Teasing Chase was more fun than she'd had in a long time. So she chanced pushing him a wee bit more. "Of course you'd say that, to protect your male pride. But if I found your garden and crouched low, waiting for you to take off your shirt and get to work, I'm sure I'd find a songbird landing on your shoulder within seconds."
His voice was deliciously deep and husky when he murmured, "Is that supposed to embarrass me? Because to have your eyes on my back, och, that would be heaven, lass."
Searching his gaze, she saw the truth there, along with a flicker of heat. Any clever retort she'd had died on her lips. Instead, her cheeks flushed hotter than before, as she imagined him toiling in a garden, wiping sweat from his brow, and then finally tossing a bucket of water over his head. Of course he'd shake it from his hair afterward, a few of the droplets splashing across her face.
It may be winter and too bloody cold for such a fantasy, but a female could dream.
Tracing her jaw, his grin returned. "I'd pay a fortune for your thoughts just now, Layla MacFie. Anything that makes you blush so furiously must be dirty indeed."
As she tried to think of how to reply to that, something caught Chase's attention on the screen, and Layla turned to watch.
Someone had entered one of the storage closets. Chase slowed the footage to normal speed, and Layla gasped. "That's Logan."
"Wait, what? Logan likes to tease, but he's an honorable male. I can't imagine he'd steal."
Layla placed her plate to the side and studied the monitor again. Sure enough, Logan plucked a few vials of dragon hormones from one shelf, as well as a bottle of medication used to help with heart arrhythmia from another.
Once Logan left the closet in the video, Chase stopped the footage. He then flipped through the other camera views, looking for any other thefts for about an hour before and after the pilfering they'd noticed. However, Logan never appeared in any of the other frames.
Chase finally turned off the screen, and Layla's frown deepened. Logan Lamont was the nurse she relied on the most heavily, one she never would've imagined betraying her like this.
It took her a second to speak again. "Why wouldn't Logan come and talk to me? If he needed help, surely he knew I'd give it if I could."
"Maybe he can't risk it," Chase murmured. His next words were at a normal volume. "What are you going to do, Layla?"
Sighing, she shrugged. "Confront him privately, I suppose. Although I'll make sure it happens inside the surgery, to help contain the situation."
"Aye, you could. Although he might try to run if you do, even if you're surrounded by other staff. For all we know, his reason for stealing is more important than the consequences he could suffer."
Her dragon chimed in. Maybe it's for a mate?
I can't imagine Logan hiding that from me.
Maybe if it was a human or exiled dragon-shifter, he might.
Those drugs wouldn't work on a human and would end up killing them. Logan knows that.
Chase's voice interrupted her inner conversation. "We could ask my brother for help if you want."
Layla met Chase's brown eyes again. "But won't he tell Finn? And then they'll all wonder why I didn't just say something before, not understanding that I wanted to try and contain the situation inside my surgery first."
"Grant would only tell Finn if the situation ends up being a threat to the clan as a whole." He took her hand and squeezed. "But what are the reasons someone might take those things? Knowing that may give me a better way to try to help you."
Glancing at her lap, she wanted to tell him anything he asked. And yet, admitting it aloud would be tantamount to saying she couldn't handle her job as head doctor.
Her beast growled. That's bloody ridiculous. He won't think less of us. So stop holding back.
Before she could convince herself not to, she stated, "The only reason someone would steal those items was if they sold them to someone else, or…"
She paused, not wanting to voice her fear.
Chase's warm hand squeezed hers again. "Or what, lass?"
She met Chase's gaze once more. "Or he could be giving them to the exiled dragon-shifters."
Chase's brown eyes turned impassive. "As far as I know, Logan didn't have any family or friends desert him when the exiles left rather than stand with Finn."
Unlike Chase, whose own father and uncle had done so.
In that instant, Layla understood why his eyes had turned blank at the mention of the exiles. He was trying to contain his own emotions. Even if Michael McFarland was the bastard who'd abandoned his family, he was still Chase's father. And him leaving had hurt the male next to her.
The teasing male had his own pain, and Layla had been selfishly forgetting that. She knew better than many that a smile could hide a lot.
And it was time for Layla to stop being selfish, trying to make her surgery and staff seem perfect and problem-free. Logan's actions could affect a lot of people in the long run.
Squeezing the hand in hers, she said gently, "Regardless if Logan didn't have any friends or family leave, there's always a possibility that a potential true mate did. All of this is becoming more than I can handle, even with your help. So let's go to your brother, Chase. Grant will know what to do."
Nodding, he stood up, taking Layla with him. "Aye, Grant will think of the next steps. And I don't care what he's doing right now. He's going to see us."
Before she knew it, they'd both put on coats and were walking briskly toward Grant and Faye's cottage.
Layla kept waiting for an overwhelming sense of failure to fall over her. However, something about Chase's presence at her side and his hand in hers made her hopeful. Maybe things would work out okay in the end.
Her former boss's departure had been rather sudden, meaning Layla had never had time to ask Gregor all the questions she'd had. True, he always said she could call anytime.
And yet, she'd wanted to prove herself.
