you got that one over on Silas. Man was he pissed,” Grant said.
“I was only following the guidelines he set.”
“Ridiculous,” he muttered.
I understood suddenly that all of this was really about that. I’d beat Silas at his own game, and he was still salty about it.
“Did she try to hook you up with your assailant?” Baine teased. “You know that woman will do anything to ensure herself some great-grandpups.”
The room started laughing, but I stayed quiet.
I turned back to Silas again. “Next question.”
Baine’s jaw dropped. “No way! You hooked up with the hacker?”
Taylor shot me an apologetic look.
“He did more than that,” Grant said earning himself an elbow in the arm from his mate. “What? I could smell her on him the second he walked into the room. I wasn’t sure earlier when we were working out, but it’s no covering it up now.”
“But he showered,” Baine said.
The truth registered on Grant’s face. It was clear he hadn’t considered that.
Baine jerked down the collar of my shirt checking my right shoulder. There was nothing. He moved to the left and I glared at him as he exposed the mark of my bond to everyone.
He sat down hard, and the room went awkwardly silent. Silas was chuckling softly.
“You knew,” I challenged.
“Of course I knew. O’Connell told me two days ago.”
“So it’s true?” Ben asked. “You really mated the hacker?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “She’s my true mate.”
Taylor just up and pointed a finger at Baine excitedly. “Pay up! Pay up right now! I won!”
I groaned.
“There was no way you could know that,” Baine challenged.
“Oh, I didn’t. I was just joking around at the time poking fun at the fact you guys keep finding your mates on missions. I had no idea it was going to be true. This is awesome. You gave me 100 to 1 odds.”
“What was the buy in this time?” I asked dryly.
Grant laughed. “$50. You owe my mate five thousand dollars.”
“Damn it. Olivia’s going to kill me.”
“Serves you right,” I mumbled.
“So where is this mate of yours? I think Archie wants to have a chat with her,” Silas said.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure he does.”
“Alright, so now that the fun stuff is out of the way, let’s get down to business. You’ll be happy to know that we already got a hit on your girl’s sister.”
“What? Why didn’t you call me?”
“Simmer down, it just came in last night and I knew you’d want to get her settled,” Silas said.
“So she really is with the Raglan?”
“Yup. Emma was able to confirm it. They were together for a while though they were separated in that New York raid,” Painter informed me.
“The one my kids were born at?” Ben asked.
“The very same,” Painter confirmed.
“Damn, we were so close.” I somehow felt like I had let Susan down by not having rescued her sister then. It was stupid, I knew, but it didn’t change the way I felt. I made a silent vow that I would get Sonnet out safe and sound.
“If you feel bad about that, you’re about to feel a whole lot worse,” Painter teased.
“Enough,” Silas barked. “Well, I guess he’s right.”
“About what?”
“We’ve found Sonnet. I got a phone call an hour ago from Jake. I put the inquiry in yesterday, but you know it’s hard for him to securely respond these days. Anyway, he was able to confirm that he’s got the girl.”
“Isn’t he still in Colorado?” I asked.
“Yes,” Silas said letting it sink.
“Sonofabitch. She was there the whole time? She was right under our noses?” I asked.
“I’m afraid so, but the good news is that she’s safe and he has eyes on her. We’re already orchestrating an extraction. I just need you to keep your cool. I need a level head in the game. Are we clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
I was excited and knew how happy this would make Susan, but just in case things went poorly, I couldn’t tell her.
“Do we need a cover for this trip?” Baine asked. “Because I know two ladies I love that would be happy to supply us with a need to go back home.”
“Actually, that’s a good idea. Let’s make it happen,” Silas approved.
Susan
Chapter 22
I woke up all alone in a strange bed in a room I didn’t recognize at first. The only thing familiar at all to me was the intoxicating scent of my mate.
“Tarron?” I called out but I could tell he wasn’t there. He’s left without even saying a word.
I sat up with a huff.
Feeling the call of nature,