“No.”
Joker and I speak at the same time, but to my genuine surprise, Bones’s voice also joins us. I blink at our prime alpha in surprise, but he doesn’t look at me, keeping his golden gaze fixed on the monitors.
“If that stuff came from her old nest, then this guy obviously has a connection to her. It would be faster—”
“I said, no.”
Bones’s voice is a low snarl, full of his subaudible alpha dominance that sends a shiver down my spine, even though it’s not directed at me. Siren swallows hard, looking away from our prime alpha, face slightly pale.
“If you say so,” they mutter, already working on taking screenshots of the man’s face from every angle we have.
“I’m going to check on Delilah,” Joker announces, not even waiting before turning on his heel and heading back toward the stairs.
Once his footsteps disappear down the hallway below us, I let out a long sigh, looking at Bones and Siren.
“I don’t like this,” I mutter, rubbing my eyes.
Bones lets out a long, agreeing sigh, the sound slightly muffled by his mask. We’re quiet for another few moments before Siren pushes back from the computers, turning around and getting to their feet.
“I don’t like it as much as the rest of you. But what are we going to do? It’s not like we can call up the five-oh and report it,” they say, moving to lean against the back of one of the couches.
“Do we need to move locations? Just for a while? Maybe throw this guy off our trail?” I suggest.
“If he found us here, there’s a strong chance he’ll find us no matter where we go,” Siren counters.
“And that’s another thing. How the fuck did he find us? We weren’t followed and no one saw us leave the scene, right?” I ask, getting a little heated.
“I hate to suggest it but…” Siren trails off, rubbing the back of their neck.
“Well, you can’t just start a sentence like that and not finish it,” Bones says after two long heartbeats of silence.
“Is there a chance she’s got a tracker on her?”
As soon as the words are out of Siren’s mouth, all noise around me fades. I didn’t see anything in my physical exam, but I wasn’t exactly looking for a tracking device. And I wouldn’t put it past that fucking facility to put them in the patients without their knowledge.
“I…I can try to see if she’ll agree to a more thorough exam. But if we find one…”
I trail off, my mind already working. I hope like hell there isn’t one, but in the event there is, who knows what I’ll need to do to get it out. But I shut down my train of thought before I can spiral. First things first. I need to speak to Delilah.
Chapter thirty-four
Ifollowmynose,tracing Phantom’s scent back to his room, shoving through the door without knocking. Which turns out to be for the best as I find Phantom sitting with his back against his headboard, Delilah sitting sideways in his lap. She’s almost completely cocooned in a blanket, her peaceful, sleeping face the only part of her that was visible.
“She’s only been out a few minutes,” Phantom whispers as I gently close the door behind me.
` I nod, toeing off my shoes and crawling onto the bed. Phantom shifts slightly, allowing me to scoop Delilah up so we can adjust positions. Once we’re settled again, I’m spooning my little wisp from behind, one ofPhantom’s arms serving as a pillow for us both. Delilah mumbles something in her sleep, but doesn’t fully wake up, only shifting slightly before letting out a long exhale and settling again.
“She’s so…peaceful,” Phantom mutters, almost reverently.
I nod, smiling to myself and nuzzling my cheek against the side of Delilah’s head. Though my smile turns to a smirk as I scent Phantom’s bath products, masking her already light pheromones. I give him a knowing look, which only makes him roll his eyes.
“Did y’all find anything on the cameras?” he asks softly, redirecting the conversation.
My jaw clenches almost painfully as I jerk my chin in a nod. The rage I’d only just managed to forget surges back, my arms tightening around Delilah protectively. I don’t know for sure who that bastard was who left the package, but it doesn’t matter. The intent was clear enough. And that means he’s earned himself a date with me in my playroom once we catch him.
Phantom’s alpha purr fills the air and all the tension in my body melts away until I’m fully relaxed. His hand finds my hair, his calloused fingers playing with the strands to relax me even further.
“It’s okay, Jokes. You’re safe. She’s safe. Nothing is going to happen to either of you,” Phantom says, words vibrating with his deep purr.