Page 114 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

Saul. Crank. Can you hear me?

CRANK WANTEDto throw his fucking useless phone across the tent.

“He isn’t answering.”

“I got Aelryn to call Orsini at the archive,” Horvan told him and Saul. “Vic never showed this morning. Orsini received a handwritten message telling him Vic had changed his plans. Orsini thought nothing of it—until Aelryn phoned.”

“Vic’s in danger, and we don’t have a fucking clue where he is.”

“They wouldn’t keep him in Rome.” Saul paced.

“And what makes you think that?” Crank demanded.

“I don’tknow, all right?” Saul’s face was mottled. “I’m as much in the dark as you are. But my instincts tell me they’ll want him closer to home. And while we have no idea wherehomeis… what’s the most powerful nation in the world?”

“The US?” Crank frowned.

Saul nodded. “So doesn’t it stand to reason that it’s also the nation with the most shifters—and therefore the most powerful leaders? Aelryn’s here. Why shouldn’t the bad guys be here too?”

“If we could hear him, we’d know that for sure,” Crank surmised. “I don’t think even Vic can send his thoughts from another continent.”

“That’s what I’ve been waiting for all freaking day.”

Crank forgot his mate was an ex-Delta, a military leader, a man no one would want to cross, and put his arms around him. “We’re gonna find him, you hear me? He’s coming back to us.”

Because the alternative was unthinkable.

Saul’s forehead met his. “I want him backsobadly,” he whispered.

“I know, babe.”

Horvan coughed, and Saul glanced at him. “Breathe one word of this and—”

He smiled, his eyes glistening. “One word about what?” His phone buzzed. “It’s Aelryn.” He clicked Answer. “Hey. You’re on speaker. I’ve got Saul and Crank here.”

“Okay, there’s something you need to know. The Gerans have contacted Fridan leaders to say they’ve taken Vic hostage.”

“But why?” Saul hollered. “Why him?”

“There’s more. They say they’ll exchange him for a Geran that we have in custody.”

“Then fucking exchange them!” Crank bellowed.

“You don’t understand.” Aelryn’s voice was strained. “It’s all lies.”

“Do they have him or don’t they?” Crank was in serious danger of losing his shit.

“They have him—they sent a video—and before you ask, he looked fine. Not a scratch on him, okay? But… they’re demanding we release Valmer Cooper.”

“And who the hell is he?” Saul sounded as close to the edge as Crank.

“He’s one of their leaders. And there’s only one problem. We don’t have him—the Gerans do.”

Horvan’s eyes widened. “Come again? You just confused the fuck outta me.”

“They’ve taken him because his mate is a Fridan leader.”

Horvan expelled a long breath. “A leader… who’s one of your team. Would he be the same leader who informed them of our impending attack?NowI get it.”

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