Chapter One
Teaghlach pack, Idaho
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Killian, but Lloyd and Sheila Cooper are here to see you.”
Killian Black looked from the computer screen he was studying to focus his eyes on his loyal second, Rajah Kakkar, peeking his head in from the hallway.
Killian sighed. If Cooper’s parents were here, it meant they were concerned about Cooper. They were all concerned about Cooper. It had been a month and a half since Nicky had last learn from him.
Killian had avoided talking to Lloyd, who, as Cooper’s father, had been the Tracker when Killian took over as pack Enforcer over forty years ago. Lloyd had retired over twenty years ago when Cooper reached maturity and had shown that he had the Cooper nose. Killian had worked with Lloyd for over twenty years and knew he owed the male an explanation, and, although it was a lousy excuse, Killian hadn’t made the time to go over and talk to him about his son because Killian didn’t want to tell the male what the situation really was.
“Do you want me to have them come back?” Rajah asked at Killian’s silence.
“No,” Killian said closing the cover of his computer. “Nothing ever gets accomplished by avoidance. Have them wait in the living room. And do me a favor. Go find Nicky. I want you both to meet me in there.”
“Nicky and Livvie haven’t come down yet,” Rajah explained, giving Killian a pretty good idea of what Nicky was doing up in his room with his mate.
“Tell him to get his tail down here. He can do what he’s doing any time. He’s on the clock as soon as the shutters go up.”
Rajah was a bit startled at Killian’s brash tone but bowed his head. “I’ll go get him, and we will meet you in the living room.”
When Rajah went to pull his head out of the room, Killian sighed, stood, and walked over to him. “I’m ...” He started to apologize, but it was hard for Alpha males to do so because it meant admitting that they were wrong. Killian struggled to get the words out, but his wolf rebelled, and he was just too tired to fight him.
Rajah smiled and put an easy hand on Killian’s shoulder. “I understand, Kil,” Rajah told him. Rajah understood him well and knew the struggle he was fighting. “You’ve been under a lot of stress. Maybe we could go for a run tonight before dawn.”
Killian nodded. It had been over a week since he’d shifted and let his wolf run. “Maybe that will help.”
Rajah patted his shoulder. “I’ll go get Nicky.”
“Thank you,” Killian said and took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming conversation. Tactful communication was not a skill he possessed. Abby often compared his verbal finesse with that of a potato, and Killian didn’t always disagree with her.
As the Samhradh pack Enforcer, Killian needed to be intimidating enough to keep the wolves in line and willful enough to act out punishment when someone broke the laws. He was good at being intimidating.
As the Teaghlach pack Alpha, though, he was learning the delicate art of negotiating with both his father and other wolves outside the pack, and he was really struggling to not offend someone who he was trying to make an ally. Killian often spoke his mind, rather than what was politically correct. Lucan was helping him a lot, but spending time with the elder wolf was a lesson in patience, and Killian was dangerously low in supply of patience with Abby’s pregnancy getting further along and her health getting more fragile.
He checked in with her and found her in the kitchen. For her safety, his mother had restricted Abby’s time on her feet to only a few hours a night, and now was her time out of bed. She was in the kitchen visiting with Riley and making some onion bread. She knew he loved it. He gave her a mental kiss and told her about Cooper’s parents’ visit. He closed the door to his office as he walked out into the hall.
Rajah seated Lloyd and Sheila Cooper in the living room and politely explained that Killian would be with them shortly. He left the worried couple to wander up the stairs and down the hall to Nicky’s apartment.
He didn’t want to interrupt them. Nicky and Livvie were newly mated, and Rajah wanted to allow them every opportunity to spend time together, even if they were partners on the job. It was important for newly mated couples to stay close and strengthen the bond, but Nicky was Cooper’s friend, and Rajah hoped the interruption wouldn’t upset him.
Taking a deep breath, he reached up to knock. When there was no reply, Rajah quietly knocked again. “I’m sorry to bother you, Nicky.”
The door was opened a crack and Nicky poked his head out. He was not wearing any clothing. “What’s going on, Big Cheese?” he huffed as if he’d just run a marathon.
“Sorry to bother you,” he said again averting his eyes. “But Cooper’s parents are here, and Killian would like you down in the living room.”
Nicky’s expression turned somber. “I’ll be right down.”
Nicky shut the door, and Rajah turned to walk back down the hall but stopped at the door next to Nicky’s. Fionnoula’s apartment was between his and Nicky’s. Ever since she’d told him that she wanted him as a companion mate and he’d politely declined, she’d been more distant than usual. His heart hurt, and he was lonely without her companionship. She brought the light of youth into his otherwise dark life, and he found when she wasn’t around, he didn’t find as much joy in things. Abby had made the comment the other night that it had been so long since she’d seen him smile that she forgot what it looked like.
But this was necessary. Fin was nearing maturity and needed to distance herself from him, so she could move on to find her chosen mate. He just wished it wasn’t so hard letting her go. He lifted his hand and gently placed it on the surface of the door wishing that he knew what she was doing inside her room. She’d been spending a lot more time sealed away. Even if he didn’t sit and talk with her as much, when she was in the library or in the kitchen with Abby, he still got to see her and hear her infectious laughter. With her absent so much, he didn’t even get that anymore. He sighed and straightened.
The door to Nicky’s apartment opened, and Nicky stepped out, fully dressed and looking as debonair as ever in his black trousers and long-sleeved black dress shirt, complete with cuff links. His blond hair was damp and he, thankfully, didn’t smell as though he’d just rolled out of bed after having a sex marathon with his mate. He smelled clean, but his expression was sad.
Rajah hadn’t intended to wait for him, but the delay outside Fionnoula’s room had apparently been enough time for Nicky to get himself together.
“What’s the boss gunna to tell them?” Nicky asked as they made their way down the hall to the stairs.
“With Killian, it’s really hard to tell,” Rajah replied. “But he doesn’t believe in dishonesty.”
Nicky nodded his understanding and hurried to the living room. Rajah opened the door and let Nicky step in first. Nicky nodded to Killian then turned toward Cooper’s parents.
Both Lloyd and Sheila stood when Nicky went over to them. He bent to give Cooper’s mother a hug. “How you holding up, Mama Cooper?” he asked.
