just brought the thing to life, so to speak? He swiped his finger across the slick surface and the image changed. The picture was of Emily and another woman. Again, she looked happy. Bunches of icons were left all over the screen. He recognized the one for the internet and tapped it. When the search engine popped up, he typed in Laing mansion.
The search brought back zero results.
Odd. The name Laing should’ve brought back something. He typed in the name Kynan Laing. Images of Kynan’s wife appeared, along with a handful of their mansion and his burial, but nothing recent. What a bunch of bullshit. He’d believed every word Ava had said, but according to his quick research, the Laing family was all dead. Had Ava pulled a fast one? They were supposed to have been a team.
He switched the wording and typed in Laing Army.
A slew of links showed up, but most were junk. He scanned the results. So much for real facts amongst the gossip. The Internet had so much crap on it. He’d almost given up his hunt when he spotted a particular link.
Laing Army—Myth or Reality?
Hmm. Someone believed the Laings were around? He clicked on the page. According to the information given, the Kynan and his first wife had split up long ago. She lived out her life with his fortune and he disappeared, supposedly on a drunken binge. The person behind the page claimed that the burial was bogus and a man resembling Laing was in the casket. Kynan Laing had been seen in the area with a new woman—a much younger woman, named Alexa.
Hagan scratched his chin. Who would post something like this? A Super? Why would a Super risk the others for the sake of Laing, or had Laing betrayed someone?
So maybe Ava wasn’t lying to him. According to the local maps, the Laing mansion was still standing in Erie View. Was he even close to Erie View? He hadn’t bothered to ask Emily what town he’d ended up in. He’d have to sort that out when she returned.
Emily. Just the thought of her shouldn’t have warmed him, but it did. He could still smell the soft scent of her hair, although he suspected it was from the pillow. Who cared? He buried his face in her pillow and sniffed. So sweet. Then again, everything about her was sweet.
He could see them sleeping together, despite the nightmare. Sure, he sounded a little like Ben with his expectations of something more, but he suspected she actually cared about him—not Ben. She should be afraid of him. He was a vampire and could harm her. He wouldn’t, but he could. She could also destroy him. That thought scared him. He’d come to like her and didn’t want to be without her.
Hagan peered into her mind. He shouldn’t have invaded, but he needed a connection with her. He saw the world through her eyes and shared her emotions. She wasn’t thrilled to be stomping around the backstreets of wherever she was with Ben. She’d lost trust in her partner. Hagan wondered why. He didn’t trust her partner at all. Ben reminded him of the guys Ava chased when they were still together. He still cared about Ava, but the memories weren’t all rosy and his heart had changed. She ran around on him. He’d pushed those thoughts aside because he was convinced she was his mate. The others wouldn’t matter. Yes, she’d slept with some men on Maslow’s orders, but there were others.
He wondered if Ava had ever succeeded. Had she found her mate? Was she happy? Was she even alive? And why was he thinking about his past when his future was so much brighter? Because part of him still cared about Ava.
Hagan placed the tablet on the nightstand, lounged back and folded his hands on his belly. He closed his eyes. He couldn’t do much without Emily there and refused to pry farther into her mind. She’d be back soon and they could sort themselves out then.
Chapter Four
“Hagan.”
Someone called his name. Darkness surrounded him. Was he in the cave of the Sources again?
“Hagan.”
This time whoever spoke to him
Louis - Hopalong 0 L'amour