He just stared at her before nodding. “Raja, arrange it.”
“You won’t do anything stupid that makes me regret this decision, will you, Connor?” His mind told her his thoughts were already on a nice, comfortable bed. “Connor, focus one more time. There was another man with you tonight. Who was it?”
She saw a picture of an older man with gray hair and a limp. The man lived a hard life, and if the memory was correct, didn’t look as though he had long to live.
“Any idea who it was?” Ty asked.
“I see the man, but I don’t know who he is. I’ll ask him about it later.”
“They are ready for him,” Raja said, getting off the phone.
“One last thing. Did you know Chris?”
Nothing came to his mind. “Ty, do you have a picture of Chris? Maybe he doesn’t know Chris by name but by face.”
He grabbed the picture of the clan from a nearby shelf. “Last one, second row on the right. But you’re not getting near him to show him.”
She grabbed the picture out of his hands and set it on the floor, halfway between Connor and the door.
“On your way out, look at the picture.” She moved to Ty’s side.
The wolf trotted toward the door, stopping at the picture. Memories flooded her mind, of him and different people, but she couldn’t make sense of it.
“Think about it and we will talk about him and everything else when you wake.”
He howled in frustration. She could tell there was something he wanted her to know, but he couldn’t get it across to her.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The next morning, Connor woke feeling refreshed. He hadn’t slept that well in ages. For the first time in a while, he didn’t have to worry about someone coming in to kill him while he slept. He wasn’t constantly checking over his shoulder for Pierce. There was a weight lifted from his shoulders, allowing him to breathe easier, even if it was only for a bit.
He wasn’t an Alpha and never had the desire to be. After his mother’s death, he’d wanted the comfort and security of a pack but because of Pierce, no one would accept him. He was a lone wolf, and lone wolves didn’t survive long.
Pierce took him in, gave him a place to sleep and put food in his stomach, but Connor never was a part of the pack. Connor did it out of loyalty to his mother.
Loyalty. What does Pierce know about loyalty? More like guilt. Guilt over getting her killed.
He lay in bed, knowing there was a guard just outside his open door to make sure he didn’t try to escape.
Whatever they do to me, it’s better than what Pierce would do if he found out I was still alive. How will I ever get myself out of this situation? Maybe if I can help them…
He racked his brain, trying to figure out a way to help.
The man in the picture from last night, he recognized him. Chris. He got wrapped up in this mess to save his stupid sister.
Didn’t they say he was taken from one of the prison cells?
Knowing Pierce, that meant Chris was dead. He wouldn’t let someone survive who could hold something over him. Without Chris, his sister didn’t stand a chance.
Chris? Maybe he is the key to all of this. If he was anything like his sister, he would have kept records.
Jumping out of bed, he slipped into his jeans that someone had remembered to grab. Zipping up, he found the guard standing in the doorway. “I need to speak with your Alphas.”
“They will speak with you when they’re ready.”
“Trust me. I have information they need. Please, just tell Tabitha I asked to speak with her.”
The guard unclipped his phone from his belt and hit a button. “It’s Adam. He’s awake and demanding to speak with her.” He ended the call. “She will get the message. Just hang tight. There’s a television out here if you wish to watch some while you’re waiting.”
He hated waiting. It made him want to climb the walls, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Forcing the situation wouldn’t help.
* * *
“He’s awake and wishes to speak with you,” Felix said, filling Tabitha’s cup of coffee.
“Finally.” She let out a sigh of relief.
“Finish your brunch, mate, and then we will have him brought in.” Ty eyed her over his e-tablet as he read the reports from the guards.
She was still in her plaid pajama bottoms and tank top as they enjoyed their brunch. Ty had kept her in bed long after they woke. She’d enjoyed the early morning sex and cuddling, but she wanted answers. Rolling her eyes, she popped another strawberry in her mouth. “I’m done.”
“Mate, you are the most impatient woman I know.” Ty shook his head. “Have Raja escort him in.”
She stood from the kitchen barstool and moved closed to him. With his attention still on the reports, she kissed his neck. “We have a few minutes,” she whispered after getting the soft purr she loved.
“I need more than a few minutes. You will get your answers, and then you’re mine for the rest of the day.”
“Maybe I have other plans.” She took his earlobe into her mouth, gently sucking on it.
