Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(45)

A prickle of premonition inched down his spine. “In Verona?”

She gave a slow nod. “Yes.”

Okay. This was no longer a leap, but a genuine clue. The room was suddenly filled with the scent of wolf as his animal strained to be released.

“Can we find him?”

“He disappeared during the chaos after the virus,” she said, gently taking the paper from his hand and carefully folding it before returning it to her bag. “I couldn’t find any trace of whether he’s alive or dead.”

Frustration exploded through him. It was always one minuscule step forward and two huge leaps back.

“Damn,” he growled.

“I’ve pulled off a few more fragments, but it’s a slow process,” she said, clearly trying to soothe his irritation. “I’m also trying to find out who sent the original email.”

He gave a shake of his head. If Doctor Lowman’s son were still alive, Sinclair would find a way to track him down.

“Where are the hard drives?”

She arched a brow at his abrupt question. “At my home.”

“I want you to gather them and any equipment you need to finish downloading the information and move into my lair.”

She stilled, clearly caught off guard by his command. “Excuse me?”

“Fort Collins is no longer safe for you,” he said, too anxious for her safety to consider his words. “We can protect you.”

“Oh.” She turned away, but not before he glimpsed the disappointment in her eyes. Shit. She’d thought he was inviting a more intimate relationship between them. Now she was hurt and eager to push him away. Exactly what he didn’t need. “I can’t just leave.”

“Of course, you can.”

“No.” She kept her rigid back turned toward him. “I can’t.”

Sinclair knew he’d screwed up. What he didn’t know was how to fix it.

“Why not?”

She gave a short, humorless laugh. “I realize you think my life is as boring as I am, but it’s important to me.”

He reached out to grab her shoulders, gently tugging her and turning her around to meet his frown.

“Mira.”

“I have a job and a house that I love,” she continued, standing stiffly in his grasp. “I have a cat.”

Dammit. The woman had a genius IQ. She had to know that she was in danger.

“You already suspect that someone searched your computer.” He leaned down, allowing his wolf to glow in his eyes. “What happens when they realize what you have in your precious home?”

She pressed her lips together, but she couldn’t hide her sudden shiver.

“I told you that I wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with my work with you,” she ridiculously muttered. “And it’s going to be a lot more suspicious if I simply disappear.”

“You’ll be alive.”

“And then what?” she demanded with an unexpected burst of independence. “I can’t hide forever. I promise I’ll be careful.”

He stepped back, folding his arms across his chest. She’d just challenged him. His wolf accepted.

“I’ll give you two weeks.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

For the first time, he allowed her to experience the full force of his Alpha nature.

“Give your notice at work,” he said, his voice slow and crisp. He didn’t want any misunderstandings. “Tell them that you have a sick relative you have to take care of. Then pack whatever you can’t live without, including your damned cat, and I’ll pick you up.”

“But-”

“Final offer, Mira.”





Chapter 4


Nicole was furious. No. She was beyond furious. Whatever that was.

How dare the damned bear encourage her to spill her guts, pretend as if he sympathized with her, and then refuse to let her go?

It was…torture.

Plain and simple.

Lost in her fury, she launched herself the short distance between them to pound her fists against his chest.

“Damn you,” she rasped, indifferent to the fact that she was hurting herself more than she could possibly be hurting him.

With a grimace of regret, he reached to grasp her wrists, easily halting her attack.

“Hold on,” he murmured softly.

It only pissed her off more that he took such care to ensure that his fingers didn’t dig into her flesh.

“No.” She bared her fangs. “You have no right to keep me here.”

He held on to her, his expression difficult to read. “Would you please listen to me?”

“Why should I?”

“Because I can help you.”

She froze, studying him with a wary gaze. “How?”

“There are a few of us who have managed to infiltrate the SAU.”

Her heart leaped with excitement. She knew that there was an Unseen wolf who was working as a guard at the facility. He’d helped Soren and Cora escape. And it only made sense that the Pack had managed to sneak more than one spy into the enemy camp.

But she’d never dreamed that one of them might actually help her penetrate the heavy security.

“You can get me into the building?” she breathed in excitement.