* * *
It was four-thirty in the morning. We had approximately an hour and a half until the sun crested the horizon, but we weren’t taking any chances. There was a distinct possibility Enid knew of our plan this morning, even if she didn’t know who the supernatural we sought was, because no amount of brain scrubbing would deter a powerful seer.
Danny and I were in the backseat, Rourke sat in the front, and Lucas drove. “Feeling anything now?” I asked Danny. I was certain Enid had released Danny because of his connection to Naomi. Nothing else made sense. She needed a direct line to us, and this was her way to get it. It was hard to be patient.
“No.” His voice miserable. “I tried all night—” His expression suddenly changed, and his hands flew to the sides of his head.
“What? Are you picking something up?” I asked excitedly.
He held up a single finger as his face broke out into a wide grin. I took that as a good sign. I squirmed in my seat.
Finally, he darted a glance in my direction. “I can hear her,” he said. “But it’s faint. She’s warning me not to come, of course. But there’s no chance I’ll listen to that nonsense.”
“Is she with Jax?” I could hardly contain my joy. I knew Enid would keep her word and swap their lives for mine.
“She says she is with the boy.”
Relief swept through me. “Are they okay? Have they been hurt?”
Danny’s face looked hopeful. “The signal is getting stronger. She says they are not hurt, and the boy is strong. She says Enid has left them alone for the most part.”
Immediately, I called out to my brother, who was likely still asleep. Tyler! We just got word Jax is okay. Danny got through to Naomi. We’re either breaking them out or making a swap. Let Kayla know. I’ll keep you posted.
Wait, what? His voice was sleepy, but changed to alert instantly. You’re not making a swap. That wasn’t the plan. If you can’t break them out, come back here and we’ll figure out the next step.
The plan is to do whatever it takes, I said firmly. Enid isn’t playing. We either have the advantage, or we don’t. We’ll know soon enough.
But, Jess, that’s… He trailed off.
The way it’s going to be, I finished for him. Listen, I didn’t have time to tell everybody yesterday what happened when I rescued Danny. But Enid had a chance to harm me, and she backed off. There was a reason for that, and I’m going to find out what it is. She wants her sister back above all else, we can’t forget that. If there’s a way I can do that, I’m going to make it happen. Naomi’s and Jax’s lives are important. Tell Kayla immediately. She deserves to know.
Of course I will, he answered. Stay safe, Jess. I mean it.
I plan to. That’s why we’re heading into Florence. It has to work, Tyler. There’s no other choice.
I hear you, he said. I could picture him running a hand through his blond hair. Keep me posted. We leave here at six and rendezvous with Dad by eight.
If something happens with my internal connection, I’ll have Rourke call Nick. I’ve got to go. We’re almost inside the city limits.
Kick her ass, Jess.
I laughed. That might be a possibility.
Lucas turned down a narrow street. “We’ll get a ticket for driving into a restricted zone, but that’s fine. We try to stay off human radar as much as possible, but this is an exception worth breaking the rules for.”
I nodded. “Lucas, once we get out, I want you to head back home. I’ve instructed Nick to stay at the villa. You guys are going to be our eyes and ears. If you can, try and get as much information as you can from Julian’s wolves.”
“Got it. I’ll head back as soon as I drop you off,” he said.
“We appreciate that,” Rourke said. “By the way, has anybody asked you who your Alpha is sleeping with?”
“Nicolas asked me, and I will tell you the same thing I told him,” he replied. “I don’t know for sure. I have not seen her in the flesh, but by her scent alone I believe she is either a witch or a goddess. In the past year, Julian has kept his wolves far from the villa. His second and fifteen to twenty other wolves who had once lived inside the house were suddenly instructed to move out. Everything changed in one day.”
I moved forward in my seat. “Are his wolves angry with him? What about his second? Do they all suspect he’s sleeping with a witch?” The area Ray had showed me that held the underground bunker was not far from where the wolf bunkhouses were. They had to have scented Angie and Ceres on their land.
“I would assume so,” he answered. “But they do not share their thoughts with me. Julian has kept me at the house only because he believes I am inferior—less than a real wolf. That I am inept at understanding what’s going on around me.”
Rourke grunted. “He’s the one who’s inept. He couldn’t find his finger if it was inserted straight into his ass. He was guilty as hell last night and acted like everything was fine.”