How the hell?

Vadim crossed the room to study the numbers. “How would an enemy make that happen?”

He fought to keep his temper at bay, but the effort cost Ivan. “You make a coordinated strike on individual businesses, infuse capital into competitors, and cause rumors that prompt people to dump stock.” Apparently Felicity hadn’t been hiding out cowering from him the last several decades. “When I learned that Zane had killed Suri, I figured it was time to make my move on the woman.”

Turned out she’d been making her move the entire time.

Vadim’s phone buzzed, and he read the text. “The Intel is coming through on Felicity Kyllwood, her allies, and her weaknesses. Also, we’ve upped the security at the Sjenerøse mine in Russia.”

Ivan turned away from the sight of his portfolios bleeding currency. “There’s no way she can get a team to the Sjenerøse mine to take it out. I just sent orders for the planekite mining to continue around the clock.” If the damn Coven Nine enforcers thought they could work with Felicity and harm him, they had another think coming. He’d only worked with Rudger and his brother for money, but now it was personal. “It’s time we wiped the witch nation off the map, anyway. Weak bastards.”

Vadim rubbed his chin. “They’ve always been our most dangerous enemy, and I’m glad we’re finally going to take them out.”

Damn witches could shield against mind attacks with enough training. His computer dinged again, and he turned back to key in the response. Phillipe Sadler took shape. Ivan smiled. “Hello.”

“Where is my brother?” Phillipe said, his eyes a bizarre blue and his hair a wild brown mane.

Ivan frowned and feigned surprise. “How should I know?”

“Last I heard, Rudger was in Seattle meeting with you.”

Which hadn’t gone well, now had it? Vadim had taken care of the body, so Ivan wasn’t even sure where the corpse now rotted. “Your brother got some tip about the Coven Nine and headed off to Dublin. Something about Simone Brightston.”

Phillipe’s eyes blazed.

Yep. Ivan kept his face concerned. His sources reported Phillipe was enamored with the pretty witch. “I don’t know what the tip was, and he wouldn’t share.”

Phillipe’s face darkened. “I’ll check it out, but he never pursues a lead without calling me. If you’ve done anything to my brother, Ivan, you’re going to want to find a guillotine now.”

Ivan tilted his head to the side. “I don’t appreciate the threat, and I assure you, I take our allegiance seriously.” He clicked off.

Vadim leaned back and crossed his arms. “Want me to take care of him?”

“No. Right now we need his distribution channels for planekite, and so far, he hasn’t revealed the manufacturer of the actual drug.” Nor had he revealed the ultimate puppet master. Somebody wanted the Coven Nine destroyed, and for the life of him, he couldn’t narrow down the suspects beyond Phillipe’s family.

Vadim shook his head. “I thought we were staying out of the Apollo trade. The infusion of capital to the mines was all we wanted.”

That was before the witches had teamed up with that bitch Felicity. They’d all pay by the time he’d finished with them. “I hadn’t realized the financial opportunities available when marketing a new drug to humans, and a new weapon to immortals.” If he could get a cut of the profit being made, he could rebuild his portfolio and keep his position as leader. And his head. He could keep his head. “But for now, let’s teach little Felicity a lesson in strategy and weaknesses.”

Vadim glanced at his watch. “It’s about midnight.”

Anticipation lanced through Ivan, and the blood roared through his veins. While he didn’t like losing his fortune, the thrill of the fight sang through his veins. Felicity was much more of a challenge than he’d hoped, and her moves against him, as devastating as they were, only made him want her more. She’d pay for making him hide and fight to keep his life, and oh, how much fun that sweet moment would be.

He chuckled. Midnight was the perfect time to go hunting in Seattle.

Felicity settled onto the sofa in the bumpy plane, her heart beating hard enough to rattle her ribs. She’d just mated the enforcer. In fact, she’d mated him before he’d mated her. Only one of them needed to transfer a brand, but they’d both done so.

Doubly mated.

Sleep threatened to drag her under, but she had to focus.

Daire stretched out next to her and curled her into his side, yanking a blanket to cover them. “Get some sleep and heal your shoulder,” he whispered.

She coughed. “We should talk.”

“We should heal and then talk.” His tone held a touch of whip sharpness this time. “I can feel vibrations of your pain.”

“Are you worried about the public relations issue with us?” she asked, her eyes closing of their own accord.

“No.” He ran a gentle hand down her hair.

She cuddled closer and fought the need to purr. “Are you worried about my sons?”

“No.” He continued to stroke her.

She sighed. “What are you worried about?”

“You’ve never had much of a choice in life, and you’re just starting to learn how to live.” He shifted his weight and tucked her closer. “What happened tonight happened fast and without much choice.”

Did he regret it? She winced, and the sharp pang to her heart surprised her. Being mated to Daire would be exciting, and she couldn’t deny she had feelings for him. There hadn’t been two seconds to sit down and figure it all out, but if he didn’t want to be mated, she wasn’t going to keep him. “I loved my husband and mate, Daire.”

He stiffened. “That’s good.”

“He was older, and we were good friends. It’s different with you.” She placed a hand over his chest. “You’re young and exciting, and you see me as an equal.” And not weak. Not once, even when he was being all enforcer-esque with her, had he treated her differently than he would any other woman. Of course, he was an overprotective enforcer with any woman he cared about.

He reached under her hair to knead her nape.

Pleasure relaxed her muscles.

“Go to sleep, Felicity,” he whispered. Then he smiled against her forehead. “I’m not young. In fact, considering how young you are, I just robbed the cradle.”

She chuckled. Everything in her wanted to ask if his feelings for her were strong enough to explore, but for the first time, she hesitated to speak her mind. What if he didn’t know? What if he said no? What if, and this was the worst one, he lied to spare her feelings? It wasn’t as if she’d dated anyone . . . ever. She had no clue how to read the signs. If there were signs. Maybe there weren’t any signs.

His grip tightened. “The pain rolling off you is increasing in intensity. I promise we have tons of time to talk before we reach Seattle. Right now, I need you to fall asleep and let your body finish the healing process.”

Bossy. Her new mate was a bit bossy. And handsome, exhilarating, and sexy. A part of her, one she would never admit to, wondered if she would’ve stopped herself from marking him if she hadn’t been so caught up in the moment. Daire Dunne was everything she had ever wanted in a man, and he was strong enough to handle her boys and any problems they might have with him. She could handle them as well.

Her body tingled as the mating brand took effect, and it was different from when she’d mated a vampire. The tingles held a pop of fire, and her limbs loosened naturally. Daire Dunne’s energy was dark and strong, and it flowed through her as her body adapted to the mating. She wasn’t a big believer in destiny, especially considering her past, but ever since Daire had first kissed her, she’d tasted him on her lips. His scent surrounded her, and when she closed her eyes, his face filled her mind.

Was it love, or was this her first real crush?