“Love,” Kieran smiled. “I do it by love. How are you feeling this morning?”
“Okay, no…not really,” Dakota said, “but I have to get up and save my mate. He needs me.”
“Good, but how about some breakfast first. By then, Cody and Dylon will be here to help find Slate,” Kieran said, rubbing Dakota’s arm.
“What? Cody’s coming? Who’s watching his pups?” asked Dakota, slightly confused.
“Yes, they are, and the pups will be okay. We need their skills to find Slate. They left yesterday and landed in Scotland this morning so they should be here shortly,” Kieran said, “and I know they will want to talk to you right away so this is the best time to eat.”
“Yeah, okay,” Dakota said. “I’m going to use the bathroom in the meantime.”
“Anything in particular for breakfast or just the usual?” asked Kieran.
“I don’t care, order what you want and I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Dakota said.
“I’ll be right back,” said Kieran.
Dakota struggled out of bed, checked his mate’s phone, then headed for the bathroom.
~/~/~/~/~
His groans echoed off of the cold, damp stone walls. Every part of his body hurt as Slate regained consciousness. His head felt heavy as he turned his neck, trying to see where he was but his eyes were still blurry. Letting his head fall forward, Slate closed his eyes, waiting until he had more strength to move it again. Time passed. Then the fog in his mind lifted just enough for him to remember what happened at the pub. When the cop showed up at his table with that bullshit story about their driver, he should have recognized him from the picture Zane sent him, but he was fantasizing about spreading the Bear Bug Ice cream over his mate before licking it off.
With his guard down, it was easy for the other asshole waiting in the parking lot to give him a shot that caused his legs to crumble and, as he pitched forward, was then caught by the ‘cop’ who easily slipped silver handcuffson him so he couldn’t shift. The last thing he remembered was another voice telling the ‘cop’ not to kill him—then his world went dark.
Now he was hanging spread-eagled in a cell, silver cuffs around his wrists and ankles, swaying ever so slowly contributing to the intense pain he was feeling. His thoughts went back to what happened, trying to remember if they’d taken his mate also, but those memories were still elusive.Dakota! Do they have Dakota too?Raising his head again, relieved that it was easier than before, Slate turned his head from side to side but could see nothing more than stone walls, giving him no information about his mate. His head fell forward again as exhaustion consumed his body and sleep reclaimed him.
~/~/~/~/~
Cody and Dylon were sitting in Logan’s suite, listening to Groose’s report about what happened since Fionn was attacked. When he finished, Dylon grabbed a pad of paper and a pen and wrote:This room is bugged.
After reading it, Logan said, “How do…” stopping when Dylon held up his hand. Then giving each a pad of paper and pen, he indicated to Groose and Logan they should write instead of talking.
How do you know?Logan wrote.
Too many coincidences. Groose, do you have a detector with you?
Yes, it’s in my room with the rest of my equipment but I swept the room before everyone checked in. It was clear.
Go get it. Someone has placed a bug after that, then.
After Groose left, Logan wrote,How bad was the vision?
Dylon looked at Cody, who nodded.If we don’t get to him quickly, Slate will die. If we can find out who placed the bug, he might also know where they are holding him.
Logan knew Dylon was telling the truth because it was exactly what Kieran and their spirit told him.Do you know Dakota is pregnant with Slate’s pup?
Dylon glanced at Cody then wrote,No but we suspected it.Has Ian seen him?
Yes, and Kieran is staying with Dakota.
Good, he is Dakota’s best chance of surviving if we fail.
We must not fail!
Nodding, Dylon wrote,Who’s been in here other than the group and the enforcers?
Logan thought for a minute, then wrote,Housekeeping and room service staff until Fionn was attacked. After that only room service staff.
