Page 102 of Hart's Redemption

He rolled his eyes at my shout. “What? If Alpha is in danger, then I’m going in there to get him. Do you know where he’s being held?”

Eric and I shared a look. “Yes,” I offered reluctantly.

“Then what are we standing around for? Security can’t possibly be that tight. Data shows that no one in the Klamath pack has military training. Bennett here should be able to bluff his way through. And…” He gave Eric a once-over, “you’ll do.”

Eric immediately bristled again at the implication. “That’s it. I don’t care what kind of training you have. I’m gonna skin your damn tail.”

I hastily stepped between them. “Enough.” The tension in the room stayed tight, but neither pursued the bubbling hostility. “It’s not that simple.”

Remus stared at Eric for another minute before turning to face me. “What’s the problem?”

“Conrad will leverage this hearing to keep me in line. We don’t know how much he knows about anything.”

“You mean the bond.”

Eric looked ready to throttle Remus anyway, despite my order to stand down. “Would you keep your voice down? That’s not exactly public knowledge.”

Remus gave a dismissive wave. “Fine, we can assess first. Have you called him yet?”

“Called who?” I asked.

“Detective Hart. He’s been gone what,” he sniffed the air, “a couple of hours at most? Patience doesn’t strike me as your Alpha’s strong point. He’s likely already started questioning him.”

The contents of my stomach turned sour, and I landed heavily in the nearest seat. “Torture. You think Conrad would torture Josh?”

Remus shrugged. “If you’re worried, call him. Also, we all have extensive training in resisting interrogation. Josh isn’t likely to tell them anything he doesn’t want them to know.”

I pulled up Josh’s encrypted number. The number had been blocked for so long, it was no wonder it hadn’t occurred to me. When the line connected, I almost hung up in shock. “Josh?”

There was an indistinct mumble.

“Moonbeam, it’s me.”

“Elijah?” My name came through muffled and thick, as if I’d woken him from a deep sleep.

I let out a sigh of relief. If he was safe enough to sleep, then he was okay. “I need to ask you a few questions. Do you think you can answer them?”

He hummed sleepily.

“I know you’re tired, but I need you to focus, my love.” No response. “Josh?” I checked the connection. It was still live. “Can you hear me?” I glanced at the others.

“What is it?” Eric asked.

“I think he fell back asleep.”

Remus snickered. “It’s a soldier’s life.” Eric smacked him, and he laughed again.

Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream poured through the connection. I shot to my feet, adrenaline pumping through every inch of my body. “Josh!” I shouted, and then the line cut out.

“What the hell was that?” Eric asked, looking visibly shaken.

Remus growled something that sounded disturbingly like dismembering people, then said louder, “That’s it, I’m calling the cavalry.”

I held out a shaking hand and wanted to die at the word leaving my mouth. “No.” Even Eric looked aghast. “You can’t call in your team.”

“Why the hell not? We all heard that. I am not standing by while—”

Anger surged through me, giving me a needed dose of strength. “Josh just evaded charges of misusing his position. Bringing in your unit would undermine all of that work and prove them right. Not to mention a good chunk of your team is lycan.”