“Technically, it was my father who threatened me. The lawyer was just the messenger.”
“Tomato, tomahto…same thing.”
“Yes, well, I went to the apartment. After all, what choice did I have? I figure once I got there, I could figure out a way to escape, but at least I wasn’t being experimented on. But it was just another dumb idea. The only time I was allowed out of the house was when my bodyguard took me to my weekly shifting appointment with the headmaster.”
“Why didn’t you shift in the apartment? Surely your dragon could have helped you escape.”
Shaking his head sadly, Alex said, “Before the lawyer removed the handcuffs, he locked a metal collar around my neck that prevented me from shifting. Only he andthe headmaster could remove it. And before you ask, the room I shifted in was bewitched so neither of my animals could escape from it. No, my father made sure my prison was as high security as you could get.”
Gesturing at the trailer, Sawyer asked, “But you ultimately did, because here you are.”
Chuckling mirthlessly, Alex said, “I decided I just couldn’t take it anymore so I came up with an escape plan. After six years, my keepers weren’t as careful as they were in the beginning, so all I had to do was wait for an opportunity to slip out onto the fire escape one night. But before that happened, the lawyer showed up with the news my father had died. After handing me an envelope and removing my collar, he left.”
“Just like that? What happened about the High Council taking you?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Alex said, “I don’t know. I was so happy to finally have my freedom, I never bothered asking. I immediately fired everyone, sold everything, bought this trailer and took off.”
“What was in the envelope?”
“Ahh, yes. My father had put a shit ton of money in a trust for me.”
“So he did care for you,” Sawyer murmured.
“Maybe…but I’d rather he’d loved me instead.”
“I know sweetheart…but maybe this was his way of showing his love.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Alex said softly, giving himself a mental shake to clear out the melancholy thoughts about what might have been. “Now, let’ssee…you wanted to know who knows about me…well there’s the headmaster…oh wait, he died shortly after my father did…and the lawyer, of course…and whoever else my father told.”
“How did the headmaster die?” Sawyer asked, his suspicion surfacing.
“Don’t know. Once I was free, I never went to another appointment again. I only found out by accident one day when I ran into a classmate while I was sitting at an outdoor café having an ice coffee. He filled me in on what everyone was doing and then he mentioned our headmaster had died, but never elaborated on it.”
“What about the lawyer…do you have his name?”
“Yeah, but why does it matter now? Trust me, I have no intentions of ever seeing him again.”
“I just wanna know who knows about you.”
“As far as I know, it’s just the lawyer and I don’t think he’s any threat to me.”
“I hope so, but I’d feel better if my cousin checks him out just to make sure.”
“Fine with me. How about some dessert?”
Chapter 13
Killing the engine, Glenn surveyed the area before zeroing in on the old house. Surrounded by empty fields filled with tall grasses for miles, Glenn’s mind began running through possible scenarios. Not that he was too concerned—his tiger hearing would pick up anyone trying to approach on foot—but years of experience had taught him to always expect the unexpected regardless of how well-thought out a plan was. Turning to Smokey, he said, “Let’s get him out of the trunk and into the house. Luka’s on his way, according to Riley.”
“Good spot,” Smokey said, looking around.
“Yeah.” Unbuckling his seatbelt, Glenn opened his car door just as Ghost drove up in Loki’s car. After climbing out, he waited until his friend joined him. “Are your men in place?”
“Yeah. As soon as he’s spotted, we’ll know.” Ghost shifted his gaze to Smokey who was carrying the unconscious Loki into the house. “Did you talk to him?” he asked Glenn.
“If you mean about the six months he went missing…no, I didn’t. He wasn’t particularly talkative and I’m not gonna force the issue now.”
“I just thought on the drive up here…”
