Chapter 145

Rachel POV

Wright House

"What in the name of our Goddess---" Art exclaimed, shoving Lindy away from his chest and knocking her onto the bed with me.

Lindy landed in a sprawl, her face tear-streaked and eyes swollen. She looked haggard as if she hadn't slept in days; I realized I had no idea how she was doing since I'd been caught up in my own plight. Her bruises were still visible from the beating she'd taken.

"You said you were going to check on Nathan!" Lindy spat out, "You're a liar! I knew you were a liar. My father told me not to trust anyone."

"Your father?" Art asked as I started to feel a sinking sensation in my chest.

What had Lindy told Richard Campbell? Did he know we were aware my mother was alive? Was he going to try to kill her before we could rescue her in order to cover up his involvement?

I had too many questions to wait for Art to try to communicate with Lindy. I knew the woman well enough to get answers from her. She'd be less afraid of me than Art. He'd just have to wait to have his turn with her.

Putting a hand on Lindy's shoulder, I tugged her around to face me on the bed, "Lindy, I need you to talk to me. What did you tell your father? Does he know we've discovered my mother is alive? Will he hurt her? What has he said to you?"

My thoughts floated back to my own 'father' as I realized Richard Campbell probably had more in common with Patrick Flores than either of them wanted the world to know. I could count on one hand the number of times my father had given me free advice.

If Patrick gave me anything, he got something in return. What had Richard Campbell asked for from Lindy? What had she agreed to give him? What had he promised her?

"Lindy," I said, shaking her a little, "You have to answer me. It's very important. Will he kill my mother before we can save her?"

The very thought my mother was going to be taken from me right when I had a chance to get her back---I was nauseated thinking about it. My ached with a dull throb I couldn't ignore. All I wanted was to get some sleep yet I felt as if I'd never sleep again until my mother was back with me for at least one more embrace.

Lindy was trembling as she answered, "I don't know. I didn't tell him about her. I told him the Alpha Inspector took my mate. He took my Nathan. He's keeping him hidden from me! I'm going to die without him. I will, Rachel, I swear I will."

Lindy was delusional in some ways, yet she wasn't lying. I didn't need Art Windsor's abilities to tell she was giving me the truth as she knew it.

"What did he offer you? Did he make you promise him anything? Tell us what was said when you spoke to him, okay? I'll make sure you get to see Nathan," I said.

I was prepared to promise Lindy she could go sit in whatever cell Art had Nathan in for eternity if I had to except I knew it wasn't my promise to make. For all I knew, the Alpha Council wasn't willing to allow any visitors to Nathan Lewis. He was classified as dangerous.

Dangerous wolves were put away for the safety of the rest of wolfen society. I'd grown up knowing to control myself or else.

I'd never learned what 'or else' involved because anyone who was taken away for being dangerous was never returned.

"Talk, girl!" Tyler snarled, his eyes showing evidence of Wynd being too close to breaking free.

Leaning over to Lindy, I pulled her around to face me, "Lindy. You need to tell me the truth right now. If you lie to me, we'll know. Art can read your mind. Tyler and I can both scent a lie. If you lie? I'll personally make Nathan promise to reject you forever. He'll do it for me, too, Lindy. You know he will."

Tears began to fall from Lindy's eyes in fat drops. She clearly knew I wasn't telling her wrong. I could see the truth reflected in her eyes along with a deep, deep hurt I hoped I would never have to claim as my fault.

"I only told him I wanted my mate back. He told me to go with the Alpha Inspector. That's it. That's all. Daddy loves me. He's not bad. He can't be," Lindy said reaching out to take my hands in her own, her fingers trembling hard enough for me to feel it.

"Lindy, Richard Campbell isn't your father. He---acquired you from somewhere. I had your DNA tested. You have no relation to him. Do you understand?" Art coaxed.

I could tell from the way Lindy was looking from Art to me and back again she wasn't understanding anything. Too much was hitting her all at once. She was not going to be able to help us take down Richard Campbell anymore than she could take down anyone.

Lindy was more girl than woman. I had no idea how she was going to function in the world. She was too fragile, too sheltered to be let out on her own. Nathan should be ashamed of himself for rejecting her to date. If any female needed a mate more, I'd never seen it.

Shaking her head, Lindy admitted, "I don't know. I don't. He's all I've ever known. Our home has pictures of us together from the day I was born. I'm his. I have to be."

She was insisting by the end because she needed to believe. I could tell the thought this man had betrayed her was breaking her. Something vital inside her needed this man she'd trusted her whole life to be a good man.

Unfortunately, I didn't think Richard Campbell had ever been a good man and we were all going to suffer for it now.

"Did he say anything about my mother?" I tried again.

Lindy squeezed my hands and shrugged. She didn't know anything. If I had ever doubted whether she was involved, I didn't now. There was no chance she was lying to me. No wolf was so good a liar.

"Think, Lindy. Has your father ever mentioned Elena? Mentioned her being somewhere? Made comments about her being in 'a better place' maybe or 'somewhere safe'?" Tyler asked, surprising me.

We were all waiting on Lindy with baited breath as she seemed to search her memories for long minutes. Art and Tyler stood beside the bed while Lindy and I perched on it, me under the covers while she was atop them with her hands grasping mine.

My home felt torturously small and airless with so many people in the bedroom. I wanted to make everyone leave except my own mate. I wasn't well enough for all this intrigue.

I squeezed Lindy's hands hard enough to make her gasp, prompting her, "Lindy? Can you think of anything?"

"She's in a quiet place," Lindy murmured, "Daddy always called it 'a quiet place.' I just thought he meant Heaven. He doesn't really believe in it, but he tries to make me feel better because I can't stand to think we all just stop."

Art jumped into the questioning, "What else did he say about the 'quiet place', Lindy? Did he mention any details? Anything at all?"

"They have stone halls and cool floors and the wind always blows from over the ocean. Peter said so," Lindy murmured, seeming lost in her memories.

I had no idea where she might be talking about, but I knew stone buildings near the ocean had to be common. There were plenty of oceans to search, too. For all we knew, my mother could be on a deserted island not even recorded on any map!

"Peter! I think I know where she is," Art said, a smile breaking through his features as he shoved his long, blond hair back from his face, "I'm going to check in with Justice. Keep Lindy with you. I'll take you to see Nathan as soon as I can, Lindy. You may have just saved the day."

Used to Art vanishing by now, I rubbed my thumb across Lindy's knuckles as I looked at her. She was still lost in thoughts, but I couldn't help asking her one more question.

"Who's Peter?"