Chapter 14
Tabitha and Cailín sat at the desk where the monitor displayed the outdoor camera feed.
When they first entered the panic room, Craig had demanded to know how they uncovered his secret.
Tabitha looked over her shoulder at him.
“It’s our job to know everything about our clients, especially those who are being targeted.
The more background we have, the more we have to work with to uncover who might be after them and why. ”
“Yes, but my family hired the best at what they do to cover our tracks,” he argued.
“Obviously not the best,” Cailín countered.
“Don’t worry. We aren’t going to tell anyone who you really are, but you might consider if we found out, someone else may have as well.
Now, please let us pay attention to what’s going on outside.
” Thankfully, Craig wasn’t watching the monitors, or he would have seen Mason moving quicker than humanly possible.
Tabitha was shaken by having killed a human.
In their line of work, there was always that possibility, but it wasn’t something you got over quickly.
Then again, she had been willing to go after Elle’s sperm donor.
Had been looking forward to it even. But Grevolus had been evil, tormenting Elle for decades, and some beings didn’t deserve to be among the living.
There were those among the Hounds who were mercenaries, but they only went after the worst of the worst. Traffickers, child molesters, rapists.
Those who the government or law enforcement either couldn’t take down, or if they did, couldn’t hold onto.
Tabitha didn’t think less of them. They were necessary to right wrongs against the innocents of the world.
Instead of focusing on herself, she kept her eyes glued to the screen.
She kept the volume low enough that Craig couldn’t hear what was being said but she and Cailín could.
Mason had the assassin detained and gestured toward the house.
Major soon joined Mason, and after getting the truth from the man, Major called his Uncle Kyllian.
Kyllian’s mate, Quinn, was the handler for the Hounds who were mercenaries, and she could research the contract on Craig.
Major disconnected and shoved his phone in his back pocket. “We need to talk to Craig. See if he told anyone where we are. If not, there’s a tracker on him or his belongings.”
Tabitha turned in her chair. “Craig, have you told anyone where we are? Maybe Olivia or Daniel?”
“No. God, I’m not an idiot,” he seethed.
“No one said you were, but there’s a mercenary outside who somehow found you. We need to check all of your belongings for a tracker.”
“Mercenary? Like someone who finds people on the dark web?”
“It isn’t called that anymore, but yes. Someone like that. There’s a contract on your head; two hundred thousand, dead or alive.”
“How is this my life?” he asked quietly before hiding his face behind his hands.
The panic room alarm beeped, and Major opened the door. Tabitha stood and gestured at Craig. “He said he didn’t tell anyone our location, so we need to check his things.”
“I’ll grab my gear from the car.” Cailín squeezed Tabitha’s shoulder before leaving the room.
“Is it safe?” Craig asked.
“For now, but even if we find a tracker, we’ll have to move after we destroy it since this location is burned. Let’s go.” Major lifted Tabitha’s face, his eyes narrowed at the scrapes which were already healing due to her shifter genes.
“I’m okay. I promise.”
Major caressed her cheek, then placed his hand on her back, letting her lead the way through the house.
When they reached the living room, Cailín was coming through the front door, carrying a small black case.
She continued up the stairs, and Tabitha and Major followed.
Craig was in his bedroom, already searching his clothes.
“This will be quicker,” Cailín told him, holding up the box.
She placed it on the dresser, then removed the device that scanned for bugs.
As she ran it over his belongings, Craig stood off to the side, staring intently.
After scanning the clothes and coming up with nothing, she carefully went over his duffel.
When it beeped, Craig crossed the room for a closer look.
Cailín searched the bag with her hand. She found the small black button inside the zipper compartment. “Who all had access to this bag?”
“Fuck, it could be anyone. I had it at the hotel, and the cleaning staff came in while I was in Trista’s room. Then I took it to the rental, and finally the trailer at Stone Mountain.”
Cailín wiggled the scanner. “I need to inspect everything just in case this isn’t the only one. Dopp kit. Shoes. Underwear. Everything.”
“While you do that, Major and I will grab our gear. Craig, please pack your bag while Cailín checks your other items. Be ready to go in ten.” Tabitha didn’t wait for him to agree.
