“My beloved is dead,” Sergio stated with all the emotion he was feeling forced out in those few clipped words. “Why would Fate bring me here just to torment me with loss?”
“Yes, why would Fate bring you here just to cause you pain? She brought you here for a reason.” Kash leaned into Sergio and made him look at him. “Your beloved must be alive. Keagan must still be out there.” Sergio heard him, and the possibility began to seep through his pain.
“There were many deaths that occurred in Cruise’s office, but Keagan did not die there. He did not die in the alley, and he did not die here.” Thomas clearly stated each word to make sure that Sergio was hearing him, and he did hear. The hope that warmed him gave him the energy to breathe once again.
“He’s out there somewhere hiding,” Sergio stated as he began to stand, and Kash helped him to his feet. “We have to find him before it is too late.”
“We’ll find him, Sergio,” Kash stated and draped his arm across Sergio’s shoulders. They spent all day and most of the night searching but found no trace of Keagan Hahn.
Sergio stood looking out the floor to ceiling window of his apartment in the Hadden Center. Dawn was breaking over the city as he stared out across the skyline.
“I have to find you. You have to be out there somewhere.”
…
The next couple of days were filled with Sergio analyzing and investigating every finding of the search team that has been looking for Keagan. He spent every moment out on the streets looking for his beloved. He had nothing to go on, no indication that he stayed in town or that he left, just nothing, and it was pushing Sergio to his limit. Master Hadden stepped up the search and put every available man and woman on the job of locating Keagan Hahn.
Sergio knew he would spend the rest of his life searching if necessary. He continually referred to the small photo of Keagan that he kept in his pocket. The smiling face with the deep dimples called to him for rescue and tore at Sergio’s heart.
The attraction that he’d initially felt when looking at the picture made perfect sense to him now. He’d felt himself drawn to the man in the picture even as he doubted that they would ever find him. He still anguished over the fact that it took him so long to care about this man.
If Kash hadn’t pushed him for help, he would have left it all in the hands of the search team. He cared as he did about any innocent caught up in the evil of the world, but he didn’t believe it was his mission to join the search.
It was nearing evening, and Sergio was going to visit every shelter in the city in hopes of finding his beloved this night. He’d made the search every evening believing that Keagan would search out a safe place to spend the night, but so far, he’d found nothing. Master Hadden had the tech department following any and all leads regarding where he might go if he left town. They were also monitoring all the bus stations and airports along with train stations around the country.
Sergio had spent a fair amount of time in Keagan’s apartment so as to soak up his alluring scent of sweet grass and to learn what he could about the guy. He did a lot of reading going by the bookshelf that was filled in his bedroom. The titles were eclectic from romance to mystery and historical writings and biographies with a smattering of spirituality thrown in. His clothing was basic t-shirts and jeans and also what Sergio assumed were some of his dance costumes, all shiny and barely there.
Having gotten back from a sweep of the city just an hour before, Sergio took a few minutes to grab a bite to eat and change his clothes before heading out once again. His friends and even co-workers, he didn’t know that well had assisted him in searching, and for that, he was grateful. But tonight, he was going alone to check the shelters. He had a feeling that he would find him tonight. A stirring in his heart told him things were about to change. He grabbed his jacket and left his apartment hurrying to the garage where Ellis, a fellow guard, and Master Hadden’s private driver, had a car gassed up and waiting for him.
“Hey, Sergio.” Ellis came up to him as he was getting into the little compact car. He didn’t like to be obvious or draw attention as he made his way through the city at night. Sergio turned, giving Ellis his attention. “I just got a call from Master Hadden, and he asked for you to come to the penthouse before you leave. He wants to speak with you.”
“Did he say what about?” Sergio asked. He was in a hurry to get started and hoped that whatever Master Hadden wanted to discuss could be done so quickly.
“He didn’t say,” Ellis responded with a shrug.
“Keep it running, and I’ll be right back.” Sergio jogged to the elevator and hit the button for the penthouse.
CHAPTER THREE
The moment he entered the room, he felt a dire pressure of sorrow. He was ushered into the main living area of the large apartment by the Master’s personal assistant, Andrew. In the room stood Master Hadden, a wolf shifter, Detective Grant Dorsey, and Kash. This was an odd group to pull together for a meeting, and Sergio feared the worse. The Master, a police officer, and his best friend were there to deliver bad news.
He walked further into the room when Master Hadden gestured him over to where
