Page 65 of Hart's Redemption

A sudden ping in my ear, followed by the familiar voice of the Atlas system, snatched my attention. “Security disarmed.” Panic flooded through me, washing away the last of my irritation. I didn’t even think twice. “You’re right, Alpha. I’ve not been fulfilling my role within the pack as I should be. I’ll strive to do better in the future. This conversation has been… illuminating.”

Conrad’s brow furrowed in obvious confusion at my abrupt shift. I couldn’t help but think how impressed Josh would be at how I’d said exactly the truth and meant something completely different.

“If you’ll excuse me, Alpha, there is some business I need to attend to.” I couldn’t have said what expression he wore as I boldly walked away without actually being dismissed. I didn’t care either. Someone was at my house, and it sure as hell wasn’t Josh.

Chapter 21

Elijah

Outwardly,nothingseemedoutof place at the cottage. There wasn’t even a car in the drive. My first panicked thought was that it was Josh’s mom, but I quickly dismissed it. There was absolutely no way Josh would ever have given that woman security clearance. Which led me back to my chief concern—who elsedidhave it? Perhaps if I understood more about how the system actually worked, I might have known. As it was, I was walking blindly into my own house.

The hinges were mercifully silent as I opened the door after discovering it wasn’t locked. I dragged in a lungful of air, seeking any kind of clue who could have invaded my personal sanctuary. The complete absence of any such identifying scent immediatelygave me pause. It also reminded me of when Josh used to take potions to hide his scent.

I warily made my way through the foyer and the short hall that led to the main part of the house. As I stepped into the living room, my gaze fell on a man sitting patiently at the dining table. Before him lay several perfectly organized folders and data tabs. He peeled out of the chair with an unnerving grace that put me in mind of the way a larger creature would move to avoid breaking things.

He was nondescript with dark hair kept stylishly short, his tan skin had distinct olive undertones, and he stood maybe five-ten. If it weren’t for the peculiar tilt to his gold-tinted eyes and the sharp suit he wore, he could have easily blended into any crowd. For all my worrying on the way here, the supposed intruder didn’t appear threatening in the least.

He straightened his burgundy tie, which would have matched Josh’s vest perfectly, and looked straight at me. “Dr. Bennett, I hope you will forgive the intrusion. My name is Theodore Lombardi. I am Detective Hart’s legal representative.” He gestured to the table. “We have much to discuss.”

I stared blankly at him. “You’re Josh’s lawyer?”

“And by extension, yours. Now, if you would please have a seat, Dr. Bennett, we can begin.”

My fingers were numb as they closed around the top of the chair and pulled it away from the table. Theodore Lombardi followed suit and resumed his previous seat. His unusual eyes snared me and, though it didn’t make a damn bit of sense, images of fire. I blinked rapidly to clear the disturbing imagery and dropped my gaze to his array of documents. That, on top of his not having a smell, only made me more uneasy. I swallowed my nerves and willed my hands to be steady.

He slid a folder over and opened it. “You no doubt are curious as to why I am here now.”

“Actually, I’m more curious how the hell you got into the house at all.”

His gaze flicked up, not with anger or annoyance, but with an eerie calm that exuded patience the likes of which I’d never known. Suddenly, I had the distinct impression that despite his outward depiction of a man in his early fifties, Theodore Lombardi was extremely old. My unease increased tenfold.

I swallowed thickly, finding myself increasingly intimidated by that all-knowing stare. “My apologies. I was in a stressful meeting with the Klamath Pack Alpha when Atlas notified me that someone had disarmed the security system.”

He nodded and folded his hands on top of the folder. “It was not my intention to cause you undue concern. However, I appreciate your expeditious arrival. To answer your initial question, I used my personal access to disarm Atlas and am pleased to see you are utilizing the system. Detective Hart expressed great concern you would not.”

I’d met a lot of professionals in my field as a literary critic. They ranged ‌from delusional recluses to austere, tenured professors, but none of them compared to the consummate professional sitting across from me now. I debated telling him it was the first time I’d used the system since we’d known his mother was in town, but something told me he already knew. That suspicion did nothing to quell my quietly growing concern. Not even my parents had ever made me feel so much like a child as Theodore Lombardi did.

“In answer to the question you have not asked, but invariably will, I am herenowbecause Detective Hart has failed to make his last three check-ins. Thus, I find myself in your home to determine his state of health.”

“Josh isn’t here,” I replied out of reflex.

“I’m well aware that the detective’s medical leave expired and the results that followed.”

I frowned at him, getting more confused by the second. “Then whyareyou here?”

“To ascertain whether he is still alive. In the event of his demise, certain steps need to be taken. Promptly.”

“What makes you think I know if he’s alive or not?”

Theodore Lombardi leveled that ageless stare at me once again. “You are his bonded mate.”

“H-how do you know that?” My concern morphed into full-blown fear.

“I know almost everything there is to know about the detective’s affairs. For the sake of time, I will assume that Detective Hart is still alive and in good enough health that it has not begun affecting you.”

“Affecting me?”

“Naturally. The bond is a connection that links two souls together. Since the bond is fully completed, should anything extreme occur, you would at least have some inclination.” He said it so matter-of-factly that it was hard to question. Though I was hard-pressed to think of anyone who could say as much about the bond, not even other lycans. “Are there any more inane questions you would like to ask, or can we proceed?” Despite the annoyance evident in his choice of words, neither his tone nor his expression reflected it.