The Tiger's Heart Read online

  “Tabitha left?” Her voice was filled with sleep.

  “Yeah. You’re stuck with me now.” He handed her a glass of water.

  She took a deep sip from the glass, watching him she gulped down the rest of the water. “It could be worse.” She handed him the now empty glass in return.

  “I don’t believe that was your sentiment last night.”

  “Speaking of last night…”

  “Wait a moment, Bethany. We can discuss that, but first you must understand what I’m about to tell you will come as a shock. There is no easy way to tell you this, and I’m taking an enormous risk by doing so. There are hundreds of people that will be in jeopardy if this would get out. Many would lose everything. We would become prey and be exterminated if the government was to learn of our existence.”

  “Raja, you make this sound like you’re some escaped lab experiment or something. You helped me, and whatever it is, your secret is safe with me. Please just tell me what the hell is going on.”

  Against everything ingrained in him, Raja placed his faith in Shadow and Tabitha and prayed they weren’t leading him down a road he would soon regret. “I’m a shapeshifter, a tiger to be exact,” he spit out, bracing himself for the impact of her annoyance and skepticism.

  “Is that like a were-wolf?”

  “Were-animals can only change according to the moon. Shifters can change at will.”

  “Prove it.”

  “Now?” Raja asked, confused that she wasn’t demanding he take her to the nearest airport. Shouldn’t she be freaked out about this or something?

  “Yes, now. You just said the moon doesn’t control you. If it’s true, then do it. Or are you a few marbles short? Maybe you need to be placed in a padded cell?”

  “I’m not mental,” he growled at her. For the first time in days, he let his inner tiger spring free. He usually went for an evening run as a tiger, allowing it the freedom it wanted. Since rescuing Bethany he had kept it pent-up, causing it to claw at him, demanding freedom. He pushed it down to keep Bethany safe. Letting the tiger out now felt invigorating.

  His body shifted and contorted into the tiger form. There was no discomfort or anxiety, just relief. On four legs he felt free. Shaking out his coat, tossing what was left of his shredded clothes off, he padded over to Bethany, nudging her hand with his nose.

  He watched her reaction, expecting to see horror. Her eyes lit up with excitement, instead of the panic he had imagined.

  “No way!” Bethany lifted her hand from the bed, gently laying it on top of his head, running her fingers through his fur. “I always thought Dad was off his rocker. He said things like this existed, but I never believed him. He told me one day I would find out for myself.” She laughed.

  “Guess he was right.” She twined his fingers through his hair, using her nails to massage his head. “Can you understand me when you’re like that?”

  He purred, hoping that would convey that he could.

  * * *

  Raja wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that. He leaned against the bed and her fingers ran through his fur, as she rambled on about her father’s stories. Raja smelled Shadow in the hallway heading this way.

  “What is it?” Bethany asked when his body went stiff.

  Shadow appeared in the doorway. Raja turned away from Bethany to face Shadow. His body stiff and ready to protect his mate if called for.

  “I brought you a pair of scrubs. It’s all we have down here. There’s an emergency meeting in the conference room in ten minutes. Tabitha and her guards are on their way.” She set the scrubs on the chair before hurrying away.

  Raja shifted, his back to Bethany. Slipping on the scrub pants before turning to face her. He eyed the shirt, knowing it wouldn’t fit, and left it on the chair. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you have a ton of questions. I promise I’ll answer them when I get back. Just don’t leave, okay?”

  She nodded. “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know, but it is nothing for you to worry about. You’re safe here.”

  “Tabitha, is she…”

  “I don’t have enough time to explain that one. Ask her.” She wore a worried look in her eyes. As if she was worried about the men coming back for her. “Bethany, you’re safe here.”

  “But am I safe without you?”

  “You’re worried the others here will attack you?” he asked, taken aback by her reaction.

  “No. I’m wondering if someone else would protect me like you would.” She played with the edge of the blanket, not meeting his gaze.

  He wanted to say that no one could protect his mate as he could, but that would scare her. The Alpha and Lieutenant’s mates were guarded and protected against all threats. They were the Elders of the clan, but telling her this wouldn’t ease her concerns and would only leave her with more questions. “Tabitha is the Alpha Female; she has some of the best guards on her at all times. Nothing will happen in this room with the two of you here. I’ll be back soon and when I do, there’s more we need to discuss.”

  Before he could talk himself out of it, he bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. The kiss wouldn’t set the meters off, but it was enough to wash her fears away. “I’ll be back soon.”

  He reached for his weapons, strapping the knife to his thigh. He’d carry the gun because a shoulder holster would chafe against his shirtless body.

  Tabitha entered with Adam and three other guards. Their gazes met briefly. As she walked past him toward the bed, she whispered low enough only a shifter would hear. “There’s another video,” her voice full of sadness.

  Shit!

  Chapter Thirteen

  Raja found Ty, Felix, Marcus and Thomas sitting at the conference table looking shell-shocked. Connor was working on a laptop at the other end, paying no mind to anyone else. The room was silent, the coffee sat in front of many of them untouched. What was in the damn video to get to these warriors? These are men I would trust my life with, and now they sit before me looking defeated.

