"I hate to say this about my own father, but he'll destroy the clan before he lets someone else have it."
"That's what I don't get," Rob said. "The clan was never his."
"But he believes it is."
Rob squinted at Randal, a confused frown falling over his face. "So, if he believes the clan belongs to him, then how did he justify Albert running it?"
"He's always believed Albert's father never should have inherited the clan, even though he was first born. He said his brother didn't have the temperament or the intelligence to lead a clan."
"That's right," Rob mused. "Albert is technically your cousin, isn't he?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you think of anyone in the clan who might be assisting your father?"
"There are a few people who supported his bid to be alpha, but you've weeded most of them out, sir. I'd be more worried about the members of the King Clan. I didn't have a lot of exposure to them, but my father and brother did. They might have made friends with a few of them."
"My nana might know," Luca offered up. "She knows everyone."
"Do you think she'd be willing to talk to me?" Rob asked.
Luca shrugged. "I can call her and ask."
"Would you, please? We need to find Ralph and Raymond before they cause any more trouble."
Luca was pretty sure they'd continue creating problems until they were six feet under, and after hearing what they'd done to Randal, he knew that was just where they belonged. He'd spent the last two days with Randal, praying he'd survive. He wanted these men caught so they could face justice.
"I just need a phone."
Rob pointed to the doorway Harvey had gone through. "There's a phone in there. Why don't you go call your nana while I take Randal to the kitchen and get him something to eat? If he plans to go with us, and I'm pretty sure he's not going to let you out of his sight until Ralph and Raymond are caught, then he needs to eat so he can build up his strength."
Not the same reason Luca wanted Randal to build up his strength, but he'd take it. He waited until Rob and Randal walked away before heading over to the door and knocking softly on the doorframe since Harvey had left the door open.
The imposing man was sitting behind a big wooden desk. He glanced up when Luca knocked. "Can I help you, Luca?"
"Alpha Rob wants me to call my nana and ask her if she would be willing to talk to him about Ralph and Raymond. Since she grew up here, she might know where they are hiding."
"Huh." Harvey stared for a minute before pushing the phone toward Luca. "Go ahead and make your phone call."
Luca smiled his thanks as he picked up the phone and dialed his nana. He was actually excited to speak to her above and beyond what Alpha Rob wanted him to ask. He had told her all about Randal, every single thing.
He even told her they were mates.
Nana had kept their secret for ages, never once telling anyone, and kept Luca's hopes up when it seemed like he'd never be together with Randal. She had encouraged him to have faith that one day they would be allowed to claim each other, and now look at them.
Luca couldn't wait to tell her.
He frowned when his nana didn't answer the phone. She was kind of a homebody. Not because she was afraid to leave her home or because of any physical ailment, but because she liked her home. She liked puttering around in her garden or having tea on her porch while she read a good book. She was happy there.
Luca usually ran her errands for her a couple of times a week. He had no problem doing it. Helping her out seemed like the least he could do for everything she had done for him. Besides, he genuinely adored his nana.
After the phone rang several times, Luca hung up. Maybe she was just out in the garden. She didn't have a cell phone. She hated them. She always said a phone was for making phone calls, not surfing the web or playing videogames. Her phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord connecting it.
Luca knew, even if she was in the garden, she would still hear the phone. She was a bear shifter, after all. Her hearing and eyesight were spectacular. Luca waited, giving her time to realize someone was calling and then make her way inside before dialing again.
He frowned when the phone rang and rang. A knot started to twist in his gut as he slowly hung up. It really wasn't like his nana not to answer her phone.
"No answer?" Harvey asked.
