Page 50 of War Games

“Isn’t this illegal detainment?” a human was bold enough to ask. “We have rights. Shouldn’t the police be called instead of?—”

“Find a lawyer that’s willing to sue me,” he said coldly. Heath knew there were legal issues he was treading a fine line with. He knew there were certain arguments he could make about being a werewolf and at a pack function when the attack took place. There were also arguments about how this was Jacky’s private property.

He didn’t care.

He hadn’t moved since Landon forced him to calm down and take charge of the building.

“Landon, get gloves and secure that bottle. Pick one werewolf to mop up any that spilled. Leave everything that touched it at the back door. I’ll take it with me.”

Landon was constantly moving. Heath would have helped if he wasn’t the Alpha or if the group was smaller. He was judging every face, taking in every scent, trying to get an idea of what happened, why it happened, and which of these trusted people had done it.

He found it highly unlikely it was done by a human unless one of them was secretly a witch they had never identified.

That meant yet another one of the werewolves he had brought into Jacky’s territory had betrayed him and her. Those simple deductions kept him from feeling any guilt about what he was going to do once Landon was back by his side.

While Landon had been cleaning up the bourbon on the floor, then moving the bottle out of the room, Shamus groaned and opened his eyes. Heath looked at him, and Shamus grew afraid, realizing what he was waking up to.

“Is she o?—”

“She was unconscious but alive when Niko carried her out,” Heath answered with no warmth in his words for Shamus. Shamus, smart werewolf that he was, stayed in his seat and offered no comment. Heath watched him check his pockets quickly and noted that his third was unsurprised to find his phone missing. Landon had taken it from his pocket.

Landon eventually got back to him, moving into position at his side, one step back. Heath didn’t have to tell his son about his plans. He could smell the rage clinging to his second.

“Stand up,” he ordered, power rolling through his voice as he robbed every werewolf in the room of their free will. Landon was the only werewolf who could even consider fighting it, and his son still lost, having accepted the position of second. Heath was experienced and strong enough, though, to intentionally aim the command at every werewolf who could hear him and exclude his son.

“Follow me to the pack house. Do not attempt to run, do not speak,” Heath continued, keeping the power in his voice as he started to walk out of the bar. Landon unlocked the front door. “Landon, bring up the rear.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Heath went carefully, not wanting to get anyone hit by any cars when they had to cross the street. They weren’t good to himdead. Yet. Eventually, at least one of them was going to die. He had to make sure he killed the right ones.

There was no one on-site at the new packhouse, thanks to it being the weekend. The basement was finished, though, and he was glad it was. He led them down and divided all the couples and families as much as he could, putting them between the different cells. He hated the necessity of building silver-barred cells on most days.

Today, he was not so soft-hearted.

“Do not talk to each other,” he said once all of them were secure. “Landon, call the crews and tell them to take the week off. We’ll pay them for the week. You’re also in charge of their containment. I’ll be back. There are other things I need to see to now.”

“I’ve got them,” Landon replied with a snarling smile

His son could have done this all for him, but Heath had wanted to. He’d wanted to march them out of Kick Shot and into the basement. It was also safer for him and Landon to do it together.

He went back to Kick Shot, stopping to check on Oliver but not freeing the staff yet.

“I will be back in one hour after checking on Jacky’s condition and discussing what happened with her family,” he told them. “Oliver is still in charge. If you leave, I’ll just find you later. It will only make this a longer process. Stay here, answer my questions honestly when I return, then you will be free to go… if you weren’t involved, of course.”

He didn’t stay to listen to complaints. They were all supposed to be working for another three to four hours anyway, so this was all their paid time.

He finally reached the house, his blood boiling as he considered how he was going to find Jacky. If her status hadchanged at all since Niko left with her, someone would have reached out.

He entered with purpose, going up the stairs into the room he shared with her to find Dirk and Carey there. Dirk was checking her forehead while Carey held her hand.

Neither said anything as he moved closer. He brushed his fingers against her cheek, aching for her to open her eyes and let them know she was going to be okay.

She looks so peaceful…

“She seems to just be sleeping, but I will tell you if anything changes.” Dirk hovered at his side.

“Thank you.” Heath turned on his heel and walked out, heading straight for her office, knowing he needed to face her family. He heard Carey whisper to Dirk how she fully trusted her dad to figure out who did this. Dirk gave a quiet agreement.

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