  Sitting in the last chair, Jessica Black crunched into a ball. Her body violently shaking with silent sobs as she hugged her body close to her.

  “There’s another video,” Ty said quietly, coming to stand next to him.

  He nodded. “Tabitha said. That bad?”

  “Worse.”

  “Have Connor put a trace on it, and let’s get a team there. Maybe we will get lucky again.”

  Ty just stood there shaking his head. “Connor’s tracing the place it was sent from, but we know where the video was filmed. It’s too late.”

  “Too late?” Raja didn’t want to believe it. Ty nodded, still not making eye contact. “I need to see the video.”

  “It’s not necessary.”

  “I think it is. Ty, what aren’t you telling me?”

  “The attack was in Virginia.” Ty ran his hand through his hair.

  “So. Just spit it out.” Raja’s nerves were making him edgy.

  “It was Bethany family in the video.”

  His heart sank. “Are they…?”

  Ty nodded. “It’s too late.”

  “I want to see the video.”

  * * *

  Rather than sit in front of the laptop, Raja wished he could bolt to the bathroom to throw up. The fact that he was about to watch the murder of his mate’s family made it that much worse. He was warned that it wasn’t easy to watch. The men he had been in battle with, who fought to protect the compound, were shocked. What he was able to watch would haunt him.

  “Was it sent to Tabitha again?”

  “Jessica received it. Someone saw her with Leo and Connor.”

  He couldn’t postpone it any longer. He slid the headphones over his ears and hit the play button.

  A family room came into view, the sun shining in the windows, illuminating the photographs. Bethany at graduation in her cap and gown, standing next to people he assumed was her parents. Another of her and her sister at an amusement park. The camera scrolled th
rough the pictures that lined the fireplace mantel, stopping at each of them for a brief moment.

  “Bethany’s happy family, or so it would seem. Do you think anyone ever told the girls their uncle is a raving lunatic? I doubt it, but tonight it will all become known. Tonight the family will have to face the beast their uncle created,” a voice cut in.

  The camera shut off for a moment before turning on again to show three people sitting down at the dinner table.

  “This will be the last meal they enjoy as a family. Tonight their life will end as mine did all those years ago. Poor Bethany will be begging for me to kill her when I find her.”

  The camera cut out again, only to come back to show the father’s throat slit and the women tied to the kitchen chairs. The forgotten food scattered across the clean kitchen floor.

  “The man wasn’t worth my time. Tonight is about the women. They will suffer, begging for me to kill them before they finish serving their purpose and I finish them.”

  The camera was set on the table as he went to the young girl. Sniffing her neck, he whispered, “How good you smell. I’m going to enjoy you.”

  The mother tried to scream through her gag. It sounded as if she was begging for her daughter’s life. Pierce didn’t care—he grabbed a Bowie knife lying on the table and threw it at her. It found its home buried deep in her chest, below her breast.

  “The fear pouring off your body smells so good. I’m going to enjoy this.” Pierce’s face contorted, allowing his fangs to extend before biting a chunk out of the young girl’s neck. She squirmed, fighting against the ropes to get away, desperate to save herself. He bent out of camera range. Coming up, he spit two of her fingers across the table.

  He pushed the chair back enough to give a full view of the girl. He ran his hands, claws replacing fingers, across the girl’s stomach. “I’m going to gut you and bathe in your blood.”

  Tears welled in the girl’s eyes, as she looked at the camera. Her eyes begging for mercy that would never come.

  His claws broke the girl’s skin. Blood gushed out, covering her legs before landing on the floor. Her eyes closed, and her breath became shallow.

  “She won’t get off that easy.” He reached behind him, pulling out a bag with small white tubes in it. Cracking one open, he ran it under the girl’s nose. “Smelling salts,” he said with a laugh.

  The torture of the girl went on for what seemed like hours, but in reality were only minutes. Raja sat there the fact that he was too late and there was nothing he could do to save his mate’s family weighing heavily on his shoulders.

  The video drew him back when Pierce’s voice filled the earphones again. “I wish I had more time to play with you, Momma. Nevertheless, you suffered enough watching your little girl die. Know this, I’ll hunt Bethany down and do the same to her.”

  The woman looked defeated. All the fight was gone from her. Raja could see she was having a hard time breathing, as the knife in her chest must have punctured a lung.

  He sliced the woman’s throat, spraying blood across the camera lens. The woman slumped in her chair as Pierce picked up the camera and tried to wipe it off.

  “Dear sister of mine. You have betrayed me. Going to the ones I despise the most. Know I’ll find you too. I might not make you suffer, after all, you’re family, but your life will still be over. Tell me, was it worth it?”

  With that, the video ended. Raja leaned back in his chair and roared. The walls shook, and through the window he saw snow fall from the roof.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Hours later the conference room was empty except for Raja and Ty. Felix had left moments before to join Tabitha with Bethany, leaving the men alone.

  “Do you want Tabitha and me to stay when you tell Bethany?”

  “No. I’ll do it alone. Her father used to tell her stories of shifters, but I don’t think she knows they were part of her family.”

