As he headed out of the study, Adam was there, waiting.
“What do you want?”he asked rudely, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked toward the outer door.“Can’t I leave my fucking study without you hovering?”
Adam grinned, unoffended by Ryan’s attitude—good job, considering it was par for the course between them.“Can I help it you’re so important, oh wise leader?”
Ryan rolled his eyes.“Jerk.”
“You know it.”
With a snort, Ryan asked, “What do you want?”
“Had more confirmation through from Erickson and Santiago.The Pantera are not involved with El’s abduction.The two were working on their own merit.”
“Does that make it better or worse?”he asked no one in particular.Maybe the Mother?Hell, she was the only one who really knew what the fuck was going on.
Adam shrugged.“It’s good in the sense that we’re not going to war with the Pantera, dumbass.”
Ryan shot his brother a look.“If you think the Pantera wouldn’t lie about not having anything to do with her abduction, then you’re a moron.”
“Which is why when Marc and Trip heard about this a few days ago, they asked for a deeper investigation.Erickson and Santiago have solid proof El’s guards were working alone.If anything, they have it in spades.Jamie approached the Pantera, tried to make it official.Figured if there were more involved, there would be more chance of success by the sounds of it.Also, he wanted to use Pantera grounds to hold her.But the Council vetoed it.Said they didn’t want to mess with human laws, and especially not when the human was a Forsythe-Drew.”
“That sounds very un-Pantera like.I thought their usual MO was kidnappings and abductions.”
Adam chuckled.“Maybe forty years ago.They have a new leader now.Young guy.He’s trying to streamline the branch.Make them more ‘legal.’”
“Why does that feel like a relative concept?”
“Probably because it is.My version of legal is different to yours, just as it’s different to the new leader, Knokke.”
Ryan shrugged.“True, I guess.So, they were acting on their own?”
“Yeah, wholly on their own.”
“Have they managed to find the other guy?Enrique?”
“No.They figure he fled to Mexico.”Adam grimaced.“I told them ‘figuring’ wasn’t enough, and that they’d better find out for definite.”
Nodding in satisfaction and pleased that Adam had this well under wraps, he asked, “Okay, so we can at least eradicate that as a threat.Which, granted, is a weight off.”
Adam shot him a look.“Gossip is spreading.”
“What kind of gossip?”Ryan demanded, annoyed.“There’s nothing to gossip about yet!”
“Exactly.They saw her on Saturday night.They keep seeing her around, but you haven’t introduced her yet.”
“I will today,” Ryan told him with a huff.“Jesus, she was almost kidnapped.”
“Which is why they’ve been patient.”Adam shrugged.“I’m just telling you what the mood is.”
Ryan let out a sigh.“Sorry.I don’t mean to shoot the messenger.”
“No?Well, you fire on target every damn time,” Adam retorted, but he was chuckling as he went.“They’re also saying you’re not shifting enough.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes.“And how would they know that?”
“Your scent’s fading on the grounds.”
Ryan ran a hand through his hair.“I hate this bullshit.”
