Return of the Alpha (9 page)

Craven daren't go into the restaurant for fear of being spotted. Instead he made his way back out of the hotel so he could see through the window. It came as no surprise to find that Milton was sitting at Drayton's table. Craven had suspected Drayton was behind Rayma's disappearance, but if Milton was also involved, it was potentially much more serious.

They spent almost two hours in the restaurant. When they finally emerged, Craven had to resist the urge to confront them. Even two against one, he fancied his chances. But he knew he had to bide his time. If he killed them now, he might never find Rayma. He waited until they had both driven away in separate cars before returning to his. He tried to call Louise again. Still no answer—he was beginning to worry.

Chapter 10

LOUISE

When my phone rang, I didn't need to check caller-ID to know who it was. Craven would have found out by now that Grosvenor had traced Marlow. If I took Craven's call, I'd be honour-bound to do as he asked. He'd want me to wait until he got back before I did anything. If I didn't take the call then he couldn't complain that I'd disobeyed him. I knew I should have waited, but I simply couldn't hang around Terroun, kicking my heels until Craven came back. He might be gone for days, trying to find Rayma. The lead which Grosvenor had passed on to me was solid, and I didn't want to let it slip away. It was risky, but the main thing I had going for me was I was a native of the Maja pack. Even though I'd left years before, nothing could change that.

I could have requested backup, but that would have meant telling Hill or Grosvenor of my plans. They'd have insisted I waited for Craven or at the very least have alerted him to what I was about to do. I had to go it alone.

I crossed the border without any problem, but I knew there would be guards patrolling the perimeter of the airport. The noise of the planes taking-off and landing was almost deafening. I was in human-form, so my senses weren't as heightened as my wolf's would have been. Even so, I sensed the two guards before I actually saw them. They must have picked up my scent too, but their relaxed manner suggested they did not view me as an intruder—just as I'd hoped. By the time I was clear of the airport, I'd passed by at least a dozen more guards. None of them had given me as much as a second look. That gave me much more confidence as I made my way towards the city centre.

The information I'd been given by Grosvenor had come from one of his long-term undercover agents. According to him, Marlow was living in an apartment block in the east of the city. I'd been dubious when Grosvenor first told me. Why would they allow him to live in an apartment? I'd have expected him to be held in a secure prison. It didn't make any sense, but Grosvenor assured me his source was reliable. He suggested that maybe Marlow had helped Milton in return for favourable treatment. I didn't buy that. Marlow had proven his integrity time after time, why would he sell out now? If Grosvenor's information did turn out to be correct, it would certainly make my life a whole lot easier. Trying to get past prison security would have been practically impossible alone.

My biggest fear was that I would be recognised. It was many years since I'd been in Maja, so it was unlikely, but there was always the possibility someone might remember the daughter of their ex-alpha. After all, my father had been an extremely popular leader.

I needn't have worried. I made it to the apartment complex without incident. There was no sign of heightened security in or outside of the building as far as I could tell. Still, I remained on high alert as I made my way through the lobby. The apartment I wanted was on the third floor. I took the stairs rather than the lift—more exit routes that way.

Apartment 317 was at the far end of the corridor. I'd thought the room might be guarded, but there was no one outside the door. It all seemed much too easy. As I rang the doorbell, I could almost hear my heart pounding against my chest. If Marlow did live here, how would I feel when I saw him? I gave it a few seconds, and then tried the bell again. This time the door popped open.

“Hello?” I called when no one appeared at the door.

“Louise? Come in.”

I recognised his voice instantly, and as I did, a million memories came flooding back.

“Marlow?” I stepped inside. The door must have been opened remotely because the hall was empty.

“In here.” His voice seemed to come from behind the door facing me.

“Marlow,” I called again.

“In here.”

Perhaps he was ill or injured. Maybe he'd been confined to bed. That would explain why he'd been allowed to stay in the apartment, and why he had to open the door by remote. I was trembling from a mix of anticipation and excitement as I made my way over to the door. This was the man who'd saved not only my life, but Craven's too.

“Marlow.” I pushed open the door.

A bright flash of light blinded me. As I struggled to clear my vision, something dropped down onto me, knocking me to the floor. I tried to stand, but I was tangled in some kind of heavy netting.

“So nice of you to drop in, Louise.”

The words hit me like a sledge hammer. The voice cut through the clouds of my memories.

“Layla?” My eyes were slowly regaining their focus.

“They told me you'd lost your memory. Seems like you remember me just fine.”

I did remember. I remembered how she'd once been my friend. How she'd betrayed my father—someone who'd only ever shown her love. How she'd been my jailer while I'd been held in the enclosure. I remembered it all.

“Where's Marlow?” I glanced around the bedroom.

“Marlow?”

“I heard his voice.”

“You must mean this.” She took a small digital recorder out of her pocket, and pressed a button. “Louise? Come in.” She pressed it again. “In here.”

“What have you done with him?” I spat the words.

