“Let’s split up,” Scott suggested.“We can cover more ground that way.”
The three men searched in different directions.Niall’s heart jumped when he stumbled across her scent.His mate.
Somehow, he had to force his brothers to return home.Everything had been fine until their arrival.The thought tickled his brain as he carefully followed the scent trail.
He halted abruptly when the thought solidified.His issues with his honey had begun when his brothers arrived.The investigator’s report hadn’t turned up any links, but the facts fit the scenario.Someone had contacted his family and learned about their estrangement, or his brothers had encountered them here in Scotland.Perhaps in a pub, when liquid courage had fueled their tongues.He could picture the scene.Euan and Colin acting indignant about their ungrateful younger brother who refused to acknowledge them or offer them shelter in his castle.
The scent trail ended at a bench overlooking one of the more extensive rose gardens.Niall walked in a wide circle around the bench, his nose quivering.Ammonia.Bleach.He backed up, his bear forcing him to sneeze.His eyes streamed, and his suspicions rose.Someone had purposely sprayed the ground, knowing he’d investigate.
Niall wiped his eyes and surveyed the area.Now that he’d smelled the bleach, he could discern nothing else.The disgusting scent dominated everything.Niall held his sleeve to his nose while he searched for clues.
Scott and Liam arrived together.
“Find anything?”Liam called.
“Suzie sat on this bench.I can’t find a trail because someone sprayed the ground with bleach and ammonia.”
“Where?”Liam asked.“I can’t smell it from here.”
“That side.”Niall gestured right.
The two men headed in that direction, their gazes intent while Niall searched around the bench.Something glinted in the grass.Niall plucked it off the ground.It was Suzie’s watch.
“She was here,” Niall called.“I’ve found her watch.”
“We’ve got her phone,” Liam said.
Niall trotted over, holding his breath when he neared the sprayed region.The area was more extensive than he’d assumed, and his eyes were watering badly when he reached the men.
Scott grasped Niall’s arm.“This way.”
Niall followed mindlessly, allowing Scott to guide him.
“I think we’re clear,” Scott said finally.“The smell doesn’t bother us as much.”
“I’ve found signs of a group walking this way,” Liam said.“It might be someone from the gathering.It’s hard to tell.”
Niall wiped his eyes.“Let’s follow the trail, anyway.It’s the only clue we have.”
The scent led to the estate wall.A dirt road lay on the other side, and they concluded someone had whisked Suzie away in a vehicle.Dispirited, Niall led the way back to the castle.
“Did you find Miss Suzie?”Angus asked.
“Someone has taken her,” Niall said.
“Why?”Angus asked.
“It’s something to do with my new honey,” Niall replied.“It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
Liam frowned.“Why is Suzie’s disappearance related to your honey?”
“Yeah,” Scott said.
Niall hesitated because he seldom shared information.He learned the hard way when an ex-employee stole a formula for a competitor.Niall hadn’t seen the man since, but he’d heard he was still working for the opposition.“I’ll have to get you to sign a non-disclosure agreement,” he said finally.
Liam snorted.
“Really?”Scott said, scowling.
