CAMERON FELT HIS phone buzz and pulled it from his pocket, surprised to see Dalton Moore’s name on the screen. “Hey, Dalt.”

“Hey, you got time for a beer?”

“You’re still here?”

“Actually, I returned to Scotland, but was asked to come back here. Long story. Just had to spend five minutes I’ll never get back with one of the most entitled pricks alive.”

Cameron laughed. “Ah, sure. Where do you want to meet?”

“Rock Bottom?”

“I’ll see you in twenty.”

“’Bye.”

Cameron hung up and grabbed his jacket. The day was wet, so he decided to take the car instead of his bike. As he drove to the brewery, he contemplated why Dalton might be back in town. Dalton’s new responsibilities in Scotland were vague, even to Cameron, who had worked with him on a joint FBI assignment several years ago.

Cameron left the FBI a year ago. His family didn’t know this, however, and he planned to keep it that way. He still went after some of the worst of the worst, only secretly, and for a lot more money than the FBI offered. He also had control now over which assignments he took, and he made sure he gave himself time off in between jobs. His responsibilities at church were an outlet to remind him why he was on the earth and give him important moments to recharge. Arriving at Rock Bottom Brewery, he parked on the street and headed into the restaurant.

Dalton joined him a few minutes later, and they headed into the bar. A small stage was set up in the corner, but the band wouldn’t play for another few hours. Maybe he should start playing out more. Shake off some of the live gig rust...

“So, what’s up?” Cameron asked.

Dalton sipped his beer and then sighed. “My sister’s husband—”

“Your brother-in-law—”

“Only when I claim him.” Dalton smirked. “Anyway, my sister’s husband has asked me to find out what I can about a person or persons who might be up to something nefarious. They’re looking for something, and that “something” just so happens to involve Megan.”

Cameron went on high alert. “My Megan?”

Dalton nodded. “She’s connected to this somehow, I’m just not sure of the details yet.”

“Does your brother-in-law know about me?”

Dalton shook his head. “He doesn’t even know you exist... in the capacity you exist, anyway. He only knows you as her brother. But they are looking for Megan and I need to find out why.”

“Who are ‘they’?”

“My family.”

“Your family’s looking for Megan?”

“No. But my family is involved,” Dalton said. “This whole thing is actually about her daughter.”

“Sophia? What about her?”

“Her father’s looking for her.”

“What do you mean? Megan said he was dead.”

“Well, he’s not,” Dalton informed him.

“I knew it,” he said with a sigh. “My sister’s the worst liar ever.”

“She said he was dead and you knew he wasn’t, but just dropped it?”

“Hell, no,” Cameron said. “I just couldn’t ever find him. Megan wouldn’t give me a name and his DNA isn’t in any system. At least the DNA of whoever Sophia’s father is. Believe me, I called in favors to try and find him.”

“No, it wouldn’t be,” Dalton said without elaborating. “But now you don’t have to look for him. His brother’s looking for her.”

“Hold up. Sophia’s uncle is looking for her.”

“Yep. He’s the entitled prick I was referring to. Some Icelandic royalty or something.”

“Of course he is. Trust my sister to get herself mixed up with someone with money and means.” Cameron ran his hands through his hair. “What do you need from me?”

“Nothing right now. I’ll meet with this guy tomorrow or the next day and let you know.”

“Damn it, Dalton. That’s not really an answer.”

Dalton shrugged. “I don’t have an answer for you. But I know I don’t have to tell you what you’ll need to do until this is sorted out.”

“You mean, remove all my guns from their hiding places and move my family into a compound of some kind?”

“Sure, if that floats your boat.” Dalton smiled. “We have it under some control from our end. Just keep an eye on Megan and Sophia so I can focus on finding out who these people are. I don’t know if they’re in danger, but someone’s really interested in finding them, so best to be on the safe side.”

“That goes without saying. You do your thing, Dalton, and don’t worry about my family.”

“Thanks. I promise I won’t keep you in the dark.”

“I appreciate that.” Cameron sipped his beer. “What do you suggest I do about Megan?”

“You can talk to her. Try to get her side of things. These people have a lot of money... more money than you and I will ever see in a lifetime... which gives them power. I have yet to determine whether or not this man, Kaspar, will abuse that power.”

“Kaspar. Is he the father or the uncle?”

“The uncle.”

“Damn it,” Cameron whispered. “What the hell did my sister get herself into?”

“Only she can tell you that.”

“And she will,” Cameron said. “Are you getting any down time this trip?”

“I have to deal with this guy and then maybe I’ll have a little,” Dalton said. He pulled out his cell phone and shook his head. “Speak of the devil at hand.” He answered the call. “Dalton Moore.”

