Page 23 of Act of Command

“Thanks.”

Malik grinned and then glanced at the elevator as it opened and Boomer appeared, worry on the man’s face. “What?”

“Laney got a hit on Corbin’s SUV location. The readings are all over the place, but she’s managed to narrow the area somewhat for us. Either Corbin is driving around like a crazy maniac, going in circles and everything else, or someone is trying to throw us off his actual location.” Boomer held out a small sticky note. “It’s nowhere near where we sent him.”

Striker handed the statue to Duke and took the note and whistled low, through his teeth. Boomer was correct. The location was a good three hours from where they’d sent Corbin. It was a lead all the same. That meant something. “I love lowjackin’. We’ve got him.”

“Assuming Corbin is with the SUV,” said Malik, glancing at the note. “Captain wouldn’t waste time driving in circles. He’s far too organized for that.”

Boomer did a double take at the statue in Duke’s hand. “Something I should know? I’ve always suspected you had a thing for Corbin, but to go so far as to get a naked likeness of him, well, Duke, that is a bit much. Does Mercy know about this fetish of yours?”

“Fuck you,” snapped Duke.

Boomer ran a hand through his long hair. Striker couldn’t be sure, but Boomer may have taken a few of his earrings out. Haven, his mate, was certainly calming the man down. “The question begs, if Corbin isn’t with the SUV, where is he and what happened to him?”

Duke glanced at Striker. “Bring extra weapons and load up on tranqs just in case we find him and he’s suffering the same fate you and I did.”

“You mean the ‘curse of the mated male’ fate? Already done,” said Striker. “I get to shoot him with them, right? Payback for his people and my country and all.”

Malik touched Striker’s shoulder. “You really need to let that go.”

“They may take our land,” started Striker, drawing a round of groans from his teammates. He grinned. “Do nae take that tone about the great William Wallace. There is nae a lycan from the motherland that does nae view him as a hero.”

“Your obsession with the man is troublesome,” added Malik. “Are you going to get a statue of him made?”

The idea had merit. He’d have to look into it. He’d want a life-sized one to honor the man.

Boomer motioned to Striker’s pants. They were part of his tactical gear. “At least he’s not in a kilt today. Big step for him. We should take our wins where we can.”

Duke reached out and tapped the strip of plaid that Striker had tied around his upper arm. Wearing his clan’s colors made him feel whole. “But he brought a piece of his dress with him.”

“Och, ‘tis nae a dress, dickhead.”

Duke smirked, his expression saying he more than understood that a kilt was not a dress. “Too easy.”

“Word,” added Boomer, taking the note back from Striker. “How are we playing this? Do we all go?”

Duke shook his head. “No. I’m not leaving the women here unattended. Not with the tampered equipment we found tonight. James is headed back here. I’ll have him pick up Haven and bring her here with us. He can help me keep an eye on the women. You, Malik and Striker can check out this location. There are comm units in the back of my SUV that aren’t PSI issue. Take them and stay in contact.”

Boomer tipped his head. “Might want to let James know that Scar is roaming the sanctuary freely. He’s a great guard kitty.”

Malik’s eyes widened. “You let that panther loose? Around your woman?”

Boomer owned and operated a huge animal rescue, and it specialized in exotic animals. Scar was a panther who had only recently come to reside there. Scar wasn’t a shifter but was severely abused by humans, leaving him scared and angry. He’d been seriously injured not long back and Striker had been there when Boomer had offered his own blood to speed the animal’s recovery.

Duke grunted. “What about Li’l Duke?”

Striker hid his smile as he heard his friend ask about the well-being of a chimpanzee that had been a lab animal that now resided at the sanctuary. The chimp was into cross-dressing, and because of his foul mood when they’d first met him, he’d been given the name Li’l Duke. His namesake tried to pretend he couldn’t stand the little guy but all knew better.

“Li’l Duke is fine. He and Scar get along great.” Boomer grinned. “That cat loves Haven. He’d eat anyone who got near her. Sometimes I swear he looks at me like I’m lunch. Whenever Haven is cross with me, Scar licks his lips like this is his moment—this is when I become a giant cat chew toy.”

“Fucking cats,” said Duke. “Malik, alert James about Scar. Boomer, call Haven and have her ready for James.”

Striker eyed his longtime friend. “Yer sexy when yer barkin’ orders.”

Duke growled.

Boomer shook his head. “If Striker tries to kiss you, I’m not saving him from your wrath. Just don’t go making statues of him.”

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