Chapter Twenty
‡
EmmaLee was working away in the office break room, and Connor was with Ronan in his office discussing their plan for finding Slater Coghill, when Jackson stepped into the office. “I’ve got something.”
They both looked up. “I could use some good news. Tell us,” Connor said.
“Timothy Delahart made a mistake. He used his debit card at an ATM in Chattanooga.”
Ronan sat up straighter. “When?”
“Less than fifteen minutes ago.”
Ronan stood. “I need to go after him. Where was this ATM? He won’t still be there when I arrive, but I might be able to pick up his scent.”
Connor appreciated his new recruit’s enthusiasm, especially after the fiasco with Slater Coghill.
Jackson flipped through his phone. “Bank of Chattanooga.”
“Do you know where he’s staying?” Ronan asked.
“As a matter of fact, I do. Delahart is at the Train Station Inn Motel.”
Ronan looked at Connor. “I won’t ask how you know that, but thank you.” He turned back to Connor. “This might be my only chance to nab him. I hope you weren’t counting on my help with Slater just yet.”
“Not at all, but this seems too easy to me. It’s almost as if Delahart wants you to find him so he can take you down first,” Connor said.
“What else is new? Bounty hunters often become the hunted.”
Connor closed his laptop. “If you’re determined to go, I’m coming with you.”
“What about EmmaLee?” Jackson interjected.
“She’s in the break room doing more research.”
Jackson nodded. “I can watch her if you want.”
“I’m not sure I can handle you two being in the same room for that long. You’ll fill her head with all sorts of crazy stuff.” Actually, Connor thought it was cute that they had so much in common.
Jackson grinned. “I’ll be good. I promise.”
“Actually, I was hoping you’d volunteer. We might not be back before five, so can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“So she doesn’t feel like a prisoner, can you drive her back to the guesthouse when you’re ready to leave and watch her there? You can ask my dad to help if you need to leave.”
“Can do.” Jackson looked over at Ronan. “If you need any more information, let me know.”
“Do you know what kind of vehicle Delahart is driving?” Ronan asked. “I wouldn’t put it past him to swap out his Jeep.”
Jackson grinned. “I do.”
As soon as Jackson had given them the rest of the information, Ronan left to gather his gear, and Connor called Rye to fill him in on the latest news regarding Slater Coghill. Since Rye was an excellent sounding board, he told him of the possible connection with the theft of EmmaLee’s parents’ belongings. Connor then told his brother he needed to leave town for the day. “She’ll be in Jackson’s capable hands.”
Rye chuckled. “She seems special—more special that just someone to keep safe. Is there something you need to tell me?”
From his tone, their father must have leaked the good news. “I can tell you’ve figured it out, so yes, EmmaLee is my mate.”
“Well, it’s about time. Does she know?”
“No, and I’ll tell her when the time is right.”
“I understand. I can take a sweep around the old homestead to make sure everything remains calm.”
“I appreciate it. I’ve been meaning to ask, have you spoken with Finn lately?” Connor asked.
“As a matter of fact, I stopped by the bar yesterday. Zane challenged me to a game of pool.”
He’d heard the man from Cargonia was quite good. “And?”
“He cleaned my clock.”
Connor laughed. “I meant did you speak with Finn? Although, I am thrilled that someone finally kicked your ass at pool.”
“Oh, piss off. He obviously has some super pool playing powers from the other realm. I did speak to Finn afterward, and you were right. He looks like death warmed over. He told me the same story you did. Our baby brother is convinced his dream girl is real somehow. Not that he’s delusional enough to think she’s in his room at night, but there’s something about her that calls to him. I’m not sure what to make of it.”
“Maybe you could ask James what it might mean.” As the Alpha of the Clan, Rye had quick access to the resident immortal.
“I might have better luck with Ophelia, though the old lady can be a bit mysterious in her explanations.”
Connor chuckled. “So I’ve heard. I hope that Finn decides to get some help before it kills him.”
“Amen.”
“I’ll call you when I return,” Connor said.
“I have your back, little brother.”
*
Connor was with Ronan, across the street from the hotel where Timothy Delahart was staying. Both of them were more than ready to nab the son of a bitch. Ever since Connor had heard what a scumbag he was, he wanted the satisfaction of taking him down. It didn’t matter to him that Ronan would get all of the bounty money, Connor wanted to make sure the man never saw the light of day again.
