Taking Nicole (Vegas Mates Series)(#4) Read Online Free PDF

hallway and there was a pass-through in the main building with a nook and an elevator that traveled between the four floors. He pushed through the first set of swinging doors, passed the elevator, and went through the next set of swinging doors.  
    He passed several maids and even a few security guards on his way to the back. They moved out of his way. He might not be the head of security, but he was Carlotta’s pet mercenary and no one questioned his movements around the property.
    It took nearly ten minutes to reach the back of the palace. He pushed open the metal exit door and took a deep breath of the evening air. A chill clung to the light breeze and moisture from a brewing storm over the bay filled the air with the salty scent of the sea.
    Rushing down the sidewalk, he turned down the long driveway that led to the cages. A few minutes later, he pressed his eye to the retinal scanner next to the door, waited for the beep, and then pulled open the heavy, steel door. The smell of feces and rotten meat permeated the air. Bile rose in his throat. It always smelled this way, except for a few hours after the morning power washing.
    Nothing could be done. At least it was cleaned daily. Visiting servants from other royal estates had described much worse conditions than the Antipas cages.
    It wasn’t fair. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. Yet they did get away with it. No one ever breathed a word of complaint. None dared.
    He hurried down the middle walk and turned to the right. His sister’s cell was in the front right corner of the building. “Sasha.” He called and was answered by a soft yowl. A thin leopard moved from the shadows to the front wall of the cage. She sat on her haunches and stared at him with dead eyes. Her fur had lost its luster years ago and she was too thin. They were fed scraps from meat markets, whatever was cheap and going to be tossed. He wasn’t allowed to feed her anything either and had been beaten several times when he tried to sneak her extra scraps from his meals.
    “Hey, sweet girl. I’ve missed you. I was out of the country, but I’m back now.” He folded his legs and sat on the cold concrete in front of her cage. “I found somebody. You’ll never guess what she is.”
    Sasha’s golden eyes widened and she whined.
    “I found my mate, Sasha, but it’s useless. She’s going to be claimed in a ceremony at the end of next week. She wants me to help her escape, but I can’t.”
    His sister bared her teeth and hissed.
    Yeah, she was pissed. He knew she’d be angry. If he was in her place and she had the chance to be with her true mate, he would want it for her, no matter what.
    “I can’t do it, little sis. They’ll torture you to get to me. Then they’d torture us both and kill us. It would all be for nothing.”
    She shook her head back and forth and bared her teeth again.  
    I’m surrounded by stubborn women.  
    Aaron reached through the bars and rubbed under her chin. Purring vibrated from her throat and he smiled. It was a small pleasure, but the only one he could give her.
    “She knows the creator, Sasha. I know you’re mad, but I’m going to get you out of here. I won’t leave you here. Ever.”
    Her gaze met his and then she swung her head to her left and then to her right. He followed her gaze and sighed. Dozens of others paced in their cages. All fated to suffer for decades ... or longer.  
    “I can’t promise anything, Sasha, except that I’ll try.”
    The front door slammed. He jumped to his feet and watched as one of the kitchen staff hurried down the center walk. It was Lena. Her husband was in a cage at the far side of the building. They’d both served the Antipas household until Reginald had requested her presence in his bed one night, twenty years ago. When she refused, he had her husband spelled and locked up. She slept next to his cage every night.
    Aaron knew the whole story, though. Reginald still requested her presence from time to