Banan crossed his arms over his chest and waited for the rest.
“He was in my office when Jane came to PureGems. I never saw her, and I don’t believe Richard knew anything about her being taken.”
“So,” Banan stated.
Elena licked her lips and glanced at Guy. “What I’m trying to tell you is that when we went to the restaurant, Richard didn’t eat. He drank. Heavily. But he never ate. He didn’t talk much either, just kept looking around him as if he expected to see someone show up at any moment.”
Banan dropped his arms as he realized what had happened. “Arnold might no’ know they wanted to take Jane, but I’m guessing that somehow he knew Jane found the number of the person who called Arnold the other day.”
“Aye,” Rhys said. “Arnold must know they’re coming for him.”
Guy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “It must be the others, because Arnold has no way of knowing we’re closing in on him. Besides, he’s no’ the big fish we want. We want the man controlling him.”
“True, but we didn’t know about the bigger fish,” Elena pointed out. “Not until we began to look into Richard.”
“None of this is helping Jane, or helping me find her,” Banan said, and ran a hand down his face. “All this tells me is that whoever this bastard is, he’s two steps ahead of us at all times. And he knows what we are.”
Rhys scooted back his chair and stood. “Which shouldna be possible. But how do we find this arsehole?”
“Good question.” Banan reached for the doorknob again, only to have Guy’s voice stop him.
“There’s no need to go to Henri for Broc’s mobile number.”
Banan slowly turned to his friends. “I doona know what you’re talking about. I already said it wouldna be a good idea to contact the Warriors.”
“Aye, so you did,” Rhys said with a cocky grin. “That doesna mean we shouldna do it.”
Banan looked at them and found his lips tilting up in a smile. “I’ve wasted enough time. Call him now. I need to find Jane. And Rhys, see if Henri can put a tracker on Arnold’s mobile so we can see where he’s at.”
Guy already had his mobile out when Banan’s phone rang. He pulled it from his back pocket to see PRIVATE CALLER show up on his screen.
“Aye?” Banan answered the call.
“Tell me, Banan, how does it feel to have something taken from you that you care about?”
Banan knew instantly the man was referring to Jane. He squeezed the phone until he heard it crack. Rage burned within him, urging him to find whoever the man was and crush him with one stomp of his massive dragon paw.
“Are you there, Banan? Don’t tell me you’re too angry to speak. I thought you were the one Dragon King who didn’t allow emotion into his life.”
Banan took a deep breath and swung his gaze to Rhys and Guy, who had moved closer to him. He lowered the phone and put it on speaker so everyone could hear.
“Who are you?” Banan demanded of the caller.
The man laughed softly. “Oh, you’ll never figure that out. Trust me. But, that’s not why I’m calling. I’m calling because I have a sweet morsel in my possession.”
“Leave Jane alone,” Banan stated angrily.
It was too long since he’d felt the need for battle. How Banan longed for it now. He wanted to shift, to spread his wings and take to the sky. He yearned to use his dragon sight to hunt down the scum who dared to touch Jane.
And then Banan would rip him apart with his teeth.
“Jane got herself in this situation,” the man said. “Or should I say you got her in this. It was you, after all, who sent her searching in Richard’s desk. It was you who got to know her. If only you’d left her alone, then we would’ve left her alone. She is quite the beauty, I must say.”
“If you’ve laid one hand on her!” Banan bellowed.
“He’s been following Jane,” Guy mouthed. “It’s the only explanation.”
Banan hated that his friend was probably right.
The man’s laughter cut through Banan’s thoughts. “What are you going to do? Not even your MI5 friend could help you. With all your power, with all your magic…with all your immortality, you’re powerless, Banan. I’m going to make sure each of the Kings feels such helplessness. And I’m starting with you.”
“Why?”
In answer, Banan heard a scream, a scream he recognized as Jane’s. His gut twisted, and anguish snaked through him.
“Jane has given us all the information we need. Her time is up,” the man said.
“Nay!” Banan yelled, but it was too late. The call had ended.
The mobile fell from his numb fingers to bounce on the carpet. Jane was still alive, but not for very long. He had precious few moments to find her.
There was no longer time to call the Warrior Broc. There was only one way Banan could find Jane.
He lifted his gaze to find Rhys and Guy watching him. There was no need for words. They all knew what had to happen.
“The storm is getting worse,” Rhys said.
Guy nodded. “It’ll be to your advantage, Banan.”
“They’ll never expect you.”
“Nay, they willna,” Banan said, and removed his boots and socks.
“Uh…not to interrupt,” Elena said as she moved to stand beside Guy. “But what the hell are you three talking about?”
Banan smiled weakly. “I’m going to risk everything we are as Dragon Kings.”
“Oh, God,” Elena said, and covered her mouth with her hand.
Rhys took off his shoes as well and rubbed his hands together. “I’m coming with you. No way I’m going to miss this.”
“Nay,” Banan said. “I’m risking too much. I might be able to get away with it, but there’s no way people will miss two dragons in the sky.”
“You’re no’ going alone.” The smile was gone from Rhys’s face, and the hard edge of a Dragon King took its place.
Guy opened the door for them. “Go. I’ll contact Con.”
Rhys was the first out the door, but Banan hung back. He looked at Guy and Elena. “Get Elena to safety. Doona risk her life any more.”