Ray and Lucas went first, followed by Nick. Rourke and I went next, Tyler and Kayla close behind.
The moment my foot hit the cobblestones, I felt something was off.
Rourke picked up on it immediately. What is it? he asked. What’s wrong?
Someone’s here, I said. My hackles were up, my wolf on all fours. But it’s not a foe. The message was confusing. Enid is muting something. Or trying to mute something. To everyone, I asked, “Does anyone feel that? I’m getting a strange vibe. It’s a low hum. I think someone is here, but it’s not an enemy.”
“I’m not getting any strange vibes,” Ray answered.
Lucas and Nick both shook their heads. “I’m not picking up on anything specific either,” Nick said.
Tyler passed us, his nose up in the air.
He stopped midstride, his irises flashing.
“What?” I asked. “Can you scent something?”
“Danny.”
11
“Danny? Are you sure?” My heart gave a quick, irrational beat. Could he really be here? “Tell me he’s alive.” I grabbed on to Tyler’s arm. “I don’t smell death or decay,” I added hastily, hope filling my voice. “That means he’s alive, right?”
Danny and I had an Alpha-to-wolf connection, but we’d never been able to speak internally unless we were both in our wolf forms. I sent my power out, racing to find that bond.
A faint quiver pinged back, a tiny, tenuous tug on a line.
It was enough for me.
“He’s here!” I exclaimed excitedly. “Enid is trying to mute the connection, but I felt him!” He had to be okay. Anything else was unacceptable.
“Damn straight he’s here,” Tyler said. “She tried to mask his scent, too, but I can smell it. She underestimated my abilities.”
Tyler began to walk purposefully through the crowd, and we all followed. He came to a stop in front of one of the many shops lining the street. The name on the door, and the awning above, read: E. FANTONI.
It was a small, unassuming jewelry store.
“I think I’m picking up on the same trail,” Lucas commented. “I’ve never scented who you’re tracking before, but there is an unmistakable wolf signature here.”
Marcy and James came up behind us. “Marcy,” I said, “check for any spell signatures you can find, especially anything that would incapacitate or mask a supe.”
“Will do,” she said.
“And,” I added, “you’re going to have to spell this area so we can investigate in-depth without causing a scene.”
“Double on it,” she said as she closed her eyes.
Tyler tried the handle of the shop, but it was locked. A small note was posted on the door, scrawled hastily in Italian. “What does this say, Lucas?” Tyler asked.
“It says they have taken a riposo and will be back later. It’s the equivalent of an Italian siesta. It’s a little early to do such a thing, as it’s only midmorning, but not overly unusual. Many business owners take a riposo if they have to run an errand. Things are a little less structured here in Italy.”
“It doesn’t matter if the shop owner is on a siesta, we can get in there if we have to,” I said. “Marcy is spelling this area, nobody will notice.”
Tyler abruptly lifted his nose and walked around the side of the building. This particular shop had a side that was exposed to the road, without another shop crowded next to it, which was a rarity on this bridge.
We followed him around to find a large metal door full of rivets set in the stone of the building. It had a long deadbolt securing it.
Rourke said, “I can smell him now. He definitely went through this opening.” He walked up to the door, which Tyler was currently investigating, and rested his palm against the black steel. “He’s behind here”—he gave me a pointed look—“and that’s exactly where Enid wants you to go.”