“By touching him, you were able to break my hold over them.” The smile on his face looked stiff. “And you were affected not at all. Very interesting.”
She sensed more than saw Jackson bristle, but Taggert’s reaction captured her attention when he stiffened. When she glanced in the direction he gazed, she saw why. “Jackie.”
“Excuse me?”
Raven very deliberately turned her back on the she-bitch. Randolph had lost his smile. Though he didn’t appear disturbed, the clipped edge to his question said he didn’t like the way her focus had shifted away from him.
“A person in the club attacked one of mine earlier today. I issued a warning to her about the consequences of doing it again, but apparently not strong enough.” Even before she finished speaking, a waiter dropped off a drink, setting it in front of Taggert with a nod in Jackie’s direction.
Raven tightened her lips. One wrong move could spike Randolph’s annoyance, but she couldn’t leave the challenge unanswered, especially as it threatened Taggert. “Randolph, I’m sorry for the interruption, but would you mind waiting a moment while I settle this?”
As much as she wanted to march across the room, she remained motionless for his answer, her muscles brittle as she waited for his decree.
“By all means. You have me curious.”
Some of the tension eased, although she didn’t care for the spark of curiosity that entered his eyes as he studied her. Something about his lack of expression stirred a memory at the back of her mind. A horrible suspicion of Randolph’s identity kicked her heartbeat into overdrive, but she could do nothing without proof. “Taggert. Please hand me that glass.”
He did as told in an instant, hovering by her side. From the slight widening of Jackie’s eyes, she knew her suspicions were true. “Randolph, would you say you are an excellent huntsman?”
If her suspicions were true, he was the best. A true huntsman trained by the labs to track paranormals. No one knew his identity, as those who lived after meeting him remembered only what he wanted them to recall.
Amusement darkened his gaze as if sharing a joke between them. “Yes.”
“Would you care to tell me what’s in this drink?” She slid the glass across the table with the tips of her fingers. Jackie edged toward the door. “Durant, please make sure no one leaves.”
He rose and signaled the bouncers at the doors.
Randolph leaned over the glass, careful not to touch anything. “Liquor. Orange juice. Grenadine.” Then his brow furrowed. He inched closer and picked up the glass, his face pinched tight. “There’s something else.”
He lifted the drink to his lips.
Raven raised her hand. “I wouldn’t.”
“Oh?” He very deliberately set the glass back to the original spot.
Durant led a very reluctant Jackie toward them. “When Taggert came to me, he was heavily drugged.”
“Impossible.” Randolph spoke the words but something malevolent took shape behind his eyes.
“It slowed down his healing by days. He wasn’t as alert, less aggressive than he should’ve been, and he was submissive to everyone.” She didn’t spare a glance at Jackie. Something told her not to divide her attention. “He built up a tolerance and went through withdrawals after he came into my care.”
“Your little wolf isn’t very strong. You could be mistaken.” Randolph met her gaze squarely as if her future depended on her next words. No doubt it did.
“No.” She recognized the signs of being drugged all too well. Deep foreboding about Randolph’s true purpose for being there sank claws in her gut. He was there for her. If she hesitated or backed down now, they were all dead.
“Designer drugs. How am I to know you aren’t the perpetrator?” He nodded his head to Jackie. “That you are not using me to get rid of your little pest?”
Jackie struggled out of Durant’s hold and came to Randolph’s side. “She did it. I caught her drugging him the night she took him from me. She claimed him to prevent herself from being found out.”
He stiffened imperceptibly, all the hardness rushed back in his face. Jackie must have sensed the change as well for she stopped short of touching him.
A slow awareness of Randolph’s true purpose dawned. He had come for more than an investigation. A dart of fear sparked in her chest, and Raven resisted the urge to attack. Energy swirled around her like an angry cloud, sinking into her skin a little at a time, as much as she dared take without notice.
“You didn’t know about the drugs.” It wasn’t a question. The corners of his lips tightened, and she didn’t think he would answer.