“Sorry, not to be like that person, but did you happen to get a name? My buddy’s really worried, and it might help if he knows who else is looking for her.”
“That woman was a piece of work, kept on sprouting off about being Peyton’s mother, and she wouldn’t leave until she got what she was coming for. The two men she was with had to force her into the car when my man and his Brother thought she wouldn’t take the hint.”
Wyatt knew he wasn’t going to get anything more from this Cathy person. Well, he might if he pushed, and what he would get a bunch of bikers and pissed off guard dogs. Not something he wanted to deal with, so he decided to cut and run. He had other ways to take Peyton Carlton down.
“Okay, thanks, here’s my card in case they do show back up causing problems. Call that number, and we will send someone out as soon as we can.”
“NAC? Do you know Declan Quinn?”
“Yeah, he’s my boss, you know him?”
“Yep, best CO I ever had. Tell him Cathy Torrent said hello next time you see him. If you work for Senior, I have to believe you’re good people, so I’ll tell you this much. Peyton wasn’t acting right before she left and the fact she left without her dogs, in my opinion, means some bad shit is about to go down. She would never leave them behind otherwise.”
“Crank, that’s my boyfriend, didn’t like the looks of them, so he and a couple of his guys have been staying out here with me. Between them and the dogs, I don’t think they’ll be coming back. But I have to tell you, we all got bad vibes from them, those people were up to no good.”
“Thanks, Cathy, and I’ll let Senior know you said hello. It was nice to meet you, and I’m sure my buddy will be happy Peyton has good friends. Stay safe.”
“Same to you, Wyatt, tell that brother of Peyton’s I think she’s in trouble. I tried to figure out what’s going on, but the girl's mouth is tighter than a frog’s butt in water when it comes to sharing information.”
“Don’t worry, Cathy, we’re looking into it. When I catch up with Peyton, I’ll let her know you were worried about her.”
Damn it! Now Wyatt knew he wasn’t going home anytime soon. Time to make the call to tell Bas something wasn’t right with his sister. Dreading the task, Wyatt walked back to his car for the hard drive down the fucking mountain, taking his phone out of his pocket and dialing. Bas picked up on the first ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Bas, I’m at your sister’s place, and she isn’t here.”
“What do you mean my sister isn’t there? Where the fuck is she? She never goes anywhere.”
“Shit, man, listen, how well do you really know your sister? I know you talk to her every week, but when’s the last time you actually laid eyes on her? None of us have gone on leave in a couple of years. A person can hide a lot when you don’t see them face-to-face. She could have a boyfriend or hell I don’t know, but listen, I’m just relaying the facts. What I mean is exactly what I said, she isn’t here. Her assistant Cathy told me she took off for a while, needed to do some stuff. But she also let me know that a woman claiming to be her mother came by yesterday demanding to see Peyton. When this Cathy chick told the woman she wasn’t around, the woman claiming to by Peyton’s mother went off the rails.”
“No fucking way, man! Peyton hasn’t seen her mother in thirteen years. Why would the bitch show up all of a sudden? Dude, you need to find my sister, none of this is adding up. If she’s in trouble, I need to be there.”
“I don’t disagree with you, man, even her assistant seems to think something’s wrong. But you need to calm down, and you need to think. How much do you actually know about Peyton’s life? All this could be something, or it could be nothing at all. I don’t really know your sister, but I can’t believe she would cut and run without telling you she was in trouble. You said you were close, wouldn’t she at least call or something? From what Cathy said, she left on her own.”
“See, that’s another thing, Peyton wouldn’t leave her dogs for anything. I haven’t had to see her in the last of couple years to know that. Those dogs are her life. She also doesn’t have an assistant. She’s always refused any help, doesn’t like it when people are around. For her to give up the care of her dogs to a stranger, dude, that doesn’t compute, no fucking way. And she hates her mom, we both do.”
