Page 61 of An Unending Claim
“B—Bane, actually.”
Nathan’s spine went rigid. “You know his identity?”
I nodded. “Bane Holmes. I had to piece everything together and even with everything I knew, I couldn’t exactly go searching for police reports or hospital records based on the things he hinted at. It didn’t sound as though they were abusive enough for him to need emergency medical care. From his descriptions, I gathered his parents preferred to ignore him altogether and while putting his tongue in a vice is in-fucking-sane, if he didn’t struggle too much and it wasn’t too tight, it wouldn’t necessarily cause lasting physical pain. Mentally, however…” I shuddered and my panther brushed her fur beneath my skin at my discomfort.
I hated that a child had been subjected to what he’d gone through, but it didn’t excuse what he’d become. “Eventually, I located a married couple who matched their description. He was a vet—which would explain the experimental sterilization shot—and they were both murdered in their mid-forties. Tongues and reproductive organs cut out, etc. But it seems the sexual gratification came later. Everleigh said it probably developed with each murder because of the adrenaline rush he experienced—similar to climax.”
Nathan’s expression was hard, his silver eyes flashing as his wolf fought to surface and face the danger angering his human half.
I combed my fingers through his hair to help calm him as I continued. “I sent everything to Everleigh and she’s going to see if there’s anything she can learn that might help. We can at least trace his whereabouts and look back on where he’s been and who he’s associated with. Maybe that will help us figure out who has been helping him on the computer side of things.”
We’d been so focused on Xavier and Bane that I’d nearly forgotten about the hacker who’d been assisting him with the DNA databases and probably other things we weren’t aware of.
“Oddly, I found traces that someone else was looking into Bane’s emails and phone calls. But they didn’t go deep enough to give me a trail to follow to their identity. I put out word on the dark web asking about the possible signifiers I’ve seen as I’ve researched, but so far, no one’s been able to identify the hacker who hit the clinics.”
“Another almost-victim?” Nathan wondered aloud.
“I had that thought, too, but I haven’t found any reports that indicate survivors from his attacks. I think that’s one of the reasons he latched onto me. He didn’t want his perfect record tarnished.”
“This is so fucking twisted,” Nathan grunted.
I was about to agree when his phone pinged with a text. The screen flashed and I saw Willa’s name. I grabbed it because lately, when Willa called or texted, it was to warn us of another shitstorm heading our way. It was on Nathan’s secure phone, but since I’d reworked the security on it myself, I knew how to get in without his password or fingerprint, which caused Nathan to chuckle.
“It’s in all caps, so she’s yelling at you to check your email ASAP,” I told him.
Nathan’s brow furrowed and he lifted the lid of his laptop, waking it. Using the touchpad, he clicked the link to bring up his email, then clicked the email from Willa.
“Shit.” I had been partially expecting this, but for some reason, it still took me by surprise.
When Nathan saw the warrant for my arrest, he sighed. “I need a drink.”
“Now that’s just mean,” I pouted. I was dying for a Guinness.
“Sorry.” He sounded genuine, but I didn’t miss the raised corners of his mouth. “On the bright side, Jase owes you a hundred bucks.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
NATHAN
“Everything is looking great, Peyton,” Myka told her with a smile as she put away her equipment. “Healthy and on track. I’ll see you in two weeks. You’ll be halfway there!”
“Hallelujah,” Peyton grumbled as I helped her sit up on the exam table. “There are parts of being pregnant that are great, but seriously, how do humans do this for nine months?”
Myka chuckled. “It could be worse. You could be an elephant.”
Peyton pointed at her doctor and mock-scowled. “Say that to me again in three months.”
I frowned. “Baby, she meant because elephants—”
“I know what she meant, Nate.” Peyton sighed as she swung her legs around and moved to hop off the table. I grasped her hips and set her down gently instead. “I was merely pointing out that I’ll be as big as an elephant at the end. How could I not be when I’m carrying the offspring of a giant?” She cringed and glanced at her reflection in the mirror hung next to the door. “Mating instinct or not, I can’t imagine that will be sexy.”
Myka laughed and strolled from the room just as I pulled my mate into my arms. “Peyton, you can’t possibly believe that being pregnant with our pup will make you less attractive to me.”
Her expression was skeptical and I glided my hands from her hips to cup her ass and boosted her up. She wrapped her legs around me and sucked in a fast breath when she felt the large bulge pressing into her center.
“I realize you have a limited knowledge of shifters, baby, but I’m rather surprised you haven’t picked up on the fact that the more you show, the harder it is not to fuck you constantly.”
“What?” Peyton chuckled, then moaned when I rocked her against me.