Page 68 of The Hunted
“Sir, everything is quiet still. There isn’t any activity in the house. Ben is doing a sweep of the back of the property.”
“Did you check the house Layla’s staying in next door?” I asked.
“Dark. No vampires or humans.”
“We’re going to comb the woods and the other homes nearby.”
“Keep us posted. I’m sure the neighbor will show himself. Maybe not until the morning,” Webb said to Kraft.
Tripp hung up. “Not much to do until we can get eyes on Roman, Jordyn, or the shifter.”
I rose. I needed to stretch my legs, take a shower, sleep, and drink—anything to take my mind off of what we were up against, and above that, Layla. Still, I had to mention, “We haven’t discussed Roman. He told Layla that once she confirmed we had Abbey, he would take the lead. We need to prepare.”
“Once Jo reads Wyman’s mind, I’m taking her and Abbey up to our house in Maine,” Webb said. “Tripp, let’s get extra guards around the perimeter of the base just in case.” Webb stood. “I need to talk to Dr. Vieira, and then I’ll send him down to the prison to meet you. I’ll also send Jo down.”
“Tripp, do you need me for anything?” I asked.
Sawyer was absorbed in his computer. The tech team was working on tracking Dr. Case and Agent Thomas. If I had to question Wyman, I might tear off his head, but since Jo was about to read his mind, there was no need to question him until we were blue in the face.
Tripp tucked his laptop under his arm. “No. I’ll let you know if I hear anything from Kraft and Ben.”
“I’ll be up in my apartment,” I said to Tripp. “Webb, can I talk to you for a minute?”
Webb started to leave. “Walk with me.”
Once Webb and I were out in the hall, I said, “I want to apologize again. I keep racking my brain about what I did wrong with Wyman.
He clutched my shoulder. “Again, it’s not your fault. I should’ve known not to put pressure on you back then. You were still learning.”
The knot that had formed in my stomach loosened. “I promise it won’t happen again.”
He released my shoulder. “I know. Your abilities are much stronger.”
I had a ton of respect for Webb as a soldier, vampire, and my brother-in-law. He was a true leader and a great man. “I’ll die before I let anyone touch Abbey,” I said with a sigh.
“I know, but you’ll have to get behind me, because if anyone dares to fuck with my family, heads will come off.”
The image of Edmund’s head soaring over that cliff danced before me. I was ten thousand percent sure the next person to fuck with our family would suffer the same fate.
He shoved his hand through his light-brown hair. “I need to go if I want to take Jo and Abbey to our house in Maine and return by the morning.”
“The weather sucks.” When I last looked outside, which was maybe three hours ago, it was still snowing.
He nodded. “I’m sure the highways are clear. The weather forecast says the snow should be stopping in the next few hours. If I don’t make it back by morning, Tripp can handle the team. I can’t risk having Abbey here, and Jo isn’t driving up alone.”
I didn’t blame him. Besides, Roman’s deadline was six tomorrow night. I stabbed my thumb behind me. “I’m going to take a shower. Kiss Abbey for me.”
We went in opposite directions. I took the stairs up to my apartment on the fourth floor, but when I reached the third floor, I came to a hard stop.
The temptation to check on Layla was searing my veins and burning my groin. I refused to break down and lose the bet. I wanted her to come to me. I might be a lot of things, but I wasn’t the type to force myself on any woman.
I continued on to the fourth floor, and when I grabbed the door handle, I hesitated.
I should make sure she was okay, and she would probably want an update.
Dude, don’t do it. Let her sleep. You’ll see her soon enough.
I gritted my teeth and stormed through the door and down to my apartment, cursing the entire way.
