Page 54 of Hart's Redemption

“Because I don’t know.” Remus crossed his arms. Even divested of most of his tactical gear, thewerestruck an imposing figure.

I dragged my fingers through my hair and contemplated pulling it out. “But you said you knew the place they were taking him.”

Remus let out a heavy sigh and dropped the defensive stance. “Everyone knowsofthe Pit of Despair, but no one actually knowswhereit is,” he explained yet again. “That’s a clearance I don’t have.”

I rubbed ‌my chest while I paced the room. The Pit of Despair was right. The bond was so thin that it was incredible it was still intact. Wherever Josh was being held was a hell of a lot farther than he’d been the last time he left.

Jersey.

A vague recollection of his saying something about assisting another detective on a hunt in New Jersey surfaced. That at least gave me a heading. At the very least, I knew he was farther than that.

Or is he?

Pit of Despair sounded like it could be anywhere, and it definitely sounded like magic was involved. Was it possible that magic could interfere with the bond? At this point, I wasn’t willing to rule anything out. I just wanted Josh back. Now.

“Would you sit down already? You’re making people anxious.” I shot Eric a death glare that he didn’t bat an eye at.

Stubborn ass Beta.

Suddenly, the front door burst open. All eyes immediately turned to see Tommy stumble inside, looking borderline manic.

“Where’s Josh? I need to talk to him.”

The innocence of the question stabbed through my heart. I sank heavily onto the couch that I’d been snuggling with Josh on less than eighteen hours ago. “I can’t. Someone else take this one.”

Eric passed me my discarded cup of tea while Remus stepped towards Tommy.

Tommy’s frantic gaze bounced between all ‌four of us before finally settling on the man approaching him. “Who the hell are you? What’s going on? Where’s Josh?”

Each question was like a punch straight to my gut. I took the proffered cup and gave Eric a thankful nod when I smelled the strong burn of whiskey emanating from the container.

“My name is Remus Andana.”

“Why do you look like you’re military?” Tommy took a half-step back. After what he’d been through with his own arrest, I didn’t blame him.

Remus held up both hands in a placating gesture. “Because I am. I’m part of an elite tactical force reserved for highly dangerous missions. Black Ops kind of stuff.”

“H-how do you know Josh? Why are you here?”

“My team often partners with Detective Hart on assignments. As for why I’m here…” Remus glanced at me, then turned his focus back to Tommy. “The detective… he…he’s been arrested.”

I looked up in time to see Tommy’s eyes go wide. “What? What for?”

“War crimes.”

The teacup I was holding flew across the room to shatter against the far wall. “Bullshit! He was arrested because his mother is a manipulative bitch who has done nothing but ruin Josh’s life since the second he was born. Evil snake has probably been biding her time to turn him in.”

“Why would Josh’s mom turn him in?” Officer Mack glanced around in open confusion as all our gazes fell on him. “What? What am I missing?”

“Josh’s mom is Beatrice Harker.” I could kiss Eric for saving me from having to answer.

Mack frowned. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

Eric spared me a sympathetic look, but it was Remus who offered the clarification. “The Harkers are an ancient family line that has devoted their lives to the hunting and subsequent extermination of lycanthropes.” Remus blinked and turned to look at me, his face plastered with numb shock. “Josh is a Harker?”

Tommy and Eric both nodded. Officer Mack looked more confused than ever at everyone’s extreme reaction to the news.

“That makes no sense.” Remus shook his head. “Why would she turn in her own son?”