Cameron watched him as he tried to figure out what to do with Megan. His sister wasn’t naïve... at least she wasn’t anymore, and he was sure she knew he’d done some digging on Sophia’s father. But he had a feeling she had no idea just how far he had gone to find out the truth. Since no one knew he was head negotiator for the FBI’s kidnap and ransom division, she couldn’t possibly know how much information was at his fingertips. His family believed he’d left the FBI years ago and had gone into the private sector. He made sure they continued to think that for their own safety. Over the years, he’d exhausted every avenue when it came to finding Sophia’s father, including involving Interpol and Iceland’s police, but he still came up empty. Whoever this man was, he either had reach, or was off the grid.

“Hey, I’ve gotta go,” Dalton said, and dropped a twenty on the table.

“No problem.” Cameron stood and followed him outside. After shaking Dalton’s hand, he made his way to his car and headed home. He called Megan on the way home.

His sister answered immediately. “Hi, Cam.”

“Well, hi there.” Cameron smiled. “How are you feeling?”

“You mean, since the last time you called me? About five minutes ago?”

“Feel up to a visit?” he asked, ignoring her sarcasm.

She sighed. “Probably not.”

“I’m about twenty minutes away.”

“Jessie’s here,” Megan said.

Cameron frowned. “This can’t wait.”

“Great,” she droned.

Cameron hung up and headed to his father’s home in the West Hills.

* * *

Jesska sat next to her niece on the overstuffed sofa in her parents’ family room. She hated this house. Hated everything it represented. But Megan and Sophia were staying there to recuperate, so she was there to visit. Hopefully, they’d be back in their own home soon, especially considering they were healing faster than anyone expected.

“Cam’s on his way,” Megan said as she returned from taking a call in her room.

“Everything okay?” Jesska asked.

“Who knows?”

Jesska giggled. “Which one of us is in trouble?”

“That would be me,” Megan said.

“Why is Uncle Cam so... um... intense?” Sophia asked.

“He used to have to deal with some serious criminals when he was with the FBI, Soph,” Megan said. “He’s probably seen things we will never have to, and he wants to keep it that way.”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “My nurse thought he was super hot.”

“What?” Jesska asked. “She talked to you about him? How unprofessional.”

Sophia chuckled. “No, she thought I was still asleep. She was talking to one of the other nurses. ‘Oooh, did you see that Cameron guy? Wasn’t he hot?’ Stuff like that.”

“Yeah, all my friends have adored him as far back as I can remember,” Jesska admitted. “But he was even more intense back then, and way more of a pain in the ass.”

Megan laughed, and sat down in the chair by the fireplace. “But we love him anyway.”

Jesska grinned. “That we do.”

“Anyone hungry?” Megan asked.

Jesska jumped to her feet. “You rest. I can make us something.”

“I’m fine, Jessie.”

“Which I totally don’t get. How is that even possible? It’s only been a day since you got home.”

“Miracle, I guess.”

“I guess so,” Jesska murmured.

“Which means I go back to school tomorrow, right?” Sophia chimed in.

“I don’t know,” Megan said as she headed to the kitchen off the family room.

“Mom, I’m fine. Even the doctor said so.”

Megan turned to her and frowned. “If you wake up tomorrow without pain, I’ll think about it.”

Sophia jumped to her feet, rushing to kiss her mother. “Thank you, Mummykins. I’m going to call Bree.” She took off up the stairs, dialing as she went.

Jesska grabbed for Seth’s ring. Sophia’s nickname for her mother brought memories back of her beloved Sethykins.

“Megan?” Cameron called from the foyer, and Jesska heard the front door close.

“Can I hide?” Megan asked.

“Probably not,” Jesska said.

“Back here, Cam.”

Cameron strolled into the room, slipping his keys into his pocket. “Hey, Jess.”

“Hi. How are you?” she asked in a sing-song voice.

He grinned. “I’m good. How are you?”

“Curious.”

“Of course you are.” He turned to Megan. “Where’s Soph?”

“Upstairs,” Megan said.

“Cool. Let’s talk, huh?”

“About what?” Jesska asked.

Cameron raised an eyebrow.

She rose to her feet. “Fine. I’ll go find Sophia.”

“Thanks, sissy.”

“One day, you will tell me what’s going on, so help me God.” She pointed a finger to Cameron and then Megan. “Your little pow-wows are really beginning to piss me off.”

“Love you,” Cameron and Megan said in stereo as Jesska walked slowly up the stairs.

She knew they waited until she was out of hearing distance before they started to talk... and the reason she knew that was because she could no longer hear them.

