Chapter 102 Ty
TY
Nico and Isaiah were catching up on sleep, and I couldn’t begrudge them for it.
I wanted to be out looking for Liza, but it wasn’t safe to go alone—not after Liam’s goons sighted us so quickly at the last property.
He had far more security than we’d expected.
I couldn’t sleep while Liza was out there.
Not when I didn’t know what that fucker was doing with my mate.
The phone rang, shattering the silence in my office like a gunshot.
I blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden intrusion.
A bolt of adrenaline coursed through my body as I reached for it, the leather from my chair creaking under me, and the lingering aroma of coffee from the cup of my desk bringing me back to the present.
My lawyer’s name flashed on the display.
“Ty speaking.” I tried to control the tremor in my voice. The last few days had been a whirlwind of emotions that had drained me completely. Liza’s disappearance felt like an anchor around my neck, dragging me down into a sea of worry.
“Ty, it’s Mark Jameson,” he said. “I’ve got some good news for you.”
“Good news?” Unless he was calling to tell me Liza was with him, I couldn’t think what good news he could possibly have for me.
“A worker from the warehouse came forward this morning,” Mark continued, pausing for emphasis. “He confessed the drugs found in the factory were his. The DA has just told me all charges against you have been dropped.”
The news hit me like a lightning strike, sending shockwaves throughout my entire body.
I leaned back in my chair, both relieved and incredibly confused.
If this worker was telling the truth, why was everything inside me still screaming that Liam had planted those drugs to set me up and ruin my name? Why was someone suddenly confessing?
With my brow furrowed in confusion, I asked, “Are you sure?”
“Positive. One of the press operators, George Dale, came forward and admitted the drugs were his.”
“Thanks, Mark.” This was really fucking strange. “Keep me updated if anything else comes up.”
“Of course.” With a click, the call ended.
It didn’t sit right with me. There had to be more at play here.
I leaned back into my chair and propped my feet up on my desk. I had been so sure Liam was behind the planted drugs to set me up and tarnish my reputation. Was it part of some larger plan? Or had someone else intervened?
I breathed in the scent of wood and furniture polish to calm my nerves.
The quiet ticking of the clock in the corner of my office reminded me that time was moving forward, even if my world was currently standing still.
My wolf’s unease mirrored my own, evidenced by the low growl reverberating through me.
I shook my head to clear it and slapped my cheeks. “Stay focused.” There were too many unknowns, and I couldn’t afford to lose myself in speculation. The pack needed me and Liza...
God, I needed her back safely more than anything.
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than the phone rang again.
I stared at the screen certain I was hallucinating.
Liza’s name was flashing across it. A waterfall of relief quenched the burning fire of anxiety that had been consuming me for days.
My mood instantly lifted, and I answered the call, unable to contain my excitement.
“Liza? Is that you?” My voice cracked, and I clenched my fists, desperately seeking something tangible to cling on to.
“Ty, it’s me. I’m okay.” Her voice was shaky, but she really did sound okay. My wolf stirred within me, aching to be near her.
“Where are you?” I worked hard at remaining calm despite the tornado of emotions inside me.
“I’m not sure exactly, but please trust me. I’m safe, and I’m coming home..”
“What happened?” The tidal wave of relief was tempered by a thousand questions.
She gave a weighted sigh. “It’s… it’s a lot, Ty. I’ll explain everything when I get there, but you have to promise me something first.” Her plea pulled at my heartstrings, and I would’ve promised her the moon if she asked.
“Anything, Liza.”
“It will be a lot to process. I need you to listen without judgment, and I need you to stay calm.” She sounded so vulnerable.
I frowned. What could possibly warrant such a request? But I swallowed down my fears. All that mattered now was Liza coming home. Together we were capable of tackling any challenges that lay ahead.
“Please, just promise me,” she pleaded. “Promise not to attack Liam when we come back.”
The name sparked a fierce reaction in me, and my body tensed. “What the hell is going on, Liza?” I snarled.
Her loud, frustrated exhale rumbled through the phone. “It’s complicated, Ty. Please, just trust me on this. We’ll explain everything when we get there. I need you to stay calm and promise me you won’t harm him.”
For her, I fought back the rage. “Fine, I promise, but the moment he poses a threat, I reserve the right to ensure our safety, and that of my pack. He took you from me, Liza. That’s not something I can easily overlook.”
