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Scheme nodded to the enforcer a few feet away, who waved the cameraman over.
With polished expertise, Cassa turned to the camera. “I’m talking to Scheme Tallant, General Cyrus Tallant’s daughter and rumored personal assistant. We’re at Sanctuary, the home of countless Feline Breeds and the main base of operations, where Miss Tallant and Mr. Tanner Reynolds are preparing to announce their engagement on the heels of her father’s accusations of brainwashing and coercion. ” She turned back to Scheme. “Miss Tallant, I must say after knowing you for several years, you don’t look in the least brainwashed. Why is your father claiming you are?”
Scheme put on her “public” face and gave Cassa a practiced, charming smile.
“To hide the truth. ”
“And the truth is, Miss Tallant?”
“That he would do anything to silence the truth that will be revealed in the coming weeks. The truth that he’s murdered countless Breeds, and had Tanner not moved quickly, he would have murdered me as well. ”
Her heart ached, and she didn’t know why. He had never been a father. He had never cared for anything other than his fanatical dreams of controlling the Breeds.
“Why would your father want you dead?”
“Because I know the atrocities he’s committed. Because, Ms. Hawkins, for the past eight years I’ve been a double agent for the Bureau of Breed Affairs, working directly with Jonas Wyatt. I know my father’s secrets. And he would do anything to silence me. ”
The interview with Cassa went smoothly, despite the constant interruptions the other reporters tried to make. The enforcers held them off dutifully though, and once she finished with Cassa, Scheme gave the others a few minutes with their questions. It wasn’t much, but they would have airtime. Tanner had also talked with them, and before they entered the ballroom, Tanner and Scheme were interviewed together.
But she couldn’t shake the feeling that her father was up to something more. That he had an ace he hadn’t played yet and was just waiting on her. The communications blackout had kept the spy’s transmissions from going through, and Jonas had whispered to Tanner that they were narrowing the location of the attempted transmissions further in the mountain.
Which left the estate house safe, at least for now.
“One of these days,” Scheme commented as they left the reporters, “one of those reporters is going to catch onto your lies. ”
He chuckled at that, pausing as he moved to a small group of women gathered around one tall, blond-haired cowboy.
“Scheme, I’d like you to meet some friends,” he announced. “Tamber Mason. ” A tall, well-toned brunette with twinkling brown eyes reached out to shake her hand with a murmured, almost too soft hello. She appeared shy. Restrained. Though the low-cut, almost too short silver dress she wore was anything but restrained. “Tamber is our resident communications expert. She runs the comm shed like a little drill sergeant. ”
Tamber ducked her head as though embarrassed with the praise.
“It’s good to meet you, Tamber. ” Tamber nodded, mumbled again and offered a small smile.
“This is Shiloh Gage. ” He introduced an auburn-haired Jaguar Breed beside Tamber.
This Breed, Scheme remembered.
“The brat?” Scheme’s lips twitched as the other girl stared back at her with brazen curiosity.
Shiloh Gage had been known for several things in the labs she had been created in. Among them was her ability to work the scientists and trainers in a manner that screamed princess brat. Tonight she was dressed in snug tan breeches and a sleeveless, deeply cut vest that revealed a generous cleavage.
She should have been killed within the first five years of her life. Instead, the scientists had written in their reports that they kept her alive for study purposes. They were trying to figure out where she had managed to get the idea that she deserved life, and why she assumed they would care. Personally, Scheme knew that the scientists in that particular lab had a sense of humor.
“That’s me,” Shiloh agreed archly.
“And she doesn’t mind admitting to it. ” The tall, blond-haired Southern charmer, human, ex-mercenary and general bad ass, Simon Quatres, spoke from beside Shiloh. “I assume you know who I am?”
“Not everyone knows you, Simon,” Shiloh informed him querulously.
“Actually, I have read several reports on him,” Scheme agreed. Thankfully, he didn’t insist on shaking her hand. The pain would have been hard to hide. “It’s good to meet you. ”
“And it’s fine to finally meet you, ma’am,” he drawled. “Ole Tanner seemed to do well for himself after all. He’s surprised us. ”
Tanner grunted in reply.
“Callan’s motioning for us now,” Tanner told her, gripping her elbow as she offered her good-byes to the small group.
“Meet and run. An interesting concept,” she told him as they headed toward the front of the ballroom.
