“I don’t,” she said. “But your father was trying to uncover proof of what your mom told him. Maybe Kendra was someone who knew your mother.” Aunt Tab rose from her stool. “That’s all I know. Sam, I think it’s time for you to leave and take Layla with you.”
I knitted my eyebrows. “I’m not going anywhere.” Before I walked in, I’d been ready to fly out of there. “Not until I find out more about my mom.” I wasn’t sure how. I didn’t even know where to start. Hell, as I thought more about it, I didn’t need to stay in Montana to do research. Still, in my mind, it was life-and-death for me. I had to know. I had to understand who I was and what I was becoming. Sam couldn’t help me, and the only thing Dr. Vieira could do was a physical, which was necessary but not urgent.
Sam’s phone vibrated along the island, and he tapped on the screen. “There’s a car coming down the road,” he said casually, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Aunt Tab went stark white as she ran to the window.
I swore vampires had no emotions whatsoever. That wasn’t exactly true. Sam had a few, but lust and arrogance were far from concern or worry about another’s plight.
“Does Jack or Ray or anyone you know drive a black SUV?” Sam asked Aunt Tab.
Even though I was still trying to process what I’d just learned, his description of the kind of vehicle made me freeze. The last black SUV I’d seen belonged to Roman Brown. But it couldn’t have been. He was in a vampire prison. Plus, the car had been damaged when Sam had ripped the C-4 vest off Jordyn and flung it over the SUV.
Aunt Tab pressed her fingers to her mouth. “No one in the family drives that type of car.”
Sam pushed to his feet, and it was the first time I’d seen an iota of fear wash across his face, almost making him whiter than the snow on the mountains that surrounded the ranch. “I need to make a call.” He swaggered out before I could ask him what was wrong.
Then my mind cleared for a second. Sam wasn’t frightened of anything, not even my uncle. Unless… the shifters. They’d made a deal with the vamp military not to touch us. Maybe they’d reneged, and they were coming after my sisters and me. As powerful as Sam was, he couldn’t face a pack of wolves on his own. Or maybe he wasn’t alone. After all, Sam didn’t go anywhere without two or three others from his SEAL team.
Aunt Tab snapped her fingers. “Layla, do you know who it is?”
I blinked several times. “Not really. But get the weapons out of the closet in the mudroom just in case.” We always had weapons readily available.
Aunt Tab started for the mudroom. “I’ll handle our guests. Make sure Sam doesn’t do anything stupid. Go.” She flicked her hands toward the door.
One thing I liked about Aunt Tab was her courage, even though she was shitting bricks inside. I only knew that because her shoulder twitched in tough situations, and it was moving a mile a minute.
12
SAM
Iquickly walked around the house, scanning the property far and wide. If I knew Roman, he was probably on foot, although he was the type who got his rocks off on making a flamboyant entrance.
Then again, I doubted he wanted to show himself so soon after escaping. Still, I had to be cautious. I didn’t have my team behind me, and frankly, we never went anywhere without backup. But this wasn’t a mission. I could handle myself, and I had Conrad, who, according to Webb, was a bad motherfucker.
I tapped Conrad’s name on my phone as I sharpened my hearing and vision.
The line rang once, twice, three times before Conrad picked up. “Sam, do you need my help?”
“Why did it take so long to answer?” I zeroed in on the two-story building that appeared to be a six-car garage—a perfect place for anyone to hide.
I stomped through the grass, heading in that direction. A cluster of cumulus clouds slid over the midmorning sun, and a hard wind blew. I sniffed the air. No sign of humans or vampires, although the strong stench of horse manure was overpowering.
“Sorry. The driver of the SUV stopped to ask if I needed help. I tried to probe him for info, but he didn’t bite. He’s by himself. I’ll get my binoculars and take a hike around. By the way, he pulled over. Looks like he’s making a call.”
That didn’t sound good. I whistled when I entered the garage, which was actually a weapons room.
“What is it?” Conrad asked.
“I’ll explain later. Is the vehicle government issue?”
“License plate doesn’t indicate that.”
I picked up a sweet-looking dagger that had the Aberdeen crest on it. “Get in your car and leave.”
“What? Are you nuts?”
“You probably made him suspicious. Just get out of sight but stay close.” I twirled the dagger in my hand as though the leather grip belonged there.
