Page 62 of A Promise of Forever
The crowd is completely silent now, hanging on every word. "Tonight, I am going to uphold that fight Wilson asked for, regardless of where it takes place. And the first person who comes to me or my brother with information about Wilson's location will be generously rewarded." I let my grin turn evil, showing teeth in a way that makes several people in the front row step back. "Tonight, there will be blood. Justice will be served. And Wilson Cromwell will learn what happens when you threaten a Valla's family."
The venue erupts in cheers, voices overlapping as people shout their support. "The king is back! The king is back!" The chant builds, growing louder with each repetition until it's shaking the walls.
I throw out one more wicked grin before handing the microphone back to the presenter and stepping out of the ring. Caelan is right behind me, his expression carrying satisfaction mixed with concern. Lorcan meets us at the edge of my office, his face unreadable as always.
We step inside and Lorcan immediately turns to me with something like disbelief in his voice. "Boss, did you really just announce to hundreds of people that you're going to hunt down a fucking cop?"
"And kill him," I confirm without hesitation. "I'm going to get rid of Wilson permanently. I just need to make a call first."
I pull out my phone and dial Sterling, needing to hear his voice and confirm that he's truly okay with what I'm about to do. His voice comes through small but steady, and through the bond, I feel acceptance and love and complete trust flowing toward me. "Tell me you're okay with this," I say, needing explicit permission even though I can feel his emotions. "Tell me you want me to end this threat."
"Just come back to me," Sterling responds, a soft whimper hitting my ears. "Promise me that you'll come home safe."
"I fucking promise," I vow, meaning it with every fiber of my being.
"Then make him go away. Do whatever you have to do. I don't want to be scared anymore, Valla. I'm tired of looking over my shoulder and waiting for him to destroy everything good in my life."
"I've got you, little dove," I promise. "Always."
I hang up and immediately turn to business mode. "I need eyes and ears on the ground throughout the city. I have nofucking clue why Wilson chickened out of the fight or where he's disappeared to, but he doesn't leave this territory. Nobody gets out of here without us knowing about it."
I call up one of my drivers to bring the car around, then head outside to where the vehicle is waiting. The driver starts to get out to open my door, but I wave him off. "I'll be fine alone. Hand me the keys." He does as he’s told, as I wait for Caelan to return to the box, Bryn coming down in his place.
Both of us agree without needing many words that if anything gets too dangerous, if the situation starts spiraling out of control, we retreat and come home. We're not dying tonight, no matter how satisfying revenge might be. I pull out my phone again and call the St. Clairs, knowing they have access to security camera networks throughout the city through their various business interests. Moses answers on the second ring.
"I need a favor," I spit out. "Can you monitor cameras around the city and let me know if you spot Wilson? He bailed on our fight and I need to track him down."
"Already on it," Moses responds, and I can hear typing in the background. "We figured you might need help when he didn't show. Give us a few minutes to scan recent footage."
I'm barely able to control my anger as I hang up and immediately dial the number I have saved for Thatcher. The line rings once before switching to an automated message:"The number you have dialed has been disconnected."
Cursing under my breath, I try the number I have listed for Wilson. It goes straight to voicemail, his professional greeting playing with infuriating normalcy."This is Detective Wilson Cromwell. Leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible."
Frustrated, I call the contact I have within the police department, an officer who's been on my payroll for years, providing information about investigations that might affectmy business. He answers quickly, his voice carrying urgency. "Forrest, I was just about to call you. Wilson's got himself in a heap of fucking trouble here at the station."
"What happened?" I demand, my grip tightening on the phone.
"The bastard came storming in about thirty minutes ago, asking for a protective detail to raidThe Forge," the officer explains rapidly. "He wanted us to arrest you for kidnapping and assault, wanted a full tactical team to storm your establishment like we were just going to take his word for it without any actual evidence." The officer pauses, and I can hear other voices in the background. "But you already showed us that you've laid claim to Sterling through a mating bond, which gives you legal standing. Based on the filing Wilson made earlier, you've got a week to provide additional proof of consent, but the bond mark is sufficient for now."
"That doesn't explain why Wilson isn't here fighting me like he promised," I growl into the phone.
"It does if you add in the fact that his luck just ran out spectacularly," the officer says with barely suppressed satisfaction. "One of our K-9 units was doing routine vehicle checks in the parking lot and their dog alerted on Wilson's personal car. When they searched it, they found multiple vials of Bloom hidden in a compartment under the passenger seat."
My eyebrows rise with surprise. Wilson was stupid enough to keep product in his personal vehicle at the police station?
"No one has seen him since the chief confronted him about the drugs," the officer continues. "Wilson bolted before they could officially place him under arrest. I'm not sure you'll find him at this point. He's probably halfway to the state border by now."
"When did this happen?" I demand, already calculating travel times and escape routes.
"Maybe thirty minutes ago at most?" The officer's tone shifts to something more cautious. "Listen, Forrest, Wilson is dangerous and desperate now. He's got nothing to lose. Maybe just let him go, let him become someone else's problem in another city."
I laugh, the sound completely devoid of humor. "He threatened me and my family multiple times. He tortured my Omega for months, broke him down psychologically and physically, then tried to claim Sterling as his property. I'm not letting shit go. But when Wilson ends up dead and floating in a river somewhere, just look the other way, alright? Consider it a personal favor that I'll owe you for."
I hang up before the officer can respond or try to talk me out of what I'm planning. Almost immediately, my phone rings again.Julian.
“Yes?”
The fighter hisses into the phone, most likely from lingering pain from his fight earlier this evening. “Heard you were looking for the cop after Sterling. He’s headed north.”
