Jake smiled. “Long story. What about you, Ian? Why are you here? You aren’t here to see me, are you?” He said it in a teasing way that told Beryl he didn’t think that was the case.
“Oh. No.” Ian pointed a thumb over one shoulder. “An acquaintance of mine, Joe, hurt his ankle and turns out he’s going to need surgery. I was the first person on his call list to answer one of the many calls he made for help. I just came to bring him some things, since he’s going to be here longer than he planned.”
“Nice of you,” Beryl said, not even meaning to speak out loud.
Ian shrugged like it was no big deal. “What about you, Jake? Got some surprise surgery in your future?”
“Nope. I was dizzy earlier and wanted to get checked out. Turns out I was probably dehydrated. Noting to worry about.”
Ian hadn’t moved from the doorway, but Beryl got the odd feeling he truly wanted to come in and get a closer look at Jake to ensure he was okay. It was clear to her that the man was worried about Jake, which she thought was odd behavior for basically a stranger.
After what sure felt to Beryl like an awkward pause, Ian said, “Well, I hope you feel better soon.”
“Thanks. Hope to see you at my store. And hope your friend has a quick recovery.”
Ian nodded. With one last long look, he continued on his way.
Beryl said, “He seemed really concerned about you.”
“Yeah. Strange, since I hardly know him. But he seems like a nice enough guy.”
She made a sound of agreement, though something about the man roused her suspicions. She squeezed Jake’s hand. “Why don’t I go check with the nurses’ station to see when you might get sprung from here?”
“Awesome. Thank you.”
Beryl stepped into the hall and headed in the same direction as Ian, toward the nurses’ station. Through the wall of windows there, she could see Ivy seated in the ER’s waiting room.
To her surprise, Ian was out there. He walked past the chairs where her friend was seated—and then the funniest thing happened. Ivy looked up, saw Ian and her mouth fell open. Ivy put a hand over her mouth. She must have made some sort of noise, because Ian immediately looked at her. He hesitated, then walked over to where she sat. The way he glanced around, as if checking to ensure no one was observing them, struck Beryl as sketchy. Apparently, he didn’t see her…observing.
Ivy stood up as he approached. They didn’t touch as they had what looked like an intense conversation. To Beryl, it wasobvious they knew each other. Ivy stared into Ian’s face as if he was the answer to all her prayers. As ifhewas the one she pined for.Interesting.
They didn’t speak for very long, but Ian did reach down and hold Ivy’s hand for a moment before turning to walk out of the hospital. Ivy sat back down. Like Ian, she glanced around as if to ensure no one had seen them.More interesting.
Beryl tucked that scene away to ask Ivy about later, then rethought it. Perhaps she’d mind her own business. It seemed like Ian and Ivy didn’t want anyone to know about their acquaintance. Again, it wasn’t her business.
She only hoped that if this man was the one who Ivy pined for, eventually, they’d be able to work it out and be together. Based on her glimpse at their likely problematic relationship, Beryl thought it didn’t look good.
The entity hid out in the woods after he’d yet again failed to perform the procedure on his prey.
He was uncertain how those three Alphas had been able to find him and his supposedly secret location. However, that was no longer his problem. The current dilemma was that he’d been forced to leave behind the transfer coaxial cable needed for the procedure. When last he’d seen it, the cable was attached to Jake Jones.
The entity was certain it was in the hands of local law enforcement. Luckily, it was the entity’s policy to embed micro tracking devices in all his equipment. He’d locate the coaxial cable, retrieve it and come up with a better plan to grab Jake Jones.
If it came down to it, he could use an older cable, one he’d saved after upgrading, but the procedure would take longer with the older model.
The only good news was that this latest mishap in the woods had given him some valuable information regarding Jake’s genetics. He was not a human, as previously believed. Neither was he fully Alpha. The entity understood that was likely why the initial procedure had not worked correctly on Jake Jones.
The entity would now be able to adjust his equipment to perform the procedure and take care of Jake Jones once and for all.
Then the entity could leave this disagreeable planet forevermore.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Wyatt ducked through the side door of the Big Bang Truck Stop and headed straight for Diesel’s office in the underground facility. It was very early in the morning. Normally, he would have just given Diesel a call, but the lengthy discussion he needed to have shouldn’t be voiced over cell phones, no matter how many of Cam Grey’s over-the-top security systems were in place to prevent eavesdropping by non-Alphas.
He’d called ahead to Diesel’s office to herald his arrival, especially since it was so early. Nova Greene, Diesel’s executive assistant, had said she could give him five minutes first thing.
