Wake A Sleeping Tiger (Breeds 22)

“However he gets the information on the identity of Morales’s killer or whoever put out that contract, the closer we’ll be to learning who’s trying to kill you. And ultimately, that’s all that matters to me.”

Laying the e-pad aside, she sat back into the couch, rubbing her arms as though chilled, a frown brewing at her brow.

“That brother of yours is so devious he probably already knows who offered that contract and he’s just waiting to strike. Before long the poor guy will be locked in Graeme’s lair, spilling his secrets as well as those of everyone he knows.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” he agreed.

“Why would anyone even want me dead?” she mused, turning her gaze back to him and tapping a fingernail against the arm of the couch. “It doesn’t make sense.”

No, it didn’t make sense, and no matter which way he turned in the investigation he kept running against a brick wall.

“Ex-lovers?” he asked, though he’d already had that angle checked.

Sliding him a sideways glance, she smirked back at him. “Yeah, all two of them, right? Besides.” She scratched at her ear with a grimace. “They’re both married and living on different ends of the East Coast now.” She flashed him a teasing smile. “I’m actu

ally very well liked, you know?”

Yes, she was. She was one of those people who drew friends and loyalties no matter where she went.

As he watched her a shadow passed over her expression, a thought that obviously caused her some discomfort.

“What?” he asked her, watching her closely.

She stared down at the device on her lap for a long moment.

“I had some messages earlier. One of them was from Dad.” That discomfort had her shifting in her seat.

“And?” Cullen probed, wondering what her father could have told her.

Somber regret touched her expression before she frowned up at the ceiling.

“Dad said if I don’t tell you, he’s going to. He’s a little pissed.” Her lips tightened, obviously not happy with her father’s demand.

Cullen waited silently, her reluctance to tell him causing his suspicion to grow by the second.

Lifting her head, she stared back at him, her dark gaze filled with regret. “Ranger came to see him. He tried to convince him I was trying to steal his job and asked for his help to convince Commissioner Jenkins to reinstate him.”

Cullen stayed perfectly still, feeling a wild, icy need for retaliation brewing in him at the scent of Chelsea’s humiliation.

She lowered her head again, fiddling with the e-pad though he doubted she was actually working on anything.

Cullen clenched his teeth before fighting to relax his jaw. Moving to the couch, he sat on the other end and blew out a heavy breath as he turned his head to stare back at her.

“Graeme suspects Lauren had some small ability to sense bondings or emotional connections,” he told her carefully, seeing the frown that touched her brow when she lifted her gaze back to his. “The more I think about it, the more I believe he could be right. And I believe she sensed a bond between the two of us and guessed that once you were older, you’d be my mate.” He gave a weary sigh. “I knew she married me hoping for a mating to cure her,” he admitted. “Just as I learned she and Ranger were in love. That last year, before her death, she and Ranger were actually together a lot. I assume she told him that Ray had confirmed the truth of Mating Heat and the fact that I hadn’t mated her.”

Chelsea shook her head in confusion. “I was so young when you married. Even Granddad didn’t foresee this.”

“Don’t fool yourself,” Cullen snorted. “Your granddad sensed far more than you realize. He might not have said anything to you, but I believe he was aware of it.”

She looked down at the e-pad for a moment, then back to him. “Do you regret it, Cullen?” she asked, her voice low. “That you couldn’t mate Lauren?”

And only Chelsea could ask that question without anger or resentment and that quiet sense of understanding he could feel flowing from her. She wouldn’t hate him if he felt that way, but the damage to her heart would be catastrophic.

“I have no regrets in who my mate is,” he promised her, unable to stop the gentleness that flowed through him or the soft curve of a smile. “What happened then, or now, isn’t your fault. If fault has to be laid, then I’ll take it. I should have paid attention to the signs of Lauren’s deception. Just as I should have paid attention to those I sensed from Ranger.” The signs had been there, and his animal instincts hadn’t been completely asleep. Just rather lazy and disinterested until his mate came of age. “During our marriage, Lauren’s antagonism toward you increased, though. Little comments she would make, her fury whenever she saw you. I believe she sensed that bond somehow. Knowing the gifts your family’s shown in the past, I can’t discount it.”

“If she had such an ability, I would have thought she’d have told everyone who would listen.” She frowned thoughtfully. “But Granddad mentioned something similar just before Lauren’s death about her knowing things she shouldn’t.” She gave a little shake of her head. “I can’t remember why he said it, though.”

“What about you?” he asked then. “What psychic ability do you have besides projection?”