Stroking her back, he answered, "If I'm always nice and romantic, life will become boring rather quickly. I have to keep you on your toes. Because in fifty years, I want to be lying on the floor with you in my arms just like now."
Laying her cheek back on his chest, Nikki listened to her human's heartbeat and hoped for the same thing.
Rafe lazily ran his fingertips up and down her back. Eventually, he spoke again. "Between Jane and Kai as well as you and me, my parents are going to have to finally visit."
She looked up. "You never really talk about your parents."
He shrugged. "My mum is from Australia and finally convinced my dad to move there a few years ago. Visiting England isn't exactly an easy thing to do since it's halfway around the world."
"Maybe we could go there. I've never been to Australia, and I'd love to meet some of the dragons there. Or, at least, learn about them since we don't really know if they're potential allies or if they're potential enemies."
"That's my woman, always thinking of how to expand her list of allies," he said with a smile.
"Well, I missed out on meeting the Irish clan for the first time, so I need to think of a new plan on how to make it happen with a different clan."
Brushing the hair off her cheek, he answered, "Maybe someday, once things are calmer. I don't think traveling halfway around the world is the safest move at the moment."
"We did it in the army."
"That was different. You had battleships and destroyers take you to India and you flew from there. Commercial ships make for easier targets."
She sighed. "I guess that means your parents will have to fly here." She grinned. "I look forward to your parents meeting mine."
As he played with her hair, he raised his brows. "More like your dad is going to have to stand up to my mum."
Nikki snorted. "Then we definitely need to make it happen."
He pulled her up his chest and kissed her. "As soon as I get back, you plan the mating, and I'll get my parents here."
"Someone sounds in a hurry to get mated."
He grunted. "I want it done before you change your mind."
She gave a heated look. "Then you'd better use what time we have left to convince me to keep you."
With a grin, Rafe rolled them over until he caged Nikki with his arms and legs. "Woman, you're not going to be able to put two sentences together when I'm done."
"Well then, Hartley, I accept your challenge."
Rafe kissed her and set out to win.
Never had Nikki been so happy and content to be herself. Being a Protector or even the first child born to a sacrifice didn't matter at that moment. All that mattered was that she'd found her true mate and her happy ending was within her grasp.
Chapter Twenty-Three.
About an hour after sunrise the following morning, Rafe casually walked down one of the streets off Vauxhall Bridge Road in London. People walked in both directions on the pavement, heading to work in one of the nearby local businesses. A few might even be taking the long way to work in Westminster or one of the other government buildings near the river.
Adjusting his tie, Rafe couldn't wait to get out of the bloody suit he wore to blend in. How people put them on day after day, he had no idea. He'd rather take his chances in Afghanistan for five more years than suffer the confinement of a necktie five days a week for forty years.
When he turned a corner, Rafe's target came into view and all thoughts of suits vanished. The newly reopened Department of Dragon Affairs headquarters was at the end of the street. A few people walked up the steps to the main entrance. If his intel was correct, two security guards would be just inside the entrance to check for weapons or explosives.
According to Evie, most of the DDA staff arrived around 8:00 a.m. to start work. It was almost ten to eight now.
He wasn't worried about the early arrivals or the chance Tobias White had slipped inside already. As a precaution, Jane had been in the area since half past seven.
Rafe scanned the street without being obvious about it and spotted Jane wearing her blonde wig, tight skirt, and open-buttoned top. Even from across the street, Rafe could see more of his sister's cleavage than he ever wanted to. He had a feeling Kai hadn't approved of Jane's kit for her undercover role, but Rafe might be able to use it to tease Jane in the future. Although, his sister might not see it as teasing since it would rile Kai up, but too bad.
Still, Tobias White went through women like most people went through socks; shove a pretty face in front of him, flirt a little, and the man would pursue her. Jane was acting as their bait.
The files on Tobias had been thin, but Arabella MacLeod had been able to round some up from places unknown on the internet. Rafe had a feeling Arabella was a pretty good hacker, but he wasn't about to question it as long as she didn't get caught. The files had arrived during the car ride down from Stonefire. Rafe and Jane had altered their plan slightly to better use Tobias' weakness for women.
He only hoped it didn't backfire as Rafe and Jane had decided against backup. The operation was too important to risk a leak.
More than anything, he wished Nikki could be here and have his back.
Speaking of backs, his stung a little but he wouldn't have it any other way. Just remembering Nikki making the marks as she moaned the day before brought a smile to his face. Her final words still echoed inside his mind: You'd better come back to me, Rafe Hartley, or I will find your arse and teach you a lesson.