Sheila dabbed at her eyes. “We haven’t heard from Joshua in almost two months,” she replied to Nicky then turned to look at Killian.
She released Nicky, and Nicky nodded to Lloyd before taking a seat opposite them in one of the easy chairs.
Rajah nodded to them both and then to Killian as he took his seat between Nicky and Killian.
Rajah observed the other people in the room. Lloyd looked worried for his son, Sheila Cooper looked terrified to be in Killian’s presence, Killian looked as though he would rather be anywhere else, and Nicky looked about as relaxed as if he were about to have four o’clock tea. Nothing seemed to faze that male.
“Do you have any word?” Lloyd asked Nicky then looked over at Killian.
Nicky may have been given the mob name of Nicky “the Mouth” because he often had trouble holding his tongue when the situation called for a little verbal tact, but he remained silent, waiting for Killian.
Killian remained silent.
There was a soft knock, and the door opened slowly as Abby stepped in, her round belly sticking out making her waddle more like a penguin than the graceful half-wolf that she was.
She waddled over to Sheila Cooper. “Can I interest either of you in any tea or coffee?”
Sheila turned, and, despite the tears for her son, she smiled. “How are you, dear?”
Abby smiled and rubbed her belly. “We’re just fine.” She held out her hand to Sheila. “How about some tea?”
Sheila Cooper was a socialite and recognized Abby’s gentle attempt to get her out of the room so the males could talk plainly. It was their way. She smiled and took Abby’s hand. “Of course.”
After the females were out of the room and the door closed, Killian turned to Lloyd. “Our last communication with Cooper was forty-two days ago.”
“He said you were sending him on an assignment but wouldn’t tell us what it was.” Lloyd glared at Killian. “Where did you send my son, Killian?”
Killian clenched his jaw trying to figure out what he should tell Lloyd.
“Come on, Killian,” Lloyd said when he recognized Killian’s reluctance to tell him the information. “We worked together for over twenty years. You wouldn’t send him anywhere alone. Level with me.”
Killian didn’t want to answer the male, but Lloyd did deserve an explanation. “Your son betrayed the pack, Lloyd, and I sent him out in some hope of him finding a way for me to not have to kill him.”
That was clearly not something Lloyd had expected to hear. He recovered from the shock, and his face turned red. “Joshua is a Cooper! He would never betray the pack.” Lloyd insisted. He looked from Killian over to Nicky.
Nicky looked over at Killian and when he nodded, Nicky explained.
“Coop has had a bit of a black cloud hanging over his head since that whole Sabrina issue.”
“But both you and Connell agreed that it wasn’t his fault.” Lloyd said looking from Nicky over to Killian.
“No one is blaming Cooper for what happened with Sabrina,” Nicky assured him. “But just before he left on assignment,” Nicky said using air quotes around the word assignment, “He met a dame at The Shack.”
“Who?” Lloyd asked.
“No one from this pack. She was here to steal some delicate information in Lucan’s office,” Nicky explained.
“I don’t see how any of this —” Lloyd began but Nicky cut him off.
“Coop took her to a motel outside town for a little private time. She duped him and sort of borrowed his Jeep and his access card to get into Lucan’s office to lift the information.” He tactfully left out the part of Vivian handcuffing him to the bed and Cooper letting them know where he was by sending an SOS text with his nose.
Lloyd clamped his mouth shut.
“Because of Cooper’s negligence, someone has access to private information and over a hundred years’ worth of research, including personal information about my mate,” Killian informed Lloyd with a hard expression. “I can forgive him for talking in his sleep because who knew Sabrina would do what she did, but for him to be that careless is inexcusable. I haven’t told any of this to my father yet.”
Lloyd rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. “Joshua has always had a blind spot for females. I told him it was going to get him in trouble one day.”
“Whether it was intentional or not, you know what my father will do if he finds out, Lloyd,” Killian said, and Lloyd looked over at him. “But Coop has always been loyal and despite my annoyance with him over Sabrina, he’s still part of my team. His actions weren’t malicious. He was just careless. I offered him the chance to redeem himself by bringing the female thief and the stolen files to me before I pass judgment on him. That’s the assignment I sent him on. Out of respect, I’ll keep this from my father until he comes back.”
Lloyd looked visibly unnerved. “Thank you,” he said giving Killian an honestly appreciative look. Everyone in the pack knew that Connell didn’t allow any acts of disloyalty, intentional or not. He’d made an example of any who had done so in the past. “Oh, my boy. What have you done?”
“The last time I talked to him, he had the female thief and was planning to bring her back here,” Nicky told him.
“Who was she?” Lloyd asked. “Do you know who she was working for?”
“We can’t discuss those details, Lloyd, you know how things work here,” Killian told him, not wanting to drop the bomb that the culprit was probably the Lupine Council, and that Cooper had been in Boston. Lloyd was about as interested in politics as Killian was, but his mate was a socialite and spent a lot of time with Francine Patrick, Arten Patrick’s mate. Arten was Conan Patrick’s father, one of the two wolves Ghadir had killed during the Sabrina debacle, and the wolf who was on the verge of challenging Connell as pack Alpha.
Lloyd lifted his chin. “Well, maybe I need to come out of retirement until Joshua is found. The Enforcer team needs a Tracker, and the Coopers have always been the Samhradh Trackers.”
“We’ll find him,” Killian promised. “You retired for a reason, Lloyd,” Killian reminded him, glancing down at the male’s knee.
“I can still do the job.” Lloyd bristled at the implication that he was incapable of tracking because of an old injury, but Killian rushed to ease the male’s pride.
“I have no doubt you can. You taught Coop everything he knows about physically tracking someone and that has been invaluable over the years. But we need to focus on getting Cooper back home,” Killian told him.
“Do you know where he is?” Lloyd asked Killian.
“We know where he was the last time Nicky heard from him, but he could be anywhere by now.” Killian told him.
“Where was he?”
“Lloyd,” Killian said with a sigh. “We want to find him just as much as you do, but you can’t get involved with this. It’s bigger than just our pack.”
Lloyd didn’t look happy with Killian’s comment, but he nodded his head. “I know you’ll do everything you can, Killian, to bring him home. Just let me know if I can help in any way. Felix doesn’t have the Cooper nose, but he’s young and can run.”
