Chapter Nineteen
Rylee
“You’re nervous.”
I look away from my phone and meet Alanna’s gaze. “Yes,” I whisper.
“He wouldn’t have left if it wasn’t important,” she says.
“I know.” I smile tightly.
I didn’t check my phone until an hour after he left.
The family has kept me distracted, and when he left, I was listening to a lively discussion about food.
I didn’t question him. He always has a good reason for every move, and I want to know what it was.
Food was ordered and consumed. Some of the family left, but Issy and their mom haven’t left my side.
“I don’t feel well,” I mumble, and stand. “I need a minute.”
I move quickly to my bedroom, unlock the door, and escape inside, shutting it.
Leaning against the wood, I press my hand to my stomach.
Something is off. Ezra wouldn’t disappear without an explanation.
If he’s off killing someone and it was taking too long, he would call in the middle of it to tell me he would be late.
Perhaps it started out that way, but something unexpected happened.
I cup the mark he left on my neck, and frown.
I haven’t concentrated on his emotions since last night.
“Shit,” I gasp.
My head feels like it’s going to explode, and it takes a moment to realize it’s happening to my mate.
He’s feeling pain, and it brings me to my knees.
I use my hand to break my fall and land on Ezra’s bag.
As fast as it happens, the pain disappears.
What happened? Either it is over, or he isn’t awake, and that scares the shit out of me.
Something hard is underneath my hand, and I look down.
“Oh, mate.” I pull a mask out of his bag.
He bought me a half mask studded with diamonds.
I sit on my ass and hug it to my chest. If I can feel him, I can track him.
Closing my eyes, I concentrate on my mark and the man I love.
I ignore my pounding heart and the fear coursing through my body.
He’s not close. The tie connecting us is stretched thin.
“Rylee.”
I jump. Heath. I can’t hide anything from him. Standing slowly, I reluctantly open the door. Everyone has left except Heath, Juliana, Haven, and her mates.
“What’s going on?” Haven asks.
“I think someone took Ezra.” Silence follows my statement.
I was going to find him myself, but I wouldn’t have made it out of the apartment alone.
Heath and Haven can read me easily. There is no way I could hide my emotions.
With one hand, I push my hair away from my neck.
“I can find him.” I tighten my fingers around the mask.
“He marked you,” he mumbles, stepping closer. “I thought I smelled a change in your scent.”
“No shit,” Haven gasps. “I thought it was his scent lingering.”
“I’m going,” I state, and turn. I need to change into something dark.
“Wait,” Heath hisses, grabbing my elbow. “I’m not going to let you go alone.”
“I can handle it,” I stress.
“That’s not the point. Ezra is family now. We all protect the family.” He releases me. “Can you feel his exact location?”
“I don’t—” I can’t concentrate. My panic is messing with me.
“Calm,” he says softly.
“Saying that never works,” Issy says dryly, but I can sense her worry.
“Rylee,” Alanna says, standing. “Why don’t you get dressed? Take a minute.”
“Right. Yes.” I shake my head, backing into my room, and shut the door.
I exhale shakily. Prying my fingers from the mask, I place it on the bed, along with my phone.
I’m sure my thoughtful mate wanted to surprise me, but I’m going to wear it today.
Rushing to my closet, I grab a pair of black pants and a long-sleeved black shirt.
I strip where I stand, and jerk the clothes on.
Bending over, I dig through my shoes and pick up some combat boots.
I drop them on the floor on the way to the bathroom.
I gather my hair in a ponytail and exhale again.
My eyes fill with tears as I stare into the mirror.
I love him. He is everything to me. I touch his mark and close my eyes.
He’s still here. I would feel it if they killed him.
My head is sore, and I reach back to rub it.
Someone hit him hard enough to incapacitate him.
He must have been distracted. I’ve seen how skilled he is, so it was unexpected.
I’m sure Ezra has enemies. The people he kills probably have families.
Could one of them have found out about him? He’s always so careful.
Opening my eyes, I brush away the tears and return to my room.
Hurrying, I sit down and put on my boots.
I glance at his bag and pull it close. Ezra loves knives.
I push his clothes out of the way and find a blade.
As I stand, I remember my leg band. I can use it to attach it to my leg, and get it from the dresser, strapping it quickly.
I jump as my phone rings, and I lunge for the bed, hoping it’s Ezra. An unknown number flashes, and I answer hesitantly.
