Deceptions (Evie Cortez Book 1)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Forbes had an in with all the local packs, he put the word out to all of them about Nick. With the town city of packs and the vampires looking for Nick Tobias we still managed to come up empty. Where was this guy hiding out? The fucking moon?

Nick wasn’t stupid and I was willing to bet he had every detail planned before making the first move. I feared he still had coven magic on his side and if that was true getting Jamie and Caleb home wouldn’t be easy. 

Staying at the pub felt like we were doing something productive. Forbes gave us permission to ask a few questions. We kept it about finding where Nick could be held up, the fact Caleb was missing stayed between the Grayson pack and Forbes.

Just when I reached the moment where I wanted to scream out my frustrations Jake called with something helpful. We met back at Caleb’s for privacy; any wolf would be able to overhear both ends of a phone call back at the pub.

“What do you have?” Jared asked. Jake arrived first and was already seated in the living room.

He had a file spread out on the coffee table. “It took me a minute to realize why nothing was coming up on Nick Tobias. That’s not his real name.” he handed a paper to Jared and me, our eyes went wide at the same time. “Tobias Nikolas is Caleb’s older brother. If he’s set up in town it has to be at that address under his name.”

“He’s pissed at his brother.” I voiced, thinking out loud. “What better place for revenge than their childhood home?” Now I understood why Caleb was so willing to come to Celestin to take over for Thomas, he had grown up here.

“How did you know about the names?” Jared asked.

“Trade secret.” Jake said. I took it to mean Caleb said something to him privately and he wouldn’t ever repeat it. He turned to me. “He trusted you to help him and I trust his choices. Something tells me you can handle this better than I could anyway. You both go and see if he’s there, if you need back up call and I’ll bring everyone over. Right now it’s better to play it smart and not alert him we’re getting close.” With Caleb out of commission Jake was in charge, whether Jared or the others liked it or not. Neither of us said anything but we knew the facts. With Caleb in danger it was better for Jake to stay back just in case the alpha died and he’d have to take over. It was a lot like being president of your own private race.

I nodded. “I like that plan.” I grabbed my keys and went back out to the car. I refused to get involved with the power play, the stares and heated tension, between Jared and Jake. After I got Jamie home whatever the werewolves did wasn’t my problem. 

Nick was playing with magic; I didn’t want anyone dying because they didn’t know what they were dealing with. I suspected Jake agreed and volunteered everyone as backup just in case it was more than magic and just a crazy wolf. Right now we were going to check out the house with no guarantees it was our location. If it was then we’d plan from there.

As I drove I remembered my father telling me as I got older to never get personally involved when it came to things like this, doing a job, because it was a guaranteed mistake. I ran from that life a long time ago but I tended to find myself remembering things they had told me. I was personally involved because I wanted Caleb and Jamie to be home and safe. It wasn’t just  a job I was carrying out, I needed it to be over for my own reasons too.

Soon the street was disserted of all people and family homes. There was nothing but trees and forest land for the next two miles. At the end of it a lone cottage style house sat in the middle of more forest land. It was like finding a bottle of water in the middle of a desert.