When he finally spotted Jane again, she was sipping her coffee and strutting slowly down the pavement on the opposite side of the road, he pushed aside memories of Nikki. The mission needed his complete focus.
After a few minutes, Jane drew nearer to the DDA headquarters. When she picked up her pace, Rafe scanned for their target. A man with a similar build to the escaped hunter collided with Jane. Her coffee spilled everywhere. Pulling out a cloth handkerchief, she dabbed down his front and then close to the man's crotch.
Yeah, it was definitely a good thing Kai was back on Stonefire.
He waited impatiently for Jane to switch on the bug and slip it into the man's trouser pocket. The suitcase in Rafe's hand would record the transmission, but it would be useless if Jane couldn't get the listening device stashed somewhere that couldn't be left behind in a closet.
When the transmitter in his ear picked up a signal, relief flooded his body. Jane's voice in an American accent filled his ear. "Oh, I'm so, so sorry. I'm still trying to get used to the size of London and wasn't paying attention to where I was going. You really should let me pay to have it cleaned."
A man replied in a London accent, "No worries, miss. London is a big city." The bastard's gaze was looking down Jane's shirt. "But if you really want to make it up to me, you'll let me take you out to dinner."
So, it appeared Tobias aka Toby had put on a fake Yorkshire accent for his time with the rogue dragon hunters.
Jane placed a hand on White's chest. "I do love your accent and wouldn't mind hearing you talk for a few hours."
Rafe doubted the man would want to talk, given the way Jane was caressing his chest.
For the first time in a while, he appreciated his sister's skill at acting.
White's voice turned husky. "Good. I can't wait to see you in a tight little dress. I know the perfect place to go. Give me your number and I'll text you."
Rafe watched what he assumed was them exchanging phone numbers. Jane gave a coy smile and then parted ways.
Unfortunately, Rafe could still hear White as he murmured, "I can't wait to undress that Yank and watch her tits bounce."
Clenching his fingers, it took everything Rafe had not to go after White and punch him in the face. Only remembering what was at stake-his future with Nikki as well as that of Stonefire-allowed him to keep walking. He needed to rendezvous with Jane in twenty minutes. Maybe between now and then, he'd hear something that could incriminate Jonathan Christie. The sooner they got the likes of Tobias White off the street, the better.
Five hours later, Rafe was grateful he didn't have a government job in an office.
Tobias White spent a lot of time typing on a computer, flirting with women, and attending meetings. About the only useful pieces of information Rafe had learned thus far was that the DDA had petitioned the Home Office to suspend issuing visitation passes to humans until the threat level could be better assessed.
Jane cleared her throat. She sat on a bench behind him not far from the DDA office. Each of them faced away from each other as they finished their lunches, just in case anyone had identified them. Rafe had shaved his head and wore fake glasses, and Jane wore a blonde wig, but there was still a small chance they could be recognized.
His sister whispered, "Anything?"
"Not yet. You might have to go on a date with the bloke."
From the corner of his eye, he saw Jane shiver. "I bloody well hope not. He thinks I'm a pair of walking, talking breasts. Don't tell Kai I said this, but for once, I miss his protective growling. That man never would've looked twice at me with Kai at my side."
Rafe smiled and lowered his voice. "Protective dragons do have their uses."
"That's it. We're definitely double-dating in the near future. I want to see you handle a protective dragon for a change. I'm curious if the females are as bad as the males."
Rafe was about to reply when the tapping of keys stopped in his ear as a phone rang. Tobias White answered, and his voice came on again. "White here." A pause, and then White continued, "I'll be right there, Jonathan."
Perking up at the mention of Jonathan, Rafe listened intently as White made his way to somewhere in the building. After knocking on the door, Rafe heard it open. Shortly after, a lock clicked and White asked, "You wanted to see me?"
Jonathan Christie's voice answered. "I need to know if the job is done. I can't proceed until it is."
"All threats have been eliminated. We can put the new policy in place whenever you wish."
Rafe tapped his thigh. Their conversation was too vague. He wouldn't be able to pin anything on the pair if they didn't talk about the details.
Christie's voice filled his ear again. "Where were they put to rest? I have a few sergeants and inspectors under my influence who can help divert attention."
"In the South Downs. Our contact there will make a call next week."
