Chapter Five
Seb
Seb drove quietly, maintaining a safe distance as he followed Clara’s car through the winding streets leading to Ortega’s mansion. The night was still, the only sound was the soft purr of the engine and the occasional distant whir of a siren. His eyes never left her car, his mind racing with a mixture of emotions—concern, suspicion, and an undeniable urge to protect her.
He watched as Clara spoke into the intercom at the mansion’s gates. The gates opened slowly, allowing her car to slip through before closing again with a quiet, ominous thud. Seb’s heart pounded in his chest as he drove past then parked his car a short distance away. He got out then searched the property for another way in.
Circling the grounds, Seb’s bear senses were on high alert. The smell of the night air, the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze, every little sound heightened by his anxiety. He noted the security cameras positioned around the building, their presence a reminder of the risk he was taking.
As he made his way back towards the gate, a glint of metal caught his eye. A man stepped out of a parked car, a machine gun in his hands. He headed for the gate. Seb’s blood ran cold, and his bear roared within.
Mate’s in there! Protect! Stop threat!
Seb was powerless to do anything other than agree.
Moving with the stealth and precision honed by years of training, Seb crept up behind the gunman. His bear instincts surged within him, lending him both strength and silence. In one swift, decisive movement, Seb struck, knocking the man outcold. He quickly relieved the gunman of his weapon, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
He dragged the unconscious man away from the gate and out of sight, then crouched down by the gate, weighing his next move. A moment later, Ortega stepped outside onto the porch, a phone pressed to his ear, his eyes scanning the area as if he was looking for someone. Seb’s heart skipped a beat. The situation was escalating, and he needed to act fast.
In the shadows, Seb weighed his options. He had the gunman’s weapon, but he was out in the open and vulnerable. He needed to make a decision fast. As he watched Ortega pacing on the porch, the sense of urgency grew. The night air was thick with tension, every second stretching out like an eternity as Seb prepared to make his next move.
His heart pounded as he focused his shifter-enhanced hearing on Ortega’s phone call. He heard the faint sound of a ringing phone and it took him a second to realize it was coming from the gunman’s cellphone that was in one of the pockets of the unconscious figure. He took a step away as the ringing stopped, straining his senses to hear Ortega.
The man’s voice was laced with frustration and urgency as he left a voicemail message. “Where are you? You’re late,” he hissed. “If the distraction doesn’t happen, she won’t make her move. Call me back immediately.”
Seb’s blood ran cold. Ortega knew about the planned distraction, and he knew that Clara wasn’t who she said she was. This was a trap, and Clara was walking right into it.
Seb moved quickly away from the gate, ensuring he was out of earshot, then dialed Clara’s number. His fingers trembled as he waited for her to pick up.
“Clara, listen to me,” Seb said urgently when she answered.
“Seb? I can’t talk right now, I’m—” Clara started, but Seb talked over her.
“You need to get out of there now. It’s a trap. Do you understand me? Ortega knows about your plan to steal the ledger. He’s trying to catch you in the act,” Seb said, his words rushing out in a torrent of fear and desperation.
On the other end of the line, there was a moment of stunned silence. “What? How do you—"
Seb cut her off again. “There's no time to explain. He’s coming back inside. You need to leave, now, before it’s too late!”
The line went dead, and Seb was left with the sound of his own ragged breathing. He peered around the corner and saw that Ortega had already disappeared back inside the mansion.
Seb felt a surge of helplessness. His instincts screamed at him to rush in and protect his mate. But he knew that barging into Ortega’s mansion unprepared was suicide—the man would be sure to have a number of armed guards inside. All he could do was wait, hope, and plan his next move.
The night air was heavy with tension, the distant sounds of the city a stark contrast to the drama unfolding at Ortega’s mansion. Seb’s senses were on high alert, every sound, every movement magnified in the charged atmosphere.
He crouched in the darkness, his mind racing with scenarios, each more harrowing than the last. Clara was inside, possibly exposed and in danger, and he was out here, powerless to help her. The weight of the situation bore down on him, a heavy burden that he couldn’t alleviate. His bear was frantic, all but demanding he tear down the gate and rush in to save their mate. It was tempting but doing so could put her in even more danger.
Two or three minutes passed, but they felt like hours instead of mere moments. Then, just as he had made his mind up to force his way into the property, consequences be damned, the front door opened, and Clara walked outside. Seb held his breath, unwilling and unable to relax until she was inside her car and the electric gates had opened to allow her to drive through.
Seb stood up from his crouched position and was aware of the moment that Clara spotted him, but she kept driving slowly through the gate, barely acknowledging him. When the car was safely out on the street, Seb ran back to his car. In his wake, he heard the quiet moans of the gunman who was starting to stir. He ran faster, then dived behind the wheel of his car and sped off after his mate. He tried dialing her cellphone number, but it was busy. He could only imagine that she was calling Martinez to say the mission had been aborted, but the questions about who Martinez was and why Clara was answering to him remained.
Seb followed Clara’s car through the quiet city streets, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He opened the window to let in a burst of cool air, then pulled in a few deep breaths in an effort to calm his racing heart. The night air was cool against his skin, and the city’s lights flickered like distant stars. His bear instincts were still on edge, with the adrenaline from the night’s events coursing through his veins.
When they reached Clara’s apartment, he parked behind her car and waited, watching as she got out and walked to the building’s entrance. After a moment’s hesitation, Seb heaved a sigh then followed, his steps echoing in the empty street. He dreaded the confrontation that would surely follow, but hoped that it would at least provide him with the answers he was so desperate for.
Inside her apartment, the tension that had been building all evening finally broke. Clara rounded on him the moment the door closed, her eyes blazing with fear, anger, and confusion.
“What the hell is going on, Seb?” Clara demanded, her voice sharp. “Were you following me? How did you know it was a set up? Are you the mole?”
