Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Guardian 9)

"So why did you keep driving toward the whaling station when we passed you on the road?" Evin asked.

West frowned. "I didn't see - " He hesitated, and snorted. "You were in Grant's truck. That's why he was so pissed off."

"Shame we didn't actually wreck the truck," Evin murmured. "The bastard certainly deserves it."

I smiled. Evin might not be blood kin, but he certainly thought like us. "How do you contact Tyson?"

"He phones me."

"Home or cell?"

"Cell. Every night at ten."

I raised my eyebrows. "Even tonight?"

"Yeah. He was furious when I told him that Denny had snatched Evin and was holding him hostage against your appearance."

"So you also went out there because he ordered you to?"

Anger flashed through his expression. "As I said, I went out there because I'm a cop and it's my duty to stop him. No one told me to do anything."

But the fact that his duty and Tyson's orders coincided wouldn't have hurt.

"Is Tyson the only contact you've had?"

"Yes."

"What number does he phone from?"

"I don't know. The number is always blocked."

I gave him a disbelieving look. "You're a cop, and you're trying to tell me that didn't bother you? When this man is your friend?"

He smiled thinly and reeled off a number. "It's a Northern Territory number. Tyson's pack is in Queensland."

I glanced at Evin, who shook his head. "The number I phone is a Melbourne one."

"So we have Tyson in the Northern Territory and the people holding your mate hostage in Melbourne. Meaning Tyson's not alone in this."

"We all knew that from the beginning," Quinn commented. "Just as we all know who is behind this."

I glanced at him. "We can't move until we've rescued Evin's mate. And a little concrete proof would be nice, too." Certainly it'll make it easier for Jack to issue a retribution order.

Or a death order.

Something within me shivered. I really didn't want Blake dead, no matter what he'd done, but I might not have that choice anymore. I'd given him one chance already, and he'd thrown it back in my face.

And I had no doubt he'd keep at me until he achieved his aim: my death, and maybe even Rhoan's.

We had a pack of our own to consider - we had a child on the way. It went beyond my and Rhoan's safety now.

"We have two choices, then." Quinn's face was still impassive, but the sense of menace brewed like a storm around him. "We go after Tyson, or we hunt down those who have Evin's mate."

"If we go after Tyson, the game is up. Besides, such a move would only endanger Lyndal - Evin's mate," I said.

"Then we do a trace on the number Evin calls, and hit them before tomorrow night."

I raised an eyebrow. "Jack wants us to solve the other case first."