Rule Breaker: A Novel of the Breeds (15 page)

Satisfaction wasn’t filling him, though, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to delve into that sudden tightening of his chest and the flash of something that felt decidedly regretful. Definitely angry.

Dog shook his head, his look thoughtful as he stared toward the direction Gypsy had disappeared before giving Rule another long, steady look. He shook his head, leaning against the side of the Dragoon. “So, are we going to discuss this little machination you have going on here or are you just going to keep winging it all on your own?”

Rule had to grin at the question. It didn’t surprise him that Dog was suspicious. The Coyote had come out of the test tube suspicious, Jonas often accused. But Rule shook his head all the same.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Dog,” he claimed. “Since when does a Breed have to be up to something just because he’s determined to seduce a pretty lady?”

It was more,
something whispered inside him.
So much more
.

He knew it was more.

He knew seducing was just the beginning . . .

He shook the thought away. It wasn’t a mating, it couldn’t be anything more than seduction where a Breed was concerned if it wasn’t a mating.

Dog nodded slowly before straightening. “If you decide you need help, just let me know,” he said, his disbelief clear. “Just don’t wait until it’s too late to be helped. It would suck watching your ass burn, Breaker.”

He walked away then, heading back to the rise of stones and the Dragoon no doubt awaiting him there as Rule narrowed his eyes on him. What the hell did Dog think he knew?

There wasn’t a chance in hell the Coyote could know the little traps Rule was laying in the area where several individuals were concerned. Just as he couldn’t possibly know Rule was well aware of his and Dane’s friend in the area.

Rule knew. It benefited him at the moment to keep his mouth shut, but he knew.

He just prayed Jonas never found out. Because if he did, then they were all screwed.

CHAPTER 8

Despite her attempt to run, Gypsy found herself unable to skip the meeting with Jonas and her parents that evening. She felt raw inside, ready to break apart at the slightest provocation, but she couldn’t let her family down again, no matter how hard it was going to be to face Rule after she’d left him in the desert.

Gypsy had met Jonas Wyatt on several occasions in the past two months that he and his teams of Breeds had been in Window Rock searching for a rogue Bengal. The reservation and the Navajo capital itself seemed to be a haven for lost Breeds, hunting Breeds—and rogue Breeds.

It seemed that the rumors were true as well, that the reservation was now about to become home to an investigative branch of the Bureau of Breed Affairs.

Rather fitting, as a large number of them had been created from the stolen sperm and kidnapped girls of the Navajo that the Council had taken.

Dressed in a neat black pencil skirt and sleeveless white silk blouse, she moved from the Jeep before retrieving the black leather briefcase she’d brought with her. Sliding the strap over her shoulder, she pushed the door closed and locked the vehicle, then turned back to her parents.

“Where’s Jason?” she asked. She was depending on his ability to distract her parents and ensure that this meeting went as planned.

“He had a meeting in Santa Fe that he couldn’t cancel,” her father informed her rather stiltedly. “You didn’t wait around earlier to find out that he couldn’t be here for this one.”

Of course that was the reason why, she thought silently as she inhaled slowly, her gaze slipping to her mother. Because she hadn’t waited around for the full brunt of the guilt trip, it was her fault she didn’t know everything.

Greta glanced at the bag Gypsy carried for a second before turning her gaze to her disapprovingly. “This is just a friendly visit, Gypsy. Not an official meeting.”

“I worked up a few ideas while waiting on Connie.” She shrugged, thinking of the horrendously boring hours in Connie’s salon, stuck in the VIP room alone while waiting for the chemicals on her hair to do their job. She’d missed her appointment, but Connie had worked her in anyway. Gypsy had wished she would have just told her to go to hell so she could escape the torturous hours alone. Connie and her assistants had done their job excellently, though. Her deep, dark brown hair now had the faintest streaks of sun-lightened browns and tawny blond peeking out.

“That wasn’t necessary, dear,” her mother murmured, as though Gypsy were some wet-behind-the-ears new consultant. “I’m sure Mr. Wyatt will let us know when he’s ready for ideas. He’s not a man who likes to be pushed, you know.”

“Understood.” She nodded, despite her confusion.

Since when did her mother protest being prepared? Since when did her mother profess to be an expert on how Jonas conducted business?

Because Gypsy knew damned good and well the Breed highly respected initiative. They’d had several discussions on that subject and several others the few times she’d visited Rachel.

Dressed in a sleeveless beige top and a soft, casual cream chiffon skirt, her mother looked relaxed and comfortable, so Gypsy let her keep her illusions. Her father wore his customary jeans with a white button-up, just as he would have if he were joining friends for dinner at the local café.

Neither of them wore any of their more business-related clothing, which was surprising considering their nervousness over this contract.

“Gypsy.” Her mother stopped her as they neared the lobby entrance of the hotel.

