Chapter Sixteen
Jonah left Bre at the breakfast table with Drake while he headed toward Tony’s office.
He had some questions about the hypnosis Tony wanted to do.
He also wanted to ask about something else.
Something he thought Bre might want to know.
The door was ajar when he reached it, so Jonah gave a cursory knock before pushing it open farther.
“Jonah. Come in.” Tony waved him over. He had folders open on his desk and paperwork and photos everywhere. Jonah recognized one of them.
“Did you find a lead?” he asked as he took in the image in the photo Tony was running a finger over.
Nathan Clary. A human who’d joined them for a bit when Aleksy found his mate, Lyra.
Nathan had helped rescue her then disappeared from Chicago.
There was more to it than that, but Tony was a closed vault when he wanted to be.
All Jonah knew was, Tony had been spending a lot of time and money trying to find the other man.
And there was fear in his eyes. Something Jonah had rarely ever seen.
“Nothing.” Tony shook his head as he piled up everything and slid it all back into a folder. “What can I do for you?”
“Bre doesn’t know if they did more to her than create a separation between her and her lynx.”
“More?” Tony asked.
“Her organs,” Jonah offered.
“Any particular organs?” Tony teased with a laugh. “I can easily use an ultrasound machine to take a look at her reproductive anatomy and see if anything’s missing or altered.”
“That easily?”
“Nothing’s ever easy when it comes to what hunters might have done, but we can find out and go from there,” Tony promised. “Does she know you’re having this conversation?”
“Not yet, but I won’t keep it from her. I wanted to give her information. She’s agreed to marry me.”
A grin split Tony’s face. “Congratulations! Picked a date yet?”
“Not really. There’s a lot going on right now. Which brings me to what you’re planning for today. Tell me she’ll be okay?”
“I won’t do anything to hurt her.” Tony sounded offended.
“I know that. Not intentionally. I need to know the possibilities, especially now that she’s remembered a few people.”
“The possibilities are good, seeing as she’s starting to remember.
But it might not help at all. It could go either way or somewhere in between.
We won’t know until we know. I understand her concerns and the need she has to remember.
I’m not saying her memories won’t come back.
We don’t know what could trigger more of them down the road. Ones that stick and become solid.”
“Why do I hear a but in there?” Jonah prodded when Tony paused.
“But she might need to face the fact her memories might always be there and gone. Glimpses and nothing more. She was imprisoned for a long time. Longer than any shifter I know. At least, the ones we found alive. With what her captors subjected her to, for years and years, it’s impossible to know for certain what the outcome might be, even with the records we have.
I won’t lie to her, but I won’t stop trying to help her, either. ”
“Thank you, Tony.”
“Hey.” Drake stepped in with Bre at his side.
“Drake said you can do some type of wand thingy so you can check everything to make sure I’m all good.” She ran her hand over her stomach. “Everything in place and all that.”
“We can. Completely non-invasive and no blood needed,” Tony said, holding three fingers up as if taking an oath.
Bre laughed. “As if you were ever a Boy Scout.”
“Heard of those have you?” he teased back.
“I want to do the scan, before you meddle with my mind. I want to have you check.”
“We can do that, but I’m not meddling with your mind, Bre. No alterations. I’ll guide you through the memories you’ve written down and see if we can find more hidden in there.”
“I…” Her voice trailed off as she glanced at the desk. She immediately reached for a photo of Nathan that Tony hadn’t stuffed in the folder. “I know him. How do I know him?”
“You know him? You’ve seen him? Where?” Tony demanded, going instantly on alert.
“I don’t…” She shook her head. “I don’t know. I see him. He’s hurt. He doesn’t heal as quickly. Human. He’s human, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Tony agreed. “You saw him when you were in New Mexico? Was he moved with you?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry. He’s important to you?”
“Yes.” The way Tony said it, the conviction in the single syllable, Jonah wondered again just who Nathan Clary was to Tony. “Was he alive? Do you remember if he was alive?”
“Hurt but alive. I wish I could tell you more.” Bre moved toward Jonah, and he wrapped an arm around her, tugging her against his side.
“It’s more than I had,” Tony murmured, finger tapping on the folder. “Why don’t you guys head down to the med room. I’ll be there in a moment.”
“Jonah?” Bre asked, pulling his attention from Tony.
“I’m right behind you,” he promised. She glanced between him and Tony, gave a nod, and left with Drake.
“You should go,” Tony told him.
“Are you okay?” Jonah asked instead.
“I…” Tony broke off under Jonah’s stare. “No, but I will be.”
“Whatever you need, I’m there. You know that, right?”
“You’re a mated male now. Hell, I’m losing two of my top guys, with you and Mitch mated. If I don’t watch it, Drake’ll be next, and I need his ass in the field.”
“Old rule, Tony. One you should change. Even Tah doesn’t keep couples out of the field. Besides, we all know Aleksy will ignore it. You think the rest of us won’t?”
“I think none of you listen unless it suits you,” Tony said, but they both knew it for the lie it was. They all followed Tony’s command. He was a strategist whose plans saved lives. Lots of lives.
“You should ask Murphy,” Jonah said. “He was in New Mexico, too. He might have seen or heard something of Nathan if Bre saw him when she was there. Show him the picture Bre recognized.”
“I did. He didn’t recognize him,” Tony admitted. He tapped his finger on the picture again then shoved it into the folder and turned away. “We should head down to join them.”
Mitch filled the doorway before they could step out. Jonah immediately knew something was wrong.
“What?” Tony demanded.
“There’s a car at the gate, asking for entry.” Mitch’s gaze went right to Jonah. “They’re asking for Brenna Dockery.”
“They?” Jonah asked.
“Two men. They have a child with them. They won’t speak to anyone but Bre. Tah’s having them held outside the gate for now. He called Finn and Murphy. They’re already headed that way,” Mitch said. “We need to go.”
“Jonah?” Bre called from behind Mitch. “Drake has everything ready. What’s going on?”
“I was just coming to find you,” he said as he pushed past Mitch to join her. “There are people at the gate asking for you. Two men and a child.” He turned to Mitch. “Did they give names?”
“They didn’t say. Only that they’re waiting for you, Bre,” Mitch told her.
“I don’t know anyone. Who would know me? Know I was here? Is it a trap?” She glanced at Tony then back to Jonah. “Is it hunters? Have they come to get me back?”
She stepped into Jonah, and he wrapped her tightly in his arms.
“Never,” he promised. “Never, love.”
“No one’s taking you anywhere,” Tony agreed. “You’re safe here with family. We protect our own. Now, let’s head to the gate. You’ll stay in the vehicle until we know what’s what. You can look from inside. See if there’s any familiarity. But you don’t get close to them,” he ordered. “Understand?”
“I won’t do anything to put myself in danger,” she agreed. “What if it’s Enzo? You said they have a child with them? Two men? If he dropped me here, then he’d know where to find me.” She turned her green, green eyes up to Jonah.
“We’ll find out soon,” he swore, linking their fingers.
Whoever it was, they’d get answers soon. Someone had come looking for his mate. Whatever the expectation, they wouldn’t be leaving with her.