Hunter's Heart

victims.”

“No.”

“The creature is Cantrell,” he said gently. “Daria, I’m very sorry.”

Her voice wobbled. “I scented him today, in my wolf form. It was Ben, all along.”

Part of Ryon hated that she was so upset over the ex-boyfriend. But she had cared for the man at one time, and she had a good heart. It couldn’t be easy to hear this about someone she knew, so he forced down his irritation. Besides, he reminded himself, his mate had just spent an afternoon loving on him. Showing Ryon that she was his.

“Can anything be done to help him?”

“I think so, but it’s going to be damned difficult to pull off.” Opening a file, he slid it across the desk to her and Ryon. “I took the liberty of calling your father. I wanted some insight into Ben from his point of view, and I found out something interesting. Did you know that Cantrell once defended your dad’s brother, August, in a criminal case?”

“Of course,” she said, brows drawing together. “It was right after we started dating. But what does his defending Uncle August have to do with anything?”

“Plenty. I don’t mean to be indelicate, but you do realize that your uncle was not innocent of the charges Cantrell got dismissed, that he’s involved in a lot of nefarious dealings, correct?”

“That’s why our visits to his estate tapered off over the years. He and my dad could never see eye to eye on that part of August’s life. As interesting as this trip down dysfunctional family memory lane is . . .”

“Did you also know your uncle had dealings with a rich entrepreneur by the name of Evan Kerrigan?”

Ryon groaned. “Fuck, no. Say it ain’t so, boss.”

“Wish I could.”

“Someone clue me in? Who’s Evan Kerrigan?”

Nick answered. “Kerrigan was an alias used by Malik, the Unseelie King, in his human disguise.”

It clicked, and Daria’s eyes widened. “You’re saying my uncle was in on all of that sick experimentation on the shifters? That—that he’s somehow to blame for what’s been done to Ben?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Nick told her. “When I delved deeper into your uncle’s history, I learned that Dr. Gene Bowman was a good friend of his. Your uncle was a financial benefactor of his, along with Malik.”

Ryon digested that. “So, you think her uncle had his eye on Ben as a test subject, bided his time, and then, when Ben and Daria broke up, he took the opportunity to snatch the poor bastard?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how it happened. Now, what I’ve been able to learn is that August Bradford keeps all of his files on his computer at home. Never trusted leaving them at an office somewhere. They’re much safer with him.” He looked at Daria, who was nodding. “Tell Ryon why.”

“Nobody who doesn’t know the layout of my uncle’s place could possibly hope to steal his files. His estate is only accessible by helicopter. There’s no road in or out, and it’s situated smack in the middle of fifty or so miles of forest in northern Virginia. The Shenandoah River isn’t far from his place.”

“How close are you to your uncle?” Nick asked.

“Not at all. And if he’s behind what happened to Ben and so many others, I want to do whatever it takes to bring him down,” she said fiercely.

“I’m glad you feel that way, because I have an assignment for Ryon. And the catch is, he’s going to need you to accompany him.”

Ryon bolted upright. “No way. My mate does not go with me on any mission. Ever.”

“Um, hello. Your mate is right here, and she can make her own decisions,” she hissed angrily.

“Daria—”

“We’ll hear Nick out, but it’s my decision.”

She was not going to be swayed. His heart sank as he realized that winning this battle would cost him in the long run. If he left her behind, he’d damage important trust between them. Son of a bitch.

“Fine.”

Nick went on. “I believe your uncle has in his possession a lot of important documents about more test subjects, shipments of designer drugs used on shifters, and lists of who’s been in business with him. But I also believe that he never would have allowed these experiments without a fail-safe.”

“An antidote,” Ryon said. “Of course!”

“I believe it’s on his computer with everything else we’ll need. But we need Daria to get you two in and out. She knows the layout of her uncle’s estate, his habits. She knows him.”

“Just us? None of the others will go with us?”

“No. This has to be a quiet op. Aric and Jax will drop you off. You both get in, access the files, get out undetected. They pick you up again and we have the lab work on the serum. The next time you guys find the creature, he’ll get dosed.”

“That’s a tall order.” Ryon shook his head. “I don’t like it. I want her to stay here.”

“I’ll make this simple—without both of you, the op will fail. You know I don’t interfere with free will, but I’m stating the facts. The decision is up to you two.”

“If we don’t go?” Ryon asked.

“Maybe one day we’ll get another shot at the antidote, and the rest of the files, but that day will be far into the future. In the meantime, lives will be lost without that information—some of them close to us.”

“Jesus. You play hardball.”

“Again, your choice.”

He met Daria’s gaze, read the determination there. She was fit, knew the outdoors, could handle herself in that environment as well as he could, probably better. If he left her behind, put their lives before others, it would cause a rift that might never heal.

“We’ll do it.”

The relief and gratitude on her face was his reward. He just hoped that information was there, as it was supposed to be. That putting his mate at risk was worth it when they saved lives.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “I won’t let you down.”

“I’m not worried about that. It’s me letting you down that has me afraid. Stick with me all the way, okay?”

“You bet.”

Nick rose. “You’ve got an hour to pack, and you’ll study the map on the way. Take enough supplies for a two-day hike going and coming.” He winked at Daria. “A piece of cake for our wildlife biologist.”

She started out, and he caught her arm. “I’ll just be a second.”

“I’ll wait down the hall.”

Once she was gone, Ryon posed his burning question. “Will I come home from this op alive?”

“I don’t know,” the commander replied honestly.

“But you wouldn’t tell me if you could?”

“Something like that.” His voice was strong. “But I do know that you need her on this one. If she doesn’t go, the op will fail. And you won’t make it home at all.”

“Christ,” he muttered. “Better get moving, then, right?”

“I’ll help you as much as I can from here. You need me, just speak to me.”

“I will.” He shook his boss’s hand, then gave him a slight smile. “Until I get home.”

“You bet.”

Yep, it must suck to know the future.

In that moment, Ryon wouldn’t trade places with Nick for all the money in the world.

* * *

Aric and Jax had dropped them off miles from August Bradford’s estate with the promise that Ryon would keep in touch, and promise to contact them the instant he knew they were ready for extraction. In advance if possible.

The plan was to pick them up in the same spot. But plans had a way of going FUBAR.

Ryon thought Daria endured the helicopter ride pretty well, considering her white-knuckled fear of flying.