“What the fuck is this?” I asked, my patience wearing thin.
“It’s the price currently on Liza’s head for her capture.” He sneered, as if he was disgusted by my very presence.
Unfolding the paper, my stomach churned at the sight of Liza’s face captured in a screenshot from her televised address, the one where she exposed Castro and discussed her old pack, telling the world that she was an omega. The photo was grainy, but Liza’s face was clear enough for anyone to identify her.
So, Hiram hadn’t been able to shut down those whispers from the underground after all. If he had, I wouldn’t have beenstaring at a damn traitor who was willing to throw his job away, possibly even his life, depending on my wolf, in order to kidnap Liza.
I focused on the numbers listed beneath Liza’s picture. The price on Liza’s head was staggering. More than he would make as a member of my security team in five years. Toward the bottom of the page, the call to action was typed in bold face.
Capture the omega alive, and the reward money is yours, no questions asked.
My anger boiled over, and without thinking, I lunged at the guard, my hand closing around his throat. The force of my movement sent both him and the chair toppling backward. A guttural growl tore from my lips as the alpha wolf within me took over.
“How dare you have no regard for Liza’s safety? How dare you fucking try to kidnap my mate?” I cried, my fingers tightening around his neck. Dad stood but made no attempt to stop me.
The other guards sprang into action, grabbing hold of me. I struggled against them, desperate to break free and exact vengeance on the traitor, but there were too many of them. At least six strong guards held me back, their muscles straining against mine. Through the haze of my fury, I caught sight of Liza slumped in her chair, her energy spent. Her eyes pleaded with me to stop, and for her sake, I forced myself to calm down.
“Fine.” I shook off the guards and held up my hands. “I won’t touch him.” I pointed at the rogue guard, my voice dripping with venom. “But there is no redemption for you. You will rot in jail for betraying your pack, your alpha, and attempting to harm my mate.”
The guards dragged the rogue out of the room, leaving Dad, Liza, and me staring at one another in disbelief. I rushedto Liza’s side, concern for her replacing the rage that had consumed me just moments before.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you? I fucking swear if he even laid one finger on you…”
Before she could answer, Dad interjected. “Liza held her own. He didn’t get a chance to lay a finger on her.”
Relief surged through every muscle in my body, though the threat was far from over. With a bounty that high, there was no telling what people would do to get to Liza. As much as I wanted to expect the best out of people, I’d seen enough in my lifetime to know many would sell their souls for the payment they’d receive from a trafficker.
I paced the room, raking my hands through my hair. “This is a bigger cause for concern. Liza is officially a target. There will be more attempts on her life. It’s not a matter of if but when.” I stopped, looking at both of them. “We need to send a message, loud and clear, about the severity of punishment that will come down on anyone who tries to harm her.”
Liza shook her head weakly. “I think it’s pointless. Look at the money being offered.” She held up the piece of paper that she’d snatched from the ground at some point. “If you bring public attention to this, it will only put a bug in people’s ear, and they’ll start questioning if that amount of money is worth the risk. It’s too much of an award for some to ignore.”
“Fuck.” I exhaled. “It just feels like keeping you hidden up at the estate seems like the best plan right now, but I know that’s not a long-term solution.”
Dad eyed us warily. “Are we sure your team is completely trustworthy? If you have one team member willing to betray you, who else might give it their best shot?”
Liza and I exchanged a worried glance. Greed could make people choose money over loyalty any day. My fist met the wallwith a resounding crack, the pain barely registering. Growling, I faced them both, determined.
“Looks like I’ll have to do something I’ve never wanted to do before: use my influence over my team.” The heaviness of the decision hung in the air, leaving us all on edge, wondering what would come next and who, if anyone, could be trusted.
I led Liza and Dad up the grand staircase to my office. My mate’s life was at stake, and I needed answers. What better way to uncover the truth than going straight to the damn source? Once we entered the office, I gestured for Liza and Dad to sit while I picked up the phone. It was time to call in the staff.
“Send the housekeepers up first,” I instructed my assistant before hanging up. I paced back and forth, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The door opened, and the housekeepers filed in, all looking confused.
“Thank you all for coming.” I made sure to look each employee in the eye, searching for any hint of dishonesty. “As some of you may know, there’s a bounty on Liza’s head. I need to know if any of you have heard anything or know someone who might be involved.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “I’m not here to punish anyone. I just want to protect Liza.”
The housekeepers exchanged glances, but no one spoke up. I could see the fear in their eyes. They were loyal to our family, but this was a dangerous game. Finally, one of the housekeepers, a petite woman named Maria, raised her hand hesitantly.
“Mr. Keller, I... I know someone who’s part of the underground,” she stammered, tears welling in her eyes. “He knew I worked for your family, and he told me about the bounty. He wanted me to help them get to Liza, but I swear I never agreed. I wanted to tell you, but I was so afraid of putting a target on my own back.”
Her confession was like a punch to the gut. I had hoped that none of my employees would be involved, but hearing itconfirmed unsettled me. I dismissed the housekeepers, telling them to send in the landscapers next. As they filed out, I knew Maria’s tearful expression would haunt me for hours.
“Is there anything we can do?” Liza whispered.
I clenched my jaw but forced a weak smile. “We’ll figure this out, Liza. I promise.”
The landscapers entered the room, and I repeated my questions. But just like the majority of the housekeepers, no one admitted to knowing anything about the bounty. I thanked them for their time and called in the security detail.
“Listen,” I said. “I need to know if any of you have heard anything or been approached by someone from the underground. We already had one person on your team attempt to kidnap Liza. If you have any information, now is the time to come forward.”
