Page 50 of Feral
He glances up from the inventory list. “Yeah. Why?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. Something feels off.”
He shrugs. “Feels fine to me. Maybe you’re missing your man.”
His teasing brings a smile to my lips, but… “It’s more than that. I feel uneasy.”
“Check in with him. I bet that’s it.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll do that.”
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I walk to the other side of the bar and sit at a table before pressing the key to call Yannis. It rings several times, then goes to voicemail. I try again, but get the same outcome. My chest tightens and a lump of tension forms in my gut. Tiago was right. Whatever is bothering me is about Yannis.
“I have to go,” I say on my way out the door.
On foot, I head toward Yannis’s building, feeling him in my core. In mere minutes, I’m in front of his place, but I already know he’s not here. Tilting my head back, I sniff the air, catching a faint hint of him. I tear off in that direction, following the scent. I know I’m close, but the beast inside me is on high alert. We both know something is wrong.
I end up on a street that makes my blood run cold. The people outside study me critically, aware of the stranger in their midst. I focus my senses, trying to find Yannis. He must be around here somewhere.
“You looking for the white boy with blond hair?”
I turn around to see a woman leaning against a brick building. She’s smoking a cigarette and wearing what looks like a uniform of some kind. Bus driver maybe.
“Yes. Have you seen him?”
She nods, her eyes shifting around. “Alley two blocks over. The Bianchi crew roughed him up, but you didn’t hear it from me.”
I’m already running in that direction, desperate to find Yannis. I pass several alleys before I catch the scent of his blood. I find him on the ground behind a pile of trash bags.
“Gods.” I scoop him into my arms, brushing the hair from his forehead. His face is bruised and blood is crusted around his nose and mouth. “Yannis. I’m here, love. I’ve got you.”
He opens his swollen eyes a crack and attempts a smile but flinches. “I knew it.” His strained voice tears at my heart. “I knew you’d find me.”
“Save your strength. I’ll take care of you. The Bianchi crew did this?”
“I fought back. Stupid.”
“No, you’re not stupid. You’re so brave.”
As I get to my feet, Yannis groans with pain, stoking the flames of rage within me. My beast rises to the surface, threatening to break through, but I hold back. I have to get Yannis to safety first. Then I’m going to rain terror on the fucking Bianchi family.
I walk as quickly as possible without causing him more pain. When I get to his apartment, I take him inside and lay him down on the couch. He’s nearly unconscious at this point, but that’s probably for the best. While I gather his phone and a bag of his clothes, I dial the head of my coven.
“Yves,” he answers.
“I have a huge problem, and I need your permission for what I’m about to do.”
“What’s happening?”
“That Mafia family I told you about? They attacked my mate.”
“Your…mate? I feel I’ve missed an update.”
“I found him, Yves. My fated mate. He’s mortal, and right now, he’s wounded. I’m bringing him home in a few minutes, but once he’s safe and healing, I’ve got something to take care of.”
“Come home. I’ll call Viv and Viper to help. You shouldn’t do this alone.”
My jaw twitches. “I’ll happily accept help, but they have to die, and it has to be tonight.”