“I’ll try,” Murphy said, and the door opened, drawing both their gazes to the woman who stepped out.
Finn caught his breath, overcome by the beauty of his mate. She’d pulled her long, blonde hair back in a ponytail that hung down her back. Her green eyes sparkled, and her skin practically glowed. He took full credit for the contentment that filled her. They’d loved throughout the night, and he was already looking forward to being inside her again. If his brother and Gabriel hadn’t shown up when they did, he would have awoken Laura with a touch sure to have her purring in pleasure for him.
“Save those thoughts for later,” she murmured huskily as she joined them. She leaned up and nipped his jaw, making his cock threaten the hold of his zipper as he came to life in his jeans.
“Not too much later,” he returned and gave her a hard kiss before grabbing her hand and linking their fingers. “We should be using the ATVs we brought to get around.”
“You too lazy to walk?” Murphy asked with a snicker.
“We have plenty of ATVs here. There are several in the barn,” Laura told them, ignoring Murphy’s comment. “We can grab some when we go up to the main house. I take it Gabriel went ahead?”
“He’s checking in with Tah,” Finn said. “They’ll probably have Dr. Jensen there when we arrive.”
She nodded. “Are you staying at the main house, Murphy?”
He gave a slight jerk of his chin in answer.
“I understand you and Finn usually stay together. I have two other bedrooms, if you’d like to stay at the house with us,” she offered.
“No,” Murphy barked, and Finn reached out and smacked him hard. Murphy glared but explained his abrupt response. “I mean, the two of you have just mated. You should have time alone. I appreciate the offer though.”
“You’ll always be welcome,” Laura said, and Finn admired her willingness to keep trying to repair her relationship with his brother.
Finn needed to talk to Gideon more than he needed to hear what Dr. Jensen might say. If what he thought was true, it would go a long way toward mending things between his mate and his brother. They were two of the most important people in his world. He shared a deep connection with both of them.
He made his decision as they approached the medical building.
“I’m going to duck inside for a minute and talk to Gideon,” he said.
“I’ll go with you,” Laura said.
“No, go ahead with Murphy,” Finn said. “You know more about Isaac than any of us. You might think to ask something the rest of us wouldn’t. Besides, I’m sure Gabriel would appreciate you being there. I’ll meet you both as soon as I can. I won’t be long.”
He pulled her to him and kissed her then trailed lips over to her ear. “Trust me.”
She nodded. “Gabriel’s probably called Daniel, as well. I should be there in case they find out something else about their dad. Who knows what Miles might have to say.”
“Murphy?” Finn said but kept his gaze locked on his mate.
“She’ll be safe with me,” his brother said. “If you’re sure you can tear yourself away from her.”
Finn dropped another kiss on her lips, and Laura laughed. “I won’t be long,” he promised.
“You already said that,” she reminded him. “Are you sure I shouldn’t go, too? He’ll want a few vials of my blood.”
“We’ll do that later. I just want to talk to him real quick, ask a couple questions.”
“Then go,” she urged. “I’m not going to disappear.”
He touched her one more time. She’d hit on exactly what he was thinking, which didn’t surprise him. Every time he’d woken up last night, he’d reached for her, making sure she wasn’t another dream. If she’d woken before him, she’d curled into him, touching his chest to make sure he was still alive. It would take time before they were both able to let that need go, to trust in the here and now. They would though, and Gideon might have the answers to help them.
Chapter Nine
Laura felt Murphy’s tension as they walked on without Finn, but she didn’t feel hostility. At least, he wasn’t trying to kill her.
“I’m not going to kill you,” he muttered, making her stop in her tracks.
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“Shit!” he swore. “Finn was right. Stop and concentrate.”
He stared at her.
“Yes,” she answered his unspoken question. “I would give my life for him.”
“As would I,” Murphy answered aloud. “I always thought our connection with each other would lessen when we met our mates and formed a bond with them. It appears it’s going to branch out and include our mates instead.”
“So not only will Finn know what I’m thinking and feeling, but you will, as well?” she questioned.
Murphy’s lips twitched as he nodded.
“That could get really embarrassing,” she admitted and felt her cheeks flush with color at what she and Finn had done the night before, the thoughts they’d both shared earlier.
