I nodded. Instead of taking a seat at the table, I stood at the window and stared at Sylas. What were the chances that he’d be honest with Dominic and Ty?
Dominic stuck his head in the room. “We’re ready.”
Ty nodded and kissed the top of my head before he walked out to join his dad in the room next door.
Sylas stared ahead as if he didn’t notice the presence of his alpha and prince. He didn’t so much as flinch or move, and I wondered if he was physically capable, or if someone had done something to incapacitate him.
Ty and his dad sat across from Sylas and stared at him for a moment.
“Sylas?” When Dominic spoke his name softly, it was as if Sylas was jolted out of some spell.
He sat up, his eyes widening. Gasping, he fell out of his chair and to the floor on his knees. He reached his cuffed hands up to grasp Dominic’s. “Alpha, please forgive me. I swear I never meant for any harm to come to the Keller clan. You have to believe me. Please have mercy on me.” Apparently, he too was aware of Dominic’s penchant to kill or have killed.
Sylas bowed his head, the apologies pouring out of him. Although his words were slurred, it was obvious he’d had time to think about his transgressions. Either that, or he was one hell of a liar, and I couldn’t believe that because he was so obviously still drunk.
Ty and Dominic glanced at one another, probably realizing there was no need to question him. Sylas’s guilt would speak for itself.
“Castro was bleeding out internally when he was brought to the hospital—that much wasn’t a lie. He should’ve died, quite frankly.” I wished Sylas would’ve minded his own business and let it happen, and I didn’t stop wishing even as he continued to speak.
Sylas wiped tears from his face and looked up at Dominic, his gaze not wavering now. “The surgeons operated on him, but not a single one of them was optimistic he would recover. The whole hospital was talking about the man who had been taken down by the hand of the prince.” Sylas held up his hand. “No offense to you, Ty, sir. We all heard the story of Castro threatening you and your mate. You did the right thing.”
Ty scoffed, and though his back was to me, I could feel his eye roll. “Your approval means more to me than you know, Sylas.” And that was sarcasm. “Why don’t you tell us the rest of your story.”
Sylas bowed his head in what could only have been embarrassment. “Yes, sir.” He cleared his throat. “You see, whenever there’s a patient nearing death, my office gets a call to prepare us to receive a body. We usually get a couple hours, and that’s exactly what happened with Castro… except instead of us going to retrieve his body, that body walked in on its own.”
Dominic cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Castro recovered from his surgery, but he wanted everyone to believe he was dead, so he snuck out of his room during shift change.” It was the most far-fetched thing I’d ever heard if Castro truly had been so close to death. Wolves healed fast, sure, but it also depended on the severity of the injuries, and I wasn’t certain I was buying it. “He even took the time to change into his normal clothes to avoid catching the attention of the staff.”
“Wait.” Ty leaned forward. “You’re telling me that Castro, who was injured badly enough the doctors didn’t think he was going to make it, walked out of a guarded room and into to the morgue without anyone seeing?” Ty wasn’t buying it, either.
“Yes, sir. That’s correct.” Sylas nodded solemnly and held up his hand again. “On my life, sir, that’s exactly how it happened.”
Ty sat back and let out a loud puff of air. “I can’t believe it.” He looked at his father and shook his head. “What can’t that sneaky bastard get away with?”
Dominic waved at Ty to silence him. The drunk in front of them had more to share, and they needed to hear it. “Sylas, continue.”
He nodded. “I had no clue who he was, but when he told me his name, I was shocked at his recovery. He was on my incoming roster. It was only a matter of time. But there he was, standing right in front of me.” He held his hand up in front of his face to show how close Castro had stood to him. “It was truly miraculous.” Sylas seemed to realize that he was still on the floor, so he pushed himself back up into the metal chair. “Castro told me he knew about my debts and that he could help me pay them off… and then some.”
“How did he know your personal business?” Ty asked. Although, since he was gambling in public, it probably would’ve been easy to find out.
“I asked him the same question and he said he had people working for him. He also said he had access to information about everyone in town.”
A chill ran down my spine as I remembered the letter he’d sent to Dominic about me being an omega. I didn’t like rogue information any more than I liked rogue wolves spreading it.
Sylas cleared his throat. “He said if I assisted him in faking his death so he could escape free and clear without anyone suspecting anything, he would handle my… situation.” Sylas sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face before he looked up at Ty and Dominic again. “I made the biggest mistake of my life when I provided him with a drug that stopped his heart just long enough for him to be declared dead. Once his body was in my possession down in the morgue, I gave him a shot of epinephrine, which returned his heart rate to its normalrhythm. Then I helped him escape via one of the back doors.” He sounded as remorseful as he looked. And for his sake, I hoped it was all true.
“That’s it?” Dominic asked. “You haven’t had contact with him since?”
“Right before he left, he told me to check my bank account. The money had already been deposited. Castro told me that if I knew what was good for me, I’d skip town immediately. So, that’s what I did. I haven’t heard from him since and have no clue where he is.”
“Damn it.” Ty stood so quickly his chair crashed to the floor.
“Take it easy, Ty.” Dominic leaned forward, folding his hands on the table, speaking in a low, controlled voice. “Sylas, are you sure you have no idea where Castro is? He’s causing a lot of grief for our pack, and it’s of the utmost importance that we find him.”
Sylas shook his head. “I don’t know where he’s hiding. My business with Castro was finished the moment I helped him fake his death. He’d never contact me again; it’d be too risky.” He covered his face with his hands. “I’m so sorry, Dominic. I can’t stand to look you in the eye. You’ll never know how remorseful I am.”
As Sylas sobbed, Ty glanced over his shoulder at the mirror. I knew he couldn’t see me, but it still felt as if he was staring directly into my eyes. He was disappointed. So was I. He turned back to face Sylas. “Is there anything else he might’ve said that could help us find him?
