Night With a Tiger (2 page)

Adam drove the truck onto the highway, racing back to Dallas. He had already called and made reservations at Manetka Resort, a hotel owned by the Alpha of the Texas Tigers, Avery. This resort catered to the shifters traveling through the area. Manetka, the Polish word for shifter, was a safe haven for their kind. Adam would have them there in twenty minutes and then he’d explain everything to Robin. With luck on his side, they’d fly out at first light.

“Who are you?” Robin sat squished up against the passenger door, her hand resting on the door handle as if she was preparing to jump out at any second, which wouldn’t be a good decision on her part while he was doing seventy miles an hour down the freeway.

“I should have done a proper introduction before, but getting you to safety took priority. I’m, Adam Merks, from the Alaskan Tiger’s clan. For weeks we’ve been searching for you.”

“We’ve?”

He shot her a quick glance. Fear clearly filled her beautiful eyes. “My clan. We’ve been after Pierce and his gangs of rogues, and because of that search, we found information about you. Our computer expert, Connor, has been following your trail across the country. Yesterday he finally caught up to you, which is why I’m here.”

“Why…why would you care if they’re after me?

He checked his blind spot, before guiding the truck into the next lane and then put his foot down on the accelerator. In his rear view mirror, he saw a truck weaving in and out of the traffic, quickly approaching. “Shit.”

“What?” Panic rose in her voice, as she followed his stare.

“There’s a green truck coming up behind us. We need to lose it, before they follow us to Manetka Resort.”

“This isn’t going to end until I’m dead.” The terror seemed to be lost from her words, replaced by unmistakable sadness.

“I’ll keep you safe.” Adam needed to get off the main road. He cut across the traffic at the last minute to catch an exit, which led into a small town. Turning onto one of the side streets, he unclipped his cell phone from his belt and pressed a button before putting the phone to his ear.

“Did you make contact?” Ty asked.

“Yes, sir. Robin is with me. We were on our way to Manetka, but they spotted us. I need Connor to find me a rental that’s open late. I have to swap this truck before they find us again.”

“I’ll get him on it right away. Just hang tight for a few minutes.” Adam heard mumbled words that he was unable to make out. Ty returned moments later. “Instead of going to Manetka, can you come back here?”

“I’ll see what I can do, but I haven’t had time to tell Robin anything yet. Someone was lurking around her hotel room shortly before I arrived. I convinced her to come with me, but I’m not sure she will join me in the helicopter without an explanation first.” Adam paused, glancing at Robin who was frowning at him. “She’s exhausted from being on the run, and she’s in need of a hot meal and a good night sleep.”

“Okay, keep us updated. Connor is sending you the coordinates to the rental company now. They’re expecting you.” Ty paused for a moment, sighing into the phone. “Tell Robin why you went to find her. If she knows we want to take down the man that killed her husband, she might cooperate quicker.”

“Thanks, Ty. Could you make contact with Avery and have someone he trusts keep an eye on the helicopter? I doubt the rogues found it, but if I can convince Robin to leave tonight, I want to make sure we’re not walking into an ambush.”

“Good point. I’ll see to it.”

Adam shoved the phone in his shirt pocket.

“Helicopter? To go where? Tell me what’s going on?” She gripped the dashboard as she bombarded him with questions.

Adam programmed Connor’s coordinates into the truck’s GPS. “I told you, I’m from Alaska. I flew in this afternoon to find you and bring you to our compound—to safety.” With the GPS set, he glanced at her. “Is it safe to assume you’re not willing to fly out with me now? I can explain everything on the way. We could at least leave Dallas and go to another location before going to Alaska.”

“I don’t know. What are you
not
telling me?” She turned in her seat, pushing back against the door and stared out the back window.