However, Layla began to think that the key to being a successful head doctor was being able to rely on others. And she'd never forget that she had Chase to thank for making her realize that insight.
Without thinking, she held his hand even tighter, almost afraid he'd run and leave her alone again. Alone to fight her battles, run her surgery, and to keep her true self hidden from the clan.
Even though it'd only been a short while, that thought scared her. Somehow Chase McFarland had made an impact on her life already.
What she'd said a few nights ago, about breaking in the end if the relationship didn't work out, was more true than ever.
Glancing at Chase's profile, she only hoped his determination turned out to be strong enough. Because aye, she wanted him. And more than for one night, too.
Chapter Seven
Chase rarely asked his brother for help. Not because he didn't trust Grant, or know his older brother would do anything to keep him safe, but rather because Grant had spent most of their childhood doing exactly that.
Their father had been working all the time when they were kids, and he'd often been away for weeks at a time on some job or another. Grant had been the one to grow up quickly and try to help take care of Chase and their mum. It was only when he was older that Chase had learned of the lengths Grant and their mother had gone to raise him and keep him happy.
Namely, by keeping his father's shite behavior secret for as long as possible.
Ever since learning that fact, Chase had done his bloody best to take care of problems on his own and not burden his brother as an adult.
However, Chase wasn't stupid enough to let his pride get in the way regarding the whole situation with Logan. His brother's entire life focused on two things—protecting his family and his clan. Grant had all the skills Chase lacked to find out what Logan was doing, and it would be idiotic to not call on them.
The thought of his friend stealing didn't sit right. Chase and Logan had been friends their whole lives. Aye, they'd gotten into trouble when they'd been younger, like most dra
gon-shifters. However, nothing to suggest he'd sell drugs for money or help those who had hurt the clan. Layla had suggested his potential true mate might've been made to flee with her family. However, Chase wasn't so sure about that given how his friend dated and charmed females on a regular basis.
His dragon spoke up. There's no point speculating about why he's doing it. I'm sure Grant will have the answers within a day or two.
I hope so. Chase stole a glance at Layla, noting how pale her face was. Layla will probably blame herself for this, and I don't like her in distress.
Aye, maybe she should've said something to Finn or Grant or Faye. However, she can't control everything that happens. Maybe she's learned that.
Even so, I think she believes she could have solved it all herself, if only she'd tried harder.
Because Layla always tried her hardest with anything that'd come her way over the last two years and had almost always succeeded.
Her strength and determination had made him wary at first, had made him doubt their age differences. Could he ever match her when she had so many years more experience than him?
However, as months went by, he'd slowly noticed she had faults and weaknesses like anyone did. And it'd made him realize that he didn't need to match her, only complement her. And over time, he'd noticed how well he could do that.
Faye and Grant's cottage came into sight, the front window glowing with light. Good, they were home and he didn't have to waste time trying to find out where they were. Especially since the quick text message he'd sent, asking where they were, had gone unanswered.
Not because his brother was ignoring him, but probably was merely busy with his mate as it was late at night, and Grant's second-in-command would be in charge of the Protectors until morning.
His dragon huffed. I still say we should've called over and over again, until he picked up.
This way is quicker, as I said it would be.
Chase said to Layla, "They have a secure room in their place, one where no one can listen in, no matter how hard they try. Wait until we get inside it before saying anything, aye?"
She nodded but said nothing else.
Chase hated her being so silent. If there weren't mere feet from the doorstep, he would've said something to make her frown with irritation or to smile. Anything to help lighten the mood.
He'd just have to do it later, once this was settled.
They arrived at the door. As much as he wanted to barge in, Chase wasn't going to risk finding his brother and sister-in-law naked and moaning in front of them. He pounded on the door and kept at it until it swung open, revealing Grant's furrowed brow and wearing nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms. "What the hell do you want at this hour?" Before Chase could say a word, Grant's gaze moved to Layla and softened. "What happened, Layla? Don't deny it—it's written all over your face."
Chase took Layla's hand again and pushed inside. "Not until we're secure."
Faye had come into the hall, a robe wrapped around her body. But rather than ask questions, she motioned toward the stairs. "Then let's hurry."
In less than a minute, all four of them were inside a spare bedroom that had been turned into a soundproofed meeting room of sorts, one that was also protected from any sort of listening device. Once the door clicked closed, Grant prodded again. "What happened?"
Layla spoke without hesitation, her voice strong. "Someone has been stealing items from the surgery."
Faye tilted her head. "For how long?"
"Nearly a month. And aye, I should've come to you straightaway. But I was afraid that if any of the Protectors started sniffing around, it would make the thief flee, and I'd never discover who it was." She gestured to Chase. "So I asked Chase to help me."
Grant's look was enough of a question, and Chase answered, "I installed hidden security cameras for her. And tonight while watching the footage, we found out who it is."
Faye leaned against Grant's side. "Who?"
"Logan Lamont."
Faye frowned. "Are you sure? Logan hasn't done anything irresponsible since his brother disappeared years ago, without a word."
Layla nodded. "I agree, it doesn't seem like him, but it's him in the footage, plain as day." She recapped what she saw in the footage before adding, "Regardless of our assumptions, the medication he took is very specific and expensive, just like the old monitoring equipment that also went missing recently."
