Page 21 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 2

“I don’t even know how that’s possible. I’m always careful with it.”

“Taylor is testing my new distorter. If it was a bug then it should have shut it down and not allowed the signal to get out.”

“Maybe it’s not working as well as you hoped.”

“What the hell? I may struggle with imposter syndrome when it comes to leading my team and dealing with people, but never when it comes to my inventions and toys. I’m going to have to think on this one. Any chance I can have the phone?”

“No. I pulverized it and sent it out with the trash.”

“Dammit, Lachlan. I could have gotten valuable information off of that thing. Archie didn’t tell you to send it back in?”

“No. He said get rid of it, so I did.”

He huffed in frustration. “I’m going to have to have a talk with him about that. But no worries, the phone I have coming your way is virtually impenetrable. The moles couldn’t hack it and even my equipment finds it virtually undetectable. I’ve been holding it for a rainy day and this sounds like the perfect storm. Plus, it masks your location, so even if someone does try to track you, your location will always be at least fifty miles off and it’s on a random loop for direction. Cool, right?”

“Are you aware that Taylor has you listed in her phone as ‘Pretty Nerd Boy’?”

He laughed. “Well, it’s accurate, right? I am a certified nerd and I am pretty. Maybe not so much as boy though. Can you change it to ‘Pretty Sexy Nerd Man’ instead?”

“I am not doing that.”

“Oh, come on, Lachlan. I’ll owe you for it.”

“What did you just say?”

“I’ll owe you.”

“I gotta go. Thanks for everything Elliot.”

“What did I say?”

I didn’t answer him. Instead, I disconnected the call as my brain started whirling into action.

My list had included everyone I had worked with and what they did. But I hadn’t fully considered calling in favors owed. That certainly broadened my pool of help.

I grinned and this time, I started a project board for my own mission. A mission to find my mate.

First, I had to think this through like a mission.

What did we already know about the situation?

The Collector’s like witches. So why the sudden interest in shifters?

Change in the norm. The staging facilities before and auction drastically changed. Why?

Two mass hits on Tribes. One was sedated and presumed to be taken alive. The other horrifically slaughtered. What was the difference between these Tribes?

Where did they take the Tribe that disappeared?

Why was I targeted and how did they get ahold of my phone?

This was just a start to the questions, but some pretty big ones I needed answers to if I was going to find Tilly.

Without asking permission, I dressed the part of the aristocratic Logan Fritzbank III and left the penthouse. It was something I should have done after ensuring Chelle was safe. For some reason I expected security guards to be stationed outside my room, but there was no one there to stop me.

I knew leaving the hotel without telling anyone was stupid. Maybe I had a bit of a death wish at the moment. Well, not really death, but I’d be okay with captivity if it meant getting back to Tilly.

With careful façade and a smile on my face, I walked over to the auction warehouse. I had no idea how many days it had actually been, or if they were even still there, but I had to try.

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