Page 15 of Forbidden Daddy Mate

“Yeah, well, something did,” I said.

A pause fell over the line as Mark processed the intensity in my voice.

“Shit,” he said.

“You remember a Varin?” I asked.

“How could I forget? The guy was a sleaze. And utter evil.”

I glanced behind me at the closed door, thinking about how strange Freya was acting. I could just picture her sitting on the couch and biting her nail. Was something wrong that she needed to tell me? Was it about the kiss?

I pushed it away. One thing at a time, and what I needed to talk to Mark about was more pressing.

“A guy came by the cabin yesterday using that name,” I said.

“What?” An edge of alertness entered Mark’s voice. “Are you sure?”

“That’s what Freya said his name was,” I answered.

“But he’s dead. We know he’s dead.”

“I know. I’m probably just getting paranoid in my old age, but I wanted to warn you boys just in case it turned out to be something. Keep your guard up.”

“You’re probably making a big deal over nothing,” Mark said. “I mean, how the hell would he find you? Feels like a bit of a coincidence.”

“It does,” I agreed. “But you know I don’t believe in coincidences. Just keep on your guard. All of you. Something doesn’t smell right.”

“Are you going to come back?” Mark asked.

I hesitated, looking out the window at the surrounding landscape. The gray, overcast sky looked even darker. Even as I watched, more snowflakes drifted to the ground.

“Maybe in the morning if things clear up,” I said. “Things are still pretty nasty out here. I think moving at night in this kind of weather is a recipe for disaster. But I want you guys to stay alert, just in case.”

“I’ll let Jameson know,” Mark promised. “Hey, boss? Be careful, all right?”

“You know us Silver Wolves,” I said. “We’re the souls of caution.”

Mark snorted. “All right, point made. But let us know if you need anything, all right?”

I hung up, pacing the room as I considered what to tell Freya. Keeping her in the dark was probably the best option. I’d learned that too much information could get you killed. But too little could as well. Except, we didn’t know what we were up against. Not entirely.

I didn’t want to worry her unnecessarily. Regardless, my instincts were screaming at me.

“We’re going to shift and head out in the morning,” I told her when I came back downstairs.

Freya blinked. “Really?”

I nodded. “As long as the storm isn’t too bad. I’d say we leave tonight, but that’s risking it.”

“What about all our stuff?”

“We’ll have to come back for the car at some point. We can leave it here until then.”

I expected her to argue, or to at least ask more questions. After all, I’d just sprung this on her without warning or explanation. But instead, something that might have been relief washed across her features.

“Sounds good,” she said. “I can pack some bags tonight that we can carry when we shift.”

I nodded. “Make sure there’s food and water in them, and something to start a fire. I doubt it’ll come to something like that, but better safe than sorry. It’s probably a day’s run to Brixton from here.”

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