Page 79 of Act of Brotherhood
Blaise sighed. “Think of her in terms of old. As a ward. Landros sees her as a niece. She sees him as an uncle. She’s important to him.”
Auberi cast a pensive look over the crowd of people in the room. “From what he just told me, she lives in Savannah, and Landros is unable to get there quickly as he’s overseas. He said he was on the phone with her when he heard her being taken. He also said Grid was involved.”
Garth stiffened. “W-what?”
Auberi nodded. “Your brother had a hand in abducting Landros’s niece.”
Corbin glanced around the room. “Anyone else starting to wonder if maybe, just maybe, Garth wasn’t hallucinating? That he might have really had a run-in with Grid while in Savannah?”
Garth felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. He bent and took long breaths in an effort to keep from being sick. “Ohmygod, he’s close to Nicolette. And he’s hurt two more women.”
Edee cupped her mouth and cried out softly.
Striker was up and out of the chair in record time, making it to the redhead’s side. He drew her back against him and rubbed her upper arms. He looked to Auberi. “Tell us everything you know. We’ll assist.”
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” asked Hans of Gram, as he tried to get out of the hospital bed.
James went to Gram and used one finger to push the man back into the position he’d started in. It was testament to just how weak the alpha-male shifter was while recovering. “Nice try, Campbell. You’re in no shape to be going anywhere.”
Gram’s blue gaze shifted quickly to amber. That was actually a good sign. It meant he was finding his way back to being able to shift forms. It also meant he didn’t like being told no.
“Corbin, reach out to your contacts there and have them pick up Nicolette. I want her safe during this,” said Garth firmly, done listening to everyone else.
Corbin nodded, withdrew his phone and began making calls.
“What, exactly, happened?” asked Garth of Auberi, wishing he’d spoken directly with Landros instead. He needed details on Grid’s activities and whereabouts. He had to stop his brother before he could hurt anyone else—and he had to get to Nicolette by any means possible.
“From what I was told, Landros had one of his bad vibes.” As Auberi said it, all the men in the room drew in sharp breaths. They’d all been around the vampire when he’d suffered from a bad vibe. Things always went to hell in a handbasket quickly whenever that happened. Garth had never questioned Landros’s gut feelings. Though, Garth got the sense that it was something Landros had always been able to do, prior to being sired. He never asked.
Auberi swallowed hard. “He phoned his niece to check in on her since he’s in London right now working with PSI on a case. He said he heard a scream, and then Grid came on the line. That was it. The line went dead.”
Malik pulled his cell from his back pocket. “My sweet, I need a favor. It involves hacking government systems.”
Garth watched as Malik spoke to his mate, Brooke, who also happened to be a computer genius. She’d been the one Garth had reached out to for help trying to find the missing children from twenty years ago.
James lifted his chin. “Malik, I’ll take Laney to your house. She and Brooke can see if they can find any digital traces of the women or what went on.”
Duke cracked his knuckles. “I think it would be wise for all of our mates to be in one location while we help to find Landros’s niece. I want to know the women are safe while we’re out there fixing this.”
“Let’s be honest, I’m all for protecting the women, but they aren’t exactly helpless damsels in distress, and I think they’d like that noted.” Boomer grunted. “Marlow, your wife can turn people inside out. Mine has a pet guard panther. Malik’s mate is from one of the most powerful Fae lines ever. Corbin’s can sing and make a guy lick his own balls.”
“I do nae require song,” said Striker, earning him an elbow from Edee. He grinned. “Come, lass. I’ll take you home and watch over all of you while the others go to assist.”
Edee stood perfectly still. “No.”
Had Garth not been looking at her, he’d have never heard the hushed whisper.
“Och, what do you mean, no?” demanded Striker. “I’ll have you know I’m verra capable of protecting you and the other women.”
She reached back and touched his forearm. “It’s not that. I’m not going back to Malik’s. I’m going with all of you. I’m going to help find Landros’s niece and her friend. And I’m going to see with my own eyes that the woman Garth cares about is safe from that monster Grid.”
“No. Yer not.” Striker’s jaw set.
Edee spun, and whatever look she gave Striker made the man’s face go pure white. He put his hands up in surrender. “Fine. But I’m goin’ too then. The Germans can watch over the women.”
Garth knew why Striker had volunteered Jannick and Hans. If Grid was behind the abductions, there was a high likelihood The Corporation was as well. And the twins didn’t need to be exposed to more testing rings.
The twins stood and moved to stand next to one another. They nodded in unison. It was Hans who acted as the spokesman. “We would be honored to protect the women and Malik’s little one.”
