The Lion’s Curvy Mate: Shifter Romance

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

Conrad looked at her more closely. Recognition lit in his eyes. “Ms. Fisher? Now this is unexpected. I was looking forward to seeing you again, but I didn’t expect it to be under such unseemly circumstances.”

“You know this guy?” Declan asked, looking from Sadie to Conrad.

“We’ve met,” Sadie said.

“Oh, come now, Ms. Fisher. We may not be old friends, but I’d like to think we’re more than just acquaintances.” Conrad ran a hand down her cheek.

She swung her head away. His touch made her feel dirty. Violated. Like she’d been swimming in raw sewage. “Get your hands off me. We’re not friends, we’re not acquaintances. We’re nothing.”

Conrad shrugged, seemingly unaffected by her disgust. “Considering your position, you are whatever I want you to be. But I’ll deal with you later. So I can take my time. Right now, I’m more interested in your friend here. Why aren’t you dead?”

Declan glared at him defiantly. “I guess I’m stronger than you thought.”

Conrad rolled his eyes. “Save the bravado. That poison should have killed you. I invented it myself.”

“I’m not telling you a goddamn thing,” Declan growled, straining against his bonds. “Unless you let me out of here. Then I’ll have plenty to say.”

Conrad shook his head. “Be careful what you wish for.” Conrad pulled a gun from inside his jacket and pointed it at Declan’s head. “Tell me how you survived the poison or I’ll kill you.” He said it in a bored tone, as if this was all incredibly tedious. As if he wasn’t threatening a man’s life.

“Alright,” Sadie interjected. “Don’t hurt him. I’ll tell you.”

She related the details of the herbs she used to treat the poison’s symptoms. Conrad listened to her, his expression interested and thoughtful. He would have looked almost funny if it wasn’t for the fact he was holding a gun to Declan’s head.

“Very clever, Sadie. I assume I can call you Sadie now?” She didn’t answer. “Very clever indeed. I could use someone like you working for me.”

“I’d rather die than work with you,” she spat.

He smiled, looking like a shark. “That is the choice I’m offering you, yes.”

“Why would you even want me to work for you?” she asked. “I don’t know anything about smuggling drugs.”

Conrad laughed. “Oh, that’s just one business I dabble in. I have my fingers in a lot of different pies. One of my projects has to do with shifters. Shifter biology is quite unique. Few people even know about the existence of shifters, much less how to treat them medically. Your expertise in that area could be most useful.”

“And how do you know so much about shifters?” Declan asked. “We keep our existence a secret.”

“You have your secrets. I have mine.” Conrad smiled enigmatically. “Let’s just say I see the value of having shifters under my employ. They’re stronger, faster, and I know how to force their undying loyalty.”

“The poison?” Declan asked.

“Yes, although I like to think of it as an incentive policy.”

“Incentive?” Declan asked.

“Indeed. Once they’re dependent on me for treatments, their survival is linked to my survival. It’s in their best interests to keep me alive.”

“How many shifters do you have working for you?” Declan asked.

“Only a handful, right now. Garrett’s the only one here. The others are working on other projects. But I’m looking to grow the ranks.”

“Good luck with that,” Declan said. “Sure, there’s some bad apples out there, but most of our kind aren’t interested in hurting people. They’re not criminals.”

Conrad nodded. “You’re not wrong about that. But see I’ve recently figured out a great source of recruits.”

“Oh yeah? Where?”

“You. Garrett. And shifters like you. How many shifters did you serve with in the military? Don’t answer. I already know. It’s a fair amount. And when they get back home, they tend to be lost. Adrift. In need of employment. Well, I can provide that for them.”

“You lure them in with false promises. Then you enslave them.” Declan strained against his bonds again, violence in his eyes.

“The way I see it, I’m providing a service for them. I give them a place in the world. A new family to replace their old one.”

“You’re a monster,” Declan said. “Preying on my brothers.”

“Either you’re a predator or you’re prey. I refuse to be prey.”

“So why do you want me to work for you?” Sadie asked. “Where do I come in? I’m not a shifter.”

“Well, the poison and the treatments are very difficult to make. But you’ve already figured it out on your own. I need someone with your skills while I build my shifter army.”

“Why would you ever think I’d agree to that? You think I’d help you force these people to work for you? You’re crazy.”

He shrugged. “Maybe. But sometimes crazy is just another word for ambitious. I have my sights set on bigger things. I want to build an empire. With enough shifters under my control, I’ll be unstoppable.”

