The Rocker was filled with teenagers half my age, all of them bopping to music that was painful to my cars. I could see why the Rocker's traditional weekend crowd had fled - the crap they were playing now was nothing like the good old-fashioned rock and roll this club had built its reputation on. But then, I guess they had to do something to attract the next generation of wolves through the door.
Misha sat on a stool at the far end of the chrome and red lacquer bar. He wore dark jeans and a black T-shirt, and both accentuated the whiteness of his lean body. As I stood there staring at him, the urge to turn and run hit me. I didn't want to do this. I really didn't.
Not because of the sex. As I'd said to Quinn more than once, sex was part of a werewolf's nature, and we didn't hold it in the same reverent regard. Even though I didn't particularly want to mate with Misha, I would, and I'd more than likely enjoy it.
No, what disgusted me was the fact that I'd been left no choice in the matter.
If I was a guardian and this was just a part of my job, it would have been okay. If I'd walked in here knowing I'd been offered this assignment and had willingly chosen to do it, I would have had no problems. But I didn't have the choice, no matter what Quinn said. Misha seemed to be the only one who knew what was going on, and to get that information and get my life on track, I had to do this. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Two very different things.
And it hit me then that part of me had already accepted the reality that one day I would become a guardian. That one day, I'd be doing this out of choice rather than need.
I closed my eyes, sickened not so much by the thought, but the tremor of excitement that ran through me. I didn't want to become a killer. Didn't want to become my brother. But the part of me that had always rejoiced in the danger of being with Talon was dancing at the thought of becoming a guardian and facing danger on a regular basis.
Maybe Jack was right. Maybe he did know me better than I knew myself.
Taking another deep breath, I pushed the thoughts aside, and made my way through the crowd.
Tapping Misha on the shoulder, I said, "I believe we had a date."
His icy gaze slid down my body. I'd changed into jeans and a black crop top, but had left Liander's other improvements in place. There was no recognition in Misha's eyes as his gaze met mine then slid away. "I believe you're mistaken."
"So you've decided you don't want kids any more?"
His head snapped around, and his gaze narrowed. "Riley?"
"The one and only." I plopped down on the stool beside his and ordered a beer.
"Why the disguise?"
"Why not? Especially when you haven't exactly proven you can keep me safe."
"Have you been attacked recently?"
I snorted softly. "Twice, actually."
"What?"
The surprise in his voice seemed genuine, but I wasn't about to be taken in by it. Misha could act the pants off just about anyone I knew. "Once with orsini, once with a paid hitman. It's pissing me oft, Misha."
"The bastard," he muttered. "Obviously, he needs a little reminder that I mean what I say."
"Obviously, because he ain't taking a blind bit of notice of your threats at the moment. And keeping me safe was part of our deal, remember?"
"I remember," he said, voice hard. "And I'm trying."
"Well, try a little harder or the damn deal is off." I paused and thanked the bartender as he brought over my beer. "I want to know how he's tracking me, Misha. Tell me that, or it ends right now."
Jack would have a fit if he heard either of the threats, but hell, Jack didn't have his life on the goddamn line.
"You're bugged."
"Rhoan checked for bugs. We didn't find any."
"You wouldn't find these. They're new."
"Stolen from the Landsend Military Base, perhaps?"
He smiled. "Perhaps."
"I want you to find it and take it out."
He nodded. "I don't want you dead, Riley. Believe that, if nothing else."
Oh, I believed it. He wanted a kid out of me first. "So, tell me, why was Martin Hunt shot?"
"Not here. Wait until we're upstairs."
"Upstairs might not be any safer."
"But they have voice screens active up there. At least what we say can't be overheard once we're in one of the zones."
"Unless people can read lips."
A smile touched his thin mouth. "I think it'd be a bit obvious if someone was up there simply to read lips."
True. The Rocker wasn't like the Blue Moon. The dancing on this level was actual dancing, not the wolf kind, simply because the Rocker had a wall of windows that looked out onto the main street. And while werewolves didn't mind doing it in public, humankind sure did get upset about seeing it.
Nor did it have private rooms. Here at the Rocker, the choice on the upper floor was a communal one, the options as simple as beds, sofas, or beanbags. "I thought you said your followers had given up watching you here?"
"As far as I know, they have. But I'm not taking chances."
Nor would I. Liander's improvements might be worth keeping for a while yet. I took a long swig of my beer, then said, "Shall we get down to business?"
His eyes glimmered with amusement and hunger. "Eager to please, huh?"
"Oh, dying for it."
"The end result will be worth it - for both of us."
I surely hoped so. "There's no guarantee I'll get pregnant. If you've read my files, you'll know that."
He pressed a hand against my spine as he guided me toward the back stairs. Desire stirred sluggishly. Misha wasn't my choice of partner any more, and he certainly didn't deserve any eagerness, but he was the one I had to be with. That being the case, I might as well enjoy my time with him.
"You're not the only wolf I'm trying to impregnate right now," he said, as we climbed the stairs. "I have two other women who have agreed to bear my child."
It was the first statement he'd made that I truly believed. The first statement that actually had me thinking he was telling the truth - at least some of the time. "The blondes you mentioned earlier?"
He nodded.
"I bet they're doing it for a tidy sum."
He glanced at me, eyes cold. "Everyone has their price, Riley."
He knew mine. Knew it was the only reason I was here. And he didn't care. What would he do if he knew he would never get the one thing he really wanted? Not from me, anyway.
The upstairs room was long and narrow, and looked like one of those old-fashioned barns often seen in westerns. The only thing that was missing was the hay - though I knew that had been here in the early years.
The room was semi-filled with wolves in various stages of mating, and the air was thick with the smell of sex and lust. My blood quickened, aroused by the aromas as much as the sounds and sights of mating.
Misha's hunger flicked around me, a living thing that stole my breath and made the ache even fiercer. His aura, switched to full intensity, drowned me in desire, making sure my body would be ready for him when the time came. Not that he really needed to do it, because after Quinn's kiss and subsequent departure, I was more than ready to play.
And though I could have negated the force of his aura easily enough, I didn't. It was better to let him think I needed his aura, that I was still unwilling to be here. Besides, tonight might be about getting answers, but I sure as hell intended to enjoy it as well.
