“Carly didn’t mention anything about Fred,” Webb said. “Then again, Dr. Vieira didn’t ask her if anyone else was in possession of Patrick’s files. I’ll get right on that.”
Dane seemed to have lost his edge as his phone dinged. He lifted his cell off the table, tapped on the screen, and blanched. Then in a flash, he kicked the chair backward as he flew to his feet, roared so loudly that my eardrums felt the pain, and took off.
None of us moved.
“What the hell just happened?” Tripp asked.
My heart was in my throat. “I’ll find him.”
I tore out of there, sniffing Dane’s mutt scent as I tracked him through the building, into the stairwell, and then to the underground garage.
The alpha was still upright in human form but punching his fists into the cement wall near the elevator, grunting and growling.
“Dane.” I kept my distance. “What happened?”
He spun around, baring his canines, eyes glowing red. “Ross is dead because of you.”
I raised my hands as my vampire reared its ugly head. “Whoa! I blame myself for many things, but I’m not responsible for Ross.” Anger laced my tone. “And you had dealings with Roman way before we ever met.” I was trying to keep my cool and not rouse Dane’s ire and his wolf any further. Yet it was all I could do not to make the first move.
Saliva dripped from his canines. Bones snapped into place. His clothes ripped open. His phone dropped to the ground, and in seconds, I was facing off with a white wolf who, on all four legs, stood snout to nose with me, and I was six-and-a-half-feet tall.
“I don’t want to fight you.” I might stand a chance against his wolf with my elemental powers, but as furious as Dane was, he could tear me to pieces.
He followed my line of sight as I slowly squatted down and picked up his phone. An image of Ross’s detached bald head and hazel eyes stared back at me.
The only time I’d met Ross was when he’d accompanied Dane to the naval base. We’d agreed to help the Gray Pack uncover why one of their own had died from the drug in the tranquilizer darts that the Aberdeen sisters had used the night at the vampire club when they’d tried to capture me alive. In exchange, Dane had agreed he wouldn’t seek vengeance against the Aberdeen sisters for killing his pack member.
Dane stared at me, growling low as I read the writing on the note in the picture sent with the head.You shifters seem to be in bed with Steven Mason. Shame on you. This is what happens when you obey the wrong master.It was signed by Adam Emery.
“What a fuckwad. The wrong master? He’s delusional.”
Dane angled his wolf head, showing those sharp teeth.
Whether he was ready to rip off one of my limbs or he was reacting to what I was reading, I didn’t know, but I read Cooper’s text beneath the photo.I’ll call you in a bit when I’m done running off my rage.
I touched my chest. “I’m so fucking sorry, man. I truly am.” My gut twisted and tightened as fury settled in my veins, not at Dane but at Emery.
Before I could stop him, Dane was running through the garage.
I chased after him, reaching him just as the grated barrier was opening. Dane bared his teeth at the guard.
“Dane,” I said. “Wait.”
The barricade wasn’t all the way open, but that didn’t stop the wolf from slipping through the four-foot opening.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the guard said.
Dane became a blur as he ran as hard as the wind was whipping around in the summer storm.
I waved the dude off. “He would’ve torn you to pieces.” That was the truth.
17
SAM
After that explosive encounter, I needed to run myself, which was a great idea. I was itching to work out in a gym—something I hadn’t done in quite a long time. I returned to the conference room with the intention of informing my father that if it wasn’t urgent for me to attend his meeting, I would be with Layla. Afterward, I was going for a run unless the medical facility had a gym.
My brain was about to burst from learning of the Midnight Raiders, seeing Victor’s head in a box, trying to come up with a plan to stop Adam threatening us further, and now discovering Ross was dead. My heart hurt for Dane. But I was also vibrating with the itch to end this fucking war with Adam Emery once and for all.
