“No, no,” Prince said to Austin. “I don’t meet many women who understand the subtle nuances behind posture and the messages behind body language.” He regarded me with his gaze. “Then why not put both feet flat on the floor?”
“Because that’s not how a lady sits, and I would appear closed off since I’m not facing anyone. This conversation involves me, so it’s important I show I’m honest with nothing to hide. Crossing my legs in your direction is not about me showing interest; it’s about giving you my attention and trust.”
He silently studied me with a closed-lip smile. Austin appeared hesitant to interrupt, so I saved him the agony of watching his friend flirt with me.
“A human purchased the club I work at, and many others. He’s behind a series of kidnappings, and it turns out he’s using these girls for cage fights.”
Prince’s smile withered, replaced by a frightening expression.
Austin crossed one foot over his knee, then set both feet on the ground and widened his legs. “Last night we broke into Delgado’s house and rescued two Shifters.”
“You broke in,” Prince said flatly. “Without a warrant?”
“We had enough evidence. He’d made Naya an offer to work for him as a cage fighter.”
Prince slanted his eyes toward me. “Is that so?”
I picked at my nail, deciding a manicure was in order. “Someone like me is valuable to a man like him.”
“We expected him to call back, but he’s gone silent. That makes me nervous,” Austin admitted. “I don’t expect he’ll come busting through my door, but a man with that much money could buy off someone in a position of authority to take me down. By force or false charges. Either way, the unknown kept me up all night.”
“How many of his men did you kill?”
“Two confirmed. The others were left tied up or unconscious. We moved the girl to a safe, undisclosed location, so that leaves us with the young Shifter. From what they told me, he’s not in good condition. He might have skipped town by now. That’s what any sane person who’s not in a pack would do.”
Prince turned his head and stared at the black television. “How did a human purchase our clubs to begin with?”
“It’s been going on for years. Somehow he got his foot in the door long enough to make some good money—enough to pay someone off. Maybe selling drugs to humans is one way he got started, but he’s our problem now. We can’t touch him because the Breed laws prevent us from going after humans. That’s his shield.”
Prince laced his fingers together and stretched out his legs. “An egg has a shield to protect it, one that’s easily broken. No one is untouchable. And if what you say about the cage fights is true, then you have my full support in taking him down. To be honest, if this was nothing more than his owning a few Breed clubs, I would have walked away. A nuisance? Yes. But by no means a reason to start a war.”
“Is that what we have here? A war?” Austin asked.
Prince leaned forward and steadied his gaze on Austin. “I’ve lived a long time and come from a genetic line so pure that I’ll probably never find a suitable mate who will carry strong children for me—ones that will live as long as I will. Most of the purity has been bred out over the years. I’ve spilled blood on the battlefield and negotiated treaties. This repugnant human won’t rob me of sleep, nor should he you. But once you let in the roaches, they infect. They spread their disease until you’re surrounded by nothing but vermin. Delgado’s power isn’t his personal rise to success—it’s the tricks he’s learning about the favor trading in our world. There’s money in cage fights, but if he’s keeping personal slaves, then I’d guess his fascination with us goes beyond money. He wants to dominate us—turn us against each other like savage animals, just as he does in the cage fights.”
“Why Shifters?”
“Maybe it’s not just us. Maybe he owns Mage bars, but I doubt it. Those immortals have insurmountable wealth and are not easily manipulated. We’re weaker because our struggles for independence are only in the early stages. So many Shifters crave power and money and are easily bought.”
“I can testify to that,” I said. “I’ve worked with all kinds, but since Shifters have it the hardest, they’re likely to do more for the money. It’s a pity.”
“And that is our struggle,” Prince agreed, leaning back in his chair. “We went from slaves living on the brink of society to free men. Yet no wealth to build upon, no home, no land, no skills. And still many continued to shut us out, even though by law they could no longer own us. I remember a time when we were turned away from jobs and no one would accept our business. Packs quickly formed to gain unity and strength, but it was an arduous battle for land. Even now we still fight amongst each other because we know it will take years to catch up to the monetary success the immortals luxuriate in.” Prince’s leg bounced a few times, causing his heel to tap on the wood floor.
“So what are you suggesting?” Austin asked warily.
“Snuff him out.”