“Wouldn’t it just be easier to cut out the drama and call in some favors now and find Justin?”
Chase chuckled, although he felt anything but amused. “You would think so, wouldn’t you? But no, once I call in these favors, it will start the wheels turning on something I can’t stop.”
“Can you for once just stop speaking in riddles?”
Chase growled as he turned to face Taylor. The man was standing there with his hands clenched into fists, his face wrinkled with anger lines. Chase sighed and rubbed his hand over his face, and then started walking toward the truck.
There was no way he could explain to Taylor what was going on. He really didn’t think the man would understand. He suspected that the second he gave his secret away, Justin and Taylor would demand that he claim them despite the danger.
Or they would look at him like a monster and demand he get the hell away from them and never speak to either man again. He wasn’t sure at the moment which outcome he would prefer. Chase just knew he was becoming bone weary trying to keep his secrets from his mates. They just didn’t understand how great the danger was.
Chase hoped they never did.
Even if that made him out to be a complete asshole. As long as Taylor and Justin were safe, nothing else mattered. Except Justin wasn’t safe, and Chase didn’t know if the man had left on his own or had been kidnapped. And that scared Chase almost as much as the idea of never having the two sweet men as his own.
Chase climbed into his truck and slammed the door closed, anger over his inability to claim the two men riding him hard. He went to turn on the engine but let his hand fall as he leaned back in the seat and stared out the front window. He was sunk so deep right now that maybe it didn’t matter if his enemies knew where he was.
Chase knew the second he called for help, certain people with a grudge would get wind of his location. Maybe, just maybe, if he timed things right, he could call for help, find Justin, and get the hell out of town before shit came down on the heads of the people he cared for.
It was a plan anyway.
It was a better plan than idly sitting by and watching his mates grow to hate him.
Chase reached for his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. It wasn’t in any phone book or registry. It was a phone connected to a secret satellite orbiting the earth. Only those who had the number could even access it. And it couldn’t be traced, not even by the government—any government.
“Chase Morgan, access node 57834. Code name: Ankle Biter.” Chase rolled his eyes as he repeated the code name that Marc had dubbed him with. He hated being called Ankle Biter. Marc thought it was hilarious. On the up side, no one would ever think of it.
“Accessing,” a bland, monotone computer voice replied.
Chase waited, hearing a series of beeps. He knew that the computer was analyzing his voice pattern and checking his location. Unless he passed the security protocol, he would never be connected to Marc, and this was the only way to get a hold of the man. Marc didn’t have an address.
“Access granted.”
Chase waited for a moment, and then he heard the phone give a series of clicks just about the time Taylor opened the passenger door and climbed into the truck. Chase glanced over to Taylor and then back out the front window when Marc came on the line.
“Chase, man, what kind of trouble are you in this time?”
“My mate is missing.”
* * * *
Taylor was so tired that his feet were cramping. They had searched almost every inch of Wolf Creek Valley, the town, the alleyways, the bars and restaurants, even the tow yard. There had been no sign of Justin anywhere. No one had even seen him.
Chase had even checked the hospital and morgue, places Taylor didn’t even want to think about but knew were a possibility. Thank fuck those avenues came up empty.
The more they searched, the more worried Taylor grew. He was starting to wonder if they would ever find his lover. Chase had assured him that if anyone could find Justin, his friend Marc could. But Chase had talked to Marc hours ago, and there had been no word from the man.
Taylor was starting to lose hope.
When Chase pulled into the parking lot of a roadside motel, Taylor turned to look at him. “Why are we stopping?” They had to keep looking.
“Taylor, it’s three o’clock in the morning. We need to rest. You need to rest. We can catch a few hours’ sleep here and get some grub, start out again at first light. But you’re dead on your feet.”
“I’m fine,” Taylor snapped, but he felt the weariness in his bones. He knew Chase was right, but he wanted to keep looking. His eyes were burning, and he was so damn tired that he could fall asleep right there in the truck, but he felt guilty for stopping their search.
Chase sighed and turned off the engine. “If you don’t get some rest, you’re going to be no good to me or to Justin. He needs you to be strong. And I need you rested so you can help me look for him.”
“I—”
“Taylor,” Chase said as he grabbed one of Taylor’s hands. “You need rest, baby. You’re not some sort of super soldier. You’re tired, upset, and frankly, you could use a bath.”
Taylor pressed his lips together to keep his chuckle locked behind his lips, but it did him