By the time we reached the first free sofa midway down the room, my skin burned, as did the need to feel him inside. Not waiting for him to make the first move, I pushed him. back against the wall and kissed him like my life depended on it. Kissed him until my skin burned and the need to feel him inside was all-consuming. And then I fucked him, hard and fast and furiously. He growled deep in his throat, a warning of God knows what, but I ignored it, riding him hard. As his body convulsed and his seed poured into me, my orgasm hit. The intensity of it stole my breath and my sanity for too many seconds.
But it wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.
He was still hard inside, but that wasn't really surprising. The need to create life was on him, and the moon that forced the change each month granted us the strength to mate long and frequently, especially when the need to reproduce was on us.
"My turn to ride rough," he growled, his eyes burning with desire and anger.
I'd hit a nerve. Misha hated being second. Hated not being in charge. Interesting. Maybe it was something I could use later on, when we were somewhere security wasn't likely to intervene should things get a little rough.
He spun me around, pressed me against the back of the sofa, then kicked my legs apart and thrust into me so hard and fast I wasn't sure whether my groan was one of pleasure or pain. Then he began to move, and I let thought slide away, concentrating on sensation and simply enjoying.
That was the pattern for the next two hours - we mated on the sofa, the bed, and the beanbags. The first hour was as hard and furious as I'd expected, but after that, he took more time, seducing rather than simply taking. I appreciated the effort, and in the end, thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'd always liked Misha, and I guess I still did - even if I no longer trusted him. And whatever else his faults, he was usually a good lover.
It was close to three when we ordered a couple of beers, then made our way over toward a secluded corner. Misha flicked on the voice screen as I flopped back into a beanbag.
"Give me your feet," he said.
I raised them both and plonked them in his lap. He studied the underside of both for a moment, then grunted and dropped my right foot back to the floor. He bent my left leg around so I could see my foot, and pointed to the slight spot of discoloration right in the middle. "See that?"
I frowned. "Looks like a freckle."
"That it does. Only, if you run your finger over it, you feel a slight hardness around the edges compared to the rest of your foot."
I did. "It's the tracker?"
"Yep."
"Landsend can make trackers that small?"
"Not only small, but untraceable to current finders."
"And you know this because you have one in you?" It was a guess, but not much of one.
He smiled. "Yes, I have one. But they don't entirely trust it, so I have followers as well."
"Why don't they trust it on you? It obviously works."
"Because I know how to remove it, and do so when it suits me not to be found. He thinks the signal is faulty, hence the followers."
"You play a dangerous game, Misha."
"Extremely." He reached over to our pile of clothes, and pulled a knife from the pocket of his jeans. "Hold still," he said.
He cut into my foot. Not deeply, so the pain wasn't really that sharp. After a few seconds, he grunted, then held up the spot on a fingertip so I could see. Now it looked like a freckle with four fine, wiry legs. He dropped it to the floor and smashed it under his heel.
"He will of course know you've found the bug."
"As long as he can no longer track me, I couldn't care less." I studied Misha for a moment. "He can't track me now, can he?"
"As far as I know, that was the only bug he placed. You can't use more than one on a person - stuffs up the signal or something like that."
"And I presume Kade has one, as well?"
"Everyone of importance to the project had one. Just in case."
"Then excuse me while I make a quick, phone call."
He shrugged. I pulled the cell from the pocket of my jeans and quickly dialed Jack's number. It was busy, so I left a message giving details about the bug and how to remove it.
That done, I shoved the phone back into my pocket, and said, "So tell me why Hunt was killed."
Misha relaxed back into the opposite bag. "He'd reached the end of his usefulness."
"And the fact that you're now talking about him means he wasn't a player, let alone a major player."
"Yes."
"So why not simply tell me his name in the first place?"
"He's dead, so the restrictions on my mentioning his name have gone." His smile was cold. "Besides, it was never part of the agreement that I make things easy for you."
True. But it was occasionally nice to think things could be easy. Stupid, I know. "Then Hunt was simply a means of gathering information?"
"Yes."
"To top-secret military bases."
"And what they were doing. But also a means of keeping an eye on the various investigations, both military and civilian."
"I'm gathering the Directorate wasn't one of those - you already have a man in there."
He smiled. "And here I was thinking no one was aware Gautier was one of us."
"Jack's known about him for ages." Which wasn't exactly the truth, but it couldn't hurt having Misha think we were more aware of the situation than we truly were. "Tell me about Mrs. Hunt."
He simply smiled. Meaning he couldn't, or wouldn't.
"What pack does the woman impersonating Mrs. Hunt come from?"
Again with the silence. Obviously, Mrs. Hunt - or whoever she truly was - was someone we had to keep following.
"What about Kade, then? Why was his partner killed and he kept alive?"
"His partner was killed because they were getting too close to a source. Kade was kept alive simply because he had interesting skills."
He certainly did. "What pack has brown eyes, ringed by blue and amber?"
"The Helki pack, who live around Bendigo." His eyes were chips of glittery ice in the hazy light filling the room. "It's simply a matter of asking the right questions, Riley."
I sipped my beer. "What can you tell me about the Helki pack?"
"They're shifters."
I gave him a deadpan sort of look. "We're all shifters." Even if most shapeshifters actually denied the fact they came from the same base stock as weres.
"Yes, but not all weres are shapeshifters in the same way the Helki pack are."
I frowned. "Meaning?"
"Meaning, some can take different animal shapes, other than just a wolf. And some can take on other human shapes."
"You're kidding."
"No."
This had implications I didn't even want to contemplate. "I'm surprised the Helki pack haven't disappeared into the dark recesses of hidden labs."
His smile was grim. "Who's saying many of them haven't?"
We had to find this other damn lab! Had to stop them. "Is the woman I saw tonight a member of the Helki pack?"
His eyes gleamed with amusement. "I think you're beginning to catch on. She's a clone made using the genes of the Helki pack."
More damn clones. Was there a never ending supply of these bastards? "So was the original Mrs. Hunt human, and did she have the same weirdly colored eyes? If not, how did the replacement explain the sudden difference in eye color?"
"The original was human, and her eyes were very similar to a Helki's in color - brown ringed by blue. And the new Mrs. Hunt retreated from her friends and charities for three weeks. The only person who might have noticed the slight difference would have been her husband - except the two of them have been sexually alienated for some time. They still share a room, but not the same bed."
"So the original is dead?"
"Yes."
I took a swig of beer, then changed tack. "You said once before that the answer lies in my past. In lovers from my past."
"Yes."