He drove the truck further into the town, away from the highway, and hopefully further away from the rogues chasing them. “The rental company is just down the road. To explain everything is going to take longer than the drive. I’ll change the truck, and then we’ll talk. Okay?” He wanted to pull to the side of the road and tell her everything she wanted to know, but that would give the rogues a chance to catch up to them.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, they were in a different truck and heading around the outskirts of Dallas. Robin wasn’t sure if they were going to the helicopter or to the resort. Trusting the man that sat beside her, seemed risky, but no more than facing the world alone again. She was tired of being alone, and tired of running. If trusting Adam could get her out of this life threatening situation, then she would.

The town lights drifted away, leaving only darkness outside the truck’s windows. “So what aren’t you telling me?”

He drove the truck into a small turn-around on the side of the road, and put it in Park before turning toward her. “We’ve been hunting Pierce for some time now. He’s also the man searching for you. Years ago, he murdered Tabitha’s parents, and he’s recently added to his kill list. Bethany’s parents and her sister were Pierce’s latest victims. Tabitha sent me to find you, so you don’t end up as another life lost to Pierce’s madness.”

“Who’s Bethany?”

“She’s the mate of the clans Lieutenant, Raja. Her family was targeted because Pierce feels they’re partially responsible for him being a weretiger.” He paused as car lights came toward them. He watched the vehicle in the side mirror until it passed.

“Weretiger? I thought those who were two-natured preferred to be called shifters.”

Adam’s gaze left the road to focus on her. “They do. Shifters are born, and weres are bitten. It’s rare and only happens because of rogues. Weres can only change during a full moon. They are extremely unstable and close to rogues. Bethany’s uncle married a woman who suffered with a mental illness that was passed onto her son. As a teenager he turned rogue, and bit Pierce.”

“But why have I been dragged into all of this? I didn’t even know about shifters until they killed my husband.” That wasn’t completely true, but it was the first time she had contact with them. She fiddled nervously with a lose button on the sleeve of her shirt. “I just want my life back.”

Adam slipped his cowboy hat off and tossed it on the dashboard before turning to her once again. His sparkling, green eyes met her gaze. “Pierce won’t stop until you’re dead. We’d prefer to get him first. You have to trust me. I’ll keep you safe, Robin. You just need to come back to Alaska with me. Once you are safe, we can take down Pierce without worrying that one of his rogues is still searching for you.”

She shook her head with such determination; a strand of her long, curly brown hair fell from its clip. “I haven’t trusted a soul in longer than I can remember. Trust has always led to heartache and trouble. It’s part of the reason I’m in this shitty situation.”

“Excuse me for being frank, but your late husband was scum. Offering you to the rogues to save his own skin is one of the worst things a man can do. Even with his barter, they still killed him, and you…had you not ran, your death would have been torturous. He’d have tortured you before killing you, just for sport. Now he only wants to see you eliminated. Pierce fears your husband told you something important. He’ll keep you running until he eliminates you. As long as you’re alone and on the run, you can’t tell anyone those secrets.”

She stared into his eyes, wishing she could fall into them. The green of his eyes reminded her of walking through a prosperous meadow, the sun on her skin, and the wind in her hair. No worries weighed down her shoulders as she gazed into those dreamy eyes. “I don’t know anything. Maybe if he knew that, he’d let me live.”

“If only it could be that easy. Pierce is a rogue, he doesn’t think along the same lines as sane people do. He won’t believe you. He’ll think you’re lying, which will only piss him off more.”

“Then how can you help me?”

“My clan has been after him for some time now and we’re closing in on him. Until then, you’ll be safe in Alaska. There are guards around the perimeter to keep everyone safe. I understand it’s not the life you had, but it has to be better than running from town to town, looking over your shoulder. Once Piece has been terminated, then you can decide what you want to do.” Adam’s phone vibrated in his pocket, drawing his attention. “It’s a text from my Alpha.”

While he checked his text message, she pondered her options.
I want to go back to Virginia and gather the pieces that were once my life, not follow this man to Alaska. Damn you, Bobby. That bastard died, but not before he made sure my life was a living hell.
With her car back at the hotel, and money running thin, she didn’t have much choice but to trust Adam.