“I don’t know, man, I’m just repeating what Cathy said. The chick is on the up and up, worked for Senior in the Navy. The nice lady, she’s just as worried about your sister as you are. I also didn’t sense any fear or deception from her. She said the people who showed up here were shady and only left because her boyfriend showed up with a couple of his friends.”
“Fuck, man! You have to find her. This isn’t like Peyton at all, she has to be in trouble.”
“I think you're right; give Jacks a call and tell him what’s going on. Get him to give me permission to stick around for a while, and I’ll try to locate your sister.”
“He’s my next call, Brother. Please, do your magic and try to locate my sister. If you can’t, I’ll fly down there and do it myself. Fuck, I probably should, anyway, I hate sitting here twiddling my fucking thumbs. With her mother involved, this could be dangerous. She’s a piece of fucking work, and if what I’m starting to suspect is true, she would sell Peyton out in a second to get a buck.”
“What do you think’s going on?”
“Well ever since Jacks told us Rye’s story, I’ve been connecting some dots. What we found out with Emma only increased my resolve. I heard my dad and Judy talking about Peyton one time, and she said Peyton wasn’t even really her daughter. She was supposed to be a surrogate for some company. She was one of several women who agreed to carry kids for money. Right before she gave birth, she took off, thinking she would be able to get more money by ransoming Peyton. But something spooked her, and she decided to keep Peyton instead. The bitch never let my sister forget it either.”
“You think Peyton is one of Franklin’s babies, is that what you’re getting at?”
“No, I think Peyton is one of The Pandora Group’s babies. I told Peyton what I suspected, but she blew it off, saying she knew full well where she came from and to never take Judy’s words for truth. The woman would sell her soul for a buck. Peyton refused to talk about it anymore, so I dropped it, quietly looking into myself. I was trying to get her to the base, so Ryleigh and Mia could test her, but Peyton was dragging her feet. She kept saying she would think about it. Two weeks ago, she stopped returning my calls. Something is up, man, the only problem is I know my sister. If she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be.”
“Dude, I’ve worked with your sister, I know some of her tricks. Get in touch with Jacks, and I’ll try to find a lead of where she might have taken off to. Do you have a picture or anything I could use to track her? I really don’t want to get Cathy any more involved. The chick is former military and already suspects foul play. She cares about Peyton and from what I gathered already, Cathy’s boyfriend is deep in an MC. I don’t need a bunch of bikers coming after my ass while I try to track down your sister.”
“I have a picture I took a couple of years ago, I’ll forward it to you when we get off the phone. Dude, please you need to find her. I’m going to give my brothers a call too. They weren’t around when my dad was with Judy, but I’ve told them all about her, and they aren’t that far from there.”
“No offense, but I don’t need a bunch of amateurs messing with my mission. I know you want everyone possible on this, but they would only get in the way. Let me do my job. If I locate her and if she’s in trouble, I’ll call you guys in.”
“Okay, have it your way for now, but just so you know, my brothers are hardly amateurs, they’re retired Air Forces SARs. Even with your skills, you would be the weak link in that chain, asshole. They also linked up with other retired and formed a little Motorcycle Club by the name of Ruthless Bastards.”
Wyatt wasn’t a stupid man, he’d heard of the Ruthless Bastards. They were a sist
er MC to a much larger and scarier one, The Sacred Saints, and those bastards were bad news. Both MCs were outlaw bikers’ clubs, living by their own code and rules. While still in the military, Wyatt had heard rumors about both clubs. Bas’ brother's club was renowned in military circles for going were others refused—paid mercenaries, killing machines. It seemed his buddy had been keeping a lot of secrets; he hoped they didn’t end up biting him and Alpha Team in the ass.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! Does Jacks know you're linked to a fucking one percenter MC? Dude, that could get you kicked out of NAC and our team. Not cool man.”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, boy scout, both Jacks and Declan know about my brothers. They don’t run drugs, women, or guns. They’re mercenaries, and before you ask, they are all human. Senior has even worked with several of them in the past. They’re all good men who happen to like the MC lifestyle, so get over it. They can help, and if you don’t come up with something on Peyton in the next twenty-four hours, I’m calling them in.”