"Did you mean long-term or short-term lovers?"
"Very short-term, I believe."
Gee, that was going to make it easy. Particularly if he meant "short-term" as in one-night stand. "How far back in the past?"
He hesitated. "Three and a half years ago."
Great. That was going to be a cinch to remember - particularly if it had happened during the moon phase. I rubbed a hand across my eyes. "How connected is that man to the woman I met tonight?"
"Very connected."
"Sister?"
"No."
"Lover?"
"No."
"What then?"
"That I cannot say."
Could not, or would not? Given the smile touching his lips, I suspected the latter. "Is the man we're talking about from the Helki pack?"
"In the same sense as the woman, yes."
Then the Helki pack definitely had to be checked out. What remained of them, anyway. "Can you give me a description?"
He shrugged. "Brown hair, medium build. Blue eyes."
Ordinary, in other words. Then I frowned. "I thought you said he was a member of the Helki tribe?"
"I did."
"How could he have blue eyes?"
"The color of the eyes change, depending on what form they're wearing."
I raised my eyebrows. "Then why wouldn't the fake Mrs. Hunt just complete the disguise and take on the original's true eye color?"
"Because such transformations take a lot of energy and power. The less you actually have to transform, the longer you can hold the transformation. And the eyes, believe it or not, are one of the hardest items to hold and maintain."
"Them being the windows to the soul and all that."
"Yes." He paused. "Has anyone ever said you've got extremely expressive eyes?"
"No, and I'm not interested in hearing it from you, either."
He smiled. It reminded me of a cat watching a mouse he knew he was about to eat.
"So, the man sent to seduce me three or so years ago wasn't wearing his true form?" Which meant remembering him wasn't going to help anyway.
"No."
I drank some more beer, then asked, "What did he claim to do as a job?"
"I believe he said he was military."
Military? I'd only ever danced with one military man, and had ended up losing part of my heart to him. But it couldn't be Jaskin. He'd been checked and silently approved by the Directorate - there couldn't have been anything remotely dodgy about his past.
And there'd been no other military lovers - had there? I frowned, remembering back to when I'd first met Jaskin. Remembered then the man before him - the man who had introduced us.
He'd come from the same carrier, but had somehow gotten separated from his shipmates and had ended up at the Blue Moon alone. Or so he'd told me. The moon had been two nights from full bloom and the fever had been riding me hard. Though I was with a couple of regular mates at the time, there'd been something about him that attracted me - a dangerous edge that spoke to the wildness. We danced the rest of the evening, and had agreed to meet the following night.
Only, he didn't come back alone. Jaskin and several others had been with him. They, too, had that edge, but something else had just clicked between me and Jaskin, and it was him rather than the first man I danced with all night long.
God, what was the first man's name?
Ben. No, something stranger. Benito. Benito Verdi.
Finally, I had a lead I could follow. It might be a total dead end, but at least it was something.
"Was that blue eyed man the first plant?"
"The first attempt at a plant, yes."
"Why?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, what did I do or say at that particular time that tipped you and your lab-mates off to the fact that I was something more than an ordinary wolf?"
"It was actually Gautier who suggested it. He said you were extraordinarily fast for a wolf, and could be a good donor for our labs or other experiments. He also said it was obvious you knew he was about, even when he was shadowed."
Something no wolf could do. But then, why hadn't Gautier also noticed those same facts when it came to Rhoan? Why mention me, and not my brother?
And then it hit me. Rhoan drank blood. That was why they'd never questioned his speed, his reflexes. They all thought he was a wolf who'd performed the ritual ceremony and blood-sharing to become a vampire.
After all, he worked at night, came home at dawn. Well, when he did come home, that is. The Jensen red wolf pack might be a small one in Australia, but our pack had a long history over in England and Ireland, so the fact that he was a Jensen was no clue in itself of his age. No one at the Directorate knew we were brother and sister - no one except Jack and the Director herself - and it certainly wasn't in our files. Hell, even his birth date on file was fake. But then, a lot of vampires did the exact same thing. Fake records was how many of the older vampires had gotten through the centuries undiscovered.
It was very possible to think him a vampire - and a vampire old enough to stand a little daylight.
Which was good for him. Not so good for me. After all, the bastards were still after me.
"So," I said, "you began to watch me?"
He nodded and sipped his beer. His gaze slipped leisurely down my body, his hunger beginning to roll across my flesh in ever-warming waves. Obviously, I'd yet to finish payment for the night. "I even lived in a building across from you for over a year. Believe me, I loved the fact none of your windows had blinds."
I raised an eyebrow. "You played Peeping Tom? And here I was thinking you were at least above that."
"It's in the nature of a male to look." His smile grew. "As it is in the nature of a female to flaunt."
"Flaunting and looking are perfectly fine. Spying is an entirely different matter." I hesitated. "So why you, anyway? Especially seeing it was Talon who was then placed in the position to be my mate?"
He shrugged. "You knew Gautier, and seemed to be too aware of his presence. Talon considered himself beyond a watching brief, and our other clone brother had already failed."
So that blue-eyed man was another clone, like the woman playing Mrs. Hunt? Why then say they were Helki - unless he was counting them as Helki because that was the source of their DNA? "But why not have one of your underlings do it?"
"The man I work for has no trust of underlings. I was ordered to do it, so I did."
I frowned. "You don't look the type to stand back and take orders easily."
"I'm not, but when it comes to this man, I have no choice. There is no real hiding from him, because the five of us are locked in telepathic contact. He is far stronger than the rest of us, and would kill any of us the minute he sensed betrayal. I have no wish to die before my time is truly up."
"So you skirmish from the edges, and send in others to do your dirty work." Like me.
He nodded.
"Then why aren't you dead right now? You're plotting his demise via the Directorate, are you not?"
His smile sent a shiver up my spine. "Yes, I am. But he cannot monitor every thought, every wish, and as long as I avoid certain key words, I can slip under the radar, so to speak."
So the reason he wasn't telling me certain things wasn't so much that he couldn't, more the fact that those words would attract unwanted mental attention.
"Then why try and place a mate on me? Why not simply snatch me?"
"Because of the Directorate, and your friendship with Rhoan. We did not wish to chance discovery, and weren't about to risk it by taking you. Not until we were sure you were worth the effort."
That raised my eyebrows. "Yet by snatching Rhoan, you ensured Directorate notice anyway."
