A chill tiptoed down my spine the minute I entered the theater-style room. The last time I’d been in there was with Rianne when Jordyn had been missing.
Jordyn glanced around in awe. “This is a war room? Looks like a great place to watch a movie.”
We climbed down the stone steps with my bodyguard, Lane, leading the way.
“So what’s this about?” I asked him for the hundredth time.
He tossed a look over his shoulder, his light-brown eyes full of frustration. “No idea. But Tripp is seething.”
I’d been racking my brain over why Tripp would be so enraged with Jordyn and me, or maybe it was just me. But neither of us had done anything wrong.
Since Jordyn’s return from Chicago, which had only been the day before yesterday, we’d been lounging at Harley’s house since the women’s barracks were occupied. She’d given Sam the thumbs-up for Jordyn and me to crash at her place while she was out of town, visiting her mother.
Jordyn and I hadn’t left her house until that morning. We’d met Alia briefly at the library, but then she’d gotten a message from her father and had to leave. So Jordyn and I decided to check out the base exchange to see what they had for clothes. The small amount Jordyn had packed before we left Montana wasn’t enough.
Lane, who was about six-foot-four and broad, had a cute smile, thick dirty-blond hair on top that was shaved on the sides and back, and seemed like a sweetheart, waved for us to have a seat in the front row. “I need to duck out for a sec.” Then he disappeared through a side door.
“What do you think is going on?” I asked Jordyn.
“No clue. Maybe they’re monitoring our phone conversations. I did talk to Intech this morning.”
I gathered my hair and draped it over my shoulder. “You think Harley’s place is bugged?”
She set her purse on the chair beside her. “What would that matter? We haven’t said anything they don’t already know.”
“About Intech. Are you taking the job?” When we talked about her interview, she’d mentioned she was on the fence. Something felt off to her that she couldn’t put her finger on.
The side door opened, and Tripp and Sam entered. I hadn’t seen Sam since Jordyn arrived. Even if I’d wanted to, he’d been working, which was cool. I needed space to wrap my mind around a baby and the fact that he was in love with me.
My stomach dipped at the sight of him. He wore his black uniform—SEAL T-shirt stretched across his muscled chest, cargo pants, flak boots, and weapons strapped to his legs and waist.
Tripp was dressed the same, and both had their hair tied at the nape.
“What did we do to piss you off?” Jordyn asked Tripp before he could open his mouth.
Tripp balled his hands into fists as his nostrils flared like a bull about to attack a matador. He shot daggers at Jordyn with his eyes as he leaned on the table in front of the movie screen.
Sam stood with his feet shoulder width apart and his hands behind his back about five feet from Tripp. His attention was focused on his lieutenant, though he wore a vacant expression that reminded me of a robot programmed to do as Tripp commanded.
The hairs on my arms fired to attention.
Tripp snagged the remote device off the table and pressed on it. A slide appeared with eight bullet points beneath the name “Camden Industries.”
I scanned over the words and zeroed in on bullet point five. Then I swung my gaze to Jordyn as my mind tried to unjumble the reason why Tripp’s jaw was ticking furiously.
She shrugged with her lips tightened. “Camden owns Intech. So what? Is that why you hunted us down?”
She hadn’t been around the SEALs as long as I had, which told me something big was coming next, especially if Sam’s rigid posture or stone mask was any indication.
Tripp’s wry grin dropped a heavy blanket of unsettling pressure over us. “Let me break it down. Camden Industries specializes in developing weapons for the Department of Defense. Not a big deal. Intech develops computer programs for the DOD. Camden owns Intech. Seems legit.” Tripp pushed off the table and paced. “But here’s where things start to make us scratch our heads. When Sam was in Montana, at that bar where Noah and Rianne kidnapped him, he spotted something in an SUV that made him suspicious.”
Sam still hadn’t shifted or batted an eye, and if not for his chest moving with his breath, I would’ve thought he was definitely a robot.
Tripp tucked a hand into his pants pocket. “At first glance, nothing gave us a red flag. Until we dug deeper.” He came to a halt and pressed on the remote.
