Chapter 41 #2
None of us batted an eye at knowing Easton broke into her home, because nothing matters outside of finding Troy. If we find any information we can pass on to Ella’s previous pack, so be it, but that’s not our main goal. Easton wants to see who she was speaking to before her disappearance.
So far, it looks like she was very active on a couple of meet up sites, but they weren’t the type where you find a date. Instead, it’s for friendships, coffee chats, and connections.
If I was normal, I’d consider doing something like this, but I’m not. There are too many predators willing to prey on people’s loneliness, and I really am perfectly happy hanging out with my pack.
As I drift, lost in my thoughts, the doorbell breaks through. Getting up, I find I’m alone in the den and begin walking toward the front door.
“Alisa! It’s Cassidy,” Easton calls out from Lyle’s office. “I’ll call her later, baby. Don’t worry about it.”
I know he’s telling me this because she and I don’t have the best relationship. Pressing my forehead against the door, I sigh as she rings the bell again. Fuck.
I trust Easton’s video cameras, but still check the peep hole before finally opening the door. She has a baby wrapped in a carrier against her body and I vaguely remember Lyle telling me she went into labor at her omega’s art show.
“Hi,” I say tiredly, smiling at the tiny boy. “Congratulations.”
That’s another reason we aren’t calling anyone for assistance. The packs who lean on Pack Mayor are having babies and are happy. They don’t need our tragedy raining on them.
“No one is responding to my calls,” she says, the skin around her eyes pinching as she sees the way I’m standing in the half closed doorway. “What’s going on?”
“Did you walk here alone?” I ask, deflecting as the sun begins to set on my street. “It’s not safe to do that, Cassidy.”
“I’m right here,” Abbott says. I glance over to see he’s standing on the sidewalk and nod.
“Good,” I breathe, blinking rapidly. God, I can’t cry, not now. “We have a crisis we’re figuring out. It’s kind of interrupting our ability to return calls right now.”
“Did you know I can smell sadness?” Cassidy growls.
“You can’t help,” I whisper. “Just be happy, Cass.”
“This is bullshit,” Abbott says, striding closer. He’s trying to not to overwhelm me, and while I appreciate that, I’m too tired and sad to really react. “They are our friends, Alisa.”
“And they’re my alphas. You know they want to help everyone, Abbott. We’re handling it.”
“What does that mean?” Cassidy groans.
“It means the city is on fire and we’re the ones it’s targeting. No one is safe.”
“Who?” Abbott asks. “The media is in a frenzy over Troy’s sex photos. Shiloh is pulling everything down that he can from his computer, Alisa. Is that why no one can get through on the damn phone?”
My body flinches as I see more people on the sidewalk, and I frown when I don’t recognize any of them.
“Alisa, right? I’m Rosalia. Why don’t you think we can help?” she asks.
“Because,” I sniffle. “He’s gone and Avery has him.”
“Who?” Cassidy asks.
“Troy. There isn’t a trail, video cameras haven’t seen anything, and I can’t feel him. He’s just…gone.”
Tears blur my vision as I gasp for air, and the door is ripped open.
“Baby, Easton said to leave it alone,” Lyle murmurs, pulling me into his arms as I sob. “I’m sorry guys, but this is a pack problem.”
“We really can’t help?” Abbott asks, confused.
“No, thank you. There’s zero trace of him,” Lyle explains. “Avery has expanded into the international market and time is not our friend. I’ll bring everyone up to speed once we recover Troy. If I thought anyone could help, I’d ask for help.”
“Lyle,” Rosa whispers. “How many times have you held space for me, even if you didn’t have the answers?”
“Silas, Easton, and I are nurturers,” he mutters. “That’s how we help. We don’t respond the same way when we’re in the middle of bad shit happening to us.”
“You’re circling the wagons,” Rosa murmurs in understanding. Her pack surrounds her as she talks to them in concern, and I wonder if she should be here. “Dr. Walsh has been acting very oddly. We decided to come check on you.”
See, everyone has their own shit happening, and that’s why we didn’t want to bring anyone else in.
“Carter and his pack helped us clean the warehouse. Doc helped us keep our prisoner alive long enough to get what we needed from him while Alisa skinned him alive,” Lyle says. “We needed to get Alisa home after the kill and we’re hunting down leads now.”
We really shouldn’t be having this conversation here, but there’s no one out in the middle of a work week other than us. Lyle has put a halt to his entire life, and has other people at his firm taking care of his clients. Nothing works right until we find Troy.
“Lyle. What leads? You said there’s no trail,” Cassidy hisses.
“Silas called Carla to ask if she could circulate Troy’s photo to help look,” Lyle says, his eyes on Rosalia.
“She works for Rise Up,” she murmurs. “Oh my god, you’re a genius. If anyone can find someone hidden, it’s the people no one else sees.”
“Why are you talking in riddles?” Cassidy asks.
Lyle explains briefly, and her lips part as she understands. Her baby complains softly and Cassidy sways and bounces as she tries to soothe him.
“We’ve got this handled, or are trying to,” Lyle adds. “Easton is focused on anything coming through the police lines, and Hollis is focused on the dark web listings.”
I notice the way he doesn’t mention Oliver. It’ll only lead to more questions, and neither he nor I have the mental spoons for them.
“When you do need help, please ask for it,” Cassidy says. “Don’t be a fucking hero.”
“Why are you asking my pack to go against who they are?” I ask, getting a hold of my emotions as I dash away my tears.
“Only you see me like that,” Lyle says, kissing my temple.
“No she doesn’t,” Rosalia says, crossing her arms over her chest as she and her pack stand before us. “Think about how many people are alive because of your pack? I don’t think I would have survived without your help when I was at my lowest. You’re heroes to a lot of people.”
“I hate that you think you of all people need to do this alone,” one of her alphas mutters. “It’s bullshit.”
“Maybe so, but it’s what we want,” Lyle says firmly.
A car pulls into the driveway and Silas gets out. There’s a storm brewing in his eyes and I want to head it off.
“We promise to call if we need something. I swear it,” I say quickly.
Cassidy stiffens and looks over at the driveway before nodding slowly. “You know how to reach us,” she murmurs. “I’m not helpless because I’m a new mother, Alisa.”
“The act of childbirth has nothing to do with this,” I insist. “You do have a beautiful baby to love on though. We will only call if it’s absolutely necessary.”
“And I hate that,” she growls. “I want to make my opinion known.”
“Got it.” Cassidy doesn’t scare me. We’ve gotten into it too often for me to cower, or maybe, I’ve seen enough shit that I’m becoming immune.
Wouldn’t that be nice?
Silas stalks toward us and picks me up with his right arm, storming into the house. I guess that’s one way to end a conversation.
“I need your brain,” he says simply. “Easton! Bring me a map of the city.”
I can’t bring myself to ask him if he’s found anything, I simply hold on for the ride. I think it might be a bumpy one.