“What did he look like? Did you get his name?” Heidi asked, aware that the man’s scent must be what had Javier so riled.
“No name. He wasn’t as tall as this one here,” she said with a gesture toward Javier. “Leaner too, but well groomed. Wore a dark suit and sunglasses. Made me think of an FBI agent or those characters in the Men in Black movies. Seemed pleasant enough. Strong accent, maybe Russian? He said he came by to inquire about the wounded cat that was in the news.”
Heidi could tell by Javier’s scowl he didn’t like what he was hearing. “What did you tell him, Mrs.
Blake?”
“Just that there was no big cat being held here for treatment, but if he wanted to leave his contact information I could have you call him about it when you arrived. He refused. Said he’d come back later in the day. Here, I wrote it down.” The receptionist handed Heidi a small sheet of paper. “You know him?”
“Not exactly. Excuse us, ma’am. I need to speak with Heidi alone.” Javier grabbed her arm, but she easily pulled free and read Mrs. Blake’s notes.
Foreign man... Russian? FBI? Asked about black jaguar. Not a reporter. No contact info, but may return later today.
The man knew the black panther was really a jaguar? That the news hadn’t been a hoax? “We can talk in my office.”
Javier hesitated and, before she could stop him, crossed the lobby and flipped off the neon Open sign then locked the front door.
“Hey! What do you—”
“I suggest you close for the day.”
Heidi scowled, not at all liking his high-handedness, even despite the strangeness of the unknown visitor. “And why would I do that?”
“I will discuss it with you in your office.”
Mrs. Blake touched her arm, briefly stopping her from trailing Javier. “Should I call the police?”
“No, of course not. Javier is a close family friend. I’ll get to the bottom of this.” Heidi gave the tenderhearted lady a pat on the hand. “But in the meantime, why don’t you hold all of my calls and leave the sign off for now. I’ll be back in a moment. If Beth arrives, send her to my office.”
“Okay, but if you scream, I’ll have the phone in hand and the law on speed dial.”
Heidi smiled, nodded and headed down the hall.
Shutting the door once she was inside, she turned on Javier. “All right. Out with it. What in hell was all that about?”
“He didn’t come back here. I would smell it if he had, but then again he didn’t have to. This place reeks of shifter scent.”
“Who?” She let her exasperation show. Reeks indeed.
“Lev Durchenko. The bastard who killed my family.”
Surprise widened her eyes. “Oh. He was— You’re sure?”
He tossed her an annoyed glance. “I would know his scent anywhere.”
“That explains how he knew the so-called panther was a jaguar.” She held up Mrs. Blake’s notes and watched his scowl darken. Heidi set the paper and her unopened mail on the desk, leaned a hip against the edge and crossed her arms and ankles. “Why did you come here this morning?” He couldn’t have known Durchenko was in Leavenworth, could he? Had he picked up the man’s scent elsewhere and tracked him to the clinic?
Javier stilled then shifted his stance.
“With Durchenko here, I don’t have time for an inquisition.”
“It’s one simple question, and I want an answer.”
Javier stared at her for a long moment, so long she wondered if he’d ever respond. “You left the hotel this morning without saying goodbye.”
“And you felt slighted?”
Her question made him uncomfortable, which became obvious when he tried to change the subject.
“You should send your receptionist home. It’s not safe here.”
Heidi straightened. “Goodbye, Javier.”
She turned toward the door, but he grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. “Wait a damn moment—”
“Don’t take that tone with me. You wanted a goodbye—now you have it. You can leave as you promised. I can take care of my own.”
Though she tried to twist free of his grasp, he held on. Anger darkened his gaze. “I needed to see you again.”
“And so you have.”
“I am not leaving now, not while you are in danger.”
“Says who? You?” She pushed against his chest. “Let. Me. Go.”
Instead, he shook her a little. “What has gotten into you? This is not a game, Heidi.”
“I never said it was, but this is my business, my life. You have no right to tell me how to live it.”
He released her so fast she stumbled before regaining her balance. When she met his gaze, his lips were pressed together, his eyes narrowed. He muttered something in Spanish, probably a curse, but she couldn’t be sure.
“You’re right.”
“What?” She hadn’t expected him to agree with her. Her overprotective brothers never did. They just bulldozed over her and anyone else who stood in their way.
“I am not your mate, Heidi, or your alpha. I have no right to tell you what you should or should not do. But I do care about you, and I alone know what Durchenko is capable of.”
“Tell me.” It was the one thing she’d wanted for so long, for him to open up to her about his past, the nightmares.
“My brother was a federal police officer, a good one, who was investigating Lev Ivanovich Durchenko, an international criminal, member of a large syndicate, wanted for multiple crimes in Mexico, most involving high-level drug trafficking, money laundering and multiple murders. He was ordered to kill Juan, my brother, to hinder the investigation. Durchenko uses his shifter abilities to thwart the law. I have been after him since the day I returned from a military mission and found he had murdered my brother, our mate...and the unborn children she carried.”
Heidi stumbled back a step, her gut twisting. “Oh, God...” Babies. No wonder he suffered nightmares.
“I failed to protect them.”
Shaking her head, she reached out and touched his arm. “You weren’t there. You can’t blame yourself.”
“I am the alpha. It was my duty.” He didn’t shrug free of her touch, but his gaze was haunted. “I have been after Durchenko ever since. He is a killer and good at what he does. He leaves a trail of dead bodies wherever he goes, especially if things don’t go his way. I know him better than anyone, so you must trust me when I say you and your family are in danger.”
“Why? You weren’t here long enough, and it’s been days. With all of the other animals in and out of the clinic, he couldn’t have picked up your scent here.”
“Not my scent. Yours, and possibly Beth’s. Even in human form, I can smell Kelan and Reidar all over her. I just thank God she was not here this morning, or she might have been killed...or worse.” He took her by both hands. “You must warn Axel and your family. Beth is human, but so was my wife. No one is safe while there is a chance Durchenko is here.”
He’d convinced her. Worried now, she said, “Beth is coming here.”
“Call her right now, tell her to stay away from here.” He began to strip in front of her. “Send your receptionist home.”
“What are you doing?”
“Shifting. My senses are stronger when I am in my cat. If Durchenko returns, and he will, I will be ready.”
“You can’t fight him here.”
“He thinks I am wounded, and your scent will be enough for him to stick around to try to gain the upper hand. Now is my chance.”
“The clinic is too close to town.” Her family could handle themselves, but Heidi had no intention of leaving Javier to fight this battle alone. She had to get him someplace safe, away from the public eye, and preferably away from Durchenko.