Mercury's War Read online

  He stared back at her silently, and she had a feeling he was seeing more than she wanted him to. He was definitely seeing more than anyone else had bothered to look for.

  For the first time in her life Ria wondered if she had run up against a man she couldn’t continue hiding from. His eyes urged her to share her secrets; the swirl of ambers, the curiosity, the interest, invited her to reach for things she knew she should never reach for.

  Play with fire and you’ll get burned. She remembered, long ago, too long ago, how her mother had laughingly advised her to always watch out for people.

  They’ll deceive you, my little Ria, she had always said. They’ll lie and they’ll smile, and when they’ve taken all you have to give, they’ll find someone else to use up.

  She couldn’t have been very old, but she remembered those words.

  The memory of it had her turning her head from Mercury, shifting her gaze to the mountains they were winding their way through as she pushed back the loneliness that filled her whenever she allowed it.

  Her mother had died before she was six. Ria had spent three days alone in their apartment, crying for her mother, and her mother had been lying in a cold morgue.

  She might have stayed there forever if a neighbor hadn’t realized that no one had mentioned the child of Leo Vanderale’s secretary. Her child hadn’t even been listed in her personnel files. The people she had worked with hadn’t even known about the daughter Mary Rodriquez had borne. Until Mary’s death.

  Until Ria had been left alone.

  She pushed back the memories. They had no place here. She hadn’t even let herself think about it for years. She was who she was, and she owed the Vanderales for her life after her mother’s death.

  And here she was, still running errands for Dane, and still doing his bidding. Still joining in his little games because he flashed that devil’s smile of his and dared her to be courageous when they both knew she really wasn’t courageous at all.

  She was being courageous now all right, and this time, Leo just might hang them both out to dry for it. Sanctuary was Leo’s baby, so to speak. Callan Lyons was the son he hadn’t known of until the revelation of the Breeds broke across the world. He was the son Leo hadn’t been able to reach out to.

  Dane was his heir, and Leo had always doted on Dane, to a point. He respected Dane but knew his son well enough to know Dane lived a much wilder, much more reckless life than made Leo happy.

  Leo was a family man. He was a prime pride leader and he had proven it with the Breeds he protected on his African estate. And he ached for the sons he knew the Council had created from the semen and eggs they had stolen from him and his mate. And he ached for his grandchildren. Grandchildren Dane seemed in no hurry to provide him with.

  “I hope you’ve been honest with Jonas concerning your reasons to be here, Ria,” Mercury drawled then. “He can be a bastard when you lie to him.”

  Yeah yeah, like father like son. Jonas Wyatt was Leo’s son as well and was more like him than any other, Ria thought.

  She turned back to him with a smile. “I know his father, Mr. Warrant, and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree as you would say here. Don’t worry, being honest and straightforward are but a few of my faults.”

  Dane would have laughed his rear off at that comment, and she knew it.

  But Mercury nodded and said nothing more. But he still watched her. His gaze stayed on her, and she swore the flush mounting beneath her clothing was sinking into her bones.

  Damn, she was glad his sense of smell wasn’t as good as most Breeds, but from the way his eyes were narrowing and his nostrils were flaring, she suspected he sensed the arousal she could feel building in her.

  She was a woman. And damn if he wasn’t a fine specimen of a man and a Breed. She wasn’t mated, and she wasn’t dead. She had all the instincts other women had, and all those instincts were rioting for a taste of tall, dangerous and delicious over there.

  That didn’t mean she had to act on them.

  The window rose between the driver’s section and the passenger’s. Ria turned and gave Mercury a questioning look.

  “Lawe likes to open his window. It might be too cold for you,” he stated, but his eyes said something entirely different. Something that had her ducking her head and turning to stare out the window next to her.

  Yes, she was aroused, and no doubt the Breed driving knew it.

