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.
Can you insist on contacting him? Hearing his voice so you know he’s alive? Answer in a whisper but keep very close to the fountain. She wrote it out carefully, showed it to Shanty and when the woman nodded, tore it off, crumpled the paper and put it carefully in the pocket of her jeans.
Flambé flashed her an encouraging smile and indicated the water bottle. “Do you know who is behind this?”
“A man named Matherson. He wanted me to say I was beaten and my husband was following me. That I couldn’t get away from him. I was supposed to say I was afraid to tell that to the men. I was to tell you that he threatened to kill me and take my children.” She put the water bottle to her mouth but didn’t drink. Tears were falling and she tried to keep her face covered if anyone could see her. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I really didn’t. He said he would kill Reiner.”
“The most important thing is to find your mate and get him free before we do anything else. Can you insist on a call, demanding to hear his voice before you go any further? Just step onto the porch away from me. Say you think I’m really nice and you want to know your husband is safe before you betray me. Something that will convince them you need encouragement. You need to hear his physical voice. Make them let you talk to him. If they let you, stay on with him as long as you can.”
Shanty took a deep breath and then she nodded. She stood up and walked away from Flambé. Flambé hadn’t heard a lie in her voice. Either the woman was very, very good at deception, or her husband really had been taken prisoner. Matherson wanted Karisa, Basil Andino’s mate, back. It had become a matter of pride with him. She also had the feeling that he was just as determined to claim her. He wouldn’t keep her long, but he’d claim her.
A little shiver went down her spine. She wished she knew more good shifter males. Ania insisted there were many and that she’d introduce Flambé to them as soon as they took care of her problems and Flamme was no longer in heat. That was another thing that was a little worrisome. Her skin was beginning to feel a little prickly. It was very early in the morning, although the sun was out. They?
?d deliberately scheduled the meeting for early morning, when Flamme should be worn out from the night before from her run with Shturm.
Ambroise is getting a lock on the position. Sevastyan kept her informed through the small earpiece. Gorya, Logan, Kyanite, Trey and Jeremiah are on the move and as soon as they have an actual address will hit the place and secure him. Will let you know. Hopefully, she stays on the phone long enough to give us an address.
Flambé silently willed Shanty to do so. Shanty glanced at her once and Flambé mouthed for her to keep talking and then took a hasty drink of water, grateful she was farther back in the shadows, because Blaise was looking at the two women. He paced back and forth, ignoring Terry and Jet, who paid more attention to security, watching for any sign of danger. They faced away from Blaise.