The Alpha Men's Secret Club 4: Intrigue: A Shockingly Hot BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance by Dawn Steele Page B

mouth out of her head.
    “I didn’t expect her to. She’s an intelligent woman,” Rust said. He gave Kate a sidelong glance, and she thought for a moment he looked sheepish.
    So he knew. He knew he had hurt me .
    But we weren’t committed to each other then.
    I had no claim on him.
    As much as she tried to rationalize it, this was still going to hurt for a long, long time. 
    “I could subpoena her as a witness to the stand,” Derek said. “She would be an unwilling witness, but the jury needs to see her on it.” He shook his head. “This case is a mess. In order to clear your name, the whole shifter secret would have to come out. I’m not sure I can make that call, Rust, even though I’m your attorney and I’m hired to defend you.”
    “I know,” Rust said. “This is bigger than either you or me.”
    He was very sober about the whole thing, which frankly terrified Kate. He was too calm. Too contemplative. She knew the stakes at hand, and she hoped he wasn’t going to sacrifice himself to bury the whole thing. Rust did not have much of an opportunity to be heroic for most of his life, like many people in academia. But she hoped he was not going to jump at the chance to be a hero now.
    Not at the cost of his own life.
    “What are you thinking about, Rust?” she said.
    He shook his head. “I don’t know what yet . . . exactly. I have a lot to think about.”
    “Please don’t do anything stupid.”
    “Define stupid.”
    The words bottled at her throat. She was afraid of what he would do. To lend words to her fear meant that reality might take shape.
    She said, “Don’t do anything without discussing it over with me and Derek.”
    “I’m not a child, Kate,” he said gently. His green eyes were very beautiful and surreal, as though they were suffused with an ethereal glow. “I’m in complete control now of my mental faculties and my choices.”
    That was what she was afraid of.
    Suddenly, the whole thing had become much bigger than her jealousy of Shamilar.
 

26
     
    Kate and Rust waited for Rita Cunningham at the appointed hour at Finnegan’s. Both of them were nervous. Kate was nervous about what Rust would say. Sure, they had rehearsed it, but Rust was sketchy about some bits. And Rita had a way of throwing you curveballs.
    So did Rust.
    Rita arrived on the dot. She smiled at both of them.
    “Rust O’Brien,” she said, holding out her hand.
    “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not shake the hand of someone who’s blackmailing me,” he said wryly.
    “Careful. I might be your salvation.”
    “I seriously doubt that.” Rust gestured to the chair. “Let’s dispense with the pleasantries and talk about what you’re here for.”
    “Of course.” Rita sat down.
    Please, please don’t let Rust change the script, Kate prayed.
    Rita said, “So what will it be?”
    Rust glanced at Kate.
    “The answer is ‘no’,” he said.
    The blood drained out of Kate’s face. “Rust – ”
    This wasn’t in the script. They had all agreed to say ‘yes’, take the video from Rita and deal with the consequences from there.
    Rust said, “I won’t be party to blackmail.”
    Oh shit, Kate thought. He was doing the same thing as he did with Fiona Montgomery. No matter what the cost to himself, he would not be blackmailed. But she sensed now – in addition to his principles – a greater purpose to his decision.
    “Rust,” she began again.
    He held his hand up. “Please, Kate, I know what I’m doing.”
    “Are you sure?” Rita studied him. “You’re going to be vilified, Rust. Arrested and studied like a lab specimen.”
    “That’s going to happen to me anyway. You’re making sure of that.”
    Rita smiled. “Nothing personal. You just happen to be newsworthy, that’s all. Very newsworthy, in fact. You’re a Darwinian discovery all on your own.”
    Her eyes roamed up and down his body. Kate shivered. Rita’s look was not sexual. It was one of intellectual curiosity – as one would