was a fluke, or maybe Allan provoked some guy but it has nothing to do with the team.”
“He left a calling card. The Knight of Swords. And a cryptic note referring to the last mission we were involved in. But I can’t say any more than that.”
“The last mission,” she whispered, looking at the floor and then shifting her gaze to Finn. “The one where Hunter was injured.”
“Yes, he was badly injured. And so were Paul and Allan.”
“But… but not you.”
“No. Listen, I can’t really discuss it. Only that I’m sure this has to do with a traitor in the ranks.”
Her eyes grew huge. “Not among the members of your SEAL team.”
“No. We’ve been like brothers. We’re all lupus garous . Someone who…” He shook his head. “We don’t know anything for certain. Suffice it to say, I’m staying here to protect you. Paul’s watching his own back since he prefers it that way. We’ve got friends protecting Allan. One of your pack members will be there to watch out for Hunter and Tessa, and Hunter will ensure he gets more coverage while he’s on the island. As soon as I can get through to him, I’ll call him again. But it would be too easy for whoever this is to target you and wait until Hunter returns, while using you as the perfect little hostage. Hunter would expect this of me.”
Finn knew there’d be trouble, as defiant as she always was with him, as soon as she stubbornly lifted her chin. “ I don’t expect this of you! I’ve got two weeks to find a mate.”
“Think of it as a vacation. Two weeks away from Hunter’s rule, just taking it easy.”
“So I can be under your rule? No way. I’m not taking it easy while Hunter’s out of my hair. I’ve got the resort to run, and that’s just what I’m going to damn well do. Once the meal is done, I’ll take it to Joe and eat with him over there. You can…” She motioned to the front of the house. “…go back to wherever you came from.”
“All right.” His face turned hard as he gave up trying to reason with her. “Then I’m coming with you. I’ll eat Joe’s portion of the dinner, and you can share your portion with him.” He gave her a derisive smile. “Take it or leave it. If you don’t want my offer of protection, I’m packing you off to Hawaii, and I’ll wait here for the assassin alone. I’m sure it would be a safer bet for you anyway.”
She ground her teeth. “If you think I’m going to mess up their honeymoon… well, no way. Besides, what if whoever this is follows them there?”
“That’s a distinct possibility. And the reason I sent your pack mate to Hawaii to watch out for Hunter. As for you, I could send you to your uncle in Florida.” Finn was serious, too. Although he’d accompany her there if she decided she wanted to go to the Sunshine State.
“Ha! You’re not sending me anywhere. And I’m going to do what I had planned on doing while Hunter is away. You can’t tell me what to do!”
Hell. He sighed. “What if one of the men you’ve leased the cabins to is the assassin?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “Okay, so we investigate each of them before they get here. You’re the expert at that, aren’t you? You must have a way to access personal records, and then once everyone looks all right, that’s the end of it. Once we’ve eliminated them as suspects, I’ll go about my business.”
Considering they were lupus garous and records were changed over the years to hide their longevity, that would be the problem. Finn had known as soon as he learned Hunter was gone that this was one mission he shouldn’t have signed up for. “Even this Joe Matheson could be one of them.”
Her eyes widened and she looked in the direction of the blue cabin. “No.”
“You don’t really know a thing about him, Meara.”
Pop! Pop!
“ Shit! ” Fearing gunfire, Finn lunged for Meara, shoving her to the carpeted floor as his body slammed into hers and losing his towel in the process.
Finn was