“I know and will let you know if I need any help. Things will turn out as they are intended to, Lloyd. We will find him, and we will bring him home. I take care of my wolves.”
“You always have,” Lloyd said, nodding to Killian. “What am I supposed to tell Sheila? She’s in hysterics over this.”
“If she’s looking for someone to lollygag around with for tea, have her give me a call. I’ll be her escort until Coop comes home,” Nicky said and the other three males in the room turned to look at him. He looked at Killian’s expression and shrugged. “I can be social.”
Killian nodded, understanding the reason for the offer. It wasn’t because Nicky had an interest in socializing with the Samhradh pack elite. It was to find a way in to gather intel from a social group normally unwilling to talk to those outside their own circle. For the past month, Nicky had been trying to figure out if someone in the Samhradh pack was working with the Council regarding the theft from Lucan’s office. He was not getting anywhere on his own, but maybe if he escorted Sheila Cooper around to various functions, he would get the information he was looking for. Nicky suspected someone in that social circle might know something.
“That’s a kind offer, Nicky,” Lloyd said to him. “But I heard you’re newly mated. Won’t your mate mind?”
Nicky waved his hand at him. “Olivia will not mind at all. Trust me.”
Killian stood, prompting the other males in the room to do the same.
Lloyd turned to Killian. “Until Joshua is back home, Sheila insists that Felix stay at home with us,” Lloyd announced. “The pup’s not happy, but he understands. He did ask if he could come by to gather a few things.”
“Of course,” Killian said.
Lloyd nodded at Killian, then nodded to Nicky and Rajah before he walked out.
Killian sent a mental note to Abby that Lloyd was coming out and to wrap up her conversation with Sheila. Abby disliked entertaining what she described as shallow, pretentious females like Sheila Cooper, and he sent his appreciation along with the message.
When Lloyd stepped out and closed the door, Killian sighed and relaxed now that he didn’t have to put up the authoritative front.
“Are we going after him, Kil?” Rajah asked.
Killian sat deep in thought. He sent his mental ping to bring Shadow in from wherever he was. Both Riley and Abby were in the house, so Shadow was as well.
Less than a minute later, the door quietly opened, and Shadow stepped inside.
“Well, look who’s using the door instead of poofing outta thin air,” Nicky teased.
Shadow didn’t reply but the corners of his mouth did lift at Nicky’s comment. He stepped over to his usual dark corner and waited.
“We need to figure out what we’re going to do about Cooper,” Killian announced.
Rajah cleared his throat. “Fin had a vision about him, and I fear with his continued silence it might explain a few things.”
“Go on,” Killian urged.
“She saw him in what she described as a prison, or more like a dungeon. She said the area had stone floors and walls.” He hesitated before adding, “She saw him chained like an animal, and he didn’t look well.”
“Does she know where he is?” Killian asked, clearly disturbed by the idea of Cooper restrained in such a manner.
Rajah shook his head then turned to look at Shadow. “But she saw Shadow there and the silhouette of a small female.”
Killian’s eyes met Shadow’s. “Your brother really needs to be put down.”
Shadow nodded his agreement.
“You know,” Nicky said speaking up. “Coop was in Boston, and I’ve seen something like you described down under the Council house.”
“Do we want to know why you’ve seen the catacomb prisons of the Council,” Killian asked him.
Nicky gave him a smile and winked. “Probably not.”
Killian sat upright. “Well, we know Ghadir approached Cooper to try to get to you,” Killian said to Shadow.
“Coop said that Rufus’ wacky brother poisoned the kinky thief with Wolfsbane to try to get Coop to cooperate.”
“Why would Ghadir poison her?” Rajah asked directing his question to Shadow.
Shadow shook his head. “He would have done it to gain some advantage.”
“Well, Coop sniffed out the antidote and was healing the dame last we spoke.”
“Maybe he wanted to see how far Cooper was willing to go to clear his name,” Rajah suggested.
“Or how far Coop was willing to go to save the dame,” Nicky said before his brain could tell his mouth to not speak.
Rajah grimaced. “Does Cooper have feelings for her?”
Nicky hesitated to reveal too much personal information about his friend, but the information might help save his life. “He does. I told him not to let his guard down around her, but you know Coop as well as I do.”
“Well, this complicates matters,” Rajah sighed.
Killian was silent for a while, and it prompted the others to quiet down and wait for him. He felt the weight of his wolves’ stares and cleared his throat.
“I received a letter from Julian Corcello a few nights ago requesting my presence in Boston,” Killian announced.
“His name keeps coming up,” Nicky muttered.
Killian stopped talking and looked at him. “Explain.”
Nicky leveled his gaze on Killian. “When I talked to Coop, he asked me if the name Julian Corcello rang a bell from my stay at the Council big house.”
“How would Cooper have heard of him?” Rajah asked.
Nicky looked over at him. “Coop said his kinky thief gave him the name, and when I went over to talk to Lucan about the access card, Lucan is convinced that this Julian guy is the one behind the theft. And now you get a letter from the guy. Too convenient to be a coincidence, if you ask me.”
Killian narrowed his eyes at him. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”
“Lucan asked me for some time,” Nicky said with a nod and a slight lift of his hand. “He wanted to make some calls and see what he could find out before bringing to your attention that the Council might be involved with Cooper’s disappearance. We were trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together but there were too many pieces missing. Then your sister kindly brought Olivia here from Montana, and I’ve had a few other things on my mind. Sorry about that, Boss.”
Killian growled. “Next time you have information, do not keep it from me. However Lucan chooses to deal with telling my father things is not how you are to be with me. I insist on open communication in my pack. Understood?” He took a deep breath and let go of the anger the other three males could feel coming from him through their link to him as his vouchers.
Nicky lifted his hands in surrender. “Understood, Boss.”
“And quit calling me boss,” Killian growled, but his voice didn’t hold any anger.
Nicky gave him a lopsided grin. “Sure thing, Boss.”
“Are you and Livvie making any progress in discovering if there’s still a pack traitor, or if it was just one of the two dead pups? If Ghadir is involved, then perhaps it relates to Cooper’s disappearance,” Rajah suggested, trying to keep them all focused on the purpose of the meeting.
“All the evidence is pointing to Lucan’s office,” Nicky told them. “My hunch is it involves one of the two dead wolf pups, but I don’t know how yet. No one’s talking.”
