Page 57 of Addicted in Blood
“You were right to do that,” Simone said.“Her bedroom windows were closed.Did she just walk out the front door?”
“Her windows were closed, but only one set was locked.”Sergi flipped through screens on his tablet.
“So, she left here as Pandora.”Bella perched on a barstool, one leg tapping furiously.“Out her window and then somehow off the property.Did she walk to wherever she went?”
“At this point it doesn’t matter,” Sergi said.“Maybe she’ll tell us when we catch up to her.We know where she’s going.”
“How would she know where he is?”Simone didn’t expect an answer, and she didn’t get one.“Did you contact Decker?”
He nodded.“He was planning on going over in a couple of hours.He wanted to be prepared in case we decide to move Devon today.He agreed to head over early.”Sergi checked his watch.“He should be there by now.”
“Is Devon safe to be around if we send in a team to watch for Cressa?”
“I don’t think Decker would feel comfortable with that.Devon became agitated when he sensed Cressa was near.The beast would consider anyone we send in a threat.”
Lucas rubbed his face.“There’s got to be something.”
“The Eliminators are probably out on the streets searching for him already.”Jacques moved to sit next to Bella.
“Already?”Lucas asked.
Bella nodded.“They won’t move in until told, but they won’t see any harm in pinning down his location.”
“Too many people out there.”Simone tapped her fingers on the desk.The rhythmic sound appeared to have a calming impact on the cadre.“Lucas and Sergi, I want you to head over there.Don’t go in until you get clearance from Decker.”
“Any news on Gheata?”Sergi asked.Until they heard from Cressa or someone who had spotted her, there wasn’t anything more they could do for the moment.
“We know where he lives.Bella confirmed that last night.I haven’t decided on the best way in.I was hoping Cressa could help us with that until she went off on her own.”She wanted to snap off the corner of the desk, just to rein in her growing temper.“We have no choice.Move Devon to Oasis, and let’s hope we find something on Gheata that will prevent the Council from punishing us all.
“Bella, I want you and Jacques to keep an eye on Gheata’s house.Be discreet.Don’t follow him.Just babysit.”
They both nodded.
“I’ll run the check-ins for the perimeter guards while you’re out.”
Sergi perked up, sitting straighter as he read something on his tablet.“Decker is on scene, but he can’t get in to the mill.”
“I thought there were several gates.”Simone didn’t need another problem with only two days left.“So, what’s the issue?”
“There are six points of entry.And each one has two wolves guarding it.”
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Harlowand I waited on the service road, three hundred yards from the main gate of the old mill.It had been closed since I was a kid.I’d only been here once before with a group of rebellious teenagers, but we’d never breeched the fence line, preferring to take an old game trail down to the beach to light bonfires and drink.And that explained why I hadn’t known where I was when I’d met Devon in my dream constructs.
In those few years since I’d been down here, it hadn’t changed much, except for the increased weeds growing over the lumpy remnants of asphalt.The city council had spent years trying to convince businesses to repurpose the land.I vaguely remembered from Christopher’s constant complaints during family dinners, there was a massive price tag for cleanup that went along with the purchase of the land and buildings.So the prime real estate lay bare and mostly forgotten.
It had been a smart decision of Decker’s to move Devon here.The massive complex was close to the city, but with the way the land was positioned, the mill could only be seen from the ocean or after driving down the old service road where Harlow had parked.The main road to the mill had grown over long ago and been rerouted to a more scenic drive along the coast.
“How much longer?”Harlow asked.He’d been a lifesaver and hadn’t hesitated to meet me.Trudy had wanted to come, but we both thought it safer for her to stay home by the phone.We compromised, and she was parked a mile away at a diner that opened early for breakfast.
The call to The Wolf had been more difficult, if only for my nerves.He’d answered on the second ring.“Cressa?”
“Are you psychic?”I heard his laugh, deep and warm.
“The magic of cell phones, and honoring Devon’s request to keep you on my contact list.”
I was curious but needed to stick to my script.“You once gave me your card for when I needed help.”
