Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

DRAVEN

I look down at the comms unit and at my phone. Both are silent. They have been since I boarded the plane hours ago. I open the screens on them, checking that they have service and are working. I even log into the server and network to see if Tavish is online there. It shows he's connected, but with the way the boy's computers work, I dinnae ken if that's normal.

"Where are you, lilla du?" I whisper.

I've messaged him a few times since I landed, but he's yet to respond. All the messages show as delivered, but he's nae read them. It's unlike him. He always responds to me. Even when he should be resting, he responds.

A deep breath fills my chest as the car turns. The mansion appears through the windshield about a mile after we turn off the main road. Standing tall and ominous, everything about it screams, keep out. But even the hounds o' hell couldnae keep me away.

I only hope all is well.

The car pulls to a stop. "We've arrived, sir," the driver states.

I roll my eyes and step out o' the backseat. People who state the obvious have always confused me. I want to glare at the eejit, but my boy is waiting for me. At least I hope so.

With a small tug at my lips, a smile blooms. I am ready to remove that last bit o' distance I've kept between Tavish and I.

The car pulls away, leaving me standing at the foot o' the stairs leading to the palatial front doors. Instead o' my eyes traveling up the impressive house, mine travel along the walls toward the basement windows where I'll find my boy.

As I walk up the steps and into the house, a chill runs through me. My body quivers. An eerie feeling o' dread and foreboding follows behind. I dinnae ken what it might be, but I ken it's nae good.

Picking up the pace, I hurry through the house to the elevator, determined to get to my boy. That feeling tugs at me to find him because something whispers in my head that Tavish is the reason I'm feeling the way I am.

Typically, the pinprick and eye scan to get the elevator moving pisses me off. Today, I'm thankful for it, because iffn he's here and I have no worries, he isn't since he never leaves, then he's well protected.

The swoosh o' the door barely sounds before I'm out o' the box and headed to his room. He's made comments about me moving in, but I dinnae want the Society in my life that much. I'll go on the missions Tavish sends me on while he looks for Maeve, but to live in the mansion is just too much. Although, with as many dead ends as Tavish and I've encountered in the search for Maeve, I'm not sure I'm going to follow anymore leads.

At Tavish's door, I grab the handle, twisting and pushing, but the door disnae budge. I step back, looking down at the handle. I try again but it still doesn't open.

What the fuck? He ken I was on my way home to him.

I place my hand on the scanner and the door clicks open when it beeps. I push my way inside, hoping I'm going to find my boy asleep in his bed waiting for me. But after a quick sweep o' the room, I'm at a loss until I walk behind his desk and look at the screens he's left up.

"Those fucking bampots. What are they thinkin'?"

The comms units have built in GPS units. Most o' the time they're turned off, but Tavish has turned on the units for himself, Zayn, and Everly and her men. I dinnae ken why, but I'm thankful I'm nae gonna be forced to go through with Tavish with what I did with Simon.

I click the screen, enlarging the map showing the dots for the units. All the units Tavish has turned on are centered in a part o' town I dinnae want my boy in, especially without me. Everly's men will protect her and Zayn will protect his partners, iffn they are even with him, leaving Tavish to fend for himself.

A growl o' anger and frustration vibrate through my chest. I'm pissed at the lot o' them. Everly, Zayn, and the others for taking my boy and Tavish for nae telling me at least. I cannae imagine what the hell the boy could've been thinking.

After watching the dots on the screen for another minute, I realize that while Tavish is stationary, the other dots aren't. They're moving around and they're nae anywhere near my boy. The space between his dots and the others has anxiety and fear swirling in my gut.

I pull out my own comms unit and map the coordinates before stalking out o' Tavish's lair, shutting and locking the door behind me. In the garage, I grab a set o' keys off the wall. I press the key fob to find the vehicle and chirps sound from the other side o' the garage. I punch the garage door opener on the visor when I climb into the SUV.

Buildings pass by in a blur as I speed toward Tavish. I chastise myself with every mile I put between headquarters and the spot on Tavish's map. I shouldnae have left him with the threat hanging over Tavish's head. I left him to chase a lead on Maeve. I put the dead before Simon, and I lost him. Now I could lose Tavish as well.

The fear churning in my belly ramps up as the images o' Simon's beaten and battered body spin through my head. Only nae all o' them are o' Simon. My mind plays tricks on me and instead o' Simon's body and face, it's Tavish's that plague me. Tears burn, pricking the back o' my eyes.

I punch the steering wheel and press down on the accelerator. I cannae lose Tavish. I've lost enough.

Thriving businesses give way to rundown dwellings and abandoned, boarded-up houses. The deeper I get into the area where Tavish and the others are, the more my palm itches. I cannae decide if it's for Tavish's ass or for my axes. Teaching the others a lesson about who Tavish belongs to sounds damn good.

I make the turn into the abandoned warehouse district and curse the Gods at the stupidity. I know they are all eager to bring down the order, but they didnae think this out well.

Parked next to a warehouse, the van sticks out like a sore thumb. It's newer and in pristine condition. This area the only vehicles like that scream wealth or law enforcement.

I shake my head. Iffn Tavish is in that van. Anyone for something to take would look there first.