A thought crossed Chase's mind. "Did Logan's brother have a heart condition?"
Layla shook her head. "No, not many dragon-shifters do. And this stays in this room, but the only ones that have been part of Lochguard in the last decade and have heart arrhythmias are Cal, young Ollie, and…"
Her voice trailed off, her face becoming even paler. Not caring that Faye and Grant were there, he cupped her cheek and forced Layla to look at him. He asked gently, "And who, lass?"
She searched his eyes as she whispered, "My sister."
Time stilled as a flicker of hope sparked in Layla's chest. There were many more reasons as to why it was impossible that Logan was helping Yasmin, almost too many to count.
And yet, maybe Yasmin had been silent for a reason. They'd never formally received news of her mating ceremony, let alone any updates.
Not even her mother's friends had mentioned something going awry. Or, if they had, her parents had become fantastic liars, which would almost be worse. If her sister had been missing for years and they hadn't said a word, Layla wasn't sure she could forgive them.
Her dragon said, Maybe they were trying to keep a secret, one that could harm the clan as a whole. It doesn't mean they were trying to lie to us.
Perhaps, Layla muttered.
Her dragon added, Or, for all we know, our parents were ordered to be silent.
You're too bloody optimistic, dragon.
Regardless of all that, even a wee chance of Yasmin being nearby is better than zero.
Before Layla's mind could go down the road of how Yasmin could possibly be back in Scotland, Grant spoke. "Rather than speculate on who Logan is helping, let's just talk to him, aye? Is he on duty tonight, Layla?"
She nodded. "His shift won't end for another two hours."
Faye jumped in. "Then I think it's time for me to complain of contractions and make a visit."
Grant searched his mate's gaze. "You're only acting, aye?"
Faye smiled. "Of course. Once the contractions hit, you'll know, Grant McFarland. Believe me, you'll know."
Grant focused back on Layla. "You and Chase stay here at the cottage. We'll bring Logan back for questioning, and then we may need your help."
She didn't blink at the dominance in the male's voice. "Make sure they have enough staff, Grant. I can't have the surgery unmanned, especially if I'm confined here for the time being."
Grant nodded and quickly escorted Faye out the door and on their way.
While half-aware that Chase led her downstairs to the kitchen, Layla's mind whirred with possibilities. Even if it ended up not being her sister, once the whole situation with Logan was settled, Layla was going to ask Faye and Grant to help her find out what had happened to Yasmin.
For too long, she'd merely accepted that her sister was gone, which had become all the easier once she'd been made head doctor with barely enough time to eat and sleep.
But no more. One way or the other, Layla would find Yasmin. Or, a small voice said inside her head, what had become of her.
Chase placed a cup of tea in front of her and then sat in a chair to her right. "What are you thinking?"
"Just that I've let my job absorb far too much of myself."
He nudged his knee against her thigh. "I'm going to need more than that cryptic statement, lass."
Without thought or hesitation, she answered. "I should've looked deeper into my sister's silence before this."
His leg moved and stayed next to hers. "We all have things we wish we would've done. Hell, if I'd been clever enough to figure out sooner how little my dad wa
s doing to help the family outside of work, I would've contributed and taken care of my mother long before he abandoned us. However, if we always dwell on what-if, then we can't make the most of the present."
She sipped her tea before glancing at him, needing a distraction until Faye and Grant arrived. Maybe it was pushing Chase too far too quickly, but her gut said he wanted to finally tell the truth to someone outside his family. So Layla asked, "Were there any signs he would leave you before that night?"
Chase ran a hand through his short, blond hair. "I don't know. Once I moved out of my parents' house to start my apprenticeship at sixteen, I didn't visit or talk with my mum as much as I should have. If I had, then maybe I would've sensed my mother's worry earlier."
She lightly touched his bicep. "You can't blame yourself for that. I'm not saying you're young to dismiss you, but you are. We all become a wee bit self-absorbed at the first taste of freedom. Even I acted that way, right before I went to medical school."
He looked at her and smiled. "Now, I wondered what pre-doctor Layla was up to during those times."
Snorting, she waved a hand in dismissal. "Nothing compared to most, I'm sure. But missing dinners with my family, or not calling back every time my parents rung me, was fairly common." She moved her hand from his bicep to his thigh under the table. "But the point is, we all do something, at some time, that we wish we would could go back and change. And even if you had called or visited, you still may have never noticed. Your mother is rather good at keeping to herself."
Chase covered her hand on his thigh with his own. "Aye, maybe. And in the end, I think my father abandoning the clan was the best for my mum, no matter how painful it was in the beginning. She deserves so much better than a one-sided love." He searched her gaze. "But I do what I can to make up for it now with her, just like you should try the same with your sister. Once this business with Logan is settled, and if it turns out it's not Yasmin, then I'll help you find a way to contact her."
For so many years, Layla had relied on herself. Sure, she sometimes needed her staff or the approval of the clan leader. However, she had shouldered every extra burden given to her without complaint. She was head doctor, and it was her responsibility to ensure the clan remained whole and healthy.
The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 7) Page 7