The Lost Years (5 page)

Chapter 8

Craven had hoped he'd sense Louise's presence once he was in the Maja's territory, but so far it hadn't happened.

“Where would you like to start?” Layla asked.

“Let's go to Louise's apartment.”

“Sure. We can take my car. It isn't far.”

“Did you know Louise?”

“We were best friends when we were young. Krell was like a father to me. I was devastated when I heard what had happened to him. We kind of drifted apart when we got older.”

“Had you seen her recently?”

“A few weeks ago. Her father had insisted she change job. That was down to you actually.”

“Me? How?”

“He wasn't very thrilled when you dropped by to visit her at the travel agents. After that, he insisted she join the
business
. Louise was really annoyed with him. That's why she chose the job at Jesters. I think she thought it would piss her father off, and he'd let her go back to her old job. It didn't work though.”

“Was that the last time you saw her?”

“Yeah.”

Layla parked a couple of streets away from Louise's apartment. As they walked down the road, Craven drew a few unfriendly looks. He let it go. It was understandable for shifters to be unhappy to see an Alpha from another pack walking through their territory. He never felt threatened, partly because Milton had sanctioned his visit, but also because he was confident he could see them off if he had to.

Layla tried to follow him into Louise's apartment, but Craven asked that he be allowed to look around by himself. She objected at first, but agreed after he'd persisted. Thirty minutes later, the apartment had yielded no clues as to who had taken her or where she might be. Their next port of call was Jesters or at least what was left of it. The building had been razed to the ground.

“Why do you think the vampires would have wanted Krell dead?” Craven asked.

“I've no idea.” Layla shrugged. “I have as little as possible to do with humans or vampires.”

“You must have heard talk? Rumours?”

“Nothing. Sorry.”

“I'd like to meet with the vampires.”

“You can't.”

“Milton said I can go where I want, and speak with anyone I please.”

“He didn't mean—”

“
Anyone
I please.”

Layla's smile had now evaporated. “I'll have to see what can be arranged.”

“Do that. Who's their leader?”

“Lassiter is the head of the local cove. I doubt he'll see you.”

“Contact him.”

“Okay, but it may take some time. I'll see if I can set something up for the morning.”

“If you have any problems, let me know. In the meantime, I'll need somewhere to stay tonight.”

“You can stay with me.” Her smile had returned.

“A hotel will be fine.”

“No hotel is going to give you a room.”

“Why not?”

“Having an Alpha from another pack in one of their rooms wouldn't be good for business. There's plenty of room at my place, and I'll have you close at hand if I run into any problems with Lassiter.”

Reluctantly, Craven agreed.

*********

“Your meeting is set for ten AM tomorrow morning,” Layla said.

She'd spent the last thirty minutes making calls to vampire HQ. Craven had just finished his call to his Beta—bringing him up to speed with progress or the lack of it.

“Thanks, Layla. That's great,” Craven said, as he glanced around. “Nice place. Have you lived here long?”

“Actually, I only moved in this morning.”

Layla lived in a penthouse. It must have cost a fortune to rent. Milton had described her as his assistant—the job must pay well, Craven reflected.

“I'm done for,” Craven said. “Is it okay if I take a shower before I turn in?”

“Sure. Help yourself.”

“Goodnight then.”

He wasn't really tired, but he couldn't bear the thought of making small talk with Layla for the rest of the evening. The day had been a washout, and he wasn't optimistic about his meeting with Lassiter. Craven wouldn't trust Milton as far as he could throw him, but Craven had been given carte-blanch to search the territory, and to speak with anyone he chose. He couldn't really have asked for more.

Craven took a shower in the en-suite bathroom.

“Where are you, Louise?” he said, as he tilted his head up so the water streamed down over his face. He cursed himself again for having left her alone in his apartment. If anything happened to her, he'd never forgive himself.

Craven turned off the water and stepped out of the shower.

“Hi,” Layla said. A huge smile lit her face as her gaze slid down his body.

She was wearing a white towel tied above her breasts.

“What do you think you're doing?” he said.

“I thought it might be nice to share a shower with you.” As she took two steps forward, she allowed the towel to fall to the floor.

She was petite with curves in all of the right places.

“No.” Craven averted his gaze.

“It will do you good.” She put her palms on his chest. “I can help you get rid of all that stress.” One of her hands began to slide slowly downwards.

“Stop!” Craven grabbed her wrist.

“What's wrong? Don't you think I'm pretty?”

“This isn't why I came here.”

