Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(53)

“We can give it a try, but the bastards are smart enough to keep many of their employees off the main payroll. I assume they get paid in cash,” Rios said, heading toward one of the computers that were lined up on a long table. Once seated, he glanced over his shoulder as Tucker moved to stand directly behind him. “Where is she?”

Tucker sent his friend a tight smile. “I convinced her there would be an easier way.”

Rios arched a brow. “What’s that?”

Tucker’s smile widened. “You’re the computer expert. You tell me.”

“Christ. You don’t ask much.”

“That’s what friends are for, right?”

Rios turned back to the computers with a shake of his head.

“Friends are a pain in the ass,” he muttered, tapping on the keyboard to pull up the files they’d stolen from the SAU. “There should be some internal reports about the incident.”

“Murder,” Tucker corrected.

Rios continued to skim through the files. “What?”

“It wasn’t an incident, it was murder.”

“Got it,” Rios agreed.

There was a long silence, broken only by the soft hum of the electronics and Rios’s occasional click of the mouse.

Tucker was impatiently glancing toward the window, futilely wishing he had a view of his cabin. How long would Nicole wait? An hour? Fifteen minutes?

“Here.” Leaning forward, Rios studied the monitor with his brow furrowed. “It looks like they tried to keep all record of the guards involved from any news media. Even during the investigation they were referred to by initials.”

Tucker released a low growl. “There has to be something to identify them.”

“If it’s here, I’ll find it,” Rios swore in distracted tones. There were a few more clicks, then the jaguar abruptly stiffened. “Shit.”

“What is it?” Tucker grasped the back of Rios’s chair as he leaned over his friend’s shoulder.

“Those bastards.” Rios turned the monitor so Tucker had a clear view.

There was the sound of wood splintering as Tucker crushed the chair beneath his hands. In that second, he knew that the sight of the dead child lying in the snow stained with his blood would be forever seared into his mind.

The raw, aching regret he felt could be nothing compared to what Nicole lived with day after day, but it was enough to make his gut twist and bile rise to his throat.

“Tell me you have a name,” he said, his voice thick with fury.

Rios leaned to the side as the printer began to spit out sheets of paper.

“I not only have a name, I have an address.” The jaguar neatly placed the papers in a folder. “And get this…” He shoved the folder in Tucker’s hand. “It’s local.”

Opening the folder, Tucker studied the information that Rios had managed to pull out of the archives. Not only the guards involved, but those who had assisted in the cover-up.

A devious idea slowly began to form in the back of his mind.

It wouldn’t be easy to convince Nicole. In fact, he feared that he might cause her even more pain. But he had to try.

Turning, Tucker headed toward the door of the cabin, glancing over his shoulder to give his friend a small bow of his head.

“I owe you.”

“No, you don’t.” Rios rose to his feet, his expression somber. “Take care of your wolf.”

“Count on it.”





Chapter 6


Nicole was pacing the floor, wearing an oversized robe that threatened to trip her with every step.

How had she allowed Tucker to talk her into waiting here? Okay, he’d had her naked in the shower. And he’d been doing all sorts of delicious things with his tongue, but still…

The sound of approaching footsteps intruded into her frustrated thoughts. Hiking up the folds of Tucker’s robes, she rushed out of the bedroom.

“Tucker?”

The front door was pushed open and her gorgeous bear stepped into the room. Instantly, the air was filled with his warm, spicy scent along with the prickling power of his animal.

A tingle of excitement raced through her. How the hell had she ever missed the fact that he was a shifter? His presence was a tangible force.

“I come with gifts,” he murmured, tossing her a canvas bag.

Instinctively she caught it, opening the zipper to pull out a pair of jeans and a peach turtleneck sweater, along with some silky underwear. Her lips twisted at the sight of the tags that were still attached.

He’d clearly remembered her fierce refusal to wear anything that might have belonged to one of his lovers.

A bear who could be trained, she wryly acknowledged.

Dangerous.

“Thanks,” she muttered, shrugging out of the robe to pull on the clothing. They were loose, but they were better than drowning in Tucker’s clothes. She reached back into the bag to pull out the tennis shoes and slid them onto her feet. Once she had them tied, she straightened to meet Tucker’s watchful gaze. “Did you find the name of the guard?”

He gave a slow nod. “I did. Ian Viker.”

Ian Viker. She committed the name to memory. She wanted to see it etched on a gravestone.

“Did you get an address?”

Another slow nod. “Just a few miles away.”