Chapter Fifteen
Leon glanced at his watch when he saw the guards patrolling the grounds go running toward the front of the estate. He shook his head but kept his chuckle silent. Allan was good. One hour, right on the dot.
He waited until they disappeared from sight then quickly made his way across the yard to the back of the house. He'd been watching the place for a while now and had seen several people come and go from the back door. Entering through it and then leaving it open would be easy, and he doubted anyone would think anything of it if they found it open.
When he reached the patio, he reached down and grabbed a handful of dirt and grass then rubbed it over his arms, legs, and abdomen. He didn't know if Allan was right and this would work, but he was really hoping it would. It was going to take him a while to find George, and he didn't want to be caught.
Once he thought he was covered enough, Leon tossed what was in his hand then hurried to the back door. He slowly and carefully turned the door handle then pulled the door open. He stepped inside and closed the door partway. Leaving it open all the way might tip someone off, but if he left it open halfway, they might think it didn't get shut all the way.
It took him a moment to realize he'd entered through what had to be some sort of family room. There was a huge TV on the wall and a U-shaped sofa in front of it. There was a pool table behind the sofa and a wet bar off to one side.
As a family room, it was quite nice, but way too showy for Leon's tastes. He'd prefer a fireplace to a TV and nice rug or blanket to cuddle up on, although bear skin rugs were now permanently out.
Leon moved through the family room to the first corridor. He immediately recognized it as the one that he'd been down before when they came to meet with Alpha Barker. He doubted they were holding George in the alpha's office, so he went in the other direction.
It didn't take him very long to search the first floor. He didn't know if everyone was sleeping or not here or what, but the place seemed pretty empty. He did have to hide a couple of times when a guard walked by, but he really felt there should have been more people about.
When he didn't find George on the first floor, he went upstairs to search the second level. From what he'd been able to see from outside, the mansion had three floors. He hadn't been able to find an entrance to a basement, so he wasn't sure if there was one.
By the time he'd searched the second and then the third floor, Leon was ready to scream, except that would alert people that he was there. He made his way back down to the first floor and started hunting for a basement entrance.
George had to be here somewhere.
When he found nothing, Leon knew there was only one more place to search. Considering the rest of the place had basically been empty, he was really hoping the alpha's office was empty, as well.
The moment he cracked the door open and stepped inside, he knew that hope was for naught. Leo closed the door behind him and stared at the man sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace.
"Would you like a drink, Leon?" Alpha Barker asked without lifting his gaze from the book in his lap. "There's a wet bar in the cabinet behind my desk."
Figuring there was nothing else he could do at the moment, Leon walked over and poured himself a drink then went to sit down in the chair opposite the alpha. He took a small sip of the amber liquid in his glass, then smiled.
"This is the good stuff."
"Of course." Alpha Barker chuckled as he closed his book and set it on the small table next to him. He grabbed a glass that was sitting on the same table and took a sip. "I've been expecting you, although I did think you would be here a bit earlier."
"Sorry, I had to search the mansion first."
The alpha nodded as if that made perfect sense. "He's not upstairs."
"I figured that when I didn't find him." Leon couldn't believe he was having such a casual conversation considering he had broken into the place. "I wasn't sure if you had a basement or not. I couldn't find one."
"Oh, the place does have a basement, but my father had all of the entrances except for the one here in my office sealed up when he took over for his father."
"Is that where George is?"
"It is, and you can see him, but I need something from you first."
"Anything," Leon said without hesitation.
Alpha Barker raised an eyebrow. "Be careful what you agree to."
"George is my mate. There isn't anything I wouldn't give for him." Leon realized even as he spoke the words how true they were. He would give anything for the man. He didn't know when exactly he had decided George was his, but that didn't change the fact that he was.
Alpha Barker smiled sadly as he stood then walked over to his desk. "I need you to sit there and not say a word, no matter what you're about to hear. Your mate's life could depend on it."
"And then I can see George?"
The man nodded. "I'll take you to him personally."