Another slide came into view. That time, it was a picture of a very familiar tall, brown-haired man dressed in a tailored black suit with a yellow satin tie.
It took a beat for my brain to click into place. “Is that Lester Worthington?”
Jordyn pointed to the screen. “That’s the guy who came into the Deer and Elk. Sam said he was interested in buying a horse. I also saw him talking to Noah when Sam left to make a phone call.”
Sam finally came out of his robotic state. “We’re almost certain Lester wasn’t at the ranch to buy a horse. We think Lester was there to sell Jack his new weapon.”
Jordyn huffed. “I still don’t see why you’re upset with us. Our uncle is a hunter. You know that. So he’s buying a weapon.”
Tripp clicked the remote again.
I knitted my brows. Noah was talking to Lester outside of Intech as though they were old friends. “When was that taken?” My aunt thought Noah was missing or had been kidnapped by Roman.
Tripp settled his stance at the edge of the table. “This was the day Jordyn interviewed with Intech. Sawyer was able to hack into the cameras around the company.”
“Any sign of Rianne?” I held my breath. Maybe she was in Boston but then joined Noah in Chicago.
Tripp shook his head hard. “None.”
Sam’s eyes flashed silver as he focused on Jordyn. “Are you plotting with Noah and Rianne to kill me or any of us here? Was your interview a hoax? Is your interest in working with us just a ploy to throw us off track? Are you their mole?” His voice grew deeper on each question.
I understood his anger. I could even jump on board with how suspicious it looked that Jordyn had trekked off to Chicago, given the pictures up on screen. But he had no right to unleash his browbeating fury on Jordyn. She was the one person who would never betray me.
I fisted my hands in my lap. “What gives you the right to bully her? And what happened to innocent until proven guilty? Not only that, but I trust her.”
Sam’s fangs descended as if in slow motion.
I rolled my eyes and popped up like a jack-in-the-box. “Puh-lease, vampire. Fangs don’t scare me.”
He marched closer to me. “Need I remind you that Rianne tried to hurt you? Almost killed you. And didn’t you trust her too?”
I bared my teeth. “Jordyn isn’t Rianne.”
“Answer the questions, Jordyn,” Tripp prompted in an even tone. At least he was keeping his composure together, although I didn’t doubt he could snap at any moment.
Jordyn clasped her hands together as she fixated on the low pile carpet.
It felt like a bag of nails was poking my stomach. “Jordyn, say something.”
She cleared her throat. “I promise, Layla. I don’t know what’s going on.” Her voice was soft but shaky, and she still hadn’t looked at me. “I’m not a mole.”
My pulse pounded in my ears as I sat back down. I knew my sister. She was holding something back. Otherwise, she would be standing up for herself.
“Your elevated heartbeat says differently,” Tripp said.
“I can feel your fear,” Sam added.
She shuddered. “You do because I know what this looks like. I promise I’m not involved with Noah and Rianne. The reason my pulse is racing is because I’m trying to figure out what the fuck is going on. I declined the job this morning. Something felt off to me. After my interview, I spent some time with the man in charge of security, Fred Emery. He gave me the creeps, from the way he leered at me to how much he knew about me. I was about to tell you, sis, when they came in.”
Sam flinched slightly. “Jordyn, you said Fred Emery?”
I jerked my attention to Sam. “Do you know him?”
“No,” he said, then eyed Tripp. “But I think Roman does. Ben mentioned he’d heard Roman talking to a guy named Fred.”
Whether it was Sam mentioning the word talking or not that triggered my memory, I suddenly recalled Lester chatting with his friend at the Deer and Elk. “You know, Lester mentioned your name when he was at the Deer and Elk, Sam.”
Tripp and Sam jerked back.
“And I just told you that Lester was talking to Noah,” Jordyn added then waved her hand at the screen. “You’ve got pictures of them together. Maybe Noah is driving the ship. Maybe he’s working out a deal with Lester to profit off you, Sam.”
