Page 39 of Kai's Hunger

Wyatt shoved a hand over his face, then leaned against the front bumper of his truck. “Patterson lost Fostine. He’ll make Dad pay for that.”

I gave that some thought, then said, “I wish I’d gotten a picture of the dead guy. We could’ve shown Fostine. Maybe she’d recognize him.”

Wyatt yanked his cell phone out of his back pocket and waved it in the air. “I got a picture, but there’s not much left of his face to recognize.”

There went my stomach again. “Send it anyway,” I muttered. “It’s worth a try.”

Wyatt tapped the screen and hit send. Seconds was all it took for Fostine’s reply. Wyatt sighed. “She says it’s Ricky, the guard who helped her,” he explained. “She recognizes the clothes. They’re the same clothes he had on the night she escaped.”

“Fuck! That bastard’s had it out for our family for years.” I groaned. “There’s no telling where he took Dad.”

“Yeah, and all we have is a first name for the guard. It won’t help the police.” Wyatt’s gaze went back to the crime scene. “But I had a chance to check out the body before Brandon and his buddies showed up.”

Had Wyatt caught a scent? “Yeah?”

He pulled his hand out of his pocket. A small teardrop-shaped leaf in the palm of his hand. “That’s from an Osage Orange tree. I also caught the scent of honeysuckle.”

“There are a lot of both on the south side of town.”

“Yep. I’m going to make a trip out that way. See if I can spot any abandoned buildings.”

“I’m coming with you. Let me take Lily home first.”

Wyatt’s eyes widened and he searched the area until his gaze landed on Lily seated in the SUV. “You brought her here?”

“She wanted to be with me in case...”

His steely eyes drilled into me. “Damn it, Kai. It’s a fucking crime scene.”

“I know.” I didn’t bother to apologize. “She’s my mate.”

His oldest brother quirked a knowing brow at me. “Have that talk already, did ya?”

“You know I didn’t have time for that yet,” I answered. “Enough about that. If you’re going after Patterson, then I’m coming, too.”

“A scouting mission,” Wyatt warned. “Nothing else.”

“Until you find him,” I argued. “There’s no way you’ll call for reinforcements. I know you. You’ll charge in and take on Patterson alone.”

“Whatever. I’m just saying that this might lead to nothing.” He held up the leaf. “Hell, my only lead is from a tree that grows all over this area.”

“And the honeysuckle,” I reminded him. “I think you’re onto something here.”

He threw his hands in the air. “Fine, do something with your mate. I’ll meet you at the café in one hour.”

Another thought hit me. “I’m bringing Miggs.”

Wyatt’s lips lifted at the corners. “Only because you don’t want him anywhere near Lily.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “He’s got an attitude about her,” I admitted. “I don’t trust him.”

Wyatt’s smile disappeared. “Yeah, I’m concerned about that, too. He nearly took me on yesterday and that’s not like him.”

“So, he’s coming with us. If we find Patterson, then Miggs can let out some of his pent-up rage on him.”

“Sounds good to me.” He pulled his key out of his front pocket, then got into the truck. “One hour.”

I nodded, then headed for my own vehicle. I got in behind the wheel and smiled over at Lily. “It wasn’t him.”

---