Meat

Chapter Thirty

There was still an hour of daylight left when Kaleb finally pushed open the front door and let himself, Matthew, and the brothers inside. After leaving Priya's apartment, they'd decided to stop by Carson's place in the hope that his brother-in-law had returned, even temporarily, to his home. He hadn't, and Kaleb had dodged three phone calls from Jemima, two with increasingly anxious voicemails.

The door shut behind them and Kaleb spun around, coming face to face with the brute, William. He had to admit, after seeing the man's treatment of Priya while she was injured, and the way the man had ripped apart one of his own in justice, Kaleb was feeling better towards the man than he ever had before.

"You didn't find them."

It wasn't a question, but Kaleb shook his head anyway.

"What did you find out?"

August came down the stairs with slow steps. Despite being dead for over a hundred years, Kaleb had never seen the man look anything other than impeccable. Now, he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, his hair mussed and his skin even paler than normal. He looked younger in his distress, instead of the restrained anger Kaleb was used to.

"Boys, take Matthew up to see Priya," Kaleb said.

"But..."

He didn't look back to see who had spoken.

"Now."

Darren and Jack both threw him cautious glances at they passed, and they gave both William and August a wide berth as they led Matthew up the stairs. Looking back as they reached the first landing, Kaleb nodded them onwards. They disappeared with trudging steps.

"What?" August asked.

"They took the girl. She hasn't been seen since last night."

"And that took you all day to find out?"

"We had a visit from Arnesen," Kaleb said. "He was in Priya's apartment with a friend of his, waiting for us."

August moved closer and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"And what did the stuck-up arse have to say?"

"He made threats."

"Naturally."

"He said that Priya and Vince would be the first to die if his daughter was not returned."

William rested his elbow on the post at the bottom of the bannister. Rubbing his hand over his short hair, he shrugged.

"Priya's here," he said. "And if we can't find Spencer, I'm guessing they can't either."

Kaleb sighed and shook his head.

"They made one of mine, Matthew, hold a gun to his own head," he explained. "If they have a projector strong enough, they could make Priya walk herself right to them. If they find Vince, Carson, or Spencer before we do, there's no telling what they'll do."

"I've already told you what will happen if anything happens to Spencer," August said coolly.

"Yes, I'm well aware of the body parts I'm set to lose, Caine, thank you," Kaleb sneered. "But this is my son!"

"And my sired!"

"Alright," William said slowly, surprisingly enough, the voice of reason. "We have common cause, here."

August rounded on the man who, by all Kaleb had seen, had become August's second in command. He bared his teeth, his eyes widening.

"When I ask for your opinion, William, you may give it. Until then, do what you do best and rip something apart."