Chapter Five
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TAYLOR KNEW THIS WASN’T what Ben had wanted when he’d agreed to talk to Gal, but Taylor hadn’t known this would happen. Gal couldn’t not do anything about Jimmy, though. There was a chance he’d come after Ben, and since Ben was Taylor’s mate, Gal was going to protect him.
That was why they were gathering in Gal’s office before heading out to Jimmy’s house. Ben was there, scowling but also terrified. Taylor didn’t have to ask him how he was feeling. He could tell, even though he and Ben weren’t bonded.
Taylor had known this wouldn’t be easy for his mate.
It had been hard enough to tell people about Jimmy.
Having to possibly face him was worse, and while Taylor thought it would be good for Ben, he would never push his mate into something he didn’t want.
“You don’t have to come with us,” he murmured, knocking his shoulder against Ben’s.
Ben turned his glare on Taylor. “I’m not letting you go there on your own.”
“Why not? I won’t be alone. Tony, Jacob, and Peter will protect me if anything happens.”
“But I wouldn’t be there to protect you. I know that he hurt me, which probably means I’m weak or something, but I don’t care about that. I won’t let him do anything to you.”
“You’re not weak.” Taylor glanced around the office before taking Ben’s hand in his.
“You trusted him, and he betrayed you. You thought he cared about you, but instead, he wanted to own you.” Taylor hated the guy, even though he’d never met him.
He kind of hoped that Jimmy would be home when they got there. He had things to tell the asshole.
“If I’m not weak, I can come with you,” Ben insisted.
Taylor wasn’t even going to try to convince him to stay behind.
He could tell what Ben’s answer would be.
Besides, he truly did think that Ben should confront Jimmy.
This time, he wouldn’t be facing his ex-boyfriend alone.
He’d be surrounded by friends and protected by Taylor.
Nothing would happen to him, especially not what had happened last time.
“You can come with us,” Taylor confirmed. “I was never going to try to stop you. I’m just saying that if you don’t feel ready for it, it’s fine.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever feel ready, but I have to do this.”
“Then you should do it. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
Ben nodded. “I know. That’s why I want to do it.”
Taylor squeezed his mate’s hand. He knew that Ben could do it. That didn’t mean he wasn’t worried about him. He suspected he’d always be worried about Ben, even once this mess was over. It was what mates did.
“All right,” Gal declared, looking around the room. “Is everyone ready to go?”
Tony nodded. He wasn’t wearing his uniform today because Jimmy didn’t live in his jurisdiction, but he’d insisted on coming anyway.
That meant that Jacob was coming, too, along with another pride member who used to work pride security with Jacob and Taylor before they found different jobs.
Taylor had always liked Peter, and he was glad that Gal had chosen him out of everyone.
They had no idea what they’d find when they reached Jimmy’s house, but Gal felt it was necessary for them to ensure that Jimmy wouldn’t be coming after Ben.
It was to keep Ben safe as much as to keep the pride safe.
They didn’t know anything about Jimmy beyond what Ben had told them.
Taylor had tried looking into the man, but he wasn’t on any social media, and he hadn’t been able to find much else.
It was like Jimmy barely existed, which didn’t make sense in this day and age.
“Keep me updated,” Gal said, still looking around the room. “And Ben, if at any time this becomes too hard for you, you just have to say the word, and Taylor will bring you home. Tony, Jacob, and Peter can probably take care of this on their own.”
Ben crossed his arms over his chest. He was eating more now that he was safe, and it was starting to show. Taylor was glad. He wanted his mate to thrive. He was in the right place to do so, with the pride protecting him and welcoming him in.
“I need to do this,” Ben said. “I know it sounds stupid, but after everything he did to me, I need to look him in the eyes and tell him that he doesn’t matter.”
Taylor puffed his chest out. He was so incredibly proud of his mate. He exchanged a glance with Jacob, who looked like he was about to laugh at him. Maybe he was, but he also understood where Taylor was coming from. He knew what it was like to have a mate and be proud of them.
“It doesn’t sound stupid,” Gal said gently. “Just like staying behind or in the car wouldn’t be stupid, either. I have to warn you that I got some news about Jimmy, though.”
Ben tensed. Taylor could feel it even though he wasn’t hugging him, and he inched closer, wanting to reassure his mate. It didn’t look like Ben would need it, though, because after sucking in a breath, he nodded. “What is it?”