“Fuck, whatever. Your boys may already know what’s going on. Cathy mentioned bikers. I don’t know all the clubs around here, but it could be them. Might want to give a shout out. Let me know what Jacks says. I need to get to a safe house, so I can set up my equipment and track your sister down. But, dude, if she’s just hanging out with friends, I’m so going to kick your ass. I haven’t been home in weeks, and my bear doesn’t like it. You also owe me for the damage your sister’s driveway did to my baby.”
“You drove Bessie? Wait a minute. How did you even get Bessie there? You were on a mission. Cash flew you guys out? Are you fucking nuts? My sister lives in the fucking mountains, no way your car should be there. If you were stupid enough to drive it, the scratches are all on you, fucker,” Bas laughed.
“Whatever, asshole, you’ll pay, one way or the other. Hey, while I’m thinking about it, have Jacks give Liam a call too. This place is close to his territory. I don’t want to add stepping on another Alpha’s toes and make this mess worse. And to answer your question, I had Bessie flown out, I wanted to drive home. You’re fucking lucky I did, or I wouldn’t have been able to check up on your sister.”
“You’re a fucking weirdo, Wy. Only you would ship your extremely expensive, classic car out to you, just so you could fuck it up. You might be one of the smartest people I know, but, dude, use some fucking common sense next time. That’s on you, not me.” Bas got quiet and then said, “Thanks for doing this, Wy, I really appreciate it. Peyton is special and important to me.”
Wyatt wanted to give Bas some crap, but found he couldn’t. Peyton was special. Wyatt had been more than intrigued by the mysterious hacker, and now that he had a chance to meet her in person, he was even more curious.
“Yeah, man, I got that from your reaction, but, dude, I have to ask. I already know she isn’t your real sister. I mean she isn’t blood-related. Is there more to your relationship than you’re letting on?”
“No, and blood doesn’t matter, dude, Peyton is my sister through and through.”
“Sorry, had to ask. With all the mating going on and your suspicions about her birth, I wanted to be prepared. I don’t think I could handle you going all caveman on my ass like Jacks does when anyone gets close to Ryleigh.”
Yeah, that was what he was telling Bas, but that wasn’t all of it. Peyton intrigued him, and he wanted to know her. They’d spent quite a bit of time talking back and forth through messenger or email, working on cases for about a year now, and even, he wasn’t ashamed to admit, if it was only to himself, he’d had more than one dream about the woman. He would try to figure out what she looked like never having seen a picture. He never pressed Bas about the mysterious hacker because he didn’t want to know if they had a deeper relationship even if it was in the past. Wyatt wanted to keep the mystery woman to himself. The dream version at least. He liked her sense of humor and wit. He also liked how she responded to his more explicit messages; she was quick on her feet. If Bas didn’t have any claim on her other than family, then maybe he would see if it led anywhere. It had been a long time since a woman sparked his interest this much.
“I get it, but Peyton is just my sister. I don’t think my future involves a true mate. Let’s get real, man, there aren’t that many women out there who can give me what I need, let alone my bears need for control. I’ll stick to the club scene and leave the true mating stuff to you guys.” The sadness in Bas's voice didn't go unnoticed.
Unfortunately, he felt the same way, but he didn’t want his buddy to give up the idea completely because even he still had a glimmer of hope that the legends were true. Finding the one person that would complete you, calm your animal and give you a future was a fantasy he couldn’t completely deny himself.
“You never know, man, there might be a little subby out there waiting for your control freak nature,” Wyatt laughed, but was aware of what Bas was talking about. They all had dominant traits, one and dones were easy, long-term another story. It didn’t help that they could be called out at a moment noticed for a job. They might not be in the military anymore, but sometimes it sure felt like it. Women weren’t generally receptive to a man who would leave for indeterminant amounts of time and couldn’t divulge where he was. That shit just didn’t happen. At least in the military, they could say they were deploying.
