Silence.
Justice bared his teeth, showing his anger. Obviously Slade wasn’t thrilled with the news. The next sound he heard confirmed his suspicions. He heard a sigh finally.
“All right. Is she going to be here for a reason?” Slade didn’t sound happy.
“Yes. Is this a secure line?”
“Of course. Is there a reason it needs to be? Has something happened? Has she been targeted? I thought everything had settled down about that by now. I feel obligated to tell you that I think she would be much safer there if you are sending her up here because she’s gotten more threats. There’s a hell of a lot of open space for someone to breach Reservation than there is at Homeland.”
“There are too many people here who will see her. I think it’s best if she is sent there. It’s remote and easier to shield her from the public. She is coming so make all the arrangements. I want her put in a remote but comfortable location that is extensively secure. I’m sending three personal officers with her to protect her at all times.”
“The danger is that high?” Slade’s voice tensed and his tone turned into growl. “Is she well? Has an attempt on her life been made?”
Justice suddenly smiled over the fact that Slade obviously cared. He bit his lip.
“She’s in extreme danger.” He managed to keep his tone cool. “She’s fine but she’s a bit under the weather. I’m sending her there for her protection and so that she can get some well-deserved rest.”
“I’ll handle it. No one will harm her here.” Slade snarled the words.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine. I need to go. I’ll have the pilot radio in on their exact time of landing.”
“It will be taken care of.”
130
* * * * *
Rage poured through Slade hotly until sweat broke out over his skin. The office he sat in had air-conditioning but it couldn’t offset the reaction to his anger. He’d done the honorable thing by leaving Homeland to avoid the temptation of seeking out Trisha.
He’d sacrificed his sanity at times to make certain she wasn’t in danger.
She had to be sent to Reservation due to a threat. The fact that Justice had been so vague on what prompted the move really drove him into a bad mood. Had someone actually tried to harm her? Had it just been threats by phone? Maybe a breach at Homeland? The human who’d betrayed them hadn’t been caught. Had he or she gone after Trisha?
He snarled and drew the attention of a few of the people inside the office. Tiger lifted a curious eyebrow.
“What is wrong? Did the crew at the hotel break another water line?”
“No.” He glanced at the one human who worked on blueprints and gave his friend a hand signal as he rose to his feet. “We should check on their progress.”
Tiger stood. “I’ll walk with you.”
They walked about twenty yards from the makeshift office before Tiger paused, staring at his friend. “What is wrong?”
“That was Justice. He’s sending Dr. Norbit here. She’s in danger and he wants her stashed.”
“Shit. Doesn’t he realize how rough that will be?”
“He didn’t seem to care. I couldn’t argue with him, knowing everything I said could be overheard.”
“True.”
“I’m going to see her again.”
Tiger’s cat eyes widened. “You haven’t gotten over her yet?”
“No. I think about her all the time.”
“You have to stand strong. We discussed this.”
“She’s in danger and I’ve stayed away from her. Obviously that didn’t work.”
“She’ll be in danger regardless. She works for us, and some will hate her for that offense alone. If she’s with one of us, with you, and it gets out, whatever threat level against her will worsen. You did the correct thing.”
“Did I?” Slade’s body tensed. “Why does the right thing feel so wrong?”
“We’ve suffered enough. It’s better not to have her than to risk her being killed because she’s your woman.”
Pain sliced through his chest. “I’d die inside if that happened. I couldn’t live with that.”
131
“And that’s why you made the right choice.” Tiger shifted his stance. “Work is the cure. We’ve got enough of it here.”
“Right. Work.”