“Maybe there’s nothing to be said. It could be that the traitor was either Conan or Tucker.” Killian suggested.
“I don’t know from nothing, but someone spilled the beans about Rufus and what he can do.” He grinned over at Killian. “I remember distinctly that you first thought it was me. You even smashed my phone.”
Killian shrugged unapologetically. “Neither of them knew Shadow was here, let alone what he can do.”
“Then how did he know to come here looking for Rufus in the first place?” Nicky asked.
Killian eyed Shadow. “Could he have followed you from New Mexico?”
“Ghadir would not have wanted to be in New Mexico any more than I did. He had those two wolves check up on me. They spoke to him on the phone.”
“The night Abigail and I mated, my father said he’d been in contact with the Council, and they gave him the task that sent you to New Mexico, but I doubt he would have told them how the task would be accomplished, just that it would.”
“Maybe what Rufus can do was in Lucan’s computer,” Nicky suggested.
Killian eyed Shadow. “Does Lucan know of your … particular genetic traits?” He was delicately asking if Lucan knew that Shadow had djinn blood inside him. Neither Rajah nor Nicky knew the details and Killian felt it Shadow’s place to tell them if he wanted them to know.
Shadow shook his head but didn’t elaborate.
“So how did word get to Ghadir?” Killian asked.
“Maybe no one knew specifically of Shadow, just that your father used an assassin. Maybe Ghadir came to investigate and discovered Shadow by chance,” Rajah offered.
“It makes sense,” Nicky said. “Ghadir could have found out about the access card from one of the two dead wolves.”
“Conan was Arten Patrick’s son and Tucker Flannigan was the son of William Flannigan. William might not be as political as Arten, but Flannigan’s Mill employs probably a third of the pack, and he holds a lot of sway with the workers,” Killian said. “Of the two, Arten has the most to lose if it comes out that his son had something to do with betraying the pack.”
“Both pups were knowledgeable with computers,” Rajah told them. “Tucker probably had an edge up on Conan, being the one to work on the computers at the mill, but he would have no reason to betray the pack. Neither of them would.”
“We know Ghadir killed both Conan and Tucker with Sabrina’s help.” Killian said. “But why kill both? Were they both supplying him information?”
“Ghadir would not have left any loose ends,” Shadow informed them.
“We already suspect Ghadir got his intel about the Enforcer team from Sabrina, who got it from Cooper when he was asleep. Both Conan and Tucker were working with the data Lucan collected pertaining to his research and had total access to his computer. If either of them was leaking information to Ghadir, why have his thief come in and steal the computer files?” Killian asked.
“Maybe the computer files were a cover,” Nicky offered.
“What do you mean?” Rajah asked.
Nicky looked at Killian. “Lucan admits something other than the computer files were taken, but he’s being squirrely as to what exactly it was.”
“I got the same impression when Logan and I were over there talking to him,” Killian admitted. He looked over at Nicky.
“Like I said. There are a lot of missing pieces,” Nicky said to him.
“You and Livvie continue doing what you’re doing to connect those missing pieces.”
Nicky nodded his acknowledgement.
“What does this letter from Julian Corcello say?” Rajah asked, trying to veer them back on subject … again.
“It says in a roundabout way that he has something I want, and I have something he wants. He thinks we can find some equitable arrangement.”
“You sound so eloquent,” Nicky joked. “Equitable arrangement. All that time with Lucan must be doing you some good, Boss.”
Killian narrowed his eyes at him in warning.
“This letter from Julian Corcello smells like a trap,” Rajah announced. When the other three males were looking at him, he continued. “He’s hinting that he has Cooper expecting you to come to Boston.” He turned to look at Shadow. “Ghadir will be expecting you to come with Kil to get Cooper out.” He turned to look back at Killian. “If you and Shadow go, you’ll be walking right into their trap, Kil.”
Killian looked over at Shadow. “What do you think?”
“Knowing Ghadir, Rajah is correct.”
“I don’t get it. Ghadir, as Gideon Nelson, is head of the Council Enforcers. Why not just come get him?” Nicky asked. “Why involve Cooper at all?”
“If Lucan suspects Julian Corcello is behind the theft of his information, maybe Ghadir is working with him outside his role of Enforcer,” Killian offered.
“This Julian guy is the Big Six on the other side of the ring as Simon Albus on the issue of half-breeds.”
“Simon Albus has made his opinion of half-breeds quite clear to everybody. If Julian Corcello is his main opponent on the issue, whose side is Ghadir on?” Killian wondered.
“Ghadir is on Ghadir’s side,” Shadow said. “It was how our father raised us.”
“So he’s working with Simon Albus as head of the Council Enforcers, and he’s working with Julian Corcello for what purpose?” Rajah asked.
“Cooper’s kinky dame told Coop that Julian was hoping to oust Simon Albus from power,” Nicky supplied.
“How would he do that?” Rajah asked.
“By using me,” Shadow supplied. He glanced over at Killian. “Ghadir is planning to use me as his weapon.”
Killian growled. “No one is using you for anything.” The room fell silent, and all three watched Killian as he worried his forehead. “I think I need to talk with my father and Lucan,” he said finally. Turning to look over at Shadow, he added, “but it looks like you and I are going on another road trip.”
Shadow didn’t say anything, but he bowed his head.
“You can’t go to Boston, Kil,” Rajah protested in his calm voice. “What about Abby?”
Rajah was referring to Abby’s declining health during the final weeks of her pregnancy. Maggie was coming by daily to check on her.
“I know,” Killian said. “But what do you propose I do? I can’t leave Cooper there. He’s screwed up and caused me a lot of trouble, but Cooper is my wolf, and I always take care of what’s mine.”
“You need to be here. Let me go in your place, Kil,” Rajah offered.
Killian shook his head. “I need to be the one to go.” Killian paused and pinched his lips. “I’m not happy about it either, Sonuachar, but I don’t have a choice. We’ll talk about it later,” he told Abby while the other males waited.
“Then I will keep careful watch over the females while you both are away,” Rajah offered.
Killian turned to Nicky. “That leaves you and Livvie to handle any Enforcer tasks that come up. Can you handle that and the investigation?”
Nicky gave him his signature lopsided grin. “Me and Olivia can handle everything here. You just go and bring Coop home where he belongs.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Killian, but Lloyd and Sheila Cooper are here to see you.”