“By killing me?” Sam asked. “That doesn’t make sense. I’m usually wanted alive.”
“Maybe Roman doesn’t need you alive anymore. Maybe he has a contract on your head,” I said.
Tripp scrubbed a hand along his jaw. “Possible. But we haven’t found Roman mixed up with either of these companies.”
“True,” Sam said. “But after Roman escaped, his trail did lead to Chicago.”
“Whatever Noah and Lester are up to,” Tripp said, “we have work to do.” He got on his phone and rattled off orders about Camden, Intech, and Fred Emery. “Dig deeper,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument to the person on the other end of the line. “I want every detail of both companies from the CEO down to the mailroom guy. I want a dossier on Lester Worthington and Fred Emery to start.” Then he hung up before he and Sam headed toward the exit.
Jordyn swiveled in her seat to face me. “You believe I’m telling the truth, right? I didn’t know Noah was in Chicago, and if Carly did, she didn’t say anything.”
I studied her for a long second as a tiny voice whispered not to trust anyone. But Jordyn hadn’t given me any reason not to believe her.
She sighed as she stuck out her chest. “You can always have Steven read my mind if it makes you feel better.”
That didn’t seal the deal yet. I’d been able to block Steven from diving into the deep recesses of my mind when I’d first met him. But Jordyn had always been truthful.
I captured her hand. “I do believe you.”
She quivered. “Thank you. I would never betray you.”
I hugged her. “I know.”
“Jordyn,” Tripp called. “We would like for you to take the team through your time at Intech. Come with me.”
“I love you. I’ll catch up with you later,” she told me before getting to her feet and passing Sam as he strutted over.
“Can we find a secret island where no one will find us?” I asked.
He pulled me to my feet and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m for all that. But this is our life, baby doll. Your family and mine. My dad talked to Jack, by the way. We’re meeting him outside of Chicago tomorrow night. He reiterated that if we don’t bring you, he’s walking.”
Sam had told me about the voice mail Jack had left. I had no clue why Jack wanted me there. It would be nice to think he wanted to make sure I was okay, but that was a pipe dream.
“I would insist on going even if he didn’t dangle me like a carrot.”
Sam grinned, showing his heart-stopping dimples. “I know. But then I would have to tie you up.” He waggled his thick eyebrows.
I flattened my hands on his chest and ignored his sexual innuendo for the time being. “Did your dad ask Jack why he wanted to meet?”
“He did, and Jack’s response was ‘We have many things to talk about and not over the phone.’”
“It’s going to be a long nine months, isn’t it?”
He studied me intently as if trying to find a way to tell me another piece of bad news.
“Just say it. I’m a big girl.” Then again, with my hormones all over the place, I wasn’t sure how much more I could handle.
That stone mask was back in place. “Stay with me tonight.”
“Sam, you’re scaring me. And that’s hard to do.”
He eased away and smiled, but it seemed forced.
“You found Rianne?” I held my breath. If they did, it wasn’t good.
“No,” he said. “I want you to prepare yourself. There are too many moving parts, given what we’re learning about Noah, Camden, and Intech, not to mention your uncle. And then there’s Roman and Rianne.”
“You should just call Jack and tell him about Noah. After all, according to my aunt, that’s why he set up the meeting. He wants your help finding his son.”
Sam nodded. “We could, but as your uncle said, we have many things to talk about, which means there’s more than Noah on the table. And we need to know what he’s up to. Is he involved with Camden? Does he have a new weapon? What are his plans to hunt Roman?”
“He won’t share his strategies,” I said.
“He doesn’t have to. We’ll read his mind.”
“Jo is going? I know your father can read minds, but he needs to touch Jack to do so, and my uncle won’t let that happen.”
“She is. Does Jack have a way to block anyone from getting in his head?” Sam asked.
“As far as I’m aware, no. But I haven’t been around Jack for two years. You won’t be able to compel him, though.”
Sam smirked, showing that cocksure arrogance. “Remember, I don’t compel like normal vampires.”
“Careful,” I warned. “Even the best can fail.”