Turning back to her, Gypsy saw the genuine concern building in the dusky features.

“Yes, Mother?” Damn, her mother was nervous. Gypsy didn’t work directly with her parents very often, and only took the smaller contracts when her help was needed, but still, she would have thought she’d have seen this side of Greta McQuade before now.

“Please, be polite,” her mother asked warningly, her green eyes shadowed, a bit harder than normal.

Be polite?

“Mother, when am I ever impolite to a client?” she asked, confused by this new worry her mother seemed to have gotten into her head.

“Anytime anyone, anywhere gives you the impression that you have to do something,” her mother stated in disapproval. “Don’t embarrass us, Gypsy.”

Was her personal life now tied to the clients she helped her parents with?

“Greta, now isn’t the time,” her father murmured, casting Gypsy a faintly regretful look.

Don’t embarrass them? Had they not wanted her help on this contract?

Her lips parted to ask what the hell they were talking about.

“Mr. and Mrs. McQuade. Gypsy, sweetie, it’s about time you came back to see us.” It wasn’t a Breed who stepped from the lobby to greet them, but Thor Thorsson, a rumored ex-mercenary turned Bureau Enforcer who worked with Rule’s brother’s fiancée, Diane Broen. Diane also happened to be Jonas Wyatt’s fiancée’s sister.

But to her, he was just Thor, the big, strapping Viking look-alike who had taken one look at her two months before, grinned and said, “Hey, just what I’ve been looking for, a little elf to torment. Can I adopt you?” Then he’d pulled the braid at the back of her hair.

She’d informed him icily that she did not need anyone to take her brother’s place.

Forlorn, his pale blue eyes had turned somber, “I wasn’t asking if you needed a brother. I was trying to tell you I needed a baby sister.”

Long, thick white-blond hair was brushed back from his face, his imposing features creased into a smile as his eyes met hers now while giving her a subtle little wink. A second later he bent, his arms going around her in a brief, firm hug before he drew back.

Sometimes, she was really afraid Thor knew far more about her than she was comfortable with him knowing.

“Hello, Thor.” Gypsy smiled up at him, genuinely glad to see him. “I see you’re recovering nicely from your accident.”

The story that he’d been injured in an accident in the desert was bullshit. He’d taken a knife in the shoulder that had been meant for his heart two months before.

“I’m recovering fine,” he promised with a wide smile. “So much so that Wyatt decided to put me back to work. I’m here to escort you up to his suite.”

Her brows lifted. “Strenuous activity,” she agreed, automatically handing over her bag to the too-handsome escort.

“That’s what I tried to tell him, but he wasn’t listening,” Thor agreed before turning to her parents, blocking the entrance and waiting patiently.

“We do have an appointment,” her mother informed him frostily.

“Mother, he needs your bag,” Gypsy murmured, catching her mother’s surprised look. “Security. We can’t go in until you give it to him.”

Confusion flickered in her mother’s gaze. “I’m not comfortable with that.” Greta frowned.

“You can leave the bag in your vehicle, ma’am,” Thor suggested politely. “But I can’t take you up until you do so, or until it’s in our possession. You’ll have it back before you leave, though.”

Greta glanced at Gypsy worriedly.

Gypsy shrugged, confused by her mother’s hesitancy. “Your choice.”

Slowly, her mother turned the bag over to Thor.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Nodding to her mother, he gave the bags to the female Breed who stepped out behind him.

“Hi, Gypsy.” Emma Truing, the slightest smile edging her lips, accepted the bags from the enforcer.

“How’s Ashley doing?” Gypsy asked as she noticed Emma’s haggard expression had eased some from the past six weeks.

Emma’s sister, Ashley, had been shot in the chest by one of the locals intent on kidnapping the niece of the nation’s chief.

“She’s recovering well,” Emma promised, despite the shadow of remembered fear in her eyes. “She mentioned the other night that she’s missed talking to you.”

“Tell her to hurry and get better,” she told the too-somber Breed. “Things are getting boring without her around.”

And that was no less than the truth. The private parties where only a select list of Breeds were invited were definitely suffering, not to mention the bars to which Ashley dragged Emma and some of the other Breed females.

“I’ll be sure to tell her,” Emma promised before turning and moving back into the lobby.

“If you and your parents will follow me,” Thor said, “I’ll show you up to Jonas’s suite.” His gaze met Gypsy’s again. “Rachel’s looking forward to seeing you. She and Diane were talking about that chocolate mousse cake you brought in with you last time. I gather they really liked it.”

“I’ll have to remember to make another chocolate date with them,” Gypsy laughed as Thor chuckled, then turned and led the way into the hotel. “Amber especially loved my contribution to that little lunch.”

“Where’s the girl going with my bag?” her mother asked worriedly as they neared the bank of elevators.

“We’ll get them back before we leave,” Gypsy promised. “It’s just a precaution.”