* * *

The next morning, Jesska woke up with the hangover from hell and called in sick. It was only the second sick day she’d taken in three years, but she still felt guilty about taking a day off of work because she’d drunk too much the night before. And alone. She’d eaten an entire carton of Ben & Jerry’s and a bottle and a half of red wine. She was officially pathetic, and admittedly, maybe a bit more like her mother than she was willing to admit. She didn’t cut herself, so that was a positive. Right?

After napping most of the morning away, she forced herself out of bed, grabbing a beer and making herself a sandwich. A little hair of the dog and food helped take the edge off, and she felt well enough to take a shower... but that’s about when her day went to crap, starting with the phone call.

“Hi, Megan.”

“Hey. Can you do me a huge favor?”

Jesska squeezed her eyes shut, knowing she was going to regret her answer. “Of course.”

“Sophia’s at school and having some stomach pain, and I’m stuck in court.”

“Why are you at court? You should be resting.”

“Long story. Don’t worry, I’m fine. But, can you pick Sophia up? I’d ask Cam, but I can’t get a hold of him. You can just drop her home, so you don’t have to take too much of your lunch hour.”

“Yep, no problem. I actually took a sick day.”

“You did? Are you okay?” Megan asked.

“Yeah, just felt a little off this morning. I feel great now.” Jesska grabbed her keys and purse and locked up her duplex. “Let Sophia know I’ll be there in a few.”

“Thanks, Jessie. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Jesska jumped in her car and took off to her alma mater. She had a moment of panic as the memories flooded her heart again, but just as quickly, she calmed and actually didn’t feel like puking this time around. Returning to the school had always been difficult, and she’d avoided it as much as possible. She must be making progress.

“Or... maybe I’m forgetting,” she mumbled, as she parked and took a minute to envision Seth’s face. She kissed his ring and then slid out of her car and walked inside. Now that the school was considered a closed campus, there was only one way in, which meant she had to pass the glass box that held a tribute to Seth. Not just because of his horrific death, but because no one had managed to beat his wrestling record. Even ten years later. She held her hand against the side of her face like a blinder so she could pass it without seeing his face, and headed to the office.

“I’m here to pick up Sophia Bailey.”

The receptionist nodded and picked up her phone. “I’ll call her.”

“Thanks.”

“Jesska Shane is that you?”

Jesska glanced behind her to see her old English teacher walk into the office. She had to be in her late fifties by now. “Oh, hi, Mrs. Acker. How are you?”

She smiled. “I’m doing well, honey. How about you?”

“Not bad.”

“Are you visiting your niece?”

Jesska nodded. “I’m picking her up, actually. She’s not feeling well, and my sister’s stuck in court.”

“Yes, I heard about her accident. I’m surprised she’s here so soon afterwards.”

“You know us Shanes,” Jesska said. “We are all about surprising people.”

“That you are, dear. Update me on you. Have you met a nice man and settled down yet?”

Jesska forced down her irritation. “No, ma’am. I doubt that will ever happen.”

“Oh, honey, you need to get back to living. Seth was a wonderful young man, and he wouldn’t have wanted you to be alone.”

Thank you so much for the unsolicited and wholly unwanted advice, Jesska thought to herself. What she said was, “Thanks for your concern.”

Mrs. Acker pulled her in for a motherly hug. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“I’ll try my best.”

The older woman left the office just as Sophia hobbled inside. “Hi Jess.”

“Hey, babe.” Jesska wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You don’t look so hot.”

The receptionist opened the swinging door for her so she could join Jesska. “Yeah, I got hit in the stomach with a ball.”

“Why the hell were you in phys-ed?” Jesska demanded.

“I wasn’t. I was walking to class and some idiot had it in the hallway. A different idiot smacked it out of his hands and it hit me. I’m okay. It just stings a bit.”

Jesska pulled Sophia’s shirt up to look. “There’s no blood.”

“No, I told you. I’m fine. Just got a bit winded.”

“Okay, we’ll get you home and we can watch a movie, okay?” Jesska signed her out.

“Sounds great,” Sophia said.

Jesska led her into the hallway and towards the parking lot, the empty halls eerier than she remembered. She felt the air in the building shift, and she was drawn to a tall man striding purposefully toward her. She stalled, her heart racing as he approached. He had to be the best-looking man she’d ever seen, and that thought sent her reeling. He had blond hair and as he drew closer, she could see deep green eyes that stared through her... all the way to her soul. His skin was like porcelain, other than a day’s growth over his chin. He looked to be her age or younger, but carried himself with the confidence of a man who’d lived life and probably ruled it, too.

For a brief second, he glanced at Jesska, and surprise covered his face. He then focused on Sophia. “Ása,” he said.

Jesska gently pushed Sophia past him.

“Wait. Ása,” he repeated.

“I think you have me confused with someone else,” Sophia said.