“He had his reasons for that. I understand why you’re angry, Ty. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you, but it hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park for me, either. I need you to hear him out.” In the background, a man called her name.
“Are you ready?” he asked her.
I growled. “Okay. I promise. Just… just hurry, I need you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered so tenderly that her words carried a profound sense of gratitude and love. “I’ll be home soon.”
“I love you,” I murmured.
“I love you, too,” she said, and then the line went dead.
I stared at the screen, the muscles in my jaw ticking. For now, Liza was out of danger, but my gut told me something was very, very wrong.
Each possibility I came up with was more troubling than the last. What could be so important that Liza would beg me to listen without judgment? We knew Liam had kidnapped her, but how was he connected with everything?
Time crawled by with agonizing slowness, each tick of the clock like a roll of thunder in my silent office.
It had been six hours since she’d called.
Six long, torturous hours that only made the three days she’d been missing seem even longer.
My wolf snarled and paced restlessly on the edges of my mind, desperate to do something—anything—other than wait.
We were powerless, and it didn’t sit well with either of us.
“Ty,” my mother said from the doorway. I tore my attention away from the window, where I’d been staring at the driveway. “You need to eat something. You’ve barely touched your food. And you need to rest.”
I glanced down at the untouched plate in front of me and pushed it away. “I’ll eat when Liza’s back, and I can’t rest when she’s out there with Liam.”
“Your father and I are here to help,” she said softly. “We’ll work through this as a family.”
She was right, of course. Not that it eased the ache or anxiety that had taken root in my gut. I wanted Liza home, safe in my arms. Until then, the world was off balance—or as Liza would say, like a cake without its frosting.
“Son, you need to keep up your strength,” my father said. “For Liza’s sake, not just your own.”
“Fine.” I shoveled a few bites into my mouth before dropping my fork with a resounding clatter. The food tasted like ash, each bite a bitter reminder of how I’d failed to protect the woman I loved.
“Where are they?” I slammed my fist against the wall. The searing pain that shot through my hand only fueled the tempest brewing within, yet it served as a poignant reminder to stay composed—for Liza, for my family, and for my own sake.
My phone buzzed with a text, and I jumped up from my chair. “Liza’s back. Security just informed me she’s on her way down the drive.”
I rushed out of my office, and my parents followed behind me, concern and hope written all over their faces.
The three of us stood on the porch, our collective anticipation palpable as we waited for Liza to arrive.
My ears picked up the distant rumble of an engine, growing louder as it approached our home.
A sleek, black SUV came into view, kicking up dust as it stopped a short distance away.
I struggled to contain the anxious energy that coursed through me, my wolf snarling and huffing, eager to be reunited with his mate.
After the passenger door swung open, Liza emerged, her hair disheveled and eyes puffy from crying. Despite that, she was the most stunning vision I had ever encountered. My heart swelled with relief and love, the mating bond pulling me toward her like a magnet.
“Ty.” Liza’s voice cracked with emotion.
I barely had time to react before she was in my hold, her arms and legs wrapping around me.
I buried my face in her neck and held her as tightly as I dared.
Her sweet vanilla and calming lavender scent grounded me, and some of the tension seeped out of my muscles. My wolf let out a contented sigh.
“God,” I murmured in her ear. “I was certain I’d lost you.”
“Never,” she said, stroking my hair. “You’ll never lose me, Ty. I promise.”
I raised my head, and Liza cupped my face, her own paling as her stare intensified. “My mom?”
The intensity of her fear heightened, overshadowed by her fear of the answer, and the overwhelming guilt for not having asked sooner.
“She’s okay. Rory’s fine. She had to have surgery, but the doctor discharged her earlier this morning.”
Liza dropped her head onto my shoulder and sobbed.
“Let me look at you,” I said softly, reluctantly pulling away to assess her. Leaning back slightly, I searched for any sign of injury or harm. Though she appeared unharmed, the worry etched on her face spoke volumes.
“I’m fine,” she said, her bottom lip quivering slightly. “I promise, Liam didn’t hurt me. He made mistakes, Ty, but he believed he was doing the right thing and was saving me.”
“Saving you?” I frowned. “But, why? From me? What does he want with you?”