The Mercenary Read online

“Hell,” breathed Laura when she finally found her tongue. “So you could be a little kitty too.”

  “I would say more like a big kitty,” Mark said as he distracted himself with his drink. “Jodie reeks of too much power to be such a small animal. If I had to guess I’d say that she is one of the two animals Danny possesses, the attraction he has for her is very un-natural.”

  “You’re one of those thingies too?” Ainsley gasped from the doorway. Standing frozen in place, a bottle of spray’n-wipe and a cloth clutched in hand, she looked ready to crumple.

  Chapter 18

  An uncomfortable silence settled over the room as nobody seemed to want to be the first to speak. Jodie’s chest had tightened and it had become difficult to breathe. She felt like she had been keeping a dirty secret; the last thing she wanted was to be alienated from her two best friends. Not at the time she needed them the most. Confused and scared, she didn’t want to have to be justifying the situation to someone else. Jodie wished she could wake up and find that it had all been a terrible dream.

  Hearing voices in the hallway a short time later came as a relief, the evening had been tiresome and seemed so much longer than it had spanned so far. Listening carefully, Jodie picked out Adam and Eddie’s voices raised in a heated discussion. Mark ran out into the foyer to see what had happened, the three women right behind him.

  Adam and Eddie had one of the guys from the fight at the club gagged and blindfolded, restraining him by each taking an arm. The man struggled beneath their grasp, digging in his heels and throwing his weight about all over the place. Loud protests gurgled out of his throat, muffled by the rag prying open his jaw. Their raised voices appeared to be directed at him and not each other, but this only offered a small reassurance.

  Before Mark could ask how everything had gone, Danny bounded into the room in leopard form. Rufus followed close behind and he wasn’t human either. Ainsley’s eyes grew wide, her lips parted in wordless horror. Emitting a noise that sounded much more a squeak than an attempt at conversation, she ducked behind Jodie and Laura. Jodie could feel her slight trembling, but both she and Laura kept their eyes facing forward.

  Eddie paused, wrenching open the large pair of drawbars securing the basement door. With his concentration broken for a moment, the man almost got away. Danny grabbed a hold of one of his ankles with his teeth and Rufus bellowed. This brought Jarvis and Doug at a run.

  “Fucking hell Rufus, do you have to do that in the house?” Mark shouted. “I value my hearing thank you.”

  “Can we just get this guy down there, my shoulder is killing me,” complained Adam.

  Danny growled, though he did not let go of the man’s leg. The prisoner stood still, waiting in silence as Eddie unlocked the door. Adam lurched forward and shoved the guy through. Stumbling down the first few steps, the man grabbed wildly for the rail, his cuffed hands just catching it in time to stop him from falling. Danny and Rufus trotted down after, with Adam last. As soon as Adam’s blonde head had disappeared from view, Eddie relocked the door.

  “How will they get back out?” Ainsley asked in a small voice.

  “They’ll let us know when they’re ready,” Mark assured her.

  No sooner had he spoken when Rufus let out another roar. The walls and door muffled the noise but the unmistakable sound still sent shivers down Jodie’s spine.

  Eddie came to Ainsley, his face tired and sad, “hey babe. How are you doing? I’m sorry tonight got crazy.”

  Ainsley threw her arms around him and buried herself in his shirt. The soft sounds of her weeping could be heard, though she managed to compose herself within a few minutes. Satisfied that all was well, Jarvis and Doug went back to the office. Eddie and Ainsley excused themselves too and wandered off down the hall but moments later Eddie’s yell could be heard.

  “Shiiit! Babe, what did you do to my room?” “I think Ainsley cleaned,” Jodie said to Laura.

  “It appears so,” she grinned, “poor Eddie.”

  For a moment Jodie wondered if that had been the icebreaker they’d needed to relieve the thick tension.

  Knitting her brows together, Laura addressed Mark. “So when will they be finished in the basement? I hoped someone might set a few things straight. It’s already after three in the morning and I would like to sleep at some point.”

  “Sometimes interrogation can take hours, maybe I should get you a couple of blankets and you can make yourself comfortable on the couch.”

