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Even better, don’t blow up any parks. I can hear Nole laughing as he types.
I stare at my block and shake my head. The day Nico kidnapped and mated Annabelle, it changed more than Annabelle’s future. It changed every life in the Veiled City, really every life in the human race. While they don’t know it yet, it’s only a matter of time before we have to have open relations with all the human governments. With that will come technological advancements beyond their wildest dreams. But not yet. I’m not going to rush things. Big steps come after small ones. Getting our relationship onto solid ground is most important. We’ve already made a horrible first impression. No explosives or tridents will be used. Maybe. I hope.
Good. See you soon enough, brother. King.
Don’t get ahead of yourself.
Don’t forget about our plans.
Heard. I flick my block off and turn back to my computer on the empty seat next to me. I’m almost caught up on my e-mail and the reports I need to read when the call from Brakenridge rings on my laptop.
I hit open, and the male’s face fills the screen. He’s got to be half-giant. I haven’t met him yet, but he’s got the features of another giant I know in Athens. As with shifters, you don’t ask what they are and they don’t ask you. Although he knows. “Mr. Drakos.”
“Call me Castor.”
“Hagen.” He gives a curt nod of his head. “We’ve been monitoring the situation. And the ex-husband has gotten himself in deep with a Boston crime syndicate. We are confident we know their location. At this point, it appears the crime syndicate isn’t working with the ex, but they might be holding him. We have the power to go in and take them out. It will be pricey.”
Fuck. “I don’t care about the price. Where are the females? What sort of danger are they in?”
“Right now? A lot or none. They’re the product. This group has roots in human trafficking. And even worse, if they think they have a shifter, it means a big payday for them. Are they going to kill them? No. But I can’t guarantee anything other than that. And even that’s not a sure thing. If they think the women aren’t worth much, or worse, that they are going to bring down their operation...”
“The product. Okay.” Fucking human men. Dorian have faults, lots of them. But we treasure our females. “Human crime is your specialty. What’s your recommendation?” Being in charge of Glyden Mining has taught me that if you hire someone with expertise, listen to them.
“I recommend contacting them as a bidder and getting a price, as much as I hate to say it. We can even make the offer to pay more if they haven’t been touched. I don’t like dealing with thugs. But it’s the fastest and best way to assure the females’ safety.”
“Do it, whatever it takes. I’ll text you when I land. We’re meeting at the dock?”
“Yes, they’re not far from there.”
“Keep me up to date.”
“Will do.” Hagen disconnects the video call just in time for a quick meeting with the Mining board members. I finish up with the call as we get ready to land.
The wind howls at me with each step off the plane. But there’s a winter coat waiting for me in the limo. It’s almost February. Back in Athens, the air has a chill, but nothing like here. The gusts on the tarmac carry over the salty frost scent from the harbor. My eyes scan the industrial area leaving the airport. Traffic is nuts, and it takes longer than I imagined to get to the docks.
The driver stops the limo. “You’re sure you want to get out here?”
I laugh. The area is a bit rundown, but nothing I can’t handle. “I’m good.” I had given the driver the address around the corner from the meeting point. Hagen had specific instructions to not stand out. And what’s worse than a six-foot-five male wearing designer shoes and a cashmere coat stepping out of a limo? Leaning forward, I make eye contact with the driver. He’s big. Maybe a shifter. “Can I buy your coat?” I pull out my wallet. “What about two hundred and this?” I lift the black cashmere.
“Sold.” He smiles, pulling his arms out of his black wool jacket.
His coat fits me. I step out into a light dusting of snow. “I’ll call you when I need to be picked up.”
“I’ll be waiting. Well, not here. But close by.” He eyes the boarded up building next to us.
I tuck my block into my pants pocket and head around the corner. The address Hagen gave me is a coffee shop, although you’d have to look at the menu twice to rule it out from being a dive bar. Straight to the back. Sports banners are draped around the place. And I get it. Their teams make them a unit, a group. Our domes are like that. Team colors. Every place has its own customs and things.
The giant stands out. His massive feet are stretched out in front of the table. It gives me pause that he thinks I’m the one who will give us away. The male is easily wearing a six-thousand-euro designer suit. His hair is perfect, but his rugged face is twisted up.
“Hagen.” I stretch out my hand like humans do. His firm grip might have cracked bones in a human hand. I slide into the seat next to him. He pushes a coffee across the table to me. “Thank you.” I take a sip and swallow down the bitter liquid Annabelle loves so much.
“We’ve made first contact with them. I’ve dealt with them once before, so I had my associate do it.”
“The last communication wasn’t favorable for them, I take it?”
“No. Not at all.” Hagen takes a sip of his coffee and laughs. He clears his throat. “They have the women.” He pushes a card with a number on it across the table. “That’s what they want.”
I pick up the card and study the number. Buying a female makes me nauseous. It doesn’t matter how much they want; I’d pay anything. Is it weird I’m even more disgusted that the number is so low? “And how much to take them out, these males? They don’t deserve the air they breathe. Is that possible? After we have the women, of course.”
