Page 8 of Tempting the Tiger
His jaw tightens. “One of my betas got an email saying she’d moved out and that the flat we’d set her up in was available again. My gut is telling me something’s wrong.”
I glance up sharply.
“You think I’m imagining things.” His eyes narrow.
The last thing I need is him clamming up before he can confirm all the details, not when he could have information that might lead to a breakthrough in this case. The problem is, the Connor Pack and the cat shifters who form the Alejo Prowl have an intense rivalry that goes back years, so I can’t take his reaction to me personally. Given what I know of the city’s recent history and the number of fights between the cats and the wolves we’ve been called out to, it’s understandable if he doesn’t believe a tiger shifter would automatically be on his side.
I put down my stylus. “Actually, I think your concerns are valid. Wolves have good instincts, and alphas more than most. If you say one of your wolves is missing, I believe you.”
His shoulders drop slightly. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any proof for you that something’s wrong. There’s one particular wolf in my pack, a guy named Harley, who got out of Wargate a couple of months back. Sounds like he looked after the other wolves in there, formed a mini pack of sorts, but he says Val refused all attempts at friendship from any of them. So there’s a chance she actually has just decided to move away.”
“Maybe, but there’s no harm in finding out for sure. Let me get down as many details as I can, and I’ll take it from there.”
“I think I’ve got all the information I need, but I’ll call you if I have any questions,” I say as I show Dante out.
He shakes my hand, firm but not crushing. “Please keep me updated.”
“Of course.” I close the main door to the Soldati Security offices and turn to Ethan, who’s now leaning on the kitchen doorframe.
“Kit says we’ve got another missing shifter?” He holds out a mug, the welcome scent of creamy coffee reaching my nose.
I stride along the short corridor to join him and take it gratefully. “Yes, same as the others. Might be nothing, but Dante’s spidey senses say something’s wrong.”
Ethan grimaces. “We’ll review the case during the team meeting. We need to get to the bottom of these disappearances, and fast.”
“Yes, Alpha.” I ignore his side-eye at my use of his title. He’s still uncomfortable with it at times, especially coming from me, so I feel that it’s my solemn duty as his beta to annoy him with it at least once a day.
“Team meeting,” he calls loudly enough for everyone in the office to hear, even those without enhanced hearing.
Jet, the messy-haired jaguar who’s our weapons specialist and the bane of my existence, dashes past. “Need the loo first!”
Perfect timing. I thrust my mug at Ethan and rush to my desk. Jet’s just given me an opening.
When Jet walks into the conference room five minutes later, I lean back in my chair. “Oh,shit!” I say, nice and loudly.
He looks around frantically. “What? What?!”
“The ceiling!” I widen my eyes at the spot above his head.
He looks up, reads the wordGullibleprinted in dyslexia-friendly font on the piece of paper I just taped up there, and groans.
Kit, Skye, Ayo, and I fall about laughing. Cal finds this so hilarious his lips actually twitch, and Jet sulks all the way to his seat.
The conference room isn’t large—barely big enough for the long table and enough chairs for all of us—but it’s got a screen on one wall that Kit’s connected a laptop to and a whiteboard on an adjacent wall that sees a lot of use, so it’s perfect for our needs.
Ethan waits until we settle down to begin. “You all know the drill. Jet.”
Jet swivels his chair from side to side. “Today’s visit to the airport was pretty standard. A detailed bomb recognition and response training session for the new recruits and a refresher for the old hands. I repeated our offer to the human manager that if there’s ever a situation they can’t handle, to call us for extra support. I doubt they will, because they’re a capable bunch and work with the human police as well, but they have my number.”
“Excellent. Any progress on the Roberto job?”
Jet stops swivelling and pulls a face. “I might need someone to come with me next time.”
“Oh?” I say.
He groans. “The woman is a flirt of thehighest order. I’ve tried hinting that I’m as gay as a unicorn farting glittery rainbows, but she’s determined to touch me whenever I’m within a two-foot radius. I’m not convinced her business security even needs updating.”
Skye’s hand shoots up. “I volunteer.”