Rafe sat up straight. Jane raised her eyebrows in question, but he shook his head a fraction. The South Downs National Park was where Clan Skyhunter lived. Apparently, they had at least one traitor in their midst.
Christie answered, "Good. Make sure any police reports about them are diverted to the usual station."
"And the hostages?"
Rafe resisted a frown. "Take care of them next week. I want time between the two purges."
Bloody hell, had Christie just ordered the murder of more people? Rafe barely heard the parting messages between the two before he touched his ear, stood, and walked away. Jane would understand the signal.
Rafe took one street and then another, taking the long way to the hotel. As soon as he was in his room, he checked that the conversation had recorded and downloaded a backup onto the laptop inside his briefcase. By the time he finished, Jane had entered the room and locked the door.
Taking out a scrambler device to be safe, Rafe clicked it on before he finally spoke. After playing the audio he'd heard between Christie and White for Jane, he added, "Tell me the best way to use this information, Janey. I want to just send it to every news outlet and hope it's enough to create a scandal. But what will have the most impact?"
Jane tapped her chin. "I have a few ideas. But, first, maybe we should ask Bram what he wants to do. Skyhunter has resisted any sort of cooperation up until now. However, this may force Marcus King's hand. Or, at the very least, someone will challenge King's leadership."
"I sometimes forget how clever you are."
Jane frowned. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"
"Tease me later. But right now, we're on the cusp of me securing my future, and it's no laughing matter." Rafe rubbed the prickly stubble of his shaved head. "In your professional journalistic opinion, I need to know if what we recorded is enough. Or, do we need to gather more?"
"Even just the hint of a scandal is usually enough to bring down a politician. While I usually try to avoid suppositions, in this case, I'm more than happy to do it. Especially if this bastard is about to murder another group of people."
"Right, then we need to act quickly before Christie puts his new policies in place. He's already suspended visitation passes. Who knows what will come next."
Jane nodded. "I'm only sad we couldn't connect him to the dragon hunters. My gut tells me he's worked with Simon Bourne before."
"We may still have a chance to connect them. If Christie is taken down, then Rosalind Abbott will probably take over. She might allow Stonefire to question Tobias White."
"Good point," Jane answered. "So, what now?"
Rafe plugged in a USB drive into his laptop and downloaded a copy of the audio files to it. "For safety, I would suggest we go back to Stonefire. Provided you can work your magic from there?"
"I should. If I do need a face-to-face meeting with one of my journalist contacts, I want more backup than you. Not that you aren't a fantastic soldier, but when dealing with crazies, the more protection, the better."
After handing over the USB backup to Jane, Rafe closed his briefcase. "I agree."
Jane eyed him a second before saying, "Nikki has been good for you."
At the mention of Nikki's name, he yearned to see her face. He was so close to staying with her forever that he could taste it.
Clearing his throat, Rafe changed the subject. "Let's head back to Stonefire. You have the roundabout way memorized to get back to our car, right?" Jane nodded and Rafe motioned to the door. "Right, then it's time to go."
As Jane exited first, Rafe waited sixty seconds before following her.
He only hoped his sister was right and that they had enough to bring down the DDA Director. Otherwise, Christie would increase his security and Rafe will have lost the upper hand.
No. If anyone knew how the media worked, it was his sister. As much as he would hate for Jane to lord it over him later, Rafe would gladly take her teasing if it meant he could stay with Nikki.
Chapter Twenty-Four.
Two weeks later in one of the meeting rooms, Nikki leaned against Rafe's side while they stood with Bram, Evie, Tristan, Melanie, Kai, and Jane inside the Protectors' central command. Everyone's eyes were glued to the television.
Rosalind Abbot was being sworn in as the newest Director of the DDA.
When the ceremony completed, the announcer's voice boomed out, "With Rosalind Abbott sworn in, all dragon-shifters must be sighing in relief. The recorded conversation between Jonathan Christie and one of his assistants, identified as Tobias White, was a shock to the nation. Especially once inquiries were made and evidence of murder surfaced. Nineteen human bodies were staged in a mass grave on the edge of Clan Skyhunter's land in the South Downs National Park. They were identified as the attackers on Clan Stonefire. Hired men posing as DDA enforcers had taken custody of the individuals from Stonefire. We now know they were hired by Tobias White.
"While Christie still awaits trial and the result of further inquiries, the prime minister and parliament have relieved him of his duties as Director of the DDA. The former candidate, Rosalind Abbott, was the obvious choice as his successor. The newly sworn in Director Abbott is about to speak, so let's listen."