CHAPTER FOUR
Claude
Rays of sunlight stretched over the horizon when I reached the farm. I parked in front of the alpha’s home, sliding from the driver’s seat with sluggish motions as I grabbed my coffee from the cup holder. It was nearly empty.
After swigging the last of it, I tossed the cup back into my car and slapped the door shut, approaching the porch with purpose. The front door opened before I could ascend the steps.
A sleepy Bernard greeted me with a nostalgic grin. His features softened and he opened his arms, welcoming me into a brotherly hug. “Claude.”
“Bernard.”
“What brings you home, son?”
I took a shaky breath as I drifted back, holding his shoulders firmly. “I’m here to take Destiny with me. We have to leave at once.”
His eyes widened at the urgency in my voice. Still, he stepped back, nodded once, and invited me inside. “I knew this day would come eventually.”
“Perhaps not so soon.”
“Remington is relentless. Once he chooses you, he’ll destroy everything in his path to get you. I should have sent Viola away years ago.”
I shook my head. “We couldn’t have known. The way I escaped, well…” I trailed off, trying not to think of that dreadful night. “I changed everything about my appearance. I even changed my daughter’s name.”
“It was fate that brought her here,” Bernard expressed, sorrow in his eyes, “yet also fate that would drive her away. Viola might still be sleeping.”
“Wake her. Tell her the situation. We must leave immediately. I’ll take her with me.”
After another quick nod, Bernard fished a burner phone from his desk, still wrapped in its original packaging. I was familiar with this dance as I had done it a few times before just to speak to Viola. We had to be careful.
We couldn’t risk any more exposure.
As Bernard handled the phone, I wandered around the living room, noticing pictures of my daughter with her caregiver. So many years had passed that I almost didn’t recognize my own flesh and blood—and we looked so different.
I wanted so much to leave my hair its natural color, but it was too risky. Seeing it on my daughter brought tears to my eyes as I lifted the photograph, tracing her face with a loving touch.
“Claude?”
I hummed as I set the frame down and turned to Bernard. “Yes, sir?”
“We have a problem.”
My muscles tensed. “Tell me.”
* * *
“I would have told you if I had known,” Bernard explained breathlessly as we ran to Viola’s cabin. “But I had no idea. I’m sorry, Claude.”
I shook my head, pumping my legs as fast as I could. “You didn’t know, Bernard. Don’t kick yourself.”
“I’m their alpha. It’s my job to protect them.”
As soon as we reached the porch of the cabin, we paused to catch our breath. I leaned against the banister and focused on Bernard. “Viola made an executive decision to flee. She must have heard something. I’m glad she thought to take Destiny to safety.”
“She should have told me.”
“Maybe that was to prevent further damage.”
The caring alpha squared his shoulders and marched up the steps, barging into the house. Eyes scanned the area, searching for clues. A note was posted on the fridge with letters and numbers jumbled together in small clusters. I plucked it from the magnet and held it out to Bernard.
“Mean anything to you?”
Bernard focused on the note, then nodded. “It’s code. I can crack it in less than two minutes.”
“Do this often?”
“One of the first things I teach my people when they join us is how to communicate under the radar.”
I nodded. “Wouldn’t it have been risky to leave this here? In case of Remington?”
“He’s not a smart man.”
“I beg to differ.”
Bernard smirked. “He’s tactical, but he isn’t smart. Watch.”
With a blue pen, Bernard cracked the code right in front of my eyes. The man was well-versed in the art of cryptic messages and proudly displayed the proper message to me.
“Landon Underground,” he announced. “I know where they are.”
“Tell me. Now.”
He grabbed my shoulders. “Claude, I need you to understand something.”
“What?” I barked. “What do I need to understand?”
“Your daughter and Viola may already be gone by now. It doesn’t take Landon long to get people out of the state.”
I shook my head. “I have to try.”