“I’m willing to hear your suggestions,” Bradley said. He gestured to the limo. “Ride with me, and be my guest.”

Maria didn’t need Pablo to tell her not to get into that car. “Can’t we talk here?” Out in the open, with witnesses.

“No. There’s nothing to be afraid of Ms . . .”

“Ortega.” No sense in lying. He could check.

“Ms. Ortega. We’ll talk, we’ll have coffee, and you’ll go. But only if Mr. Marquez comes with us.”

“Of course,” Maria said. “He’s good at business. He’s advising me.”

“I see.”

Bradley didn’t move, but the two bodyguards who’d taken out their pistols went to the truck. One aimed his gun through the door Maria had left open, the other went around. Pablo slid out his side of the truck, and let the goon pat him down and take his weapon.

Pablo’s face was a careful blank, but his eyes held molten fury. Bradley waited until Pablo was in the limo, then he ushered Maria ahead of him as he walked to the limo’s open door. The bodyguard who’d taken Pablo’s gun got into the pickup and started it with the keys Maria had left, waiting to follow.

Maria swallowed her misgivings, climbed inside the leather-seated limo, and sank down next to Pablo. She tried not to flinch when the door slammed shut, enclosing them in a cushy, cigar-scented, dark-windowed prison.

***

Bradley had four bodyguards surrounding his house today, Ellison noted after he and Tiger had sniffed around then met up with Broderick and Ronan. Four guards, four Shifters. Poor bastards didn’t stand a chance.

Ellison was about to give the order to take down the guards when he saw Bradley’s limo leave from the semicircle of the drive and roll down the lane to the gate.

“Damn it.”

The man hadn’t seen them coming—couldn’t have. The other guards remained in place, not on alert, not altering their pace. Bradley could be heading down to the nearest convenience store for beer and cigarettes for all Ellison knew.

The limousine turned in the direction of Austin, which meant in the direction of the housing development a couple miles away. No reason Bradley should enter the development, but just in case . . .

“Tiger, run back to Maria and tell her Bradley’s out, and to be careful. We’ll get inside and wait for him.”

“What if he’s gone all day?” Broderick asked.

Ronan answered. “Then we wait all day. We’ll give him a little welcome-home party.” He grinned, his eyes flashing the red of an enraged bear.

Tiger said nothing. He acknowledged Ellison’s order by turning around and fading back into the grasses. In a second or two, Ellison could no longer see him.

He’d sent Tiger, because the man was faster than any Shifter he knew, and the guards would never spot him. Tiger would be there and back in five minutes, and not even breathe hard.

“Let’s go,” Ellison said.

“Now it’s three against four,” Broderick said. “Four with automatic weapons.”

“Four against three Shifters with built-in weapons,” Ronan said, never losing his feral smile. He brought up his hand and curled it like claws. “They won’t know what hit them.”

“We should wait for the crazy,” Broderick said, jerking his chin the direction Tiger had disappeared.

“No, because I want this quiet, with limited bloodshed,” Ellison countered. He’d save the bloodiness for Bradley. “We don’t need every cop in the county bearing down on us when someone reports Shifters rampaging at the big house. I want to get Bradley first.”

Broderick let out a breath. “I see your point. Fine. We’ll hit them fast and hard, knock them out, take their weapons. If we’re quiet enough, the fourth one won’t realize what’s happened until too late.”

Ellison gave him a nod. “You got it. Ready?”

“More than ready,” Ronan growled. “They’ll see what happens when they try to take my cub.”

“Try not to kill anyone,” Ellison said.

“Me?” Ronan touched his chest, brown eyes going wide. “I’m a big teddy bear. With a Collar that keeps me tame. I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“I know.” Ellison grinned at him. “I’ve seen you catch them in your house and release them outside. Just put these guys down, and we’ll go from there.”

Without further word, the three separated, slinking through the tall grasses toward the house. More bluebonnets, Ellison noted as they went. The Texas state flower, its lupine-like stalks thrusting up toward the sunlight, made the meadow almost shimmer blue. The blossoms weren’t as thick here as they’d been on the banks of the pond, but they were still plentiful.

Maria was like these flowers, which could lie dormant for long stretches of time, then burst out with amazing, passionate color. Ellison’s thoughts flashed to Maria clinging to him in the pond, her legs wrapping him, the feeling of being inside her, watching the water bead on her skin as her head went back in pleasure.

Once they finished with Bradley, Ellison was carrying her to his bed. Period. They’d talk about mate-claims, and forever, later—after he satisfied himself and her with a long night of sweet, hot lovemaking. Ellison would have to go slow with her, he knew that. Slow goodness would be a fine thing.

The guard on his side of the house passed two steps away, never seeing Ellison crouching in the grass. Ellison rose silently behind him, letting his hands change to his Shifter-beast’s. Those hands went around the guard’s neck, one jerk cutting off his air, rendering him unconscious.

Ellison lowered the man to the ground, plucked up the frightening-looking automatic sidearm, and hoped he could figure out if the thing had a safety.

He never heard a footstep, but suddenly Tiger was beside him, appearing in the grasses where Ellison had stood only a moment before.

“He has Maria,” Tiger said.

Ellison had opened his mouth to swear, but he sucked in a breath. “What? You mean Bradley?”

“He took her inside the long car and drove her to the house.”

Ellison’s entire body went cold. He’d never been so cold. Numbness spread from his heart down his spine, paralyzing him.

He has Maria.

“Pablo was supposed to protect her,” he said, lips stiff.

Tiger didn’t answer. He never did when he knew it was useless. At least he didn’t offer any meaningless platitudes.