  Laura considered the notion, “I am tempted to do just that, but if I wake up in the morning and everyone has disappeared for the day... I’m going to be very pissed off. I am not leaving here until I have a few more facts.”

  Mark sighed, making no secret of his displeasure. “Someone will answer your questions in the morning. If nobody else is here, I will do it.”

  “Great,” Laura nodded without the faintest hint of a smile. “Then I will gladly take the blankets you offered.”

  Jodie didn’t have anything to wear to bed and spring had only just begun. Too cold to sleep naked without Danny to cuddle up to. Rifling through his things didn’t make Jodie feel very good, but she decided that Danny wouldn’t mind if she borrowed a shirt.

  The first drawer she opened contained numerous pairs of silk boxers and a line of rolled up pairs of socks. The next drawer contained a tidy stack of neatly folded t-shirts. Smiling at his sense of order Jodie selected a navy-blue colored one, bringing it up to her cheek. It smells of Danny, so good... She giggled to herself over the fact that she’d just stroked a t-shirt against the side of her face. Slipping out of her clothes, Jodie threw the shirt on and jumped up onto the bed. Burying herself beneath the covers, she surprised herself by drifting off right away.

  Two hours later, Jodie awoke to a loud thumping at the door. She found Danny pacing on the other side, still in leopard form. After letting him in she closed the door behind them, lips turned upward in a goofy grin. He jumped up onto the bed and made his playful sound, cocking his head to the side, pleading with her to come and join him.

  “Pirrrt?”

  “It’s five o’clock in the morning. I’m too tired to play,” she moaned.

  Jodie climbed back into bed and Danny nudged her chest with his big furry head. Stroking him with a smile, she scratched behind his ears. As he began to purr, she chuckled and hugged him tight.

  All of a sudden Jodie felt something inside herself that she’d never felt before. It was as though her heart had doubled in size and burned a hole right through her chest. Oh God it hurts... Agony gripped her and it seemed as though something wild inside of Jodie wanted to break free. Danny sat up and sniffed the air letting out a low growl. An ear turned back as he continued to sniff. Tail curling this way and that, his nose got closer and closer to her chest. Whatever was going on inside of her, he could smell it. What if it’s my beast trying to get out? She began to panic.

  Jodie’s breathing grew shallow and a wave of burning heat enveloped her entire body. Terrified of what might happen, Jodie clawed at her own chest. She didn’t want this right now, especially when she didn’t know what to expect. Not yet! It’s too soon, I’m not ready!

  Grabbing fistfuls of Danny’s pale grey fur, Jodie struggled to stop her heart from beating out of control. Once he smelled her fear Danny changed back to human. Crawling closer he enclosed her in his embrace, pressing his cheek to hers. With gentle movements he stroked her hair, his scent and energy wrapping around her like a blanket.

  “It’s okay honey, don’t be afraid,” his response came upon tender whisper. “If you feel the need to change I’ll be right here.”

  “That’s never happened to me before,” Jodie breathed, her voice shaky and her body still trembling. Danny’s tone had calmed her somewhat, but none of the words had sunk in.

  “That’s the first time you’ve seen my leopard since we had sex. It seems to be drawing your beast to the surface. I’m sorry, I didn’t think, I should have known that would happen.”

&nb
sp; “How could you have known?” She asked in bewilderment.

  “Our human sides have consummated our relationship, strengthening our bond. Our cats want to bond too.”

  “Oh,” Jodie said, confused. Didn’t he say that it had to be someone who shared her genetics to help with her first change?

  “Thank you for coming here tonight, I’m sorry your evening got ruined.”

  “It didn’t get ruined. It was just... weird.”

  “You look cute in my shirt.”

  Jodie glanced down at what she wore and felt the color rise in her cheeks. “I didn’t have anything to wear to bed and I got cold.”

  Danny gave her a dimpled grin. “No need to explain.”

  He slid into bed beside Jodie and kissed her. Too tired for more she melted into his embrace, grateful just to be near him. The next time she awoke they were in the exact same places, Jodie in a fetal position with Danny pressed against her back, legs hooked under hers. He was just enough taller that he fit perfectly against her. With a yawn, Jodie looked around for a clock.