“From what little Tony was able to find, Jimmy has vanished. No one has seen him in a few months, which coincides with when he stopped bringing you food. Tony and Taylor were unable to find out what happened to him, which, to me, points to the fact that something’s wrong.
I doubt he’ll be home when you get there. ”
Taylor frowned at Tony. Why hadn’t he told him that? They worked together, and Taylor was Ben’s mate. He should know that kind of information.
“You think he’s gone?” Ben asked, sounding hopeful.
“I think there’s a good chance that he is, yes. People don’t just disappear like that. He locked you up in his basement because he wanted you to be his. He wouldn’t have abandoned you easily.”
“And you don’t know what happened?”
Tony shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. It’s almost as if he’s vanished without anyone knowing what happened to him. If we don’t find anything today, I’ll look into it. I suspect that if Jimmy has anyone who cares about him, they’ll eventually go to the police and file a missing person’s report.”
Taylor couldn’t say he was sorry. Whatever had happened to Jimmy, he deserved it. He’d hurt Ben.
“I hadn’t expected that,” Ben murmured.
“I don’t think any of us did. We’ll see what happens when you get there.”
That was their cue to leave the office. Taylor kept glancing in Ben’s direction, wanting to help him but not knowing how.
They’d both been convinced they were going to confront Jimmy today, but it didn’t look like that would happen.
Part of Taylor hoped that Jimmy really was gone, while another part wanted Ben to have what he needed.
If that was a confrontation with Jimmy, then Jimmy had better be home when they got there.
Taylor would find a way to locate him if he wasn’t.
“It’s really hard to choose who to go with,” Peter said when they all stepped out of the house. They were taking two cars, Tony’s and Taylor’s. Peter kept looking from one to the other, which was confusing.
“Why?” Taylor asked.
“Well, on one hand, you have the newly bonded,” Peter said, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “On the other hand, you have mates who just found each other. I don’t know what’s worse.”
Taylor barked out a laugh. “Or you could take your own car.”
“It feels a bit excessive. I think I’ll go with Jacob and Tony.”
“Should I be offended?”
Peter clasped Taylor’s shoulder. “Not at all. I just want to give you and your mate some time alone.” His expression softened, and he glanced in Ben’s direction.
He was standing with Jacob, who was talking to him.
“I think it’ll be good for Ben to have time alone with you. This is going to be hard for him.”
Taylor swallowed. “Thank you.”
“You have nothing to thank me for. It’s what friends do.”
It was, but they were more than friends. They were fellow pride members, and that had always been important. Even when their alpha had been an asshole who’d terrorized the pride, the pride members had always had each other.
That hadn’t changed.
* * * *
SAYING THAT BEN WAS nervous and anxious would be an understatement. He really didn’t want to go, and even though he was already in the car with Taylor driving away from the pride house, he was tempted to open the door and throw himself out.
He didn’t. He needed to do this. It wasn’t only to protect the pride in case Jimmy decided to do something stupid, but also for himself.
If Jimmy was there, Ben would tell him what he thought of him.
Hell, maybe he’d yell at him and even hit him.
Ben wasn’t usually a violent person, but Jimmy deserved everything Ben was eager to throw at him.
Jimmy wouldn’t be able to hurt Ben. Ben wasn’t alone this time.
He had Taylor and the other three pride members to protect him.
They’d make sure that Jimmy couldn’t lock Ben in his basement again.
Besides, Jimmy might not even be there. Gal had said that he hadn’t been seen in a while.
When he’d left Ben for the last time, he’d told him that he had something to do, but Ben had no idea what that something was.
He didn’t care, either. He was just glad that Jimmy seemed to be gone and hoped his ex-boyfriend wouldn’t pop up again.
But it was better to make sure, which was why they were going there. That way, Ben would never have to worry about Jimmy again.
“You’re doing okay?” Taylor asked from the driver’s seat.
“I’ve been better, but I’ll be fine.”
“Just remember that if it’s too much, I’ll get you out as soon as I can. You don’t even have to go inside the house if you don’t feel ready for that.”
“I don’t know what I’m ready for.” And he meant that in more ways than just Jimmy.
He didn’t know what he was ready for with Taylor, either.
Part of him wanted to forge ahead and do everything before Taylor realized how much work he was, but another part knew that Taylor didn’t care.
Taylor wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what happened.