  She gave a mental shrug. Just as she didn’t doubt in the least that they should be used to it. Women around the world, in blogs, Breed-sighting websites and a variety of other online communities, both reviled and lusted after the creations man had made and lost control of.

  They were fascinated by the Breeds. They were frightened of them and aroused by them. In little more than a decade they had become the bogeyman in the night as well as the dark lovers that invaded women’s dreams. Sometimes it was amusing. Most of the time it managed to remind her how fickle humans could be.

  Because it would take very little to turn the tide against the Breeds, and if the rumors Dane had heard were correct, then that tide could be coming through much sooner than anyone expected. And it could be more cataclysmic than anyone guessed.

  The animal opened tired eyes, not certain what had drawn it awake. The man. The man’s emotions were slipping. The animal could feel the break in the man’s defenses, the chance to stretch, to reach out. To sense freedom. Sweet freedom.

  It stretched with all its senses, slowly, cautiously; it reveled in the chance.

  Then it paused. Blinked. It stared through the man’s eyes. It inhaled through the man’s nostrils. It tasted the air against the man’s tongue and it had to restrain its roar.

  It crouched, staring, scenting, tasting. It had waited. It had been weak. Worn. So close to death. But it had fought. And it had waited.

  For this.

  Dark eyes peeked up at the man from beneath lowered lashes. It wasn’t a coy look, it was a cautious look. Dark lashes, shades lighter than her eyes. Dark hair was restrained when it should be free.

  And her scent.

  This was what had awakened it. Her scent.

  The animal felt something akin to joy race through it. Her scent was like mercy. It was like warmth in the middle of the cold. Her scent was like a place to belong.

  It was careful. The man was still diligent. The animal let the smell of that sweet scent linger in its head, for only a moment. Just a taste, a tease of what true pleasure was, before pulling back.

  The animal crouched now, awake, unblinking. The presence of the woman filled it with hope, renewed that last ounce of strength it needed just to survive.

  The man’s emotions, the animal could feel them straining, the chains that bound it growing weaker, because the man was distracted. The man was dealing with his emotions; he didn’t have to be on guard for the animal that had nearly died long ago.

  He was just a man. The animal could feel the thought as the man let himself ease his guard. He was just a man, no need to worry. He could watch this woman. He could want this woman.

  And the animal watched. And it wanted. It crouched, waiting, growing hungry now where before there was no strength to even hunger.

  The animal watched. It waited. Knowing freedom would soon arrive.

  CHAPTER 2

  “Hello, Mr. Wyatt. What a pleasure to finally meet you.” Ria accepted Jonas Wyatt’s handshake as she stepped into his office at Sanctuary and looked around the well-appointed office.

  It wasn’t fancy by any means, but it was large, open and airy. The walnut desk he used had been used by the Council scientists who had inhabited the estate before the Breeds took possession of it.

  Dark, heavy file cabinets had been placed along the walls. He kept his files close to him. Hard copy was a bit antiquated, but at least he kept them secured. She knew his office in D.C. was completely electronic and unattached to any lines outside his office other than the PDA and laptop that often traveled with him.

  “
I’ve had coffee brought up from the kitchens.” Jonas extended his hand to the small sitting area off to the side of the room.

  A couch, sofa and two chairs sat around a gleaming, heavy walnut coffee table. The coffee sat on a silver tray in the center of the table, tempting her senses with its smell.

  “My weakness.” She smiled in all-apparent appreciation as he led her to the couch. “I must admit, my body doesn’t adjust as well to different time zones as it used to. I could use the caffeine.”

  Jonas made a noncommittal little sound in his throat, sort of a cross between an irritated grunt and a hum of suspicion.

  He sat down across from her as Mercury silently took the chair to the side of the couch.

  “Should I pour?” She indicated the coffee service sitting before them.

  Jonas’s brow arched. “If you like.”

  He sat back as she poured the coffee and handed him then Mercury a cup before she took her own, balanced it on the delicate china saucer and sat back.

