The Tiger's Heart Read online

  “Then just tell me what’s going on, since my mate would prefer to keep me in the dark.” She eyed him with irritation.

  He could see Ty’s position, but he was stuck. His Alphas both wanted different things. “Tabitha, I think this is something that you need to discuss with him. I can only tell you we are increasing your protection. We were meeting to discuss the guard schedule.”

  “Doubling my guards?”

  Ty dropped onto his desktop in defeat. It was written across his face that he didn’t want to go up against his mate. “Tabby, things have become more dangerous. We’re only trying to protect you.”

  “Keeping me in the dark isn’t protecting me, Ty.”

  “With all due respect, she cannot afford the stress this is putting on her. Tell her.” Raja watched his Alphas with a close eye.

  “Oh that will be less stressful for her, will it? Now you think you know what’s better for my mate than I do!”

  “This is ridiculous. Keeping it from me and taking your anger out on Raja is getting us nowhere. I can’t protect myself if you’re going to shelter me. If I’m truly the Queen of the Tigers, then I have a right to know what the danger is.”

  “Leave. I’ll fill her in,” Ty growled.

  Raja wasn’t sure if Ty gave in out of defeat or because he realized they were right, but it didn’t matter. Tabitha needed to know.

  Chapter Four

  Raja paced his quarters, unable to calm himself. He couldn’t put his finger on it. There was something in the pit of his stomach that left him feeling ill. He checked the surveillance of the compound and everything appeared to be calm. The calm before the storm. Oh, how I hope I’m wrong.

  There was nothing he could do but wait—wait until the other shoe dropped. He never was good at waiting. Slipping off his clothes, he decided to go for a run in his tiger form. Living on the compound allowed them to indulge their animal whenever they wanted.

  * * *

  The nightclub was like that of any other Bethany had been in before. The drinks flowed, music so loud she had to scream to talk and the dance floor crowded.

  Partying and nightclubs weren’t really her thing, but she’d promised her baby sister she would go. Her sister’s words rang in her ears. For once in your life, be wild. Let your hair down and do something you wouldn’t. Go to a nightclub for me, dance and have a good time.

  “Can I buy you a drink?”

  Turning on her bar stool, she found a man in jeans and a t-shirt standing behind her. A cowboy hat low on his head, hiding his eyes.

  “Okay. I’ll have a cola.”

  “A soda? Live on the wild side, darling. How about a rum and cola?”

  “Sorry. I don’t drink,” she said, shaking her head.

  “I hate drinking alone, but I won’t allow a lady to ruin my night,” he said before motioning to the bartender.

  She was taken aback by the rudeness. She should have left then and there, but her mom had taught her better. She would finish her drink and then make her excuses.

  Why did I ever let Jamie talk me into this?

  The room around her seemed to be so full of life. Everyone was laughing, having a good time, except her. She was completely out of her element.

  “What brings you here tonight?” He leaned into her so he didn’t have to shout.

  “I promised my sister I would hit up a nightclub while I was here.”

  “You’re not from here then?

  “No. I won this trip.”

  “Oh, you must be Bethany. I’m Josh, your ski instructor for tomorrow.” He put his hand out in greeting.

  “I changed that. I don’t need an instructor. I decided to go snowboarding instead.” Finishing her soda, she started to rise. “I really must be going. It was a long trip, and I’m tired.”

  “Let me give you a ride back to the hotel. I have to go there anyway to pick up a few things.”

  “That’s kind of you, but I’ll get a cab.” She stood, sliding her purse over her shoulder.

  “Come on.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the exit.

  “You’re hurting me.” She tried to pull away from him, but his grip tightened.

  “I’m going to hurt you if you don’t come with me.”

  Her heart beat feverishly, stomach rolling. God help me, Mom was right. I should have listened.

  * * *

  Raja ran until he was exhausted before returning to his quarters. A run and a long, hot shower, and still he felt as if he was crawling to get out of his skin. His cell vibrated on the desk. I hope this will be something to distract me.

