Fake auctions were often created to swindle the highest bidder. They would lure the buyer to an isolated area, take their money, and then murder them.
People disappeared all the time.
Lucian took a seat in front of him with a plate of vegetables and dip.
Levi glared. “How can you eat at a time like this?”
After crunching on a carrot, Lucian replied, “You seem to be suffering from pie amnesia.”
Lucian was short for a Chitah, standing at five ten, and he was built more like Logan with his sinewy muscles and strong bone structure. His onyx hair was a little wild, but he had the same bright golden eyes as the rest of his brothers. Despite his shortcomings, he was definitely a Cross with his good looks.
He was also a smartass.
Lucian rolled a radish between two fingers. “They should have packed weapons,” he said quietly. “Agreement or not, they could have hidden them in the car. He doesn’t have a clue who he’s meeting.”
Levi shook his head. “He can’t go in packing. If the woman’s a Chitah, she’ll scent he’s lying. You know our word is our bond; Logan made a promise, and he can’t back out of that.”
“It could cost him his life.”
“Lo can take care of himself. Silver’s a pretty badass Mage. You’ve seen what she can do with lightning.”
Lucian popped the radish into his mouth. “What if they’re ambushed on the drive?”
“Are you trying to provoke me?” Levi growled. He stuck his finger into Lucian’s onion dip and swirled it around.
“That doesn’t bother me,” Lucian retorted.
“You don’t know where my finger’s been.”
“That’s not the finger you pick your nose with.”
Levi smiled. “You’re right.”
Lucian shoved the plate away. “Dammit. I’m just trying to work out the scenarios. This is our brother we’re talking about.”
Levi wiped his finger on a napkin. “Think I don’t know that?”
“What are you two scheming?” Leo took a seat next to Levi. “I don’t like the scent I picked up from across the room.”
Levi ran his finger over the dimple on his chin. “I don’t think we should have let them go alone. I know that’s part of the deal, but—”
“It could also jeopardize their arrangement,” Leo reminded them. He set his elbows on the table and rubbed his temples. Everyone looked to Leo for guidance. He was the eldest.
“Which outcome are you willing to live with, Leo? Preventing them from having a child or their blood on your hands? Maybe it’s legit, but are you willing to take that chance?”
Leo shook his head. “I honestly don’t know which would be a worse fate. You know children are impossible for them, and the orphanages have turned them away because they’re an interracial couple. They think a Chitah and a Mage aren’t fit to raise a child. The black market was their last resort.”
Levi thought about walking in on Silver the night before and the absolute devastation he’d scented in the air. He knew it had something to do with the absence of a child, and while it had always been present during holidays and birthdays, this time was different. It was the first time he’d realized just how traumatized they’d become from all the lost chances.
He cursed himself for having told them to keep trying. Maybe he was partly to blame for constantly reassuring them that a child would come along eventually. That was wishful thinking. In the real world, things didn’t always work out. Wishes didn’t always come true. He knew that more than anyone.
Lucian tilted his watch. “It’ll be dark soon. If we leave now, we can catch up.”
Leo’s eyebrows drew together. “Leave?”
Levi nodded. “Yeah. Leave. I bet Logan let the juice die on his cell phone. He can’t even call for help.”
“I looked up the location of the cabin on satellite,” Lucian said. “A phone wouldn’t make a difference. It’s out of range.”