“You’ll forget all about them. Remember what I told you about mating heat. I can’t get enough of you. I walk around with a constant hard-on. I need you.”
She could smell them coming down the hallway. “Soon, baby, soon.” She leaned down and kissed him.
“Not soon enough for me,” he rumbled.
After a quick knock of warning, the door opened. Raja ushered Connor to the couch.
“Morning, Connor. I hope you were able to sleep well,” Ty said as they joined him, sitting on the opposite couch.
“Very well. Thank you.” He ran his hand over his knee. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to convey the message you wanted last night, ma’am.”
“Jumping right in, I see. Good. The man in the picture…from your reaction, I assume you know who that is.”
“Chris. Yes, I know of him.”
“Of him?” she questioned.
“To be clearer, I met him only once, but I knew him through his sister.”
“When he joined our clan, he told us he had no siblings,” Ty stated.
“Then he lied to you. His sister got wrapped up in some bad stuff a few years ago: drugs and what have you, but then she got with Pierce.”
“Got with Pierce? What do you mean?”
“It’s unusual for shifters, but you could say she is his girlfriend.”
“Shifters don’t really date like humans do. They might go out on a date or two while waiting to find their mate, but it isn’t the same as when humans date. Born shifters have mates. When we find our mate, we know it and pursue it. But before that, there is no reason for a relationship. We can get our needs met or go out, but relationships are something that is rare. Mainly for the reason of why do it if there is no future for the two of you,” Ty explained.
“But Pierce isn’t a born shifter.” Tabitha said, trying to understand how that would relate to Pierce.
“True. There are very few bitten shifters, so it isn’t a proven fact, but it is believed that they do not have mates. They are just like the rest of the human population. They have to find the one they want to be with.”
“Okay, but what does this have to do with anything? We’re after Chris.”
“I think the reason Chris betrayed you is for his sister. She mentioned to me before that she wanted to get away from Pierce but couldn’t. I believe Chris and his brother, Mike, thought he could exchange the information about you for his sister,” Connor said.
“Mike?” Tabitha squealed, feeling queasy at the sound of the name.
“He could have come to me. We would have helped him with his sister.” Ty growled.
“Mike lives in Pittsburgh, from what I hear. He visits his sister monthly. They are close.”
Could it be the same guy? It can’t be a coincidence that Alice was dating a man name Mike.
Ty obviously was thinking the same thing she was. He pulled out his cell phone, hit a few buttons and pulled up Mike’s wanted picture, before showing it to Connor. “Is this Mike?”
“Yes. What’s he wanted for?”
“Murder . . . He murdered my best friend, Alice. When the police went to arrest him, they found his apartment vacated. If he knew who I was, why not turn me into Pierce? My life should have gained his sisters freedom.”
Connor shrugged, leaving the silence hang heavily in the room.
She pushed it aside, for something to deal with later. “But why lie about siblings when he joined the clan? You said he has been here for years,” Tabitha pointed out, trying to get the complete picture.
“They lost touch for many years. He thought she was dead until last year, when she reached out to him for help.”
“I’m not an asshole. He could have come to me. There was no reason to betray me and my mate.”
She laid her hand on his leg. “I’m sure he didn’t see a way out of his situation, and when he traded the information, he didn’t know I was your mate.”
“He knew who and what you were,” Ty hollered. “I will see him dead for this.”
“I’m sure Pierce already did that.” When they both just stared at Connor, he continued, “You said the cell was empty. There is no way Pierce would have let him live. He would have assumed that he knew too much. I’m sure he is dead.”
“Then what information did you tell the guards we would want to know?”
“His sister keeps records of everything. I know she sent him letters and things. I think if you search his personal belongings, you will find something that might be useful.”
“Why do you think any of it would be useful?” Tabitha asked.
“If anyone knew anything, it would be her. She is the closest person to him. If he trusted anyone, it would be her without a doubt. Let me help search the room. I know her smell. I might be able to find anything that is there quickly.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tabitha was stuck in the compound with Felix while Ty and the others went to search Chris’s cabin. Time went slowly, like watching paint peel. She understood why Ty wanted her to stay here, away from the danger. There was no telling what they would find in the cabin. It might be booby-trapped for all they knew.
“I can’t take this.” She growled and walked to the window again to see if she could see anything.