Killian Black looked from the computer screen he was studying to focus his eyes on his loyal second, Rajah Kakkar, peeking his head in from the hallway.
Killian sighed. If Cooper’s parents were here, it meant they were concerned about Cooper. They were all concerned about Cooper. It had been a month and a half since Nicky had last learn from him.
Killian had avoided talking to Lloyd, who, as Cooper’s father, had been the Tracker when Killian took over as pack Enforcer over forty years ago. Lloyd had retired over twenty years ago when Cooper reached maturity and had shown that he had the Cooper nose. Killian had worked with Lloyd for over twenty years and knew he owed the male an explanation, and, although it was a lousy excuse, Killian hadn’t made the time to go over and talk to him about his son because Killian didn’t want to tell the male what the situation really was.
“Do you want me to have them come back?” Rajah asked at Killian’s silence.
“No,” Killian said closing the cover of his computer. “Nothing ever gets accomplished by avoidance. Have them wait in the living room. And do me a favor. Go find Nicky. I want you both to meet me in there.”
“Nicky and Livvie haven’t come down yet,” Rajah explained, giving Killian a pretty good idea of what Nicky was doing up in his room with his mate.
“Tell him to get his tail down here. He can do what he’s doing any time. He’s on the clock as soon as the shutters go up.”
Rajah was a bit startled at Killian’s brash tone but bowed his head. “I’ll go get him, and we will meet you in the living room.”
When Rajah went to pull his head out of the room, Killian sighed, stood, and walked over to him. “I’m ...” He started to apologize, but it was hard for Alpha males to do so because it meant admitting that they were wrong. Killian struggled to get the words out, but his wolf rebelled, and he was just too tired to fight him.
Rajah smiled and put an easy hand on Killian’s shoulder. “I understand, Kil,” Rajah told him. Rajah understood him well and knew the struggle he was fighting. “You’ve been under a lot of stress. Maybe we could go for a run tonight before dawn.”
Killian nodded. It had been over a week since he’d shifted and let his wolf run. “Maybe that will help.”
Rajah patted his shoulder. “I’ll go get Nicky.”
“Thank you,” Killian said and took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming conversation. Tactful communication was not a skill he possessed. Abby often compared his verbal finesse with that of a potato, and Killian didn’t always disagree with her.
As the Samhradh pack Enforcer, Killian needed to be intimidating enough to keep the wolves in line and willful enough to act out punishment when someone broke the laws. He was good at being intimidating.
As the Teaghlach pack Alpha, though, he was learning the delicate art of negotiating with both his father and other wolves outside the pack, and he was really struggling to not offend someone who he was trying to make an ally. Killian often spoke his mind, rather than what was politically correct. Lucan was helping him a lot, but spending time with the elder wolf was a lesson in patience, and Killian was dangerously low in supply of patience with Abby’s pregnancy getting further along and her health getting more fragile.
He checked in with her and found her in the kitchen. For her safety, his mother had restricted Abby’s time on her feet to only a few hours a night, and now was her time out of bed. She was in the kitchen visiting with Riley and making some onion bread. She knew he loved it. He gave her a mental kiss and told her about Cooper’s parents’ visit. He closed the door to his office as he walked out into the hall.
Rajah seated Lloyd and Sheila Cooper in the living room and politely explained that Killian would be with them shortly. He left the worried couple to wander up the stairs and down the hall to Nicky’s apartment.
He didn’t want to interrupt them. Nicky and Livvie were newly mated, and Rajah wanted to allow them every opportunity to spend time together, even if they were partners on the job. It was important for newly mated couples to stay close and strengthen the bond, but Nicky was Cooper’s friend, and Rajah hoped the interruption wouldn’t upset him.
Taking a deep breath, he reached up to knock. When there was no reply, Rajah quietly knocked again. “I’m sorry to bother you, Nicky.”
The door was opened a crack and Nicky poked his head out. He was not wearing any clothing. “What’s going on, Big Cheese?” he huffed as if he’d just run a marathon.
“Sorry to bother you,” he said again averting his eyes. “But Cooper’s parents are here, and Killian would like you down in the living room.”
Nicky’s expression turned somber. “I’ll be right down.”
Nicky shut the door, and Rajah turned to walk back down the hall but stopped at the door next to Nicky’s. Fionnoula’s apartment was between his and Nicky’s. Ever since she’d told him that she wanted him as a companion mate and he’d politely declined, she’d been more distant than usual. His heart hurt, and he was lonely without her companionship. She brought the light of youth into his otherwise dark life, and he found when she wasn’t around, he didn’t find as much joy in things. Abby had made the comment the other night that it had been so long since she’d seen him smile that she forgot what it looked like.
But this was necessary. Fin was nearing maturity and needed to distance herself from him, so she could move on to find her chosen mate. He just wished it wasn’t so hard letting her go. He lifted his hand and gently placed it on the surface of the door wishing that he knew what she was doing inside her room. She’d been spending a lot more time sealed away. Even if he didn’t sit and talk with her as much, when she was in the library or in the kitchen with Abby, he still got to see her and hear her infectious laughter. With her absent so much, he didn’t even get that anymore. He sighed and straightened.
The door to Nicky’s apartment opened, and Nicky stepped out, fully dressed and looking as debonair as ever in his black trousers and long-sleeved black dress shirt, complete with cuff links. His blond hair was damp and he, thankfully, didn’t smell as though he’d just rolled out of bed after having a sex marathon with his mate. He smelled clean, but his expression was sad.
Rajah hadn’t intended to wait for him, but the delay outside Fionnoula’s room had apparently been enough time for Nicky to get himself together.
“What’s the boss gunna to tell them?” Nicky asked as they made their way down the hall to the stairs.
“With Killian, it’s really hard to tell,” Rajah replied. “But he doesn’t believe in dishonesty.”
Nicky nodded his understanding and hurried to the living room. Rajah opened the door and let Nicky step in first. Nicky nodded to Killian then turned toward Cooper’s parents.
Both Lloyd and Sheila stood when Nicky went over to them. He bent to give Cooper’s mother a hug. “How you holding up, Mama Cooper?” he asked.