“There he is,” Ronan whispered.
Delahart had just walked out of his hotel onto the busy street and looked around, as if he were looking for someone. Tourists were crowding around a coffee shop next door to the hotel, making an arrest more difficult. Because Delahart might try to use someone as a hostage, they sat tight.
“What is he waiting for?” Ronan asked with impatience.
“A ride maybe?”
“Wait!” Ronan pointed to a black SUV that slowed and pulled to the curb.
“He’s getting in,” Connor said. “Let’s go.”
Faces averted, they sauntered to Connor’s car and then waited for the SUV to get ahead by a block before taking off. As soon as Connor pulled into traffic, Ronan turned on the GPS and then planted a flag in their current location.
“Could you tell how many were in the car?” Ronan asked.
“Given that Delahart slipped into the backseat, I’d say at least two other men.” If Ronan’s Wendayan powers were to be believed, the two of them should be able to take down three shifters no problem.
“Agreed. Let’s follow them.”
Connor kept as far back as he could so as not to attract attention, but close enough not to lose them. When they left the main part of town, the traffic thinned, making it more difficult to keep out of sight.
“I wonder where they’re going.” Strain laced Ronan’s voice.
“Beats me, but if he’s as bad as you say, he could be doing a deal. Why else come halfway down the country unless it’s for something big?”
“True.”
Would it be drugs, gun running, or human trafficking? If he’d been sure something illegal was about to go down, Connor would have alerted the Chattanooga police.
“He’s turning into that lot,” Ronan announced.
When the black SUV stopped in front of a warehouse, Connor kept on driving. With one eye on the rearview mirror, he continued until it was safe to turn around. He didn’t dare get too close to the warehouse for fear of being spotted.
“I’ll park on this side street next to this store where we’ll be out of sight.”
“I wish I could walk up to his whole gang and say I was there to take him in, but that would cause quite a stir.”
Now Connor wished he had asked Jackson to come with them and have Rye watch EmmaLee. Having a bear would have helped even the odds. More than ever, he wished Dalton Garner had decided to become an investigator instead of a sheriff’s detective. A white tiger on their side would have assured them a win, assuming all of those inside were wolf shifters.
Keeping out of sight, he and Ronan made their way to the south side of the warehouse. The problem was that the building only had high windows, so there was no way to see in.
“We could shift and lie in wait until Delahart comes out, but if he exits with too many men, things could get deadly.”
Connor didn’t like the odds. “We could follow them back to the hotel and you could nab him there.”
Before they could decide, the side door to the warehouse opened, and Delahart came out with two other men. He was carrying a briefcase—contents unknown. Most likely, it contained money—or drugs.
“They’re all shifters,” Ronan said. “I can smell their scent. What I’d really like to know is what kind of shifters and how many more are inside.”
Before they could figure out the best plan to take them down, Ronan stepped from the parked car they were hiding behind. “Hey, fellows.”
Well shit, Ronan.
Three sets of guns instantly appeared out of their holsters, but Ronan remained cool. He held up his hands. “Just want to talk.”
“Drop your weapon.” This came from the taller of the other two goons.
Crap. Even from where Connor was hiding, he could see their eyes change and their hair sprouting. Be careful, Ronan.
Ronan removed his sport jacket. Next he slid off his holster containing his weapon and placed it on the ground. Before any of them had a chance to react, Ronan shifted and charged.
Connor hadn’t expected that move. Only someone as big as a tiger could handle three wolves at once. It didn’t matter that Ronan had some special Wendayan talents.
As fast as he could, Connor shifted too.
Claws scratching the cement, Connor charged. He leaped into the air and tore at the belly of the man closest to him. Ronan, in the meantime, was busy alternating attacks between Delahart and his goon—and winning. The stench of blood, along with a few blood-curdling screams, filled the air.
Even though Connor wanted a piece of Delahart, Ronan had tracked him this far and deserved to take him down. Connor should have asked if there was a dead or alive bounty on the man’s head, but at the moment, Ronan probably didn’t care.
