Free The Shifter's Conspiracy (Paranormal BBW Werewolf Romance Novella) by Cassie Laurent Page B

control. But I was also happy to be a part of this. I had been the one who’d made the connection, after all. It felt good to be part of the progress. With any luck, we’d soon be on our way to solving the case and putting the criminals behind it in prison. I looked forward to hearing Elias’s plan with great anticipation.

Early that afternoon, Elias and I left to go question the owner of 41X. That was the story, anyway. As soon as we got into his car, Elias turned to me and let me know what was actually happening.
    “Tess, we’re going back to my hotel room. We’re going to plan the operation from there. I’m sorry to put you through this; I know you don’t feel comfortable keeping this from the others. But it has to be this way, at least for now.”
    “It’s OK, I understand,” I said, looking back at him, doing my best to show my allegiance and my sincerity.
    “Thank you. I appreciate your help on this,” said Elias.
    “So, what exactly is the plan then?” I asked.
    I still had no idea what Elias’s mind was up to in this regard. In a lot of ways, I felt that I was almost as much in the dark as Dr. Geiss and Agent Henderson.
    “Tess, before I tell you. I just want you to be prepared. What I have in mind is going to require a lot from you.”
    “Like what?”
    Elias looked over at me, choosing his next words carefully. Just when he was about to speak I saw him hesitate and look out the window.
    “We’ll talk about it back at the hotel,” he said gruffly, as he looked away from me.
    We spent the remainder of the ride in silence. I wondered to myself what Elias could possibly have planned that had him so obviously shaken—that had him dreading the act of even telling me the details of the operation. He wanted these abductions to stop at all costs; did that mean that we’d be putting ourselves in danger? It had to be something pretty extreme if he wasn’t telling the rest of the task force.
    By the time we got to the hotel, I’d worked up the scheme so much in my own head that I was practically shaking; my hand trembled as I reached to open the door of the car and get out. Just as I was about to, a valet pulled it open for me and helped me out onto the curb.
    I followed Elias through the hotel lobby and into the elevator. Finally, he spoke for the first time since we’d gotten into the car.
    “We’ll order room service. We’re going to be working up here for the next few hours.”
    “OK,” I said.
    He still wasn’t telling me anything just yet and it only increased my nervousness. How could something like room service matter at a time like this?
    Like the car ride, the rest of our time in the elevator was draped in silence. I was starting to wonder just how much I trusted Elias. What exactly did I even know about him? Not that much when I came to think of it. I had a lot of respect for him, but that didn’t change the fact that he was basically a mystery to me, someone beyond comprehension.
    And yet, despite my misgivings, there was something about him that required my unquestioning allegiance. I would do whatever he asked, perhaps against my better judgment. I was bound by something, some supernatural force—or perhaps just my own unspoken desire.

—Elias—
    Elias didn’t know how to tell Tess that within the next few hours she would be risking her life. Normally, he was very articulate, but right now words escaped him. Was it perhaps his own misgivings? No, he knew this was what had to be done. Besides, he would be watching over her, protecting her every second. But he needed her trust, and despite his attempts to read her thoughts, he wasn’t quite sure how she would ultimately react to his scheme. He decided it was best to wait until they reached the hotel room.
    He looked over at her now as the elevator ascended the many floors up to his room, a nice little suite up on the eleventh floor. It was a comfortable room, perfect for a romantic getaway. It was a shame they weren’t here