Scott joined him, his luggage in tow.“Have you seen Liam?”
“No,” Niall said.
“He left the bar early and told me he intended to pack.When I arrived back at our room, most of his stuff was gone.I wasn’t worried and fell asleep, but he wasn’t there when I woke.Niall, I haven’t seen him since last night.”Scott’s brow crinkled.“Now I come to think of it—there was a strange smell in our room because I opened the window.I thought it was cleaning products.”
“Angus!”Niall shouted.
Angus glided into the room.“No reason to holler like a common guttersnipe.”
Niall chuffed, chastened.“Sorry.Have you seen Liam?Scott hasn’t seen him since last night when he left the bar.”
“No, but let me ask my team.”He pulled a phone from his pocket and pressed a button.Seconds later, he was firing questions.His expression was grim when he hung up.“My team will search, but no one has seen him.Our security cameras suffered a strange blip just after midnight, but they came back online.Scott, can you find something personal of Liam’s?Our team will attempt to track him.”
“Sure, a stack of his shirts is still on his bed.I’ll grab them for you.”
After Scott’s departure, Niall faced Angus.“I don’t like this.Has anyone else left or disappeared during the same time frame?It could guide us.”
Angus nodded.“I had the same thought, and one of my team is already checking.”His expression tightened.“Is Scott certain Liam didn’t meet someone?”
“Liam mentioned feeling as if someone was watching him.We discussed the gathering and the pressure alphas put on their people to produce results.”
“It’s all right if a couple are mates, but abduction is unacceptable,” Angus stated, his narrow face stony with disapproval.
“I agree.”
Scott returned.“This is one of Liam’s shirts.It was the one he was wearing before dinner yesterday.”
Angus gave a clipped nod and frowned.“What about Liam’s passport?Has that gone?”
“No, it was in the room safe,” Scott said.“Liam’s wallet was there as well.We locked our passports away before running since we didn’t want to lose them.”
Angus glanced at his wristwatch.“If you don’t leave for the airport, you’ll miss your plane.”
Niall hesitated, knowing Angus was right but torn.Scott’s expression suggested he felt the same dilemma.He wanted to go home, but loyalty to his friend would make him stay.
“You must go,” Angus said.“My team and I will search for Liam.We’ll have found him by the time you reach New Zealand.”
The confidence in Angus seemed to settle Scott’s anxiety, while Niall’s bear just wanted Suzie.
“I promise I will find Liam and help him deal with whatever mess he’s found himself in,” Angus promised.“My team is professional and has more experience in security matters and search and rescue than you.Let the experts deal with this.”
“What do you think?”Niall asked Scott.
“I want to go home, but Liam is my friend.Let me call Saber and talk to him.”
Niall nodded, understanding.“Use my office.”
Scott was back in five minutes and held the phone out to Angus.“Saber would like to speak with you.”
Angus took the phone without hesitation.
“What did he say?”Niall asked.
“He told me to come home.Saber said if Liam didn’t turn up, we’d assemble a team from home and return to search.Saber also reminded me that Liam is a survivor and has a brain.If Liam can, he’ll contact us.”
Angus ended the call with Saber and glanced expectantly at them.“Are you ready to leave?”
Before Niall could reply, his bear gave a loud chuff.