He snorted. "That was Talon's arrogance coming into play. He never would believe the Directorate weren't all fools, or that they would notice his activities if he wasn't more circumspect. Of course, he didn't actually realize the lab had snatched Rhoan - not until after your raid to get him back." Amusement touched his lips. "That was very well done, by the way."
"Thanks."
He nodded. I took another drink of beer, then asked, "Why not kill Talon once we had him?"
"What was the point? Talon can tell you nothing."
Because the knowledge had been burned away. "So, originally, the plan was for Talon to keep an eye on me?"
He nodded again. "Of course, we didn't actually witness any of the abilities Gautier mentioned until recently."
"You mean the wolf who shot me with silver and recorded the whole event?"
"Yes. Seeing you shadow like that confirmed what Gautier had been saying all along."
"So why then? Why not try something like that earlier?"
"Because the day before, Gautier witnessed you taking out two vamps. No wolf, no matter how fast they are or how young the vampires are, should be able to do that. He demanded we do a test. This time, he was listened to."
So Gautier was the reason my life had headed down the toilet of late. Or, at least, he was partially responsible. If I'd walked away from the nightclub that night, ignored curiosity and the scent of blood on the wind, then maybe my life would have been normal. Or as normal as it could have been given Talon had decided I'd make the perfect incubator for his "perfect" child.
But if I had walked away, all of those people in the club would have died, rather than just some of them. And the knowledge that I could have stopped it and didn't would have been even harder to live with than all the crap I was currently going through.
"If you were my watcher initially, why then was Talon placed on me rather than you?"
"Simple. After months of doing nothing but watching you every night, I wanted you fiercely. And that's the very reason he placed Talon on you."
And I'd fallen for Talon's bait - hook, line, and sinker. But then, his bait had certainly been impressive. "Your boss sounds a petty man."
"He is because he was taught to be." He caught my foot in his hands, his expression becoming slightly distracted as he began to knead my instep.
"But if you were ordered to stay away from me, how come you ended up being my mate anyway?"
His grin was sudden, and more than a little malicious. "Because it pissed Talon off."
"So the man behind all this knew you were also trying to get me pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Then why was I kidnapped and placed in that breeding center?"
"They saw an opportunity and grabbed it." He paused. "Over ninety percent of clones and ninety-five percent of their lab-bred crosses are sterile, and they have yet to ascertain why."
"I'm facing those same fertility issues," I reminded him. "No one is actually sure if I can get pregnant, either."
"No, no one is sure whether you can carry to term. Right now, you're totally capable of becoming pregnant."
I didn't bother refuting his assumptions. "So who was fucking me in that breeding center? The man with the blue eyes who thinks that I owe him?"
"Yes."
"Was he the only one?"
"No."
"Then who else?"
"One of the men behind the man."
And thanks to the accident, I couldn't remember a goddamn thing. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Because he was there to give instructions, and because he likes a hot bit of tail."
"I'm gathering he prefers his tail lifeless."
My voice was dry, and Misha smiled again. "Feisty is not a preferred option - but it just might hook him where subservience hasn't."
I raised my eyebrows. "That a piece of advice?"
"A dangerous one, but yes."
"Also useless if you don't give me a name."
"All things come in time, Riley."
I was betting it was going to be a long time before I got the name, though. "So why was he there passing on instructions rather than the big man himself?"
"Because it is safer."
But safe from what? Certainly not us, because we had no idea who he was. Not yet, anyway. I studied him for a moment, then said, "If your boss is so dangerous, why are you here now?"
He raised an eyebrow. "If I answer honestly, I want another two hours with you."
Like I had a choice? Like I'd even know if he was being honest? I shrugged. "Whatever."
"The reason is twofold. First, I've long been at odds with my lab-mates and our so-called leader. Their vision has never been mine."
Meaning the leader of this little crew wasn't a lab-mate? Then who - or what - was he? "And their vision is?"
"As I said before, originally it was a quest for perfection. The desire to create the perfect humanoid, one possessing the most desirable characteristics from all branches of humanity."
"I'm guessing that changed when your master of creation died in the fire."
He nodded. "Now it's more a quest for domination and power."
It was on my lips to ask for his name, but he wouldn't answer a direct question. "Did a brother from a previous batch of clones take over?"
"No. We were the first batch to have survivors into adulthood."
"Then who?"
He raised an eyebrow, a smile touching his thin lips. "His son."
I frowned. "One of your later clone-mates?"
"No. His naturally born son."
That wasn't in any of the records I'd read. And obviously not in the records Jack had read - unless, of course, he did know about the son, and just hadn't told me. Given Jack played his cards seriously close to his chest and I was only a liaison, not an actual guardian, that was all too possible.
"There's no record of said son," I stated.
"No. He was born to one of the women he was using to take eggs from. Our lab father apparently thought it better not to register the birth."
Yet he'd registered his clones, even if he'd lied about what they actually were.
"That would have made getting credit and insurance cards a bitch," I stated dryly.
Amusement briefly warmed the cold depths of his eyes. "Not when you have the ability to assume other people's identities."
I blinked, then said slowly, "Our man is from the Helki pack?" And if Misha was speaking the truth, he was starting to give us some real information.
He nodded. "He's a mix of Helki and human."
"Meaning, the birth mother was Helki?"
He nodded again.
"And what does he actually do for a living?"
Misha merely smiled. I changed tack. "Is he in the military?"
"No."
"Is he a scientist, or in control of a research company like yourself or Talon?"
"No."
"He's a businessman?"
"He calls himself that, amongst other things."
"High profile?"
"Sort of."
"In the news a lot?"
"No."
That made me frown. How could you be a high-profile businessman without being in the news a lot? That didn't make any sense.
"How about his mom? Is she still alive?"
His quick smile was almost proud. "Very good. And yes."
"And he's still on speaking terms with his mom?"
He hesitated. "You could say they have a close working partnership, but it is one not many are aware of."
Very cryptic indeed. But obviously, we had to start with the mom, and the Helki pack. "Can you tell me her name?"
He considered the question for a moment. "What was the name of your mate immediately before myself and Talon?"
"I wouldn't have a friggin' clue."
He grinned. "Then get a clue, and use the feminine form."
"Shit."
"No, I don't believe that was it."
I gave him a deadpan look. "What about a surname?"
"I can't give the whole package on a plate. We both know that once I do, you're out of here." His fingers began to play up and down my leg. "And I intend to drag out my time with you as long as humanly possibly."