  “If she does, she might be able to give us an idea of who he’ll target next. I have the West Virginia tiger clan looking into possible relatives and connections, but it will take time.”

  “I’ll see what I can find.”

  “Raja, I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no.” Raja stared at Ty until he continued. “You can’t sit there and tell me you’re not thinking of going after Pierce yourself.”

  “I want to be on the team that takes him down.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean no?”

  “Just what I said. You are too valuable to the clan. Tabitha and Bethany would never forgive me if I let something happened to you. If he attacks the compound or us then yes, you’ll be expected to fight but as my Lieutenant, you aren’t on the front lines any longer. Especially on this one.”

  Raja growled. He couldn’t believe his ears.

  “Growl all you want. Face it, you’re mated now. Our numbers are too low to toss away a mated couple.”

  “Don’t give me that crap.”

  “You wouldn’t support my decision to go into the front lines either, and the whole reason he’s targeting us is because my mate could be the end of the tigers.”

  “You are the Alpha. You’re not supposed to be in battle,” Raja snarled, getting to his feet.

  “You’re my Lieutenant. Just as valuable to the clan. Without you and Bethany, Tabitha cannot complete her mission to bring all the tigers together. You being mated was one of the steps the book mentioned that needed to be completed.”

  Raja was in a battle that he wouldn’t win. Unless he wanted to fight Ty for dominance, which he did not intend to do. There has to be a way around it without bringing Pierce to the compound.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you that you had to mate for things to go forward? Seriously? You would have fought the mating at every crossroads. You said you wanted nothing to do with a mate. Now, my friend, you have no choice. Your mate is downstairs waiting for you.”

  “I’m not sure she’ll be ready to accept me after I give her the news of her family,” Raja said, raking his hands through his hair to calm his nerves.

  * * *

  “We heard a roar. What’s going on?” Bethany asked, the panic filling her voice when Raja entered.

  “Tabitha, Ty’s in the hall. I need to speak with Bethany alone.”

  “If you need anything, Raja can reach me.” Tabitha stood, giving Bethany’s hand a squeeze before leaving.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I told you before that we received a video, which is how we knew you were taken. Connor, our wolf computer geek, was able to trace it.”

  “What does that have to do with the roar I heard?”

  “We received another one.” Raja dropped into the chair next to the bed, his head in his hands.

  “Then go save her like you did me. I’m fine. I don’t need you hovering when there is someone’s life in jeopardy.”

  Raja looked up, his heart in his throat. His heart was breaking for her. The news he had to deliver was horrific, with no easy way to say it.

  “Raja…” concern thick in her voice.

  “It’s not the same.” He took a deep breath, saying a silent prayer for the strength and words to tell her.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh Bethany,” he leaned in close to the bed, wrapping his hands around her small, delicate ones, “it’s your family.”

  “What about them? They’re home in Virginia, safe. Right?” When Raja didn’t say anything, she continued. “Tell me what’s going on. You’re starting to scare me.”

  “Pierce, the guy that ordered your kidnapping, attacked your parents’ home.”

  “But they’re fine, right?” She leaned forward to reach her cell on the nightstand, tears already gleaming in her eyes.

  Raja took a firmer hold on her hands, not letting her reach the phone. His gaze met hers as the tears sprang free from her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, you’re wrong. They were supposed to go to the cabin…t
hey wouldn’t be home. You have to be wrong,” she pleaded.

  “I watched the video myself.”

  “Jamie? Is she okay?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Bethany’s tears flowed freely now. Raja stood, setting his gun on the nightstand. He eased himself on the bed next to her, careful not to disturb her injured knee. He wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into his embrace, and he leaned his head on hers.

  After a few minutes of uncontrollable tears, she moved her head away, leaving a wet spot, but he didn’t mind. She tilted her head up to look at him. “I want to see the video.”

  “No!” he growled.

  “I want to see it,” she stated with more determination.

  “It’s out of the question. I won’t let your last memories of your family be tainted by their murders. Bethany, just leave it be. I won’t have it,” he growled, his tiger pacing inside him from the fury.

  “I have a right.”

  “Please…” He wanted to yell at her to make her drop it, but she didn’t need that now.

  “It’s that bad? It was you roaring.” Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes again.

  Raja nodded, unable to bring himself to say the words.

  “I’ll have to go home…to deal with things.”

  “We’ll make arrangements, but we haven’t to wait for the police to contact you. If not they would want to know where you received your knowledge.”

  “Why can’t we take the video to the police?”

  “He shifts in it.”

  “To keep your secret safe, my family dies in vain? No justice for their murders?” she accused, pulling away from him.

  “Your parents and sister will get justice. I’ll see to that. This is bigger than you, or even your family. He killed Tabitha’s parents years ago as well. We have been hunting him for some time now.”

  “He just gets to run free for years? If someone would have fought for justice for Tabitha’s parents, maybe mine would be alive,” she hollered at him.

  “Bethany, you know nothing of the situation,” he spat at her before bringing himself under control. “We have been searching for him all these years. Hunting him every time a lead comes up. Until recently, we thought he was dead. We’re working hard to find him and take him out of the equation.”