Finn watched until the light went out in her window.  He had guards watching the house because tonight he needed to do research.  Scavenger had to have found something from the information he gave him this morning.  

Walking back to his truck, Finn called his friend. 

“What you got for me?”  Finn asked, wanting answers.  If he knew why she was on the run, he could find a way to fix it.  

“Alexandria Marsh, age twenty-four, went to Northwestern and graduated with a double major-Accounting and Computer programmer.  She’s very smart, too.  Graduated with a four-point-O.  Two weeks ago, her parents Peggy and Ross Marsh were killed in a car accident. 

“Get this. The police report said that nobody saw the accident but their vehicle was found in a ravine, both of their necks were broken.  The report said it was an accident but I can read between the lines, Finn.  This wasn’t an accident.  But since nobody saw anything, they ruled it an accident.” 

This information got Finn’s attention.  What if the person who killed her parents was hunting her.  It would explain why she was so scared.  “Peggy and Ross Marsh were smart, too.  They were both computer programmers and did well for themselves.  Shame, because their business was thriving.  The estate has not been claimed yet by Alexandria.  I did a search on your girl, too, and get this, she is wanted for assault in Chicago.  And you’re going to fall over when I tell you who she assaulted.”  

“Who?”

“None other than Dominic ‘The Bull’ Santora.”

“From the Malton family?”  Finn asked.  Something wasn’t adding up.  Assault? Really? That had to be a lie to get a warrant for her arrest. What would somebody like Alex be doing with The Bull?  He was a killer and nothing else.  What the hell was going on. None of this made sense to him. Alex and her parents didn’t seem like the type of people to do business with the Malton family.  

“Did you hear me, Finn?  The fucking Bull.”  

“I heard you.  Call Ramey and ask for the favor he owes me.  I want to know what the man wants with Alex.  And Scavenger, this goes no further.  You got me, man?”

“You don’t even have to tell me that, Finn.”

“I know but you know I cover all of my basis.  Alexandria means a lot to me.”

“I’ll get back to you once I find something.” Scavenger hung up.  He would need to talk to Arden now.  If Alex and Haine were on the run from the Malton crime family, they would need protection, a lot of it.

He tilted his head up, staring at her window, not wanting to leave her.  He wanted her and Haine on pack grounds where he knew she would be protected.  He turned toward the woods and twirled his finger in the air.  The guards were in wolf form and knew what that motion meant.  She was protected now since the pack knew Alex was his mate.  They protected their own and Alex and Haine were his to protect.  

Picking up the phone, Finn dialed Arden’s number.  “Anything wrong?”  Arden asked.

“Yeah, I’m on my way to you right now.  I found out who Alex is and I think I know why she is on the run.”

“We will handle whatever it is, Finn.  She’s your mate and Haine will be pack, too.  We don’t drop our own no matter what trouble they are in.”

Finn hated like hell that he was going to have to tell him about this.  “I hope you feel that way once I tell you.”

“Just say it.”  Arden was never one to wait for any kind of news.  “Explain it to me now so we can come up with a plan.”

He explained what he heard from Scavenger and waited until Arden recalled who Dominic Santora was.  He didn’t have to wait long before he replied, “The mob in Chicago?”  Arden’s voice raised as he repeated the exact same thing he was thinking.  

“None of this adds up, Alpha. I don’t see how Alex could be mixed up with someone like Santora.”  

“I agree, but we need to know what is going on so we can protect her and Haine.  Now I know why she’s so scared.  Assault?”  Arden laughed on his side of the phone line.  “She assaulted Dominic ‘The Bull’ Santora.  She weighs, what, one hundred thirty pounds. They don’t even run in the same circles.  I don’t get it.  Why would the Malton family want that kind of publicity going after a young woman who has just lost her parents?  I agree with you Finn, this stinks.  I need to make some calls.  We need help if we’re dealing with that caliber of people.  Good news is if they are on our land and we will know if they step one foot in New Hope.”  

“Alpha, I know this is asking a lot and I don’t want to put the pack in harm’s way.  Maybe it would be better if I took Alex and Haine and we left until I can find out what’s going on.”

“Finn, you’re pack and we always protect pack.  That includes your mate and family.  Plus, she needs our help and there isn’t a better place to protect her then here.  Get that thought out of your head.  I will be waiting for you when you get here.”

“Thanks, Alpha.  I don’t know what to say.”  This was why Finn loved his pack.  They were family, and when one needed help, they all jumped in.  

“You don’t need to say anything, Finn. This is what a pack does.  I haven’t forgotten your help when Quinn arrived in town.  Just get here and we will talk more once you arrive.”  Arden hung up.  

Finn worried that Alex would leave in the middle of the night or something worse, Dominic Santora finds out where she is.

* * *

“You find that bitch,” Dominic said.  “I want that information and I know she has it. They would have given it to her.”  If Ramone Malton found out he had been taking money from the accounts, he was a dead man.  The only reason Malton hadn’t figured it out was he always made a profit.  Ramone never checked behind him.  Malton trusted him, and he had to make sure it stayed that way.  

“Mr. Santora, I’m sorry. I don’t know where she is or how to find her.  I’m a lawyer not a private investigator.”  Dominic narrowed his eyes at Jackson Peters who was sweating like a pig.

“You are dripping all over your desk, you fool. Get yourself together. I want her found so do what lawyers do best and find someone who can find her.  I don’t want to use any of my contacts and have word get back to Money.”

“Money?”  

“Um, yeah, don’t you know anything?  Money, as in Ramone Malton.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve never heard anyone call him that.”  

“Only a few can call him that and live.  Ever since he was young, he knew how to make money.  It didn’t take long before the nickname stuck.  But if I were you, I wouldn’t call him that.”  Dominic thought the man was going to have a heart attack the way he was sweating.  “Why the hell are you sweating so much?”

“I’m just nervous, and when I’m nervous, I sweat.” 

“Hire someone then, but you better find that girl if you know what’s good for you.  I thought you said this would be easy.  She’s not going to live to see the light of day once I find her.”

“That wasn’t our deal Mr. Santora.  You said—”

“I don’t care what I said!”  Dominic screamed. Jumping up, Dominic grabbed the lawyer and slammed him against the wall.  Putting his face right up to his, Dominic muttered, “And clean this place up.  It stinks of sweat in here.  Damn, man, you’re supposed to be sophisticated.”  Dominic threw his hands in the air.

“I’ll…find her…I will. I will.”

“You better or you’ll be next.  I can get any lawyer to do this shit.  With both of them dead, I can get a forger to sign her name just as good as she can.  Just remember that if you know what’s good for you…”

“I promise…I’ll find her.”  Smoothing his tie, Dominic left the dingy office.  Slamming the door behind him, Dominic needed to find that girl.  She had to have that information.  He had Jerome check every computer at her home and parents’ business, and the files weren’t there.  What the hell was he thinking?  Why did he leave the computer with them? 

He had to have the codes to transfer the money.  He was supposed to see Money tonight and if he got suspicious, he was a dead man.  Dominic picked up the phone and called his best guys.  He didn’t want to use anyone connected to the Malton family but time wasn’t on his side.

Ramone Malton was smart and he needed to put the money back until he could cover it.  This last deal he had going would do that.  Then he could take over the Malton family.