Logan's gaze turned apologetic. "It's true, Layla. My brother and your sister were in love when Yasmin had been sent away. Apparently, Phillip went after your sister, snuck her away from Clan One in Iran, and they've been on the run ever since."
She tried to make her mouth work, but no words came out. While she'd known her sister had fancied a lad from Lochguard, Yasmin had said nothing about love.
And certainly not that she'd loved Phillip Lamont, the male who'd made Yasmin's life hell growing up.
Shaking her head, Layla said, "I don't understand. Phillip hated my sister and went out of his way to embarrass her."
Logan shrugged. "I can't claim to know all the particulars, but something she said one day, in secondary school, changed how he viewed her. He stopped teasing her in public, but I never suspected he fell in love with her. Trust me, I had no bloody idea he'd run after Yasmin when he disappeared, or I would've said something to the clan leader."
A multitude of questions swirled in her head. Why had her sister run? Where had they been for the past five years? Why had they come back now?
However, before she could make her voice work, Grant turned to her and asked, "Can I bring Faye in here, Layla? The fewer times we have to explain everything, the more time we can focus on solutions."
His question snapped her back to the situation at hand. "Aye, but have her bring Chase, too. He deserves to know what's going on since he helped me figure out it was Logan in the first place."
She expected Grant to go on about security and clearances, but he merely nodded and took out his phone. After putting it away again, he focused back on Logan. "Tell me plainly—are they in danger?"
"Possibly," Logan stated. "You'll see why after I explain everything."
Layla nearly leaned across the table and growled for him to tell her why. After all this time, would Layla only find her sister to lose her again?
However, Faye and Chase burst through the door before she could do it. Without thinking, she instantly sought out Chase's gaze. Before she could blink, Chase sat in the chair beside her. Questions burned in his gaze, but he remained quiet. He merely put his hand face up on his thigh in invitation. She didn't hesitate to put her hand in his, and he instantly curled his fingers around her chilled ones.
While still afraid of what Logan could say about her sister, Chase's firm grip gave her a wee bit more strength to face it.
Thankfully she didn't have time to dwell on that tidbit because Grant spoke up again. "Now, tell us what's going on with Phillip Lamont and Yasmin MacFie."
Faye drew in a breath, and Grant quickly added. "Aye, they're together and nearby. Yasmin is expecting a bairn, too." Grant returned his brown-eyed stare to Logan. "Start talking."
Logan didn't hesitate. "The day before Yasmin was due to mate the Iranian bloke, my brother found a way to talk to
her and convince her to elope with him. The Iranian clan put a price on her head and anyone who might've taken her. From what Phillip says, it's considered an act of war to steal an intended mate away once an agreement has been reached."
Faye growled. "What century is this?"
Grant put a hand on Faye's shoulder and squeezed. "It's tradition, love. I'm sure there's a reason for it. Maybe they had long-standing troubles with people stealing mates, aye? Don't judge without all the facts."
Faye didn't look mollified one bit, but Layla was grateful that Logan spoke again since she hungered for more information. Logan said, "Regardless, they were afraid to come back here since it could bring trouble to Lochguard. My brother made me swear not to tell anyone or they'd run again."
Layla found her voice. "They came back because of the bairn, didn't they?"
Logan nodded. "Aye, they did—they've been back for nearly a month. Your sister hasn't been faring well the last few weeks, and I stole supplies to try to help her."
Not caring that she should've deferred to the co-head Protectors since it was their interrogation, Layla raised her voice. "You should've come to me, Logan. You're a good nurse, maybe the best I have, but I'm still the doctor. I can help her more than you can." She released Chase's hand and stood. "I need to see my sister. Now. Tell me where they are right this minute so I can help them."
Logan shook his head, his voice weary as he replied, "I promised I wouldn't share their location, Layla. As soon as you finish your visit and leave, they'll run. They've both brought so much trouble to our families already, and they refuse to bring more, no matter how many times I've tried telling them that all we want is for them to be safe."
She wasn't entirely sure her parents would agree. They might even try to contact the Iranian clan, or maybe disown Yasmin for her betrayal. At those thoughts, she clenched her fingers into fists, anger too tame a word for how she'd feel then.
However, she couldn't only blame her parents. Layla hadn't fought hard enough for her sister in the past—especially when it came to contacting her and ensuring she was well—but that was going to change. Layla just needed Logan to bloody tell her where Yasmin and Phillip were.
In that moment, all the years they'd worked together vanished, and Layla wanted nothing more than to put a talon to his throat and demand the truth.
She barely noticed Chase stand beside her. He spoke firmly, "Then tell me where they are, Logan. My best guess is that you're not supposed to tell Finn, Layla, the Protectors or any family. But I'm fairly sure they didn't include a young, brilliant, charming electrician in that list. Or, failing that, that you couldn't tell a human their location. I'll fetch one of the human females right now if need be."
Logan's pupils flashed, and after one long minute, he muttered, "They didn't mention you or the humans specifically."
Chase grunted. "Aye, well, then tell me where they are. The others are here merely by chance."