Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
More knocking.
He growled. “What?”
“It’s me. Open up.” Dante was using his Beta tone, which meant this had to be important.
Slipping out of bed, Marcus pulled on a pair of jeans as he headed for the door. Opening it wide, he tensed at Dante’s serious expression. “What is it?”
Dante shoved a mug of coffee into his hand. “I know it’s early, but we can’t wait around. Rhett and Donovan managed to track the IP address. We have a location on the jackals.”
Five minutes later, Roni and Marcus joined Rhett and the Phoenix half of the hunting party at the kitchen table.
“So . . . where are the fuckers hiding?” asked Roni before shoving a vanilla lollipop into her mouth.
“Seattle.” Rhett scratched his nape. “But I have to warn you, this could be a completely unproductive day.”
Marcus frowned and paused chewing. Taryn, bless her soul, had placed a large plate of toast on the table. Swallowing it down, he asked, “Why?”
“The problem with tracing IP addresses is that it doesn’t necessarily mean the owner is situated there.”
Taryn arched a brow. “So it could just be an empty building?”
“Well, from the searches I’ve done on the house, it belongs to a human family.”
The Alpha female pursed her lips. “I doubt the jackals will have help from humans.”
“Exactly,” said Rhett. “In the beginning, I’d expected it to be a simple case of finding the physical location of the IP address. But considering all the tricks the jackals are using, I’d say they have a hacker working for them. If that’s the case, it’s possible that they’ve used a computer virus to place the IP address on some totally oblivious random person’s computer.”
Trey released a frustrated growl. “In other words, it’s not likely they’ll be there, whatever the case.”
Rhett shrugged helplessly.
“Then do we really all need to go?” asked Ryan. “It might be better if me and Dante go and check it out.”
“No, we should all go,” began Trey, “because there’s a possibility that the jackals are there. The human family might not truly exist.”
Dante took a sip of his coffee before turning to Rhett. “Could someone have faked something like that?”
“A family with a history, complete with photos and everything? Yeah, depending on how good they are.” Rhett looked at Roni. “I still haven’t managed to trace the IP address of whoever uploaded your video evidence. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said quietly.
“No, it’s not. But I will find them.”
“Do you have any suspicions at all about who it could be?” Taryn asked Roni. “It would help Rhett with the search.”
Roni shook her head. “Like I told Marcus, I’ve pissed off plenty of people.”
Dante spoke then. “But for them to do and say something so vindictive, it has to be substantial.”
Roni looked at him. “Only to them.” He tilted his head, conceding her point.
“Has anyone called my brother or Derren?”
Trey nodded. “Nick’s arranging for one of his contacts to lone us a private jet.” Nick was in touch with many of the shifters he’d met in juvie, and they all did each other favors from time to time. “As soon as he calls with directions for the jet, we’ll head out.”
“Does this mean we have time to make more food?” Marcus put his hand to his stomach. “I’m still hungry.” Everyone rolled their eyes. “What?”
A few hours later, they were all piling into what Roni thought was a pretty sleek private jet. With the cream leather furnishings, the gleaming marble tables, the mirrored ceiling, and the soft carpeting, the spacious cabin looked more like the reception area of a swanky hotel. Hell, it even had an aquarium.
She found herself stuck between Marcus and a window—which was starting to become a regular thing whenever they traveled. Nick and Derren were sitting opposite them, while the four other Phoenix wolves took the seating area adjacent to theirs.
Dante reclined his seat until he was lounging comfortably. “Now this is nice.” Nodding, Ryan grunted. “Nick, there are indeed perks to being so closely allied with your pack.”
Eyes closed and arms crossed behind his head, Nick said, “Wish I could say the same. But you all still annoy the shit out of me.”
Laughing, Derren took out his iPod and earphones and stuck the buds in his ears.
Dante rolled his eyes at Nick. “You’re just pissy because you couldn’t keep Marcus away from your sister.”
“I do not get pissy. Fuller and I have come to an understanding: if he hurts Roni, I get to play with the body parts that she slices off.”
Trey spoke to Nick. “Any other Alpha might have been ready to feed you your own kidneys for making their friend’s life as difficult as you set out to make Marcus’s, but I actually felt sorry for you the whole time.”
Nick opened his eyes. “Felt sorry for me?”
“You really believed you could scare him away. It was kind of fun to watch you try.”