“I should see where Jordyn is,” she mumbled as her pulse skyrocketed.
“Sensing trouble?” I asked.
“Something isn’t right.”
“His heart rate is normal.” The man looked our way, smiled, and nodded. “But I’m glad you’re on alert.” That told me she didn’t trust anyone, and I liked that about her, even though she probably didn’t trust me, either. But in my opinion, lack of trust kept a person alive.
She gave me a sidelong glance. “It’s the shifters, isn’t it? They broke the deal with you about coming after us?”
I shook my head. “Not at all.”
“I’m Lester Worthington,” the man said to Tabitha. “Is Jack Aberdeen home?”
“I’m afraid not,” Tabitha said. “Can I tell him what this is about?”
“I’m interested in buying a horse,” Lester replied.
He didn’t strike me as a horse type of dude. “Your uncle sells horses, right?”
She nodded.
“He seems legit.” I still wasn’t lowering my radar.
Layla sighed, grabbed my hand, and pulled me into the workshop and out of Tabitha and Lester’s view. “Tell me the other reason you’re here. Then you need to leave before my uncle comes home. I can’t protect you, Sam.”
I touched my heart. It was endearing that she thought she could protect me. “You care about me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“I came to take you back to the naval base. You’re not safe here anymore.”
She widened her big blue eyes. “So if it isn’t the shifters, then it’s Roman.” She clutched her chest. “Isn’t it?”
“He escaped yesterday. He blew his way out with C-4. As a result, my old man is in bad shape.”
She walked around in a circle, biting a nail. “I’m sorry about your father, but I can’t leave just yet, Sam.”
I grasped her arm. “Listen to me, Layla. Roman is going to hunt down every person I care about.”
She rolled her shoulders back. “I’m not afraid.”
Her bravery was turning me the fuck on, but I needed to protect her. “I know you’re not. But you need to see Dr. Vieira. He’s the only one who can help you figure out why you’re craving blood. He can do a complete genetic workup. He knows what to look for. A human doctor doesn’t.”
A car door shut, and the engine rumbled. I guessed Lester was leaving. Nevertheless, I poked my head out. Her aunt waved at Lester as he drove away.
I returned to Layla. “You’re right. I need to get my ass out of here.”
My phone rang. I wanted to ignore it but couldn’t. I plucked it from the pocket of my jeans and answered. “Webb. Everything okay?”
“We might have found Roman. He got on a flight to Chicago.”
“What’s in Chicago for him? Do we know?” I asked.
“We’re looking into it. We’ll have boots on the ground later this afternoon. Still, watch your six.”
“Always,” I said. “How’s my dad?”
“He’s not awake yet, and neither is Ben,” Webb said. “Did you convince Layla to return with you? Dr. Vieira just informed me that Layla left him a message.”
