Chapter 19

Dean

Of course, my mother decided to hang out and entertain us after lunch.

I was relieved when Vance called with an update.

"Hey Dean, just checking in. I met up with Patrick and his three interns." There were four interns, but I didn't correct him on it because I knew exactly where the fourth one was. If my mother would just leave already, I'd already have Bailey in my bed. "We found the car abandoned in the woods near the cliffs."

I grabbed my laptop and tracked their location on satellite. It was right near where Bailey and I first met. Irrationally, that made this even more personal to me.

"No sign of the driver and the intern that's a tracker says there doesn't appear to have been another vehicle in the area. We're scouring the woods looking for him now."

"Thanks, Vance. I do not like this at all. Keep me posted."

The cliffs weren't far from the house. I hated the thought of someone lurking nearby. It flared something within me, an insatiable need to protect my mate.

As soon as I got off the phone, I turned to face my two favorite women in this world.

"Mom, I need you to put the staff and house on full lockdown. We have an unknown last seen nearby. He's abandoned his vehicle by the cliffs and must be in the area. This is not a drill."

"Okay," she said calmly before gathering our trays and taking them back to the kitchen. I knew she would alert Dad and do as told.

Only a few minutes later, the storm shutters locked into place on every window. We didn't get the sort of storms that warranted such coverings, but they doubled as security, making the house nearly impenetrable. Still, that didn't feel safe enough for my little wolf.

"You're freaking out. Why?" Bailey challenged.

"I just can't stand the thought of this guy so close to you."

"That's the bond speaking. It drives wolves crazy."

She got up and started pacing back and forth.

"Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine. I just really don't like being cooped up."

Mom returned. "The house has been secured and locked up. The staff is a little freaked out. We're heading down to the basement and putting on a movie. Do you two need anything?"

"No ma'am. We're fine," Bailey told her.

"Well, I'm off to keep the masses calm then. Call me if you need anything at all."

"Thanks, Mom."

I followed her to the door and locked it behind her. Bailey began pacing again.

Another alert sounded on my phone.

I sucked in a sharp breath and automatically started my timer.

Bailey watched me closely but didn't say a word.

We both jumped when the alarm went off.

No second text.

I immediately got Patrick and Vance on a group call.

"No sign of him yet," Vance informed me.

"We have another. Same situation."

"Shit," Vance swore.

"What the feck is going on?" Patrick asked.

I felt helpless being trapped here.

"I have the Davenport house on full lockdown. I think it's time to sound the alarm for the rest of the Congress."

"I think that would be prudent," Patrick agreed.

"Want me to handle it?" Vance offered.

"No. I'll call Dad next and have him put it out to the Council to handle. Just want you all to be aware of the situation."

"I think we're all in agreement here. If you need anything or any other concerns trigger, just let us know."

"Patrick has his entire team on this and I'm calling in all first responders now."

"Sounds good. Just make sure no one goes out alone. Groups of three or more are best. Ravens succeed when we flock together," I reminded him.

"Yes, sir."

Sometimes it was weird when others called me sir. Vance was closer to my brothers' ages than mine. By seniority, he shouldn't be calling me sir, but I had been given a high-ranking position at such a young age that it just came with the territory. Still, it was weird at times.

As soon as I hung up with them, I stayed true to my word and called Dad. He wasn't at home, but Mom had already filled him in on what she knew and I added in the rest.

"Thanks for the update. I'm calling a Council meeting right now."

"Thanks Dad. Hopefully, it's nothing, but better safe than sorry."

"I agree. Take care, son."

When I ended the call, I realized that I had taken up pacing in stride with Bailey. I didn't even realize I was doing that.

"I hate this," I confessed.

"I know. I'm sorry if I'm making it worse. I just don't handle enclosed spaces well."

"Actually, I think I may be feeding off some of your energy. Is that normal?"

"It is for mating wolves," she informed me.

"That's so wild."

"I don't think our mating signs are all that different."

"Wolves seem to be a little stronger, maybe. Then again, I've never been through this before, so maybe it's perfectly normal."

When my phone went off a third time, I could feel our combined tension fill the room.

We waited with bated breath.

The second notification came through, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just passing through."

No sooner were the words out of my mouth, than another alert came through. I looked at it and growled.

I didn't wait this time and called Patrick and Vance immediately.

"What's up?" Vance asked.

"We have a third. I thought it was just a pass through this time, but then it appears they turned around and came back. Three alerts in on the same vehicle with stolen tags in the last fifteen minutes."

"We found the second car. We'll get a team out on this latest one. Just send over what you have it on," Patrick said.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Keep me posted," I told them.

Bailey walked over and wrapped her arms around me.

"You need to calm down, okay?"

I nodded, then leaned down to kiss her.

It was hard not to think about how different this afternoon should have been.