15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

" A re you sure?"

Jackson walked towards the elevators. The other warriors were already waiting.

"She called Costas Markopoulos, and I heard him tell her to make sure you didn't leave. He said he's on his way."

He should have ended that rat the first time he had seen them, but using Layla's fear of him had been to his advantage at the time. He hadn't expected the bond to strengthen the way it had, so Layla's future had been of no concern to him.

But now, the thought of leaving her in such a dangerous world had his heart twisting. Costas was nothing compared to the Circle or his pack, but he was still a dangerous human. Layla would be out there by herself with no one watching over her.

"Watch all the entrances. I need someone to stay here in case someone comes up."

The service elevator doors opened, and they let him on first before they piled in after him. They couldn't go through the lobby; it was too exposed. The service elevator would take them to the staff-only area at the back of the hotel.

"Keep it clean," he advised them.

He didn't have to. They all knew how to do their jobs and wouldn't do anything to reveal themselves to humans. They could hunt and track humans almost as well as Cain could, and they would not leave a trace. But that feeling that everything was about to turn on its head was still nagging him, so he couldn't help feeling anxious.

When the doors finally opened again, his men slipped out and went in different directions. He took a calming breath as he watched them and then headed towards the Housekeeping staff room. He could sense someone was in there; hopefully, it was the woman he wanted to speak to.

"Yeah, two thousand dollars. I'll take you out tonight and still pay off my credit card. I just have to wait for him to come."

He hadn't heard the woman's voice when Miss Roberts spoke to her but could tell from the conversation that he had the right one. But why had Miss Roberts involved herself in this? Was she that pissed off that he'd never invited her to his bed? Something else had to be going on; he had to get to the bottom of it.

"No, it's all perfectly legal. Andrea said they owed him money, so they're just coming to collect. I won't be involved at all; he will hand me the money before he goes to see them."

Was that what Andrea truly believed, or had she fed this woman bullshit to make her do what she wanted? Maybe she wanted to punish Layla because he had chosen her.

He stopped at the staff room door and slowly opened it. It didn't make a sound as he stepped in and shut it behind him.

It was the same woman he'd seen with Miss Roberts. She had her back to him as she sat with a drink in front of her at the table. He slowly pulled a chair out at the table behind her and sat down to wait.

The person on the other end of the phone sounded very excited as he listed everything they could do with the money. Neither of them seemed remorseful about how they were getting that money in the first place. Humans were always so selfish.

"I have to go. He said he was staying only ten minutes away, so he should be here any minute," the woman said with excitement in her voice.

She put her phone away and then stood. When she turned around, she screamed and clutched her chest as she fell back against her table. The unfinished coffee was knocked over and went all over the back of her uniform. It was still steaming.

"Ouch," he said when the woman hissed in pain. "That was a bit clumsy of you."

He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and stood to his full height. The woman's eyes widened, and she shrank back as if she had only just realised who he was.

"You... you can't be here," the woman stammered.

"I'm pretty sure I can go anywhere in this hotel. I do own it, after all," he drawled as he took her hand and placed the handkerchief in it.

Her hand started trembling. Her situation had gone from bad to worse, and she knew it.

"Why don't you tidy yourself up, Miss..." he read the name badge on the collar of her work suit. "Miss Townsend. And then tell me why you did what you did."

"Mr King... Sir," the woman stuttered. "I'm sorry. I was told to make a call, and I did it."

"You were told to tell them I was here. She gave you no other details, so you already knew who to call. You might have told that gullible fool on the other end of your phone that it's a payment for being a snitch, but why don't you tell me the whole story."

"I swear I don't know anything else. Miss Roberts asked me a few weeks ago if I wanted to make extra money. She gave me his name and number and said I had to report any strange things," Miss Townsend said quickly. "Missing people, animal attacks, that sort of thing. Today was the first time she asked me to report that someone was here."

His senses told him she was telling the truth. There were only two reasons anybody wanted information about animal attacks and missing people. They had either seen something and were trying to prove they were not losing their minds or were Hunters trying to confirm wolf sightings. Costas Markopoulos was more dangerous than he had first thought.

"What are you supposed to do when you meet him?"

"I'm going to open the staff door for him, and he will hand me my money."

It seemed Miss Roberts was trying to keep her hands clean. There were security cameras everywhere, so if anything went wrong, Miss Townsend would get the blame.

"Okay. Do that," he said as he stepped back from her.

"Sir?" Miss Townsend questioned with a frown.

"Let them in. I'll play their game," he repeated. "And the next time you have something to report, you will call me, too."

Miss Townsend seemed to understand she was getting a second chance from him. She had told him everything he wanted to know without him having to make any threats. He would let her go back to find out everything he couldn't find out by himself.

"I'll pay you double what they give you if you can find out where Costas has been hiding," he added as he pulled his wallet from his pocket and pulled a card out.

It had just a number on it, which would put her through to an untraceable, secure line.

The thought of money changed her whole attitude. It was always about money with humans. Even Layla had given in to him because he promised her a life of luxury afterwards.

"Yes, sir," Miss Townsend said just as her phone started to ring.

He already knew who it was. His warriors had seen their approach.

"Don't even think of fucking with me, Miss Townsend. You won't like what I'll do to you," he warned, and then he turned to leave. "They're here. Go and open the door."

As he turned to walk to the lobby, he wondered if this was only about revenge for Costas. He killed most of Costas' minions when he rescued Layla and Britney. Was the man trying to prove to himself that he wasn't crazy? Or had he become part of the only human organisation wolves feared?

He would find that out for himself before he got rid of that bastard once and for all.