Renegade Alpha (ALPHA 5) Read Free Page B

the other man down like the dog he was.
    It had been his intention to start that hunt after a few hours’ rest. He had a feeling the reason Callie Morgan was here was now going to take priority over anything and everything else happening at Grayson Security.
    If they could ever get Callie to tell them what the problem was, that is.
    Maybe he should just leave the talking to Seth? She seemed more at ease with the other man, and there was no doubting Seth liked what he saw, holding her arm and helping her to sit before offering her a cup of tea, like a regular Florence Fucking Nightingale.
    Lijah gave a disgusted snort, that snort turning to a scowl as Callie gave him a questioning glance.
    He tried to think what age she would be now. Twenty-four? Twenty-five? A woman grown, and old enough, would seem to be the answer.
    “Where’s Peter, Callie?” he prompted abruptly. “And no prevaricating this time. Just tell us where he is.”
    The long arch of her throat moved as she swallowed before answering him huskily. “I don’t know.”
    Lijah felt the scowl appear between his eyes. “Explain.”
    Callie already knew Lijah Smith to be a man of few words. But what few words he did speak were succinct and to the point. And he was right, her father’s whereabouts was the point.
    She drew in a shaky breath. “I believe he flew to America a week ago.”
    “You believe?”
    Her jaw tightened. “Yes. I tried to confirm it, but the airlines aren’t willing to give out that sort of information,” she added awkwardly as Lijah just continued to look at her.
    “I thought the two of you were close?”
    “We are,” she came back defensively.
    “But you haven’t spoken to him in a week, and he didn’t tell you where he was going?”
    “No.”
    “But you now believe he’s in America?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?
    “Because—“ She broke off abruptly to bite her trembling bottom lip.  
    Lijah breathed heavily. “Look, I’m sure you will have gathered by now I’m not the most patient of men on a good day—”
    “Cut her some slack, man,” Seth Armstrong advised softly. “Can’t you see she’s on the verge of breaking?”
    Callie shot him another grateful glance only to push back against the chair after turning and seeing the fierceness of Lijah’s expression. As if he wasn’t happy about the brief moment of understanding that had passed between her and the other man…?
    Well, that was just too bad, because right now Callie needed someone to be understanding and kind to her. Traits Lijah Smith obviously didn’t possess. “Maybe I should come back later when you’re less…tired?”
    “And maybe you should just stop avoiding answering my fucking questions—”
    “Okay, that’s enough.” Seth Armstrong moved to once again stand between Callie and Lijah. “Back off, man.” He placed his hand firmly on the other man’s chest.
    Lijah didn’t move an inch as he towered over Callie, a nerve pulsing a warning in his tightly clenched jaw. “I’ll back off when she tells us why in hell she bothered coming here if she isn’t willing to tell us the reason why she’s so worried about Peter!”
    Seth gave a glance over his shoulder at her. “He does have a point,” he prompted gently.
    She sighed. “Yes, he does,” she acknowledged wearily, turning away so that she no longer had to look at either man as she gathered her thoughts together. “The…the reason my father took early retirement was so that he could be with me.”
    “What’s wrong with you?” Seth turned, obviously concerned. “Are you sick?”
    “Not in the way you mean, no. I was— Someone— I was attacked six months ago and beaten up rather badly.” She pressed her lips tightly together to stop them from trembling. “My father came home as soon as he knew, and—and then he stayed home. To be with me.”
    “Jesus Christ…” Lijah muttered under his breath as his imagination took the natural leap.
    “I know what you’re thinking, and