  “It’s 8:30 am,” a smooth voice whispered in her ear.

  “You’re awake,” she murmured. “How’d you guess I wanted to know the time?”

  “It’s the first thing you do every time you wake up.”

  She rolled to face him, propping herself up on an elbow, “really? In the short amount of times we’ve woken up next to each other, you’ve come to that conclusion?”

  Danny pretended not to have heard her. “I’ve changed my mind about you borrowing my shirt, I think you should take it off immediately,” he said.

  Unable to resist a smile, Jodie did as he asked. The next thing she knew, they were lost in a tangle of kisses and touching. His fingers danced up and down her torso as he sucked her lower lip into his mouth. Leaning closer, he began to hook a leg over her thigh. Right up until a knock sounded at the door.

  “What?” Danny grumbled in frustration.

  “I’ve made coffee!”

  For the love of Pete, it’s Ainsley. Talk about timing. Jodie sighed as she called back to her, “We’ll be right there.”

  “No we won’t,” disagreed Danny as he kissed Jodie’s breast.

  “Yes we will,” she called back, giggling as Danny began to tickle her. “Stop it!” She hissed.

  “Well it’s in the kitchen if you want it,” Ainsley said, seeming oblivious to what went on inside the room.

  It took Jodie three attempts to break free from Danny’s arms and when she finally did, she fell right off the bed.

  “Wow, your coffee addiction is worse than I thought,” He teased as he leaned over the side to look down at her with a cheeky smirk.

  The only one absent from the kitchen when they got there was Leon. Mark, who had made fruit filled crepes served with cream, stood busy at the stove as he finished cooking. Doug and Adam sat at the counter, leaving a couple of spaces at the table for Danny and Jodie. When they sat down Jodie’s eyes fell upon Rufus across the table, lingering on the deep gouge marks across his broad shoulders.

  “Ouch,” she murmured, wincing a little.

  “That’s what happens when you play with pigs,” he said, his casual shrug filled with nonchalance.

  “Jodie, you didn’t get your coffee,” Ainsley clicked her tongue, curls bouncing as she shook her head. “Honestly I have to do everything for you sometimes.”

  She bustled over to the counter as though Rufus and Jodie hadn’t spoken, collecting two cups of steaming espresso. She’d remembered that Danny drank his black and had made Jodie’s extra creamy. Giving a grateful smile, Jodie tucked her hair behind an ear and slid the cup closer to add sugar.

  “I think we’ll keep her on,” commented Jarvis as he sipped his own coffee.

  “Suzy housewife, that’s our Ains.” Laura smiled.

  “I’ll say,” Eddie laughed. “I might have to hold her hostage until I can figure out where everything is in my room.”

  Ainsley pretended to be annoyed, but Jodie could see that she felt pleased. She’d taken the guys comments for the compliments that they were.

  “Right, so now we’re all here, let’s talk.” Laura announced.

  “Talk about what?” Rufus asked with a frown.

  “Je voudrais savoir plus de la guerre,” Laura said, her honeyed tone further fuelling the statement.

  You could have heard a pin drop in the seconds that followed. Though Jodie didn’t speak French, she didn’t need to understand what had been said to comprehend the significance.

  “Well, shit,” Danny muttered.

  “Crepes,” said Mark as he dumped two plates in front of Danny and Jodie, his eyes on Laura.

  “Laura you don’t want to be caught up in all this,” Danny advised.

  “It’s a bit late for that isn’t it?” She responded, giving him a haughty look.

  “I’d like a few more facts myself,” Jodie tried to offer Laura support. After all, what she’d said had been true. She really did want a clearer picture of what the hell was going on.

  “Man Danny, you’re gonna get us all in deep shit.” Jarvis shook his head.

  “We already are bro,” Rufus threw back as he shoveled food into his mouth. “They all know too much.”

  “Exactly,” nodded Eddie. “It isn’t going to make much difference if they know anything else.”