He'd certainly dragged out his time tonight. "You haven't yet actually answered my question."
"What question would that be?"
He reached out to touch me, but I caught his hand in mine, squeezing it a little harder than necessary to remind him I wasn't just a wolf. That I was, indeed, more than he could really handle if I chose to get nasty. "Why are you here?"
"Because everything is a game, and I tire of it. I want a normal life, for what remains of my life."
The edge of wistfulness in his voice had me believing him. But then, Misha was a very good actor. He'd certainly managed to fool me into believing he was a kind and gentle soul for the past year. And fact was, he wasn't. He was doing this for his own reasons - reasons he'd yet to fully explain.
He reached forward and caught my wrist, then tugged me off the beanbag and between his legs. "Enough for the night. I want the rest of my payment."
"Not until you give me somewhere to start, Misha."
He considered me for a moment. "There were two labs. The sister runs the second one."
"I thought you said he was an only child."
"No, I said the father had one natural child. I didn't say the mother only had the one."
"So the half-sister is a Helki?"
He nodded. "And runs the second lab."
"Which is Libraska?"
"Yes. And now that you have your starting point, I've said enough for one night. I want the rest of my payment."
He got it, and then I got the hell out of there. I blew out a breath as I left the club, and let my gaze travel up and down the street. Even though dawn had barely begun to streak the sky with wisps of rose, Lygon Street was alive with people and sound, the air rich with the aromas of wolf and humans, as well as the multiple, mouth-watering scents of meats and freshly baked breads. This end of the street had become a werewolf meeting zone, thanks to the close proximity of the two clubs, and many restaurants now opened their doors to cater for the all-night trade.
My stomach rumbled a reminder that it hadn't eaten in a while. I gazed longingly at the Italian restaurant across the road, but knew the Directorate personnel who were watching the Rocker had probably already reported my appearance out on the street. Annoying Jack was never a good idea, and if I didn't report in immediately, he'd be really annoyed. Food would have to wait until I made my report.
Ignoring the ongoing rumbling, I rummaged through my bag until I'd found the cell phone Jack had given me earlier. The phone on the other end rang all of three times before it was answered.
"Be there in five," a warm, rich voice said.
I blinked in surprise. "Kade? What the hell are you doing answering this phone?"
"Jack and Rhoan are still talking to Ross James. I was told to stand by for you."
"And Quinn?"
"Hasn't yet made an appearance. See you soon."
I grunted and hung up Crossing my arms, I leaned against the Perspex wall of a nearby public phone booth, and watched the burgeoning line of traffic crawl along Lygon Street, some heading for the city, some heading to the suburbs and the many industrial estates scattered about the sprawling edges of Melbourne. Though it was barely six now, the crawling snakes of traffic would be at a virtual standstill within half an hour. Which is why I tended to catch public transport to work even when I did own a car - at least I could sleep in an extra hour and a half by doing so.
A yellow cab pulled to a halt beside the curb I looked inside, saw that it was Kade, and climbed into the back.
"You look tired," he said, pulling into the traffic with the brutal efficiency of a regular cab driver.
"That's because I am." I hesitated, sniffing the air, my taste buds suddenly watering at a tantalizingly familiar scent "Is that coffee I smell ?"
His gaze met mine in the mirror, a warm smile touching his lips "I thought you might need it after working all night."
He reached across to the seat next to him, then handed back not only a jumbo cup of coffee, but a burger as well. If he hadn't have been driving, I might have leaned forward and hugged him. Not only because he knew exactly what I needed right at that moment, but because he didn't give me any attitude about what I'd been doing.
He simply accepted. Or didn't care. Either way, it was nice.
I flipped open the lid of the coffee container. The thick, hazelnutty aroma curled to my nostrils, and I breathed deep, then smiled. Maybe I should just give men up and stick to coffee. It gave me pleasure without all the hassles.
"Thank you," I said to Kade, and took a sip.
His smile flashed via the mirror. "You know there's an ulterior motive."
"And here I was thinking you did it out of the goodness of your heart."
"Oh, that too."
I grinned. "It'll take more than coffee to get me into the sack right now."
"How about a spa filled with aromatherapy oils?"
"Depends what sort of aromatherapy oils we're talking about."
"Ah. There's a difference?"
"Some are definitely worth more bed time than others."
"What about a mix of lavender and ylang-ylang?"
"Nice. I think they'd earn you a couple of hours, at least."
"Done deal."
Kade did a sharp left, and coffee slopped threateningly around the rim of the cup. "Warn me next time," I chided. "Spilling my coffee will land you right out of my bed again." I hesitated, looking around. Unless this was a shortcut I wasn't aware of, we were now headed away from the Genoveve labs where Jack had set up shop. "Where are we going?"
"To get that bath."
I raised my eyebrows. "Doesn't Jack want us to report back ASAP?"
"Jack is busy," he replied, his gaze front and center as he wove the cab in and out of traffic and parked cars like a man on a mission. "And there's one rule in this game you should never forget."
"And what game and rule are we talking about?"
"This game. The investigative business." His gaze met mine briefly. "Never run yourself into the ground for them. They'll take and take until you have no more to give, then they'll cast you aside to find fresher meat."
"I'm not an investigator, and I'm not a guardian."
"Maybe not officially." His expression was grim as he swerved to avoid a parking car. "And that makes it worse. Think about it - ten days ago you were in a coma, and so badly smashed up no one in that center thought you were going to come out of it. Since then, you've been in the middle of investigations, have been attacked several times, and have taken little in the way of time out."
"We can't afford time-outs. Not if we want to catch these people off guard."
"Is catching these people off guard more important than your health? You look tired, and you've lost weight, even in the brief few days I've known you."
"Having someone attempting to kill you all the time does tend to halt the appetite, you know. And constant sex doesn't help, either."
"And using sex as a means of questioning suspects is not only good exercise, but an extremely stressful situation. I know." He met my gaze again. "Ring Rhoan. Tell him what you learned. Let him uncover the truth from the lies while you rest."
"Has he got a hand in this?"
"I told him what I was going to do, and where I intended to take you. I'm not a fool, and have no wish to incur your pack-mate's wrath."
Wise man. "So where are you intending to take me?"
"To a mare's place in Toorak."
I frowned. "I thought you said your mares had scattered?"