“Sadie would never agree to help you,” Declan said. “She’s better than that.”

“I’m not just offering her a job,” Conrad said, turning to Declan. “I want you to come work for me, too. Garrett told me about you. You’ve got just the skills I’m looking for. Special ops. A natural leader. You could be the key to making this happen. Work for me, and I can make you a king.”

“And become like you? I don’t think so.”

“Better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven,” Conrad said. “Work with me. The both of you. You can get everything you’ve ever wanted. Sadie, you can keep your little sanctuary alive. Just by doing some work for me on the side. And you, Declan, you’re a soldier without a war to fight. I can give you a purpose again. I can give all your brothers a purpose again.”

“You’re pretty quick to offer us work, considering you’ve been trying to kill us,” Sadie said.

“Well, sure. At first I saw you two as a problem. But behind every problem is an opportunity. That’s the mark of a successful man. When my businesses started failing, I found new ways to make money. When my rivals threaten me, I take them down and take their business. And when two people like you become a thorn in my side, I want to turn that thorn into a weapon for my own personal use.”

“Okay,” Sadie said. “Let’s just assume for a second we would agree to this, which let’s be honest, is unlikely. How could you ever trust us? Why wouldn’t we just turn on you as soon as we got the chance?”

“I’m no fool. I know you two would be reluctant to work for me. But that’s why I’ve got my insurance.” He reached into an inner pocket in his coat and withdrew a small black case. He opened it and pulled out a syringe filled with green liquid.

“What the hell is that?” Sadie asked.

“This is the poison I injected into Declan here.”

“He’s already poisoned. You can’t poison him again.”

“Him? No. But I can poison you.”

“I thought it only worked on shifters,” Declan said.

“It’s more effective on shifters, but poison is poison. It will kill Sadie just as easily as it will kill you.”

“Don’t,” Declan cried out. “Please. I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll work for you. I’ll help you. Just don’t hurt her.”

“Declan, no,” Sadie said. “It’s not worth it.”

“Ahh, a lover’s quarrel. It doesn’t matter. The thing is, Declan, I don’t believe you. But with this.” He held up the syringe. “I don’t have to believe you.”

“Stop!” Declan called out.

Conrad didn’t listen. He plunged the syringe into Sadie’s arm and injected her with the toxic green liquid.

An inferno raged through her body, screaming through her every nerve ending. Her world was fire. Her body seized up, wracked with convulsions. She could hear Declan shouting, as if from a great distance.

“Sadie!” Declan yelled, struggling against his bindings to break free and go to her.

Her face contorted in pain. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, like she couldn’t force the air from her throat. Tendons stood out on her neck like thick cords.

Then she slumped in the chair, shivering, sobbing, and breathing harshly.

Conrad clapped his hands together. “Excellent,” he exclaimed. “She survived.”

“What do you mean she survived?” Declan demanded.

“Well, full disclosure. There was a chance it killed her instantly, her being human and all. Of course, that was a chance I was willing to take.”

“I’ll kill you for that,” Declan growled.

“I’m sure you would. Too bad I’m her only chance of survival now. You kill me and you’re killing her, too.”

Declan looked at Sadie, slumped over in the chair, held up only by the ropes wrapped around her. Seeing her in pain was like a knife to his heart. He would give anything to trade places with her. Anything to take the pain away.

He turned to the man who’d put them in this situation. The man who had caused them both so much pain. Hatred burned in his soul, hotter than the sun. Every instinct told him to fight. To kill.

All the years of fighting seemed to lead up to this moment, but at the same time, he couldn’t fight his way out of this. No amount of violence would save the woman he loved.

This time things were different. He had to be different. He had to fight the urges inside himself, suppress his warrior impulse. He had to do something harder than fight. He had to surrender.

“Alright, Conrad, you win. You win. Just make sure she’s not in any pain.”

Conrad looked down at him triumphantly. “That’s the spirit. I promise you, you’ll find that working with me instead of against me is the more rewarding path.”

“So how does this work? We’re your slaves forever?”

“No, not forever. Eventually, once you’ve proven your loyalty to me, I can give you both the antidote. I can set you free. Until then, I give you my own brand of treatment, to keep the poison from finishing you off. I suspect my concoction is more effective than Ms. Fisher’s.”

