Time to perform. “I am considering. How much money are we talking about?” The guests quieted, attentive to their conversation.
Bolton laughed. “Once you tell me your real name, I’d be happy to make you a nice offer.”
Emma give him a “don’t you dare” look.
“And if you don’t approve of my criminal past?”
“You don’t have any tattoos, so I can’t picture you with the Russian mafia.”
“No one said anything about mobs.” If he’d seen his covered Team Greywolf tattoo, Bolton might have concluded he was in the mob. Yet, Svetlana would have told him the truth. Nik was the enemy.
Bolton leaned back and steepled his hands as he watched Nik, like a scientist trying to identify a new bug from his collection jar. “There is something about you, Boris.”
Nik scoffed. “That I’m tall and handsome.”
Emma laughed. “And not conceited at all.”
Bolton narrowed his eyes at Nik. “You are an excellent liar.”
Nik faked a hurt look. “I never lie about my looks.”
“Cut the crap, Boris,” said Bolton. “Your scent says lie.”
So the chimeras had such abilities even as humans. Nik sniffed his armpit. “I smell like the truth, don’t I?” He turned to a man next to him, who stared at his plate. No doubt fearful of pissing off Bolton.
“Nexus will get to the bottom of the truth soon enough,” Bolton said, and sipped his wine.
Emma lifted her napkin and wiped her lips. “I’m done.”
Bolton gazed at his watch. “Why don’t we enjoy an Amaretto in my private beach cabana?”
“Coffee would be good.” Nik looked at the view. The ocean was beautiful under the moonlight, but he longed for the forest. And moreover, longed to take Emma with him. Hide her in a safe den, away from danger. If they forced her to take the chimera drug, he’d kill them all, a significant challenge now that Bolton and eleven of his men were werewolves. Yet, the fact they were shifters should not have affected his ability to mesmerize them with his alpha gaze. He scented them as omegas with Bolton as a beta at best. Whatever had happened in their physiology, they were far different than his kind.
Bolton turned to his other guests. “Excuse us.”
Emma and Nik followed Bolton up the stairs of his beautiful cabana. The thatched structure stood on stilts and the balcony included lounge chairs. The luxurious interior had a circular sofa and coffe
e table. A bar and small kitchen completed the guest entertainment. Further down the hallway, she assumed, was a bedroom. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. She didn’t like his friendly manner. Fake, like the proverbial bad guy from every spy flick. Nik’s sudden hard look, alerted her to danger. Something was off.
“Make yourselves at home, I’ll pour some Amaretto and start the coffee for you, Boris.”
Emma shook her head. “I’ll skip the drinks.” Not going to get knocked out, and end up back in the cage drugged, and then turned into a wolf. A dead wolf.
Bolton winked. “I understand, Agent Emma.” He walked into the kitchen.
Emma whispered to Nik, “What’s wrong?”
“His pack is behind the cabana. Their scent is coming from the greenery.”
“How many?”
“Eleven.”
“We need to eliminate all chimeras, including Bolton.” Although, keeping Nexus alive might be beneficial if she could turn her into an asset.
Nik nodded. “Understood, but not until you are safe, American Sparrow.”
Emma blushed. Somehow the nickname he gave her felt too intimate. “We need to get in touch with Rylee. There are too many of them and only one of you.” Emma had seen just how big Ed and Lee became once they shifted. Sure Nik could go bipedal werewolf, but against twelve?