"I did. And they did. But Sable went overseas before I went undercover, and she's not due back for another two months."
The name, and the fact that he seemed sure he'd find the exact scents I wanted, had me staring at him in disbelief. "We're not talking Sable Kandell, are we?" The woman was the latest TV phenomenon, with her show rating through the roof and all five of her books still amongst the best sellers.
"That would be my girl."
His voice held a hint of pride, and I blinked. "How did a military man like you get hooked up with a stunner like that?"
"Simple. We grew up together. She was mine from the word go."
Obviously, there was a whole lot about the horse-shifter culture that I didn't know. "So why let her go overseas? I thought all you stallions were too proprietary to allow something like that."
He ignored the light changing from amber to red, swung right into Hoddle Street, then said, "Oh, have no fear, she's branded as mine. No other stallion would dare touch her."
Stallions branded their mates? Thank God I wasn't a mare - and that wolves didn't have such barbaric practices. "Considering she's overseas, how would you know?"
"I'd know." His voice was flat, and certainly didn't invite further questions. Maybe it was secret stallion stuff. "Call Rhoan," he added, and handed me a phone.
So I called Rhoan, and told him everything Misha and Kellen had told me. Kade pulled into a beautiful old English mansion right in the middle of what was quaintly termed "millionaires row." Meaning, the folk in this street were considered the poorer cousins of the Toorak crowd. Of course, most of the really rich cousins had moved on to leafy Brighton.
Kade led me inside, poured me a glass of wine to drink while he readied the spa, dropped in the scents I'd asked for, then helped me strip and climb in. As the piece de resistance, he leisurely washed my hair as the warm water bubbled around my limbs, easing tensions I hadn't realized existed even as the flowery scents touched the air, soothing and relaxing.
Once he'd helped me dry off, he sat me down and combed my hair, and, though at that point I was ready and willing to dance with him, he led me to bed, tucked me in, and walked away.
It occurred to me then that no other man in my life - besides my brother - had ever treated me so sensually, so lovingly, so damn wonderfully, just because he knew I needed it. Which was a rather sad statement about my life and my relationships to date. Even Quinn, for all his fine words about needing to be in my life, had yet to show the sort of caring Kade had just shown.
Really, the only man in my life showing any real potential as a permanent mate was Kellen, and I barely even knew him.
Maybe I should just cut my losses and play with Kade. I might never find my soul mate, but at least I'd be guaranteed a little tender loving care every now and again.
I was beginning to wonder if Quinn even knew what that was.
It was near five by the time we arrived at Genoveve, and considering we should have been there in the morning rather than late in the afternoon, Jack was in a surprisingly good mood. I wish the same could be said for Quinn. He was standing near the windows, looking out over the old arena, his hands clasped behind his back and tension riding his shoulders. His air of disapproval and anger hit so hard it was like a physical blow. I staggered, gasping to breathe as the air around me seemed to bubble and boil in fury.
Kade grabbed my arm, holding me upright. "Jesus, what's happening?"
"Riley?" Rhoan said, almost at the same time.
I ignored them both, my gaze boring into Quinn's stiff back as I gasped, "Quinn, stop it."
He glanced at me sharply, then the sense of his anger snapped into nothingness, and suddenly I could breathe again.
I put a hand up, stopping Rhoan as he hurried toward me. "It's okay. I'm okay." I squeezed Kade's hand, and he released me, yet kept near, as if afraid I was going to topple again.
Rhoan frowned as his gaze drifted between me and Quinn. "What happened?"
"I can sense what Quinn is feeling if he isn't shielding properly."
Rhoan's frown deepened, but it was Jack who said, "Empathy is not one of your talents."
"I don't think it's empathy, or I'd be sensing what everyone was feeling." I hesitated. "I think it has more to do with that link we created when we were about to raid Talon's labs. It seems to have gone deeper than we intended."
Jack didn't look convinced. "And it might just be the first sign that the ARC 1-23 is starting to take effect. We'll have to get you back into the lab for more tests."
"Sorry, but I'm over being pricked, prodded, and poked right now." In more ways than one. "Let's just get this mess sorted out first."
He grunted, and looked back to his com-screen. "It seems Misha is finally giving us some worthwhile information."
I walked across to one of the comfy chairs and plonked down. Kade stayed where he was and leaned a shoulder against the wall. Quinn continued to do his silent and angry vampire act.
"In what way?" I asked Jack.
He leaned back in his chair, and practically beamed. In all the years I'd worked for him, I'd never seen him this happy, and I wasn't entirely sure whether to be amused or scared.
"We've been aware of the Helki pack's activities for some time," he said. "They're black market racketeers and sell everything from stolen car parts to government secrets. But because you wolves tend to be very tightly knit, we've been unable to get anyone in there to collect the proof we need."
"Without getting anyone in there, you're not going to be able to glean too much information about them."
"No, only what we're able to ascertain from keeping a continuous watch on them."
I raised an eyebrow. "That wouldn't happen to be where Gautier's been this last month, is it?"
Jack nodded. "It's better we keep him out of trouble while we decide what to do with him."
"But if he's working for these people, he's not likely to report back anything useful. He might even warn the Helki pack they're being watched."
"He might not give us real information, but I doubt he'd warn them. That would be showing his hand, and I don't think he's ready to do that yet."
I tucked my legs up underneath me. "Misha really didn't give us a name or anything else to start with. He just pointed us to the pack."
"Ah, but he did give a name." Rhoan's eyes twinkled mischievously - a sure sign he was taking a dig. "Don't tell me you can't remember Robert, the wolf you had just before Talon and Misha? Wasn't he the love of your life?"
Robert. I snorted even as I remembered him, and barely resisted the urge to throw something at my brother. But only because there wasn't anything within immediate reach. "For all of a few weeks. Until I realized the bastard was using me to get closer to you."
He grinned. "Actually, he had this fantasy about the three of - "
"Don't even go there."
"Bringing this back to business," Jack said, giving Rhoan an annoyed look. "There's a Roberta Whitby who is the current head of the Helki pack."
Rhoan and I shared a surprised glance. "A woman is the head of the pack?" he said.
"Yes. Why?"
"Because women are never head of the packs. It's always an alpha male."
"Then the Helki pack are obviously one of your more progressive packs."
"There is no such thing as a progressive pack in this matter," Rhoan refuted. "Alpha's lead, not women, not betas, not gammas. It's the rule of the wild, and it's the rule of the pack." He glanced at me. "There'll be a reason why she leads."
