Jael had barely gotten down the hallway when his phone rang for the umpteenth time that evening, it was Keith, so he picked up without hesitation.
"We found the fake replacement," The Beta went right into details.
Jael nearly tripped, "You did what?"
"We got the intel from Frequency, the doctor wasn’t trying to hide. She wanted us to find her."
Jael had turned the fake replacement’s personal information over to an intelligence agency, ’Frequency’. If they couldn’t find info on a person, then that person didn’t exist.
They were good at what they did but Jael hadn’t been expecting any useful information for at least a couple of days.
"Where are you right now?" Jael asked, making mental calculations.
His presence was still needed at the mansion but if they had found the doctor behind Caspian’s induced heat, he wanted to be there in person.
"In a motel, 4th Avenue. There’s no need to come down, she’s already dead. We also found Doctor Brianna’s actual replacement tied up at the motel, he’s groggy and doesn’t seem to remember a thing."
Jael was stunned silent, he processed the bodyguard’s words slowly. He knew there was something off with how easy it was to get the fake replacement’s identity, and that was because she had been a decoy, now they had truly hit a dead end.
"Search the place for any useful clues and then bring the replacement back to the mansion." He ordered calmly.
Going to the motel in person would be a waste of time. He doubted they would find anything useful at the motel but it was protocol.
He had underestimated those behind it a little. It looked like it was a hit and run, like it was a planned one time thing because now they would be on high alert and not just anyone would have access to Caspian.
Jael thought back to Doctor Perez’s words, it might be that the mastermind did want Caspian pregnant but who could possibly benefit from that?
The only person that came to mind was Gage, but Gage wouldn’t be this meddlesome. He was already on bad terms with his son, any wrong move and it would be his head on the block.
Thinking about it gave Jael a headache, figuring out people’s intentions and schemes had never been his strong suit.
He was pacing in the foyer because he had been planning to leave the mansion at first.
Footsteps on the stairs caught his attention, he looked over his shoulder to see the nervous accountant approaching. She stopped halfway down the stairs, a pale hand gripping the banister.
Jael cocked a brow, "Shouldn’t you have clocked out?" His tone held no malice, he was just curious.
"I was worried about Caspian." She spoke softly, so much so Jael had to approach to properly hear her. "And the kitchen said you didn’t eat lunch."
Jael crushed the mint in his mouth - technically, no one had eaten lunch. "I’ll make it up at dinner." He said dismissively.
"A sandwich wouldn’t ruin your appetite," Patty said stubbornly despite her trembling voice.
Jael gave her a onceover and then obliged. It wasn’t like he was busy at the moment. He had gotten the necessary information from Keith and Davian was back.
"Sure, I’ll eat a sandwich." He conceded, closing the distance.
Patty turned around and hurried up the stairs when he did. She didn’t look over her shoulder even once, it was like she was running from someone sketchy.
Jael didn’t react, taking his time to follow after her. As jumpy as Patty was around him, she was also constantly staring at him whenever she got the chance.
Jael pretended not to see it, he wasn’t interested, and it had nothing to do with her.
The thick sandwich didn’t taste like anything, or maybe he was too deep in thought and forgot to pay attention, a cook quick to provide him some iced tea to wash it down.
Lake was jolted out of the doze that he had been lulled into by Davian’s scent when the Alpha pulled away slightly.
"How do you feel?" Davian’s gray eyes were stormy as he searched his face.
Lake already had a rehearsed answer. ’He was fine, just a little nauseous and tired.’ All of his meticulous planning to ease Davian’s worries flew out when window when the Alpha looked at him.
He closed the distance without giving a response, his body moving on autopilot. He kissed Davian like he was starving, which he was. The taste of dark chocolate on the Alpha’s tongue reminded him that he hadn’t eaten much all day.
Davian kissed him back and there was a funny feeling in Lake’s chest, almost like he was going to throw up again.
Maybe it wasn’t the most healthy thing but he wanted to be by the Alpha’s side all the time, he wanted Davian’s scent deep in his skin that it would never fade.
Lake pulled away first, his nose tinged red. "I missed you," He said in a wobbly voice, soft brown eyes filling with tears. "Don’t leave again."
Those words weren’t part of the plan but Lake couldn’t stop them even if he tried, tears spilling down his eyes as he sniffled.
Davian had been in a haze of dread ever since he got the call from Doctor Perez. He had been in the middle of a meeting but the doctor calling unprompted was just as important as Lake calling so he had picked up without any reservations.
He barely heard what the doctor had been saying, the only thing he processed was that Lake was in a bad enough shape to warrant a visit from Dr. Perez and the doctor had asked him to return.
The haze thickened on the flight back. So much so that he didn’t even stop to make a call when he got to the airport or on the drive here. It felt like he was in a coma, it wasn’t until he held Lake in his arms and breathed in the Omega’s scent that he snapped out of it.