Page 20 of Twisted Tate

Fox: Dad’s supposed to send Talons to find her. Tell me you’re not involved in this.

Fox: Fuck, Tate. CALL ME. Right fucking now.

The Council messages are formal and as expected.

ALERT: Reese Donaldson, daughter of Council Member Jenson Donaldson, reported missing as of last night. Suspected kidnapping. All Ravens are instructed to report any information regarding her whereabouts. Talon investigation authorized. Full cooperation expected.

My father’s messages are more pointed.

Dane: I need to know where you are. Now.

Thankfully, I also knew to turn off the tracking on my phone so my dad and brothers won’t know precisely where I am. Although they will probably show up here at some point.

Dane: Fox says you were tracking a lead. Do you have the girl? What do you know?

Dane: Don’t make me ask twice.

Dane: Goddamnit, son. Tell me what is going on. I am sending Talons in the opposite direction of the places I think you might be, but you have to tell me what is going on. I am trying to manage the Council.

The water is still running in the bathroom. Reese has no idea that her father just mobilized the entire Raven network to drag her back.

He’s playing the part of a concerned father, looking for his kidnapped daughter.

The bruises on her ribs keep staring back at me.

Jenson Donaldson is a sick fuck and all he wants is his property back.

Over my dead fucking body.

I type a response to Fox.

Me: I’m handling something. Don’t have anything concrete yet.

Fox: That’s not an answer. Do you have her?

Me: I’ll update you when I can.

Fox: Tate. Do you know what you're doing? You don’t have to handle whatever is going on alone.

Me: I know exactly what the fuck I'm doing. I know how to do my goddamn job.

Next I send a message to my father.

Me: I promise I’ll check in when I have more.

Dane: Where the fuck are you? You turned off your tracking and I want to know where you are. This isn’t a request.

Me: Dad, I need you to trust me.

I pocket my phone.

Reese has no idea that everything I had planned just changed. I thought I could use her as bait to get Jenson to come to me when I was ready, and then I would end him. I knew he would involve the Ravens. I had planned to call my father and brothers last night to get them ready to make our move on Jenson, but I didn’t. I knew something wasn’t right with Reese. I felt it, and I knew I needed more time to be sure.

But now there’s no way I’m letting them find her and take her back to that bastard.

I don’t fully understand what’s happening to me. I’ve known this woman for less than a day. She’s a job, a lead, a means to an end. I shouldn’t care about any of this as long as we can put an end to Jenson Donaldson.

But I do care. I care so fucking much it’s rearranging something fundamental inside me. I can’t think about that right now.