“Rylee?” a man asks.
“Yes?”
“I’m Shade. Ezra’s friend.”
“I recognize your voice.” My thoughts are scattered, so it took a minute to connect.
“I can help you find him.”
“You know where he is?” I ask, pressing my hand to my chest.
“Not exactly,” he says.
Heath knocks on my door, and I open it.
“What exactly?"
“He left because I called him. Charlie was stalking you.”
“What the fuck?” I look at Heath, and he narrows his eyes.
“I can give you the address of where he was when we spoke last. I’m trying to track him through the cameras.
He successfully took care of the problem, but disappeared once he was done.
I had a car waiting for him. Someone took him in the area between the house and the main road.
I’m hacking into the neighborhood's systems.”
“He left to kill Charlie for me?” My mate thinks of nothing but me.
“Yes. He’s gone. Ezra sent me pictures of the inside of Charlie’s house. He’s been following you for months.”
“Fuck,” Heath growls.
“He had pictures of you taped on his wall.”
“No,” Haven whispers.
“Ezra would leave a party to take care of the threat,” Alanna says.
“I had someone I trust going to the house to take care of the body…”
“And?” I grit out.
“He scented two people.”
“Shade, tell me,” I demand.
“A fox, and a lion.”
“Oh, no,” Issy breathes.
“A lion,” I repeat slowly.
“Does that mean anything?” Shade asks, and I meet Issy’s wide-eyed stare.
“What do you know about Bode?” I ask.
“I—” She drags her fingers through her hair. “Not much. Why would he take him?”
“He lost a lot of money.” I wonder if there is a deeper connection. “Was he angry enough to kill?”
“I didn’t think so, but apparently, I’m not a good judge of character,” she says.
“You couldn’t know,” Juliana mumbles.
“I’m missing something,” Shade says.
“Bode was a member of Issy’s band, and he tried to touch me. Ezra held a knife to his chest. Issy kicked him out,” I explain shortly.
“And he’s a lion,” Shade murmurs.
“Did the man you sent track Ezra?” Bane asks.
“Yes, to the edge of the property. The scent disappeared. There was a car waiting. I should have video within minutes,” he says, and I hear the keys of a computer.
“I need to find him.” I turn sharply and move to the bed, grabbing my mask. “Once I’m outside, I’m hoping the mark can guide me.” I leave my bedroom and shut the door.
“Ezra marked you?” Shade asks.
“Last night. I can’t tell my emotions from his right now.”
“Good,” he says, sighing. “That will help. I can only do so much with cameras.”
I move through the house. “I don’t care who comes, but I’m leaving. Heath, I need you to drive me. Juliana can come with us. The rest of you will have to follow. I can’t have everyone’s scent close.” I open the door.
“We’ll follow,” Issy says, nodding at her mom.
“Lead the way,” Hunter says.
I wait for them to step into the hall and lock the door.
“I’ll send you locations as I get them,” Shade says.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’ll find him. The connection you two have is powerful.”
“I know. It is.” I swallow hard. “I won’t allow him to be taken from me.”
“Answer if I call.”
“Yeah.” I hang up.
“Let’s take the stairs,” Heath says, and I nod.
It will be faster, so I lead the way. My body moves without thinking.
All that’s running through my mind is my mate.
He wanted to keep me safe. I know how he operates, and he didn’t want me to have to deal with Charlie.
He treats me like something precious, yet he values my strength.
Now, I will prove that I will protect him.
An asshole won’t take away my happiness.
I’m done with taking shit slow. Ezra is mine.
He belongs to me, and I’ll rip the lion apart for thinking he can kill him.
We burst through the front doors, and I follow Heath to his car. I sit in the passenger seat and roll down the window. Closing my eyes, I take deep breaths and concentrate on Ezra.
“He’s awake,” I say, feeling his confusion. “My head still hurts, and I sense his pain. His anger.” I look at Heath. “Drive. I’ll guide you.”
I lean my head back, close my eyes again, and allow my senses to locate my mate. All that matters is his safe return. I don’t care what I have to do or who I have to kill.
“Where am I going?” Heath asks, slowing the car.
“Left,” I say.
My body vibrates with energy. Yes, my mate is pissed. I smile. I was worried when he was asleep. Now that he’s aware, I may be the cleanup crew instead of the one rescuing him.
Still, I won’t stop searching.
I want to wear the mask my mate bought me.