“Let’s go to the alpha,” Gerad added, backing up his mate. “Hopefully, Torin has resources above my own because as far as I can tell, Simone isn’t anywhere in America. We’d have heard something by now.”

A heavy weight settled deep in my stomach, but I couldn’t lose it yet. Simone needed me to keep it together and ensure that this was everyone’s top priority.

Mika and Gerad were quiet as they led me to their Mercedes G-Wagon, one of five cars in their roomy garage. Including… Simone’s old truck?

I hurried toward it. “She didn’t drive? Was she taken?”

When I turned back to Simone’s parents, their faces were blank. “There was no sign of a struggle,” Gerad finally said, and I seriously wanted to throat-punch a motherfucker.

I didn’t, choosing instead to spend my time combing over her vehicle for clues, but there wasn’t a single thing that stood out. It looked, and smelled, exactly as I remembered. Her truck had nothing to do with how Simone had left Torma.

When I’d exhausted that as a lead, I joined the Lewisons in their car, throwing myself into the smooth leather seats with all the dramatic flair of a toddler who’d had their toast cut in triangles instead of squares. But, dammit, these assholes should have cared more about their daughter’s well-being than her place in the pack. It was too late now to do anything except damage control, all the while praying that Simone was okay.

When Gerad exited onto the main road, I decided that I’d never have a better opportunity to question these two, so I leaned forward. “Tell me about my father.”

Gerad hit the brakes, all of us jerking against our seatbelts, as he ground to a stop in the middle of the street. A stunned silence followed, which I ignored. “Why did he attempt to kill the alpha?”

Leaning back against the dark, buttery leather, I crossed my arms. “I’m just going to keep asking,” I said softly.

“Why are you questioning this now, after all of these years?” Gerad finally muttered. “Why can’t you let the ghosts of the past rest?”

I snorted. “They’ve never rested for me. I suffered every single day for what my father did, and I wanted to ask every damn day for years, but if I even thought about it, I was punished. Now I’m finally in a position where most shifters would think twice about hurting me. So I’m finally asking the damn questions.”

“What about Simone?” Mika choked out, reminding us that we’d been heading to Torin for her. I hadn’t forgotten, of course, but killing two birds with one stone sounded like a great plan.

“You can drive and talk,” I reminded them. “We have plenty of time.”