  It was Leo. “Raja.” He rose from his bed, where he’d laid while he listened for a moment.

  “I’ll speak with Ty and get back to you on that. There are some new threats where our Queen is concerned. I’m not sure he’ll want a strange human within the compound. But if so, be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”

  He listened for another second before ending the call.

  It was late, but Ty would want to know now instead of tomorrow. He hit Ty’s number on the phone.

  Ty’s voice was heavy with sleep, and he could hear Tabitha in the background asking who it was. “I’m sorry to bother you at this late hour. I heard from Leo, and I need to speak with you.”

  His eyes drifted closed as he listened to Ty. “I’ll be right there.” Raja hung up and slipped on a t-shirt. He pajama pants that he put on after his shower would do for all the longer it would take to speak with Ty.

  Upon arriving at Ty’s quarters, he was surprised to find Tabitha waiting in the living room as well.

  “My Queen, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

  “It’s fine, Raja. I wouldn’t be able to sleep without Ty anyway. What did you find out?”

  He saw Ty give a slight nod.

  “Jessica says she has information but won’t tell Leo and Connor what she knows until she meets with you. My guess would be she’s trying to save her brother’s ass.”

  “I would predict the same. I cannot travel to speak with her in person, but I can arrange a call tomorrow.”

  “She’ll only do it in person. Leo asked about bringing her here. It’s safer than the alternative,” Raja explained, brushing the hair that fell in his eyes away.

  “I’m not sure it’s safe, but it seems as if it is our only choice. Call Leo. I’ll expect them tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Back in the solitude of his quarters, he pulled his cell phone out.

  “Leo. You’re cleared to bring her here. We’ll expect you tomorrow. But make it clear to her that if she brings danger to our clan, it will be her life on the line.” He didn’t wait for Leo to respond but ended the call. Jessica could hold the key to finding Pierce, or she could be the key to our demise.

  Chapter Five

  Sometime in the early morning hours, the sandman finally visited. It wasn’t restful. He tossed and turned, dreaming strange and terrifying dreams. His mind was in turmoil, and it was playing out in his dreams.

  The ear bud that he kept in his ear at all times sprang to life. When he was off duty, he set it to only disturb if there was an emergency.

  “Raja, you’re needed in Ty’s quarters.”

  He growled. “I have another few hours until I’m on duty. What is this about?”

  “Situation has arisen, and you’re needed. Report immediately.”

  Situation? He didn’t bother to take the time to dress; his pajama bottoms would have to do. He grabbed his handgun from the nightstand and strapped his knife to his thigh before rushing down the hall to Tabitha and Ty’s area.

  Only a short hallway separated their quarters, allowing Raja to be there in a moment’s notice.

  Felix opened the door, while Ty comforted Tabitha. There didn’t seem to be any immediate danger, but Tabitha appeared to be distraught over something.

  He stood waiting, knowing that Ty would fill him in.

  “Tabby, there’s no use in you being here for it again. Why don�
�t you go into the study?” Ty said, trying to calm his mate.

  “No. I’m fine.”

  “Tab…”

  “If I’m to be Queen, I have to face even the worst things.”

  “You are Queen, but you don’t have to do this. I won’t argue with you. There’s no time if we’re going to save her.”

  Confusion masked Raja’s face.

  “Hit play and you won’t have that look of confusion any longer.”

  The laptop sat on the table, calling to him. He stepped toward it and pushed the play button.

  A young girl filled the screen. His eyes filled with terror, her blonde hair matted with dried blood. Her pleas, then her screams, filled the room as a man hit her over and over again.

  “Bethany here will die unless you give up Tabitha Leigh. We tried to be civil about this and confront you directly. Now we’ll kill innocent women until we have her. If you want the girl to live, drop Tabitha off in front of the Fairbanks International Airport at midnight. Once she’s in our custody, you’ll receive the girl’s location. If you wish to play more games, she’ll be the first of many dead women I leave in my wake.”

