might not have been able to shield her from the bullets.
If they’d reacted even just a little bit slower, Havana might have been hit before she ducked out of range of the gun.
If Farrell hadn’t been close by and able to follow the vehicle, they might never have found Taggart before he fled.
The whole thing had been a close fucking call, just like the last drive-by. Sheer luck had been on Havana’s side both times. But if there was a third time, just maybe she wouldn’t have that same luck. That thought made his throat burn. He couldn’t lose her.
“Ow,” she whined. “Claws.”
Tate blinked and retracted his claws, realizing they’d been pricking the globe of her ass. He massaged the skin there. “Sorry, babe.”
She lifted her head and rested her chin on his chest. “You need to stop brooding about whatever has you tense as a bow.”
His cat puffed up in affront. “I don’t brood.”
“So says every dominant male shifter. In reality, you’re all experts at it.” She danced her fingertips along his collarbone. “Distract yourself. Think about something else.”
“All right.” Tate swept his hand up her back. “Maybe you can now tell me how you and your girls managed to not only sneak into Taggart’s house but to do it without Alex, Vinnie, or Farrell—all of whom were guarding the exterior of the building—sensing the three of you. I didn’t even sense you enter the house, and neither did Luke.”
“Like I said earlier, it wasn’t hard. The guys were so busy watching out for the cheetahs that they just didn’t notice us. And you and your brother were preoccupied with Taggart and his friend.”
Tate snorted. Bullshit. Vinnie, Alex, and Farrell were too well-trained to not notice three females approaching the house … unless those three females had once received similar training. “Really? Hmm. I can’t help but get the feeling that you have experience with sneaking in and out of buildings, just as I can’t help but get the feeling that you have experience with interrogations. Am I right?”
She pursed her lips. “I once had a job where I needed those skills. I wasn’t a gun for hire or anything.”
“I never thought for one moment that you were,” Tate assured her. “You’re not going to tell me more?”
Her expression turned grave. “If I tell you, you can’t share it with anyone. Not even your dad or your siblings. If you’re uncomfortable with keeping a secret from them, I can understand that. But it also means I can’t tell you what you want to know.”
“If you need something to stay between us, it stays between us. I’m loyal to my family, yes, but you’re my family, too. More, you’re my priority. My loyalty is primarily to you. You can trust me.”
“I know that.”
Her easy acceptance of his promise warmed him. “So tell me.”
She sat up straight and took in a deep breath. “Okay. Me, Aspen, and Bailey once worked for the Movement.”
Stunned, Tate simply stared at her for a long moment. “The Movement?”
“Yes. So did Camden, though he mostly worked jobs alone. We were part of the group for eight years . To the outside world, we lived seemingly normal lives.”
Nothing she said could have surprised him more … and yet it fit. Shifters with those three females’ traits, strengths, and deep sense of loyalty would make them prime candidates for the Movement. It explained so much—not just the skills she’d shown, but how well she kept it together each time danger came too close.
He gently squeezed her hips. “Thank you for your service. I can easily visualize you working for the Movement. And Aspen and Bailey, for that matter. I’ll bet you were good at what you did.”
Havana couldn’t help but grin. “Oh, we were. And we were proud to be part of the group. We might not have left so soon if members weren’t required to retire after eight years. They want people to go out and find their mates.”
“Ah, I see. If a shifter is so deeply devoted to such a cause, it might be hard for them to sense their mate or the presence of a mating bond.”
“Exactly. Plus, the Movement doesn’t want their members spending the rest of their days dealing with prejudiced assholes.”
Tate twisted his mouth. “A lot of people believe the group was founded by Clive Vincent, the father of a Mercury Pack she-wolf I know.”
“She performs at the Velvet Lounge, right? Plays the electric violin?”
“That’s right.”
Havana had been there a few times.