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“She’s in the all clear,” he said between bites of cookie. “I can’t take her stitches out yet, and she needs at least two more weeks with her cast, but according to what Margarette read off, she’s good. We’re taking her cone off today to see how she does. Hopefully, she doesn’t chew on her cast, and we can leave it off.”

“That’s good. Does she have any homes lined up?”

“Not yet.” Theodore frowned. “Any time we get someone interested in her, they falter when they hear Big Poppa needs to go with her and vice versa. Most people here seem to already have one or two pets, the idea of taking two more is a bit much for them.”

Theo pouted into his coffee at this prospect. That was something Royce admired in him; he cared deeply for his patients. Theo had explained at some point, you needed to detach yourself, especially when they were fatal cases because if you didn’t, it would eventually destroy you. Theo also explained that was often the hardest part of the job.

Royce nodded in acknowledgement before the computer signified the last copy was finalized. He double-checked before extracting the new flash drive and the original. Theo pursed his lips and stared at them.

“When are you seeing Argus again?” he asked.

“This is them now.” Royce checked his smartphone notification. It was a message from a new number.

Royce, this is Lucy. I set up a secure chat for the security detail on the omega and communication regarding this operation. Amelia is on security in the woods by the cabin instead of on the street. I need you to come in immediately. We need to talk.

Royce scowled. They’d never used a secure server before, then again, they’d never worked on a case this big. Scott’s mate Freddy was techy and had been working with the enforcers’ office to beef up their online game. This was most likely his doing.

Royce hastily gulped his coffee. He slid his phone and the duplicate flash drive into his pocket.

“Lucy said I need to go in immediately,” he explained. “I’m not sure what’s up, but sounds urgent. She said your security detail is here, but staying off the street, so you and the clinic will be safe. But please still be careful.”

Royce added that last part because he knew Theo was more concerned about the clinic getting harmed as collateral than his own well-being.

Setting his food down, Theo pursed his lips, his olive skin flushing a subtle green. Royce could smell his fear and anxiety putrid on the air, it made his wolf whine. He loathed leaving Theo like this, but it was necessary. The sooner this was over, the sooner they could discuss the mate mark in earnest.

“I’ll be back as fast as I can, okay?” Royce reassured him. Theo nodded but didn’t resume eating. Royce kissed the top of the omega’s head. “I’ll hurry.”

“Thank you, Royce.”

Royce brushed Theo’s jaw before leaving.

“I don’t like leaving him when he isn’t bitten.”

For once, Royce agreed with his wolf completely. Though he ignored him while he was driving.

Going through the enforcers’ office, Royce checked every conference room, but he couldn’t find Lucy. Her office was empty which wasn’t unusual; she had a hard time sitting still and often bounced between conference rooms, the break room, and other people’s offices.

Voices carried from the half-closed break room door. Opening the door, the warm aroma of fresh eggs, bacon, and coffee hit him. At the same time, his stomach dropped to his boots, and his blood ran cold.

“What are you doing here?”

“I work here,” Amelia said, quirking a brow at him.

“Lucy messaged saying you were on security at the cabin,” Royce said.

“Like hell I did,” Lucy said. “Let me see this message.”

Royce unlocked his phone and handed it to Lucy along with the flash drive. He looked from Buford, Scott, to Amelia; everyone who was involved in this case and had been working security on the clinic.

Lucy’s face went smooth. “Royce, I didn’t send this to you. And I have no idea whose number this is.”

“If you’re all here, then who the hell is at the clinic watching Theo?”

His heart froze, then kicked into overdrive.

In an instant, all of them were racing out the door.

Chapter twenty-eight