Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“Yes, this was our last refuge. I wanted Rogue to have a nice place to end our days.”
“Why did you decide to take on this territory if you dislike these shifters so much? You don’t trust them.” Maya turned around to face him.
“Have you heard of Drake Donovan? I mentioned him earlier, but you didn’t react. I notice you don’t give much away.”
She nodded. “I’m a freelance researcher. I mainly work for three companies here in the United States and a few in Europe, although I do take on a few other clients occasionally. Not many, because the big three here keep me busy. Donovan International Security Company is one of my biggest clients. A few years back I had to go for an interview. I made it clear I don’t meet in person, so it was going to be a one-time thing, or I wouldn’t work for his company. He agreed. That was the only time I saw him.”
“Did he know you were leopard?”
“This is Wraith’s first heat.”
“Donovan, or maybe it’s his leopard, is very discerning.”
“He had no clue and neither did his leopard. He was interested in how I did my research. I told him if that mattered, I wasn’t the best person for him. If it didn’t, and he wanted a thorough but fast report, I was the right fit. He gave me someone he needed information on and a deadline to turn it in. Very simple work for a test. I had it to him in no time. Then he gave me the real work and it was much more intriguing. I knew immediately we were the right fit. I like what I do.”
He could tell by her voice that she did. It was just a small note, but enthusiasm registered. “Donovan is a friend of my cousins. He came up with a harebrained scheme when many of the local crime lords suddenly began doing business with the bratva. They had developed pipelines and were shuffling women and children from various ports to Russia, Europe and points in the US. Donovan wanted those territories shut down. The problem is the same as it has been for a hundred years. If you cut off the head of the snake, it grows back two, even more vicious than the first.”
Maya nodded in agreement. “I see the problem.”
“Donovan’s idea was to take out the head of a territory dealing in human trafficking. Replace it with one of ours. They would have to be believable and run the territory the way the bratva would run it. Since that’s what we know best, our family is well suited to the work. Donovan knew that, so he came to us and asked if we’d consider it. Fyodor was already working for Arnotto, and when Arnotto died, he took over his territory, albeit reluctantly.”
“That’s how the bratva came to be in San Antonio, mixing with the Italian mob,” Maya said.
Gorya nodded. “My cousin Mitya was forced into taking over another territory. He really wasn’t happy about it. We agreed to help Donovan because we didn’t think there was a chance of finding our leopards’ true mates. Fyodor found his. Mitya fell hard. Timur. Even Sevastyan, and that was a miracle.”
“But you didn’t think you and Rogue had a chance.”
He shook his head. “Not really, no. Like I said, I’m not like them. This territory was kept secret for a long time. It was well established and used as the main hub for distribution of arms and drugs. Suddenly, trafficking became the big moneymaker. They already had the routes set up, with buyers everywhere. Trafficking became huge for them. Rivel, the pakhan, hired the locals, giving them more money than they could ever make fishing. He spread money to his men, although when I had the books checked from each of his businesses, there was quite a lot of theft taking place. Braum Malcom, the man he relied on, was cheating him left and right.”
“That doesn’t tell me why you decided to take over this particular territory. You had to know when you did, especially if you were going to shut off the biggest moneymaker, you were going to be painting a huge target on your back. The locals would want you dead. Every shifter taking that money inside the lair would want you dead. Those cheating the books would definitely want you dead. We aren’t even talking about any of them aspiring to be the leader of the lair. And then every single person doing business with Rivel you shut out. Most likely, they’ll put out contracts on you.”
“I considered that. In fact, Donovan made that very clear. He didn’t offer me the job at first. He wanted one of my tougher cousins. Timur would never leave Fyodor. Sevastyan wasn’t about to leave Mitya. Neither ever aspired to be vor. They’re security and they like it that way. I told Donovan I’d do it. Rogue and I needed action. We were getting too close to insanity. I thought the mental and physical action would be good for us.” He sighed and rubbed at his beard. “I was wrong.”