Sheila dabbed at her eyes. “We haven’t heard from Joshua in almost two months,” she replied to Nicky then turned to look at Killian.
She released Nicky, and Nicky nodded to Lloyd before taking a seat opposite them in one of the easy chairs.
Rajah nodded to them both and then to Killian as he took his seat between Nicky and Killian.
Rajah observed the other people in the room. Lloyd looked worried for his son, Sheila Cooper looked terrified to be in Killian’s presence, Killian looked as though he would rather be anywhere else, and Nicky looked about as relaxed as if he were about to have four o’clock tea. Nothing seemed to faze that male.
“Do you have any word?” Lloyd asked Nicky then looked over at Killian.
Nicky may have been given the mob name of Nicky “the Mouth” because he often had trouble holding his tongue when the situation called for a little verbal tact, but he remained silent, waiting for Killian.
Killian remained silent.
There was a soft knock, and the door opened slowly as Abby stepped in, her round belly sticking out making her waddle more like a penguin than the graceful half-wolf that she was.
She waddled over to Sheila Cooper. “Can I interest either of you in any tea or coffee?”
Sheila turned, and, despite the tears for her son, she smiled. “How are you, dear?”
Abby smiled and rubbed her belly. “We’re just fine.” She held out her hand to Sheila. “How about some tea?”
Sheila Cooper was a socialite and recognized Abby’s gentle attempt to get her out of the room so the males could talk plainly. It was their way. She smiled and took Abby’s hand. “Of course.”
After the females were out of the room and the door closed, Killian turned to Lloyd. “Our last communication with Cooper was forty-two days ago.”
“He said you were sending him on an assignment but wouldn’t tell us what it was.” Lloyd glared at Killian. “Where did you send my son, Killian?”
Killian clenched his jaw trying to figure out what he should tell Lloyd.
“Come on, Killian,” Lloyd said when he recognized Killian’s reluctance to tell him the information. “We worked together for over twenty years. You wouldn’t send him anywhere alone. Level with me.”
Killian didn’t want to answer the male, but Lloyd did deserve an explanation. “Your son betrayed the pack, Lloyd, and I sent him out in some hope of him finding a way for me to not have to kill him.”
That was clearly not something Lloyd had expected to hear. He recovered from the shock, and his face turned red. “Joshua is a Cooper! He would never betray the pack.” Lloyd insisted. He looked from Killian over to Nicky.
Nicky looked over at Killian and when he nodded, Nicky explained.
“Coop has had a bit of a black cloud hanging over his head since that whole Sabrina issue.”
“But both you and Connell agreed that it wasn’t his fault.” Lloyd said looking from Nicky over to Killian.
“No one is blaming Cooper for what happened with Sabrina,” Nicky assured him. “But just before he left on assignment,” Nicky said using air quotes around the word assignment, “He met a dame at The Shack.”
“Who?” Lloyd asked.
“No one from this pack. She was here to steal some delicate information in Lucan’s office,” Nicky explained.
“I don’t see how any of this —” Lloyd began but Nicky cut him off.
“Coop took her to a motel outside town for a little private time. She duped him and sort of borrowed his Jeep and his access card to get into Lucan’s office to lift the information.” He tactfully left out the part of Vivian handcuffing him to the bed and Cooper letting them know where he was by sending an SOS text with his nose.
Lloyd clamped his mouth shut.
“Because of Cooper’s negligence, someone has access to private information and over a hundred years’ worth of research, including personal information about my mate,” Killian informed Lloyd with a hard expression. “I can forgive him for talking in his sleep because who knew Sabrina would do what she did, but for him to be that careless is inexcusable. I haven’t told any of this to my father yet.”
Lloyd rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. “Joshua has always had a blind spot for females. I told him it was going to get him in trouble one day.”
“Whether it was intentional or not, you know what my father will do if he finds out, Lloyd,” Killian said, and Lloyd looked over at him. “But Coop has always been loyal and despite my annoyance with him over Sabrina, he’s still part of my team. His actions weren’t malicious. He was just careless. I offered him the chance to redeem himself by bringing the female thief and the stolen files to me before I pass judgment on him. That’s the assignment I sent him on. Out of respect, I’ll keep this from my father until he comes back.”
Lloyd looked visibly unnerved. “Thank you,” he said giving Killian an honestly appreciative look. Everyone in the pack knew that Connell didn’t allow any acts of disloyalty, intentional or not. He’d made an example of any who had done so in the past. “Oh, my boy. What have you done?”
“The last time I talked to him, he had the female thief and was planning to bring her back here,” Nicky told him.
“Who was she?” Lloyd asked. “Do you know who she was working for?”
“We can’t discuss those details, Lloyd, you know how things work here,” Killian told him, not wanting to drop the bomb that the culprit was probably the Lupine Council, and that Cooper had been in Boston. Lloyd was about as interested in politics as Killian was, but his mate was a socialite and spent a lot of time with Francine Patrick, Arten Patrick’s mate. Arten was Conan Patrick’s father, one of the two wolves Ghadir had killed during the Sabrina debacle, and the wolf who was on the verge of challenging Connell as pack Alpha.
Lloyd lifted his chin. “Well, maybe I need to come out of retirement until Joshua is found. The Enforcer team needs a Tracker, and the Coopers have always been the Samhradh Trackers.”
“We’ll find him,” Killian promised. “You retired for a reason, Lloyd,” Killian reminded him, glancing down at the male’s knee.
“I can still do the job.” Lloyd bristled at the implication that he was incapable of tracking because of an old injury, but Killian rushed to ease the male’s pride.
“I have no doubt you can. You taught Coop everything he knows about physically tracking someone and that has been invaluable over the years. But we need to focus on getting Cooper back home,” Killian told him.
“Do you know where he is?” Lloyd asked Killian.
“We know where he was the last time Nicky heard from him, but he could be anywhere by now.” Killian told him.
“Where was he?”
“Lloyd,” Killian said with a sigh. “We want to find him just as much as you do, but you can’t get involved with this. It’s bigger than just our pack.”
Lloyd didn’t look happy with Killian’s comment, but he nodded his head. “I know you’ll do everything you can, Killian, to bring him home. Just let me know if I can help in any way. Felix doesn’t have the Cooper nose, but he’s young and can run.”
