Remy exchanged looks with his pack mates, seeing his own confusion reflected in their eyes. “I think you need to start at the beginning, Gemma, because this isn’t making a lot of sense,” he said. “Triana was kidnapped because she was trying to track down the man who killed her father. Why would he want to make a trade?”
The phone was silent for so long that Remy thought the connection might have been broken, but then Gemma’s voice came back firm and strong and more than a little angry.
“Damn headstrong girl. So much like her father.” There was another long sigh. “They want to make a trade because a man named Aaron Lee wants something he thinks I have, and he wants it very badly.”
Remy was just getting over the shock of realizing that Gemma really did know everything that was going on, when it hit him—he knew exactly what was behind Triana’s abduction.
“This is about that damn necklace that lawyer has been trying to buy from you all week, isn’t it?”
“It is,” she said softly. “Lee thinks the necklace will allow him to turn into a werewolf. Of course, he has a good reason to think that since the last man to wear it actually was a werewolf.”
Remy was pretty sure his eyes almost bulged out of his head, and it had nothing to do with his headache. Even so, he was relatively chill compared to his pack mates. They looked like they were going to pass out.
“Um, Gemma,” he murmured. He was desperately trying to understand what the hell was going on, but things were moving too fast. “You know that sounds a little crazy, right?”
Gemma sighed again, louder this time. “Remy, we don’t have time for this. Yes, I know about werewolves. Yes, Rufus was one. And yes, I know that you and your friends from Dallas are all werewolves too. Alphas, actually. Which I have to admit caught me off guard, since it’s very unusual to see multiple alphas able to coexist like the four of you do. Regardless, now that we have the werewolf crap out of the way, can we get back to the important issue of your going to rescue my daughter?”
Remy stood there dumbfounded, the phone pressed to his ear, his head swimming. “Um, okay. So you have this wolf-head necklace that can really turn someone into a werewolf, and Aaron Lee wants it?”
“Yes, he wants it. Unfortunately, even though I offered to give it to him in trade for Triana, I don’t actually have it. It disappeared the night Rufus was murdered. I’d gladly give it in exchange for my daughter, especially since it doesn’t have the power to transform a person into anything, much less a werewolf.”
“Wait, hold on a second. I can’t keep up with all this.” Remy was so frigging confused right then, he didn’t know where to start. “You said Lee knows the necklace can turn him into a werewolf. That’s why he wants it.”
“No,” she replied in a calm, patient voice. “I said he thinks it can turn him into a werewolf, and since he has my daughter, I sure wasn’t going to correct his error. In reality, the necklace was a voodoo spirit charm I made for Rufus before we were married. It was designed to help him control his animal rages.”
Something clicked then about all the things he remembered about Triana’s dad. The size, the mane of shaggy, blond hair, the way he was always so quick to anger, the reputation he had for getting into fights—and finishing them. There was only one kind of werewolf defined by that lack of control and violent behavior.
“Triana’s father was an omega, wasn’t he?” Remy asked.
“Yes, he was,” Gemma said softly. “But he never lost control with Triana or me, not even once. He was the sweetest, gentlest, kindest man when he was with us.” She paused. “I always thought a roving band of hunters had caught up with Rufus, but now I realize Lee must have figured out what my husband was and had his men kill Rufus.”
“If he thought so little of your husband that he wanted him dead, why would he want a necklace he thinks could turn him into the same thing?” Remy asked.
“I don’t know for sure, but as power hungry as Lee has always been, I can only guess it’s for the obvious reason—to make him stronger. A criminal like Lee only stays in power until someone bigger comes along. A man his age has to be thinking about extending his shelf life.”
Remy was silent for a moment. “You told him you’d give him the necklace, even though you don’t have it now?”
“Yes,” Gemma said simply. “He wants me to bring it to his plantation house in Kenner. He was feeling gracious because of the storm, so he told me to be there in two hours.”
“That doesn’t give us a lot of time,” Remy said, wishing he knew more about the plantation house Lee lived in. “How big is this property of his? Any idea what security is like?”
“I was there years and years ago, when Lee and my husband were on somewhat better terms with each other,” Gemma said. “It’s an extremely big place with a high security fence and a lot of wide-open space between the fence and the main house. If it’s like it used to be, he probably has a dozen people working security for him, maybe more now that he’s gotten older and has to worry about people coming after his empire.”
Remy swore as he realized they’d have to hit the place while it was still daylight. “The storm will provide some cover, but getting across those open spaces in the daytime is going to be tough. If security sees us as we’re moving into position, Triana is going to pay the price.”
“That’s why I’ll be going with you,” Gemma said, “to provide a distraction.” Remy opened his mouth to say no way, but she cut him off. “Don’t even start with me. You four are alphas, and I know what alphas can do. But this is my daughter we’re talking about, and I’m going to help get her back. You’re going to need everyone focused on the front gate when you make your move, and I can make that happen.”
“Gemma, it’s too dangerous,” he growled. “I’m not willing to risk your life to save Triana’s. She’d kill me if something happened to you. I’ll find another way.”
“No, you won’t,” Gemma said. “I’m already on the way to Lee’s house right now. You can either let me help you, or figure out how to rescue both of us.”
Remy’s response was equal parts cursing and growling. Shit, she was stubborn as hell. He could understand how Gemma could have been married to an omega werewolf. She was a frigging force of nature.
“Lee is expecting me,” Gemma interrupted. “While I have his attention on me, you and your friends go in there and get my little girl out. I’m depending on you, and whether she knows it or not, so is Triana.”
Remy ground his jaw but forced himself to calm down. “Okay. We’ll do it your way. Just don’t do anything stupid until we get there.”
“I won’t do anything stupid,” Gemma assured him. “Just don’t dawdle. I don’t like the idea of my daughter in the hands of those monsters.”