  Lifting the cup by its handle, she inhaled first, her brain sparking in anticipation before she sipped cautiously. It was really hard to find good coffee.

  She was pleased to discover this brew was some of the best. Her lashes almost fluttered in ecstasy.

  Jonas chuckled. “You like your coffee,” he commented as he drank his own, staring back at her with those odd silver eyes of his.

  “I adore my coffee.” She took another sip, then relaxed further against the couch and glanced between him and Mercury.

  She had arrived the day before and been taken to the cabin Dane had rented for her. It sat on the edge of Sanctuary, but not within the boundary of the compound itself.

  Nearly a half mile from the cabin, a secured perimeter had been set up. She knew most of the equipment was designed to be fenceless. Both Vanderale Industries as well as Seth Lawrence’s various companies had contributed to the security of Sanctuary.

  Lions roamed the Sanctuary side of the border, and Breeds patrolled it tirelessly. She had heard the lions roar the night before, obviously patrolling the perimeter despite the cold temperatures that had descended over the mountain.

  It was only the first of October and already temperatures were dipping into the freezing zone. She could feel that cold clear to her bones.

  “I understand Vanderale’s concerns, Miss Rodriquez . . .”

  “Oh please, call me Ria.” She smiled back at him blandly. “There’s no need to stand on ceremony. After all, I do know your family quite well.”

  His expression went blank, but his silver eyes flared with sudden animosity.

  “I very much doubt that,” he growled.

  She blinked back at him. “But I do. Your father and your brother looked after me after the death of my mother. They’ve been quite kind.”

  His eyes narrowed as she literally rubbed his nose in the fact that he couldn’t exactly treat her like an employee. And he certainly didn’t seem to accept the fact of his parentage very well. Unlike Callan, Jonas’s mother hadn’t been Leo’s mate. Only Leo’s sperm and another scientist’s egg were used in his creation.

  Mercury shifted dangerously in the chair beside him, his gaze turning on Jonas, the amber darkening before he glanced back at Ria.

  “Ria.” Jonas smiled back at her with heavy mockery. “As I’m certain you know, I’ve investigated you just as well as Dane,” he growled the name, “has investigated Sanctuary and all its inhabitants. The Vanderales didn’t adopt you. And you aren’t a treasured daughter.”

  Ria set the cup back on the table, folded her hands in her lap and stared back at him placidly. He wasn’t telling her something she wasn’t already aware of.

  “Mr. Wyatt, I never hinted at any such thing. I said I know your family quite well. I’ve worked for Leo and Dane since I was eighteen years old, as you know. They paid for my education, and before that they paid for my upbringing.” She leaned forward just enough to let him know she wasn’t intimidated by his heavy stare. “Never doubt, I am a cherished friend of the Vanderale family, and as such, my loyalty to the family, the company and the job I’m sent to do is above reproach. I have been sent to catalog, categorize and, in essence, determine whether or not Sanctuary is secure enough to continue to receive all the handy little toys we make certain Sanctuary gets to play with first. Do not doubt that my opinion carries weight. And do not doubt that my job is secure, no matter the protests you make. Now,” she sat back against the couch, “shall we do this in a civilized fashion or do I get to listen to you growl and snarl and flash those wickedly sharp canines in my direction, as your brother does, when he’s unreasonably upset?”

  Jonas growled.

  “Jonas.” Mercury leaned forward, almost protectively.

  Ria kept her gaze on the dangerously shifting colors in Jonas’s eyes as Mercury drew his attention.

  “What?” Jonas asked carefully.

  “If you break any more furniture in this office,” Ria looked around the room, speaking before Mercury could, “then Callan may begin limiting you on your office account. I was going over the office supply records just last week. It appears that in six months this office was refurbished with two different walnut coffee tables, as well as a very sturdy metal one. You’ve lost three secretaries in one year, and the glass in your apartment has been replaced twice. You have quite a temper, don’t you, sir?”