“I might agree with you if you didn’t look just like your papa.”

“What?” Jesska’s heart raced again. Something wasn’t right. “Who are you?”

* * *

Kaspar stared at the beautiful young woman standing in front of his niece, protecting her even though she’d never have a chance against him. Blonde hair fell in soft curls down her back, she had big hazel eyes, and a tiny little diamond circle sitting proudly in the crease of her button nose. She was a little taller than most humans, however, still a good six inches shorter that him. His mate. He shook his head and took a moment to process the fact that she was the one. He didn’t know how it was even possible, but a human had just wrapped herself around his heart, and he didn’t even know her name.

“How did you get in here?” she asked.

“Your name, elskan,” he said.

“Excuse me?” she snapped.

He wondered if he’d said it wrong in English. “What is your name?”

“None of your business.” She turned to his niece. “Sophia, I need you to disappear. Understand?”

“Wait,” he ordered.

Ása... or Sophia as his mate had called her, froze to the spot, but this woman was unaffected by him.

“You are in pain,” Kaspar noted, and laid his hand on Ása, healing her.

“Don’t touch her,” his mate demanded as she grabbed Ása’s arm, pulling her away from Kaspar. “Soph, you need to go,” she said, obviously not understanding that Ása physically wouldn’t be able to move until Kaspar released her.

“She can’t,” Kaspar said.

“Why?” The flaxen-haired beauty focused on him and frowned. “What did you do?”

“Your name.”

She crossed her arms. “What did you do to my niece?”

“Tell me your name.”

“What did you do to my niece?” she repeated, irritation and fear pouring off her.

He sighed and released his niece, who took off after a minute of stunned confusion. Kaspar couldn’t stand the fear emanating from his mate. The last thing he wanted was for her to be frightened of him. “Will you tell me your name?”

She squared her shoulders. “It’s Jesska.”

“Jesska.” He smiled. “A beautiful name.”

“Thank you, I think.” She bit her lip. “But I’m going to leave now, because you’re frightening me.”

He noticed she clasped something attached to a chain around her neck. “I apologize. I don’t mean to frighten you.”

He stepped forward and she didn’t retreat, so he reached out and touched the hand that was at her throat. He felt her sadness, and when she dropped her hand, he saw a ring around a chain.

“What the hell are you doing here?” a voice bellowed.

Jesska turned toward the angry voice with a gasp. Dalton Moore rushed toward them, and Kaspar scowled as the man stepped between him and his mate, facing her. “Jesska, are you all right? Did he hurt you?”

Jesska shook her head. “How do you know my name?” she whispered.

“I’m Dalton Moore. I’m a friend of Cameron’s.”

“Oh,” she squeaked. “I have to go.”

“Yes. Go,” Moore said.

Before she could move, rage filled Kaspar and he slammed Moore against the brick wall. Jesska screamed in fright.

“I have Red Fang on my hands, dumbass,” Moore said. “Let me go or your ass will be on the floor.”

Kaspar didn’t have a chance to respond as a security guard ran toward them. “Hey. What’s going on?”

Kaspar stepped back, noticing Jesska tugging on her necklace again. Moore diffused the situation quickly, using his FBI credentials to appease the security guard. Kaspar could see Jesska wanted to run, but for some reason, she didn’t. He stepped closer to her. She stepped aside and then turned on her heel and bolted out of the school so fast, Kaspar wondered if he’d have been able to stop her.

“Come on,” Moore demanded. “You need to leave.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Making sure you don’t do something stupid. Apparently, I’m too late.” Moore studied him and then scowled. “Damn it. Is she...?”

“Is she what?” Kaspar asked.

“Is she your mate?” he whispered.

Kaspar was blindsided.

Moore chuckled without humor. “You didn’t see that coming, huh?”

“How do you know?”

“You have a file an inch thick on me,” Moore pointed out. “You tell me.”

“I know you were FBI before working for Gunnach Pharmaceuticals.”

“And Kade’s mated to my sister.”

This time Kaspar swore.

“You cannot interfere,” Moore said. “You do this my way, or they will disappear again, including Jesska, and you will never be able to find them.”

Kaspar moved toward him again, angry that Moore didn’t appear concerned at all.

“Red Fang, buddy,” he said, and held up his hands. “Please, give me a reason.”

“Einn daginn mun ég drepa þig í svefni,” Kaspar said, seething. (One day I will kill you in your sleep.)

“And you’re an entitled prick,” Moore retorted.

Kaspar shook his head. “You haven’t learned to speak Icelandic, apparently.”

“Only a word or two, but I figure you just insulted me, and I’ve wanted to say that to you for two days.” Moore started toward the door. “Coming?”

Kaspar followed him out of the school, albeit at a distance.