Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“You’re glad to see us,” Gorya said.
“Very glad and grateful,” Connor said. “When we clear this lair of the depraved shifters, Drake has convinced me to step up and fill the vacancy so no one else does. It isn’t something I aspire to. I’m no leader. I like my freedom, and as far as I can tell, anyone ruling a lair has a yoke around their neck.”
Fyodor and Mitya laughed. “You’ve got that right,” Fyodor agreed. “Worst damn thing Drake could have asked. I should have shot the bastard instead of agreeing.”
* * *
• • •
The Jaoa home was a sprawling two-story mansion built inside what could only have been designed to be a fortress. There were high walls surrounding the estate. Roped vines covered the walls. There were two sets of patrolling guards around the outside and two more inside. Gorya noted cameras in various locations.
The moment the heavy iron gates swung closed, trapping them inside, he knew his people would dispose of the patrolling guards outside the estate. Their army was already on the move, quietly going through the rainforest, taking down targets and disposing of the bodies. Jaoa was soon to be without his personal army.
The private airstrip where prisoners were brought in and out had already been destroyed, and at that very moment their fighters were engaged with Jaoa’s shifters at the mouth of the river. They’d already recovered every victim locked in the various holding areas Jaoa had near the airstrip and river. They also had attacked the school and rescued the children there. Jaoa was unaware, but he had few resources left who could come to his aid.
A pretty but downtrodden woman opened the door for them and beckoned them into the cool interior of the house. The foyer was large with a high ceiling. Fans with wide paddles turned above their heads. The woman led the way into a very large rectangular room filled with plants and low rattan furniture. Windows allowed light to stream into the room during the day, but thin lacy curtains filtered out the brightness.
The sun had set, streaking the night sky in deep purple across the growing darkness. The colors against the vivid greens of trees and plants outside the windows cast an eerie effect onto the walls of the room through the lace. Carolina was seated in one of the few high-backed chairs, facing away from the ferns, looking as if she were sitting on a throne. Jaoa came forward to greet Connor and then each of the Amurov cousins. Gorya couldn’t help noting that his gaze continually slid to Maya, just as Connor had predicted.
With Gorya and his cousins had come their security force. It would have been suspicious for men of their stature not to bring them. Gedeon, Rodion and Matvei were with Gorya. Timur and Sevastyan accompanied Mitya and Fyodor along with three of their top people, including Jeremiah. They moved soundlessly across the room, facing Jaoa’s bodyguards.
“Gentlemen, it’s such a pleasure to meet you. When Connor reached out and said you would be traveling this way, I had hoped you might come to see Carolina and me.” Jaoa waved them toward the low-slung couches.
Gorya deliberately took the one directly in front of Jaoa’s chair and in Carolina’s line of vision. The tension in the room increased dramatically.
She despises Maya, Wraith reported. Her leopard is going wild.
Is it worth controlling the animal? Gorya asked.
No, Maya replied sharply. She is guilty of so many deaths. Women and young girls dying in hideous ways. Her leopard contributed.
Gorya had heard and felt Maya in many moods. This one was new. This was full assassin.
“We came to Panama specifically to speak with you,” Gorya conceded. “We asked Connor to arrange the meeting.”
Jaoa looked pleased. He glanced at Carolina. She hadn’t taken her malevolent gaze from Maya. Jaoa cleared his throat as if that might get her attention. When it didn’t, he scowled. “Carolina.” His voice was extremely harsh, making his wife jump.
Carolina paled and turned her attention to him immediately. He gave her a benevolent smile. “Send for refreshments for our guests.”
“Yes, of course. Merida, that should have been taken care of already.” Carolina glared at the young woman who had allowed them entry into the house. Merida disappeared into another section of the house.
Jaoa turned his attention back to Gorya and his cousins. “This is a visit to discuss business, then. I had hoped for such an alliance between us.”
“I’m afraid not,” Gorya said. “I’ve come in person to bring you news. I’m the new pakhan of the Atchafalaya River Basin. I don’t deal in human trafficking, and the first order I gave was to clean it up. When I give an order, I enforce it. I also uphold every law of the shifters. All of them. I hold them sacred.”