  “Or something.” His smile was tight.

  Ria waited for the truth as he stared her down. She knew the truth. The windows in his apartment were due to several attempts on his life. The metal coffee table had taken an uncontained blast from an explosive that had slipped past their security, a highly advanced explosive. The two wooden tables had most likely been temper, though.

  Finally, she allowed her gaze to flicker, as though she understood his alpha position. He hadn’t researched her enough. She didn’t even bow down to Dane.

  “Very well.” She breathed in deeply. “I truly don’t wish to antagonize you. But it’s best that we know up front why I’m here. It’s my job to determine if the funds Sanctuary receives should continue, be raised, reduced or halted all together. It’s your job to make certain I have complete access to all your files involving any purchases, payments, contracts or outside services provided by Sanctuary in both electronic and hard-copy form. I’d like to get to work tomorrow if you don’t mind.”

  She bent, picked up her coffee and sipped at it as she crossed her knees and waited.

  He was obviously restraining his snarl, while Mercury was watching her with a flash of amusement in his eyes.

  Jonas, unfortunately, was too much like Dane. Unfortunately for him, because Ria had learned how to deal with Dane years before. She received bling in the form of jewels from around the world in payment for allowing him to manipulate her. And he did so manipulate her.

  She smiled back at Jonas. “I’m really a very nice person. Plenty of coffee helps.”

  Mercury snorted. Jonas glared back at her.

  “Dane Vanderale is behind this, isn’t he?” He lifted his lip in a sneer. “That’s why the Leo is suddenly so interested in how his money is being spent.”

  Ria frowned. “The Leo cannot be manipulated, Mr. Wyatt. Once you get to know him, you’ll learn that.” Perhaps the hard way, just as Dane often did.

  Jonas was suspicious, though, and that did not bode well for Dane. Or for her. Leo wouldn’t fire her, but boy, would he make sure she’d wish he’d done something so humane as simply firing her.

  Leo knew her. He knew how to guilt her. And he could use it with shocking strength.

  “What exactly do you need?” Jonas asked her from between clenched teeth.

  “As I stated, hard-copy and/or electronic-copy information regarding purchases, contracts, sales or negotiations concerning those. The only things I don’t require on individual Breeds are lab files or sensitive mission reports. Anything concerning the business of Sanctuary should be made available to me.”

  “And this wi
ll take you how long?” he snapped out.

  Regret shimmered inside her, because she knew she was close to antagonizing him, perhaps making an enemy of him. And he did remind her so much of Dane. She was very fond of Dane, even if he was a manipulating, calculating coldhearted male for convincing her to come here.

  The Leo was going to kill them both, but the danger Sanctuary faced terrified her. She looked from Jonas to Mercury and let her demeanor soften marginally.

  “Hopefully, not too long,” she told him. “Truly, Mr. Wyatt, making an enemy of you isn’t my wish, but neither is it something that will sway me in my job. Though, I promise you, the viability of Sanctuary does mean something to me, as well as to Leo and Dane. I’m not here to risk your safety, I’m here to gather the information. All I need is your cooperation. No matter my determination, I know Leo and Dane will be willing to work with Sanctuary to continue the relationship Sanctuary does enjoy with Vanderale.”

  Even if they were leaking money like a sieve, Leo would never contemplate cutting them off. Sanctuary could leak till hell froze over and he would still pour money into it. But that wasn’t the case. It wasn’t money that was leaking, it was something much more vital.

  “You’ll have what you need.” Jonas stood to his feet. “In the morning.”

  She rose as well, aware of Mercury straightening also.

  “I look forward to it.” She set her coffee on the table and extended her hand once more. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

  He shook her hand firmly, but he didn’t strengthen his grip; he didn’t attempt to show her his strength, and her estimation of him rose. Because she knew he was furious.