He tossed his cell phone into the cup holder. “One of the Texas Tigers is guarding the helicopter. There’s no sign that anyone has found it. I hate to rush your decision, but if we want to get out here before they find the landing strip, we have to leave soon.”

“Is there anything else you’re not telling me?” She knew he hadn’t told her everything. It was the way he chose his words, with the extra care, as if watching his words carefully.

“Yes. Ty has given me permission to tell you everything, in order for you to make your decision.”

“What?” Disappointment filled her. Would he have held back if she hadn’t asked? “Tell me or I’m not going.”

He turned, resting his arm along the back of the seat. He focused on her as if she was the only person left in the world. “Tabitha believes you’re the key to finding Pierce.”

“Why? Because he’ll follow me to Alaska?”

“There’s a book of old magic that’s been assisting Tabitha on her journey. This book told her of you and your predicament. This information started our journey to find you. Without the book we wouldn’t have known anything about you, or that Pierce was after you.”

A book?
This situation was getting more ridiculous by the minute.

Relief flooded through Adam when Robin said two little words,
I’ll go
. Now it was time to get the hell out of dodge before Pierce’s rogues caught their scent again. Not wanting to risk someone seeing them in the city, Adam raced around the outskirts of Dallas, toward the helicopter waiting on the other side.

Robin sat passively next to him, her body curled in a tight ball, holding her knees against her chest, while she stared out the window. The stench of her fear filling the truck’s interior, forced him to breathe through his mouth. The compassionate side of him wanted to relieve her fears. Anything he could have said only tasted like a lie. The cat in him wanted to play with her as if she was food. Tigers enjoyed the smell of fear from their prey, but Robin wasn’t his prey, she was his mission—a target to keep out of the hands of the rogues. He wouldn’t fail her. Too many souls had already fallen at the rogues’ mercy, and Adam would make damn sure it wouldn’t be Robin’s fate.

“Alaska isn’t as bad as most people think. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cold, but beautiful. My clan’s originally from Pennsylvania so I understand the weather change from the East Coast. You’ll be safe there. Let go of your fear and trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you.” His words probably mattered very little when her fear was overwhelming. He had to at least try.

“What do you know of fear?” The terror he could smell had turned her words to anger.

“More than most.” Finding her in that crummy hotel room reminded him of his own experience of running from town to town, fearful for his life. Ty had found Adam when he thought he couldn’t go on any longer. Months of running had left him without hope and seeing no option other than to end it all just to find a moment of peace. He may have ended his life if Ty hadn’t stumbled upon him that night.

She turned away from the road, sadness clearly shadowing her face, and tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I know my fear reeks to your type. I can’t help it.”

“I really do understand what you’re going through. It’s not going to be easy. Any information you give us might be the key to finding Pierce. Once he’s eliminated you won’t have to hide any longer, you can reclaim your life. Even if you don’t want to accept it, you’re part of the puzzle we need to defeat him.”

“I’ll do whatever is necessary to get my life back. I miss having a home, my job, friends, and all the little things I took for granted. For years, I was at Bobby’s disposal—his toy and punching bag when he was angry, but no more. I want a life for me. I’m tired of living for someone else.” She didn’t bother to brush away the tears that now fell freely down her cheeks. It was almost as if she was embracing her freedom.

“I’ll help you.” He smiled. With traffic left behind them, he pushed down on the gas. “We’ll be at the landing strip in five minutes.”

“Good.” Stifling a yawn, she turned back to the window.

“I’m sure you must be tired. You’ll be able to sleep on the helicopter.”

“I’m fine. My scattered nerves wouldn’t let me sleep even if I wanted to.”

The truck raced past a forest of trees with such speed they’d be at the landing strip sooner than he expected. “What are you nervous about? I’m not going to let anyone harm you. Are you concerned you’re walking into a trap?”

