Page 74 of Secrets and Ruin

“Can’t or won’t, wolf?”

“Can’t,” Heath repeated.

“So, Davor is pretending to be Niko, Everson can’t get Jacky, and Zuri…you’re involved. By the way, it’s your involvement that really told me something was going on.”

Zuri hissed, glaring at her camera. Heath hoped all that anger was only for Hasan because it forced him to remember he wasn’t the strongest person on the call. He was very much the weakest.

“And Jabari, don’t think I don’t see you behind your sister.”

“I wasn’t attempting to hide. No reason to,” Jabari said with defiance Heath wasn’t expecting. He knew the family had its problems, and everyone seemed to be on a different side, but the blatant disrespect from both Zuri and Jabari was more serious than Jacky had explained to him. Perhaps she didn't see it the same as he did, with loyal children of his own. If Landon suddenly started treating him that way, Heath had the good sense to be scared.

“Davor, now that I have found you, how are you feeling? Is visiting Niko’s home helping this year? You normally find these months difficult.”

“I’m much improved, Father,” Davor whispered.

“That’s good to hear. I was disappointed to hear you wouldn’t be visiting me this year, but if you’ve improved enough to visit your brother, that is wonderful news. It’s good to see you and Niko rebuilding your relationship as brothers.”

“Thank you, Father.”

“Now, onto the rest of this little mystery I’ve stumbled into.”

“Father, just leave.” Zuri was sitting with a regality she hadn't had earlier.

“Where’s Jacky, Everson?” He completely ignored his daughter.

Heath knew if Davor was the easiest emotional target, then he was the next Hasan could threaten.

“Heath, you don’t have to answer that,” Zuri said quickly. “I would recommend you hang up and leave, but I know why you can’t right now.”

That was good. Heath knew if he didn’t produce Jacky or a reason for her absence, he was likely to find Hisao or Mischa coming for him in the next twenty-four hours. They would either get the information Hasan wanted or finally end the perceived werewolf problem permanently.

“Then you tell me, Zuri.”

“She’s in Germany with Niko and Davor,” Zuri said.

“Is she?” He seemed surprised, even a bit amused, but something rang off about it to Heath. “Why is that a secret?”

Heath could almost understand Hasan. He didn’t like that he could understand even a fraction of Hasan’s behavior, but there was something about Hasan at that moment. How each of them would have reacted to this situation was what set them apart as men and fathers.

He was a father who wanted to know where some of his children were and found they were missing. Seemingly, he had reached out to Davor for a good reason, to check on him, only to find that Davor was somewhere else.

Heath didn’t like when Carey tried to pull a fast one on him. The only reason he could find to fault Hasan for his behavior was all of Hasan’s children were grown adults, many who had been or were parents themselves. Hasan was a bully when he needed to be, a truly monstrous and mean man who wanted to be in control all the time.

“One of you better start talking,” Hasan said simply, standing slowly and moving back. “Iknowsomething is wrong. You are only going to make everything worse by continuing to hide it.”

“Fine.”Zuri closed her eyes in frustration. “But you have to promise you won’t lose your temper on Heath or Jacky or Davor or Niko…or anyone else for that matter.”

“I’ll do my best, but if you’re about to tell me that one or more of your siblings are in immediate danger-”

“Jacky and Niko,” Zuri said softly. “It’s Jacky and Niko.”

Hasan’s snarl made his desk, and everything on it shake. Picking up a book, he threw it as he paced around his office.

“I’ll start from the beginning,” Heath said, seeing Zuri’s eyes go wide. “We sent Dirk to see Niko. Shortly after, I had some werewolves spending some time in Dallas so one of them could conduct some business. He always takes another one of my wolves for some time off his property and two more for protection.”

Heath continued to explain until he reached the last time he heard from Jacky and Landon after arriving in Germany. Davor spoke up then, explaining his own role, how Jacky and Landon had ended up reaching out to him while at Niko’s. He explained how he flew over to help them and give them a chance to settle this before it got worse. Zuri continued about when Heath had reached out to her.

By the end, Hasan was standing very still in the middle of the room.

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