Page 66 of Soul Bound

When I see the screen says Blocked Number, my already pounding heart skips a beat. This is the call I’ve been waiting for all day. I was starting to get discouraged he wouldn’t be able to find anything since it was taking him so long to get back to me but based on the ungodly hour he’s calling, he must have found something.

I accept the call and press it to my ear. “Whisper, tell me you found something,” I say quickly into the receiver.

“Of course, I found something, I’m not on the FBI, CIAandNSA watchlist for my dazzling personality and my amazing abilities atnotfinding out information,” he scoffs. “It just took me a little while longer than expected because I had to rehack into the satellites, big brother added some new layers of security and thought it would be enough to keep me out.” Whisper cackles. “It was actually good they did, it was starting to feel too easy if I’m being honest. I needed the challenge.”

“Just tell me what you found,” I hurry him along.

“I got the satellite imaging of the car leaving with the baby, luckily it was only one car and I didn’t have to track multiple vehicles. The car went to a private airstrip where a jet departed immediately after their arrival. Two men were reported on the flight manifest, Adam Jacobs and Vance Ryan—which, get this, are not the men’s real names—Gasp! Shocking,I know. But how do I know this, you ask? Well, after the plane landed in basically a fucking cornfield in Kansas, I used the satellite imaging again to follow where the car went and this is where they made their mistake, they went to the international airport in Kansas City and promptly bought two plane tickets, one to New York City and the other one to Rapid City, South Dakota.

“These idiots thought paying off a pilot and using a private jet and then landing in Bumfuck, Kansas was sufficient to cover their tracks.” I hear the slight chuckle in his voice. “They didn’t even think to use their fake identities to book the flights thinking they were in the clear. I got into the security system at the Kansas airport and used my facial recognition software, it took me thirty minutes to find out exactly who they are and where they live.Adam Jacobsis really Adam Michaelson, and he lives just outside of Rapid City andVance Ryan—actually Vance Langdon—lives in LA, so I don’t know what he’s doing in New York…”

“Whisper this is all great information but where’s the baby?” I start pacing back and forth in the hallway, my bare feet move quietly across the hardwood.

“Adam has her—well hehadher, I don’t know if she’s still with him, but he boarded the plane to South Dakota with an infant in a baby carrier. The airport paperwork says she’s his daughter Jane Michaelson, which we know is a bunch ofbullshit,” Whisper says. “But this was all three months ago, I know he made it home with the baby, but I have no idea if she’s still there.”

Hope starts to reenter my system and I see the faintest light at the end of the tunnel. “But it’s a lead. Thank you so much Whisper, I can’t even tell you what this means to me.”

“I’m pretty invested now; I’ll do whatever I can to help you find that baby. Reach out if you need any more help, love. I’m going to send you pictures of dumber and dumber—I meanAdamandVance—so you’ll know what they look like as well as their addresses.”

I thank him again before ending the call. I rush back to my bedroom to slip on my shoes so I can go out and tell Ranger what I learned. I could call him, but I want to tell him in person. Running back down the hallway, my eyes linger on the picture of Pru’s mom. I don’t have time to wonder why her spirit was lingering around outside today, that’s another problem for another day.

We may not know for sure thatTBDis with Adam in South Dakota, but we know for a fact he’s the one who took her, and she was with him for at least a period of time. That’s more information than we’ve had thus far, and I know we need to go question him as soon as possible. Adam will be able to give us the information we are looking for.

And if Esme’s spell ends up working, that’ll just be icing on the cake at this point.

I fly out the front door and barely make it five feet off the porch steps before I slam right into a hard chest. I bounce off of the person and stumble back a couple of feet, but strong hands grip my shoulders before I can fall.

“Where are you running off to, Winnie?” Ranger chuckles.

His rough, gravelly voice engulfs me, sending a warm feeling down my spine. “I was coming to see you.” I breathlessly tell him, tilting my head back to look at him. “I have a lead on the baby. Have you ever been to South Dakota and would you like to go now?” I fill him in on what I learned from Whisper and when I’m done, the biggest smile is on his face. The moonlight bounces off his perfect white teeth when he lifts me in his arms and hugs me tight.

“God. I needed to hear this.” I feel his breath on my cheek when he talks. “If Adam can tell us where the baby is, Esme’s spell doesn’thaveto work. I’m starting to believe we can actually do this, that we can carry out our promise to Thalia.” He sounds so relieved; it makes me smile.

“I always thought we could do it. I knew neither one of us would give up.” I pull back from his chest so I can meet his eyes. “I said it before, but I think we make a pretty good team.”

With me in his arms, we’re at the same height, our faces just inches apart. Something Ranger takes full advantage of. He closes the small gap and presses a kiss to my mouth, a short sweet kiss. Nothing crazy, but it’s enough to make my skin grow hot and my stomach pool with heat.

I smile against his mouth, before pulling back so I can ask him a question. “Wait, what are you doing here?” I got so excited to tell him about Whisper’s findings, I forgot he was on his way inside when I ran into him on the porch.

A sheepish look takes over his features. “My wolf doesn’t like being away from you. I was on my way to climb into your bed.”

“Just your wolf, huh?” I quirk a brow.

Ranger breathes out a sigh. “No, Winnie.” He kisses me softly once more. “It’s not just my wolf. I like it even less than he does,” he admits.

My heart is in my throat as I look into those deep blue eyes, they’re like looking into an ocean abyss. “I’m glad I’m not the only one.”

20

Ranger

You’d think Adam Michaelson would have a better security system since he works for Sterling. It took me all of three minutes to disconnect the alarms and turn off the security cameras, a trick I learned from Ryker a while back. At the time, I was just learning how to do it for fun, not thinking it was a skill I would ever need to use for real. But now I’m thankful I took the time and suffered through Ryker’s tedious instructions. Ryker is a lot of things; a patient, easygoing teacher isnotone of those things.

Winslow and I hopped on the earliest flight to South Dakota, this time flying commercial. We could have driven there since it was only a day’s drive away, but flying was still the faster option. And our patience is starting to run thin as it is. Like our last flight, Winslow fidgeted in her seat the whole time, her legs bounced excessively against mine in the tight coach seating. The only time she remotely stilled is when I massaged the nape of her neck and even then, her fingers tapped on the armrest. I felt restless too but forced myself to stay calm and still for Winslow. The desire to be someone she can lean on for strength and peace outweighed my desire to start pacing the plane aisle.

Using my shifter strength, I twist the handle of the locked back door until the lock snaps from the force. The doorknob comes off in my hand and I discard it into the bushes off to the side. I motion for Winslow to be quiet before I open the door and slip inside. This part of Adam’s house is dark and quiet, but I can pick up the slightest heartbeat from down the hallway. It’s slower and even, indicating the person is asleep.

Staying close to the wall and moving silently down the dark hallway, we make our way through the house. The heartbeat gets louder as we get closer to where Adam’s sleeping. I look around the corner into what looks like a study and find a bald man asleep in a leather club chair. He looks to have fallen asleep after pouring himself a few fingers of scotch, the untouched glass sits on the small side table to his left.

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