“Who's to know? I won't tell.” She tried to free her hand, but his grip was too strong. Instead, she stood on tip-toe, and pressed her lips to his.

“No.” Releasing her hand, he took her by the shoulders, and forced her back. “I'm here to look for my fated mate, not for a cheap easy shag.”

Craven grabbed a towel and pushed passed her.

“Your loss!” she called after him.

Chapter 9

The next morning, Layla had turned on the ice-works. She spoke to Craven only when it was absolutely necessary. That suited him.

“I'll come in with you,” she said when they arrived at Lassiter's offices.

“No. I want to see him alone.”

“But—”

“Alone. If you have a problem with that, I'll talk to Milton. I'm sure he'd be interested to hear about last night.”

“No. It's okay. I'll wait here.”

Her reaction confirmed what Craven had suspected. Layla was more than just an assistant to Milton.

A young female vampire greeted Craven with an insincere smile. He followed her into an office which was all chrome and black leather.

“Sit,” Lassiter said. He did not stand or offer to shake Craven's hand.

“Thank you for seeing me,” Craven said.

“You have ten minutes.”

“I'm looking for my fated mate. She was snatched from my apartment in Terroun territory.”

“What makes you think I can help?”

“She's Krell's daughter. I think her disappearance may be connected to his death.”

“I still fail to see why that has anything to do with me.”

“Louise saw her father's killers. One of them was a vampire.”

“That's nonsense. We have no interest in the affairs of shifters. She must have been mistaken.”

“What about the attack on Jesters?”

“I'd hardly call it an attack.”

“What would you call it?”

“A few youngsters had a little too much to drink, and—” He hesitated. “Lost control.”

“That's not what I heard.”

“Then you heard wrong.”

“I heard it was a co-ordinated attack. I heard it was a massacre. I heard—”

“Frankly, I don't care what you heard or what you think you know. I've told you what happened.”

“Rather a coincidence that it happened the same night as Krell was attacked and killed.”

“That's just what it was. A coincidence.” Lassiter stood up. “Now, if you don't mind, I'm rather busy.”

“Where were you the night before last?”

“What business is that of yours?”

“A man with a build similar to yours abducted Louise from my flat.”

“I've listened to enough of your nonsense. You should leave now while you still can.”

“Is that a threat?”

“The door's behind you.”

“If I find out you have taken her or hurt her in anyway, I'll come looking for you.”

“That, I'll look forward to.” Lassiter grinned—his fangs bared.

“Well?” Layla asked when Craven returned to reception.

He ignored her.

“What happened in there?” She tried again as they walked back to her car.

“I'm done here,” he said. “Take me back to the border would you?”

“Don't you want to see Milton before you leave?”

“Just take me to the border.”

“What will you do now?” she asked, as they drove back towards his territory.

“I'll keep searching until I find her.”

*********

“Any joy?” Hill asked.

“Nothing.”

They were in Craven's office.

“Did you have any problems over there?”

“The new Alpha was most accommodating. Almost too accommodating.”

“What do you mean?”

 “An Alpha might tolerate another Alpha in his territory under exceptional circumstances, but why would he welcome me with open arms.”

“Doesn't that show he has nothing to hide?”

“Does it? Or is that just the impression he wanted to convey?”

“Did he allow you to travel through their territory unaccompanied?”

“I had his
assistant
with me. Layla—a nasty piece of work who claimed to have been a friend of Louise.” Craven pulled a face—just the thought of that little bitch made him sick to his stomach. What kind of person would try to seduce her friend's mate? “I also met with Lassiter—head of the vampires.”

“How did that go?”

“It didn't. He denied any knowledge of Louise's abduction or Krell's death. When I mentioned Jesters nightclub, he brushed it off as if it had been nothing. I wouldn't trust anything he said.”

“What now?”

“I keep on searching.”

“Where?”

“Everywhere until I find her.” He put his hand on Hill's shoulder. “I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything.”

“I need you to take over as Alpha.”

Hill spun around to face Craven.

“I can't do that.”

“You have to. I have no idea how long I'll be gone.”

“I don't need to become Alpha. I can keep things going here while you're away. ”

“The pack needs an Alpha who they can see every day. You've earned the right.”

“But—”

“No buts. I'll make an announcement later today.

“On one condition,” Hill said.

“What's that?”

“When you find Louise, and you both return, I'll step down and you can resume your role as Alpha.”

“I've got a better idea. We can fight for the role.”

“Same result. You always could kick my arse.”

They both laughed.