Page 4 of The Dragon Recruit
“Hush.”
“Nope.”
She grinned, and he rolled his eyes. Katrina Lau was one of the few people he trusted, and the only one who knew he’d been beaten to a bloody pulp during their last assignment.
It’d taken a lot of bribing to keep his superiors from finding out, but it’d been worth it. Otherwise, they might start suggesting he retire again.
And Antony wasn’t ready to do that. He was far from his dotage.
He turned onto the road leading to Clan Lochguard and steeled himself for another gear change as they approached the gate.
Trina said, “There are cars with automatic transmissions. You should try one.”
“It will be a cold day in hell before I do that.”
Pain radiated from his side again. But after his decades-long work for a secret division of MI5, he had a better poker face than just about anyone.
After they cleared the gates and he parked in front of the dragon security building, he glanced at Trina. “This is your last chance to change your mind. Because as soon as we head inside, you’ll have no choice but to go to Stonefire.”
Clan Stonefire was the dragon-shifter clan in the north of England. It was also where Trina’s half-sister, Nikki Gray-Hartley, helped run their clan security. And she didn’t know that Trina even existed.
She raised a dark eyebrow. “I would think I’ve proven myself enough times by now for you to trust my decisions, Antony. And I already made this one.”
“You have. But this is different, and you know. If you can’t recognize…”
She finished, “A possible weakness, then everyone could get hurt or die.”
“Exactly.”
“I know, I know. And I plan to be upfront with Nikki, the first chance I get.”
“That will still be some weeks away. We have to finish this next assignment first.”
She shrugged. “If no one has made the connection after all these years, a few more weeks won’t hurt.”
He’d suggested she talk to the dragonwoman earlier, but Trina had wanted some time to prepare. Nikki would no doubt have questions, and some of them weren’t easy to answer. Even Antony knew that.
He searched Trina’s brown-eyed gaze and nodded. “Right, then you handle it as you see fit. For now, let’s deliver this news before it leaks to the press.”
And it would, sooner or later. If it didn’t surface by tomorrow, his superior would do it himself.
Slowly, Antony rose out of the car and straightened his shirt and jacket. Part of him pitied Faye and Grant, who had no idea of the media storm coming their way.
And yet, a sense of excitement thrummed through him. Because he might seeheragain soon.
The dragonwoman he liked to ruffle, whenever he got the chance. Even though he shouldn’t.
In general, Antony kept his distance from people. Well, apart from his brother, Max, and Max’s mate, Lavinia.
However, staying in contact with his brother was risky, and the sensible thing to do would be to stay away. And yet, Antony hadn’t been able to cut Max out of his life. It was almost as if his brother were the last link he had to being human, and if Antony gave him up, he might turn into a monster.
You’re careful, don’t worry. It won’t be like before.Not wanting to think about the person he’d lost years ago because of his ego and recklessness, Antony pushed aside thoughts of family and the past before donning his charming persona. A younger dragon-shifter, not more than twenty or so, sat at the security reception desk. He stood as Antony and Trina stopped in front of him. “Hello, I’m Antony Holbrook. I have an appointment.”
“Of course, Mr. Holbrook. Although things have changed a wee bit.”
“How so?”
“Aye, well, see for yourself.”