“I don’t eavesdrop,” Murphy said, making her blush a darker shade of red. “You’re time with your mate is private. You can block me from picking up on stuff, or I can shield myself. Finn and I have become quite adept at it over the years, especially lately,” he mumbled then his gaze sharpened on her.
“What?” she questioned. His intense gaze made her nervous.
“Will you do something for me?”
“What?” she asked him cautiously.
“Go back to that day. Open up to me. Let me see what you saw.”
“Will that work?” she asked.
Murphy shrugged. “Only one way to tell.”
She closed her eyes, telling herself he didn’t realize what he was asking her to do, the pain he wanted her to suffer again. She let her memories pull her back and didn’t even flinch when Murphy slipped his arms under hers, grasping her elbows while she held his. She remembered the scent, the cries she’d heard the closer she got. She remembered her beast taking over and the taste of her enemies’ blood as she fought her way to him. Then there was Finn. Broken and bloody, his life slipping away. She opened herself up to it all, though it broke her heart all over again.
“Stop.” Murphy shook her. “That’s enough, lass. He’s alive. He’s alive.”
She sobbed, burrowing into Murphy’s broad chest and taking comfort.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she said over and over again.
“Shh,” Murphy crooned at her ear. “It’s all okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”
A roar split the air, and Murphy muttered an expletive.
Finn charged toward them with Gideon right behind him.
“What the hell is going on?” Finn demanded, jerking her into his arms and holding her. “I’m right here, baby. I’m right here.”
She clung to him, the memory still fresh and raw.
“Why would you put her through that?” Finn yelled at his brother. “I told you what I suspected. You knew what I was going to ask Gideon.”
“I’m sorry, lass,” Murphy said, speaking to Laura. “I know what you felt, what you saw. I believe you.”
Laura nodded. “It was worth it then.”
“What the fuck!” Finn practically vibrated with fury. “There was no reason for you to remember that again. I felt how much emotional pain you were in.” He turned on Murphy, gripping his brother by the throat. “If you ever put my mate through something like that again—”
“No!” Laura yelled. “Don’t say something you can’t take back. We have a connection, your brother and I. I needed to show him what I saw when I found you, and he needed to see. Let it go, Finn.” She pressed against him. “Please.”
“Let’s head to the main house. Miles is already there,” Gideon said. “Finn has an interesting theory as to what happened the day the two of you first met, Laura. I think he might be right. I need to go back and look at something in the blood sample that was taken when he first arrived back in Colorado, but I know what to look for now. It would make perfect sense as to how he managed to hold on for so long.”
“Let’s go then,” Laura said, tugging at Finn. “I want to hear this theory, and I really want to be there to see what Miles might say about Isaac. I’ve had this weird feeling since Gabriel told us about the files.”
“What are you thinking?” Murphy asked.
“I’ve always suspected Isaac was up to something. Daniel said when they were boys, Isaac would take these trips that would keep him away for days at a time. He was on one when their mother was killed. Daniel said he continued taking them after she died, sometimes staying gone for weeks at a time. Now, I’m wondering what all the trips were about.”
“Did he ever say? Did Daniel or Gabriel say?” Murphy asked.
She shrugged. “I have no idea if they ever asked him about them. You all met him. He wasn’t the most loving of fathers.”
“He was a right bastard,” Murphy agreed. “Chances are he was up to lots of stuff we don’t know about. Yet.”
“I’m afraid you’re probably right,” Laura said.
They fell into step again, Laura at Finn’s side, Gideon in front and Murphy right behind.
“I’m sorry,” Murphy murmured again.
Finn grunted.
“I’m not,” Laura said. “We needed to clear the air. Nothing would have worked as well as that. I had no idea we’d share such a link. I’m glad we do.” She held her free hand out to Murphy and was grateful when he took it. “It’s important to me for your brother to trust me,” she told Finn. “ I want him to know just how much you mean to me.”
Finn sighed. “I don’t like feeling you hurt.”
“I didn’t either,” Murphy agreed.
“That makes three of us,” Laura said. “We’re all in agreement. See. It’s already made a difference.”
She’s a feisty one.
Murphy’s voice filled her head.