“A precaution against what?” Her mother was clearly unsettled by the fact that her purse wasn’t on her.

“Against weapons, I guess.” Gypsy shrugged as they moved toward the elevator.

“Jonas has plenty of enemies, Mrs. McQuade,” Thor stated as he led them into a waiting elevator. “No offense is meant. That’s standard operating procedure no matter the visitor.”

Gypsy could see that her mother was still bothered by it, though, her troubled gaze meeting her husband’s for a second as they stepped into the waiting elevator cubicle.

Catching her mother’s eye, Gypsy glanced to the discreet metal signs in the cubicle.
Illegal audio/video devices punishable by Breed Law. All bags, cases and devices must be scanned for illegal electronics before meetings commence. Thank you for your patience.

Discomfort flickered in her mother’s gaze. Gypsy knew her mother’s resentment of Breeds in general after Mark’s death was behind her discomfort; still, it bothered her.

The ride up was a quick one. In less than a minute the elevator came to a smooth stop at the eighth floor and slid soundlessly open.

“This way.” Thor stepped back to allow them to precede him from the elevator.

It was evident her parents hadn’t been to the hotel since the Breeds had taken up residence. The entire building had been more or less taken over by the Bureau of Breed Affairs, and security was incredibly tight.

Moving down the hall, Thor turned up another long hallway, and halfway along the corridor four Breeds stood at attention, watching Thor and Gypsy’s parents suspiciously. Heavily armed, brooding and looking far too dangerous in those black mission uniforms, not to mention far too good looking, they didn’t take their eyes off the small group.

“The McQuades to meet with Director Wyatt,” Thor told the guard at the door as Gypsy peeked around Thor’s broad shoulder and shot the Breed at the door a suggestive wink.

His eyes crinkled just slightly.

For Flint, that was a fully formed sexy-as-hell grin. Or at least, that was as close as he came.

“Hello, Gypsy.” Flint nodded as they moved past. “We’ve missed you.”

“Evening, cutie.” She greeted him just under her breath, knowing the Breed heard every word. “You’re looking especially hot tonight.”

He snorted at the compliment, while Gypsy caught the surprise on her parents’ faces as they moved into the director’s suite.

Roomy and opulently appointed, the presidential suite was decorated with classic desert hues, the furniture comfortable, the upholstery incredibly soft.

It wasn’t Jonas and his wife who met them in the suite, though, but rather Lawe Justice, Rule’s brother, and his fiancée, Diane.

They introduced themselves to her parents before greeting Gypsy with a smile and informing them that Jonas was running just a few minutes late.

As they waited, Diane sidled up to Gypsy. “Did you bring cake?” she asked in a hushed tone, drawing Greta McQuade’s attention.

“I didn’t know I needed to.” Gypsy grimaced regretfully. “It was really short notice and Kandy didn’t have any mousse cake. Next time, tell your boss to give me a little advance notice.” Gypsy grinned back.

“You suck, McQuade,” Diane accused her with a heavy sigh. “That cake was the bomb.”

“I’ll be sure to let my sister know,” Gypsy promised, making a mental note to put Kandy in the kitchen whipping up chocolate mousse cake.

Lifting her finger in a sign to give her a minute, Diane turned away, obviously listening to whatever was being said in the earbud she wore.

“Excuse me a minute.” She turned back to them with a quick smile. “I’ll be right back. Lawe will get you a drink, and Jonas and Rachel will be out momentarily.”

Diane disappeared.

Moving to the sofa, Gypsy took a seat, crossed one leg over the opposite knee and sat back to wait as she glanced at her parents while they took a seat on the matching love seat on the nearest side to her.

“You know them.” Her mother seemed faintly confused by the fact that Gypsy was on such familiar terms with the Breeds they’d seen so far.

She shrugged dismissively. “I see them around a lot. We talk. I knew Ashley and Emma before Jonas and Rachel showed up. They asked for one of the chocolate mousse cakes the first week that Rachel was here and invited me to share it with them.”

Actually, they’d begged her to make one and bring it to the hotel for Rachel’s toddler, Amber, who had been having trouble eating. They had sworn the chocolate would tempt her.

And it had.

The little girl had been a giggling, chocolate mess when Director Wyatt had walked into the suite. And the sight of her, lifting her chocolate hands to him and squealing, “Da, moo-ie cake,” had sent such a wash of emotion over his face that Gypsy’s heart had clenched in her chest.

Now, two months later, Wyatt had her cooling her heels while he waited to tell her and her parents that the joke was all on them, she was afraid.

Asshole.

She wondered if Lawe and Diane would let her kick him then?

She was sure Diane would.

“You hadn’t mentioned that you knew so many Breeds,” her mother murmured.

“Yeah?” She glanced over at her mother again before surveying the scenery from the wide floor-to-ceiling windows on the other wall. “I didn’t think it was important.”