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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.


Tags: Christine Feehan Leopard People Paranormal