Chapter 670 Chapter 670
Deva walked in and looked around. Everyone was looking at the monitor except Asher. He was frowning at his phone. When he glanced up, he looked at her and then jerked his head, telling her to follow him. She followed him to the other end of the area. He was standing there glaring at the phone in his hand. “What’s going on?”
“Jesse messaged and said to call this number.”
Deva pulled her phone out of her pocket. She’d forgotten to turn the sound back on. He had sent her a message too. “Okay. Uh—” She looked around. “Let’s go out back and see what’s up.”
He nodded and motioned to the door at the side.
When he came out, he wiggled his phone around. “I’ll call and put it on speaker.”
She nodded and crossed her arms over her chest as he dialed the phone. Deva missed their group calls and chatrooms. They weren’t as in touch with each other as they had been.
“Asher?”
“Yeah. Deva’s here with me. What’s going on?”
“Have either of you talked to Zain in the last few days?”
Asher looked at her. “I haven’t since he called me about getting on a plane.”
“I haven’t since Journee, and I got here. What’s going on?”
“Zain isn’t answering. No one has spoken to him in a few days.”
Deva raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips. “That’s not possible. He’s never not answered. Not since I’ve been on the team.”
“Right.” Asher nodded.
“It just rings. No voicemail, nothing.”
“Are you calling the right number?” Asher rolled his eyes at his own question.
“Yes. We all know his number.” Jesse sounded stressed. “No one has seen or heard from him in days. He left the office and didn’t come back.”
Deva’s heart stopped in her chest. She grabbed Asher’s wrist. “Oh my god, do you think they took him too?”
“No.” There was a long pause. “I talked to Barack from Alliance Security and asked him to check in on him.” Another pause. “Some things were packed at his place. He said it looks like it was done in a hurry.”
Deva let go of Asher’s wrist and looked at the phone. “You think he took off? Why? Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. Barack said the last he saw him at Headquarters, he was trying to get in to talk to that wolf that Journee identified…”
“Zain is from Shepard Addison’s clan.” Deva didn’t know why she said that. They all knew that.
“I know.”
“Well—he had to know the guy, right?”
Asher shook his head. “What are saying, Jesse? You think Zain is a traitor or something?”
“No.” Someone said something in the background. “It’s not me saying it.”
“Holy shit.” Asher gave her a wide-eyed look. “No.” He shook his head. “There’s no way. None.”
Deva nodded. “I agree with Asher. There’s no way. Zain would cut off his legs before doing anything to help Aiden Tomas.” She waved her hand around, “his own mother and sisters…”
“I know.” Jesse cleared his throat. “Look, Leah and I have to go home for a bit. Her mother and sister aren’t doing well in a big clan, so we’re going to take them to our house and get them settled.” He sighed. “If you hear from Zain, tell him to call me—and fill in Amari and Calla.”
Deva nodded. “Yeah, of course.” If her heart hadn’t been racing the way it was, she would have expressed more concern for Leah’s family. “Do what you have to do.” She looked at Asher. He was scowling at the phone.
“Let us know if anyone hears from him, Jesse.”
“I will. Stay in touch.” The line went silent.
Asher looked at his phone and then poked the screen a few times. He lifted the phone to his ear. “There’s no way.”
Deva held her breath and watched his face. She knew he’d just called Zain and needed him to answer the phone right now.
Asher shook his head and stabbed the screen again. “He said something the last time I talked to him,” he frowned at the phone, “Uh, something like the only reason I’m here is currently missing.”
Deva sucked in a breath. “You don’t think he’s stupid enough to take off and try to find the king on his own, do you?”
Asher closed his eyes for a second, then opened them and looked at her. “No. Not Zain.” He shrugged. “At least I don’t think he would.”
Amari came out. “Another successful mission.” She held up her phone. “I got a message from Jesse about calling him.”
“We just talked to him.”
“Oh. What’s up?” She tucked the phone into the back pocket of her jeans.
“Zain is gone.”
She looked from Asher to Deva. “Gone where? I didn’t know he ever left the office.” She grinned.
“They don’t know.” Asher put his hands in his pocket.
“They?”
“Jesse, Alliance Security…”
“Alliance Security is involved?” She looked from Asher to Deva. “You mean he’s gone, gone? Was he taken? If he was taken, I’m going to…”
“He packed in a hurry.” Deva blurted out. “Why would he do that?”
Amari pulled her phone back out and tapped the screen.
“He doesn’t answer,” Asher said in a flat tone. “No voice mail either.”
She stopped and looked at him. “What does this mean?” Hitting the screen, she put it to her ear. “Zain is always there. Doesn’t matter what time it is or day—he’s always there.” Her expression darkened, and she lowered the phone. “There’s a reason. Something’s wrong.” She paced a few feet away and then looked at the back of the yacht. “Think Calla is able to take a call?” She walked quickly to the back of the deck. “They’re just watching those guys right now.”
Deva followed her. “We should call Foster. He wasn’t on the ops. He might know something. He calls everyone all the time and rambles when he’s traveling.”
Amari stopped, turned and headed toward the door. She went in, Asher was right behind her.
Deva followed them and then stood there, her hand over her heart. It was beating so fast. Calum and Illias were the only two left in there.
Illias glanced at them and then straightened away from the keyboard. “What’s wrong?”
Asher put his phone to his ear and looked at the floor.
“Zain is missing?” Amari waved a hand around. “Gone.”
“What?” Illias turned and looked at Calum.