“Why would you say trap?” Her fear raised several notches, nearly suffocating the air around him.

“Years ago, when I was in your position, I thought the same.” He looked away from the road for a moment to study her face. “I can taste your anxiety on my tongue as if it was my own. Your apprehension isn’t just for the ones you’ve been running from, you fear me as well.”

Her lips curled into a frown, creasing her forehead with worry. “I won’t deny it, because it would be like trying to tell you you’re not truly a tiger. It would be pointless.”

“Thank you.” He was relieved she didn’t try to refute the truth as most would. Rewarding her honesty, he wanted to share a secret with her. “If it makes you feel any better, your comfort is why I let you keep your gun.”

“Gun?” She tried to act surprised, but her eyes betrayed her.

“I can smell gun powder. You have a small revolver in your purse.” He winked. “I smelled it back at the hotel. I thought you’d feel safer with it, so I let you keep it.” She gripped her purse, confirming his claims. “If you shoot me now, I’ll never hear the end of it from my clan. My decision to let you keep it would shame me. Shifters heal from most gun shots, but they hurt like the dickens.”

“I’m not going to shoot you. Damn it! I didn’t think a shifter could smell it. At the hotel I was relieved when I was able to slip it out of my suitcase and into my purse without you noticing, but I guess it was a waste to sneak around if you can smell the gun powder.”

He drove the truck onto a dirt road leading to the small deserted landing strip where the helicopter waited. He used only the parking lights to make the last trek through the dark woods to not draw any unnecessary attention. “There will be a member of the Texas Tigers clan waiting for us. While I meet with him, I want you to stay here. Just to be safe, I’ve shut off the dome light, that way when I open the door the cab won’t illuminate. We don’t know who or what could be lurking in the woods. Stay put, and keep your gun close. I’ll be right back.”

“Do you think they’re here?”

Her fear tingled along his spine as he shifted the truck into Park, stopping close to the helicopter. “No, safety is my main concern.” Adam opened the door and stepped out of the truck. He glanced back at her to see her eyes wide, scanning the woods.

Tilting his head, he sniffed the air for any unfamiliar scents. All he caught was the tiger leaning against a car twenty paces away. Adam rolled his shoulders to relax his muscles, but kept his guard focused, listening and watching the surrounding dark woods. The sooner he could get Robin out of here, the better he’d feel.

“You must be Adam.” The young tiger wore a creamy white cowboy hat that hid most of his blond hair. He couldn’t have been older than twenty, yet his facial features resembled a man who had lived a long, hard life.

“Yes, and you are?”

“Tex.” He accepted Adam’s offered hand. “It doesn’t look like anyone was here before I arrived and there hasn’t been any movement since I took post.”

Adam noticed that the skittish boy wouldn’t make eye contact. “I appreciate you coming to stand guard…” Headlights lit up the trees to the left. “Shit.” The road, the vehicle was travelling on, was the only way in or out here. With the helicopter not started and Robin still in the truck, he would have to stand ground against whoever was coming.

“Are they with you?” the boy asked.

Adam spotted two men in the front seat of the approaching car. “No, and I don’t think they’ve just taken a wrong turn. Damn it!” He grabbed his gun from the holster, keeping it close to his side, hiding in the darkness until he was certain if danger was ahead. He didn’t want to shoot an innocent tourist, or teenagers trying to find a place to make out.

“Avery doesn’t allow anyone except the guards to carry weapons.” Tex shrugged his shoulders.

“Hopefully you won’t need one.” Adam had a backup gun in his bag, as well as an additional knife strapped to his thigh, but there was no time to get either.

The car doors opened, shining the dome light onto the men in the car. Adam didn’t know the passenger, but instantly recognized the dark haired driver as one of Pierce’s men.
Shit.

“Can I help you?” Adam watched the men as they stepped out of the car.

