She shrugged, and the apologetic smile slipped, a more professional demeanor taking over. “I’m sorry, Mr. Lorenzo. There’s nothing that can be done. You and your friend Mr. Ruiz can fill out a Traveler Redress form and submit it to the DHS. That’s the only way to get off the list.”
“How long will that take?”
She sighed and glanced over my shoulder at the ever-increasing line behind us. “You’ll need to correspond with the DHS. No way for me to know, but minimum, three months. Maximum? They may not rescind it. Please, Mr. Lorenzo, there are others in line.”
I turned and walked away from the desk, feeling more defeated than I had during this entire ordeal. Even watching them take Maddy hadn’t been like this. I’d felt angry and pissed, this was… I couldn’t even describe it. The super moon was only a couple of days away. I’d never get there in time. Luis clapped a hand on my back and pulled me away from prying eyes and ears. Marcus and Darren followed.
“What?” I asked.
“I think I have a way out of this. I know a guy in New York. It’s only a three-hour drive.” He shrugged. “Two if we haul ass.”
I straightened and looked around. “What guy? How can he help? This is the fucking US government we have to circumvent, for Christ’s sake.”
“He owes me a favor. He’s got his own jet. We can use that.”
I shook my head. “A jet won’t help. We still have to show our passports to get out of the country.”
Luis lowered his voice and glanced around. “That’s what I’m saying, man. He can get us falsified documents. Fake IDs, passports, everything.”
I looked at him, taking a second to wonder how my best friend had made a contact like that in New York. Thosequestions would have to wait until later. I nodded eagerly. “Do it. Make the call. We’ll go and get a car.”
Luis had his phone out and to his ear in seconds. Marcus, Darren, and I moved over to one of the car rental kiosks. As we walked, my phone buzzed. Pulling it out, I saw it was my father calling. “Hey! Marcus?”
The shifter turned and raised an eyebrow. I pulled my credit card out. “Go and get us a car. I need to take this call.”
Marcus nodded and took the card. I answered the phone, wondering what was wrong. “Hello?”
“Hey, boy. How are things?” Dad asked.
I sighed. “Not great. Sometime during our initial flight, the royals managed to get Luisandme on the no-fly list. We can’t take our connecting flight. Luis thinks he knows a guy nearby who can help us out.”
“Oh my god.” He sounded more somber than I was used to hearing.
“Dad, are you okay? You don’t sound like yourself.”
There was a long pause before he answered. “I’m… Well, son, I’m ashamed of myself.”
I blinked in surprise. “What? Why would you feel that way?” Even as I asked, I had asneaking suspicion about why.
Dad let out a heavy sigh. “I was responsible for Maddy’s safety. I’m a damned alpha. If anyone should have kept her safe, I should have. I feel like an old, weak piece of shit.”
In my whole life, I’d never heard my father speak about himself like that. He’d always carried a quiet confidence. He had the demeanor of a true alpha and had led our pack for decades before retiring and turning leadership over to me. Hearing him say those things about himself hurt me more than I would have thought it would.
“Dad, you can’t think that way. You and Mom did everything you could. You were overwhelmed by their numbers. There’s nothing more you could have done.”
“That’s just it, Nico. I should have thought about all the possibilities. I should have had more people at the house with me, protecting her. Instead, I let the whole pack lie snug in their beds. My brother was shot, and he's in the hospital, maybe dying, and your mate was taken. All because I got complacent. This is on me and no one else.”
Marcus turned and gave me a thumbs up. I nodded and gave a weak smile before speaking again. “Dad, I trust you with my life. I trust you with the lives of everyone I love. If it had been the other way around and Maddy and I had been there protecting Mom while you were out rescuing people, and the same thing happened, what would you say to me if I was acting like this?” Another long pause. I hoped it was because he was thinking it over. “Well?” I prompted.
“I see what you mean. I just… Son, I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to your mate. That’s what I’m saying. No matter what you say or what I tell myself, I’ll feel like a failure and that it was my fault.”
“Okay, then,” I said. “I’ll have to make sure we get her back safe and sound. That way, you won’t have to worry.”
Dad chuckled lightly. “You always were full of piss and vinegar.”
“It’s why you guys love me so much. Listen, I understand what you mean by keeping everyone safe. Call Javi. Have him bring his pack to our compound. That will be more than enough extra guards and fighters if it comes to that. I’m sure he will.”
“All right, okay. I’ll do that. Listen, Nico?”
