Shifter Wars (5 page)

The drive to Chesterland on the east side of Cleveland was going to take at least forty-five minutes, which meant dealing with traffic and vulnerable spots along the way. The last part of the trip would be through a secluded area, which presented its own set of challenges.

I smiled at Trina, who sat sandwiched between Jason and me. Misha was in the front seat with his electronic gadgets, watching for anything strange. Trina clutched my hand and smiled back at me, but her lips trembled slightly. Anger surged through me until it threatened to erupt. How dare this child be forced to feel terror of any kind? When I found out who or what was after her, I would hunt them down myself.

Trina turned to me. “What’s his name?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you earlier. Trina this is Jason.”

Jason grinned. “Nice to meet you, Trina.”

Trina nodded back and then leaned toward me and whispered, “What is he?”

“He’s human like me.”

For a second, I thought she was going to protest, but she shrugged and settled back into her seat without saying anything.

When we finally reached the road leading to Griffin’s estate, some of the tension in my shoulders eased. Especially when the driver announced we should be there in less than five minutes.

Trina sat forward a bit to see where we were, but I gently pushed her back so Jason and I blocked her body. A rustling sound from Misha got my attention as he adjusted his sensors.

“Mish, what is it?”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he took out the walkie-talkie and spoke into it. “I’m getting a strange energy signature ahead. Keep an eye out.”

The cars in front of us sped up, and we followed suit. As we drove around a bend, a Jeep 4x4 rammed through some brush at the side of the road and barreled toward Jason’s side of the SUV. Our driver swerved, trying to avoid a crash. One of the men in the 4x4 leaned out of his window holding a—.

“Gun!” I screamed.

The gun fired, but instead of bullets, a burst of light came from the end like a frickin’ laser gun. Jason’s window shattered at the same moment he pushed both Trina and me to the floor. Our driver screamed.

“Trina are you okay?” I asked.

She whimpered. My heart thudded.

Damn!
We were slowing down. I sheltered Trina and watched between the seats while Misha shook the dazed driver. When that didn’t work, he slid over onto the middle console and slammed his foot down on the gas pedal, grabbing the steering wheel and driving as best he could.

Tires squealed behind us, and I jumped at the screech of metal hitting metal. I could only assume Jean Luc had rammed the 4x4 with the van to slow it down.

Voices erupted from the walkie-talkie. “We’re coming in hot! The second SUV was hit, but is still behind us. Be ready at the gates!”

In less than a minute, we slowed down again, and I jerked my head up to see what was going on. We were driving through a large metal gate past shifters standing outside the opening with guns.

Jason grunted. “Stay down until we’re up near the house.”

We came to a stop and Misha spoke. “Clear.”

Jason sat up, freeing us both. I quickly ran my eyes and hands over Trina to make sure she wasn’t hurt. She wasn’t bleeding.

“Is she okay?” Jason asked.

“She seems fine, other than being a bit dazed.” I looked over at him. A streak of blood ran along his face. “Are you okay?”

His eyes were pinched with pain. “It’s from the window. I’ll be fine.”

My car door jerked open, and Tim reached for his daughter. “Trina!”

“She wasn’t hit. I think she was stunned by whatever that gun fired.”

“Thank you.” He hugged her to his side and raced toward the front door.

Shifters surrounded the car and helped the driver out of the front seat while Jason and I got out.

Misha stood looking grimly toward the gate. “You hurt, little one?”

“No, I’m fine. What the hell kind of gun was that, Mish?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe Griffin will have a better idea.”

Relief washed over Misha’s face, and I turned to see Jean Luc driving toward us in the crumpled van. Somehow it was still moving.

A tremor ran through me. We were smack dab in the middle of a war zone. And we needed to figure out how a little girl could be the catalyst.

Chapter 5

I stood in the foyer of Griffin’s house trying not to let my jaw hit the floor. While the outside was decked out like an English estate, the interior was understated yet elegant. A large staircase made out of maple wood dominated the entryway, and doors led to various rooms.

Misha leaned over and whispered, “It’s like being in an eighties nighttime soap opera.”

I sighed heavily. Leave it to Misha, the TV junkie, to compare it to
Dynasty
. Before I could respond, Jason came through the front door to join us.

He glanced around and let out a low whistle. “This place looks like the house from
Falcon Crest
.”

I rolled my eyes. How a thirty-something human male and a 260-year-old Shamat demon could share such a ridiculous obsession was beyond me.

A flip response died on my lips when Griffin and another shifter came down the stairs toward us.

“Is Trina okay?” I blurted.

“Yes, the doctor is checking her now. He doesn’t think she sustained any serious injuries.” Griffin reached the bottom of the stairs and stood in front of me. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“It’s good to see you again, Kyle. I regret it’s under these circumstances.”

Griffin was looking all “lord of the manor” with wool pants and black turtleneck sweater. He was the shifter version of Jean Luc, but with long, wavy brown hair and green eyes. My stomach did a little flip at having him so close. Then Dalton’s face flashed in my mind and guilt stabbed my libido.

Griffin’s nostrils flared slightly, and I almost melted into the ground.
Jesus.
Shifters could smell emotions. The last thing I needed was for Mr. Ego here to think I had the hots for him. So I was relieved when he turned toward Jason.

“You’re hurt.”

“It’s just a graze,” Jason answered.

“Even so, you should be attended to. Stephen, take him to the den and have the doctor check him there. Then take Misha to the kitchen and get them some food.” The other shifter practically saluted before leading Jason and Misha toward the back of the house.

