whole different matter.
This phone call was the first sign he’d gotten from Alexis in
weeks, other than the dreams that wouldn’t let him go. But the only
way to know for sure would be to track the call, something which,
knowing the Whitakers, must be impossible.
Nodding to himself, Morgan got up from his desk, where he’d
been studying the latest reports on the Whitaker compound. He was
just about to leave the room when the phone rang again.
Instantly, Morgan took the call. “Alexis?” He hated the tremor of
his own voice, hated the fact that his heart was racing and his breath had quickened. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Alexis, are you there?”
A few seconds passed with no answer. Finally, an unfamiliar
voice said, “I’m looking for Morgan Pierce-Cunningham. You are
him, I presume.”
Morgan nodded, even if the other man had chosen to stick to vocal
connection only and couldn’t see him. “Yes. Who am I talking to?”
“My name is Rhys Whitaker. I’m Alexis’s brother, and I have a
message for you.”
“A message. From Alexis.” Morgan repeated the words, testing
them, trying to understand what they meant. “Why didn’t he call
himself?” Cold terror swept through him. “Is something wrong with
him?”
He’d suspected it for a while now, suspected from the dreams
he’d been having, frightening, horrible dreams which never told him
what he needed to know, instead taunting him with the idea that
Alexis had somehow been harmed. But now, he knew for certain. He
could tell from Rhys Whitaker’s tone that all was not right with
Alexis.
The Demon Who Fed on a Shark
77
“Alexis needs your cooperation on something very important,”
Rhys said. “I cannot tell you what it is yet, but you must meet with us as soon as possible.”
“Where and when?”
Morgan knew he shouldn’t sound so eager, but he couldn’t help it.
“I will send a helicopter after you,” Rhys said. “All you need to do
is get on board. Tomorrow, at noon. I expect my staff to be well
received.” Rhys paused. “It’s preferable that, for this first meeting, you see Alexis alone. Your family is welcome to come, of course, and
you will be allowed a limited number of security personnel—two
guards at most—but I won’t allow them in Alexis’s presence. ”
All these conditions sounded more than a little suspicious, but
Morgan couldn’t exactly say no. “Agreed. I’ll be waiting.”
“Very well, Mr. Pierce-Cunningham. Thank you for your
cooperation. We’ll see each other soon.”
With that brief good-bye, the connection was cut off. Morgan was
left staring at the receiver in disbelief and dismay. What the hell had he just agreed to?
Fuck. He didn’t know, but he couldn’t back down. He needed to
see Alexis. With each second that passed, the urgency increased. But
first, he needed to broach it with his family.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Layton burst into the room.
“Hey,” he said. “Anything new?”
“Actually, yes. Alexis called.”
Layton froze. He literally froze. He didn’t even seem to be
breathing. As always, their parents must have sensed something was
wrong because they appeared in the room as well. Sophia trailed
behind them like an annoying ghost.
“What did he say?” Byron inquired, his voice low and threatening.
To anyone else, it would have sounded intimidating, but Morgan
knew his father was just concerned for him. He’d been a mess these
past weeks, wondering what had become of Alexis, thinking about
78
Scarlet Hyacinth
who Alexis had taken in his bed. It was still hard to think about that, but his concern for Alexis’s welfare was overcoming his jealousy.
“I didn’t actually talk to him,” Morgan replied, marveled at his
own calmness. “I spoke to his brother. He wants me to meet up with
them. They’re sending a helicopter here tomorrow at noon.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” His father’s voice was so
This phone call was the first sign he’d gotten from Alexis in
weeks, other than the dreams that wouldn’t let him go. But the only
way to know for sure would be to track the call, something which,
knowing the Whitakers, must be impossible.
Nodding to himself, Morgan got up from his desk, where he’d
been studying the latest reports on the Whitaker compound. He was
just about to leave the room when the phone rang again.
Instantly, Morgan took the call. “Alexis?” He hated the tremor of
his own voice, hated the fact that his heart was racing and his breath had quickened. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Alexis, are you there?”
A few seconds passed with no answer. Finally, an unfamiliar
voice said, “I’m looking for Morgan Pierce-Cunningham. You are
him, I presume.”
Morgan nodded, even if the other man had chosen to stick to vocal
connection only and couldn’t see him. “Yes. Who am I talking to?”
“My name is Rhys Whitaker. I’m Alexis’s brother, and I have a
message for you.”
“A message. From Alexis.” Morgan repeated the words, testing
them, trying to understand what they meant. “Why didn’t he call
himself?” Cold terror swept through him. “Is something wrong with
him?”
He’d suspected it for a while now, suspected from the dreams
he’d been having, frightening, horrible dreams which never told him
what he needed to know, instead taunting him with the idea that
Alexis had somehow been harmed. But now, he knew for certain. He
could tell from Rhys Whitaker’s tone that all was not right with
Alexis.
The Demon Who Fed on a Shark
77
“Alexis needs your cooperation on something very important,”
Rhys said. “I cannot tell you what it is yet, but you must meet with us as soon as possible.”
“Where and when?”
Morgan knew he shouldn’t sound so eager, but he couldn’t help it.
“I will send a helicopter after you,” Rhys said. “All you need to do
is get on board. Tomorrow, at noon. I expect my staff to be well
received.” Rhys paused. “It’s preferable that, for this first meeting, you see Alexis alone. Your family is welcome to come, of course, and
you will be allowed a limited number of security personnel—two
guards at most—but I won’t allow them in Alexis’s presence. ”
All these conditions sounded more than a little suspicious, but
Morgan couldn’t exactly say no. “Agreed. I’ll be waiting.”
“Very well, Mr. Pierce-Cunningham. Thank you for your
cooperation. We’ll see each other soon.”
With that brief good-bye, the connection was cut off. Morgan was
left staring at the receiver in disbelief and dismay. What the hell had he just agreed to?
Fuck. He didn’t know, but he couldn’t back down. He needed to
see Alexis. With each second that passed, the urgency increased. But
first, he needed to broach it with his family.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Layton burst into the room.
“Hey,” he said. “Anything new?”
“Actually, yes. Alexis called.”
Layton froze. He literally froze. He didn’t even seem to be
breathing. As always, their parents must have sensed something was
wrong because they appeared in the room as well. Sophia trailed
behind them like an annoying ghost.
“What did he say?” Byron inquired, his voice low and threatening.
To anyone else, it would have sounded intimidating, but Morgan
knew his father was just concerned for him. He’d been a mess these
past weeks, wondering what had become of Alexis, thinking about
78
Scarlet Hyacinth
who Alexis had taken in his bed. It was still hard to think about that, but his concern for Alexis’s welfare was overcoming his jealousy.
“I didn’t actually talk to him,” Morgan replied, marveled at his
own calmness. “I spoke to his brother. He wants me to meet up with
them. They’re sending a helicopter here tomorrow at noon.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” His father’s voice was so
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