Page 21 of The Union
Lowering my hands, I grunted out a laugh. “Are you saying you wouldn’t do the same if it were Jo? I highly, highly doubt you would sit idle while assholes took Jo.” I didn’t care if I pissed him off, if he cut out my lungs, or banned me from ever stepping foot on the naval base again. He was madly in love with his wife, and he would never convince me he wouldn’t react to save the woman he loved.
“I’m not in the spotlight, here,” he said. “And I’m not pregnant. You put your life and your unborn child’s in jeopardy. Steven told you it was too dangerous to run after Sam.”
Guilt rode me hard, and he succeeded in making me feel like crap. I couldn’t argue with him on that point, and if I was reading between the lines, he was more concerned for the Mason child growing in me than for Layla Aberdeen. I couldn’t fault him for that. We hardly knew each other, and again, I was related to one of his enemies.
“You’re right. I panicked when they captured Sam. I’m in love with him, and I don’t want to lose him.”
He scratched his scruffy jaw. “I understand, Layla. But you need to listen to me, Steven, Tripp, and Jo. It’s admirable you want to save Sam. We do as well. But until we know what and who we’re dealing with, I can’t have you going off half-cocked or pulling a stunt like you did today. You’re lucky Steven reacted as fast as he did.”
An avalanche of regret tumbled into the pit of my stomach. In part, Webb was right. But love had a way of driving people to act without thought, to do stupid things, and I wasn’t immune to that. Still, I wasn’t sitting around and twiddling my thumbs. My family was in the fray, and I knew them better than Webb did.
He pushed to his feet with his iPad in his hand. “We’re returning to base tomorrow. We’ll meet in the lobby at six a.m. sharp.” He gave me a long blank look. “Before you ask, we are not going to Chicago. We don’t have any firm leads.”
“I thought you wanted Noah. He’s in Chicago.”
“Maybe he is, but I have people who can snatch him,” Webb said.
I rose. “We should talk to Carly then.” We couldn’t just jet off without at least trying something. Besides, even if Carly knew nothing about Sam, she might have answers on Noah’s whereabouts or even Rianne’s. I wanted to find my sister. She and I had some unfinished business. Whether Webb agreed or not, I was tracking down Rianne. Maybe in the process I would find answers to where the SWAT men had taken Sam.
I couldn’t help but think of my dream. I might be crazy, but Sam was giving me a sign. I could feel it.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “And what do you think she’ll tell you? That Intech is responsible? That they have Sam? Layla, we’re not about to rush into a situation when we don’t have all the facts.” His tone was even.
Defiance bubbled to the surface, and I angled my chin up. “Who says we’re rushing? Carly’s family anyway. I have every right to talk to my cousin-in-law.”
He gave me a long look. “Lobby. Six a.m.” Then he strutted over to the elevator.
Despite his orders, I wasn’t sitting on the sidelines.
8
LAYLA
I’d left the hotel about an hour after Webb scolded me. I admit I was as stubborn as my dad or any Aberdeen. But I couldn’t leave the state without talking to Carly or her husband, Jack Jr. If they didn’t know where Noah or Rianne was or about the game the Aberdeens were playing, then no harm, no foul. At least I would walk away knowing I tried. Besides, they would talk to me before they opened up to a complete stranger, like Webb.
I kept my chin tucked in my coat as I walked out of the parking garage not far from Intech in downtown Chicago. The Windy City was holding true to its name. The crisp, cold air blew my hair in all directions. A pedestrian breezed by at a brisk pace, scarf wrapped up to her mouth and hands tucked in the pockets of her wool coat as she beelined it for the Starbucks on the corner. Coffee sounded mouthwatering, and I might need to grab a cup to settle my nerves.
The weather was far better in the city than it had been at the hotel. A two-hour drive had taken me almost three. The highways had been fairly clear, with snowplows working overtime. I wasn’t an amateur driver in winter weather since I’d grown up in Montana.
My phone rang just as I approached Intech. The building stood tall and spanned a city block next to its sister company, Camden Industries. I peeked into the lobby as I strolled by. Other than a security guard, who sat behind a half-moon-shaped desk, all was quiet, which at six thirty in the morning wasn’t a surprise.
My phone stopped ringing, only to start again. I suspected Webb was blowing up my phone, or it was Steven, Tripp, or Jo. Or the caller could be Jack. After all, I had borrowed his car. Never mind that I hadn’t asked for permission. Flirting with the valet I’d bumped into in the lobby had made him putty in my hands. I’d set a Mounds bar on his desk, then explained I needed to get something out of the car. He didn’t ask questions. He’d taken the candy bar and handed me the keys.
I pictured Webb fuming, his fangs down and steam coming out of his nose. So be it. I wasn’t in Chicago to piss him off. I also wasn’t one of his soldiers, so I had free rein to do as I pleased. Besides, I would like to think I would make a good detective, which was something that had always appealed to me.
Suddenly, nausea churned in my stomach.Damn it.The last thing I needed was morning sickness. I had two of the candy bars tucked in the inside pocket of my coat. I also had the remaining two vials of blood with me if my throat became scratchy—a sign I needed it. But a pastry sounded better than a candy bar, especially paired with coffee, and like the perfect remedy for morning sickness. I couldn’t meet with Carly while puking my brains out, and I didn’t want to give her any indication I was pregnant. Women have a sixth sense about that. The less she knew, the better, particularly if Junior hadn’t told her about vampires.
I crossed the street and went into the Starbucks. The minute I entered, a wave of heat washed over me, and the aroma of caffeine seeped into my nostrils. I ambled to the counter that was full of sweets and treats.
Aside from two baristas, a man dressed in a suit minus the jacket sat at a corner table near the entrance to the restrooms, typing on his laptop.
The cute blonde waiting to take my order smiled. “Morning. What can I get you?”
I gave her my order of a soy latte and an apple turnover, then found a seat in one of those comfy chairs near the window. My phone trilled again the second my butt hit the chair. I plucked the annoying piece of technology out of my coat pocket and was ready to turn it off but stopped. Jordyn’s name flashed on the screen.
Ten to one, Steven had asked her to call me. “I’m fine,” I said to her as I answered. “I just want to talk to Carly.”Nothing reckless.
“Then call her,” Jordyn said in a harsh tone. “Where are you anyway?”