Once in the hallway, she told her mate, “If you’ll grab our bags, I’ll repack the food.
” Tabitha’s duffel was ready since she didn’t empty it upon arrival.
Major came downstairs and dropped their bags by the door. “I’m going to talk to Mason.” He kissed Tabitha’s temple before walking through the front of the house. He returned only a few minutes later. “Mason is calling Gabe to get the jet ready. He wants us to take Craig to New York five.”
Tabitha’s heart swelled. Location five was her grandparents’ old home. It had been a fortress when Tessa’s parents lived there, and it was even more secure now. Tabitha and Anthony had spent most of their summers there when they were younger, so it felt like she was going home.
Cailín and Craig joined them in the kitchen. Craig had his bags, which he dropped on the floor. Cailín placed the black box on the table. “Good news is there was only the one tracker.”
“Yes, but the bad news is anyone could have put it there.” Tabitha zipped the insulated bag that contained some perishables and the meals Trevor had sent.
Safehouse five would be stocked with plenty of non-perishables, but there was no reason to let these go to waste.
She handed the bag to Cailín. “We’re headed to New York, so we won’t get to eat these.
Take them home with you or give them to Mason so Willow doesn’t have to cook. Please tell your papa thanks anyway.”
“Do I not get a say in where we go?” Craig asked.
“No,” Tabitha, Major, and Cailín responded in unison.
Tabitha pointed at her face. “What do you not get about this situation? We’re trying to keep you alive long enough to make another film.
If you don’t like how we do our job, then stay here, and the three of us will go home, you ungrateful shit.
” She grabbed the black box and put it in her duffel, hugged Cailín, then headed outside to the SUV.
“I’m going to use the bathroom before we leave,” Craig said, but Tabitha didn’t wait for him. She continued to where Mason was waiting with the assassin.
Mason eyed her face, but she waved him off. “I’m fine, but if you get a complaint from Craig’s management about me smacking him, don’t be surprised.”
Mason pulled her into a hug. He was a cousin on her dad’s side of the family, so she didn’t give a second thought to letting him embrace her.
Hell, he and Willow had babysat for her and Anthony when they were younger.
When Major joined them, he didn’t growl or show jealousy.
He knew Mason wasn’t a threat. He just smiled at her before tossing all their bags into the back of the SUV.
When Craig finally joined them, Major clasped hands with Mason while Tabitha and Cailín hugged and said their goodbyes.
Major held the keyring out to Tabitha, his eyes asking silently if she was okay to drive.
She appreciated the fact that he wasn’t coddling her.
She winked, taking the key fob, and once Craig was safely in the back row, she took the driver’s seat.
She input the address for the hangar where they kept their aircraft, and once it populated the best route, she set out down the driveway.
Major tuned the satellite radio to a rock station, and the two of them sang along to the songs they knew, which were most of them. Tabitha kept an eye on Craig as well as their surroundings, but having Major riding shotgun allowed her to focus more on driving than on whether someone was following.
When they were about twenty minutes away from the small airport, Tabitha turned the volume down and instructed the Bluetooth to call Gabe.
The Gargoyle had migrated to the US from Italy when he needed to change locations.
Not aging meant they couldn’t remain in one place their whole lives.
It was why her parents, along with their aunts and uncles, had moved from Atlanta.
The call went to voicemail, so Tabitha left a message, stating they were close to the private airport.
“Eagle eyes peeled. It’s not like Gabe to go radio silent.
” Tabitha slowed the vehicle to a crawl and opened her shifter senses.
Major removed his pistol from the holster at his side, checking the gun, and chambering a round.
Tabitha’s had been taken back at the crime scene, but if she needed another, she had her bracelets.
Craig unbuckled his seatbelt and lay across the bench seat without being told to do so.
The phone rang with a call from Nikita, and Tabitha pushed the answer button on the steering wheel.
“Nik, I need to call you back. We’re at the airport, but I can’t get a hold of Gabe.”
“He was on the phone with me. Mom called me after Major had her look into the contract. It’s gone wide. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a gun is going to be coming after your client.”
The phone beeped with a call from Gabe. “Yeah, but we found the tracker. It’s back at the safehouse.”