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He had texted his cousin earlier when he got to the rooftop bar. Carleigh had been excited that he’d seen the female until he admitted she slipped away from the bar while he wasn’t looking. What he didn’t admit was that he had been trying to pick up a bedmate for the night.

Tony: Nope. I’ll start looking again in the morning. Well, later this morning. I would ask what you’re doing up so late, but...

Carleigh: No rest for the wicked. Even if you don’t get her this time, I know I’m on the right track with how she chooses the next city to hit.

Tony: There is that. I’m going to get some shuteye. You should too.

Carleigh: That’s the plan. Night, Cousin.

Tony: Goodnight, C.

He dropped his phone next to the TV controller, clasped his fingers on his stomach, and closed his eyes. Anthony didn’t want a mate, but he did want to find Ellie this trip if for no other reason than to keep her from stealing more money.

Would having someone who adores you above all others be so bad? Someone who is so perfect that you no longer need to bed random women? Someone who—

I get it. And you should know the real reason I’m hesitant.

Do you honestly think Tabitha is going to begrudge you finding your mate? She will eventually find hers, and what? You’re going to make their lives hell because you don’t want to lose the connection you have with her?

Of course not, but look what happened to mom and Uncle Tamian.

That was different. They were bonded in a way you and Tabby aren’t.

Tony wasn’t so sure about that. Yes, Tamian was Tessa’s clone, but Tony and Tabby had a link to one another.

He knew when she was happy. When she was upset.

When she was pissed. She could feel his emotions as well.

It was the main reason he tamped down anything that might upset her.

Why he always appeared to be content even if he wasn’t.

If he had a smile on his face, his twin didn’t look deeper.

When one of them found their mate, he didn’t want to lose what he had with his sister.

They were two halves of a whole, and a mate would—

No, they won’t. Perfect, remember? Tamian came around when he found Lucy. He understood that mates trump siblings, and now they’re closer than ever. You need to give Tabby a little credit too.

In his head, he knew Tabby would be thrilled for him.

It was his heart that gave him trouble. Tony had a great capacity to love.

He had so many examples of how mates worked.

His parents, his aunts and uncles, Mason and Willow, his cousins who’d found their mates.

All of them were beyond happy. Tony knew if the fates chose a mate for him, she would be his perfect partner, but would he be hers?

His Goyle huffed harshly inside his head, which was better than being called a dumbass. He could agree Ellie might be his mate. He wouldn’t know for certain until they were close enough to have a conversation. If she was, that still didn’t answer the question of why she was a criminal.

Carleigh, Harlow, and Nikita don’t follow the rules. Do you think less of them?

They aren’t stealing money from innocent people. Yes, they break the law, but it’s for a good reason.

Maybe Ellie has a good reason too.

Anthony sure hoped so.

After managing a few hours of sleep, Tony rose and showered.

Instead of eating in the hotel dining room, he opted to venture out and begin his search for Ellie.

Carleigh texted earlier that Nikita and her mate, Madsen, were doing a deep dive into all the hotel registries close to the banks which had already been hit and cross-referencing similar names in case Ellie was using an alias.

If Ellie were smart, she would stay somewhere cheap where she could pay cash. She would still have to show an ID.

As Anthony walked toward the nearest coffee shop, he tried to get into the mindset of someone who would take money from local women.

The first few hits had been for less than ten thousand dollars.

With each subsequent theft, the number went up.

If that continued to track, Ellie would be looking for a female with at least fifty thousand in the bank.

Plenty of musicians lived in and around Nashville, but Tony didn’t think she would be so bold as to pretend to be a star.

No, she would choose an unknown. Someone the tellers wouldn’t instantly recognize.

But how did she choose these women? Did she have a hacker who pointed out potential victims?

If that were the case, the hacker could just move the money out of each account unless they weren’t that talented.

After selecting a mark, she needed to get their identification and bank card.

Kelsie did say Ellie was waiting on friends.

If that were true, it was possible someone mugged the female and took her wallet, then Ellie took the credentials into the nearest bank branch and pretended to be the victim.

But how? Did she have access to a prosthetic machine?

It would make the most sense. But that didn’t explain what he witnessed on the security camera feed Carleigh had shown him.

Ellie wasn’t removing a mask. Her visage changed as if she were magic.

Besides that, she would have to choose her victim before arriving in town, unless someone could overnight her the prosthetic, and that would take a lot of careful planning. No, something hinky was going on.

The coffee shop was busy, but Anthony went inside anyway.

He could have stopped in the hotel lobby for a free cup, but he was in the mood for something with lots of caramel and whipped cream.

As he waited in line, Anthony glanced around at the patrons seated at the tables.

One table held three females who all smiled at him.

If he were last week’s Anthony, he would have asked to join them.

Instead, he gave them a smirk, then returned his focus to the front of the line.

After placing his order, he moved down the counter to wait.

The barista set his cup down and called his name, not bothering to look up.

As Anthony grabbed the cup, his Goyle perked up.

I think she’s close.

Anthony almost dropped his drink, turning quickly to look out the window. He rushed outside and scanned the sidewalks. Which way?

West.

Anthony began walking away from the river with his beast guiding him. As he closed the distance, his phone rang, and he fished it out of his back pocket with his free hand. “Hey, C.”

“Tony, she’s already hit the bank.”

“What? But it’s not Tuesday.”

“I’m aware. Something must have happened.”

“I can feel her close by. I’ll call you back.

” Anthony rudely hung up so he could focus on the female.

He didn’t need his Gargoyle to tell him he was close.

His stomach once again churned, and he could no longer deny what that meant.

He turned right at the next intersection, and in the parking lot of a smaller hotel was Ellie walking toward a car.

Anthony quickened his steps. He couldn’t let her get in her vehicle, or he’d lose her.

Tossing his cup in a trash can, he took off jogging.

As though she felt his presence, Ellie glanced up, her eyes widening when she saw him.

She turned and ran, disappearing right before his eyes.