cycle of arousal. “Nice and slow this time.” She waited until he obeyed then added, “And find somewhere really nasty to thrust those clever fingers.”
The rhythmic notes of Zophiel’s unique ringtone echoed through the room. She glared at the phone she’d set down on the nightstand then the implication of the sound penetrated her lust-jumbled brain. Only two people had the number to her phone and one of them was dead.
“Stop!” She shoved Sean back to ensure his compliance then scrambled off the side of the bed.
Her phone lay on the small table she’d been using as a desk. The ringtone sounded again and she rushed across the room. She accepted the call then raised the phone to her ear. “This better be important. I’m not in the mood for games.”
“You’ll have to determine whether or not it’s important. All I know is it’s damn strange.” Eli sounded impatient and annoyed.
“Go on.” She knew Eli sold information to anyone willing to meet his price, so she tried to be his best customer. Despite her efforts to earn his loyalty, some of her competitors had pockets even deeper than hers.
“My other regular customer called this morning and asked me to watch out for anything unusual.”
He meant Nate Fitzroy, the Canine network’s Prime. “‘Anything unusual’ is a rather broad parameter.”
“I agree and I didn’t think much of it, but my real employer got the strangest phone call less than an hour later.”
Now he meant Erin Lashton. Eli’s “real” job was coordinating technology and security for the Rocky Mountain Feline Network, which was how he had access to all the pertinent information. “Who called her and what did they discuss?”
“Our favorite wolf’s middle son called her and asked her to provide assistance for his sister.”
He paused while she applied the appropriate names to his verbal clues. Landon Fitzroy called Erin and asked her to help Heather. “Why did his sister need assistance?”
“She’s a Therian female who just turned twenty-five. Do you understand the significance of that statement?”
“I do.” Therian females were required to define their animal nature by the time they turned twenty-one and a mate could be chosen for them if they hadn’t selected their own by twenty-five. These and other outdated customs had launched a massive rebellion within the Therian nation. “Did she run or just rebel?”
“She ran.”
“And have you learned where she’s hiding?”
“I have, but I suspect our favorite wolf will pay more for the location than you will.”
She chuckled, in no way intimidated by his tactics. If Nate could cough up Eli’s asking price, Eli would have called Nate first. “He might be willing to pay more, but we both know I am able to pay more.”
“I want double our last transaction.”
Greedy little cat. Did he honestly think he controlled this negotiation? “You will receive what you always receive, but I’ll allow you to double dip.”
“Meaning?”
“You will give me a three-hour head start before you call the other interested party.”
“Agreed.”
“If you fail to give me the full three hours I will not transfer one cent. Is that understood?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t dream of upsetting my best customer.”
She smiled, pleased by the designation. “So where has the little bird flown?”
“The wayward wolf scampered off to Aspen, where she was taken in by an overprotective pub owner.”
Her smile turned into a throaty laugh. Nate would flip out when he learned his precious daughter had run to the cats for shelter. Heather must have been desperate indeed. “Fascinating. Is there anything else I should know?”
“My employer asked her oldest friend to check in on them.”
Who was Erin’s oldest friend? Zophiel searched her memory, trying to determine who Erin had known—
Ian Douglas. Cold, consuming rage spread through her being. Her pulse raced and her jaw clenched so tightly, a tiny muscle twitched
The rhythmic notes of Zophiel’s unique ringtone echoed through the room. She glared at the phone she’d set down on the nightstand then the implication of the sound penetrated her lust-jumbled brain. Only two people had the number to her phone and one of them was dead.
“Stop!” She shoved Sean back to ensure his compliance then scrambled off the side of the bed.
Her phone lay on the small table she’d been using as a desk. The ringtone sounded again and she rushed across the room. She accepted the call then raised the phone to her ear. “This better be important. I’m not in the mood for games.”
“You’ll have to determine whether or not it’s important. All I know is it’s damn strange.” Eli sounded impatient and annoyed.
“Go on.” She knew Eli sold information to anyone willing to meet his price, so she tried to be his best customer. Despite her efforts to earn his loyalty, some of her competitors had pockets even deeper than hers.
“My other regular customer called this morning and asked me to watch out for anything unusual.”
He meant Nate Fitzroy, the Canine network’s Prime. “‘Anything unusual’ is a rather broad parameter.”
“I agree and I didn’t think much of it, but my real employer got the strangest phone call less than an hour later.”
Now he meant Erin Lashton. Eli’s “real” job was coordinating technology and security for the Rocky Mountain Feline Network, which was how he had access to all the pertinent information. “Who called her and what did they discuss?”
“Our favorite wolf’s middle son called her and asked her to provide assistance for his sister.”
He paused while she applied the appropriate names to his verbal clues. Landon Fitzroy called Erin and asked her to help Heather. “Why did his sister need assistance?”
“She’s a Therian female who just turned twenty-five. Do you understand the significance of that statement?”
“I do.” Therian females were required to define their animal nature by the time they turned twenty-one and a mate could be chosen for them if they hadn’t selected their own by twenty-five. These and other outdated customs had launched a massive rebellion within the Therian nation. “Did she run or just rebel?”
“She ran.”
“And have you learned where she’s hiding?”
“I have, but I suspect our favorite wolf will pay more for the location than you will.”
She chuckled, in no way intimidated by his tactics. If Nate could cough up Eli’s asking price, Eli would have called Nate first. “He might be willing to pay more, but we both know I am able to pay more.”
“I want double our last transaction.”
Greedy little cat. Did he honestly think he controlled this negotiation? “You will receive what you always receive, but I’ll allow you to double dip.”
“Meaning?”
“You will give me a three-hour head start before you call the other interested party.”
“Agreed.”
“If you fail to give me the full three hours I will not transfer one cent. Is that understood?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t dream of upsetting my best customer.”
She smiled, pleased by the designation. “So where has the little bird flown?”
“The wayward wolf scampered off to Aspen, where she was taken in by an overprotective pub owner.”
Her smile turned into a throaty laugh. Nate would flip out when he learned his precious daughter had run to the cats for shelter. Heather must have been desperate indeed. “Fascinating. Is there anything else I should know?”
“My employer asked her oldest friend to check in on them.”
Who was Erin’s oldest friend? Zophiel searched her memory, trying to determine who Erin had known—
Ian Douglas. Cold, consuming rage spread through her being. Her pulse raced and her jaw clenched so tightly, a tiny muscle twitched
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