Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(58)

“And the real reason?” Nicole insisted.

There was a short hesitation before Ian revealed the truth. “I wanted his bunk.”

Heat blasted from Tucker’s big body. “Shit.”

Nicole grimaced. “You’re truly sick,” she muttered.

The human hunched his shoulders. “You wanted the truth.”

Suddenly, Nicole understood why the secret agency would decide this man was suitable to wear their uniform.

Not every human would be willing to shoot an innocent man in the back just because he wanted his bed.

“So the SAU wanted a sharp-shooter without morals,” she said.

Ian didn’t look offended. Either he’d accepted that he was a depraved bastard, or he was a straight up psychopath, unable to comprehend the depths of his evil.

The knowledge twisted Nicole’s stomach with aching sadness. This empty shell of a man had stolen a bright, beautiful light from this world.

“Yeah, I guess so,” he muttered.

As if sensing her distress, Tucker ran his hand up and down her back, glaring at the unfeeling monster.

“Why?” he demanded.

“Director Markham had just taken control of the Denver Division, and he wanted to crack down on the wolves.”

Nicole scowled. She’d seen the Director from a distance, but he rarely came to the compound.

“Why would he want to crack down?”

Ian shrugged. “He felt like the Alpha of the wolves hadn’t given him the proper respect during their first meeting. He wanted to send a message.”

“He ordered the death of a child because he didn’t get the respect he thought he deserved?” Nicole breathed in disbelief.

The man continued to grip the shelf behind his back, his eyes averted as if he were considering how much to reveal before Nicole snapped and ripped out his throat.

Smart man. Nicole could already feel her claws slicing through the tips of her fingers and her fangs throbbing with the need to sink into his flesh.

“Those weren’t his exact words,” he slowly confessed.

“What did he say?”

Ian nervously transferred his weight from one foot to the other.

“He wanted us to keep an eye out for any infractions, and publically punish the offenders so the animals would know that the new Director wasn’t going to take any shit.”

Nicole stared at him in pained disbelief. “And you decided to kill my son?”

“It was an impulsive decision.” His gaze flickered around the dark, filthy room. “And trust me, I’ve paid for it.”

Paid for it? Nicole hissed as the red mist of fury once again clogged her brain.

“No, you haven’t,” she snarled. His face turned a paler shade of ash, as her wolf flashed in her eyes. “But you will.”

“I swear I’ve suffered,” he desperately pleaded for his life. “I was sacked from my job, and threatened with being fed to the wolves if I ever spoke about this to anyone. What else do you want from me?”

“Your blood.”

His gaze locked on her exposed fangs, his entire body shaking with fear.

“Killing me won’t bring your son back.”

“It’ll allow him to rest in peace.”

“Fine, if you want to punish someone, then it should be Markham.” Ian readily tossed his boss under the bus. Clearly the old saying was true. There was no honor among thieves. “He’s the one who sought me out and put me in an SAU uniform.”

The truth of his words slammed into Nicole with unexpected force. Shit. Her animal wanted a simple, clean death. It’s what she’d been dreaming about for seven years. But she couldn’t shake the nagging voice in the back of her mind.

Was Tucker right? Was it possible to actually use this pathetic excuse of a human to bring down the SAU?

“Would you swear to that?” she abruptly demanded, the words barely making it past her stiff lips.

Ian studied her in wary confusion. “What?”

“Would you stand before the world and reveal your crimes?” she pressed.

“Markham would never allow me to speak.”

It was Tucker who responded. “You’ll be protected from the SAU.”

“Yeah, right.” The man gave a sharp laugh. “And what about the shifters?”

“What about them?” Tucker asked.

Ian deliberately stared at Nicole’s fangs that were visibly bared.

“Would I be protected from them?”

Tucker shrugged. “As long as you…no!”

With head-dizzying speed, Tucker was shoving Nicole to the side. Caught off guard, she stumbled to her knees, stunned by the unexpected sound of a handgun being fired.

Shit, shit, shit.

While she’d thought Ian Viker was cowering in fear against the shelves, he’d clearly been placing himself in the perfect position to get his hands on a hidden weapon.

And Tucker had placed himself between her and the gun to save her.

In horror, Nicole watched as Tucker hit the floor with a loud thud. His eyes were closed, and his face was dangerously pale. But it was the blood that gushed from the bullet hole in the center of his chest that made her heart squeeze with terror.

One bullet shouldn’t be able to take down a bear shifter. But Tucker had obviously been shot at point-blank range.