“Yeah, man,” Bastian laughed, “plenty who want to play the part for a scene or the moment, but not a lifetime. Dude, let’s get real. That Franklin guy created hundreds of babies, we don’t even know if all of them contain Shifter genetics. What we do know is there are billions of people on this planet, so our chances of finding that one woman are pretty slim to none. I’d rather live the life I have left in reality, not hoping for the impossible. Whatever, you have work to do, and I have calls to make.”
“Okay, I got the hint. Fate is a fickle bitch, but damn, dude, hope is just hope, there’s no harm in having a little. But I get it, dropping the subject,” Wyatt quipped. He didn’t like the stress his Team had been under lately. Their way life was changing and although he thought it might be a good thing, it also created even more problems; he just hoped it was all worth it. “I’ll get back to you once I’m settled and have some intel.”
“Same here, douche bag, I’ll let you know what Jacks and Liam have to say. Later.”
Ending the call, Wyatt decided to get his ass in gear. His poor Bessie was not going to like the trip down the mountain. Damn it, he should have rented a fucking Jeep or something, but after being away from his team for so long taking care of NAC business, he wanted to drive his girl home and unwind. He wanted the peace he always got hearing the engine roar to life and the feel of her speeding down the open road.
His baby was one of only a few good things from his childhood. Finding Bessie in a junkyard at fifteen years old, he spent every cent he made fixing her up. It also kept him out of his house, much to his parents’ delight. They weren’t bad people, they just didn’t give a shit what Wyatt did. When Wyatt left to join the service, he used every cent he had to store his precious car, and through the years, he added more and more, making her into the beauty she was today. He loved his car, and this little mission was wreaking havoc on her.
Bessie was a sleek, black-on-black convertible 1971 Hemi Cuda. Her body was curved and ample, and she boasted the best throaty loupe Wyatt had ever heard. The growl and vibrations she produced would make any man cry. He loved his car, no question about it. What he loved most was Bessie didn’t talk back, cause him problems, or create unnecessary chaos. She moved at his command and never questioned his orders or demands. Bessie was comfortable; he took care of her, and she took care of him, offering him peace and pride. What she wasn’t though was made for back hill country, dirt roads, and pot holes the size of fucking craters. She needed the highway, flat pavement, and long stretches to unleash her ponies, and Wyatt loved giving her that.
Thinking about it only pissed him off more. He needed to find and grab Bas
’ sister and get back to base. He needed to be with the Team. Figure this shit out with Pandora and Davis Defense and help bring them down. What he really didn’t need was to be tromping through the fucking mountains looking for Peyton. Damn, just thinking that name did something to him and that was completely out of character. He hoped she lived up to what he had built up in his mind.
Chapter 7
Wyatt heard his phone ring with a new message, and knew if he stopped right now, he could put himself out of his misery and look at the photo Bas had sent, but he wanted to savor the moment. If he didn’t need the picture to find Peyton, he would wait so he could lay eyes on her the first time in person. Eventually, the anticipation got the better of him though, and he had to pull over.
Pulling up his messages, he clicked on the link and there, right before his eyes, was Peyton Carlton in all her glory. It was a sweet picture, she was laughing at something while sitting next to Bas by a campfire. The quality of the picture wasn’t that great, it was dark and grainy, but it was enough for Wyatt to get his first look at the woman who had preoccupied his thoughts for so long now.
Her dark hair was all over the place, sticking up in different angles. She was tiny, maybe five feet, but also curvy, in a good way. He really couldn’t get a good gauge of her eyes color, but he assumed they were a dark brown, maybe hazel. There was even an endearing little smudge on her cheek. He liked that she didn’t seem to take herself too seriously. She was wearing simple clothes—jeans, t-shirt with a flannel over the top. The flannel looked to be several sizes too large, and he assumed it was Bas’. He wasn’t prepared for how much he and his bear hated the idea of this woman wearing another man’s clothes, even if they were her brother’s. Something inside his head screamed that it was wrong.
NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team Page 65