Ronan slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll knock you out, if it’ll help.”
“Not if you value that pretty face of yours,” Faelan said. “I’ll stay too. I can help look for Renee.”
Cody rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Jamie and I will take Shay to Scotland. The rest of you stay here. There’ll be plenty of warriors at the castle to protect her.” If Renee was alive, she probably needed all the help she could get.
***
Shay sat in Cody’s kitchen, only half listening to the Scottish police officer on the phone. She kept staring at the tattoo on Cody’s neck, looking for the mark he claimed meant they were destined mates. Mates? What was she supposed to do with that? Nine years she spent hating him, and in a matter of hours she found out that he hadn’t even gotten her letters, and he was her mate. Was that why she never got over him? Why hadn’t he told her? Was he hiding more secrets? Her head was reeling so badly she had to keep asking the officer to repeat his question. She hung up, relieved that she wasn’t a serious suspect, only a person of interest they wanted to see as soon as possible.
“We need to talk,” Cody said.
“Not now,” Shay said. She went upstairs, found her suitcase, and numbly gathered her clothes. Was Renee alive? Shay had spent the night snuggled with Cody, warm in bed, while Renee was probably bound and gagged, who knew where. Shay’s cell phone buzzed in her pocket. She grabbed it, staring at the display. Her pulse pounded. “Renee? Are you okay? Where are you?”
There was silence, punctuated by heavy breathing. Shay’s throat tightened.
“Renee?” she whispered.
“Listen, carefully,” the raspy voice said. “Don’t get help. Don’t speak. If you want to see your friend alive, you’ll come to me. Alone.”
“Where is she?” Shay picked up a notepad and pen by the bed.
“Luray Caverns. Wait until dark. The door will be open. Come alone. If anyone follows you, she dies.”
“I don’t know if I can get away,” she said as she scribbled on a pad beside the bed.
“Then she’ll die.” The phone went dead.
Chapter 10
“Anyone seen Ronan?” Faelan appeared, dressed in jeans for once.
Cody dropped the papers Sam had faxed and rubbed his eyes. “I thought you two were going back to Renee’s shop.” There had to be a clue somewhere to put them on the right trail.
“Ronan took off earlier,” Lach said, selecting another knife. Some of the others were getting ready to search for Renee. “He said something about you staying here to watch Bree.”
“Why’s he so bloody worried about
Cody nodded.
“He’s just a kid. Damnation. If you need me to go to Scotland, I’ll go,” Faelan said.
Cody knew how much Faelan hated flying, but there was another reason he wanted Faelan to stay in Virginia, away from the danger following Shay. Faelan didn’t know he was going to be a father, but Cody intended to make sure Faelan was around to raise his child. Maybe he and Bree could go on their honeymoon as soon as Renee was found, and Bree could share her news with him under more pleasant circumstances.
“Stay here and help look for Renee. There’ll be more than enough warriors in Scotland to protect Shay. No one’s infiltrated the castle since it was built. She’ll be safe there. We’ve kept it hidden for this long.” Or had they? They still didn’t know who built the one in New York.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about Renee,” Faelan said.
“Me too.” Cody saw the lid was ajar on the box that held Edward’s talisman. Cody opened the box and frowned. “Did someone take Edward’s talisman?”
“I saw Shay there earlier,” Lach said.
She’d have to return the talisman. It was sacred, to be worn only by the warrior it was made for, not to mention it was dangerous.
“I’m going to try Ronan again,” Faelan said.
“Is Shay packing?” Lach asked.
“Aye. And she was going to take a nap before we go.”
“I still can’t believe she’s your mate and you never even bothered to tell us. Your own brothers,” Lach said.
Cody couldn’t believe he told the whole bloody lot of them.
Lach grinned. “Mom will be overjoyed. She loves Shay. And Nina and Matilda—” His grin faded. “You think the two of you could elope?”
“Who said anything about a wedding? I’ll be lucky if she even speaks to me after this.” Cody gave Lach a warning glance. “Keep your mouth shut. Shay already feels pressured enough.”
“I’m not the one who keeps blurting out secrets,” Lach said. “We need to check Nina’s house, make sure it’s locked.”
“I’ll check,” Cody said. He walked through the tunnel, one of the hardest things for him to hide from her. She always loved secret rooms and tunnels, but every time he was tempted to tell her, he remembered that sharing secrets could endanger her life. Cody checked the doors and windows and then noticed Shay’s car was missing. His throat went dry. He ran back through the tunnel and upstairs to Shay’s room. She wasn’t there, or in the bathroom.
