Finding The Texas Wolf. Karen Whiddon

his arms, his flat gaze hard. “Why are you here?” he demanded.

      Since this line of questioning was not at all what she’d expected, she took a moment to choose her reply. “For money,” she said. “As I’m sure you’re aware, I was let go from my job.”

      He continued to glare at her, as if by the force of his gaze he thought he could compel her to be truthful. Such a stunt might work on humans, but since she was a Vampire, she had to suppress the urge to laugh in his face.

      “That’s what I’ve been told, but I don’t believe it.” There was the slightest hint of a challenge in his even tone. “I’ve looked up your credentials,” he continued. “You’re one of the top three leading biologists in the United States.”

      In the world, she thought, but didn’t say it. “I didn’t believe it, either,” she said, her voice sullen. “They accused me of stealing narcotics.” Spur of the moment, but she thought it sounded realistic. “Among other things,” she added, just in case. “None of it is true. I’m a damn good biologist.” After all, she’d had centuries to hone her skills.

      Looking her up and down, he grimaced. His flat eyes reminded her of some really ancient Vampires she’d met once. But this one was only human; she could smell the coppery scent of his blood and hear the steady thump of his heart.

      As the silence stretched on, he continued to stare at her, no doubt trying to make her uncomfortable, but she refused to allow this. Instead, she stared right back and waited.

      “Do you know what we’re developing here?” he asked.

      This time she didn’t have to feign her interest. “Yes. A new virus. I admit, I find that fascinating. I’d love to be part of research like that.”

      “It’s not research,” he corrected her. “We plan to use it if we have to. Unless we receive what we want from the US Government.”

      Now they were on tricky ground. Rick hadn’t told her how much of this she was supposed to know. “What do you want?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

      “War with West Latvia,” he immediately said. “I want that country’s trade wiped off the map.”

      “But why?” And this truly was the part she didn’t understand. “What are your reasons?”

      “Russia.” He spoke the name as if saying it should be enough. Still, she waited, not sure what he meant.

      He sighed at her lack of reaction. “Russia trades heavily with them. It’s a way to buy myself power.”

      “But why would you want power with Russia?”

      This time, he laughed. “How about you just stick to biology? I don’t have time to explain the intricate nature of politics to you.”

      His condescending tone had her clenching her teeth. But she kept her annoyance in check, aware the stakes were far too high for her to blow it on something so trivial.

      “Money can buy power,” she finally said. “I’m guessing you’re aware of how much something like this would fetch on the international market?”

      “We’re exploring all options.” He waved his hand in dismissal. “I can see how someone like you might be valuable to my organization. Your husband, though—I’m not sure I need him.”

      Alarm prickled along her spine, though she took care to show no reaction. Straightening, she tilted her head and eyed him the way one would look at a particularly noxious rodent. “My husband and I are a team. You can’t have me without him.”

      He laughed. “You’re not running things here, sweetheart.”

      This human was damn lucky she’d had centuries to learn how to control her anger. Even so, she felt that familiar flash of rage and wanted to crush him. Which she easily could, right here and right now, without blinking an eye.

      “Again, I’m not your sweetheart,” she drawled. “It’s me and Rick or neither of us. Now, do we have a deal or not?” Bracing herself for Gus’s reaction to her declaration, she knew she had to come up with a quick plan in case he decided to simply kill them. He had no idea he couldn’t—the only thing that would end Rick was a silver bullet or fire. As for her, a stake through the heart. Beyond that, they were invincible. They could be hurt, true. But Rick’s kind had supernaturally fast healing powers. She couldn’t bleed if she hadn’t been fed enough blood.

      Instead of yet another staring contest, Gus laughed again. She detected a slight note of unease hidden in his pretend mirth. “You’re a tough one,” he said. “I will agree to take both of you—on one condition.”

      She nodded.

      “No drug use while you’re in my employ. Either of you. If I find out you indulged, I will kill you.”

      Finally, something that actually made sense. “Agreed,” she replied. “As long as you leave my husband to me. I will need him at the lab, working as my assistant. He follows my orders really, really well. If he doesn’t...” She lifted one shoulder delicately, letting her meaning sink in. “There are consequences to pay.”