Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 141532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
“I knew the moment his leopard saw yours, Dad would ask you to help him. I knew he would.” She glanced over her shoulder at him, rubbed her temples and then looked back at the fire.
He caught the despair written into her face. He wanted to comfort her, but he couldn’t do that until she came to terms with what he had to do. Shifters couldn’t be autopsied. They had to be cremated and only another leopard could handle it. That was their sacred law and all of them, good or bad, abided by it. She was well versed in the lore of the leopards. Her family had allowed her to see their leopards. She knew about a leopard’s heat. Her estate was made for leopards. He knew because he’d spent time exploring his property as well as his neighbors’, although he hadn’t yet known them, or anything about them. The reports were still lying on his desk, just skimmed until he’d met her.
“I know he’s suffering, and he needs to be able to let go. I just haven’t been able to let him. He’s always been so strong. The rock in our family. Without him . . .” She trailed off and removed the cap to the water bottle he’d already loosened. “They stepped out of the alley and shot him so many times. One stood over him and put the bullet in his head.”
He heard the sob mixed with her rage. “They were cowards. They knew they couldn’t take him any other way. Were they leopard? Do you know those that were there?” If she did, she was the only one. There was no whisper of a hit on Antosha Dover. Not a single rumor.
“My father took jobs for various clients. We take care of their cars, keeping them in top shape. We go to them. We maintain their garages and their car collections. We provide drivers if asked to do so. Anything to do with their cars, we manage. Our family has an affinity for cars, so we often have to turn away new clients.” She fell silent again, staring into the flames.
Mitya reached out to stroke a caress down her dark, thick hair. She didn’t pull away, so he began a slow massage on her scalp. She leaned into it with a little sigh, so he waited until she leaned back completely, her body between his legs so he could reach her easily.
“Dad was like my grandfather. Very fast reflexes and good eyes. His leopard probably helped, but very few could outdrive him. He cut his teeth on street racing.”
Mitya closed his eyes. Sevastyan had wanted to hire a street racer to drive him. There was a young driver no one wanted to race against because no one could beat him. He went by the name of Andi. Pieces clicked into place. Ania was Andi. She was honing her skills against some of the best drivers in the business.
“If one of our clients needed something moved from one city or state to another, and it had to get there fast and safe, they called my grandfather or father. They never failed in a single delivery.”
“Did they know what they were transporting?”
“They always knew. They just didn’t care. They said it wasn’t their business. It was our policy. Dad had contracts with our customers, and if they needed something special done and it was within his power to do it, he would oblige them. After he was shot, there were still a few jobs left undone, and I took them for him.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “I’m a very good driver. It’s in the genes.”
“I imagine you are.” He kept his tone neutral. She wouldn’t be taking any more special jobs for any of her clients, not once he put the word out that she belonged to him and anyone asking for anything needed to come through him first.
Ania took a sip of water. “I hate being so emotional. My eyes burn and I’m not a pretty crier.” She dabbed at her eyes with the water bottle. “I think either he or my grandfather took a job with one of our clients and they didn’t want them to see what was being taken.”
There was hesitation in her voice. She was skirting the truth. “Ania, I am your mate. I can hear lies. Between us, no matter how painful, there must be truth at all times. Did one of them keep something they shouldn’t have? Not complete the drive? Take part of the shipment?”
There was silence, but she didn’t lift her head away from him. He settled his fingers on her scalp and continued the massage.
“I think but don’t know that for whatever reason, whichever one was driving kept the package. I asked my father repeatedly, but he said he had no idea why a hit might be taken out on him or our family. I listened closely, but I didn’t hear a lie in his voice. That isn’t to say he wouldn’t try to deceive me if he thought he was protecting me.”