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“By the way, I mentioned your mate’s concerns to Tevryn. He asked me to assure her the balance of the money owed, as well as a substantial bonus, has been wired to her account. He told me to let her know all she needs do is pick out a new plane and the Phantom Fire will be more than happy to pay the purchase price.”
“Thank you.”
“And Colby wanted me to express his deepest condolences on the loss of your brother. If you’ll tell us where you had to leave him, we’ll retrieve his body.”
“I doubt there’s anything left to retrieve. He knew he was dying. He made us leave him so he could hold them off and take as many of them out as he could.”
Deke nodded, smiling slowly. “Sounds like Mason. He was a good man and a better friend. Both Colby and I want you to know that regardless of what you decide, those responsible will be held to account for your brother’s murder.”
“What am I going to decide about?” he asked, regarding Deke.
“We think they’re playing with genetics. They’re trying to weaponize it. We have soldiers galore, a good group of medical staff, even some researchers, but not one of us could tell an X chromosome from a Y chromosome. That means all of this,” he said holding up what looked to be the papers from the pouch, “is gobbledygook to us. We’re hoping you’ll join us and be able to make some sense out of it.”
“Do you have any idea how much money is involved in genetic research? And I’ll need trained researchers—the kind NLGP has-—and I’m damn sure not going to leave those people to fend for themselves.”
Deke grinned. “Colby was kind of hoping you’d feel that way; he has more money than he knows what to do with and has a group of extraction experts. All we’ll need from you is a list of who to get and some kind of code or phrase they’ll know is from you.”
Carson shook his head. “No way. We’re not going to want to risk you. I’m not flattering or bullshitting you when I say we’re convinced you’re the lynchpin of this whole thing, being a cave lion.” He chuckled. “But no pressure.”
“Yeah, you know no pressure, no me pointing out your brother died to save you so you could do this—nothing like that.” Deke grinned at him, and Carson could easily see why his brother and the cave lion had been friends. “Also, if I was going to put pressure on you, I’d point out your mate would be safer if you were with us.”
That made Carson laugh out loud, waking Amelia, whom he nuzzled and purred to, sending her back to sleep. “I’m going to do you a favor and never tell her you questioned her ability to fight the good fight and survive.”
“You have my sympathies. I’ve got one like that as well. Annie is hell on wheels and most of the time, I’m just running along behind her, trying to keep up and keep her alive. Let me give you a little background on where we’re taking you. Zach used to be alpha to a second clan of polar bears in Otter Cove. His old man was banished, and he moved part of the clan up to Akiak and left part here at the lighthouse. The clan isn’t liking being split up. Zach thought he’d offer it to you to set up your research facility and house your people there.”
“I would think a lighthouse might be fairly vulnerable.”
Deke grinned. “Not when you have a bunch of orca-shifters patrolling the waters and a state-of-the-art security system.”
“Tell him we’re in,” murmured Amelia, and looking to Deke said, “I flew heavy cargo planes in war zones as well as Apache and Viper attack helicopters. It sounds like we may need air support.”
“I think Colby’s going to want your mate to make him a shopping list. We have all kinds of places we can hide those choppers. I know he has a couple of guys who are rated to fly planes and choppers, but I don’t know how much actual combat experience they have.”
“Like I said, her ability to fight the good fight and survive are top notch. My brother was proud to call her his little sister.”
Amelia leaned up to give him a kiss.
“Doc Hadley is en route to Otter Cove. He wants to take a look at that wound, but from what I could see, your mate did a damn fine job.”
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and they arrived at Otter Cove’s lighthouse to be met by men with a stretcher, Zach Grayson, and a man Carson assumed was none other than Colby Reynolds.
“I could punch him in the face for you,” offered Amelia, causing both Carson and Deke to chuckle.
“Not this time, baby.”
Over his strong protests and much to his consternation, Carson was given no choice about being taken up to the cottage on the stretcher. Deke had the papers back in the pouch, which he handed over to Colby. Amelia walked up to Colby and before the lynx-shifter could open his mouth, she’d land a right cross to his jaw, whipping his head around. Colby growled instinctively and Deke stepped between them.
“For what it’s worth, Reynolds, I’m on her side,” said Deke.
“Why does that not surprise me,” said Colby with a bit of humor in his voice.
After the doctor’s examination, which Carson pointed out hurt far more than when Amelia had stitched him closed, Doc pronounced Amelia had done a fine job cleaning and closing the wound. The shrapnel had been imbedded in Carson’s shoulder and Amelia had removed it all. They were dealing mostly with blood loss and exhaustion.
He and Amelia were given the primary bedroom with the attached ensuite, and despite his plans to stay awake and talk to Amelia privately, he found himself succumbing to her melodic purr as he closed his eyes and slept.
* * *
He was watching her sleeping, thinking about what a peaceful feeling it gave him when she opened her eyes.