Griffin waited until Jason was out of earshot before speaking. “Who is he?”

“Jason Watson. He’s part of the team now,” I said.

“Is Jean Luc okay? My men told me he rammed his van into the other vehicle, but they got away.”

“Physically, he’s fine. He’s outside mourning the demise of the van. They had an almost symbiotic relationship.”

Griffin raised his eyebrows at me. “I want to hear your take on what happened.”

He gestured for me to walk in front of him, and then rested his hand at the small of my back as we walked. He opened the door to the right of the stairs, and we entered his office. A bookshelf filled one full wall, and a leather couch and chair sat next to the books. What stood out, though, was the antique wooden desk, which took up a lot of floor space.

He followed my stare and grimaced slightly. “Quite ostentatious, I know. The desk was my father’s.”

Griffin gestured at the couch, and I sat. He walked over to the desk and clicked on the phone. “Beatrice, can you please bring some breakfast and coffee for two to my office when you have a moment?”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Well, wasn’t he
special
? I had definitely crossed over to the ritzy side of the tracks. He clicked off the phone and walked over to sit in the chair across from me.

He watched me with his ridiculously large green eyes. “I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you coming back here to help Trina.”

“Trina means a lot to me.”

“I know the last few months have been difficult.” He leaned forward slightly. “I was sorry about what you went through with your lieutenant.”

I shrugged, although I was feeling far from nonchalant. “Dalton is better now, which is what matters.”

He hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say more. I’m sure his nose was catching the emotions blasting off of me. The he leaned back again. “Of course. Give me your take on what happened this morning.”

I relayed the events as best I could, and he listened intently, without interrupting. When I finished, he stood and began pacing. If he wasn’t going to say anything, I had a number of my own questions to ask.

“What was the gun they used?”

Griffin stopped and turned to me. “Shifters’ hearing is extremely sensitive. The gun emits a high-frequency sound which can incapacitate a shifter. In recent months we have seen it used by poachers.”

“Holy crap. Do you mean it’s like a dog whistle?” I cringed. Open mouth, insert foot. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

He chuckled. “No, you’re not far off the mark. We’re lucky Misha was able to drive the car once the driver became incapacitated.”

“Tell me more about these poachers.”

“For centuries, there have been a small number of humans who have known about and slaughtered us because we’re seen as abominations. In the past eighty years, capitalism has reared its ugly head. Instead of simply killing us, now poachers have risen from the ranks of these hunters. They kill us and sell our pelts for profit.”

I swallowed back the bile in my throat. “And they’re after Trina.”

Griffin’s hands clenched. “Poachers make more money off of rare pelts. When a shifter turns into their animal form for the first time, usually on the eve of their twelfth birthday, the poachers call it a ‘virgin pelt’, and it can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

“But your pack killed the poacher who took Trina this summer. Are we sure it’s actually poachers who are after her now?”

Griffin walked over to the couch and sat down next to me. “It could be a vengeance kill. In the past, we have encountered poachers who work in groups. Maybe his family is after Trina for retribution.”

“Do you have any information about the man who took Trina this summer?”

Griffin’s eyes turned guarded. Before he could argue with me, I plowed ahead in my normal diplomatic fashion. “Don’t get dodgy on me now. You just spent a crap-load of money flying me back here in your private jet. My team is working this case.”

He inclined his head in agreement. “I’ll have my head of security forward what we have.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, about your newest team member, Jason.”

“What about him?” I asked.

“What are his qualifications?”

“He served in the military, Special Forces, for ten years. He’s an expert with various electronics, including security devices.”

“Where is he from originally?”

“I don’t know exactly. What’s with the twenty questions?”

“Can he be trusted?” Griffin asked.

I glared at him. “Jason was hurt today because he threw himself on top of me and Trina to protect us. I don’t think he would have risked injury if he couldn’t be trusted, do you?”

He had the nerve to smirk at me. “I’m glad to see your temper is still intact, Kyle. I don’t know if we have ever had a conversation where one or the other of us isn’t sniping. We’re going to need to work on that.”

Before my righteous indignation had a chance to erupt, there was a rap at the door. Tucking my retort away for later, I turned to the woman bringing a tray into the room. She was beautiful, with long, auburn hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Her sea green eyes studied me closely.

She set the tray down on the coffee table next to the couch and carefully arranged the plates and cups. “Need some help?” I asked.

She shook her head without stopping. “No, I’ve got it.”

“It took you long enough,” Griffin mumbled.

I gaped at him. I had never heard him be disrespectful to anyone before.

“Oh, piss off, Seamus,” she said.

Now I gaped at her.

Griffin’s eyes took on a mischievous glint, and he laughed. “You have a filthy mouth, Bea. What would Mother say?”

“If she were still alive, she would cheer me on. Sometimes there’s not enough oxygen in the room for both your ego and the rest of us.”

I grinned at her. “I think you’re my new best friend.”

Her eyes widened, and it was her turn to laugh. “I agree. It’s good to finally meet you. I’m Beatrice, Seamus’s much younger and prettier sister. He’s told me quite a bit about you.”

“No kidding?” I turned and caught Griffin glaring at Beatrice. “All good, I’m sure.”

“In point of fact, he told me you are one of the most exasperating women he has ever met.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“Oh, it’s definitely a compliment. Normally, he’s too busy running the pack to pay much attention to anyone.”

I gulped a bit and kept my eyes discreetly aimed at the steak and eggs sitting on the tray, trying to clear myself of any emotion.