Coyote's Kiss (19 page)

“Maybe, but he also has really good drugs.”

“Oh yeah,” she agreed. “These are awesome.”

“I figured. Why don’t you close your eyes for a minute? That way you can see Cole when he’s awake.”

If Luca refused to cater to her needs, she didn’t see the hurt in taking a short nap. “Fine, but don’t leave me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised. She liked the sound of his voice.

She’d heard some of the others talking and knew that he had shifted earlier. She wished that she could have seen it for herself. Maybe she could talk him into a private show when they got out of the hospital. Which should be any time now. She didn’t need to stay. And she wanted to be with the others as they waited for Cole to come round. Plus, she didn’t want to miss anything with the investigation. She still wanted to know where the hell the shifters had come from. One leopard, a wolf, and the sniper had transformed into a wolverine when he’d tried to get away.

“Stop thinking.” Luca brushed his hand over her hair. She sighed and wiggled her butt deeper into the mattress. She could do that.

* * * *

Luca had brought Jade a pair of his sweatpants with one of his T-shirts to change into for several reasons. The first being that he wanted his scent on her. He was laying claim to her. Second, he enjoyed the sight of her in his clothes. And last, it had been easier to just go his home and grab a shower and clothes for both of them and return.

He helped her pull up the faded cotton pants before hugging her to him. He didn’t know how Zak and Abilene were managing to work together when they were so in love. It had about killed him when Jade had been injured. He couldn’t imagine what it would feel like when he was deeply in love with her. He knew that’s where it was headed. There was no doubt in his mind that they would end up together. He wasn’t ready to propose, especially since she wouldn’t believe another one so soon, but he did plan to go home with her and never leave. She just didn’t need to know that yet.

First, he needed to check on Cole before they met everyone else at the Coalition office.

“You okay?” she asked as she tipped her head back to look up at him.

“Just glad to be getting out of here,” he told her.

“Me too,” she agreed. “And the doc gave me some of the good stuff just in case.”

“Not so stupid now, is he?” he teased.

She snorted. “Would have been better to have you in bed with me, but I guess I’ll just have to make sure I get my way tonight.”

“Sounds good.” He released her to pick up her duffel bag. “Ready?”

“Lead the way.” She waved him forward.

“Are you sure you don’t want a wheelchair?”

“Yes, Luca.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sore but okay.”

He knew he was being somewhat of a mother hen but he couldn’t help it. “Just take it slow.”

“Yes, dear.”

He grabbed her hand as they left her hospital room. Cole had been moved a few doors down earlier. Jade hadn’t gotten to see him and he hadn’t thought he could have put her off much longer when the doctor had finally come in and said that they were releasing her. They’d kept her overnight for observation and luckily she’d slept through it. But once she’d woken she’d demanded to see her partner.

He was relieved to be able to finally take her to him. They strolled down the hall until they heard raised voices.

“Uh-oh,” Jade commented. “Cole’s not happy.”

From the sound of things Cole wasn’t the only one pissed off.

“You’re not going!” Zak shouted.

“You can’t keep me here. You’re not my boss,” Cole yelled back.

“No, but I can keep you away from the Coalition,” Zak told him.

“Oh come on,” Cole argued. “I just want to find out who tried to kill me.”

“You got shot. You need to keep your ass in that bed and recover. We’ll take care of the assholes we arrested.” Zak lowered his voice. “I get it, man, really, but you need to let us do our job.”

“I won’t do anything. I just want to be there,” Cole promised.

They’d reached the door and Jade peeked inside. Luca was biting his lip to keep from laughing and announcing their presence.

“Just let him come,” Jamie spoke up. “I’ll make sure he has a nice comfy chair to watch the show from.”

Zak growled. “Shut up, Jamie!”

“Maybe we should go in.” Jade turned to Luca.

“I don’t know, it’s kind of entertaining,” he told her.

She shook her head before yanking him into the small room. All three men turned toward them as they entered.

“Hey,” she greeted her partner, letting go of Luca and rushing over to him. “How are you feeling?”

Cole’s expression changed from mad to soft when he looked at Jade. The bond between the two of them was strong, and Luca was happy to be the one to help them reconnect.

