Normally Reeve wouldn’t disclose that information, especially to a fugitive’s son, but Kahn’s answers had confirmed the results of his research—there was no love lost between the son and his father. Of course, there was always the possibility of error, but in this case, he tended to take the young artist at his word. “I have an arrest warrant for Josiah Silver Point and until I can serve it, you, your mother, and sisters are in danger.”
Stunned, Kahn stared at Reeve, unable at first to process what the man said. None of it made sense, especially the part about the arrest warrant. Sure, he knew his father tended to walk on the shady side of the law, but as far as he knew, Josiah was always careful not to cross the line. Now though, it seemed his father had. And it had to be something big for the High Council to be involved since wolf packs largely governed themselves. Only when one of the High Council laws was broken did they step in. That’s what made this so unreal; Kahn would have bet his last dollar Josiah would never do anything that would focus the High Council’s eyes on him. This had to be a mistake. “What crime is my father accused of committing?”
Reeve wondered briefly if Kahn was just playing him or whether he was clueless about his father. Josiah was evil and he couldn’t believe that his son hadn’t seen it, but then, maybe he just didn’t want to. Reeve couldn’t blame Kahn if that were the case, because he personally knew how soul-destroying it would be to find out that the man who raised you turned out to be the devil reincarnated.
“Well? Are you going to tell me?” Kahn asked, now sure it was mistake since Reeve wouldn’t answer him.
Pulling Josiah’s arrest warrant from the breast pocket of his jacket, Reeve wordlessly held it out to Kahn. While it was a harsh move, he knew Kahn would doubt him unless he read exactly what his father had done.
Staring at the folded document in front of him, a sense of foreboding filled Kahn. Once he took it, there would be no turning back—not for him, his mother, or sisters. What that meant, he didn’t know, but if the churning in his gut was any indication, it wasn’t going to be good and running from it wasn’t a choice either. His hand shaking, Kahn reached out, snatching it from Reeve’s hand. Holding it for a moment, Kahn took several deep breaths. Then unfolding it, he began to read.
Reeve watched Kahn carefully, wondering what reaction, if any, he would see. He had given up trying to predict responses since his success rate at that was abysmal.
Kahn read it once, then again and then one more time, trying to accept what his father was accused of. And yet, it was nearly impossible to do so. That his father—the man who raised him—could be guilty of such a horrific act just did not make sense. The High Council had to be wrong because otherwise, he’d be the son of a mass murderer—and that he could not accept. Looking up at Reeve, he whispered, “I don’t believe it…my father couldn’t…. wouldn’t…”
Reeve was filled with sympathy, knowing the internal struggle Kahn was engaged in. And as much as he wished he could say it was all a mistake, the facts said otherwise. Reeve’s eyes met Kahn’s before he said, “A witness has come forth…”
“Who? My father had enemies who would love to get him out of the way so they could take over his pack.”
“That’s not the case.” Then seeing the doubt on Kahn’s face, Reeve added, “While I can’t tell you who the witness is at this time, I can assure you the person has no interest in your father’s pack.”
“Okay…but can you trust them to be telling the truth?” asked Kahn, hoping to find something to discredit the witness.
“The High Council does…and so do I.”
Kahn lowered his eyes, the last flicker of hope was gone. Rereading the words, it finally sank in what his father had done. Unbidden, a tear rolled down his cheek and dropped to the floor. Then another. Images flooded his mind of the many times he spent with his cousins—Jackson, in particular. They both carried the heavy mantle of first born sons and in his cousin, he found the acceptance his father never gave him.
Tears were flowing freely now as Kahn thought back to that night—the one where his father told him Jackson and some of his brothers were responsible for the killings. Why he’d been so ready to believe that Jackson was guilty of committing such a heinous act was beyond him. And it didn’t matter, even if he had eventually questioned his father’s version, because in the end, he’d turned a blind eye to the truth that was staring him in the face all along.
Slowly folding up the paper, he handed it back to Reeve. His father had finally destroyed Kahn’s life, the one he and his mother had fought so hard for. And it wasn’t only his life, but his sisters’ lives, too. They would forever be tainted by the sins of their father. No pack would ever accept them once it became known their father was a mass murderer, afraid they might possess the same evil. What would happen to his mother? How would she survive the constant cruel taunts cast her way. She would be forced to hide just to find some peace. They would all be shunned and there wasn’t a damn thing they could do about it.
Wiping the wetness from his face with the heels of his hands, Kahn pushed aside the awful reality of what their future life would be, instead concentrating on the present. When he finally glanced up at Reeve, he found the man looking down at him with compassion. Instantly, his spine stiffened, his pride rising from the depths of his personal hell and taking over. He didn’t want sympathy, or kindness, or understanding and he sure as shit didn’t deserve it. “Forgive me for not thanking you for stopping by, but I’m sure you’ll understand. Oh…and I’d appreciate you sending me word when you arrest my father.”
Frowning Reeve knew a dismissal when he heard one, but unfortunately for Kahn, he wasn’t going anywhere for the moment. “How long will it take for everyone to pack?”
“Pack? What are you talking about?” Kahn asked, confused.
“None of you can stay here...you’re all in danger.”
“Danger? From whom? My father? Are you fucking joking?”
“Unfortunately I’m not,” Reeve replied. “Until we can locate Josiah, any potential witnesses are in danger.”
“You mean my mother.”
“Yes…along with you and your sisters.”
“Me?” Kahn asked, his voice coming out as a squeak. “I…we...”
“Not as witnesses, but you and your sisters can be used as hostages by your father.”
“Hostages?” His voice was so high he couldn’t even recognize it. Everything had just gone from bad to worse. Before he read the arrest warrant, he’d never imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that their father would do something that evil to his family—but now Kahn knew differently. Not only was his father capable of it, but he’d do anything to save himself, regardless of who he had to hurt. It was now up to him to make sure no harm came to his mother and his sisters. “Where do you want us to go?” he asked, resignedly.
“You’ll all be moved to a High Council safe house,” Reeve replied. “There, you’ll have round-the-clock guards.”
“Just until you catch my father, right?” asked Kahn.
“Yes,” Reeve said, deciding not to say anything more for the moment.
