. Black hair, golden skin,
eyes that turn silver when you’re, ah, excited about something?” He stared from
Tara to Romy.
“So Mannie knows he’s Otra?” That put a new spin on his
abduction. Perhaps Mannie had
psychic
skills that would come in handy.
Sean shrugged. “I assumed. We never talked about it. But
when his eyes turn, it’s kind of hard to miss.”
“He doesn’t know.” Tara stood firm. “His eyes have just
recently started to flicker.”
“True. I thought it was maybe…” Sean coughed. “Never mind. I
don’t care what he is. With those fists, he’s a good man to have on our side.”
“Great. Then when
we all
go in to rescue him, we’ll
have a better shot at leaving alive.” Tara dared him to argue with her.
The green silk of her blouse and skirt clung to her figure,
and Romy wanted her nowhere near Trotter wearing that clothing. “Tara—”
“Romy,” she mimicked.
So intent on her, Romy didn’t sense the danger until it was
too late. The door behind them burst open. In the time it took him to place
himself between Tara and danger, half a dozen armed police stood in the doorway
of the room, their guns aimed at Romy and Sean. Then behind the cops, Romy
spied the Yals.
“Shit.”
Min shook his head at Romy. “Stupid asshole.”
“So, you two obviously know each other,” Sean murmured.
One of the policemen narrowed his gaze on Sean. “Officer
Lindor. Seems we can take care of several messes at once.” The others laughed,
but Min and Daket remained stoic. “Cuff them. Don’t even think about fighting
it, Talson, or Killer Drake is a dead man.” He glanced at Tara. “You don’t want
to see your brother dead, do you, sweetheart?”
“No, I don’t.”
Please, Romy. Don’t do anything. They’ll
kill Mannie. You know they will.
But the baby, you—
We exchanged energy,
iriu
. I’m stronger than I
look
.
She invited Romy to truly see her, and Romy called on his
psychei
,
stunned at the power arcing through his wife. Before Tara had been strong, her
healing ability the majority of her
psychei
. But now…she looked like a
mirror image of
him
. And an idea formed, one he shared with her.
She blinked and curled a smile but said nothing.
“Okay,” he said quietly, drawing everyone’s attention.
“We’ll come quietly. But don’t hurt Tara. One mark on her and you’ll all wish
you were dead.”
The look in his eyes convinced the police. But Daket and Min
remained unreadable.
Daket nodded to Tara. “We’ll take care of her.” The brothers
urged her between them. But when Romy looked at their auras, he saw worry
mingled with a sense of protection and bone-deep anger. They, at least, had no
intention of hurting her.
The group left the hotel and in no time returned to the
shipyard. And there stood Jonah Trotter, rage pouring through him in waves.
Just go with it, Talson
, Min sent.
We’ll protect
your
iriu
with our lives.
Talson. They definitely knew he who he was. Terrific.
Touch
her and I’ll—
We know. Just remember to shield yourself from Trotter.
He’s royally pissed, and he wants your blood.