“Well, they’re obviously doing it somehow.”
Reese rubbed his temples. “I don’t even know how they’re tracking Nash.”
Phillips smirked. “They’re using the satellite, Dr. Dante. Just like we are.”
“You think New World is helping them?”
“No, they have no idea. The only reason we know is because our tech people piggybacked in on their back door.”
That meant whoever was responsible for them, whoever the Anubis were, had resources. The rain thinned into a mist.
“What about Nash?” Phillips said. “How did he know where to go from where they pulled them over to wherever those detectives ran into the other Anubis?”
There was only one real explanation. “A beta always knows where their Alpha is.”
Phillips frowned. “Luca isn’t an Alpha.”
“Don’t be so sure of that, because I’m not.”
“You were very specific on how an Alpha is made. Luca isn’t Nash Kelli’s Alpha.”
“Yeah, and so far, Nash has broken every rule the Anubis followed and written completely new ones.” Reese propped his elbow on the back of Harrington’s seat. “Every behavior Nash is presenting is something you’d only see in a beta protecting an Alpha. There’s no other logical reason for Nash to act that way. Either he sees Luca as an Alpha, Koda ordered him to treat him like one, or a combination of both.”
Harrington hung up the phone. “They should be there in fifteen minutes.”
Phillips took a curve.
Reese’s stomach rolled. “I know we’re in a hurry, but could you please slow down?”
The engine roared, and the speedometer jumped.
At least it was a creative way to say “fuck you.”
Reese sat back and buckled himself in, but it didn’t stop the nausea crawling up his throat.
“Crack your window. The fresh air will help,” Phillips said.
Reese almost wanted to ask her why she cared. He hit the button. The edge of the window slid down, opening up a gap. A mist of cool air banked the burn in Reese’s cheeks. Earth and pine, wet road, the nip of winter flavored by an icy rain.
“Feel better?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Too bad the fresh air did nothing for Reese’s nerves. If he was right, and Nash did see Luca as an Alpha surrogate, then it didn’t matter how many men the colonel called in, they didn’t stand a chance.
“Colonel?”
Harrington turned in his seat. “Yeah?”
“If we make contact with Nash, let me talk to him. He knows me.”
Harrington frowned. “This isn’t a recovery mission.”
Reese stared at the man.
“It was never a recovery mission.”
“You’re going to kill him?” The nausea returned.