“I’m fine. I just wish that asshole would let me do my job.”

Zak flipped Cole off but didn’t verbally respond.

“Maybe you should stay,” Jade told him. “You had to have blood and stitches.”

“I don’t even hurt. How do you feel, though? I heard you got tossed a pretty good distance last night,” Cole said.

“I got the good drugs,” she told him happily. “If you’re a good boy I might share them.”

Cole leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I still want to go into the office.”

She sighed before she glanced over at Zak and shrugged.

“Are you serious?” Zak said as he threw his hands up.

“He knows how he feels and we’ll keep an eye on him. If someone had shot me I’d want to know who and why. I actually can’t wait to meet the guy that locked me in that damn container.”

“Fine.” Zak pointed at Cole. “But you stay out of the interrogation rooms.”

“I will,” Cole promised.

“Let’s see about getting you released then.” Jamie jumped up from where he was sitting.

* * * *

After an hour the five of them were finally walking out of the hospital and climbing into the Coalition SUV. Jamie and Cole were still giving Zak a hard time, and Luca wondered when the tiger shifter would snap. His phone rang as Zak started the vehicle, his brother’s name popping up on the screen.

“Hey, Sal.”

“How much longer are you going to be?” his brother asked.

“We’re headed there now,” Luca told him.

“Good.”

“What’s going on?” Luca asked. Sal sounded shorter than normal.

“We’ve got a problem with the leopard shifter,” Sal said.

“Hang on.” Luca pulled the phone away and put it on speaker. “Okay, we can all hear you. What’s up?”

“The shifters woke and started to transform back to humans.”

Luca glanced up at Jade who was frowning. “Okay, why is that a problem?”

“Sam recognized the leopard.”

“Who is it?” Jade questioned. Luca knew that was who she believed had hurt her.

“Sam’s ex-partner, Danny.”

“What?” everyone chorused.

“Yeah, and it only gets better from there. The other two shifters? All FBI agents and one of them is on our missing persons list.”

“What the fuck!” Cole exclaimed. “Why are they trying to kill me?”

“Why aren’t you in the hospital?” Sal snapped.

Luca grinned. Leave it to his brother to not only recognize Cole’s voice but yell at him for being stupid, too. They all knew that Cole should still be recovering but they hadn’t wanted to be the one to tell him.

“Never mind that,” Cole replied. “Did you ask them what they were doing?”

“Following orders,” Sal told them.

“Whose orders?” Luca asked.

“That’s where things get weird. Or weirder. Just get here as soon as you can so we can all try to figure this out.” Sal hung up.

Luca glanced around at the others and saw the same shocked expressions that had to be on his face. This was just so strange. They needed answers and they needed them quickly. Whoever had sent Danny and the other two shifters might have already learned that they’d failed. It was only a matter of time before they started to clean house, and Luca was not going to allow them to slip through their fingers. Someone was going to pay for putting Cole and Jade in the hospital. He’d stay on his brother’s ass until Sal guaranteed it.

“I don’t understand any of this,” Jade said quietly.

He gripped her hand. He didn’t either. “Doesn’t matter, we have them for attacking you and Cole. They’ll either talk or go to jail.”

“We’re missing something, though,” she pointed out.

“We’ll figure it out,” he promised.

* * * *

Jade glared at the man whom she was sure was responsible for her injuries. He kept glancing between her and Luca but wouldn’t answer any of their questions. She looked up at the one-way mirror in the room, knowing that Cole was on the other side. So was Sam, for that matter. Maybe they should let the partners talk?

She pulled on Luca’s sleeve and motioned to the door. He nodded. Jade smiled at the leopard shifter. He paled slightly, probably wondering what she had planned.

Once they were in the hall, the viewing room door opened and the others stepped out.

“I think Sam should go in,” she explained. “It might shake him up a little.”

“Me?” Sam shook his head.

“That’s a good idea,” Zak said as he joined them. “The wolf shifter started talking right away. The wolverine knows he’s in trouble—he did shoot an FBI agent. He’s already lawyered up.”

“No attorney is going to get him out of those charges,” Jade said.

“It depends on what they claim. The wolf shifter is John Revelez. We have him listed as missing. But he says he was moved to a new division with the FBI. He was given pictures of Cole and Jade and told that they were selling out undercover agents for profit. He claims he has orders for the job,” Zak explained.

