Shifting his gaze over to Steel, Zane said, “I take it it’s an emergency, huh?”
Nodding, Steel replied, “He’s waiting for you in his study with Cody and Dylon.”
Turning his attention back to his mate, Zane studied David’s face, seeing the lines of fatigue etched in it. “Babe, why don’t you go back to bed while I go see what Jackson wants? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Yawning, David asked, “Are you sure? I can go with you.”
“I am, babe. Go back to sleep…I won’t be long,” Zane said, leading David back to their bed. Then glancing at Steel, he added, “Tell Jackson I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Will do,” Steel replied, leaving the room.
Helping his mate into bed, Zane bent down, running his lips over David’s. “I love you, babe,” he whispered in his mate’s ear. Then, walking over to their closet, he dug out a t-shirt, pulling it on over his head. Giving a last, loving, look at his mate, he was pleased to see he’d already fallen asleep. Padding noiselessly to the bedroom door, he opened it quietly, slipping out into the hallway, coming face to face with Steel. Giving a low growl, Zane closed the door behind him and, avoiding the Alpha Mate, hurried towards his brother’s study.
“Zane, wait up,” Steel called softly.
Hearing the request but ignoring it, Zane knew this was not the time to talk about the stunt Steel had pulled. Even though he told David he wasn’t angry—and to a large part that was true—there was still something simmering deep inside him, so he knew it’d be better if he waited until he was totally calm before getting into it with Steel.
Catching up to Zane, Steel grabbed his shoulder, stopping them both. “Hey.”
Rolling his eyes at Steel’s insistence, Zane turned around, deciding to remain quiet in an effort to control his annoyance. He knew Jackson wouldn’t be happy if he got into a scrap with his Alpha Mate.
“When was the last time you slept?” asked Steel.
Frowning, Zane stared at him, wondering what that had to do with anything. “I was sleeping when you so rudely woke me up.”
“Yeah, I know that,” Steel said. “But before then, when was the last time you had eight hours of solid sleep...at one time?”
Opening his mouth, Zane quickly closed it when he couldn’t remember exactly.Two nights ago? No, more than that, it was three, maybe four nights ago. Was it that long ago? Shit…
Watching Zane’s reaction to his question, Steel snorted. “Would it be fair to say you haven’t had a really good night’s sleep in, say, a week?”
“So what?” snapped Zane, pissed that Steel guessed correctly. “It happens. No big deal.”
“Usually when you’re at your computer, huh?” Steel asked. “Tell me, what does David do when you’re working and not sleeping? Does he go to bed without you?”
“Just what the hell are you getting at?” Zane growled. “And stop with the twenty questions. What David and I do or when we do it, is no concern of yours.”
“Wrong! As Alpha Mate, the well-being of every pack member is my responsibility. David is exhausted and so are you…so much so, you never even heard me knocking on your door, or David’s attempts to wake you, or him answering the door alone and letting me enter your bedroom,” Steel replied. “Now tell me, how were you protecting your mate during that time? And don’t give me any bullshit that he wasn’t in danger.”
Zane’s jaw dropped as he listened to Steel chastise him. Glancing briefly down the hall to where his mate was sleeping, shame rolled through his body. He was guilty—guilty of failing to put his mate first, of not protecting his mate and, worst of all, not taking good care of his mate.
“Zane?” Steel asked, quietly.
Zane closed his eyes to avoid seeing the disappointment he knew would be etched on Steel’s face.
“Zane, I’m only bringing this up because David is worried about you.”
His eyes flew open. “He told you that? Oh shit, I really fucked up this time,” Zane groaned.
“David said you’ve been spending a lot of time looking for the missing enforcers.”
“Yeah,” Zane replied. “Ever since Mom came back, I’ve been worried Josiah might find out…and try to kill her. I figured if I could find some of the enforcers who worked for my uncle when the massacre took place, they could testify as to what happened…and Mom would be safe.”
“And you haven’t had any luck,” Steel said.
“No, dammit,” replied Zane. Frustrated, he began to pace. “I found their employment records, buried in my uncle’s computer. It was just as I guessed…whoever tried to erase them didn’t know diddly and they were still there. But a lotta good it did me. I haven’t been able to trace any of them after they left Silver Point Pack. It’s like they fell off the face of the earth. Nothing…no bank or phone records, no credit cards, nothing of any kind…it’s driving me crazy. Fifty men…gone…just like that,” he said snapping his fingers. “Impossible! They have to be somewhere.”
“Not if Josiah had them killed,” Steel said, quietly.
