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“Motherfucker!” Leon growls at the screen when we watch Vadum unlock the door. He then pulls a lighter out of his pocket, sets the accelerant on fire, and tosses the burning bottle onto the packing boxes and travel blankets behind the door.

Vadum shuts the door casually, as if he hadn’t just set anything on fire or committed a crime. He quickly turns around, drops his head, and jogs back to his car. He doesn’t bother to glance over his shoulder, completely carefree about everything happening behind him. Hell, he didn’t even bother to check if anyone was inside the damn building, people he would have left to burn alive.

I keep watching as Vadum hops inside his car and takes off with the mysterious woman. It takes a couple minutes before the safety alarm goes off, alerting everyone to the fire.

“I bet you that’s where Harlow got the key cut when she was sleeping in the loading docks. That bastard must have cut himself a copy too,” Leon groans, clutching his hair in frustration.

“But why would he?” I ask. What motive could Vadum have to set the fire? We’ve known him for years and never had any issues. “This makes no sense,” I voice my thoughts to Leon.

Before he can say anything, I grab my phone to call Thane. But as soon as I pull up his number, I remember he is probably still on the plane. For now, the safest option is to use the mind-link. At least he isn’t driving, so I won't distract him from the road.

As I open the mind-link, Thane answers instantly, as if someone already alerted him that I am about to dump the news before I opened the link.

'What’s up? Any news on the culprit?' he asks.

'Leon noticed something on the security tape. It was Vadum. He was with some woman, but neither of us can identify her,' I growl.

Thane’s confusion comes through the bond loud and clear. The feeling is way louder than a thousand words he might have shouted.

'Vadum?' He repeats the name as if he thinks he misunderstood me. 'Have we ever had any issues with him before?' Thane quickly adds.

I try to think of literally any reason why Vadum would try to sabotage us. 'None that I know of. What do you want us to do besides report it?'

Thane hums. 'First, find Vadum. And then find out who the woman is. Are you sure she isn’t anyone you or Leon recognize?' Thane asks.

Leon pulls his phone from his pocket. I know he tried to mind-link Rhen earlier and didn’t get an answer. I watch as he calls the house phone. Still getting no answer, he tries Rhen’s cell.

I focus back on Thane. 'No idea. The woman was too far away, and she was wearing a beanie. It did look like she was purposefully disguising herself, though. She jumped in the car, Vadum set the fire, and then they drove off together,' I tell him.

'Call Rhen, too. I can’t get a hold of him,' Thane tells me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Raidon

“Shit. I still can’t get a hold of Rhen. No one is answering the home phone, and he isn’t picking up his cell. He’s not responding to the mind-link either,” Leon announces just as Thane tells me to check on Rhen.

Thane is the Alpha-of-Alphas for our pack. He is the only one with the ability to wake Rhen using the mind-link. None of us can defy his command or get away with ignoring his attempts to reach out.

A sinking feeling settles in my gut as I suck in a breath. 'Wait. You can’t reach him either?' I ask Thane, dumbfounded by his words.

'No...' Thane drags out the word as if he is thinking. 'It feels like he is asleep. I tried the house phone but got no answer, so I thought maybe he reached out to you guys.'

The sinking feeling in my gut grows, and I start to fear the worst. I don’t want to raise panic if it isn’t necessary yet, though, so I try my best to sound as calm as possible.

'Maybe you should try to force him awake? We have been trying to get a hold of him for the last twenty minutes,' I suggest as I nod my head for Leon to follow me.

Leon pulls the memory card of the video footage for us to give to the police, and we make our way out of the building using the fire exit. I feel Thane trying to force the mind-link, but he gets nothing, and my stomach sinks once again. Now, I definitely know something is wrong.

Thane groans after a few more attempts. 'When was the last time you or Leon heard from him?' Thane asks. Leon and I exchange glances as we feel his frustration and a slight hint of fear reach us through the bond.

As I glance at Leon, he raises one finger. 'I don’t know, a little over an hour ago?' My answer sounds more like a question. I can’t think clearly as the panic slowly takes over.

If anything happened to my mates, I know I won’t forgive myself for not being there when they needed me.

'I see. That’s roughly when I last spoke to him too. Something doesn’t feel right. Go home and check on them first. I just landed and will get there as soon as I can,' Thane tells me.

He cuts off the mind-link before I can say anything else. A loud, frustrated sigh leaves my lips as Leon rummages in his pockets for the car keys. He tosses me the keys, and I snatch them from the air. We both ignore the police officers as they step in our path.