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“Yes, he told the truth, so we are, as you say, good to go.”
She sighed. “We need to escape. Bolton is more than anxious to turn me into a female werewolf.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you out before that.”
“Before or after dinner?”
“I say before.”
The door opened and in walked Bolton and three men, chimera werewolves. Their scent obvious to his keen nose.
Bolton’s gaze narrowed at Emma, making Nik want to tear him apart limb from limb. “You are so much more beautiful than the so-called Jane Walker.”
Nik draped an arm over Emma. “Why don’t we take what you Americans call a raincheck?”
Bolton scowled at him. “Make no mistake. As much as I enjoy dinner parties, you and Agent York are prisoners.”
“In that case, we’ll take our meals in our room,” she scoffed.
Bolton gave her a wolfish look and smiled. “Please, I think we can come to a mutual agreement. Besides, you will be impressed by the view from our veranda.”
“Let Boris go. He’s just a hired guide.”
Bolton shook his head. “Your encrypted files revealed there is no Boris Orlov.”
Nik scratched his head. “Hmm. I’ll need to speak to my mother about that.” He had been Russia’s most secretive operative. No one, except the man who rescued him, knew his true nature and had kept all his records hidden even from the former KGB.
“Yes, please do. We found a Boris Orlov, a mercenary who died in the Middle East. About a year ago. Interestingly, he was an orphan.”
Emma shrugged. “Like the name John Smith, there must be hundreds of Boris Orlovs.”
So much for Rylee’s foolproof cover. Nik blurted, “I did mention I have a mother.”
Bolton ignored her and stared at Nik. “Unlike our CIA agent, you don’t appear in any database.”
“Trust me, I’m of no importance, but I don’t mind staying.”
Bolton sighed and then smiled. “Come, time for the best seafood around.”
Nik and Emma followed Bolton to the rooftop where a dining area as spectacular as any five-star resort stood. The view of the sparkling ocean under the moonlight and the night-lights was beautiful.
Emma sat next to Bolton at the head of the table. Nik sat at the far end of the long table, next to a young woman perhaps in her early twenties. She had short raven hair styled in a page cut with bangs. Dressed in a sleeveless red summer hoodie and blue jeans, she looked like a hipster. She also wore barely visible headphones as if tuning everyone out. Rude. Was she Bolton’s daughter? He had no family in the press, but one never knew. She didn’t smile or greet anyone. In between her and Nik, five people joined them. Emma suspected they were scientists or managers at his secret company. Hmm? Were they chimera werewolves? No doubt the three guards in the background were. Something wolfish in their eyes, like when spotting prey, gave them away. Only Nik would know for sure.
The staff brought wine and appetizers.
Bolton stood and lifted his glass of white wine. “Welcome our guests, Emma York and Boris Orlov.” He went around and named the other guests. She’d guessed correctly, they all were heads of his lab. The young woman, however, was introduced as Nexus, head of tech security. So she must be the one who broke their firewalls.
“Hey.” Nexus acknowledged them with a half-hearted nod before returning to stare at her smart phone.
Their hacker looked young, barely out of her teens. Once they got out of this mess, she’d be a perfect asset, if Emma could convince her to join the CIA. Someone like her didn’t necessarily want better pay, just better challenges. In her case, probably left alone with a carton of pizza and a do-not-disturb sign.
Bolton smiled at Emma. “What do you think of Metis Island?”
“It looks like blood money provides extravagant living,” Emma snarked.
“Perhaps when I first started my lucrative business, but now it’s the power of the wolf that enriches my life and soon yours.”
“If you mean turning into a monster, not happening.”
