Full Moon Rising (26 page)

He tossed the folder on the chair with the other one. We finished searching our prospective drawers but didn't find anything else. I picked out a couple of the disks, then Quinn relocked the cabinets, grabbed the folders, and walked across to the phone.

"All calls from the offices are recorded," I said, as he picked up the phone.

"I'm not intending to use it." He held out a finger. On it was a pinhead-sized dot. "The latest in bug technology."

"The Directorate's a government department. It's regularly swept."

His smile made my hormones do their jig again. "My labs are developing this one, and so far, it's gone undetected in a number of government buildings."

I raised my eyebrows. "And why would you be bugging government offices?"

"Not all offices. Just those trying to place sanctions on my businesses."

"And, handily, you just happened to be carrying one of these little bugs around in your pocket?"

"No. The labs developing them are in Melbourne. I went there yesterday and picked one up." He smiled at me. "Of course, I've now warned your boss what I'm up to, so I daresay I'll have to develop new spying methods."

He placed the dot on the base unit, then walked around the table and held out a hand. "Shall we go?"

I glanced at the wall clock as I wove my fingers in his. "Jack didn't want us to meet back at the farmhouse until five. That gives us three hours to fill in before we have to leave for Seymour." I met his gaze and tried to restrain my grin. "What do you think we should do to fill in the time?"

"Feel like a coffee?"

"No."

He unlocked the door and wrapped a hand around the handle. "How about a midnight snack?"

"It's well after midnight and the only thing I'm interested in sampling right now"--I swept my gaze down the front of him--"is something I've already tasted."

"Do you always talk this dirty to mates?"

I laughed. "My dear vampire, I haven't even begun to get dirty yet."

Amusement and desire vied for prominence in his eyes. "That almost sounds like a threat."

"Take it any way you want. As long as you take me, I don't care."

"Oh, you can be sure that I intend to take you." His sexy grin teased my hormones as he opened the door. "Just not here. Out you go."

I went, and ran nose first into someone who was little more than shadow. I yelped, and jumped back, my pulse going a mile a minute. But even before the shadows found form, I knew it was Gautier. His smell wrapped around me, a noxious scent that made me want to scratch at my skin. Quinn's hands came down on my shoulders, his fingers pressing deep, as if warning me not to speak. Like I
needed
a warning.

"Director Brown," Gautier said, oily tones soft and somewhat respectful. "I thought you'd gone home sick."

"I had. Now I'm back. What do you want?"

"Nothing. Just doing my nightly check."

He was lying. I knew for a fact Radford was supposed to be doing the rounds that week, not Gautier. So why was he there, nosing around the executive floor? Did he suspect something was wrong, or was he up to business of his own? Business that meant ill for the Directorate?

"Then why were you standing at my door?" Quinn said, voice a perfect imitation of Brown's sharp bark.

"Thought I heard voices. And, as I said, I didn't know you were here, sir."

He was still lying. And was that a bead of sweat on his forehead? What on earth had Gautier been about to do?

"Well, now you know the source of the voices, I suggest you continue your rounds."

Gautier hesitated, took a glance at the cameras, then wrapped the shadows around himself and disappeared. I switched to infrared, watching him retreat until he disappeared into the stairwell.

"Let's go," Quinn said, locking the door before grabbing my arm and propelling me down the hall.

I waited until we were in the lift, then pulled my arm free of his grip. "Gautier suspects us."

He raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that? You can't read his thoughts any more than he can read yours."

"No. But I could read his expression--"

"A vampire like Gautier doesn't have expressions."

"It was there--just a brief flicker. Something you said made him suspect us."

"Then we're getting out of here as fast as we can. We can't risk him getting help and maybe cornering us."

No, we couldn't, because I'd seen Gautier in action. And while I had no doubt that Quinn could handle the likes of Gautier, it would be a different story if Gautier called in help. And there were at least twenty vampires sitting in the vaults of the place, just itching for a good fight.

We exited the building and made our way down the street. Though I heard no sound, the hairs on the back of my neck rose.

"We're being followed," I said softly.

"I know. But the closest one is not a vampire--the heartbeat is too regular." His fingers tightened on mine. "Let's head for the car and see what happens."

We didn't alter our pace, just kept walking. The tall buildings around us blocked out most of the wind's fury, but though it was after midnight, the night was far from quiet. The moon was riding high and wolves were celebrating all over the city. Even the traffic was heavier than normal.

Yet through all the noise came a whisper of movement. It was more a sigh of air than anything else, and it was coming at us fast. I caught the sharp tang of musk and man, and anger surged through me. It wasn't Gautier.

I pulled free from Quinn and swung round, catching Talon's reaching hand before he could pull the wig from my head.

Surprise ran through his eyes. I squeezed his fingers a little harder, and the surprise became pain. "And what do you think you're doing?"

"I gather you know this gentleman." Quinn's voice was flat and yet I sensed the amusement in it. Maybe he liked the sight of pain being inflicted on others.

"I'd use the term 'gentleman' loosely. But yeah, I know him." I released Talon's hand, throwing it back against his chest. "What the hell are you doing here? And how did you find me?"

He grinned, but it never touched his eyes, which were cold and hard as his gaze moved from me to Quinn and back again. "A wolf always knows where to find his mate."

"
This
is your mate?" Quinn's voice was scathing. "Good Lord, I thought you had more taste than that."

"Mate as in sex partner, not mate as in permanent relationship. This jerk has just decided he needs a kid from me and has laid claims without my consent."

