“Look.” She gave a nervous little laugh that wasn’t entirely faked. “This has been really interesting, Rule, but I think I’d prefer you find another game to play.”
He tracked her with his eyes alone, but when she reached the door, a dark rumble suddenly filled the room, causing her to stop and stare back at him in surprise.
“You haven’t denied searching my room yet, mate,” he reminded her.
Gypsy cocked her hip, mimicked his stance with her arms crossing over her breasts and glared back at him.
“You didn’t ask if I had searched your room, Rule.” She stressed his name rather than using the title of mate in the mocking tone she wanted to use. “I did just that the first time you threw me to the bed and had your way with me, as soon as you left the room afterward. And I didn’t even need a scent blocker to do it nor did I have to break in, if you’ll recall. I don’t know what you think I was looking for, though. I wanted a drink of water, and wanted to know exactly where I could find the T-shirts when I needed one.” She plucked at the front of the gray shirt mockingly. “Is there anything more you want to know?”
“I want to know why, even while revealing that you did indeed go through my room that night, the scent of your lie is still pouring from your body?”
“What lie?” Distress filled her voice now. “What are you accusing me of, Rule?”
She knew damned well what he was accusing her of, and the very fact that he was so damned confident, and pushing a little more with each sentence out of his mouth, had her consciously battling her rising nerves.
“Jonas is looking for someone, Gypsy. An informant for a secretive sect of warriors located within the Nation that’s known to aid Breeds and humans attempting to escape and forever disappear from the Genetics Council. Finding that informant is imperative. It could be all that’s standing between life or death for Amber.”
She hated Breeds.
And she was beginning to hate this mating crap and didn’t even understand what it was. What she did know was that it was all she could do to keep from giving him what he wanted. She wanted to tell him the truth so damned bad she could barely stand it.
“And do you think if I were this all-important informant that I would stand by silently and allow Amber to die?” That really bothered her. She would never stand for anyone who would watch that child suffer.
Uncrossing his arms, he straightened from his slouch position and stared back at her directly. “I believe you would question whoever you worked for, you would ask if they had what we needed and they would lie to you. You’re human, baby, you would have no idea when an experienced liar is lying to you.”
Her fists clenched as the anger she was trying to hold inside since he’d dared to infer she would allow anything to happen to Amber began to burn inside her.
“And you think I would just accept someone’s word if I were this sought-after informant?” she charged him, feeling her expression tighten, the tension beginning to ratchet through her. “Is that what you think, Rule?”
“I think you would trust your contact,” he breathed out wearily. “And your trust isn’t easy to acquire. But if they told you they couldn’t help Amber, then they’re lying, sweetheart. They’re hiding two individuals known to have been part of the experiment that created the drug that baby was injected with. Both of them had and most likely still have photographic memories, and both of them know exactly how to help her.”
“Then why not search for them?” Turning, she jerked open the door and went through it a second ahead of him as he attempted to catch her.
And she knew why he’d attempted to keep her in the bedroom then. Sitting on the other side of the door were his brother, Lawe; Lawe’s fiancée, Diane; and the Coyote female, Ashley.
Her gaze narrowed on them. They would have clearly heard the conversation in the other room.
“What are they doing here?” she asked succinctly, fighting to hold on to her temper as she turned to face Rule accusingly. “What are you pulling here, Rule?”
Ashley stepped forward, her expression concerned as she gripped the weapons strapped to both thighs with tense hands. “I asked Lawe and Diane to get me in to see you. You must not have heard the knock on the door. When you did not answer, I begged them to allow me into these rooms to await you.”
“Why?” This was her friend, yet Gypsy had learned over the years that those you trusted the most were often the ones most determined to deceive you.
Propping her hands on her hips, Ashley stared back at her with cool gray eyes now. “I can smell your distrust, Gypsy . . .”
“I really wish everyone would stop talking about my fucking smell,” she snapped, catching the amusement in Diane’s gaze and the suspicion in Lawe’s. “I’m getting really tired of hearing about it.”
“Fine,” Ashley harrumphed. “I cannot deny I overheard that conversation and your mate’s accusation that you are the one working with the Unknown. I don’t agree with him.” She flashed Rule a hard look. “But I had to speak with you before you learned something from someone you may not believe is your friend.” Distress darkened her eyes as a hint of uncertainty filled her expression. “Tell me, please, that you know that even if no other Breed believes this, I believe you are my friend and a friend to the Breed community. Please, Gypsy.” She glanced at Rule apologetically before turning back to her.
“What are you talking about now?” This was going to drive her crazy. Swiping back long strands of hair that had fallen over her shoulder, she faced the Coyote female angrily, wondering if there was even a reason to be angry with her.
“Please, Gypsy.” There was something so vulnerable, so desperate in Ashley’s gaze that Gypsy couldn’t lie about something so elemental.
“I believe you’re my friend, Ashley,” she answered, frowning, foreboding rising sharply inside her. “And you know I’ve always considered you my friend.”
“Ashley.” Rule stepped forward, his expression, his tone gentle as though he knew what was coming. “It’s okay. I promise. I’ll take care of this.”
Ashley’s lips thinned. “This is not the time for you to weaken yourself further with your mate, Commander,” she informed him as Gypsy watched Rule’s expression with narrowed eyes. “I believe, more so now than when I learned this information, that you are the wrong person to handle this matter.”
The way he rubbed at the back of his neck and grimaced, his gaze moving to his brother beseechingly as Lawe gave him a look that seemed to suggest he was crazy for asking for help, would have been endearing if she hadn’t been certain it would negatively impact her.
“I told you, Ashley—”
“And I told you, Commander.” Ashley straightened to military stiffness as she glared back at him. “You are the wrong choice. Please allow me to take care of this; as her friend, I demand the right to do so now.”
Rule grimaced. “I’ll take care of it, Ashley.”
“Overhearing a conversation you began convinces me otherwise,” Ashley snorted. “As it does Cassie. She urged me to come here this evening and take care of the matter. She and I both agree, your attempt to protect her is worthy of you and your feelings for her. But keeping this from her has not protected her. And now, it will only harm your place in her heart. So you may take it up with Cassie if you do not like it.”
The girl’s Russian accent gave her voice, even when angry, an almost charming cadence.
“Let’s just get this the hell over with,” Gypsy suggested as Rule appeared ready to deny Ashley the opportunity to discuss whatever it was with her, once again. “I’m hungry and I’m pissed off and I really just want to kick Breaker’s ass with a little privacy, if none of you care.”