Massaging her nape, Luke answered the phone, “Yeah?”
“I just got a call from PJ,” said Tate, referring to one of the enforcers. “Chester returned home.”
Luke felt his brows lift. “Do we think he’s given up on trying to snag Camden?”
“I don’t believe so,” replied Tate. “According to PJ, Chester didn’t return with luggage. He seemed intent on making a quick trip in and out of the house. PJ foiled that plan by nabbing him for us. He dumped the human in his trunk and is driving him to an isolated spot so we can have a chat with him.”
“What spot?” asked Luke.
“The abandoned theme park near Mercury Pack territory,” replied Tate. “I don’t want to take him to the spare room at Dad’s place because there’s a chance Chester’s friends are hanging around our street in the hope of grabbing Camden. I don’t want them to realize we have Chester. They could flee. Possibly even warn whoever hired them.”
“Blair and I will meet you at the theme park,” said Luke before ringing off. He turned to her. “I take it you heard all that. You can stay here if—”
“Not a chance. I want to see this situation through, and I need to get out of here and focus on something else anyway. That way, I’m less likely to start throwing shit.” She stalked to the door, and it took her a moment to notice he hadn’t followed. She planted her hands on her hips. “You coming or what?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest that she remain behind and relax, but he knew she wouldn’t. He also knew that she’d not at all appreciate him fussing over her. And, well, he’d rather not suffer a kick to the balls so he simply replied, “Yeah, I’m coming.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Walking through the open rusted gates, Blair looked at her mate, who held her hand in his. “Tate said we’d find them near the Ferris wheel, right?”
“Yes.” Luke tipped his chin toward the ride in question, which towered over most of the others. “It’s just a short walk away.”
Deke and Isaiah flanked them as they headed for the wheel. There was something seriously eerie about strolling through an abandoned amusement park. There was no laughter, no squeals of delight, no smells of vendor food, no life.
Veins of rust spiderwebbed along the many rides. Graffiti decorated the benches, ticket boxes, and gloomy haunted house. A lone bumper boat sat in the middle of the pedestrian path, weeds sprouting out of the small boat like it was a planter.
Blair’s female sniffed and flexed her claws, still wound tight. Blair herself was no less tense. It wasn’t bad enough that Noelle had dished out more crap, was it? Oh no. She’d also had to learn that she’d unknowingly slept in a cabin that had been branded by a male other than her mate.
And then there was the totally wacked letter that … Shit, she needed to calm the hell down. Her attention needed to be on the current situation with Chester. But it was hard to stay focused when she wasn’t just furious at who invaded her old cabin but also at herself for not sensing that it had been not only broken into but marked.
Blair didn’t need to ask Luke if he was okay. His own fury was a drumbeat along their bond. If they were alone, she would have made some attempt to soothe him. Right now sadly wasn’t the time for that. It would have to wait.
Turning a corner, they found Tate, Havana, Bailey, Alex, Farrell, and PJ gathered around a Ferris wheel car. An unfamiliar male sat in the car, a gag in his mouth, his grip tight on the metal safety bar. This had to be good ole Chester Wilkins. Her female disdainfully peeled back her upper lip.
He wasn’t struggling or fighting to talk around his gag. He was still. Watchful. Controlled. But the eyes darting from person to person flickered with fear. The emotion also laced his scent, along with sweat and panic.
Studying Luke’s expression, Tate frowned. “Who put that look on your face?”
“I’ll fill you in later,” Luke replied.
The Alpha’s eyes narrowed. “Something happened?” He cut his gaze to Blair. “Your stalker made another move?”
“Like I said, we’ll fill you in later,” Luke told him before casting the human a glance. “Did he say anything before being gagged?”
Tate stared at his brother, no doubt tempted to push out of concern, but he finally said, “According to PJ, there was a lot of cursing and demands to be released at first. But he hasn’t tried communicating since being dragged out of PJ’s trunk.” Tate paused as a single crow zipped past them with a distinctive caw. “We haven’t questioned him yet. We’re waiting for Camden and Aspen to arrive. They were working when I called.”