  “Shit.” He ran his gun-free hand through his hair. “Did you put a trace on it?”

  “Connor’s working on it now.” Ty nodded, his arm still wrapped tightly around Tabitha.

  “I can’t let her die because of me. If we can’t find where this was sent from, I’ll meet him.”

  “The hell you will, Tabitha!” Ty roared.

  “That girl has nothing to do with this. She’s innocent.”

  “Ty’s right. You would just be trading one life for another. There’s no way we’ll allow you to do that.”

  “Raja, I wasn’t asking permission. I won’t let her die in my place. She probably has a family that would miss her.”

  “What, and you have no one?”

  “That isn’t what I meant, and you know it.”

  Raja could see that Ty’s anger was only holding on by a thin thread. Since finding his mate, his emotions were more on edge, especially when it came to her. The large living room that only a few days earlier held over two dozen of their soldiers was starting to close in around him.

  “We don’t have time for this now. Tabitha, get rid of the thought. It isn’t happening. I will lock you in one of the cells until this is over if you even think about leaving the grounds. I’ll do whatever I can to save Bethany, but you’re our first concern.”

  Bethany. I love the way it rolls off the tongue. I wonder if she’s as sweet as the name. He shook his head to clear the thoughts. He didn’t have time to think about what she might taste like.

  “Felix, go to my room, there’s a black box on the dresser. Bring it here. Then find out where Connor stands on locating the transmission.” Raja realized he was still holding his handgun. His pajama pants didn’t have the elastic to keep the gun at the small of his back as he would prefer. “And grab my gun harness. It should be on the dresser as well.”

  “Now you, Tabitha, sit down. We need to discuss a few things. I need some coffee to think straight.” He didn’t bother to ask for some. This was his home away from home. He strolled to the kitchen. He pulled the coffee grounds out of the freezer, placed what was needed in the grinder then put the rest back in the freezer. “I know we have told you that if you’re killed before you can carry on your line, then all tiger shifters will cease to exist. So why would you be willing to risk everyone’s life?”

  “I can’t let someone die in my place.” The desperation was apparent in her eyes, as the glisten of tears threatened to fall. He understood her desire to save the girl, as he felt the desire as well, but he couldn’t allow her to risk her life to save another.

  “Then to save one person you would sacrifice hundreds, if not more, tiger shifters? You have to admit that doesn’t make a lot of sense.” Raja hit the start button on the coffee machine. As the smell of coffee filled the air, his body woke, his mind able to start processing their options.

  “You should be able to understand this. You put your life on the line every day to protect the clan members.”

  He realized Tabitha was losing her fight. Her emotions were pulling in too many different ways for her to understand what was happening. Tears flowed freely down her face.

  Ty went to her, pulling her tight against his body. He knew Ty was trying to ease her pain. Mated couples claimed their feelings and pain calmed with their mate’s touch.

  “It doesn’t make sense, I know, but leaving that girl to die in my place doesn’t work either,” her voice weak and her face tear-streaked.

  “I’m glad you realize it doesn’t make sense. My Queen, you’re a strong and brave woman, but you are my Queen. It’s my duty to protect you. We’ll do our best to save the girl and to stop whoever Pierce has behind this this abduction, but for us to be able to focus on that we need to know you won’t be running off to do something stupid.”

  The coffee machine had a pause button. He hit it and filled up three mugs before letting it finish its duty. Then he handed mugs to Tabitha and Ty before wrapping his hands around his own. Taking a deep breath of the fresh coffee put all his facilities on full alert. The first sip hit his tongue, making him want to purr with appreciation. Strong, dark coffee was a gift from Heaven.

  “I’m not going to do anything stupid,” Tabitha stated in a reluctant tone, folding her hands around her own mug.

  Just in time. Felix entered, handing over the stuff Raja requested before heading to Connor’s cabin.

  “Good. Then you won’t have a problem wearing this,” Raja said, slipping the lid off the black box before passing it to Tabitha.

