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"So how old is he? The man your boss became, I mean."
"Early forties." Something glimmered in his eyes. Amusement. Or perhaps anticipation. "He holds on to power through bloody force. Be wary when you go up against him."
Going up against him wasn't something I intended. I wasn't a fool - and when that man got his comeuppance, it would be via Directorate hands, not mine. Though I would most certainly be there. "When I was reading the spirit lizard's mind, I saw a house with lots of mixed-heritage creatures. Is he building up an army, like you once mentioned?"
"Not an army, but definitely a force of creatures most will fear. You destroyed some of his winged weapons a few months ago, and there is nothing ready yet to replace them. He has about forty other creatures at his disposal, though." He paused. "He also intends to hire them out - at great cost, of course."
I nodded. Misha had already mentioned that little sideline. "So he intends using his creatures to help his quest in becoming the only syndicate that matters in Australia?"
"Yes."
Meaning we might be faced with an underworld war? Wonderful. "And that house? Was it his?"
He nodded. "It's one of many retreats he owns."
"Care to share the location?"
He stepped forward, and the wash of his desire had my skin burning again. "Care to share a little sex?"
"If you share this villain's name."
I raised a hand to prevent him coming any closer. He caught it, raising it to his lips, kissing my fingertips almost tenderly. If not for the cold determination in his eyes, it would almost have been easy to believe he cared. Though maybe, in some weird way, he did. Maybe he just equated caring with owning.
"I cannot tell you his name," he said, switching his grip and attempting to tug me forward into his arms.
I resisted, digging my heels in, glad I'd worn sensible shoes rather than stilettos, which would have me tipping A over T into his arms. "You've told me just about everything else about him, so why not a name?"
"Because, as I've said before, I'm not able to say his name. He has placed a restraint on me that forbids it."
"It makes no sense to place a restriction on his name when you can blab about everything else."
"Ah, but he does not realize I can blab about everything else. I was strong enough to shield certain areas of my mind without him being aware of it. He thinks the compulsion is all-encompassing."
The look in his eyes suggested there was something he wasn't telling me - something very important. I frowned, considering his words, remembering everything else he'd said. Then it hit me.
"You can't say his name," I said slowly, "but can you write it?"
"Not only pretty, but clever as well." He tugged my hand again, harder this time. I shifted several inches before my runners found purchase.
"So write down the name, Misha. We need to stop this man."
"You need to stop him. I want you in my life."
But I didn't want him. "I thought you wanted a kid to carry on the family name?"
"I do, and I will have that, but we both know that it may never be accomplished with you."
"I don't love you, Misha."
"Love has never been something I've desired. You, on the other hand, I've wanted from the moment I first saw you stripping oh-so-sexily in front of your bedroom window."
I was going to have be a little more circumspect when it came to stripping off my clothes after a hard day at the office, obviously. "I will not enter into a permanent relationship with you."
"I'm not asking for permanent, just ongoing."
How could I promise something like that? Who knew what the future had in store for me - and for him? What if tomorrow I met the man who was my soul mate? I'd be stuck with an agreement - and a wolf - I didn't want.
"We have a deal, Misha. I'll stick to that, nothing more."
