Page 52 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

I hated to leave Akiva at home, but we should only be gone for the day.

It was a four-hour drive, barring any crazy traffic, which, when speaking of major cities, was almost a given.

We’d gotten word that there was a small group of shifters in the Phoenix, Arizona area that might need help from the Sentinels.

The details were vague, but they came through on a message line we’d recently set up.

With the issues of being unable to communicate through the Oracles and not trusting their established channels in case they were involved or had ways of blocking our messages, we had no idea what was possible. We’d established a telephone and online tip line to replace it.

It was a secure avenue for disseminating information and engaging in conversations.

We’d tried to get a clearer understanding of what the threat was to the group, but before we could, all messages had stopped.

The person who had reached out indicated they feared they were in grave danger and wanted us to help them get to safety.

Because we didn’t know what danger we’d run into or how many there were, all seven of us would go.

Things were quiet at home. I wanted at least one of us to stay behind with the ladies, but the women insisted we go.

They promised to spend the day together at Brax’s house.

Twyla would be there with them, and we’d gotten an unexpected volunteer to remain there as their protection detail.

We’d checked in with the other shifters and explained why we’d be out of the area for the day.

Roan had approached us afterward. He said that since we all planned to go, it would be better if he remained close in case the women needed anything.

He claimed he detected our unease at all of us being gone.

Besides, we should be able to have each other’s backs, as he put it.

After a short debate, we thanked him for his offer and accepted.

The women claimed it wasn’t necessary, but they were all happy to have the opportunity to get to know Roan better.

Roan would come over before we left, which we planned to do at seven a.m. Our hope was to make it there, figure out the issue, and be back the following day at the latest. If it were something we could do quickly, by leaving early, we would have given ourselves time to complete the entire trip in one day, which is what Brax and I had hoped to do.

I’d escorted Akiva to Cerys and Brax’s house this morning.

After a regretful goodbye, we left. Roan had arrived right before we did, and Twyla would be there in an hour or two.

Roan promised to call if there were any problems, and he had the numbers of the other shifters, the Bhaers in particular, that he could call.

We took two of our larger vehicles. We didn’t know if there would be anyone returning with us.

If they did, would they have their own transportation or need ours?

It was hard not to disregard the speed limit signs totally.

Thankfully, Brax was in the lead. Even though he wasn’t an Arizona deputy sheriff, camaraderie was usual among officers.

Hopefully, if we got pulled over, it would help.

When I told Banner and Royal this, since they were riding with me, they laughed and said I was assuming too much. Then Banner said I’d be better off sticking with him than Brax. They weren’t serious, but it would make for a fun conversation later and, no doubt, a lively debate.

As we rode along, we tried to guess what possible problem the group we were going to check on had. We knew the name and address of the person who reported it to us, and then the messages went silent. It was concerning that they disappeared.

Due to it being a Friday, there was still rush hour traffic in the larger towns and cities.

With that and the need to stop once to go to the bathroom, we arrived in Phoenix at eleven thirty.

I hadn’t been there in a few years. The amount of growth was easy to see and astonishing.

While I didn’t mind visiting the larger cities, I preferred my peaceful existence in Needles and Joshua Tree.

The address we were given brought us to a small neighborhood in the South Mountain area of Phoenix.

This suburb had a population of over a hundred thousand people.

It was easy to see why shifters would like it there.

It was situated between the city and desert landscapes.

It wasn’t more than fifteen to twenty minutes from downtown Phoenix.

The biggest draw would be that it bordered the South Mountain Park and Preserve.

There were tons of trails to hike and amazing scenery there.

However, the job market salaries were lower, and you had to go elsewhere for the higher-paying jobs.

These factors, combined with unemployment rates and other things, made the crime worse there than in other areas of Phoenix.

We wanted to be prepared, so we read up on where we were going.

It was never a bad idea to know what kind of situation we might run into.

The home we stopped in front of sat back off the street further than its neighbors.

The house was older, but it showed that someone had tried to keep it clean and well-maintained.

It looked way nicer than its neighbors. Before getting out, we checked the surrounding area.

When nothing was noted visually, we got out.

Royal, Brax, and I would go to the door.

The others spread out to act as lookouts and backup. We were all armed.

Brax took point and knocked on the door.

Royal and I were spread out behind and on either side of him.

We didn’t go so far as to have our guns out, but they were easily accessible.

It wasn’t until the second knock that there was a response.

The door slowly cracked open. Staring out was an older man.

I’d place him based on looks to be in his sixties.

However, my senses told me he was a leopard shifter, which meant his age could be much older.

“Sir, is your name Galen Katz?”

“Who wants to know?” the man asked suspiciously.

“My name is Abraxas, and these are two of my friends. The other four are stationed around the house. We’re here due to a message received from your residence. It was vague and insinuated there was trouble here and that help was needed.”

“What kind of help? Who are you?” the man asked suspiciously, still without confirming if he was Galen or not.

“The kind that requires Sentinels of Apollo,” I told him softly.

His eyes widened in surprise, then changed to alarm. “Are you trying to say you’re Sentinels?”

“That’s exactly what we’re saying,” Royal verified.

“How can I be sure you’re not lying? Maybe you’re here to rob me.

There’s been so much upheaval with the rumors of the Council of Oracles being replaced and Sentinels taking over.

You must think I’m a fool. Sentinels don’t reveal themselves.

” He snorted and was about to close the door when I stopped it with my hand.

“We’ve driven several hours to check on you. The least you can do is let us show you our proof. I left my mate at home for this. He left his and his unborn twin pups,” I softly growled after pointing to Brax.

“Chill. Here, this should ease your mind,” Royal said before pulling his shirt up to show the man his tattoo, which Apollo had given to us.

“Those can be faked,” the man, whom I was convinced was Galen, rolled his eyes, stating dismissively.

“Then I guess they can grow hot to the touch, too, if they’re fake,” I snapped.

I reached in, grabbed the man’s hand, and brought it to my chest over my tattoo.

We’d only just discovered it could do this on command if we needed to prove ourselves.

Instantly, it heated and glowed beneath my shirt.

The guy gasped and snatched his hand back.

“You’re Sentinels,” he whispered, almost in awe. Then his expression grew alarmed. He swung the door open and gestured wildly.

“Get in here! Tell your friends to hurry up and get their asses inside before they’re seen. Oh damn it, they probably already have,” he muttered anxiously.

Get inside now. This man is anxious we’ll be seen,” Brax told our friends.

We’d barely entered before the others came briskly walking up the walkway. The old guy gestured to them to hurry. When the last one cleared the threshold, the door was slammed shut, and multiple locks were engaged. When the last one was locked, he turned to face us.

“What in the hell are you doing here? And how do you know my name?” he hissed.

“You told us when you sent the missive to the Sentinel tip line. You stated there was a problem here and that shifters needed our help. When we couldn’t re-establish contact with you again, we grew worried and came to see what was wrong,” Brax explained.

Galen’s puzzlement changed to disbelief, then anger.

“I’m going to beat that boy’s ass. I told him to keep his head down and let me handle it.

Damn him. He’s made it worse. I’m sorry that you gentlemen have wasted a trip from wherever you came from.

Thank you for your concern, but I’ve got things handled. ”

“Don’t lie to them. They came, and we need them.

You can’t send them away,” a young boy’s voice said from the shadows.

We’d known there was another person in the house.

We could hear his heartbeat and smell him.

And as part of that smell was the stink of fear.

The same stink the older man was giving off.

“I’m tanning your hide this time,” the man threatened, but I noted no real heat to his words.