“I have to take a business trip to Cleveland this coming week,” he said.“Feel like meeting?”
There was a long pause.“Why now?”
“Because I know you said you’ll move once the baby’s born.No telling when we might get to see each other again.”He hadn’t even told his mate he was in contact with Bryn, much less that she was expecting.
If Faegan was that determined to find Bryn, he knew his only option was to go along.
Whatever fuckery Faegan was up to would likely keep him busy once Donnel capitulated.
He didn’t have her address, only this phone number, which was unlisted.Whatever Callum had done when they’d taken the number meant not only was it unlisted, but apparently it didn’t even exist in the phone records.
Donnel knew, because he’d tried to have it traced.
It was the latest in a series of numbers Bryn had given him over the years, sent to the PO Box he kept in Detroit, via a postcard and using their personal code.Each number one digit lower than what was actually printed and written in reverse order.
He didn’t know exactly where she lived, only that the postmarks were from post offices surrounding the Cleveland area.
She never gave him an address, not even a P.O.Box.
He suspected the only reason she kept in touch was that she considered him an ally since he’d brokered the deal between Callum and Faegan so they could all make their escapes, and Hamish was dead.
They were all the family they had left, such as it was.
He and Bryn had been close, once.
But now?
Now he had to think of his love.The last time they’d moved, the fear in her eyes, the way she swore she’d kill herself before ever going back to Faegan…
I’m sorry, but it has to be this way.
Surely Callum, a Prime Alpha, could hold his own against whoever Faegan sent and keep her safe.Besides, if Faegan wanted to incur the wrath of a powerful Prime Alpha wolf, then maybe Callum would do them all a favor by killing Faegan, making the point moot.
At least, that’s what Donnel would keep telling himself.
“This will probably be the last time I see you,” she finally said.“At least for several decades.Callum is away arranging things.I don’t even know where we’re moving yet.He didn’t tell me, and he didn’t want me to travel until everything’s ready.He said he’s heard disturbing rumors about Faegan.”
Good, that means the leak can be blamed on whoever Callum talked with.
“I’ve heard rumors as well, Bryn.Which is another reason I’d like to see you one last time.We’re also moving.I don’t know where yet, either.”At least that much was the truth.“But I have to tie up loose business ends in the city before I leave.”
“How is she doing?”
Donnel had finally told Bryn, when he helped her escape, what had happened that horrible night Faegan had claimed Hyacinth as his mate.Meaning she’d been willing to broker the agreement to rescue Hyacinth from his clutches.
“She’s still frail in many ways.She’s much better now than in the beginning after we escaped.”
“Yes, well, we all suffered under that bastard’s thumb, didn’t we?”Bryn darkly noted.“Where do you want to meet, and when?”
He named a hotel he’d stayed at before.A moment later, it was done.
He called the number Faegan gave him, and the man who answered the phone had an odd accent Donnel couldn’t quite place.Whoever he was spoke English natively, but he was trying to sound American and failing miserably.“That was fast.”
“I’ve arranged it,” he said.“Next Wednesday.Cleveland, Ohio.That’s all the information you get for now.I will call back on the day of with the exact location and time.Have your people ready to move immediately, because you won’t have much time.”
He hung up and grabbed his valise and overcoat to head downstairs and check out.
While they could all travel to Idaho and seek shelter with the Targhees, he knew Charles Bleacke would go to war if his compound was invaded.That was the last thing Donnel wanted to be caught in the middle of.