"There are laws against that, you know," Quinn said conversationally. "Though I've always found a good beating works as a far better deterrent."

"Now, there's a thought." I pushed Talon hard in the chest, knocking him back several steps. Surprise flickered in his golden eyes.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I continued sharply. "What right have you got to come here after me?"

The false smile slipped away, and what remained was cold and hard. God, what had I ever seen in this man? "You're mine, little wolf, and I don't intend to share. Even with a dead man."

"I belong to no one but myself. And how do you know he's a vampire?"

Talon snorted, his expression impatient as his gaze briefly swept past me. "It's Alan Brown, isn't it? Seen him on the recruiting ads."

If it
had
been Alan Brown, Talon would have been dead meat. Brown was another of those vampires who didn't treat fools--or those who didn't respect his so called "superiority"--lightly. "So how did you find me?"

"Easy. I checked out what shifts you were supposed to be on this week and came here to wait for you."

He was lying. Why I was so certain, I didn't know. Certainly there was nothing in his eyes or his expression that gave him away.

"You broke into my apartment?" And how could he have found my schedule in all that mess when half the time I had trouble?

He shrugged, his gaze sliding down my body, becoming heated when he saw what I was wearing. Or almost wearing. "I like, little wolf."

For the first time, the fierce burn of his aura had little effect. It was as if some sort of veil had been raised between us. I felt the caress of his desire but it no longer stirred the fever. Maybe because I'd finally glimpsed the real Talon and hadn't liked what I'd seen.

He reached out to touch me, but I slapped his hand away. "Have you given up on that crazy idea of yours?"

"It's not crazy. And a child of ours would be perfect."

Maybe it would. If it lived. If I lived. "I have no intention of having a child with you, so get over it."

His expression was hard, determined, but I saw something else in his eyes that scared me--amusement. Gloating. "You will have no choice in the matter, little wolf. I intend to ensure you do not find relief with anyone else. Including dead men."

Anger surged, and I hit him. I'd never condoned women hitting men any more than I did men hitting women, but right then, with the smug smile teasing his lips and the I-know-something-you-don't look in his eyes, I just couldn't help it. He didn't see it coming, and it landed on his chin with every ounce of strength I could muster. Which was quite a lot. His head snapped back, and he was out before his back hit the concrete.

"Good punch," Quinn commented. "Remind me never to make you angry."

"All you have to do to avoid it is remember that
this
particular wolf doesn't take people trying to take over her life too lightly."

Which, in many ways, was what Jack was trying to do--but at least he was giving me maneuvering room. Talon wasn't--he was making his statements like it was already a fait accompli.

I knelt beside Talon and felt for a pulse, just to ensure the smack in the back of the head hadn't killed him. The pulse was there, nice and steady. He was just knocked out.

I scanned the street as I rose. Our other watcher was still out there, hidden in the shadows, watching the proceedings. If it was Gautier, we could be in serious trouble. Even if he didn't suspect Quinn, he'd probably be more than a little suspicious of my identity by then.

"Let's get back to the car."

Quinn nodded, placed his hand against my spine, and escorted me the remainder of the way. "So tell me," I said, once we were in the car and zooming out of the city, "why would you think I'd be willing to make love to you if I had a permanent mate?"

He gave me a look that suggested he wished I'd missed the intent behind that particular statement. "Because I've heard the promises wolves make, and I've never met one who actually keeps them." He slowed the car as the lights ahead changed to red.

"What happened between you and Eryn was about money, not promises. You said that yourself. Don't condemn a whole race because of the actions of one goddamn wolf."

"It was more than one." He looked at me, blue-lensed eyes flat and hard to read. "I seem to have a somewhat fatal attraction to your race."

Ire swam through me. I was sick and tired of other races judging werewolves and deeming us unworthy or lacking. Why? Because we saw sex as a celebration, something that should be enjoyed rather than something that must be hidden away behind doors and darkness? Vampires drank blood to survive, and many killed their food supply, and yet the world in general deemed them more worthy of respect than us.

It made no sense, especially given sex was used to sell everything from Band-Aids to cars. I mean, whom did we really hurt with our moon dances? Sure, the aura of a wolf could make the unwilling willing, but few wolves bothered using it. We didn't need to when we could get what we wanted within our own race.

"You know, most of the vampires I work with are little more than stinking killing machines. That doesn't mean I think the whole damn race is the same."

His shrug was nonchalant, and yet the fierceness of his grip on the steering wheel suggested he was taking this conversation anything but casually. This Eryn--and whoever else was behind his less-than-stellar opinion of werewolves--really
had
done a number on him. "What I personally think of werewolves has nothing to do with anything."

"It does when you think we're nothing but prostitutes--and remember, you're the one who said you'd prefer to avoid pros."

The lights turned green, and he drove off at warp speed. "I don't consider wolves prostitutes--you don't sell yourselves, for a start. But I do think you are all far too free and easy with your bodies."

"And yet you seem all too willing to jump in and enjoy the offerings."

He gave me a somewhat amused look. "Underneath the vampire is a man--and no man in his right mind would say no when the packaging is as delightful as yours."

"That is such a
human
attitude--hate the race, but won't pass up the opportunity for a freebie all the same."

"At least I'm being honest--more than what your so-called mate is being, I'd say."

I let the change of topic slide. We could argue forever on his all-too-human grievances against wolves and never get anywhere. "Talon has always been arrogant, but I never thought he'd go this far."