“This guy who has Keeland, he’s Peterson’s kid.”
Chay’s dark eyebrows drew together when he frowned. “Peterson as in the guy you shredded a couple of months ago?”
“One and the same.”
“Fuck.”
Dom nodded. “Apparently, he’s out for revenge, although I’m not sure why he took Keeland.”
“Do you think he knows about Keeland’s connection to you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“Can you ask him? It might help to know what we’re walking into.”
Dom nodded again before contacting Keeland.“Baby, does Jarrod know you’re mated to me?”
“I don’t think so,”Keeland replied. “He’s trying to convince me shifters exist and that they're a menace to society.”
“Try to keep that information from him if you can. It’s too dangerous for him to know.”
“Oh, I’m working on it, but this guy is crazy.”
Dom had no doubt.
“We’re almost there, Keeland.”
When he shifted into his panther form, Chay shifted into his falcon and took to the air. Dom started following the bird through the woods. It wasn’t always easy to keep an eye on Chay through the trees, so he just kept heading west until he reached the edge of a field. An older two-story house sat on the far side of the field.
He paused at the tree line and sniffed the air. He didn’t get much more than dry grass and a faint scent of gunpowder and car oil. There was also the faintest hint of body odor. Dom crouched down in the tall yellow grass and waited. He’d been there for about five minutes when Gabe settled down beside him. A moment later, a falcon landed next to Gabe.
“Did Chay spot anyone patrolling outside?”Dom asked through his link with his brother.
Gabe was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Dom.“There are two armed guards at the front of the house by the car, another two at the back of the house. He didn’t spot anyone else outside, but he can’t be positive there aren’t more.”
Dom took another deep sniff of the air.“The scent of humans is there, but it’s faint. The smell of gunpowder is stronger.”
“Then I suspect there’s someone in the trees, waiting for us to show ourselves.”
“You think they know we’re coming?”Dom asked, hoping Gabe said no.
“I don’t know if they suspect we’re coming for Keeland or if they’re just being cautious, but they are definitely prepared for our arrival.”
Well…damn.
“Keeland, how much has he told you about shifters?”Dom asked his mate.
“Enough to know he doesn’t really know what he’s talking about. I suspect everything he’s heard came from his father, who he seems to believe made the sun rise and fall. I think this is less someone wanting to wipe out shifters and more a son wanting to avenge his father.”
“Do you think he knows there are falcon shifters?”Dom asked.
“Hold on and I’ll ask.”
“Be careful with what you say.”Dom’s protective instincts were running rampant. He was terrified Keeland would say the wrong thing and Jarrod or one of his men would go off.
“Oh, I am.”
Dom felt as if he couldn’t breathe as he waited for Keeland to get back to him. It seemed to take forever before he heard his mate’s sweet voice.