“Don't worry. You'll find out soon enough.” She pulled a small pistol from her bag; the dart hit me in the thigh. I tried to pull it out, but before I could everything went black.

Chapter 11

CRAVEN

Craven was still in the hotel car park, deliberating what to do about Drayton and Milton, when his phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Louise. Thank god. He'd begun to worry she might have done something stupid.

“I've been trying to call you,” he said. “Where have you been?”

“Hello Craven. Long time, no speak.”

The voice sent an icy shiver through his veins. “Layla?”

“You still recognise my voice after all of this time. I'm flattered.”

“Where's Louise? What have you done to her?”

 “That's not very nice is it? It's years since we spoke, and not so much as a
how are you?”

“If you've harmed her, I'll—”

“Calm down. Louise is perfectly okay—for now.”

“Where is she?”

“She's enjoying a reunion with an old friend.”

“Tell me where she is!”

“All in good time. Louise has a bit of a hangover at the moment. She'll need to sleep it off overnight. More importantly, there's someone who wants to meet with you.”

“Milton.”

“Very good. I'm glad to see that all of those years in the wilderness haven't dulled your senses. He'd like you to come to his office tomorrow.”

“What does he want?” Craven was kicking himself for not having taken out Milton while he had the chance.

“I'll call you in the morning with the details. Needless to say, you must come alone. If anyone is with you—well let's just say Louise won't be very happy—not when I've finished with her.”

“If you hurt—”

Layla had already ended the call.

 Craven was squeezing the phone so hard he was in danger of crushing it. If he ever got his hands on that little bitch, he'd take great pleasure in slitting her throat from ear to treacherous ear.

*********

Hill was asleep, and woke with a jolt when Craven crashed into his bedroom.

“Sorry to disturb you,” Craven said. “Milton has got Louise.”

“How?”

“She went to Maja in search of Marlow while I was following Drayton.”

“I'm sorry. That's my fault. I shouldn't have involved you.”

“That doesn't matter now.” Craven outlined the plan he'd formulated on his drive back into the city. “You're Terroun's alpha. I need you to sanction this.”

“Are you sure this is our only option? If things go wrong it could mean the end of the Terroun pack.”

“I know. That's why I won't proceed without your blessing.”

“You're Terroun's
true
alpha. I've only ever been your stand-in. Whatever you decide to do, I'll support. Anyway, I don't have long now—”

“You're going to be fine.”

“This isn't the time for lies, no matter how well intentioned. If Rayma was here, I'd defer the decision to him, but as he isn't, you must decide.”

“Thank you.” Craven put his hand on Hill's arm. “I'll go and see Grosvenor.” 

“Craven,” Hill called after him—his voice much weaker now. “Promise me that when you return you'll take over as alpha. Your pack needs you.”

“I promise I'll do what's best for the Terroun pack.”

Craven had expected to meet with some resistance from Grosvenor, and he was right. “I can't authorise this. Not without Hill's direct orders.”

“He's too ill.”

“This will put our whole pack at risk—you know that. There's no way I can do it unless I receive a direct order from the alpha.”

“Then that's what you have. I'm ordering you to do this.”

Grosvenor looked puzzled.

“Hill as asked me to resume my position as alpha, and I've agreed.”

Grosvenor looked uncertain, but then said, “Okay. How exactly do you want to play this?”

*********

The apartment block was way above Drayton's pay-grade. Craven wondered why someone hadn't noticed before and asked questions. He rang the doorbell, and moments later, could hear footsteps inside the apartment.

“Craven?” Drayton had only cracked open the door a few inches.

“Can I come in?”

“Hmmm—” Drayton looked a little uneasy. “I was just about to go out.”

“This won't take a moment.” Craven pushed the door gently.

“Sure. Okay, come on in. What can I do for you?”

Craven pushed the door closed behind him. Then without warning, he launched himself at Drayton who was caught off-guard and wrong footed. Drayton hit the floor with a sickening thud. Craven was on top of him—their faces only inches apart.

“What—?” Drayton managed, although he was still winded.

“Be quiet. Don't speak again until I say so. If you utter a single word before then, I'll tear your throat open, and leave you to bleed out on this beautiful carpet.”

Drayton's lips parted as though he was about to object, but then common-sense kicked in.

“I know you're working with Milton.”

Drayton's eyes widened and he shook his head.

“Don't waste my time denying it. The game's up. Right now you have only two choices. Either I kill you, and believe me that would be my preferred option, or you do exactly what I say. No questions. No
ifs
or
buts.
”

Drayton tried to pull his hands free, so Craven grabbed him by the hair, lifted his head off the floor, and then banged it back down again.

A little dazed, Drayton opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated. His eyes asking the question.

“You can speak now,” Craven said.

“What happens to me if I do as you say?”

“You get to keep your worthless life, but you won't be allowed to stay in Terroun.”

“Where will I go?”

Craven shrugged. “Not my problem.” His hand gripped Drayton's throat. “What's it to be?”