He swallows hard before darting his eyes my way. “He’s just a kid.”
“We’re going to get him back,” I assure them. “We need to call Koyn and update him and then we’re going to deal with this problem once and for all.”
Dragon paces the living room, smoke practically fuming from him. Koyn doesn’t look at all uncomfortable in this flawless home, speaking with two equally flawless people. It’s a reminder he once came from a world like theirs. Heartache and grief molded him into the savage beast he is today.
Owen and Lindsay, despite having a house full of tattooed bikers, are taking it well. They’re both strong in the face of having another son gone missing under their noses. Kai sits in an armchair in the corner, watching the whole scene with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. Benjamin sits on the coffee table, his head low as he whispers to Nees. The rest of the bikers, including myself, are seated all around the living room. The only other person standing is Katana, but that’s so he can keep a close eye on Dragon.
“Tell me exactly what it is Aimee said,” Koyn says to Owen. “We need to know how Mitch went from going hiking with Taylor to suddenly backing out.”
Owen pinches the bridge of his nose, the stress of the day already weighing on him heavily. “She just said Taylor told her Mitch decided not to go.”
“We need to talk to him,” Dragon growls. “I don’t like these vague-ass answers. Taylor knows something.”
Bermuda thumps his finger on his laptop screen. “Holy shit…I have something.”
Since I’m closest to Bermuda, I peek at his computer screen to find a picture of a teenager with big brown eyes and a goofy smile. Taylor Eckerd seems like your typical teen at first glance, though something about him strikes me as familiar.
“What is it?” Koyn demands.
“I looked up his social media accounts. On Instagram, he must have posted when he got service and spoke to his mother. He’s at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. It’s not too far from here.” Bermuda taps away on his computer, pulling up another screen. “I pinged his cell to pinpoint his exact location.”
“And?” Koyn implores.
“While there’s nothing telling in his phone and text records, I looked up the video footage of a service station near the park. One everyone has to pass by. Based on when Lindsay last spoke to him and when Night Giant called Dragon, I worked in that time frame pulling that footage.” He plays a segment of a video. “There’s video of a man who meets the physical description of Night Giant. He speaks with Taylor and Mitch. Taylor leaves on his own and Mitch gets in the truck with the man.”
“What?” Lindsay’s voice is shrill. “He left with that monster? But why?”
“Because he knows him.” I swallow hard, locking eyes with Dragon, who’s stopped his pacing. “Mitch left with him because he knows him.”
Bermuda nods beside me. “I looked up the mutual friends on their list and one person meets the description.” He pulls up the social media account. “Extremely tall. Built like a linebacker…”
Though I’d never seen Night Giant’s face, the picture Bermuda shows me chills my blood. Something in his dark eyes haunts me. He looks just like his brother that Dragon slaughtered two days ago in that trailer.
“No,” Lindsay whispers. “That’s impossible.”
“Taylor’s dad,” Bermuda starts, but I finish for him, “is Night Giant.”
“What?” Benjamin practically bellows. “That’s insane. Impossible.”
I tear my stare from Night Giant—or Leo Eckerd’s—social media profile to meet Lindsay’s horrified expression.
“It’s an alias,” Copper growls from the sofa beside Nees. “And I’ll bet money his identification has the incorrect height, which is why we couldn’t find him before.” He rises to his feet. “I’ll call Dan. See what the Feds can uncover.”
“But Leo’s the school district’s accountant.” Lindsay shakes her head. “Owen, we’ve had this man in our home.”
Dragon goes deathly still, his features impassive as though he’s in a trance. Katana slinks up behind him, offering him a comforting hand on his shoulder. I’m thankful it eases some of the tension in Dragon.
“What do we do? Why does he want my son?” Lindsay demands, no longer the strong woman as before as tears slide down her rosy cheeks. “Why? How?”
“Find him,” Koyn orders to Bermuda. “Fuck.”
“He wants us to find him,” Dragon murmurs.
“He does?” Lindsay asks.
I shudder at Dragon’s words. “It’s another trap,” I croak out. “Mitch is just the bait.”
“Bait for what?” Kai demands, no longer seated and thrumming with violent energy that reminds me so much of his older brother.
My gaze finds Dragon’s. He’s still—frozen by the information and realization of what this all means.
“Me.” Dragon winces, shaking his head hard as if to clear away the horrible thoughts running through his mind. “He wants me.”