“I know and will let you know if I need any help. Things will turn out as they are intended to, Lloyd. We will find him, and we will bring him home. I take care of my wolves.”
“You always have,” Lloyd said, nodding to Killian. “What am I supposed to tell Sheila? She’s in hysterics over this.”
“If she’s looking for someone to lollygag around with for tea, have her give me a call. I’ll be her escort until Coop comes home,” Nicky said and the other three males in the room turned to look at him. He looked at Killian’s expression and shrugged. “I can be social.”
Killian nodded, understanding the reason for the offer. It wasn’t because Nicky had an interest in socializing with the Samhradh pack elite. It was to find a way in to gather intel from a social group normally unwilling to talk to those outside their own circle. For the past month, Nicky had been trying to figure out if someone in the Samhradh pack was working with the Council regarding the theft from Lucan’s office. He was not getting anywhere on his own, but maybe if he escorted Sheila Cooper around to various functions, he would get the information he was looking for. Nicky suspected someone in that social circle might know something.
“That’s a kind offer, Nicky,” Lloyd said to him. “But I heard you’re newly mated. Won’t your mate mind?”
Nicky waved his hand at him. “Olivia will not mind at all. Trust me.”
Killian stood, prompting the other males in the room to do the same.
Lloyd turned to Killian. “Until Joshua is back home, Sheila insists that Felix stay at home with us,” Lloyd announced. “The pup’s not happy, but he understands. He did ask if he could come by to gather a few things.”
“Of course,” Killian said.
Lloyd nodded at Killian, then nodded to Nicky and Rajah before he walked out.
Killian sent a mental note to Abby that Lloyd was coming out and to wrap up her conversation with Sheila. Abby disliked entertaining what she described as shallow, pretentious females like Sheila Cooper, and he sent his appreciation along with the message.
When Lloyd stepped out and closed the door, Killian sighed and relaxed now that he didn’t have to put up the authoritative front.
“Are we going after him, Kil?” Rajah asked.
Killian sat deep in thought. He sent his mental ping to bring Shadow in from wherever he was. Both Riley and Abby were in the house, so Shadow was as well.
Less than a minute later, the door quietly opened, and Shadow stepped inside.
“Well, look who’s using the door instead of poofing outta thin air,” Nicky teased.
Shadow didn’t reply but the corners of his mouth did lift at Nicky’s comment. He stepped over to his usual dark corner and waited.
“We need to figure out what we’re going to do about Cooper,” Killian announced.
Rajah cleared his throat. “Fin had a vision about him, and I fear with his continued silence it might explain a few things.”
“Go on,” Killian urged.
“She saw him in what she described as a prison, or more like a dungeon. She said the area had stone floors and walls.” He hesitated before adding, “She saw him chained like an animal, and he didn’t look well.”
“Does she know where he is?” Killian asked, clearly disturbed by the idea of Cooper restrained in such a manner.
Rajah shook his head then turned to look at Shadow. “But she saw Shadow there and the silhouette of a small female.”
Killian’s eyes met Shadow’s. “Your brother really needs to be put down.”
Shadow nodded his agreement.
“You know,” Nicky said speaking up. “Coop was in Boston, and I’ve seen something like you described down under the Council house.”
“Do we want to know why you’ve seen the catacomb prisons of the Council,” Killian asked him.
Nicky gave him a smile and winked. “Probably not.”
Killian sat upright. “Well, we know Ghadir approached Cooper to try to get to you,” Killian said to Shadow.
“Coop said that Rufus’ wacky brother poisoned the kinky thief with Wolfsbane to try to get Coop to cooperate.”
“Why would Ghadir poison her?” Rajah asked directing his question to Shadow.
Shadow shook his head. “He would have done it to gain some advantage.”
“Well, Coop sniffed out the antidote and was healing the dame last we spoke.”
“Maybe he wanted to see how far Cooper was willing to go to clear his name,” Rajah suggested.
“Or how far Coop was willing to go to save the dame,” Nicky said before his brain could tell his mouth to not speak.
Rajah grimaced. “Does Cooper have feelings for her?”
Nicky hesitated to reveal too much personal information about his friend, but the information might help save his life. “He does. I told him not to let his guard down around her, but you know Coop as well as I do.”
“Well, this complicates matters,” Rajah sighed.
Killian was silent for a while, and it prompted the others to quiet down and wait for him. He felt the weight of his wolves’ stares and cleared his throat.
“I received a letter from Julian Corcello a few nights ago requesting my presence in Boston,” Killian announced.
“His name keeps coming up,” Nicky muttered.
Killian stopped talking and looked at him. “Explain.”
Nicky leveled his gaze on Killian. “When I talked to Coop, he asked me if the name Julian Corcello rang a bell from my stay at the Council big house.”
“How would Cooper have heard of him?” Rajah asked.
Nicky looked over at him. “Coop said his kinky thief gave him the name, and when I went over to talk to Lucan about the access card, Lucan is convinced that this Julian guy is the one behind the theft. And now you get a letter from the guy. Too convenient to be a coincidence, if you ask me.”
Killian narrowed his eyes at him. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”
“Lucan asked me for some time,” Nicky said with a nod and a slight lift of his hand. “He wanted to make some calls and see what he could find out before bringing to your attention that the Council might be involved with Cooper’s disappearance. We were trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together but there were too many pieces missing. Then your sister kindly brought Olivia here from Montana, and I’ve had a few other things on my mind. Sorry about that, Boss.”
Killian growled. “Next time you have information, do not keep it from me. However Lucan chooses to deal with telling my father things is not how you are to be with me. I insist on open communication in my pack. Understood?” He took a deep breath and let go of the anger the other three males could feel coming from him through their link to him as his vouchers.
Nicky lifted his hands in surrender. “Understood, Boss.”
“And quit calling me boss,” Killian growled, but his voice didn’t hold any anger.
Nicky gave him a lopsided grin. “Sure thing, Boss.”
“Are you and Livvie making any progress in discovering if there’s still a pack traitor, or if it was just one of the two dead pups? If Ghadir is involved, then perhaps it relates to Cooper’s disappearance,” Rajah suggested, trying to keep them all focused on the purpose of the meeting.
“All the evidence is pointing to Lucan’s office,” Nicky told them. “My hunch is it involves one of the two dead wolf pups, but I don’t know how yet. No one’s talking.”
