Savage Betrayal: Savage, Book 2 (21 page)

Darrius shoved open one of the exit doors in the stairs and entered an alley. He jogged around front, knowing he’d probably be just steps behind her.

Which is exactly where he wanted to be, he decided, as he spotted her a moment later.

Grace moved through the downtown Seattle lunchtime crowds at a brisk pace. Almost inhumane if one knew how to recognize the signs, and he could spot a shifter a mile off.

She took out several city blocks before making her way closer to the waterfront.

When she turned into a sleek, tall condo building he slowed his pace and narrowed his eyes.

Who was she visiting here?

He waited a moment for her to disappear into an elevator, and then entered the building after her.

Whoever Grace had snuck off to meet with, he sure as hell intended to find out.

Just before the elevator doors opened, Grace’s phone began to ring.

She plucked it from her purse and saw her sister’s name on the caller ID. Shit, she’d been trying to get ahold of Bree for so long, but couldn’t take the call right now.

The doors slid open and she strode out. Coming at her from the left was the pretty college boy assistant.

“Miss, if you could hold on—”

“Not a chance.” Grace strode into the plush condo, her gaze searching for her target.

Jocelyn Feloray stood from a desk near one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her brows lifted in feigned surprise. She looked cool and unruffled with her dark hair pinned up and her body in a hugging but demure green dress.

“Grace. How charming to see you so soon.”

“Don’t bullshit me. I told you I was coming, Jocelyn.” Grace clenched her teeth, momentarily overcome by the savage hatred she had for this woman. “Someone attacked me last night. Care to explain?”

Again, there was surprise in her gaze, but this time she didn’t delude herself into believing it was real.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Are you all right, my dear? You don’t appear hurt.”

Grace flashed a granite smile. “Such touching concern. I heal fast—but then you know how that goes, right?”

Fury flashed in the other woman’s eyes, then vanished. “I suppose it’s one perk you can claim to such a horrific curse.”

“Being a shifter isn’t any more of a curse than being an ignorant, sadistic bitch.”

“Such language.” Jocelyn made a
tsking
noise and went to pour herself a drink. “Can I offer you a drink,
Agent Masterson
?”

“I’m not here to drink. And how about you outright answer my question. I’ve been attacked—twice now. I have a feeling you’re behind it.”

Jocelyn swirled her glass of amber liquid and gave her a long stare. “Grace, that makes no sense. I don’t want you dead.”

“You want me warned.”

“What makes you so certain I’m behind this?”

“Because I’m getting close to discovering things about Thom Wilson that maybe you wouldn’t want me or the P.I.A. to know.”

Dark warning flickered in Jocelyn’s eyes. “Thom Wilson died at his own hand, my dear. And the P.I.A. isn’t capable of locating their own ass, as far as I’m concerned.”

“You’re so determined to take them down. To take down the entire shifter population.” Unable to look at the woman she’d once trusted, Grace turned and paced the room. Her unfocused gaze scanned over the opulent furniture and décor. “I don’t understand why you hate us so much.”

“And you never will.” There was potent venom in Jocelyn’s voice, and a tinge of pain Grace knew she wasn’t supposed to hear.

Thrown momentarily off balance, Grace changed tactics. “Well, here’s something you
can
share with me. What kind of drugs are you whipping up now?

“Me personally? You know I don’t get my hands dirty with that kind of thing.”

“No, of course you don’t. You sit in a multimillion-dollar condo maintaining a nice buzz while plotting how to fuck up people’s lives.
Feloray Laboratories
. What kind of drugs are they creating nowadays?”

“Oh the usual stuff. Statins. Glucose reducers. Oh, we’re working on this fabulous pleasure enhancer… Why? Are you interested in that last one, Grace?”

Heat stole into her face, and Grace fisted her hands so she wouldn’t pluck a book from the shelf in front of her and hurl it at the woman goading her.

“Actually, no. I’m thinking about something injectable. Something you’d find in a vial.”

The heavy silence had Grace turning slowly to again stare at the older woman. Her gaze was unreadable, but it lacked the antagonizing humor that had been there before.

“Feloray Laboratories is behind the creation of many life-saving drugs,” she finally said coolly. “If you’d like information on them, I’m certain I can have our marketing department send you a brochure.”

“I don’t want your brochure.” Grace strode forward, tension radiating through her body. “I’m going to warn you once. If you’re hiding something—if you’re in any way involved in the death of Thom Wilson, we will prove it.”

“Grace, you really don’t want to go down this road with me. You were lucky to survive the experiments.”

“No thanks to you.”

“No.
Thanks to me
you’re alive.

Grace laughed humorlessly. “You know at one point I would’ve believed that, but that day has gone.”

Jocelyn shook her head. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I truly am.”

“Go to hell.” Grace turned and walked away. “If I’m hurt, if any other shifters are hurt and I sense you’re behind it, I’m not going to be lenient.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” Jocelyn’s mocking laugh followed her out the door.

Chapter Fifteen

Grace moved about the kitchen, plucking chicken breasts from the fridge and spices from the cupboard. Her gaze drifted to her cell phone on the counter, but Aubree had yet to call back.

Her sister hadn’t left a voicemail this afternoon and wasn’t answering her phone now. Where was she? Hopefully nothing serious was wrong.

Casting a glance over at Darrius, she drew in an unsteady breath. Her hands trembled slightly and she hoped he was too busy too notice.

Busy peeling potatoes over the sink, his back was to her and he’d been unusually quiet.

