“Can you come over here? Bring those papers too?”
“Yes. I could really use a friend right about now.”
“You got it.” Jazz didn’t know what else she could do for Cindy’s personal life, but Jazz could be there for her. A good talk might help Cindy find her own way.
Cindy sniffled. “I’m going to stop by the storage unit and grab the box Tony left there, then I’ll be over.”
The line went dead. Jazz dropped her head into her hands. A twin. Megan had a twin named Molly. And she was in danger.
Please. Let us find her.
Jazz dragged in a steadying breath, then dialed Rafe’s number. He needed to know what Jazz had learned and that Cindy would be visiting. An animal’s whining stopped her from hitting send. She scanned the backyard for the source but didn’t see one.
Another whimper, louder than before came from the woods. She leaned over the rail of the deck to get a better look.
Then screamed.
Chapter 31
Rafe had wasted the entire morning. Sure, he’d gotten in to see an agent immediately. It hadn’t been Ella, Zach’s beloved human, though. She was working exclusively on another case—a missing wolf shifter.
Instead of the female Rafe knew to be sympathetic toward shifters, he’d gotten some older human who was riding his way into retirement and wasn’t about to get worked up over a lost shifter child.
“Your lion cub is not the only person missing. Her information will be entered into our database, and when we have a lead, we’ll be in touch.”
The human’s blasé response had been Rafe’s tipping point. He’d flipped the guy’s desk and threatened to destroy his office if the agents didn’t act. Rafe had been escorted out with an order not to return unless he could control himself.
Well, Zach was just going to have to get over his stubbornness and talk to Ella.
Finding Molly was more important than whatever had happened between Zach and Ella to leave him sulking in the shadows.
Rafe parked in the grass, then got out. His cats stirred, warning him something wasn’t quite right. He gripped the doorframe and opened himself to them. The noises around him grew in volume, along with a rush of sensory information only an animal would notice, but the one clue that stopped his heart was that of a woman crying.
Jasmine.
He took off and circled the house, following the sound of her sobs. He found her near the edge of the woods in Mira’s arms. Devin stood protectively near them.
The sight of Jasmine, alive and safe, eased Rafe some, but not completely. The stench of death hung in the air. An animal had died, not a human or shifter. The distinctive scent of blood told him that, and it was the only thing stopping him from losing control.
He met Devin’s gaze. “What happened? Is everyone okay?”
“Kids are fine. So are we, but—”
“Rafe.” Jasmine reached for him.
He pulled her into his embrace. She buried her face against his chest and cried harder. He soothed her with caresses along her back until the sobs shaking her body slowed.
“Talk to me. What’s happened?”
“Bobby Rae is dead.”
“Mr. Wilkins’ dog.” Devin motioned toward where the stench of death drifted. “It was…left there. It didn’t walk.” He worked his jaw back and forth. “No scent of whoever did it.”
In other words, somebody had killed the poor animal and dropped it there as a warning. Rafe could guess who had committed the horrid act—Jon.
Rafe had been right. Jon hadn’t slunk away. He was going to come after Rafe’s new family. Take them from him. Destroy his future.
No. The male was going to die. Rafe wouldn’t let Jon get away with his crimes.
The vow strengthened him. “Who was watching Mr. Wilkins?”
“Not sure.” Devin met Rafe’s gaze. An equal share of disgust and embarrassment showed in his expression. “I was out of it for a while this time.”
Lost in his cats’ world.
No doubt the fight with Josh had sent Devin to his animals’ mystical field in an effort to put his crazed cats in their place. Sometimes, he had trouble reconnecting to the human world after an extended stay there. That was the danger Rafe had tried to warn Seth and Levi about.
Devin didn’t exactly have a choice, though. His cats needed him more than many other shifters’ animals. The years of torture he’d endured while serving Mira’s murder sentence had broken him.
Rafe dipped his chin in understanding.
“Evan was over at the older human’s place.” Mira supplied the answer Rafe sought. “I tried calling him. No answer.”
“Where are the others? Someone needs to go check on them.”
“I’ll go.” Devin stepped forward.
Rafe shook his head. No way was he letting Devin wander off on his own. After an extended stay in his cats’ realm, his view of reality was often skewed. Rafe didn’t need Devin blacking out or confusing his cats’ world with his.
“Stay close. Help protect Jasmine, Mira, and the kids while I run the grounds.”
Devin stared at him for a long moment. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“You’d never hurt a kid or a female.”
For all of Devin’s issues, Rafe didn’t doubt that. Devin’s cats would protect his pride mates at all costs, and Jasmine, along with the kids, were theirs.
When Devin didn’t respond, Rafe added, “Jasmine is my true mate, Devin.”
And if Rafe lost her, his life was worthless. Devin would understand the significance of Rafe’s confession.
Devin glanced at Jasmine, then raised his chin. “Then I would give my life for her.”
The sight of Kade jogging toward them stopped Rafe from thanking Devin for his vow.
“Evan took three gunshots to the gut.” Kade focused on Rafe. “Another dead center in his chest. While he…”
Jasmine tensed. “Dead. He’s dead?”
Kade shook his head. “No. They’re both alive. Royals
