“Long before you were born, Bradley, your father, was quite the ladies’ man. He was very good-looking and charming, and few women could resist him. We wanted a particular woman in our family. One . . .” He smiled, baring his teeth as a shiver went through her. “One of a breeding and bloodline befitting our family. I paid Bradley a great deal of money to find and bring this woman to me.”
“We have the contract he signed, dear,” Cathy said, leaning close. “Perhaps you would like to see it? It has some particular significance to you.”
Emma felt trapped, caged in, and something inside of her shifted, going from fear to survival mode. Very carefully she set the wineglass on the table next to her and looked up at Cathy. “Why would a contract my father signed before I was born have any significance to me?”
Trent’s body swayed slightly, his head moving but his eyes still. “He owes me still.”
Emma’s eyebrow shot up. “What does he owe you? And as he’s dead, how can that in any way impact me?”
“You’re what he owes me.” Trent smiled and leaned down slightly, running his hand over her cloth-covered arm again.
Her eyebrow shot up again. “My father owes you his child?”
“His wife, actually. I financed his trip to the rain forest and he was to bring me a suitable young woman. Instead, he betrayed us and married her. He took the money and went on the run with her. He stole from me, both the woman and the money.”
Emma knew, with the strange sixth sense she had, that he was telling her the truth. Her childhood had been spent on the run, never staying in one place long, never permanently buying a home and going to school like other children. There were weeks in a place, then abruptly they left with no explanation. And perhaps, a little chilling voice rose up, it explained why someone had tortured her father.
Someone looking for her? Or perhaps someone punishing him. Was she looking at the man who had murdered her parents?
“I see.” What could she say? The revelation that she was related to Josiah Trent sickened her. She now knew a little of how Jake must feel with tainted blood flowing in his veins. And her beloved father had gone to the rain forest and seduced her mother with the intent of selling her to Trent. To say that she was shocked at her father was an understatement.
“Jake is the same ruthless type of man. I feel responsible for you,” Trent said, his voice softening, almost hypnotic. “He’s very dangerous. We’ve tried to minimize the damage he does to others, but I’m sure you’ve seen him in action. Very few can stand up to him. He knew about you and your parents after finding the contract and he decided to have you for himself. After he dumped my . . .” Trent’s throat tightened, he choked, his voice coming out clogged and grief-stricken. “My daughter, she never recovered, turning to alcohol to drown her sorrows.”
Cathy laid her hand on Trent’s arm to comfort him.
It was all very plausible, but Emma had every sense alert, and the part of her that ferreted out lies was heightened to the point of screaming at her. Neither Trent nor Cathy cared in the least about Shaina’s death. She shifted position slightly, with every intention of getting up. Her head spun and her mind refused to react. Her heart began to pound as she realized she’d definitely been drugged. Either the wine or . . . She tore the cloth from the open scratch and dropped it onto the floor.
“He’s my son,” Cathy said, one hand fluttering to her throat. “But he was born with a streak of cruelty. He has plans for you. I only want to protect you.”
Emma’s gaze fixed on the long, sharpened nails as each pressed again and again against Cathy’s bare throat. The movement fascinated her, mesmerized her, so that she couldn’t look around, her arms feeling tired, hanging heavy at her sides. Had she poisoned Emma with those long nails? Was that possible?
“I don’t need protection,” she murmured. Her voice was nearly as fuzzy as her brain.
Josiah smirked at her, his teeth bared like a wild animal about to enjoy a meal. “Don’t be so certain of that.” He picked up her hand and let it drop.
Her arm felt like lead. She couldn’t control the movement. A part of her went into panic mode and she struggled to call out to Jake. Her throat closed. She hadn’t tasted a drug. The wine couldn’t have been drugged. Evan had poured the glass himself and Jake had given it to her. It had to be the scratch or the cloth Cathy had put on the scratch. Something introduced directly into her bloodstream.
She forced her head up in an effort to look for Jake. There was a wealth of people between them, blocking her view. The two men just across from the couch had moved forward fast, their speed nearly a blur, their eyes glowing. Fear skittered down her spine as she tried to find Drake or Joshua.
Trent had her on her feet, an arm around her waist, Cathy on the other side of her. It took four steps and they were in another room, hastily locking the door to drop her on the couch. It wasn’t either of them she feared the most; it was the man who followed them into the room while another stood just inside the door watching with hungry eyes.
Cathy put her hand on Emma’s body, down low near her ovaries. “She’s close to her first heat, Josiah. I don’t know if she’s ready yet, but we have to try.”
She looked at the man approaching them. Low, warning growls emanated from his chest. His head moved back and forth, but his heated gaze never left Emma.
Trent and Cathy hastily pushed Emma down onto the floor and stepped away from her, continuing to back up as the man approached and circled her limp body.
“Rory, you must get your scent all over her for this to work,” Trent advised. “She’s in heat and it will drive Jake into the madness. Once he smells you all over her, if he doesn’t kill her, he’ll throw her out or scare her so badly she’ll run from him. Loyalty is everything to him. Without his protection, nothing will stand in our way. We’ll be able to get her. She’ll disappear and no one will be the wiser.”
Emma opened her mouth to scream for Jake, but nothing came out. The one they called Rory snarled, his lips drawn back to reveal a mouthful of menacing teeth as he got closer to her.
The man guarding the door snarled too, suddenly moving forward in a challenging manner. “Why him? I’m bigger. Stronger. She should be mine.”
Trent held up his hand, moving around Emma’s body in a circular pattern as well. “I will dispense with both of your services. I’ll take her myself.”
“No!” Cathy leapt forward and caught at his arm. “We need a cub. They’re shifters. They can’t take a chance.”
Trent slapped her hard, driving her away from him. Cathy turned in the air, landing in a crouch. “Don’t you see? You’re every bit as affected as they are.” She spun to face the other man coming from where he’d been standing by the door. “Clayton, get back. We’re paying you to guard the room, not to screw her.”