“Maybe there’s nothing to be said. It could be that the traitor was either Conan or Tucker.” Killian suggested.
“I don’t know from nothing, but someone spilled the beans about Rufus and what he can do.” He grinned over at Killian. “I remember distinctly that you first thought it was me. You even smashed my phone.”
Killian shrugged unapologetically. “Neither of them knew Shadow was here, let alone what he can do.”
“Then how did he know to come here looking for Rufus in the first place?” Nicky asked.
Killian eyed Shadow. “Could he have followed you from New Mexico?”
“Ghadir would not have wanted to be in New Mexico any more than I did. He had those two wolves check up on me. They spoke to him on the phone.”
“The night Abigail and I mated, my father said he’d been in contact with the Council, and they gave him the task that sent you to New Mexico, but I doubt he would have told them how the task would be accomplished, just that it would.”
“Maybe what Rufus can do was in Lucan’s computer,” Nicky suggested.
Killian eyed Shadow. “Does Lucan know of your … particular genetic traits?” He was delicately asking if Lucan knew that Shadow had djinn blood inside him. Neither Rajah nor Nicky knew the details and Killian felt it Shadow’s place to tell them if he wanted them to know.
Shadow shook his head but didn’t elaborate.
“So how did word get to Ghadir?” Killian asked.
“Maybe no one knew specifically of Shadow, just that your father used an assassin. Maybe Ghadir came to investigate and discovered Shadow by chance,” Rajah offered.
“It makes sense,” Nicky said. “Ghadir could have found out about the access card from one of the two dead wolves.”
“Conan was Arten Patrick’s son and Tucker Flannigan was the son of William Flannigan. William might not be as political as Arten, but Flannigan’s Mill employs probably a third of the pack, and he holds a lot of sway with the workers,” Killian said. “Of the two, Arten has the most to lose if it comes out that his son had something to do with betraying the pack.”
“Both pups were knowledgeable with computers,” Rajah told them. “Tucker probably had an edge up on Conan, being the one to work on the computers at the mill, but he would have no reason to betray the pack. Neither of them would.”
“We know Ghadir killed both Conan and Tucker with Sabrina’s help.” Killian said. “But why kill both? Were they both supplying him information?”
“Ghadir would not have left any loose ends,” Shadow informed them.
“We already suspect Ghadir got his intel about the Enforcer team from Sabrina, who got it from Cooper when he was asleep. Both Conan and Tucker were working with the data Lucan collected pertaining to his research and had total access to his computer. If either of them was leaking information to Ghadir, why have his thief come in and steal the computer files?” Killian asked.
“Maybe the computer files were a cover,” Nicky offered.
“What do you mean?” Rajah asked.
Nicky looked at Killian. “Lucan admits something other than the computer files were taken, but he’s being squirrely as to what exactly it was.”
“I got the same impression when Logan and I were over there talking to him,” Killian admitted. He looked over at Nicky.
“Like I said. There are a lot of missing pieces,” Nicky said to him.
“You and Livvie continue doing what you’re doing to connect those missing pieces.”
Nicky nodded his acknowledgement.
“What does this letter from Julian Corcello say?” Rajah asked, trying to veer them back on subject … again.
“It says in a roundabout way that he has something I want, and I have something he wants. He thinks we can find some equitable arrangement.”
“You sound so eloquent,” Nicky joked. “Equitable arrangement. All that time with Lucan must be doing you some good, Boss.”
Killian narrowed his eyes at him in warning.
“This letter from Julian Corcello smells like a trap,” Rajah announced. When the other three males were looking at him, he continued. “He’s hinting that he has Cooper expecting you to come to Boston.” He turned to look at Shadow. “Ghadir will be expecting you to come with Kil to get Cooper out.” He turned to look back at Killian. “If you and Shadow go, you’ll be walking right into their trap, Kil.”
Killian looked over at Shadow. “What do you think?”
“Knowing Ghadir, Rajah is correct.”
“I don’t get it. Ghadir, as Gideon Nelson, is head of the Council Enforcers. Why not just come get him?” Nicky asked. “Why involve Cooper at all?”
“If Lucan suspects Julian Corcello is behind the theft of his information, maybe Ghadir is working with him outside his role of Enforcer,” Killian offered.
“This Julian guy is the Big Six on the other side of the ring as Simon Albus on the issue of half-breeds.”
“Simon Albus has made his opinion of half-breeds quite clear to everybody. If Julian Corcello is his main opponent on the issue, whose side is Ghadir on?” Killian wondered.
“Ghadir is on Ghadir’s side,” Shadow said. “It was how our father raised us.”
“So he’s working with Simon Albus as head of the Council Enforcers, and he’s working with Julian Corcello for what purpose?” Rajah asked.
“Cooper’s kinky dame told Coop that Julian was hoping to oust Simon Albus from power,” Nicky supplied.
“How would he do that?” Rajah asked.
“By using me,” Shadow supplied. He glanced over at Killian. “Ghadir is planning to use me as his weapon.”
Killian growled. “No one is using you for anything.” The room fell silent, and all three watched Killian as he worried his forehead. “I think I need to talk with my father and Lucan,” he said finally. Turning to look over at Shadow, he added, “but it looks like you and I are going on another road trip.”
Shadow didn’t say anything, but he bowed his head.
“You can’t go to Boston, Kil,” Rajah protested in his calm voice. “What about Abby?”
Rajah was referring to Abby’s declining health during the final weeks of her pregnancy. Maggie was coming by daily to check on her.
“I know,” Killian said. “But what do you propose I do? I can’t leave Cooper there. He’s screwed up and caused me a lot of trouble, but Cooper is my wolf, and I always take care of what’s mine.”
“You need to be here. Let me go in your place, Kil,” Rajah offered.
Killian shook his head. “I need to be the one to go.” Killian paused and pinched his lips. “I’m not happy about it either, Sonuachar, but I don’t have a choice. We’ll talk about it later,” he told Abby while the other males waited.
“Then I will keep careful watch over the females while you both are away,” Rajah offered.
Killian turned to Nicky. “That leaves you and Livvie to handle any Enforcer tasks that come up. Can you handle that and the investigation?”
Nicky gave him his signature lopsided grin. “Me and Olivia can handle everything here. You just go and bring Coop home where he belongs.”
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