  “So you talked to Ainsley then?” Jodie prompted, her eyes settling on Eddie.

  Eddie closed his eyes and brushed his shaggy black hair out of his face with a sweep of his hand. “No, Jodie, I didn’t.”

  “I don’t want to know!” Ainsley declared, sending her chair to the floor with a clatter as she leapt to her feet. “Whatever it is, I do not want to know. I know that you aren’t just bar staff, I’ve known a while. You can have your secret other life, I don’t want details, I’m going to go and have a bath.”

  The guys watched with incredulity as she bounded off. Yes, Ainsley was an ostrich. On this occasion she had the luxury of shoving her head in the sand and ignoring the situation at hand. So the guys let her go and have her bath, before continuing the conversation.

  Between Danny and Mark, Jodie and Laura were given a more complete picture. Just two groups of Therians were native to New Zealand: the falcons and the ngarara, a lizard species similar to the tuatara but as big as a Komodo dragon. An ancient species that had never evolved into a singular animal form, modern scientists had no idea they even existed. The species were solely Therian and therefore secret. The few sightings of their kind over the years had been dubbed the taniwha, a Maori myth about monsters that lived in and around the water, New Zealand’s version of Bigfoot, or the Loch Ness Monster.

  In some of the native New Zealand forests, these Therians flourished. Eddie was Ngarara, his family lived deep in the Urewera National Park unbeknown even to the Tuhoe tribe who claimed much of the region as theirs.

  The Maori people had come to New Zealand in the early 13th century. During this time other shifters began to arrive, including the pigs. The pigs called themselves native to New Zealand but this was not true, they’d just been there long enough that people had started believing it.

  The shifter population of New Zealand exploded after the arrival of Europeans. It became a place to hide for shifters seeking to escape their clans, or the watchful eye of ISIC. Eventually it got to the point where ISIC had to do something about it. So Danny and Mark were brought in and Eddie, Rufus, and Jarvis were trained to work alongside them. In the beginning they just had to keep the peace and remove the shifters who could not be saved or reformed. As time wore on, some groups became resentful of Danny and Mark’s Unit, and what it represented.

  The pigs were the first group to unite against the Unit. They declared themselves enemies less than two years after the Unit had been formed. The next few years they caused trouble wherever they could, until it got to the point where rebelling no longer appeared enough. The pigs weren’t just angry with the Unit anymore. They wanted them gone. T
hey began to pull crazy stunts and came close to revealing their other life to the humans.

  In the last six months, the pigs had grown even bolder. Something had changed. Mark had just found out last night, that they had begun to ally themselves with rogue shifters, ones who had no clan in New Zealand. So far, that was not making a huge difference. But if the pigs managed to ally an entire group of shifters, that would change in a hurry. Some rogues were still in contact with their clans, people could be brought in.

  “How many pigs are there?” Laura asked.

  “Fucking shit loads,” Jarvis said with distaste.

  “The local clan has three or four hundred members,”

  Eddie clarified. “There are many clans across the country.” “Well how wide is their territory?” She probed.

  “The exact same area as our Unit covers, which is why it got zoned that way. This is the largest clan in the country,” Danny put in. “Their biggest concentration is in the greater

  Redcliffe area which is why we’re based here.”

  “So what’s the plan?”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why the hell should we tell you?” Doug asked.

  Jodie could see where he was coming from. Laura would never be a Therian, nor did she date any of the guys. Technically she didn’t have any right to demand the information, but she was Laura and she was damned well going to try.

  “You should tell me because I already know about your other lives, I’m at risk because I even choose to associate with you. I deserve to know what kind of secrets I’m protecting and I also deserve to know just how the hell you think you can stop this from becoming a national disaster.”

  “You might be surprised at how much help Laura could be to you.” Jodie’s gaze darted from Doug back to Danny.

  “What’s your profession?” Mark asked as he narrowed his eyes.

  “I’m the Assistant Nursing Manager in the emergency department at the hospital.”

  “Do you have family living in the local area?” Eddie threw at her.

  “No. I grew up here, but my parents moved away years ago.”