Was he thinking about the same thing she was? That
tonight
had arrived, and that in less than an hour he would likely make good on his threat to try and break her headboard.

Her knees went a little weak just thinking about it. She cast him another glance from beneath her lashes and then frowned.

No. He didn’t really have the look of someone who was thinking about sex. In fact, he looked almost a little pissed off.

He’d been silent and stoic from the moment she’d returned from the lunch break. Apparently he’d figured out she’d slipped out without an escort and wasn’t all that happy about it.

She couldn’t fault him for that, but surely he’d had enough time to get over it.

Massaging olive oil and garlic into the chicken, she cleared her throat. “Are you still angry with me?”

When he didn’t reply right away, she glanced over at him and caught the slight hardening of his jaw. He tossed one peeled potato into a bowl and grabbed another, slicing the skin off with smooth, rapid strokes.

“
Should
I be angry with you?”

Yes.
Maybe a little bit. Still, the terseness in his words had her swallowing against the lump of guilt in her throat.

“I suppose you have every right to be. I know I said I wouldn’t go out alone—”

“Yes, you did.”

“But as you can see I’m fine.”

There was no reply, and she went to preheat the oven. He was angry, and he had every right to be. But she couldn’t exactly have brought him along with her today.

“Yes, you’re fine.” He gave a low, harsh laugh. “But I’m not, because I’m pretty damn confused right now.”

“Confused about what?”

“Why you went and saw Jocelyn Feloray on your lunch break.”

Her heart went into triple time and she struggled to swallow against the sudden dryness in her mouth. Gripping the counter, she forced herself to stay calm. “What do you mean?”

But she knew, even before he replied, she knew he’d followed her this afternoon.

“Don’t you want to know
how
I knew you were safe today? Because I followed your reckless ass.” He threw another peeled potato into a bowl and then shot her a look of pure ire. “I watched you slip right into Jocelyn Feloray’s condo as if you two had a quaint little tête-à-tête planned.”

Oh shit. How had she not realized he’d followed her? She should’ve known. Should’ve sensed him.

How could she lie her way out of this one? Her mind struggled to find an explanation he might buy, but she came up empty.

“Jocelyn Feloray should be at the top of your shit list, Grace. She’s the P.I.A.’s number one enemy right now.”

“I know.”

“So why would you meet with her?”

“You’re right.” She licked her lips, knowing she couldn’t deny it. “I met with her. I…confronted her.” That much was the truth.

“What the fuck do you mean, you confronted her?” Darrius tossed the peeler in the sink and turned to face her.

Her heart leapt into her throat at the savageness on his face.

“I told her I’d been attacked and asked her if she had anything to do with it.” She couldn’t tell him about confronting her about what might’ve been in the vials. That information wasn’t supposed to leave the agency.

“Do you have any idea how much trouble you could be in with the agency if they knew this? You’re in therapy healing from what that bitch did to you. Why the hell would you go see her?”

“Look, it’s complicated.”

“It shouldn’t be complicated. This woman damn near killed you. How do you even know where she lives? It’s not public fucking knowledge. I had to make a few phone calls to figure out who was in that damned building.”

“Does it even matter? Let it go, Darrius.” She set the chicken aside and washed her hands.

“This woman nearly killed you.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“Then why go to her home—dammit, what the hell were you thinking?”

The truth was on her tongue, ready to come out, but she was too far buried in the lies. She was too used to hiding from the reality of what no one knew. Too terrified of the potential destruction of her life if anything was discovered.

She shook her head and met his hard stare. “You concern yourself with me, Hilliard. Far too much.”

“You’re goddamned right I do.” He strode toward her, eyes flashing. “And I have no idea why the urge is so strong.”

Heat flared in her cheeks as she backed up. The counter hit her hips and she was literally cornered.

“Exactly, you’re not my mate.” Seeing the shock and flicker of pain in his eyes had her regretting the words. She shouldn’t have struck with such a low blow.

“No. I’m not your mate.” His words were flat. “But I won’t see you hurt again, Grace. And don’t think I won’t tie you to the chair to keep your ass out of trouble.”

Wow, and wasn’t that just the image she didn’t need in her head right now? Though it was the perfect way to change the subject.

She arched a brow and forced a slow smile. “Tying me up, hmm?”

His hands came down on the counter beside her and the deep, warning growl he made sent a shiver through her.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work. You’re going to tell me exactly what you’re hiding. Now.”

“
Now?
Oh, hell no.” She lifted her hand and pressed it against his chest, trying to move him backward, but he was immobile as a granite statue. “Don’t you dare try to dominate me, Darrius.”

“It’s in my nature, sugar.” He bared his teeth and slid a glance over her body. “I’ll dominate you, and I’m pretty damn sure you’ll like it.”

Oh sweet God in heaven. His words should’ve infuriated her, made her want to slap that knowing smirk off his face. But instead the flesh between her legs tingled and she squeezed her thighs together as she bit back a groan.

He lowered his head and nipped at the curve of her neck. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Too much.
She gave up trying to push him away, and slid her hands up his chest to curl around his shoulders.

“Just let it go,” she pleaded on a whisper.

He rained kissed along her jawline, coming deliciously closer to her mouth. “I can’t do that.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“You’re wrong.” His mouth brushed hers. “Promise me you’re not hiding anything.”

Please, please don’t ask me to make that promise.
Her heart ached, even as she gave a small nod.

“I promise.” It was almost a physical level of hurt now. To know the level of deception she’d sunk to with him.

His gaze held hers for a moment before he gave a slow nod.

Ouch. It almost stung more that he believed her.