CHAPTER 18
“You asked to see me, Coya?” Brim stepped into Anya’s office, formerly her bedroom, three days later, his expression bland, his blue gray gaze quizzical.
Anya stood to the side of her desk and watched the Breed move with lethal grace into the room.
Anyone daring to challenge this man could be in for a world of hurt, and she knew it.
She considered the best way to approach the problem she was facing.
“I’d like to apologize, Coya,” he suddenly said.
Anya blinked back at him in surprise.
“For what?”
“You could have told Del-Rey that I had allowed Sofia into his room while he was healing. We would have fought. Fighting the alpha isn’t always wise.” His lips quirked as though amused by some thought.
She inhaled slowly. “Crying to Del-Rey would have accomplished very little in a meaningful way,” she finally said. “This is something you and I need to discuss.”
Arrogance was a natural part of him, and Anya was smart enough, intuitive enough, to know that, coya or not, she wouldn’t be ordering him to do anything.
“I agree.” Brim nodded. “It’s nothing you have to worry about happening again. I promise you.”
She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes on him. “Why did it happen to begin with?”
His lips quirked. “Something or someone needed to piss you off enough to take what was yours.
I convinced Del-Rey to give her asylum to achieve that end.”
Surprise, surprise. Another Coyote Breed manipulating her. She was going to get pissed off over this soon.
“Brim, I would hate to ever have to consider you my enemy,” she finally said quietly, staring back at him with somber determination. “But manipulate me again, in any matter, and that’s the path we’ll take. Do we understand each other?”
A hint of surprise filled his eyes. “You’re not going to throw anything at me then?”
She shook her head, a smile trying to tug at her lips. “I reserve that for your alpha alone.”
He nodded slowly. “Understood, Coya. No further manipulations.”
“And when you find yourself in mating heat, watch out for me,” she informed him in all seriousness. “Ashley and I have a plan. We’re going to show you how to manipulate properly.
Doesn’t that suck for you?”
A hint of worry touched his gaze as he grimaced tightly. “I think I’d prefer to fight the alpha.”
“Too bad. I like getting even much better.” She moved behind her desk then. “I’d like your estimation of Sofia. A risk estimate.”
His brows arched as he eased toward the chairs that sat in front of her desk and sat down. “In what way?”
“The attacks began when she arrived. I knew Sofia in the labs; my first thought is that she’s not behind them. But I’d like to know what you think.”
He was thoughtful for long moments. “I’m not ruling anyone out. I’m investigating the attack on you and your bodyguards while in the mountains, as well as the attack in town. It’s clear we have a leak. I’m just not convinced Sofia is that leak.”
“Because she helped you over the years?”
“That,” he agreed, “but there’s more to it. Sofia has always worked hard toward the rescues and used her position in the Council’s lower ranks to the utmost advantage. I can’t see her betraying us now.”
“Even if she’s losing something she may have believed was hers?”
“The alpha?” Brim asked, shaking his head. “She’s always known better. There was nothing serious on either end when it came to them. They’re friends.”
Anya nodded. “Do you have any ideas why Del-Rey has suddenly been targeted?”
“Strength,” Brim stated. “Our team has been investigating those drugs, and someone could have learned of that investigation or what we found. It could also be something as simple as an attempt to weaken Haven. We’ve made a difference in their security. We’ve also been establishing a minor presence in town. Our men go to the bars there, while the Wolves pretty much stay more to their own packs. I’m looking into several areas.”
“Any headway?”
“You would have been one of the first to know if I had anything yet,” he promised her. “We brought in Coley’s daughter last night and should be requestioning him within a day or so.
Hopefully we’ll have more then.”
Anya nodded again. “I appreciate you sharing this information with me.”
“Did you ask Del-Rey?” he asked her then. “I’m sure he would keep you apprised of the investigation if you asked him.”
“He would have,” she admitted. “But I wanted to discuss Sofia with you as well.”
“And you’d prefer not to allow emotion to become involved in the discussion.” He nodded as he rose to his feet. “I understand, Coya. But rest easy, you can place that responsibility on my shoulders.”
She watched as he left the office, closing the door behind him before she turned to the computer monitor and the small light blinking in the lower corner.
She pressed the hidden button that revealed the digital keyboard inset in the desk and tapped another button to bring up the conversation box before sliding it into an encryption program her father had helped her to create.
We’re worried about you, the message stated. Your father is well?
Father is well, she answered. And he sends his regards.
How did you find us? The question came quickly. We’ve stayed well hidden.
We’re friends, Anya typed. I used what I knew. Information I knew others wouldn’t have.
Doctors Chernov and Sobolova had hidden themselves well. But Anya knew the forums they inhabited online. It had taken her a few days, but she had finally managed to locate their online identities.
How may we help you?
Anya considered that question carefully. She had to be careful; if she had found this information, then others could as well, and if her encryption was cracked, then she could endanger them all.
I would like to meet, Anya typed.
Here or there?
Near.
The cursor blinked longingly for several seconds.
Is the welcome sign up or is it open season?
Unfortunately, it could still be open season without the answers I need first. I ask that you use caution but make the trip with all haste.
For you.
The answer had her closing in momentary relief. This line is not always safe, she typed. Please contact secondary source, which will direct you from here on out.
We appreciate your discretion in first contact. We hope to see you soon. The message ended and the screen disconnected as Anya closed the keyboard and breathed out roughly.
She could be making a mistake. She could be risking Del-Rey’s rage, she knew. Hopefully, she wasn’t risking the lives of friends as well.
Dr. Chernov and Dr. Sobolova were dedicated scientists and geneticists. Their work in the labs after they took over had been rumored to be some of the most advanced in understanding the Coyote genetics and many of the Breed’s strengths and weaknesses.
Several of the Coyote Breeds coming in from the Middle East had been secretly trained in the psychology of the Coyotes as well as advanced medicines. The lab facilities there had been considered to be ahead of their time. The training there was rumored to have stirred controversy among the scientists within the Genetics Council.
It would be hard for the Coyote Breeds to accept any Council scientist into Base, but the situation was becoming intolerable. Dr. Armani couldn’t treat both species. It wasn’t going to work. The Breeds coming in didn’t have the knowledge needed to work independently of a scientist proven in the areas of Breed physiology and genetic makeup.