“What?!” Santiago rasped harshly.
Foxx turned to Harlow, with so many questions in his mind. “Harlow, what are you saying?”
“The man in charge of that group hates me.”
“You…you know who it is…?”
“We do. He is an old school hunter, one who has always hated everyone different. Maverick…his name is Maverick, and he blew up my house a few months back… I survived. The hatred, the feeling is mutual.” Harlow sighed. “You helped me find Foxx. It’s only fair that I tell you the truth. And the truth is, it’s likely you were targeted because of that very action.”
Santiago stood there staring, unmoving. The wolf’s hands clenched so tight, that his claws must have punctured his skin, as blood started dripping from his fists. Taking deep breath after deep breath, the man’s hands slowly relaxed. “The help we provided was minimal. As for your truth, even if it’s so…it doesn’t change the who. This Maverick, his group, his people, are the ones responsible for my nephew’s death. No one else. My truth is that if we had no connection…while, maybe I would not currently feel as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest…that pain…would it not come later…and in greater capacity when more died with no hope of help ever coming? I can’t live with what could have happened, only with what has happened. So, Harlow Blackmore, Foxx Honeywell…take my hope and make it soar. Figure out what they did, find out if it can be stopped. Make this pain I’m feeling worth it.”
Foxx’s heart, which had already been aching for the man, broke a bit. The pain he heard in his voice was just so raw.
“We will do all that we can,” Foxx promised.
“It’s a promise,” Harlow rumbled.
Santiago took a deep breath. “Take him and go… Please…keep me updated.”
“We will.”
The man nodded, staring for a moment more at his nephew, before turning his back to them, repeating, “Please, take him and go.”
Foxx nudged Harlow. The dhampir moved in and carefully picked up the deceased werewolf.
“We will call as soon as we know more. To meet up that is… This isn’t something that can be spoken about over the phone,” Harlow noted. “I’d suggest telling your pack to stay home as much as they can. Because whatever they are doing, it seems to happen when out in public.”
“I’ll…move everyone who agrees to a more secure location. I have properties, ones not even the government knows about,” Santiago said without turning back around.
Then again, maybe he couldn’t bear to watch them leave with, as he had called him...his child.
“That would…probably be for the best,” Foxx replied slowly as he backed up. “We’ll be in touch.”
With that they left.
The red-headed wolf nodded at them grimly as they passed, standing just as stiff as his Alpha had been when they left. The man seemed to refuse to look towards the body.
Moving to the boot, Foxx quickly opened it and jumped in. Folding down the seat, he helped Harlow carefully place the dead young wolf into a body bag, so carefully that it was as if they were laying out someone who was still alive. Once the body was secured, they got in and drove off.
Harlow stared out at the road having regrets… Well, really just one—that the bullet he fired hadn’t gone through Maverick’s thick fucking skull. All of this could have been avoided if he had just killed the fucker.
While Harlow didn’t feel guilty for the deaths, or even for what was happening… He was…irritated…angry even. Just really fucking annoyed. Maverick, that motherfucking bastard.
“Would he really choose to attack someone with such a loose connection to you?” Foxx asked.
He frowned. “Probably…” He rubbed his face and huffed. “I don’t know, maybe? It would be in the files that they helped. If Maverick has access, which…we can’t be sure that he doesn’t… He has a lot of connections with old time hunters. I doubt all the ones who joined us are happy about paranormals getting rights.” His frown deepened. “He may not know about your connection to me, besides you being my partner…but…he does… Fuck.”
Harlow reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone. It took him a moment to get to his contacts and to find the name hewas looking for… Someone he’d been meaning to call for weeks… Wait…no, over a month now actually.
As it rang, Foxx asked, “Who are you calling? Doc?”
“No. Now, shh.”
Foxx glared, his lips pursing into a pout when Harlow shushed him.
He rolled his eyes and waited, the phone ringing on and on… Watch the fucker for once not answer when he called…
Harlow was about to hang up when the call connected. “HARLOW! Hey! Long time, no talk! It’s been what, months, a year? How are you? What you calling for? Need something? Do you have someone for me to take care of? Or just miss me?”