“Can he back that up?” Luca asked.

“Cody’s heading to the hotel to pick up his stuff. He also gave us the other two’s hotel rooms and we have a warrant to get in. We might have enough without them talking, but we really need to get who ordered the hit. John claims the orders were to kill Cole and take Jade to face charges. I don’t know what they would have done with you,” Zak said, turning to her, “but it wouldn’t have been anything good.”

Cole and Luca both visibly bristled.

“Has anyone connected the orders to either our boss or Sam’s?” Jade asked.

“Not yet,” Zak said. “Sal and Flynn are working that angle while we try to get to the bottom of this new department. Commander Green wants us to find out if the other missing agents are in whatever program they are running.”

“Fine,” Luca agreed. “Sam and Jade can go interview Danny and see what they can get from him. I’ll wait with the wolverine until his lawyer arrives. What’s his name, anyway?”

“Eric Nobles,” Zak said.

“I… Can I get Danny a ginger ale? He likes them,” Sam asked.

“Sure.” Jade nodded.

“Would you like anything?”

“Water please,” Jade told Sam. She turned to Luca as Sam hurried off. “I don’t know what to do with that kid.”

Luca nodded. “You’ll probably have to guide him through the interrogation, but I think you’re right. It will shake Danny up.”

“I hope so,” she said as she stretched her arms up. She winced slightly, but hoped that Luca didn’t catch it. Her muscles were tightening up and she was getting tired.

“You can take a break,” Luca told her.

She smiled. “I will if I need to. I promise.”

“I’ll see you soon. Kick ass.” He kissed her quickly.

“You too,” she told him. She spotted Sam hurrying back to her. She pushed open the door and motioned for Sam to enter first.

“Sam?”

“Hey, Danny,” Sam greeted. “I brought you a drink.”

“Thanks, what are you doing here?” Danny questioned.

“Let’s talk about that,” Jade said as she took the chair directly across from him. She accepted the bottle of water. “Why don’t you uncuff one of his hands so he can drink?” she suggested.

Sam hurried around the table to release Danny’s right hand.

“I appreciate it,” he said.

Jade nodded.

She waited while Sam opened the bottle for Danny and sat beside her. “From what Sam tells me you used to be his partner?”

Danny nodded.

“Were you aware that Sam was there last night with us?” she asked.

Danny’s eyes widened. “No!”

“He could easily have been killed or seriously hurt,” she pointed out. “You attacked innocent agents, why? You that pissed off at your ex-partner?” she pushed.

“That’s not what we were told. You’re selling out undercover agents! Sam would never be mixed up with that!” Danny shouted.

“No, I wouldn’t,” Sam confirmed. “But neither would Jade or Cole. They’re good agents. They were going to help me save you.”

“Save me?” Danny asked.

“I wanted to make sure you were taken care of. I asked if I could be reassigned as your partner and was told shifters and humans couldn’t work together. When I met Cole and Jade and saw they were still partnered, even with him being a shifter and her human, I grew hopeful,” Sam explained.

“You said you never wanted to talk to me again,” Danny reminded him.

Jade could see the hurt in his eyes.

“I’m an asshole,” Sam told him. “I didn’t understand and I was scared, but I was wrong.”

“You’re not just saying that?” Danny questioned.

“No!”

“Use your shifter senses,” Jade suggested. “Cole can pick up on feelings and meanings behind people’s words. Concentrate on your partner.” She purposely reminded him of his connection to Sam.

Danny peered at Sam for several moments before he dropped his head. “I’m so sorry. I was just following orders.”

“Tell me about them,” Jade urged.

“Right after Sam asked for a new partner, Special Agent in Charge Wilson called me into his office and said no one would partner with me. I could resign from my position or join a new division within the FBI.”

“So you took the job?” she asked.

“I thought it would be nice to work among fellow shifters. I had no idea what I was getting into, though,” he admitted.

“Why?”

“For the first several weeks all they did was pit us against each other. Had us fight, shift, and show off our gifts. After that they assigned us to teams of three but constantly reminded us that we were easily replaceable. This was my team’s first mission.”