The man Connor had attacked shifted and came at him. The first swipe slashed Connor’s side, but the cut was superficial. He growled, and the smaller tan wolf backed up, long enough to crouch down and spring forward again, but Connor was ready for him. Mouth open, Connor clamped down on the wolf’s neck. He would have torn out his throat had the animal not grabbed a hold of Connor’s under belly with his sharp claws and tugged hard. The sudden blast of pain caused him to gasp for air. Those few seconds gave his prey a chance to escape. The tan wolf stumbled backward and wheezed. He was down but not out.
Blood poured from his opponent’s throat, giving Connor a minute to regroup. He turned his attention to Ronan to see if he needed help. The first man Ronan had attacked was bloodied but still managing to fight. Somehow, Timothy Delahart was nowhere to be seen. What the hell?
A car engine revved up, and the same black SUV that had driven the men there shot to life. Delahart! Connor debated shifting and taking off after him when the door to the warehouse opened and two more men exited.
Ronan quickly finished off his shifter just as the wolf Connor had been battling regained some of his strength. It took a moment for Connor to sense these two men with the duffle bag in tow were not shifters. Finally, they had a break.
Their eyes widened, and Connor bared his teeth.
“Nice wolf,” the beefier of the two said.
The tan wolf scrambled across the pavement toward Connor making enough noise to alert him. Nose down, Connor opened his mouth and lifted a paw.
Sorry fellow. It’s not your day.
Ronan was chasing off the two humans while Connor delivered the final and fatal blow to his wolf.
In less than a minute, both foes had died and had returned to their human form. Connor sat on the ground for a minute to heal while Ronan trotted back. Before Connor had fully recovered, Ronan had shifted. “I’ll meet you at the car. We need to go after Delahart.”
Naked, Ronan grabbed his holster and took off for the side street.
If he could speak, Connor would have mentioned the man was long gone. Hopefully, Ronan had injured him enough to cause some problems. Because Ronan was chomping at the bit to go after Delahart, Connor shifted then followed.
Once they both reached the SUV, they grabbed their spare set of clothes from the back and donned them. Ronan’s arm was sliced open, as was his hip, but he didn’t wince when he pulled on his spare jeans.
Ronan slammed the back closed. “I can’t believe that fucker got away.”
“What happened?” Connor slid into the front seat and fired up the engine.
Ronan climbed in. “I wish I knew. I only had to battle two of them. I thought I’d landed quite a blow to Delahart when I gouged out his cheek and part of his eye. His wolf had even dropped to the ground. Just as I was about to finish him off the other guy came at me. He was good too. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? It wasn’t your fault. You did great.”
“Delahart escaped.”
Connor understood. He often beat himself up, but that kind of attitude never helped. “I say we return to Silver Lake. If Jackson found your man once, he can find him again.”
“How about we swing by the hotel to see if that black SUV is there?”
Even if the man was stupid enough to return, neither of them was in any shape to tackle Delahart. However, Ronan wouldn’t be able to keep his mind on the game until he knew. “Sure.”
When they arrived, the SUV wasn’t there.
“Well damn,” Ronan said. “It’s an hour’s drive back to Silver Lake, right?” Connor nodded. “Do you mind if we find a drive-thru here?” He was leaning slightly forward in the seat, as if he was trying to hide how much he was really hurting.
“No problem.”
After they chowed down a quick meal, Connor suggested that Ronan should shift and rest in the back. Then when he regained his strength, Ronan could switch places with Connor. If EmmaLee saw him in this state, she’d freak out.
*
When Jackson’s cell rang, he pulled it from his shirt pocket and smiled at EmmaLee. “Your man is calling.”
She let out a long breath. Connor had told her that he and Ronan needed to drive to Chattanooga and arrest some man, promising it would be easy. If that were true, why had he been gone for four hours already?
“Where are you?” Jackson asked. He listened for a bit and then nodded. “Okay. No problem. I’ve enjoyed hanging out with EmmaLee. She is amazingly knowledgeable about all sorts of things. Sure.” He disconnected. Standing, he pocketed his cell. “Connor’s next door at his dad’s house. He’ll be right over.” Jackson stood and gathered his computer. “I appreciate you putting up with my crazy theories.”
She smiled. “They weren’t crazy.” At least most of them weren’t. “It was my pleasure.”
As soon as Jackson left, EmmaLee dashed to the bathroom to comb her hair. Before she’d taken one stroke, someone knocked. She smiled. Connor must have forgotten his key. She rushed down the hallway and then pulled open the door.
Her heart stopped. “Slater?”