He hadn’t lost his aura of superiority. “Not Jo and me. Together, she and I are unstoppable.”
After witnessing his elemental powers, I had to agree, and combined with Jo’s abilities, I wouldn’t doubt him.
But the way things were going, the mighty could fall.
Two hours later, I stood in front of a wall of windows in Sam’s apartment on the naval base, gazing out at the courtyard below. Piles of melting snow gave way to a mixture of brown and green blades of grass. A handful of round cement tables dotted the yard between the two buildings, and guards patrolled the roof of the one across from me.
If not for the open and spacious apartment behind me, I would have felt like I was in a high-security prison. I would have given anything to rewind the months and years to a time when I felt like I could breathe. Since my parents died, I hadn’t had a day where I didn’t worry about my sisters, our future, or the struggle to survive. If I’d never taken that job from Wyman, my sisters and I would still have been three peas in a pod.
Basking in the silence, I inhaled then released a breath. Sam had brought me to his place while the SEAL team peppered Jordyn with questions. I wanted to be there, but I was tired and nauseous. I would give anything to return to Maine, to hear the crash of the waves, to see the sun rise, to walk the beach with Sam, to do anything other than deal with the tons of crap hitting us all at once.
The landscape lighting turned on around the courtyard as dusk set in. A guard emerged from the prison building across the way. Sam had pointed out before he left that the jail cells resided in the basement of that building. I thought of Wyman. According to Sam, Wyman had been ill. Some type of stomach flu. But he had fully recovered and was working for Alia’s father’s security firm.
I made a mental note to see if I could talk to him. I wanted him to relay every detail of when he’d been with my father. I was growing more curious by the day about the woman my dad supposedly had been dating and if she’d been the one who ended his life.
The doorknob clicked before the door groaned open.
My pulse quickened as Sam swaggered in, appearing as though he could use a year of sleep. Right behind him was my sister.
Jordyn sashayed in wearing a huge smile. “So this is your hideaway?” She took in every corner of the room. “Nice penthouse.”
“It’s my father’s half the time,” he said. “I’ll let you two talk.” Sam strutted down the hall.
I skirted a chaise lounge before perching on the edge of it. “How did it go?”
Jordyn sat on the couch across from me. “Um. Steven read my mind. And before you say anything, I asked him to. I got the feeling the SEAL team wouldn’t trust me, and I want them to. I want them to know I’m on their side.”
“I hear a but coming.” Dread crawled through my chest.
Her brown eyes lit up. “Chill, sis. It’s all good. I finally had a chance to talk to Steven. He’s offered me a job. He learned yesterday that one of his staff members, who was in that explosion, didn’t make it. So he has an opening. And he said he would do anything for me since we’re family now.”
My mouth hung open. “Family, huh?” It was weird to even think of vampires as family. I guessed I’d better get used to that. “Anyway, you look excited, but your voice says otherwise.”
“I’m headed to Boston in an hour. Steven is putting me up in his apartment at their headquarters. I start work tomorrow. He wants to get me situated before he leaves for his meeting with Jack, so I won’t be here for you.”
I joined her on the couch. “Don’t worry about me. Besides, you’re only two hours away at most. I’m stoked for you.”
“I know, but I’m also worried about you meeting with Jack. To be honest, the other reason I didn’t take the job at Intech was Carly. I don’t want to be around our family. I’m irritated with myself that I even interviewed for it. My heart has always been with the vamps here.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. I pushed you to go to the interview. I’m glad you did, though. Now, you know for sure that vampires are your thing.” I laughed.
She giggled. “We’re vampire lovers, sis. Mom and Dad would freak.”
“I don’t know about Mom.” I sighed, pushing out some frustration over our dead mother. Considering she had vampires somewhere in her lineage, Mom could very well have loved the bloodsuckers.
She rose. “We’ll find out more about Mom. With me working for Steven, I’ll have access to records and their library in Boston.”
A spark of excitement tickled my stomach as I stood and hugged her. “You will.”
Maybe things were falling into place for us.