“Keep it clean, gentleman,” she warned. “Remember this is three-way channel now.”
Finn laughed. “That she is, brother. I’m a lucky man.”
“You are,” Murphy agreed.
Laura felt the emotion behind Murphy’s words and knew he was still seeing the memory she’d shared with him. She got the distinct impression that the Finn she’d left at the cabin hadn’t been the same one Murphy had found when he’d arrived later.
They reached the house and headed toward Tah’s office.
“Does any of it look familiar?” Gabriel was asking Miles as they entered.
Gideon crossed to his mate, Vic, who was on the other side of the room, standing next to Professor Mueller. Tah and Reno were in front of the big desk Tah used. Gabriel and Miles stood slightly in front of them. Gabriel had a file opened and was pointing to one of the papers.
“Birthdates, maybe,” Miles mused. “Some type of date…” He stopped midsentence, his eyes obviously registering something as he read.
“What is it, Dr. Jensen?” Tah asked.
“This date. It’s the day my daughter left. These are her initials next to it. MQJ. Madison Quinn Jensen. My Quinn. I don’t know what this is though. This other notation. HL-FT.”
“Your daughter left?” Reno said. “Was Isaac searching for her?”
Miles shook his head. “I don’t think so. If so, he never mentioned it to me.”
“Do you know why your daughter left?” Tah asked.
“We’d just lost her mother. Quinn wasn’t handling it very well.”
“Did she ever tell you why she left?” Laura asked.
“I haven’t heard from her since,” Miles admitted. “She blamed me for her mother’s death. Rightly so. I’m the reason both of them were around shifters. I’d left them to head here. Quinn was hanging out with friends. My wife, Sophia, was home alone when this group of hunters arrived. They left a message for me that day. I packed up Quinn and contacted Isaac. He came immediately. I know you all think poorly of him, but he was there for me when I needed him.”
“I don’t remember your daughter ever coming here,” Gabriel said.
“She didn’t. She left right after your father arrived. She’d screamed at me about how Sophia’s death was all my fault. My daughter hated me that day. She wished I was the one they’d killed.”
“People say things they don’t mean when they’re hurting, Miles,” Professor Mueller said softly. “Anger has to leave the body, and those we love almost always suffer the brunt of it.”
“I knew the risk when I agreed to work with Isaac and the rest of the shifters. Sophia and I made the decision together. Quinn didn’t. I don’t expect to hear from her until she can find it in her heart to forgive me. If she ever can.”
“Ah, Miles. If only we had the luxury of youth,” Professor Mueller said, coming over and patting Miles on the back. “I lost my wife some time ago. Not a day goes by that I don’t still think of her. My daughter. She didn’t leave me in anger. She went chasing her dream and was lucky enough to find it. I miss her every day, but I can’t blame her for choosing to embrace the life she always wanted. The outcome is still the same though. She’s there, and I’m here, the same as you are. Let’s go have a drink and reminisce as only the old can.”
The two men walked out, the Professor’s arm around Mile’s shoulders, leading the other man away while the rest of those gathered watched.
“I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories,” Gabriel said.
“We all have ghosts we have to deal with,” Finn said.
“We need to look at those papers again. Jot down the dates and see if we can link them to other people. People who’ve suddenly left,” Reno said.
“That code,” Gideon said. “HL-FT. I know I’ve seen it somewhere before.” He shook his head. “I can’t place it.”
“Keep working on it,” Tah said. “What are you thinking, Reno?”
“Something just feels off to me,” he murmured. “Her mom dies. Violently, I’m sure. Then Isaac shows up, and she leaves with no parting words for her dad. Anyone else find that a bit odd?”
“I do,” Gabriel said. “Are you thinking my father had something to do with her disappearance?”
“She was enraged. Emotions high. Riddled with the pain of losing her mother. What if Isaac fed that?”
“And did what?” Vic asked.
“A human girl. Young and angry. Probably hungry for revenge.” Reno ticked points off on his fingers.
“Oh, my God,” Laura said. “He would have fed it the way he did mine when I first arrived. Gabriel was always gone. Daniel was in town more than he was out here. Isaac would rant around me, telling me what he would do if someone had done to him what they’d done to me.”