Page 27 of Lost Mate

“I know you would,” Eli agreed to Ross’s surprise. “It’s as much for Dylan’s safety as any of them. We know our mates are in danger.”

“How do you let Milo out of your sight every morning?”

“I hate it,” Eli confessed, “but it’s his job, at least for a while longer and he’d cuff me to the bed if I tried to stop him.”

“Kinky,” Ross murmured.

“Ross.”

He grinned at Eli’s warning tone. “Yes, boss?”

Eli grunted. “Start south of the city.” Then he disconnected.

His boss had thrown him a bone. A small one, but a bone nevertheless. It was time to make some calls.

“Ross?”

Ross smiled at the tentative voice of his mate. “Having fun?”

“So much fun,” Dylan confessed.

“I’m glad.”

“What are you doing?”

“Phoning hospitals, trying to find out if you were admitted. No luck so far.”

“You’re not having fun.”

“You can make it up to me later,” Ross suggested hopefully.

He heard a chuckle over his link.

“I can do that. I have to go.”

Before Ross could respond the link was broken. Ross sighed, disappointed at Dylan’s lack of trust. His mate was willing to check-in but not leave the link open. Ross would have to discuss that with his mate before they did anything else. He couldn’t be mated to a man who didn’t trust him.

Ross opened his laptop, clicked on a map of San Antonio and a list of hospitals and prepared to get the professional runaround. He worked all afternoon, making call after call. Someone had to know Dylan. After three hours he slumped back in his chair, biting on his thumbnail, a horrible habit when he was stressed and one he’d never been able to quit. He’d called every hospital and clinic in the city and surrounding the city, but not one of them admitted to having a Dylan Anderson as a patient anytime in past month. Maybe Eli was lying to him, and Dylan had been nowhere near San Antonio. He hated that the events of the past few days had left him mistrusting one of the pack, more to the point a man he’d respected for years.

He stood, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension, and strolled out to the yard. It was getting dark now, the deepening shadows around the buildings making it hard to see far. Dylan had checked in every hour but hadn’t committed to when they would return. Joe and Zeke didn’t seem to be bothered, but they probably knew Eli had eyes on them.

Lights breaking up the twilight distracted him, and he looked up to see a vehicle halfway down the road to the house. He wasn’t expecting anyone and sent a message to Eli.

Got a visitor.

The response was immediate. Niles. He has news.

Ross took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. Good. In the mood he was in, he’d probably shoot them before they got out of the vehicle. He waited for Niles to reach the yard.

The lanky, blond-haired co-owner of the Cavalry peeled himself out of the rental car and rolled his shoulders. “Damn, that was uncomfortable.”

Ross grinned at him. “Why did you get a compact?”

“I didn’t think I’d be driving that much.” Niles grimaced. “I didn’t know if I’d be staying. I’m a city boy. I need excitement.”

“Shifters, hunters, disappearing operatives. That not exciting enough for you, boss?” Ross drawled.

“I might need to go back for a rest.” Niles studied Ross. “How are you doing?”

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