It didn’t take long for Ethan to piece together what happened. An outside contractor had been watching both Remy and the movements of his security team, waiting for the moment to strike.
True to their word, Nautilus Securities pulled through for their high-paying client. Combined with Ethan’s own sources, they went through a list of Ethan’s potential enemies over the next few hours. Eliminated some, and began a new list when Mal came back with a classified file from a source listing the latest high-profile hitters that newly entered the city.
“That cuts down the list to five or so individuals,” Ethan murmured.
He flicked through the profiles of the men on his computer screen. Their pictures weren’t clear and their profiles lacked information, but Ethan wasn’t surprised. Whoever made the jump over Mal and his men wasn’t at the bottom of the barrel. He was top-notch—meaning his enemy didn’t care about flaunting serious cash around. That limited his list.
“How are you certain it’s not a group?” Mal asked, puzzled.
“Because they wanted to hit fast and hard, without any unnecessary complications.” Ethan checked the list of names again, but his gaze kept on lingering on an ex-military, turned mercenary man in his late thirties. The most surprising thing about this individual was the fact he was human. A human that specialized in the affairs of the supernatural didn’t come cheap.
“Raker. Why does that name sound so familiar?” Ethan mused out
loud.
“Why signal him out among the others?” Mal asked.
Ethan’s head throbbed with a mini-migraine. He turned the name over and over in his mind, trying to attach it to some figment of memory. Damn it all. Was he so desperate to have Remy back safe in his arms, he could no longer think straight or logically? Any wrong move, any hastily made decision could cost him. Yet...
“Mal, check with your connections. See if this hit man Raker had been hired by the Cronus pack before.”
Mal frowned. “The pack your ex-wife belongs to?”
The werebear looked like he had more questions, but one pointed look from Ethan made him get up and make more calls. Ethan drummed his fingers impatiently against his desk. Rage threatened to kindle inside him again, his wolf pushed to the end of its patience and limits. If Lindsay were involved, if that bitch...
No. Ethan refused to presume. If he made the wrong assumptions, he would have hell to pay. Lindsay’s father, Jonathan O’Connell, was the pack alpha of the largest werewolf group in the city. That, and Lindsay was Miriam’s mother. Lindsay wouldn’t go that far, would she?
Mal re-entered the room. “Ethan, you were right. The Cronus pack used Raker before, in a couple of low profile assassinations.”
Ethan’s patience snapped. A growl tickled out. He could no longer contain his anger. Ethan saw red. His nails partially shifted to claws and he dug them into the wood of his desk. Easy. Breathe in and out. No use. He was a volcano waiting to erupt, a tornado waiting to wreak havoc.
“Ethan, I can understand what you’re going through. You need to calm down—” Mal began.
“You fucking don’t,” Ethan interrupted.
“I know what it’s like losing your mate,” Mal said softly. The strange vulnerability in the werebear’s voice gave Ethan pause, and made him study Mal a little closer. “Besides, if you go in without a plan, what use would you be to Remy dead?”
Ethan let out a hiss. Mal was right. If he failed...Remy had no one else to save him and Ethan’s impulsive decisions would only kill them both. Mal said nothing for a few seconds. The werebear stood silently in one corner as Ethan unleashed his rage on another outlet—the furniture in the room.
He panted, staring at the broken wood, fabric and torn up wallpaper for a couple of seconds.
“What’s your next plan?” Mal asked.
“I need to make an important call to Jonathan and talk to my daughter.”
“You sure that’s a good plan?” Mal asked. “I can understand you’re still a little shaken. Maybe you need more time to think this over.”
“There’s no more time. I know what I’m doing.” Ethan might not have felt as confident as he sounded, but there was no other way. He had to assume Lindsay was arrogant enough to not tell her father the complete picture, just the convenient parts of her side of the story. Jonathan O’Connell’s only weakness might be his little princess, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d see reason, or Ethan hoped he would.
He left his private office, and felt the werebear shadowing him from behind. Ethan gingerly touched the doorknob leading to Miriam’s room. Another guard stood by her doorway, because Ethan didn’t want to take risks, but here he was, taking the biggest gamble of his life. He pushed the door open. Miriam lay on her bed, still looking annoyed after Ethan told her to keep to her room. Miriam placed down her phone, to glare at him.
“What now, papa? Going to take me to a safeplace?”
Ethan studied his cub for a few seconds, wondering how Miriam seemed more and more like him than Lindsay—strong willed and opinionated. Then again, Lindsay had shown from the start she had no interest in raising a child. He decided not to lie.
“Miriam, what I’m about to ask you is hard. Would you listen?”
Miriam sat up, noticing his serious tone. “What’s wrong, papa?”
“You’ve known Remy has been taken,” Ethan began. He spared no expense in telling Miriam what Remy meant to him, because he wanted Miriam to get used to the idea of her favorite tutor being around as Ethan’s mate.
“Have you found him, papa?” Miriam asked, gripping his arm.
Ethan knew how Miriam had a fondness for Remy, even though she’d been shocked at first to find out about their relationship. He was proud of her though, for being mature and understanding.
“I might need your help.” Her eyes lit at that. “We might need to pay a visit to grandpa. Would that be fine with you?”
Her brows furrowed. “Still don’t know why a visit to grandpa would help, but sure. If that can help bring Remy back to us.”
Us. Ethan’s heart warmed at her response. “You asked for the whole picture, so I’ll give it to you.”
It pained him to explain his suspicions. To tell his only daughter about what her mother did. The lengths she would go to get back at him. A long silence passed. Ethan had expected Miriam to throw a tantrum, vehemently deny her mother was involved. Miriam’s relationship with Lindsay had already been brittle because Lindsay always found excuses to delay their weekend dates.
“I’m sorry,” Ethan finally said after.
She patted his hand. “No reason to apologize, dad. I’m...not shocked. Actually, I sort of know how crazy she gets when it comes to your relationships.”
Ethan warily looked at her. “You do?”
Miriam snorted. “It’s all over the internet. Like the time she humiliated that vampire model you brought along during one of your charity events. What’s his name...?”
Ethan winced, not needing the reminder of his jealous ex-wife. Still, Miriam had a point. He should have never underestimated Lindsay.
Miriam let out a huff. “Unlike the other people you’ve dated before, I actually like Remy. Plus, he’s really nice you know? Treats me like an adult, and I can see you really like him too.”
He kissed her forehead, and ignored the cute little scowl she gave him. “Thank you, for understanding.”