Page 76 of Unbonded
Some of the feral light fades from his eyes. He focuses on my neck, and I have to brace my knees as his hand suddenly lifts to squeeze my nape. “My office. Tell me what you know.”
As he leads me out the door, I recap the basics, pushing down the panic that wants to bleed into my voice. I'm pretty sure my spiking scent is a dead giveaway, but Bram doesn’t comment as he draws me around his desk to his computer. “The name of this coffee shop?”
“I don’t know.” I give another helpless shrug. “I just came straight here, to get you.”
His hand is back on my nape, a soothing purr rattling from his chest. I thought alphas only purred for omegas, but maybe ubers purr for everyone. He keeps touching me as he snatches uphis phone, and I stop questioning it, letting myself sink into his comforting touch.
It could be a couple of seconds or a minute before Corbus strides through the door with a soldier on his heels.Former-soldier, I correct myself, since his uniform is a mix of corporate and tactical, but I still snap to attention. It’s hard not to when an alpha looks at you a certain way, but Bram’s hand tightens on my nape, his soothing rumble taking on a warning note. It’s only as I glance up at his molten eyes that I realize he’s not threateningme.
“Bram.” Corbus is watching his mate carefully, even though the soldier stopped a few feet back from the desk. “Curtis is here to help. He has some information for us.”
Here to help, not challenge his authority. The message seems to get through to Bram and although he keeps his hand on me, he nods at the other man. “Curtis. Tell us what you know.”
The soldier guy nods back, curt but careful. “I've got Simmons talking to the girl in the foyer and Ruiz on the way to the coffeehouse. It’s The Busy Bean on Seventh Avenue, around the corner from Kate’s work. She came in around eleven and had just ordered a coffee when the alpha joined her. The server said she went from friendly to tense, and while the alpha spoke as if they knew each other, she said it was an uncomfortable conversation. She also remembers him mentioning Dash’s name, because he said they were meeting for lunch.” He takes a folded newspaper from under his arm and holds it up for us to see a coffee-stained article about Dash’s opening night. “She recognized the name, the reference to Paragon, and brought the ring over at the end of her shift.”
Six hours ago.
“Dash…?”
“Safe.” Corbus must hear the fear in my voice because he holds up a placating hand. “I called him myself. He’s fine. He’s at home, waiting for news.”
God, he must be going out of his mind.
The urge to go to him makes my legs shake, but I know he’ll just want answers I don’t have. “Do you think it’s Lee? He was harassing her for money last night.”
Curtis’ gaze flicks to Bram before it settles on me. “Doesn’t fit the description. This guy was older. Beefier. Brown hair, but more clean cut.”
Bram makes a sound like a jet engine getting ready to eat up a runway. “Could be Stanley King.”
“Seems likely.” Curtis takes a phone from his jacket and flashes a picture our way. The guy staring back has the fake charm of a salesman, mixed with the sharp edges of a hustler. Put him in the right suit and he could’ve been sitting around Bram’s boardroom table, but there’s an ugly gleam in his eyes, like he’s got a chip on his shoulder. “We're ready to bring in the local cops, unless you want to consult Perry first.”
There’s a short pause as we all look at Bram. “Start with him,” he says, his gaze still locked on the phone. “I want this over in an hour, Curtis. Use everything you have.”
The soldier tilts his head, a micro expression he probably perfected on difficult senior officers. “Everything?”
Bram isn’t as subtle, a snarl curling his lip. “Hack the fucking FBI if it helps.”
“Sure, Boss.” The soldier bobs his head in our direction, then performs a smooth about-face and marches out of the office.
The moment he’s gone, Bram transfers his grip from me to the edge of his desk, the wood whining at the pressure. “Someone needs to go to Dash. I’ll stay here, because it’s better to coordinate out of the office.”
I'm not leaving either, so we both relax when Corbus says, “I'll go home and look after Dash.” He walks over and pulls Bram into his arms, even though the bigger alpha looks like he’s suffering from rigor mortis. “It’ll be alright,mijnbroer.We’ll get her back safe and sound. Just stay in touch, yes?” He strokes Bram’s cheek, then motions for me to join him in the hall. We stand so close together I can see the flecks in his eyes; warm silver, not ice chips, like I thought. “If he gets bad news, you must call me.”
I frown at him. “Of course.”
“No, I mean if Bram reacts badly, don’t stand in his way. Just give him some space and get me on the phone.”
Because a rampaging uber would make mincemeat of a beta like me? “I know how to handle myself, Corbus.”
He cups my cheek, his eyes softening at the edges. “I know you do, but if Bram hurt you, none of us would take it well, buthewould be devastated.”
I nod, even though I’m not really sure what he’s telling me. But then the puzzle of our uber mate fades from my mind, because Corbus is kissing me softly, right out in the hall where plenty of people are still milling around. Their curious eyes are turned our way, but if Corbus doesn’t care, I sure as hell don’t. The pressure increases, and I open my mouth to him, letting him taste my need and my fear. He sweeps it up with his tongue, his cedarwood scent filling my lungs as his hand strokes my cheek. It’s a different kind of protective energy from Bram’s but it melts my bones all the same. “Mijn liefje,” he says when he pulls back, “we will get her home safe, I promise.”
I nod, because any alternative is unthinkable. “I want to call Dr. Green,” I blurt out, clutching his sleeve before he can step away. “Katie was seeing her about her condition. If she needs medical attention, I want a familiar face taking care of her.”
“Of course. Please tell her we will cover all costs and pay a premium for her to be on call.”
I relax a little, glad I won’t have to plead my case to the doctor with charm alone. “And tell Dash to call me, whenever he wants. I’m thinking of him… and I love him, you know?”
