you on speaker. Kurt and Landon are with me. We’re heading downtown now. Talk to me.”
“I heard from her earlier today. She sent me a text, but I haven’t heard from her since. I’ve been trying to reach her but can’t get a response. The last GPS reading was…” Sean paused to gather his courage, “well, in the middle of Charleston Harbor.”
“Define ‘in the middle of’, Sean. I’m sick of this shit. Does she have a death-wish or what?” Royce roared.
Silence greeted him.
Landon began hyperventilating again.
Royce felt his stomach clinch and turned the speaker phone off.
“Sean, what the hell are you not telling me? And don’t give me some bullshit answer. I want the truth, and I want it now!”
Sean’s silence sent chills down Royce’s spine.
“Sean, I’m giving you an order!”
“Sorry, Boss,” Sean said regretfully.
“Sean, I can make you talk. We’re talking about my baby sister, and I will make you pray for death--”
“Leave the kid alone, Royce,” Landon interjected.
Royce swung his gaze to Landon. “You know, don’t you? What the hell happed?”
Landon just shook his head. Both worry and sadness were clearly written on his face. “I don’t know for sure. But I know this…whatever it is; it needs to come from her.”
“He’s right, Boss. You need to talk to Jo,” Sean agreed. After a long pause he continued with pain evident in his voice, “I don’t know everything, we never talk about it. She never talks about it. But--”
“It? What is it? I’m her brother, damn it. I have a right to know if she’s in danger or has been hurt in some way!” Royce felt as if he were losing his mind. What had happened while he was gone? What could possibly be so bad that she would hide it from him?
“Does Tammy know?” Royce asked in an anguished voice.
“Yes, Tammy knows… at least part of it. I’m not sure anyone knows all of it. I’ve said too much already, Royce. You need to talk to Jo,” Sean urged.
“Find Tammy. Tell her I need to talk to her,” Royce said.
“No problem,” Sean assured him. Literally, no problem! “Uh-- your Dad and Tammy will be here in less than twenty minutes.”
Royce groaned as he scrubbed his face with his hand. He looked over at his two friends; he needed to let them know that things had just gone from worse to worse-on-steroids. Landon’s expression said he already knew. Werewolves had exceptional hearing.
“Sean, send the coordinates of Joanna’s last known location,” Royce said.
“Sending it now,” Sean responded.
Royce’s phone beeped with a text message.
“Got it, let me know if you hear anything at all,” Royce instructed.
“You know it. I’ll see what I can find on this end,” Sean promised.
“Yeah. Listen…Sean,” Royce began, his voice full of weary regret. “I’m really so--”
“No need, Boss. I understand.”
“Thanks, Sean. But, there is a need. I was out of line. I know you would never betray me. I had no right to expect you to betray my sister,” Royce finished, his voice filled with anguish.
“We all go a little crazy when someone we love is hurt. I get that. Just don’t push her, Royce. She’s not as strong as she pretends to be,” Sean cautioned.
“I’ll treat her with kid gloves,” Royce promised. “at least until she’s stronger. Then I’m going to kick her ass!”
“If you wait until she’s stronger, Boss,” Sean said laughing, “she’s just as likely to kick yours.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Royce agreed with a chuckle. He felt some of the tension drain from his body.
“We just need to find her, Sean,” Royce said.
“We will.”
“Do whatever you have to do to keep Dad and Tammy out of this. Hog-tie them if you have to,” Royce instructed Sean.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Did you say you received a text from Jo?”
Sean felt his blood pressure spike. “Yes, I did…”
Sensing there was yet another piece of this puzzle that would piss him off, he asked, “What, exactly, did it say?”
“It was-- uh, nothing concrete,” Sean answered beginning to sweat and feel somewhat nauseated.
“I’ll ask one more time, Sean. What did the text say?” Royce asked again…in that dangerous quiet tone of voice.
“She said she was in Charleston Harbor and that she would be home soon. That was a few hours ago,” Sean said as he deliberately left out the part where Joanna did not want Royce to know.
“That’s it… anything else in that message?” Royce pressured Sean sensing there was more. There was a reason he was the team leader.
“Well, only that she didn’t want me