Page 82 of The Rebirth
“Conrad,” Tripp said. “Can you hear me and see us?”
He was sitting in his SUV. “Yes.”
“Good,” Tripp replied. “Bring us up to speed.”
“I met with Grant Vega this morning,” Conrad started. “The retired Navy SEAL is now a building inspector for Chicago. He’s found some activity in the industrial district, which is located several blocks from the property supposedly owned by Fred Emery. There are intermodal rail yards here, which might support the train you heard when you spoke to Adam by phone. Also, last night, I spotted Draven Murphy and Adam entering a guarded warehouse that Grant had pinpointed as one possible location. I’ll send you the address. I’m also checking the other spots Grant has given me.”
“Conrad, follow their routine. I want to know every place they go,” my dad said. “Webb, call Joan Chambers, our head of state for Illinois. She can set us up with a command center in Chicago.”
“Pops, did you ever speak to Draven’s old man?” In our last meeting, he’d mentioned he would call Baxter Murphy to see if he could knock some sense into Draven’s head.
My dad leaned back in his chair. “Unfortunately, Baxter told me to fuck off. He’s upset that humans know we exist. I’m not surprised at his response. He’s just as much a dickhead as his son. He also claims he doesn’t know jack shit about Draven working with Emery. I think he’s lying, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Baxter is the one ordering his son to do his bidding.”
A phone dinged, but it wasn’t mine.
My father picked up his phone off his lap. A few taps later, he said, “Adam sent me a video.”
Tripp, Webb, and I gathered around my dad as he hit Play.
Adam Emery’s ugly mug brightened the screen. “I’m sure you got my latest package by now, Steven.” Adam looked as if he hadn’t showered or shaved in days. His brown hair was oily, and he’d grown a beard since I’d seen him in the basement of the farmhouse. “If you’ve read my letter, then you know what’s at stake.” The video panned around an empty room until Adam zoomed in on a man with reddish hair and blue-gray eyes tied to a chair.
“Is that Jack Aberdeen?” I asked, knowing it was him.
Webb and Tripp said in unison, “Yep.”
They’d fucked Jack up good. His face was bloody, he had a gag in his mouth, and behind him was Draven Murphy, bald and deadly, holding a machete to Jack’s throat.
Adam returned to the camera. “Jack Aberdeen is my next victim. You have seventy-two hours. If I don’t hear from you by then, Jack’s head is next.” Then the video ended.
I checked my watch. “Four p.m. We have three days.”
My father was about to throw his cell across the room when the side door opened.
Layla ran in, her blue eyes shifting to yellow and her fangs sparkling. “My aunt Tabitha is on the phone. My uncle was kidnapped by bloodsuckers. Tell Steven what happened, Aunt Tab.” She placed the phone on the table in front of my dad.
Webb and Tripp hadn’t seen Layla since she turned. Both were studying her, although Webb had yet to see her eyes turn yellow.
Tripp regarded me. “Turning vampire suits her.”
Webb nodded in agreement.
Jordyn had mentioned that Layla was glowing. I had to agree. I was digging her canines, especially.
“Jack and I had just pulled into Big Timber, Montana.” Tabitha’s voice snapped my attention away from my gorgeous huntress. “We took our younger kids to stay with my mother. Thank God they weren’t with us. Anyway, I ran into the grocery store while Jack stayed in the car. I was about to leave the store when I saw two men shoving Jack into a black SUV. I know they were bloodsuckers because one was baring his fangs at my husband. What’s going on?”
“How long ago was this?” my dad asked, trying to keep his composure.
Layla walked into my arms, her eyes sleepy.
“Yesterday,” Tabitha said in a high-pitched tone. “I would’ve called then, but I lost my phone. I’m actually using a friend’s, who I’ve been staying with. I’m afraid to go home.”
“Send Layla the address where you’re staying,” my dad said. “I’ll have a member of my team who’s not far from you pick you up. Layla will give you the name once I confirm who it will be.”
“You haven’t told me where my husband is,” Tabitha said.
My dad pushed to his feet. “Unfortunately, I don’t know yet. What I can tell you is Adam Emery is behind this.”
Tabitha grunted. “I really want that man to die. Honestly, if my brother-in-law, Ray, wasn’t dead or my mother-in-law, Harriet, I would’ve personally done the deed myself. My son, Noah, is an animal because of Ray and Harriet.”