“Like you’ll ever trust me. After all the things you’ve done to me. To us. You’ll never set us free.”

Conrad spread his hands. “Perhaps not. Time will tell. But either way, I’m looking forward to a long and beneficial partnership.”

“So that’s it? You just untie me, and I’m one of your goons?”

“Not quite,” Conrad said, shaking his head. “She’s already shown me what she can do. You have not. And while I’m confident you’ll be a welcome addition to the team, I need to make sure.”

Conrad left the closet and returned with several armed men. Garrett was among them, but Declan noticed he wasn’t armed. And two of the men were holding his arms, as if he was being detained.

“So here’s the deal,” Conrad said. “I have a problem. I value loyalty above all else. But Garrett here has obviously been less than discreet.”

“What are you talking about?” Garrett asked. “I’ve been nothing but loyal.”

“Well, that can’t be the truth, seeing as how Declan here showed up looking for you. And that has caused me a whole mess of problems. But like I always say, every problem is an opportunity. So here’s your opportunity to win my trust back.”

“I don’t understand,” Garrett said.

“Of course, you don’t. That’s why I’m the boss and you’re just muscle. Garrett, you and Declan are going to fight. To the death. Garrett wins, he’s back in my good graces. Declan wins, he’s passed his job interview. Either way, one of you has to die.”

The words cut through the fog of pain in Sadie’s brain. She looked at Declan, seeing the shock and hurt on his face. The man may have killed people, but he wasn’t a murderer. Forcing him to turn on his friend seemed like forcing him to betray everything he believed in.

Sadie wanted to say something, but she felt too weak to speak.

“I’m not going to kill Garrett,” Declan said. “I’ll work for you. I’ll do whatever you want. But there has to be another way.”

“No,” Conrad said, shaking his head sadly. “This is the only way. It’s a win-win for me. If Garrett wins, he proves he’s more loyal to me than to old friendships. If you win, you show me the same thing, and you prove that you can follow my orders. No matter how distasteful.”

“Boss, I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked of me,” Garrett said, his voice choked with emotion. “But I can’t kill my friend.”

“Hmm, I thought you might say that,” Conrad said, tapping a finger to his lips. “Fine, I’ll sweeten the pot. Now that I’ve gotten the idea in my head, I really want this to happen. Garrett, if you win, if you kill the man you call your friend for me, I’ll give you this.” Conrad pulled the little black case out of his inner coat pocket. He removed another syringe from it. This one was filled with blue liquid.

“Is that the antidote?” Garrett asked, his voice shaking.

“It is, indeed,” Conrad said merrily.

Sadie was starting to see that Conrad was insane or close to it. He seemed to be taking great delight in torturing all of them. Playing mind games to force friends to turn against each other. Manipulating his enemies to work for him. Having two men fight to the death for his own amusement.

He had seemed so normal before. Yeah, he’d seemed like a creep, but pretty regular. But underneath that veneer was a sick sadistic heart. A man who cared nothing for human life. Too dangerous to exist.

Sadie had never truly believed in evil, but seeing the true face of Conrad, she believed in it now.

Garrett eyed the antidote hungrily. Raw desire burning in his eyes. This was a man who had suffered under the crushing boot heel of this sadistic psycho for too long. A man without hope. But that syringe seemed to look like the only ray of light in his dark existence. Sadie knew what he was going to say even before he spoke.

“I’ll do it,” Garrett said. “I’m sorry, Declan. But I’ll do it.”

“Garrett, no,” Declan said.

Conrad ignored him. “Splendid! See? Garrett is on board. Come on, Declan. Where’s that fighting spirit?”

“Please don’t make me do this,” Declan said.

“I’m not making you do anything. The beauty of this arrangement is that I only need one of you to agree. You can choose not to fight your friend. By all means, feel free to just stand there and die. It’s of little consequence to me. Either way, my new business partners will get a hell of a show.”

“What are you talking about?” Declan asked.

“I’ve got a big shipment in. Tonight, very soon, I’m about to sell that shipment to a cartel I’ve never worked with before. I want to show them who they’re working with. Make sure they understand what kind of muscle I’ve got working for me.”

“So this isn’t a test at all? We’re just supposed to kill each other so you can show off?”

“A little of column A, a little of column B.” He turned to one of the armed men. “Untie him and bring him into the main area. And bring the woman, too. I’m sure she’d hate to miss the show.” He clapped his hands together gleefully. “The games are about to begin!”