Page 33

EPILOGUE

Hunter

Mated life has been fucking amazing, walking into the house with not just one but two wonderful people.

Getting used to a dog was a bit of a change but I can’t imagine life without Jasmine at this point.

Especially the way she so eagerly greets me at the door.

Add in the multiple kitchen disasters, Celeste stealing our clothes for her nest, and routinely trying to make us late with kisses and something more , I’d call our little bit of chaos perfect.

Knowing that we’re all safe and happy? That means more than anything else.

And now, I’m once again in the chief’s office, staring at him from across a desk, wondering why he called my ass in here at six in the morning on a Saturday.

I could have still been curled up between Lincoln and Celeste but instead, I’m here for an emergency meeting that just couldn’t wait any longer.

I suspect that the chief just doesn’t recognize what time of day it is, nor does he care.

Ruiz and Roberts are in the room with me, both looking as rough as I feel, though I’m betting their reasons aren’t as good as mine. Another officer I don’t know stands next to the chief, just making this meeting even more confusing because I still have no idea what it’s for.

If I was honest with myself, I thought I was going to be let go after the last stunt with Carter. I’m still pissed I didn’t get to do something about him or to him but no amount of persuading the chief would get me near Carter.

I lean back in my chair, my arms crossed against my chest, and try to shake off the fog of exhaustion. The chief’s got that look, the one that says he’s about to drop a bomb, and I’m already bracing myself.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he says, his hands clasped on the desk. “I’ve been asked to lend some of my best officers to track down Hex.”

I raise an eyebrow, my brain sluggishly catching up. “Like a task force?”

He nods. “Exactly like that. You’ll be working with a cross-county task force to find whoever was in that vehicle. No one’s asking you to pack up and move, but it’s a big commitment. It’ll require a lot of cooperation and some long man hours.”

My stomach twists and not just from the lack of sleep.

I thought I’d be done with that whole mess now that we were sure he was out of the city.

I shift in my seat, my fingers tapping against my arm.

“The feds still haven’t come up with anything new?

” I haven’t been following the news but if the pattern is the same, there would have been a new murder in the last week or so.

The chief shakes his head. “Not a thing. That’s why we’re stepping in.

We’ve brought in someone from Ansdale, Detective Grayson, to add expertise to this precinct.

” He gestures to the new guy, who gives a small nod but stays quiet.

“Your only focus will be this investigation, unless you’re needed elsewhere. Nothing else.”

“What about Carter?” I ask, my voice barely hiding the growl.

The chief sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “He’s a pivotal piece in this, but I’ve been told none of you can interrogate him further. Conflict of interest. If we want to make it to trial with what we have, we have to stay clean and out of the way.”

I grimace, my teeth grinding together. I want to argue, to demand one last shot at him. Just one chance to wipe that smug look off his face. The chief catches my expression and grins, just a little. “Don’t worry, Hunter. He’ll get what’s coming to him. Either in jail or when he gets out.”

There’s a hint there, almost like a subtle offer to keep my eyes open.

I store that away and focus on the task we’ve been given.

I glance around the room, taking in Ruiz’s fidgeting hands and Roberts’ blank stare.

They’re good guys, solid officers, but I can tell they’re not thrilled about this either.

The chief breaks the silence. “I need to know who’s in for this.

I’m not pushing anyone, especially those of you with families to look after. ”

“Wait, families?” I’m the only one I know with mates. I catch Ruiz’s face, suddenly flushed red, and I squint at him, confused. “Are you shitting me?”

He throws his hands up, a sheepish grin breaking through. “It just happened, man!”

“Yeah, I’m going to need that entire story later,” I mutter low enough just for him before turning to the chief. “Does this mean we’ll be involved with all of those missing individuals?”

The chief nods. “That’s one of the first things I want you to start working on.

Agent Benji and Keller are here again to assist you but I want to find out just how deep this goes.

It’s going to take a while. Don’t expect it to come as easily as everything did with Carter.

We’re walking into blank territory, with very little to go on. ”

“As long as I get to save them, I’m in.” Knowing that Celeste almost became one of them means there’s no hesitation in my choice. I’ll sleep better at night, too. However, I have a feeling that whatever we do find is going to be a lot darker than we’re bracing for.

Investigation continued in Discover Me