Page 129 of Risky Obsession

“Tory, it’s Archer.” His voice crackled through the line.

Oh, crap, now I need to tell him that I’m a fucking liar too.

“Is Kane there with you?” he asked.

“Hang on, let me catch up to him.” Clutching the phone in my injured hand, I grabbed my suitcase, and it rattled behind me as I raced to close the gap between Kane and me.

“Kane. Kane!” As I neared him, he turned with hatred blazing in his eyes.

It tore my heart out to see that look directed at me, but I deserved his loathing. And more.

“What?” His evil tone cut through the bitter air like an ax.

Raising the phone like a baton, I yelled across the distance, “Archer’s on the phone.”

Kane strode back to me and snatched the phone from my hand.

Pain ripped across my damaged fingers, and I cried out.

“Shit. Sorry.” He seemed torn between showing his remorse and blocking me out.

“I’m okay.” I clutched my hand to my chest, trying to stifle the pain blazing along my fingers.

Kane held the phone to his ear. “Archer.”

“Can I listen, please?” My chest heaved from my sprint to reach him.

Wariness flickered across his eyes, yet he jabbed the screen and lowered the phone so I could hear.

“I’ve done some digging into castles in that area and I think you two are on the money,” Archer said.

“Why?” Kane and I said at the same time, and I smiled at him.

He scowled at me.

“Two reasons. First, the Germans used a naval base in Cuxhaven to house their submarines during the war.”

Kane and I shared a look that gave my heart hope.

“The naval base was a major port for their U-boat operations in the North Sea.”

Kane nodded. “That’s good information.”

“Yeah, I figured the submarine angle would pique your interest. Want the other juicy clue?” Archer’s tone was upbeat and clashed heavily with the emotions I was drowning in. “I found a news report in that region about a young boy being killed by a lion.”

Kane’s eyes lit up and we smiled at each other.

Then, his expression dropped into a scowl again. “Do you know where?” he asked.

“Sure do. Ünetzburg Castle.”

“Where’s that?” I asked.

“Cuxhaven,” he said. “The castle dates back to the fifteenth century and is located high on a cliff overlooking the ocean. But that depends on how overgrown the area is.”

“Who owns it?” Kane asked.

“I couldn’t find an answer to that. The castle was abandoned for one hundred and fifty years before the Nazis occupied it.”