"There just might be," I said slowly. "Misha told me the Helki pack are true shifters - some can take on other animal forms, and some can take on other human forms. One of the men who assaulted me in that research cell is one of Misha's clone-mates - and he can apparently take on various human shapes. What if this Roberta was the cell donor? What if he can take on various human shapes because she could?"
Rhoan's frown deepened. "That still wouldn't explain why a woman leads the pack."
"But what if she's something similar to a hermaphrodite? What if she can take on female and male form?"
"That's not possible," Jack said.
"Isn't it? Hermaphrodites exist. If a shifter was born with male and female bits, might it not be possible that he - or she - could take on both forms?"
"That's a bit of a leap."
"Maybe not." I hesitated, remembered my initial reaction on seeing Mrs. Hunt last night - a reaction I'd almost convinced myself to be the result of scrambled brain cells. But put those memories next to Misha's guarded words, and maybe the memories weren't that scrambled after all. "Misha said last night that Mrs. Hunt and the man who used me in the breeding center were very close indeed. What if that was his way of saying they were one and the same person?"
"ltd have to be a long shot, surely," Kade commented.
"Would it? They have the same eyes, and more importantly, they have the same scent."
"Not two spoors smell exactly the same," Rhoan commented. "Even in a family unit, there are slight differences."
"Maybe." Jack didn't sound convinced, but added, "Though it would certainly explain why the various members of the pack have slipped through the traps we've set."
"It could also mean the man in overall charge of the labs can assume any shape," Rhoan commented grimly. "Which means he could be anyone, anywhere."
"It would also explain what happened last night," Quinn commented, his voice totally devoid of emotion.
Yet the heat of his anger whispered across my skin, fleetingly burning. Thankfully, this time it didn't seem to be aimed at me.
"So what happened last night after I left?" I asked curiously.
Quinn still didn't bother turning around. "Mrs. Hunt went straight home after making her statement to the police. The chauffeur put the car away, then went upstairs to the small apartment above the garage. Twenty minutes later, the garage doors opened and the chauffeur was driving back out. Only if the heat signatures were anything to go by, the chauffeur was still in the flat, and the man driving the car was actually Mrs. Hunt."
"You followed the car?"
"To a small house in Gosford."
"He's still there?" And if so, why was Quinn here?
"Guardians now watch the place," Jack said, as if reading my thoughts. "I thought Quinn might be more useful back here."
Where Jack could keep a close eye on him, obviously. "Has Roberta got a daughter?"
He nodded. "Nasia. She was a research scientist at the Holgram Pharmaceutical Laboratories, but quit about seven years ago. According to tax department records, she hasn't had a job since then."
"Or simply hasn't paid tax."
He nodded again. "If she's in charge of the second lab, that's logical."
"So," Kade said heavily, "we have several people who are either full or half Helki, and all of them are probably able to take on any damn form they like. How in hell are we going to catch them?"
"We grab the man at Gosford first - "
"The minute you grab him, any useful information will be burned away," I butted in. "He'll be another Talon."
"If we grab him fast enough, we might be able to stop that from happening." Jack shrugged. "We cannot take the chance of him escaping."
"Better a fried mind than letting him go free to milk more specimens," Kade murmured.
With that, I had to agree. "What about this Roberta?"
"We snatch her as well."
"But won't that raise the alarm for the rest of them?"
"I'm hoping it does, and that in their scramble for cover, they'll make a mistake and reveal themselves fully."
"So how do you intend to snatch Roberta? I wouldn't recommend you sending people in there, because not even guardians could get a pack leader out unseen."
"Fortunately for us, she drives down to Melbourne every Monday night to meet with various friends." He paused, frowning lightly. "Of course, if the daughter is also able to take various shapes, maybe it has been her the mother has been meeting all along."
"Which would imply they might know they are being watched," Kade commented.
"Or it might be that they're taking no chances after Talon's capture," Quinn said.
"Then why wouldn't Roberta take another form?" Kade said.
"Easy," Rhoan said. "She's an alpha, and would think she's more than capable of defending herself. They're arrogant like that."
Maybe that was where Talon had got it from. Maybe even Misha had Helki genes, though if he was able to take on other shapes, I doubt it was something he'd ever admit to me.
"It doesn't matter," Jack said. "We snatch Roberta tonight, and we place a tail on whoever is at that restaurant to meet her."
I raised my eyebrows. "How will you know who is meeting her?"
Jack smiled. "Even the most cunning make simple mistakes. They book the same table every week because it's in a corner, and apparently presents a nice view of the St. Kilda pier and beach."
I glanced at the clock. "It's nearly five-thirty now - surely Roberta will already be on her way down?" Especially considering Bendigo was almost two hours away from Melbourne.
Jack nodded. "She usually reaches the domain tunnel about seven-fifteen. That's where we intend to hit her."
"In the tunnel? That'll make you popular with the rush-hour motorists."
"It's the last place she'll think we'll try."
"Hadn't we better get moving then?"
Jack gave me the look that said, "Don't try telling me how to do my job."
"We aren't going anywhere, because you have a meeting with Misha tonight." I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand. "You want answers, don't you? Misha is certainly giving them, and we can't afford to forsake that right now."
"We may just be helping Misha take over the whole shebang."
"I think you'll find Misha's reasons for this are a whole lot more personal," Quinn commented, looking over his shoulder and meeting my gaze. "It may be a conquest he desires, but that conquest has nothing to do with his clone brothers or his maker's son."
Meaning what he wanted most was me? I snorted softly. "Misha doesn't love me, Quinn. And in case you've missed what's been happening, he still has me in his bed."
He raised a dark eyebrow. "Who mentioned love? This isn't about love - it's about possession."
"Whether it is or isn't is beyond the point," Jack interrupted. "Fact is, you will go to him tonight and continue questioning him. Meantime, Kade, Rhoan, and myself will join the team at the domain tunnel."
"While I do what?" Quinn said remotely.
"The Sydney team should be here at eight with the Gosford man. I thought you might like to help with the interrogation."
The slow smile that touched his lips sent a chill up my spine. If the man who was Mrs. Hunt had any secrets left, Quinn would find them. And he had no intentions of being gentle. If Mrs. Hunt had any sort of reasoning capacity left at the end of it, I'd be very surprised indeed.
