“It appears Cabretti was Carmen’s biological father, and he sent Brad after you when he found out she named you as the father of her child. When Brad failed,Cabretti sent others to finish the job.”
Craig plopped a spoonful of potato salad on his plate. “But I didn’t get his daughter pregnant. Hell, I’d never met the girl. This fucking sucks.”
Cailín slapped her hand on the table. “You know what else fucking sucks? That we’re also being shot at. That Tabitha had to kill a man all because someone thinksyoukilled Carmen. So, ask yourself this, Kreegon; if you are innocent, who hates you enough to frame you?”
Craig gasped, gripping the counter, his face pale. “How do you know that name?”
Mason tossed his napkin on his empty plate. “It’s our job to know. We know that you and your brother changed your names and looks, then disappeared from your home island. Be honest with us. Could Daniel have pretended to be you, got Carmen pregnant, and—”
“He doesn’t look that much like me.”
“You told me yourself that he gets mistaken for you all the time. What if this is one of those situations?” Major reminded him.
Craig pushed his untouched food away from him. “He wouldn’t kill a woman. Get her pregnant, yes, but he’s not a murderer.”
“Would you bet your life on that?” Mason asked.
Major’s Gryphon bristled.There’s a vehicle approaching.
Major pushed back from the table. “Tabby, you and Cailín get Craig to the panic room. Mason, with me.”
No one balked at Major’s orders other than Craig. “Why? What’s going on?”
“We don’t have time for questions. Move your ass,” Cailín ordered.
Major and Mason turned out all the lights downstairs and moved to the front window. Whoever it was had their headlights off and had stopped at least a hundred yards away. “That’s not good,” Major said just as shots rang out, pinging off the glass.
“Stay down,” Mason instructed. “I’m going outside and stopping them before they get any closer. I’ll leave them alive for you to voice.” He took off through the house and out the back door. Major sped upstairs so he could peer out one of the upper windows. As a Gryphon, he was stronger and faster than humans, but Mason could withstand a gunshot.
The shooter stood behind the open door of his vehicle and fired off several rounds at the front door, probably since the windows didn’t break. Using his shifter speed, Mason ran full stop toward the man, surprising him before he could turn his rifle toward the Goyle. The weapon was jerked from the shooter’s hand, then Mason pinned him to the ground with his foot to the man’s chest. Major waited until Mason gestured that it was safe to come outside.
Major jogged down the steps and out the front door. He joined his boss and knelt beside the assassin. “Who do you work for?” Major asked.
“Myself,” he grunted.
“Why are you here?”
“To capture Craig Kilbrook. Two hundred thousand, alive or dead.”
“How did you know where to find him?” Major asked.
“The location was given with the contract.”
“Contract? Shit. Hang on.” Major pulled out his phone and called his Uncle Kyllian.
“Major?”
“Hey, I need a favor. Actually, I need Aunt Quinn’s help. I’m on a job, and there’s a contract on my client, Craig Kilbrook.”
“The actor?”
“Yes. Can you have Quinn get with Nikita and make sure the contract is closed, then have Nik locate the owner? I’m pretty sure it’s Damian Cabretti, but I need to be certain. I have Craig at a safehouse, but a merc still found us.”
“Yeah, Buddy. I’ll get the ladies on that.”
“Thanks.” Major disconnected and pocketed his phone. “We need to talk to Craig. See if he told anyone where we are. If not, there’s a tracker in his belongings. What do you want to do with him?” Major gestured to the man on the ground.
“I’ll call the same detective I worked with at Tabitha’s crime scene. You go talk to Craig and let me know what you find.”