  Inside the box laid a plain silver bracelet on black tissue paper. Ty was eying him suspiciously.

  “A bracelet?” The questioning tone sounded in Tabitha’s voice.

  “Yes. It has a tracer installed in it. That way we’ll always know where you are. I want it to never leave your wrist.”

  “How does it work?”

  “It’s an app that I created. I have it on my cell phone, and once the tracer is activated, you will show up as a little dot.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, hitting a few buttons before handing it to Tabitha. “Tora has one. That’s her dot. Yours would be a different color. We can also install it on Ty’s and Felix’s phones.”

  Leaning against the kitchen counter, he watched Tabitha mull the idea over. He knew she was trying to come up with a reason not to wear it, but he wasn’t going to let her off the hook unless Ty decided to back his mate.

  “I think this is a good idea.” Ty finished his coffee before moving to the coffee pot to pour another cup.

  “You would like to see me on a leash.” It wasn’t a question but a statement. “How did Tora ever agree to this?”

  “Marcus and I didn’t leave her a lot of choice.” He took another sip of his coffee. “Before we moved to Alaska, some of Pierce’s clan attacked. We couldn’t find Tora and thought they got her. Marcus was almost insane with anger. Turns out your mate is pretty good in battle.” Raja chuckled. “He got her out of danger. Nearly died protecting her. I can never repay Ty for saving her that night.”

  “It was nothing. You would have done the same if it was the other way around.” Ty’s hand went to the scar that marred his chest from that attack.

  “So what do you say? You going to wear it?”

  “I don’t think I have a choice. Ty seems convinced this is needed.” Reaching in the box, she pulled out the bracelet and put it on her wrist.

  Raja leaned over the counter to her wrist. He pulled out a little pin from the bracelet that she didn’t notice. “Now I’m happy.” Her little dot showed up on the screen of Raja’s phone that still lay on the counter.

  “I’ll get my phone, and you can put that app on there.” Ty strolled toward the bedroom.

  “Great, now I’ll never get rid of him,” she teased.

  Raja let out a heartfelt laugh. “You can’t fool me that
easy. I know you don’t want to get rid of him.”

  * * *

  They’d just finished programming Ty’s phone when Connor and Felix rushed through the doorway.

  “We got the location,” Connor said, sliding to a halt in front of them.

  Raja’s heart fluttered, making him feel like a schoolboy. The pain and hatred in Bethany’s eyes was nearly enough to break his heart. Through the years he saw a lot of pain, suffering and tragic events, but the video of the girl cut deep into his soul.

  “Where are they?” Raja’s voice sliced through the air like a dagger.

  “Just on the other side of Fairbanks. It seems to be a remote hunting cabin.”

  “I’ll suit up and leave immediately.” Raja was already moving across the large room big enough for a shifted tiger to stretch out.

  “You?” Ty asked.

  “Yes. I’ll scope out the location. See if they’re still there. If not, I’ll track their scent.”

  “We can send a team to do that. There’s no reason you should be the one.”

  “It’s something I have to do.” Raja didn’t know how to explain it, but he had to do this. He needed to be the one to find the girl and to make sure the man who’d hurt her paid with his life.

  “Ty, let him. I can feel this is something he needs to do. But Raja, don’t do anything to get yourself killed. We can send in a team. We need you.”

  He nodded to Tabitha and Ty before jogging out the door. He had to get to his room, suit up and be gone before Ty could change his mind.

  Chapter Six

  “You want to run, do you?” her captor screamed in her face as he pulled her hair, holding her in place. Tears streamed down her face, her throat closing with anxiety and making it hard to breathe.

  “Please…” Her voice cut off when he lowered his body to sit on her chest before he wrapped a hand around her throat.

  “Begging for your life, are you? It will do you no good. I only need you for a few more hours and then your life will be worthless.”

  “This will ensure you don’t try that again.” He grabbed a steel bar that laid a few feet away from them on the cabin floor.