“We have things we do not understand,” Emme admitted.
“So it is with us,” Asa said.
Range stepped forward, his chest puffed out, spine straight, fists clenched. Clearly, his anger had returned. “Now, it is your turn, brother. Your wolf. Where is he?”
Chapter Ten
Emme’s life as a Valkyrie had prepared her for many situations. She’d killed and been wounded. She’d been training since the age of seven, ripped from her mother’s side, and sent to mature in the warrior woman way, learning weapons and fighting. None of the situations she’d experienced before had ever involved a man changing into a wolf or a man’s wolf trying to kill him. Nor a brother attacking another because of a wolf.
She wanted to speak up. Whatever was going on with his wolf having vanished was related to Freyja’s Redemption. But how could she interfere when this issue was between Range—whom she’d not even met formally yet—and Asa, a man she’d known for only 24 hours.
“Well?” Range crossed his arms over his chest.
Eira put a hand on her mate’s shoulder. “Why don’t we take this home, where we can have privacy and can be hidden, in case my wayward little sister was followed.”
Wayward little sister. Emme fumed. “I’m no fool. I was not followed. In fact, I made sure your trail was erased.” Hopefully before the Tribunal could find it.
“Trail?” Eira raised a brow. “I left no trail.”
“Your phone did. And that was a mistake I wouldn’t have figured you’d have made. You should have known better.” Emme realized her anger was about more than Eira doubting her abilities. It was because her sister had vanished from her life. You didn’t do that to the ones you loved or to the ones who loved you. You simply did not do that.
Eira’s gaze dropped. Clearly, it had dawned on her she’d made a mistake.
“Let’s go somewhere private,” Asa agreed. “We’ll go home.” He strode to the Hummer and opened the door. “Emme?”
Still irritated with Eira, she looked askance at her sister, then walked to the vehicle, allowing Asa to help her into the seat. “Thank you.”
Meanwhile, in the large SUV next to the Hummer, Eira and Range jumped in and took off. Eira was staring at the Hummer, her eyes locked on Emme.
Emme waved to her, letting her know she’d see her soon.
“Thanks for riding with me. Give me a moment to grab that other bolt, just in case, and to lock up. I’ll clean the place later. For now, it seems we have a family meeting. And it would appear you’re family.”
She couldn’t have left him to travel alone even if she’d wanted to. Her conscience wouldn’t let her. She’d seen what he could do to himself. He’d need someone to be there, in case he went on a rampage again. “No problem. Grab my duffel, please?” Thankfully, she’d locked it, else he’d have an eyeful of her arsenal.
“You got it.” He remote-started the vehicle with the fob then slipped inside the cabin.
Fifteen minutes later, Asa was nosing the vehicle down a hidden access dirt road that was at least a couple miles long. She released a sigh of relief, not realizing she’d held her breath in anticipation of another rampage from Asa or his wolf.
Luckily, they were close, two minutes, he’d said. She found herself tapping her fingers on her thighs. A formidable wrought-iron gate loomed before them. She supposed it did what it was supposed to do—discourage visitors. But who would be able to find their property unless they knew about it in advance?
The gate opened, probably by a sensor attached to his truck, unless he’d pushed a button. She hadn’t been paying attention. A few short moments later, he pulled up to a nondescript house. Mostly like what she’d expect to find in rural America. Wood siding, windows, doors. An average four-bedroom house, if she had to take a guess. She couldn’t believe her sister would be staying in a home that seemed so easy to penetrate. She’d be easy prey in this building.
“We’ll probably be meeting in the underground bunker. You’ll meet Davin, whom you’ve interacted with, and Jason, my other brother.” His expression turned sour. “You’ve already met Range.”
Underground bunker? She raised a brow. “I didn’t exactly get a formal introduction to Range.” She studied his profile. Asa really was an attractive man. When he wasn’t trying to shoot or stab himself.
He glanced sideways at her. “Guess it’s been a weird day for you.”
“Understatement.”
A hint of a smile played on his lips, and she realized, in all the time she’d known him, which hadn’t been long, she hadn’t seen him smile. She realized she’d not smiled herself. Guess it was true. It was an understatement to say the last day had been odd. It had been fraught-filled and nerve-wracking.
“You said underground bunker?”
“Yeah, don’t let the house fool you. It looks like wood, but the siding’s a cover for concrete. I suppose it’s okay to tell you about it, since your sister lives here and all.”
Which brought one thing to Emme’s mind. What was she supposed to do now? Leave Eira behind and go to Chicago and pretend as though life was normal? Like she didn’t know where her sister was? The Tribunal would put a price on her head if they found out she knew where to find Eira and hadn’t told them.
“I don’t have anyone I’d tell about your bunker. Or you, your brothers, or my sister.”
“Sounds like a downright lonely existence.”
She shrugged. “It’s the Valkyrie way.” Though this was a lie. It had been a wonderful life when Eira had been there. After she left, it all faded to a constant gut-wrenching worry about her sister’s safety.
“Shifters can sense untruths.”
Did that mean he could tell she was lying? With Freyja’s Redemption stifling his wolf, wouldn’t it have dampened his shifter senses? She remained silent, not taking the bait, and definitely not answering his question. At this point in time, she had so many unanswered questions herself, the start of which would involve her sister’s decision to abandon not only the Valkyrie, but more importantly, her own flesh and blood. And this without warning or so much as a goodbye.
She appraised him. His handsome face gave up no information. His torso was bare and scarred. His brother Range didn’t seem to be aware of the injuries which had given rise to those scars. A man with secrets. One of those secrets involved his wolf. She was curious. More than curious, she was attracted, and had been from the very start.
“What’s the deal with your wolf?”
His jaw clenched, the muscles worked overtime, flexing and releasing, causing the ones in his thick, solid neck to cord. She pushed away the thoughts of how sexy he was. This was not the time. The time would be when she returned to Chicago. But not with him, evidently. The thought saddened her.
Hold on, just a moment.
How could she return to Chicago when she’d just found Eira? Could she leave her sister behind and go back to the sisterhood, pretending nothing had happened? Make like she didn’t know her sister had abdicated her position amongst the Valkyrie?