Page 74 of Conquered Betrayal
It seemed the media network Jolyn and her friends had set up paid off.
“Thank God,” Jolyn murmured, then straightened. “Wait. You guys know about shifters?” Her gaze bounced between Lavigne and Verdugo.
They smiled at the same time.
Understanding dawned in her features. She glanced from the pair, to the people coming in and out of the bunker, to Walker, then to me. I lifted my eyebrows and nodded.
Before she could ask questions, our attention was captured by a light buzzing sound. A small plane wavered in the breeze as it lowered to the tarmac outside the arena.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“Not one of ours,” Verdugo said while Lavigne stepped aside to speak on his radio.
I raised an eyebrow at him.
“But I’ll find out.” Verdugo backed away, then jogged toward the open bunker.
Jolyn wriggled beneath my arm until she faced Walker more fully. “I’m sorry about what happened to you, Walker.” Her tone was determined. “I’m sorry for what my brother did to you and for not setting you free sooner.”
I pulled her close to kiss her temple.
Walker nodded his acceptance of the apology. “None of it was your fault. I appreciate what you were able to do.”
Now wasn’t the time to go into how much her actions spurred Mahn on his sadistic quest. There would be a time and place for it, and I knew Walker would see it the way I did. She may have outed our species, but she hadn’t been responsible for her brother’s actions.
An awkward silence descended between us. “Where are Kane and the sisters?” I asked him.
He turned to me slightly. “Safe in Detroit at our hotel. Clyborne was going to send someone to keep them company since I insisted on coming up here with my old team.” He ran a hand over his head. “I have to admit I was conflicted to leave Sabrina behind, but she ordered me to go. And I sure as hell wasn’t bringing her after what she’d gone through.”
“Ordered?”
He grinned. “Pretty much.”
“Hey! Stop that!” An angry voice cut through the early dawn.
We turned in the direction of the bunker.
“Unhand us, you brutes! Didn’t your momma teach you not to manhandle a lady?”
It was Alina, looking ready to kill, both figuratively and literally, in her tactical gear. Verdugo held her by the elbow, an assortment of guns tucked under his arm. Marley was a pace behind, her expression resigned as another of Clyborne Inc.’s people escorted them toward us.
“They’re with me,” Jolyn said, extricating herself from my arms to run to her friends.
My first instinct was to not let go of her, my second to follow. I swallowed down both, my bear unhappy with me. Walker gave me a knowing smirk and I had the urge to punch him.
Jolyn told Clyborne’s people to let them go, then embraced each friend in turn. They were full-on tight squeezes, each of them clearly relieved the other was all right.
Alina swatted Verdugo on the arm, but he wouldn’t return her guns.
Deciding I’d given my mate enough space, I strode over to the group and wrapped my arm around her waist, gratified when she leaned into me.
“How did you find us?” Jolyn asked.
Marley glanced around, her eyes hesitating on the body bags, then the table full of weapons and other gear, before settling on the two of us. “Landon’s tracker was still working.”
It took a second for her words to sink in, then I stiffened. “You had me tagged?”
Jolyn peered up at me with a grimace. “Your wallet.”
