Page 47 of Feels Like Home

Honestly, Ian loathed the fact that he’d thrown himself at Solomon. He was also embarrassed that Wyatt had witnessed the repulsive show.

Fortunately, the humiliating lunch had paid off when Solomon told Ian they couldn’t get together because an unexpected guest had shown up at his penthouse the night before and his appearance demanded Solomon’s attention.

The same night Alister had been kidnapped by two hellhounds.

Ian wanted to destroy Solomon when he realized he was seated across from the man who’d purchased the defenseless mate.

When Solomon left the restaurant, they’d followed him home. Ian had stayed with the chauffeur to make sure the guy didn’t tip off Solomon. It had been Wyatt and his friends who’d successfully rescued Alister, killing not only the fashion designer but also his two bodyguards.

His mission to help Wyatt had been the first time in over a year that Ian had traveled outside of Midnight Falls.

“How did my trip to Springrest cost you everything?”

Fists tight at his sides, Nolan curled his lip. “You really don’t know, do you? Or are you just pretending to be clueless?”

Though Ian’s gaze remained steady on the monitors, he could feel Jace’s confusion and fear. He reached out and took his mate’s hand in his, giving and receiving comfort from their connection.

“Enlighten me,” Ian said.

Nolan turned his head toward the glass wall overlooking the backyard. “Solomon was far from perfect, but…”

“Oh snap!” Owen slapped the counter a few times, causing the remaining glasses to bounce on the shelf before they plummeted toward the floor and shattered on impact. “Nolan’s in love with this Solomon guy.” He whooped loudly, his teeth on full display from his wide smile. “Did you steal him away, Ian? Is that why Nolan hates your guts?”

“Shut the fuck up!” Nolan’s anguished outburst said it all.

Ian stared incredulously at the screens, convinced he’d fallen into a parallel universe. Who in their right fucking mind could possibly have feelings for such a reprehensible monstrosity?

“Who’s Solomon?” Jace frantically tapped Ian’s arm with their joined hands.

“Is that you, Jace?” Owen tilted his head to one side, a wicked grin curling his lips. “Come out, my shy little mouse.” His voice dripped with malicious delight. “This kitty cat wants to play.”

A bark of crazed laughter shot out of Nolan. His eyes red and watery, he used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe his nose, his teeth clamped tight.

“Taunt him all you want, Owen,” Ian said, “but I goddamn guarantee there’s a bigger, deadlier cat in this house.”

“Why don’t you prove it?” Owen flung the next cupboard open and launched the dinner plates like Frisbees. “If you’re bigger and deadlier, show yourself, Ian. Let’s settle this once and for all, shall we? I want to see just how pathetic you really are.”

Nolan crossed his arms, gliding his tongue over his bottom lip. He studied Owen, a cruel smirk lifting the side of his mouth. “I tell you what, Ian,” he said to the room since he had no idea where the cameras were located. “We’ll call a ten-minute truce between us if you kill this annoying shit. That’ll give you plenty of time to run back to your hidey-hole.”

“You serious, bro?” Owen attempted to appear tough by flexing his upper body, but it was hard to take him seriously. First, he was posturing in front a shifter who possessed ten times his strength. Secondly, it was blatantly obvious that Owen had spent more time preening around the gym than actually working out.

Jace pointed at the microphone. Ian cut it off. “Are we just going to wait them out? I’m perfectly okay with that, but what if we’re stuck in here for days? There’s food out there. Those two aren’t going to starve. We are.”

Ian opened the bottom right drawer and pulled out a ten-pack box of peanut butter crackers. “Since our phones aren’t working to call the cops, I have no choice but to confront them.”

Jace looked worriedly at the monitors. “Not that I want you to confront them, but how are you going to get out of your bedroom if you can’t unlock the door?” He turned to face Ian. “Is there a manual switch you can use?”

Ian ran a frustrated hand through his long hair when he remembered one slight problem with his plan. “The damn thing broke off. I’ve been meaning to get it fixed, but I haven’t gotten around to making the call.”

“Are you saying we’re trapped in here?” Jace asked. “Can’t you use your big muscles to break the door down?”

“When the room is on lockdown, not even my big muscles will get that door open.” Ian reached into the bottom left drawer and pulled out a bottle of water for his mate, unsure if that statement was entirely true. The door was sturdy, but if enough force was used, it might not hold.

“Then what’s the plan?” Jace took a pack of crackers from the box.

Right now, there was only one thing Ian could do. “Since we’re stuck in here for the time being, I’m going to see if I can pit those two against each other.”

Chapter Fourteen

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