“Then give me the information I need,” she told him. “Tell me what the hell is going on and why Breeds are cleaning up after a killer.”
He knew what she knew. He had been in that valley, he and Dog, possibly working together, had ensured that she made it nowhere near the area.
Cabal’s brows lowered heavily over the glitter of gold in his green eyes. Irritation marked his expression as well as his gaze.
“You don’t want to be a part of this,” he finally told her, his voice low. “The killer has targeted you, Cassa. I know you were contacted. Jonas has already talked to your editor concerning it. Go home, let me take care of this. That’s my job.”
At least he wasn’t lying to her anymore.
“You had no right to talk to my editor, and I’m already a part of it,” she argued. “Your killer made certain of it.”
“And haven’t you questioned why?” he snapped furiously. “You’re a target most likely because of that bastard Watts. He was involved with the Deadly Dozen up to his fucking eyeballs and you know it.”
Yes, she had suspected that much. One of the men in that grainy picture, the one more hidden than the others, the one she couldn’t quite place, resembled Douglas too closely.
“I’ve always been a voice for the Breeds, Cabal,” she informed him. “If Tanner is the face of the Breeds, then I’m the voice, you know that. I’ve made certain of it. The killer is obviously targeting the Breeds and their standing in society. If Douglas was part of the Dozen, then that would make it even sweeter for the killer. It discredits me if the world finds out. It would make it appear as if I were playing favorites to make up for his sins.”
He shook his head. “And the killer is targeting much more than Breed standing in society, we both know it. Now I’ll ask you again. Why are you involved in this?”
“Because I’m involved with you.” That was the truth. Not enough of the truth, but enough that he couldn’t smell a lie.
Cabal frowned at the answer. “We’re not involved. You’ve made certain of that.”
She shook her head. “I was there when your facility was rescued. I reported it. That story and the pictures taken of it rocked the world with the brutality of the Council, you know that, not to mention the airtime Douglas’s death received. You’re investigating these murders; you have been since the first. Naturally the killer would tie us together.”
It was logical, and the only reason she could come up with that didn’t truly terrify her.
He shook his head. “You’re reaching.”
His gaze flickered over her again. The caressing look had heat chasing away the chill of fear. This was the danger in being around Cabal. She forgot to beware of him. She forgot that he was as much a danger to her as an attraction. She forgot this wasn’t a love match, it was a hormonal phenomenon. That was the greatest danger, because forgetting that could destroy her.
She shrugged nonchalantly at the accusation. “It makes perfect sense to me.”
“Only to you,” he grunted as he looked around the room once again, before turning his gaze back to her. “I want you to drop this, Cassa. Let me do my job here, then I’ll give you the story. Stay out of it for now. Don’t endanger both of us.”
Cabal caught the scent of her anger, her refusal, seconds before her eyes narrowed on him and her face flushed a becoming shade of pink.
She was pissed. That anger infused her arousal as well, to create a scent that struck straight to his balls. They drew up, tightened and clenched with a surge of lust that almost took his breath. He could take her again, he realized. Right now. It would be no hardship to lay her back on that bed and fuck her until they were both screaming with the pleasure.
“Not going to work.” She jerked her clothes from the dresser before stooping to pick up a pair of hiking boots. “Sorry, babe, but I have a date I can’t miss. Have fun without me.”
Have fun without her? He almost snarled at the thought of her having fun without him. He didn’t think so. There wouldn’t be a date she’d be attending without him overseeing.
“You’re being foolish, Cassa. You know the danger that exists here.”
“My job description doesn’t mention safety,” she informed him coolly as she headed for the bathroom. “Don’t worry, I’m fairly certain you don’t have to be concerned about me whoring around on you.” There was an edge of pain in her voice now, a bitterness that had nothing to do with him.
“I’m not Watts.” He made the statement simply, coldly. “Don’t apply his treatment of you to me.”
That too had been in the investigation that had been done on her after Watts’s so-called death. The man had treated his wife like a possession. He had made painful false accusations to control her. He’d made certain she stayed on a very short leash. Not because he loved her, but so he could control her.
She paused at his command. Her lips thinned angrily as she watched him, evidently sizing up exactly how far she could push him. At the moment, the boundary was a near one.
“Then don’t try to control me,” she suggested, the scent of her anger nearly overwhelming the arousal now. “You can share this little venture with me, or we can just keep muddling along on our own. Either way, this is my story and I’ll finish it.”
Cabal could feel the hunger moving inside him now. Her deliberate defiance had his animal instincts rising, the need to dominate her nearly overwhelming his control. She was his mate. He was the more powerful, he was the leader and she was deliberately endangering herself, placing herself in the line of fire.
Humanity insisted he step aside and let her do what she needed to do. The animal was roaring in rage though. This was his woman. His mate. Without her, what would he be? How would he function?
He had to get her out of the area. He had to get her far enough away from him that she was no longer in danger. He would have called Jonas and requested his help except he was pretty certain he would be denied. The bastard would only be amused by the request.
He watched as she stared back at him. His gaze locked with hers, willing her to do as he ordered, to save them both, because he couldn’t leave. Even if he wanted to.
“I can’t leave, Cabal, even if I wanted to.”
He almost flinched as her words reflected his own thoughts. He wanted to clench his fists with the need to touch her now, to claim her again, to force her to think of her safety first.
“You never did understand the meaning of personal preservation, did you, Cassa?” Cabal heard the rumble of his voice in his chest and almost winced.
“And you never did understand the meaning of personal choice,” she retorted. “I don’t need your permission, Cabal. Don’t pretend that I do.”
Animal genetics sucked on a good day, and today was definitely not one of the good ones. The dominance that was so much a part of the Breeds could rise within seconds, as it was now. She was defying him in a situation where he needed control, needed to control the players involved. But even more than that, she was his mate and she was placing her life in jeopardy.
The human part of him accepted the logic that she had a free will of her own, but the animal part of him, the part that knew the preservation of the Breeds depended on mating, felt otherwise. She should be safe, behind strong walls, enclosed in a secure environment. She shouldn’t be placing her life in danger, no matter the situation or the reason.
It was typical Breed arrogance and even though he fought it, he feared he would eventually lose the battle.
“Personal preservation was never high on my list of priorities anyway.” She shrugged and he knew she meant it. “You only live once, Cabal. If you hide and bury your head from the world around you, then you aren’t living. You’re existing.”