Page 33 of Wanted By the Cartel

"That was amazing," he said, his hand resting on my body, still wanting to feel more of me.

I brushed my lips against his. "Yeah, I know it was. I always make sure it's amazing for you."

His hand caressed my skin, kneading it. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

I pressed my lips against his. "You'd be fine, just like before meeting me, but you're better now."

He bucked his hips when I grabbed his shaft, focused solely on giving him the pleasure he needed.

"I know, and it gives me peace to know that."

Chapter 15

Lyrian

The meeting room buzzed with underlying tension, though most wouldn't have noticed it. I sat beside Zoren at the head of the long mahogany table, my hand resting over my growing belly as I sorted through the whirlpool of emotions around the table. Even now, surrounded by people who kept me protected, I still felt tense.

Twenty of Zoren's highest-ranking captains and lieutenants filled the room, each carrying their own agenda beneath careful masks of deference. They all wanted something.

Lieutenant Chen sat to my left, her usual calm tinged with concern over recent territory disputes. Across from her, Captain Rodriguez's ambition simmered just beneath the surface—nothing unusual there, as he'd always dreamed of advancement. The twins shifted, responding to the emotional atmosphere, and I took a deep breath, centering myself. It was about the only thing I could do at the moment.

Most emotions were the usual mix of respect, fear, and ambition I'd come to expect from cartel gatherings, but something felt off. I'd learned to trust these instincts overthe past months, especially as my pregnancy had seemed to heighten my empathic abilities.

There. A spike of anticipation from Marcus, one of our newer captains. He was tense, thinking about something I couldn't figure out just by thinking about it.

His face remained impassive as he delivered his report on territory expansions, but his emotions betrayed him. Beneath the professional exterior lurked something darker, more calculating. I pressed deeper with my abilities, careful to maintain my own neutral expression.

"The Rivera family has agreed to our terms regarding the southern shipping routes," Marcus said, shuffling his papers. "They've withdrawn their claims to the harbor district."

Deception rolled off him in waves, strong enough to make my skin crawl. I probed deeper, picking up threads of anxiety, anticipation, and something else—triumph? Why would he feel triumphant about a simple territory negotiation?

I shifted slightly, placing my hand on Zoren's arm. We'd developed a subtle code over the months—a simple touch could convey volumes. He continued listening to Marcus's report, but I felt his muscles tense beneath my fingers. He was beginning to understand what I was thinking.

What we were used to doing was useful for moments such as this one. We could communicate without talking.

"The deal includes unrestricted access to warehouses six through twelve," Marcus continued, but I barely heard him. Images flashed through my mind—fragmented emotions and half-formed thoughts. The Rivera family. Money changing hands. Plans within plans.

Betrayal.

"Interesting proposal," Zoren said when Marcus finished. "Though I'm curious about your connection to the Rivera family. It seems you've omitted some recent meetings."

Marcus's emotional spike of fear confirmed my suspicions. His calm exterior cracked just a bit. "I don't know what you mean, sir."

"Don't you?" Zoren's voice carried that dangerous edge I knew well. "Perhaps you'd like to explain why you've been feeding information to our rivals? Do you want to talk about that?"

The room erupted in chaos—both emotional and physical. Marcus lunged forward, a concealed blade appearing in his hand. He was a fool if he thought that was going to work.

But Zoren was faster, and our guards were already moving. Within seconds, Marcus was restrained, his weapon clattering to the floor. The other captains recoiled, their emotions a storm of shock, fear, and—from some—grim satisfaction.

"How?" Marcus spat, struggling against the guards. "How did you know?"

Zoren's hand covered mine where it still rested on his arm. "I have my ways," he said without telling the truth about me. Some people knew, but only the ones we trusted fully. "take him to interrogation."

Lieutenant Chen caught my eye as she stood, her quick mind already working through the implications. She'd always been observant—perhaps too much so. I looked away, conscious of how my role in this revelation might appear.

After the room cleared, leaving us alone, I turned to Zoren. "I could help with the interrogation. My abilities-"

"No." His response was immediate and firm. The protective surge in his emotions almost overwhelmed me.

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