  “Mercury, show her back to her cabin. You, Lawe and Rule will be her personal security. Make sure no one kills her. Because she doesn’t seem to care much about her own welfare today. And she’s to be in Ely’s lab in the morning for testing.”

  Ria paused. “There will be no testing, Mr. Wyatt. I supplied the necessary samples before my arrival. There will be no more given.”

  He paused and stared back at her, a muscle ticking at his jaw before he smiled tightly. “You do like to play with fire, don’t you, Ms. Rodriquez?”

  She let a light laugh escape her throat as she looked up at him. “Mr. Wyatt, Dane often says that’s exactly what I do best. I think my mother accused me of it several times as well. But you’ll find I’m truly not the enemy.”

  “I don’t consider women my enemies.” He shrugged and in his quick smile she could see the charm he was capable of. “Combatants maybe.”

  That told her. She inclined her head in agreement before turning to her personal bodyguard. It was enough to make a woman wish the word had a whole other connotation. Like naked and in her bed.

  Too bad relationships and her just didn’t mix. Besides, she knew Breeds mated. They were playful, erotic and wicked, but loving a woman always came with a mating. And mating was almost instantaneous.

  So far, she had no uncontrollable urges where his body was concerned. Irrational maybe, but that didn’t count.

  She fought to restore her equilibrium as Mercury once again escorted her from the estate house to the limo. Sliding into the back, she watched as he moved in opposite her before the car began moving from the driveway.

  They were both silent as they rode through the gates and the crowd of protestors that chanted outside them.

  The gossip rags fueled the protests. Rumors of forced sexual desires due to a virus the Breeds carried were in the rags again. There was also the story of the serial killer/cannibal who was linked to the Breeds. The rags kept protestors at the door, and suspicion swirling around the Breeds both here and at the Wolf Breed compound Haven.

  “You pushed a line with Jonas. I’d suggest not pushing it again for a while,” Mercury stated as they headed back to the cabin.

  She glanced back at him silently before speaking. “Jonas, like Dane, requires a certain understanding to deal with. If he believed I was easy to run over, he would spend his time denying what I needed and blocking my attempts.”

  But that didn’t change the fact that facing him hadn’t been easy. Her heart had been in her throat more often than not, and controlling any hint of fear had been almost impossible.

  “Dealing with Jonas is nothing like dealing with Dane Vanderale, Ria. Don’t fool yourself. He can make a hard enemy.”

  “As can Dane.” She shrugged.

  She looked back at him, the sprawled position he preferred tempting her. She wanted to curl into his lap. She wanted to warm herself against him.

  Illogical. Irrational. Insane.

  The night before had been filled with dreams of him. He had been outside patrolling the area around her cabin, she knew that. It was too close. Too tempting.

  At least he hadn’t actually been in the cabin. She didn’t share her space very well, no matter how much she was attracted to a man.

  She was a die-hard loner. She had decided that a long time ago. People left too easily. They walked in, got you used to their presence, then left, leaving you alone. It was a hard lesson to learn, and one she reminded herself of whenever she happened to wonder what it would be like to actually share space with someone.

  “Why don’t you have a lover?”

  Her head swung around at the question.

  “Excuse me?” She blinked back at him in shock, and her body nearly sizzled at the look he was giving her.

  His expression was decidedly sensual.

  “Why don’t you have a lover?” he asked again, spacing out the words as though she might have trouble understanding English. “You’re pretty. Single. And you’re alone.”

  “I don’t see a woman hanging on your arm,” she snapped out. “Perhaps I left him at home.”

  He shook his head. “There’s no scent of a man on you. If you had a lover, the scent of his arousal would linger around you for weeks, even if you were separated from him. So you don’t have a lover.”

  “And I don’t consider it your business,” she told him, striving for calm.

  “I do.”

  Her heart slapped in her chest, blood rushed to her head, and she wondered if the reaction was a precursor to a stroke. Because it had never happened to her before.

  “I don’t.” She watched him warily now.

  “Dane shoul