Webb shook his head. “Impossible.”
“No, dude. When it comes to that asshole, nothing is impossible.” I told Webb about Sierra Dupont and the conversation we had. While I was talking, Webb was trying to reach Jo. “She’s not picking up.”
“I know. I tried her on my way down here. We need to get over there.”
“Harley,” Webb said. “Call Victor and tell him we’re coming.”
On a sigh, I glanced past Webb at the large monitor hanging on the wall. The news was on, and a young female reporter was interviewing the cop who’d accused me of killing his partner. Then my attention bounced to a smaller screen next to the larger one. Another newscaster was talking to the young boy who had pointed me in Layla’s direction. I scanned the screens. Each one had different TV stations on, including the national news.
For fuck’s sake.My father was right. Tension seeped into my shoulders, irritation riding me hard as my picture and Hawk’s, as well as photos of a couple of Roman’s men, were plastered on the bottom corner of the screens with our fangs on display. But when I returned my attention to the main monitor, I lost my breath as a burning rage seared my veins.
“What the fuck?” I slapped Webb on the arm with the back of my fingers. “Dude, look at the monitor. Is that who I think it is?”
Webb jerked his head at me. “Is that Wyman?”
That piece of shit. Former CIA agent Wyman, alias Dowell, was the man who’d hired Layla to capture me for his own sick revenge. I’d wiped his memories five years ago during our war with Edmund when Wyman and his partner, Thomas, had been close to making a deal with Edmund. I would tear each strand of thinning brown hair out of his head and feed them to him. Then I would wipe every fucking memory he had—permanently, this time.
A growl barreled out of me. “Isn’t he supposed to be working for Victor Costner? I didn’t know he had free rein to roam the city. Why was he at the hospital? He’s working with Roman. He has to be. How else would Roman know where Abbey is?”
“You don’t have to erase his memories,” Webb fired back. “Human or not, he’s a dead man.”
Excitement exploded in me. Webb was talking my language. “Let’s get this party started.” Maybe Wyman had seen Layla. Maybe the fucker knew where she was.
4
SAM
My nerves were making me itch as I raced through the city streets. Webb had been calling Jo with no luck. He tried Alia and her father, Victor. Still no answer. Both of us were on edge. My mind was running amok with the idea that Roman had taken Abbey. I was about to self-combust from rage that had me almost crushing the steering wheel. First Layla, and now Abbey. The two most important people in my life other than my sister and father. I wasn’t sure I could make it through the rest of the day without killing someone.
Webb appeared to be feeling the same way, judging from the muscle that ticked in his jaw. He was staring at his phone as if willing it to ring. He must’ve called Jo twenty times since we’d left the naval base only ten minutes ago.
I dodged red lights as best I could. Luckily, there wasn’t much traffic for seven in the evening or any cops around. The last thing we needed was more media attention on us, but that was a minor complication in my book. My father wouldn’t agree, though.
I slammed on my horn and waved my hand at the pedestrian in front of us to hurry the fuck up as he crossed the road. The dude threw me the finger. I didn’t fault him, since he had the right-of-way, but time was ticking by, and each second that passed only served to stop my heart. Webb looked ready to vault out of his seat and through the roof of my Jeep to snap the pedestrian’s middle digit.
Once the guy cleared the street, I banked right and gunned it up the steep hill leading into the Highlands. Anytime I ventured into this part of the city, memories of my teenage years gave me chills. Jo and I had gone to Durfee High when we’d been human. My best bud, Ben, had grown up in this neck of the woods, and Jo and I had lived with him after our foster dad stabbed Jo.
I slowed down at a four-way stop sign, checking the cross street.
“Don’t stop,” Webb bit out as his cell chirped and he put it on speaker. “Victor, fuck. Is everything okay?” he rushed out on a heavy breath.
“How the fuck did Roman Brown find Abbey?” Victor yelled as though he were her father. Abbey had been spending a lot of time at his estate, so I imagined he’d become attached to her.
Webb shoved a fist against his chest. “Fuck, tell me he didn’t take her.”
My body went rigid as I pressed on the gas.
Victor growled. “My men are scouring the property.”
Webb punched my dashboard, putting a huge dent in it. “Is that fucker Wyman there?”
“I’m searching for him now. I saw him on the news. Where are you?”
“Sam and I are two minutes out.” Webb’s jaw was hard as stone. “Where’s my wife?”
“Burning one of the intruders alive,” Victor said with excitement.
Webb sighed, although lightly, knowing Jo was okay. Hell, I pushed out a long breath myself, grateful nothing had happened to my sister. I couldn’t take much more pain. I should be used to the kidnappings, the battles, the wars, losing teammates, loved ones, and being hunted like I was a rabid animal who needed to be put down. Yet as powerful as I was, I wasn’t immune—not physically or emotionally. Layla had said to me recently,“Even the best can fail.”I was stupid to believe otherwise. But for fuck’s sake, why couldn’t we live in peace? With my family growing quickly, I had to find a place where no one could find them. Yet, nowhere on this planet was safe. There was always a mole or a way in, a back door, or some crack in our armor that allowed our enemies to penetrate through.
