Free The Bond by Nikki Prince Shyla Colt Page A

close.
    “Babe,
I hate to do this, but I have an impromptu meeting.”
    “It’s
okay, Logan; I know how hard you work.” She trailed a finger around his collar. Trust me, I don’t mind.
    “My
Sany, always so understanding.” His voice was a silken purr as he caressed her
face with his knuckles.
    “I’m
just lucky to have you.” She pursed her lips, flashing a coy look as she
perused him through her long lashes. “I’ll let you get back to work now.”
    His
fingers stroked over her face once more. He leaned in to kiss her. She spun
away from him hastily, laughing as she made it to the door. Opening it she
looked over her shoulder at him and gave a saucy wink.
    “None
of that or you’ll never finish your work.”
    He
sighed, and then chuckled. “Damn, girl, always busting my balls. Get out of
here before I cancel my meeting.”
    Shutting
his door she made her way out of the office building to her car before he could
change his mind. The heavy weight of his stare followed her as he burned a hole
through his office window, which faced the parking lot. She gave the expected
wave when she reached her car and got inside and drove off.
    Too
eager to wait any longer, she pulled out the equipment in her driveway and
pressed play. The whispered conversation made her heart soar along with her
anger. I can’t believe it! I did it! I
have the evidence I need to get Logan out of my life forever.
    Dazed,
she settled back in her seat and pressed the micro file into the small laptop
she’d brought with her so she could replay Logan’s voice as he spoke with the
rival Pride that lived just across the river. Swallowing the bile that rose in
her throat, she listened intently.
    “The
Pride’s assets are tied up in the gold market. When I become Chief I’ll allow
some of those resources to discreetly bleed over into your Pride. In exchange,
I want you to kill the Chief so I can take his place. I need clean hands, or I
won’t deal. Schedule the attack for the night of the bonding ceremony. Once
I’ve staked my claim on Sanura, no one can usurp my claim as Chief, as the new
son-in-law who is bonded by Pride law.”
    There
was a rough chuckle heard over the line. It sounded sadistic, sarcastic, and
full with greed. “And why should we help you? We can just take what we want,
since you’ve been feeding us all their secrets.”
    Sanura
heard Logan give an exasperated sound, and then there was silence. At first she
thought he had hung up, but then he spoke.
    “You
must think you’re dealing with an amateur. If you could do this without me it’d
already be done. If you fail to deliver everything I’ve requested, you will get
nothing. Zilch. I’m the one who has the keys to the land and the gold. You feel
me? Your Pride’s been on the outside looking in for how long? Centuries, right?
Our people migrated from Africa for a chance at a better life, but from where
I’m standing, you’ve yet to fulfill that goal. Are you really gonna pussy out
now and remain in the shadows? Final offer, you do every fucking thing I say or
the deal’s off the table. We clear, Chief Contee?”
    “It
is clear, yes. But it is also apparent you’ve forgotten how to speak to your
elders. We will keep to our end of the bargain. I have some hired rogues who
will do anything I ask as long as they get a little of the action. They will
not be traceable to either of us.”
    “Good.
Make whatever arrangements you need to make and keep in touch. Just continue to
use that cell phone I got you. It’s cloned.”
    “You’ve
thought of everything, haven’t you?” Chief Contee growled, his cat creeping
through.
    “Of
course I have. I’ve known I was meant to be the next Chief since I was a cub of
fifteen. Everything I’ve done my entire life since then has brought me here.
Ridding the Pride of that pest Rafael and having Sanura come to me as a result
was just the icing on the cake. That little bitch has been playing hard to get
for years. Soon I’ll