“Give us the woman and no one will get hurt.” The driver pointed his weapon toward Adam. The safety clicked, echoing in the air.

“It’s just us…” Tex started.

“We know she’s here.”

Adam fought the urge to glance at the truck, hoping Robin would stay hidden in the darkness. “You know I won’t turn anyone over to you.” He raised his gun, ready to shoot the driver. There was no discussion when it came to rogues, and quick action was his only chance to take out the opposition.

A shot rang out. Tex shifted to his animal form and lunged forward. It took Adam a split second to realize it was the passenger who shot, not the driver that Adam had his weapon trained on. He pulled the trigger, shooting the driver square between the eyes, killing him. It was the one shot that was fatal even to shifters. The wound couldn’t heal if the brain was dead.

Tex scuffled with the other man on the ground. He was holding his own, but he was a young shifter and didn’t stand a solid chance against the rogue.

The darkness prevented Adam from getting a clean shot. Another bang rang out, deafening him for a second as gunpowder filled his nose.
Tex!
He broke into an outright run. A roar of pain cut through the night air as Adam pulled the rogue away. Claws digging into Adam’s side didn’t stop him. He slammed the rogue into the cement with such force the rogue bounced. Using the heel of his cowboy boot, Adam placed his foot on the rogue’s throat. He pressed hard, staring down at his enemy. “Where is Pierce?”

“I’ll never tell you. Pierce will see your Alpha Female dead.” His words were breathy, as he struggled under Adam’s foot.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Pierce and his followers will never stand a chance. We will kill them long before they get near my Queen.” Adam gripped his gun and shot the man.
Two more rogues down.

Sliding the gun into his holster he ran toward Tex. The young tiger lay bleeding just beside the car. “Tex,” Adam said, carefully approaching. An injured shifter would attack first and ask questions later if they felt threatened. Tex’s eyes opened as he shifted back to his human form.

Lying naked on the ground, blood pooling around him from the wound to his abdomen, Tex reached for Adam’s hand. “You have to help me…”

“It’s okay. We’ll get some help,” Adam reassured him.

“No. Avery will see this as a failure. I’ll be killed for not seeing you and your woman to safety.”

“Tex, this was beyond your control. Avery knows there are rogues searching for her.”

“It won’t matter…” Tex’s words were lost as his eyelids fluttered shut and he passed out.

He tore the end of his shirt and pressed it against Tex’s wound. Adam then dashed to the truck. Coming around the front of the truck, he entered Robin’s direct line of sight. He slowed his run, not wanting to frighten her more than she was. He didn’t need an overemotional woman on his hands, especially if they were going to get off the landing strip before another batch of rogues found them.

Robin pushed the door open. “You’re okay?” There was a touch of surprise in her tone.

“It takes more than two men with guns to take me down.” He reached for their suitcases, and held out his hand. “We’ve got to go.”

“What about the other tiger?”

“He’s injured. Once I get you in the helicopter, I’ll get him. I need the first aid kit from the copter anyway. Now come on, we don’t have much time.” She scooted to the edge of the seat and slid her hand into his. An electrical current coursed through him. She quickly pulled her hand away, her eyes wide with confusion.

“What was that?”

He debated for a moment to tell her what the electricity meant, but an explanation would take time they didn’t have. “It’s nothing.”

“No! Tell me what that was or I’m not going anywhere with you.” She stared at her hand almost as if expecting to see a burn.

“Robin, please.” He glanced at Tex before turning back to her. “Once we’re in the air I’ll explain. Tex has been shot and I have to stop the bleeding. We have to get out of here. Other rogues will be coming.” Adam had a suspicion that the rogue driver would have made a call when he spotted them. More rogues wouldn’t be far behind.

Robin nodded, finally walking toward the helicopter. “Okay.”

With Robin safely in the helicopter, Adam covered Tex with a blanket and laid him in the back. He tended to Tex’s injuries with the few medical supplies he had, and then slid into the cockpit, starting the helicopter.