He sat on a bench in the gazebo beneath a canopy of palm trees. He stood and glanced at his watch. Five minutes. Nik raked his hair back and paced.
The voice returned. “Permission granted.”
As the sliding glass doors opened, an older attractive woman with silver hair and wearing a white silk business suit greeted him at the door. Her scent was human, but her blood type unique. A Stallo woman. He’d seen pictures of Svetlana and immediately confirmed her identity. She spoke to him in Russian and lifted her hand for him to kiss. “Welcome to our lab facility, Boris.”
Nik kissed her hand. At least the mystery partner was not Saskia who would have immediately blown his cover. “The pleasure is mine, Ms...”
Her eyes sparkled. “The others call me Mistress, but you may call me Svetlana.”
“A beautiful name.”
She crinkled a smile. “Mr. Boss asked me to meet you and give you a tour of our lab. First, we go to the atrium and discuss your decision.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Dr. Walker.”
“I’m afraid she’s unavailable at the moment.”
Nik narrowed his eyes at her. “Take me to Dr. Walker now.”
Svetlana laughed with careless abandon, the way a mother would at a petulant child. She met his eyes. “I am in charge here. You are our guest, but you try my patience with your rude behavior.”
A few humans learned how to avoid mind control. Being the wife of a former werewolf, she of all people must have learned that skill. “Please, accept my apologies. My rudeness stemmed from my concern for the woman who hired me.”
“Don’t worry, you will see her soon.”
“Very good.”
“Come, I’ll take you the atrium where we can talk.” Sliding glass doors opened. They entered a beautiful lounge area surrounded by a circular saltwater aquarium. Colorful fish and spectacular coral made it seem like they were beneath the waters. A skin diver’s view. Two men cleaned the empty restaurant and bar. More like a resort hotel than a secret lab. “Impressive.”
“After living in the snow for most of my life, I finally found paradise.”
He gazed at the tropical fish. “I see your point.”
Svetlana motioned to a sofa and he sat. “After our meeting, feel free to order whatever you want from our chef, Montez.”
Nik glanced his way and nodded. Montez returned the gesture. A human. “Thank you.”
She sat across from him. “You remind me so much of my son Pietr.”
The hybrid son she had with the evil mobster, Sergei. Not a compliment. “Is that so?”
“You are muscular and tall with amber eyes that read one’s soul.”
Had she figured out his true nature? She certainly lived long enough to suspect a lycan in the flesh. “Perhaps we are related.”
Svetlana looked away and smiled. “No. Not possible.”
“You never know. Either way, it would be a pleasure to meet him.”
Her expression tightened from cordial to fierce she-wolf. “He, my other son, and my beloved husband were murdered by—a gang.”
She meant pack. How ironic she would call Team Greywolf a gang. “I’m so sorry.”
Svetlana met his eyes and smiled. “Those who killed my sons will be destroyed.”
Karma is a bitch. Was she planning to use newly created wolf-men to exact revenge against Team Greywolf? “Perhaps, I can be of service.”
“You served in the Russian army, no?”