Page 44 of Kai's Hunger

“Or several someones.”

I slapped a hand against my thigh. “Even better.”

“I’m just saying, this could be deeper than one guy with a Frankenstein complex.”

As I mulled over Wyatt’s words, thinking of the ramifications, my phone rang. I yanked it out of my pocket, then frowned. “Fostine?” I listened a few seconds, then ended the call.

“What is it?”

“To the right, she said,” I replied, repeating her words.

Wyatt glanced out the side window. “There’s nothing there but trees.”

“I see that.” I shrugged. “But she says we need to go right.”

My brother cursed a blue streak, then slowed the truck until a dirt road came into view. He turned onto it. “Stay alert.”

Minutes later a large metal building came into view. A factory of some kind. Long rusted chimneys stuck out the top. It was rundown and appeared as if it’d been decades since anyone had used it. Weeds covered the walls. The concrete parking lot was littered with cracks and partially destroyed by time. As if Mother Nature had taken ownership. “What is this place?”

“Used to be a paper mill. A long time ago it was the main source of income around here. Employed over half the county. When it shut down everyone expected it to be bought up, reopened.”

“Well, hell, that never happened.” I whistled low. “No cars in sight. You think Patterson could be inside?”

“We won’t know until we search the place.” He pulled up at the front, then killed the engine. “Come on.”

Miggs and Fostine pulled up next to us. We all got out. No one spoke. Miggs scanned the surrounding trees, while Fostine stared at the building, tense and alert. I nudged her shoulder. When her attention was on me, I asked, “You okay?”

She nodded. “Something is here. Be careful. Patterson enjoys playing games.”

I stiffened. “You think it’s a trap?”

“Definitely. But Dad might be in there. We don’t have a choice.”

Miggs shook his head. “Like some kind of fucking cat and mouse bullshit?”

“Exactly like that. He enjoys it. Watching people suffer.” Her gaze darted to the right, staring at the tree line. “He’ll be close. So he can watch.”

Wyatt stepped in front of Fostine, breaking her from the predatory hunt. “Can you smell anything?”

She shook her head and lifted her upper lip at one corner. “He would’ve expected me. Would’ve stayed far enough away. Fucking coward.”

“But he’s still close enough to watch us squirm,” Wyatt quietly surmised.

Her eyes lit with fury as she leaned around Wyatt and continued to stare at the woods. “Pretty much.”

I cleared my throat. “We need to shift. OurYucilonsenses are better.”

“Agreed,” Miggs stated. “And we split up. I’ll go around the back.”

“Fostine, you’re with me,” Wyatt ordered. When she started to argue, Wyatt grabbed her by the shirt and dragged her up close. “It’s that or I shove your ass in the trunk of Miggs’ car.”

“Fine,” she relented. “But I’m the one who spent time with Patterson. I’m the nose we follow.”

“I have no problem with that. But use your head here or you could get Dad killed. Get it?”

She nodded, then stared at the ground. I unsheathed my claws. “I’m keeping watch out here,” I stated. “We don’t need any surprises.”

Wyatt agreed. “I wouldn’t put it past him to plant a bomb the minute we’re inside.”

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