All he said was, "Willingly."
Jack thrust to his feet. "Then we should go. Riley, I've arranged a car to take you into Lygon street. We still have the place staked out, so you should be perfectly safe."
Should and would were two entirely different things. I had an odd suspicion that things were going too right for us, that the wheel was about to turn yet again. I rubbed my arms and ignored the premonition. It was only fear - or a simple reluctance to be with Misha again. Clairvoyance wasn't a talent I'd shown the slightest aptitude for - despite what Jack's test had said - and it certainly wasn't one I wanted to be developing.
"I'd prefer to drive myself." Especially given I had no intention of hanging around here with only Quinn and guardians for company. There were better things I could be doing - like checking out a certain restaurant.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Given your record with cars, I do not think that advisable."
"Have I ever crashed a Directorate car?"
"No, but - "
"Then let me take one. We can't afford to presume these people have stopped watching me - or at least, stopped watching the Rocker. With Gautier on their payroll, they probably know the profile of every Directorate employee. They see any of them arrive at the Rocker with me, they'll suspect it's me, disguise or no."
Jack's green eyes narrowed slightly, like he knew I was up to something. Given we'd been working together a long time now, that was entirely possible. But my shields were strong enough to keep him out of my mind, so he couldn't check and be sure.
"All right," he said eventually. "But when the session with Misha is over, you come straight back here. No detours."
"'Deal," I agreed, without qualms. After all, the detour I planned was before my date with Misha, not after.
Jack's frown deepened, but he rose and said, "Let's go," then walked out of the room.
Kade followed. Rhoan stopped by my chair and swooped to kiss my forehead. "Be careful."
"You too."
"I'm not walking into the enemy's boudoir." He squeezed my arm. "Just remember, keep aware even when you're having fun."
"Stop worrying, and just go do your job."
"It's a brother's task to worry about his little sister." He cast a glance Quinn's way, then murmured, "Remember, too, that some sweets, however delicious, can be bad for long-term peace of mind."
"I remember. Now mind your own business and get moving."
He grinned, dropped another kiss on my forehead, then added, "Liander left some wigs and colored lenses if you want to play around with your look. Just promise me you'll keep out of sight when you go into that restaurant."
I grinned. Rhoan didn't need to be psychic to know what I planned - he knew, simply because it was exactly what he'd do. "That I promise."
"Good." He kissed me a third time - three times for luck, as we always said - then pushed away from the chair and left.
Which left me with the moody Quinn. Joy, oh joy.
"We have a conversation to finish," he said, the moment we were alone.
I untucked my legs and walked across to the water dispenser. "I've said all I have to say."
"Then tell me why you fucked Kellen last night. Was it just to get back at me?"
I snorted softly as I filled the little plastic cup. "Quinn, I like you and all, but you seriously need to get over this jealousy thing. Especially when you have no right to it."
"So is that a yes?"
"It's a no. I fucked him because I wanted to, because he was hot, and because I wanted him to answer some questions afterward. Which he did." I took a sip of water and turned around, meeting his stormy gaze. "Kellen was well aware that I came to the event with you, mind. I believe he took great delight in the fact that he took me from you."
"And you intend to see him again?"
"Lots of times. And if you don't like that fact, walk away now. It's not worth the angst to either of us."
Quinn didn't react. "A vampire never walks away from what he considers his." His midnight gaze burned into mine, touching something deep inside, making it quiver, dance. But whether it was joy or fear, I couldn't entirely tell. "I cannot, and will not, walk away. Nor will I let you. And if that means having to put up with you fucking a hundred different wolves, then so be it. What lies between us is worth exploring, and you will hold to the bargain we made."
I raised my eyebrows. "That almost sounded like a threat."
"Take it any damn way you please."
"Threat then. So my next question has to be, or what?"
He was still giving me his vampire look, but underneath it, I had a sense of turmoil. Frustration. "You don't want to know."
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know."
He hesitated. "I have the power to force you to do certain things."
I stared at him, not sure I'd heard him right. Not wanting to believe I'd heard him right. "What?"
His gaze was uncompromising. "We shared blood. That gives me the power to enforce certain actions on you."
"Another thing you forgot to mention when the blood sharing happened." My voice was flat, calm, totally belying the anger that burned deep.
"You were mad with moon fever at the time. Do you really think you would have refused my blood even if I'd taken the time to explain the consequences?"
"No, but you could have warned me afterward." Forewarned is forearmed. Though in this case, I very much suspected being forearmed wouldn't matter a damn.
"Have I yet tried to curtail any of your actions?"
I gave a harsh laugh. "No. Doesn't mean you won't in the future though."
"I won't."
"And would I even know if you did?" He didn't answer and I shook my head. "You know what you've done, don't you? With that one little threat, you've put yourself into an entirely different category in my eyes."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you've just leapt into the basket that contains the men who are using me for their own ends."
"Dammit, Riley, you know - "
"What I know," I cut in harshly, "is that of the three men I'm currently dancing with, Kade is the only one who has shown me any sort of companionship and caring outside the realms of sex. Do you want to know what he did for me today? He took me to a mare's place, ran me a bath, washed my hair, then he tucked me into bed, and left me alone. He looked after me, pampered me, because he damn well knew I needed it. What have you done, except reluctantly accept the sex and blood you desperately needed? Oh, and make demands, or raid my mind?"
He raised an eyebrow. "So what is it you're telling me? That I need to pamper you, romance you, to win your heart?"
"It would certainly be a damn better place to start than calling me a whore, or using threats." I blew out a breath. "Like the song says, 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun.'"
The somewhat disdainful look he gave me suggested he wasn't a fan of old-time pop music - or maybe he'd simply cruised through that era with earmuffs on, and had no idea what I was on about. I added, "Look, I offered the agreement, and I'll stick to it if you're going to get nasty about it. But just don't go expecting anything more serious than a good time. I won't play us one on one, Quinn. I can't afford to."
"All I'm expecting is the chance."
"Then you have it. But I'm warning you now - you try and force me into anything and that will be the end of us. I'll find a way around that order of yours, and I'll walk away. I will not be abused like that. I'm a wolf, not a whore."
"It is not abuse - "
"Then what else do you call forcing someone to do something against their will?"
"In this case, common sense."
"Force is force, regardless of the reason. Don't ever try it on me, Quinn. Not ever."
He didn't answer, and I just got the hell out of the room.