“If you know where Liam is, you must tell us,” Mr.Falconer said in a calm voice.
Beside him, Suzie trembled, every muscle coiled to pounce.
“He’s here.I’ll take you to him,” Sienna said, her shoulders hunching as guilt washed over her.She couldn’t look them in the eye.
“As long as he’s safe,” Mr.Falconer said.
“He hasn’t been well—”
“Did you hurt him?”Suzie demanded, her teeth bared in a feline snarl.
Suzie’s words landed hard, leaving Sienna reeling.She wanted to defend herself, to explain she’d never meant for any of this to happen, but the raw pain in Suzie’s voice froze her.This was the cost of her selfishness—not just Liam’s time, but the peace of mind of everyone who cared for him.
“Answer me,” Suzie snapped.
“He knocked his head and suffered a severe concussion.He also picked up a flu bug after the bullet wound.We all did, but it hit Liam harder than the rest of us.”
Sienna stood, more to put space between herself and a furious Suzie than for any other reason.
“Bullet wound?”Suzie growled, springing to her feet with a feline speed that made Sienna blink.Niall stepped between them before Suzie could reach her.
“Easy.”Niall’s enormous frame blocked Suzie’s path without apparent effort, one hand gently but firmly on her shoulder.“Violence won’t help anyone.”
“Liam has been missing for months.Months!We had no idea where he was or what had happened.We’ve searched and searched for him, liaising with Saber and contacting shifter groups and every gathering attendee we could locate.His phone went to voicemail, and he didn’t have his passport or wallet.He didn’t touch his bank account.Now she waltzes into our home and tells us she knows his location.Why didn’t Liam come with you?Are you holding him captive?”
“No!Of course not.I didn’t push him when he said he wanted to stay with my brothers.”Sienna swallowed hard, but the lump in her throat was stubborn about shifting.
“Explain the bullet wound,” Suzie demanded.
“It was the hunters.The police shut them down,” Sienna said, darting an uncertain glance at Suzie.The woman looked ready to do murder.“Edwin Smith moved his operations to South America, last I heard.But the village… We couldn’t go back.Too much bad blood.”Aware that she was babbling, she stopped talking.
“Please, Ms.Teague.Take a seat and tell us about Liam,” Mr.Falconer said, a calm port in the storm that was Suzie’s fury.
Yet Sienna didn’t blame Suzie.She was Liam’s friend.She’d worried about him, searched for him, wanting answers.Envy crept in.She loved her family and cared for Liam.She’d grown to like him immensely.Before he became sick and slowed their journey to Scotland, he’d talked about his life in Middlemarch—the farm, his friends, his social life.They’d discussed so many things, and she’d miss the companionship when he left.
But this wasn’t about her.
It was about Liam.
Sienna braced herself, spine stiff with resolve.The truth hovered on her tongue, and she let it out.She told them about her family and how much they were struggling.They’d scraped together money they didn’t have so that she could attend the gathering.
She gave them facts, wincing at Suzie’s growl when she got to the part about abducting Liam.She shared about his head injury and losing his memory.The hunter’s arrival and Liam regaining his memory.She mentioned Sophie’s rescue and how they’d concluded they’d have to leave their home because none of them were safe.About the slow journey to Scotland when they’d become ill, but they’d arrived in Glenkirk this morning, and she’d come straight here.
“Without Liam,” Suzie gritted out.
“I asked him to come with me.He said he was tired.Would you have me drag him here?”
“You had no trouble dragging him away,” Suzie pointed out, her tone sweet.
“Enough,” Mr.Falconer said.“Niall, a word?”
The two men retreated, their heads together as they whispered in undertones.Despite her feline advantages, Sienna couldn’t make out a single word.
“How did you get Liam out of the castle unseen?”Banked fury glittered in Suzie’s green eyes, and she aimed that anger solely at her.
Sienna managed not to wince this time, but it was a close-run thing.She deserved every bit of Suzie’s anger.What she’d done to Liam was unforgivable, despite the reasons behind her decision.Involving another person in her crap wasn’t the correct way to solve a problem.
“Well?”Suzie demanded.
