Chapter 222

Howard’s POV
This musty apartment reeked of desperation and cheap air freshener. I hated being trapped in this pathetic excuse for a hideout, but since those damn Alpha Council investigators had tracked down my previous safe house, I had little choice but to accept whatever shelter I could find. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.net
My inside contact at Thorne Enterprises had hastily arranged this dump—a far cry from the luxury I was accustomed to, but it would have to serve as my den while I regrouped and planned my revenge.
My wolf paced restlessly within me. “We should be hunting, not hiding like cowards.”
“Patience,” I whispered back. “Our revenge isn’t finished.”
At least today brought some entertainment. Following that pathetic Luna Caroline had been exhilarating. She’d been so deliciously on edge, her pregnant body awkward and vulnerable. That IT guy’s idea to install spyware on company devices was proving invaluable. I could track my targets from this very couch, watching their movements like a wolf stalking prey.
The only annoyance was Caroline’s reluctance to leave that fortress they called home. Five months pregnant with quadruplets, she waddled around with that massive belly, rarely venturing outside where I could get to her.
“Evil One, brought your lunch!” Kai barged in without knocking, his irritating voice echoing through the small space. The kid was a nuisance, but I’d grown accustomed to his strange nickname for me.
I eyed the greasy paper bag with suspicion. “Is it edible today? Yesterday’s slop nearly made me sick.”
“Only the best for the boss!” He tossed the bag toward me with a smirk. “Got it from that place you mentioned.”
“Sit down.” I motioned to the worn armchair across from me. “We need to talk strategy.”
Kai flopped down, immediately propping his dirty boots on my coffee table. The disrespect was maddening, but I needed his connections. My wolf snarled inside me, wanting to teach this pup respect.
“What’s up?” Kai asked, picking at his teeth with a fingernail.
“I need someone to snatch a pup from the hospital nursery,” I said, savoring the mental image of Draven and Caroline’s desperation. “That bitch will deliver her litter in about two months. Werewolf pregnancies are faster than humans, and she’s already showing like she’s about to pop. When those pups arrive, we’re taking one.”
Kai’s eyes widened, a smile spreading across his face. “Damn, Evil One. Getting more twisted every day.” He nodded slowly. “I can set that up. What kind of person you need?”
“A female who can pass as a nurse. Someone who won’t panic under pressure.” I outlined my requirements, watching his reaction. “She grabs the pup and brings it to me. You’ll be my eyes in the hospital, blending with visitors, making sure everything goes according to plan.”
“Got it! I know just the chick. Always broke, will do anything for cash.” Kai always knew someone willing to do the dirty work.
“Perfect. Bring her to me, but don’t promise more than five thousand. Understand?” My financial resources were dwindling fast.
The only money I still had access to was from Linda’s account that I’d emptied and funneled through a patsy. Not even three hundred thousand, but it was all I had left after the police froze everything else. Between paying Kai and my informant at Thorne Enterprises, cash was tight.
My phone vibrated with a message from my spy at the company,
“They found the monitoring software. The spyware on phones and computers is gone.”
Shit! This complicates everything. I typed back rapidly,
“What happened?”
His response came quickly,
“They did a full sweep of all electronics. Everything’s been cleared. Worse, I’ve got a new supervisor checking all department work. He knows his stuff.”
When did Draven get so damn smart? The pup was always so predictable before. I sent another message, applying pressure,
“Figure something out if you want your weekly payment.”
His reply only irritated me further,
“I’ll try, but it’s getting harder. They’re being cautious. Alpha Draven works from home most days now. Information isn’t flowing from the top anymore.”
Incompetent fool! I needed to know what was happening inside that company.
“Hey, Evil One,” Kai interrupted my thoughts. “Can I ask you something?”
“What now?” My head throbbed with annoyance.
“Aren’t you gonna help my buddy who got caught for that kidnapping job? The guy who tried to snatch the little pup?”
“I’m not even helping my own daughter!” I snapped, my wolf’s anger blending with mine. “He knew the risk when he took the money. The dungeon is his problem now.”
“That’s cold, man. He’s done lots of work for you,” Kai argued, surprisingly principled for a lowlife.
“And he was paid well for it.” I opened the food container. Steak with fries. At least today’s meal was decent. “Every wolf for himself in this world.”
“Can I ask something else?” Kai fidgeted uncomfortably.
I sighed heavily. “What?”
“Why won’t you help Ella? She’s your pup, your blood. She’s locked up, and it’s pretty sad,” Kai actually seemed concerned about my daughter.
“She’s old enough to handle herself,” I growled, stabbing a piece of meat with my fork. “Ella never does anything right. She’s just deadweight. When I finish with Draven Thorne, I’m disappearing to live like the Alpha I deserve to be, without that useless girl dragging me down. She’s just like her mother!” I caught myself revealing too much. “If you feel sorry for her, she’s all yours.”
“Man, wouldn’t mind being your son-in-law. Your daughter’s smoking hot,” Kai grinned. “But she wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
He was right about that. I chuckled darkly, my mind drifting to how I’d manipulated Ella all these years. My wolf rumbled with satisfaction at our control over my weak offspring.