Better yet. You have a car, Ceno replied through their link. See if Gregor can fold his big ass into it, and we’ll tell you where they’ve taken her. We won’t want to leave. They could move her while we’re gone.
Good idea. Gregor and I should reach the car in less than a minute.
Geno concentrated on his human form, mentally recited the spell the witch had given him to cover the color of his skin and turned to Gregor.
“Do you think you can force yourself into the car Wynter and I arrived in?”
“If I can’t, I’ll sit on the fucking roof.”
“Okay, then. Let’s go. My sons are going to follow them and tell me where they’re going. When we get there, we’ll surprise your old friends.”
“There’s nothing I’d like better.” Gregor glanced down at himself. “I used to be six-foot-two. Now, look at me. Those bastards took everything from me. Do you think my family will even recognize me?”
“Is your mother still alive?”
“As far as I know. Why?”
“She’ll recognize you. Others might not, but a mother always knows her own child.”
“I hope you’re right.” Gregor sighed. “Because I’d really like to go home.”
“Where is home?”
“Bear Lake.” He shrugged. “Well, my people call it Bear Lake. Our neighbors to the East call it Wolf Lake.” He bared his teeth in a grin. “We tend to argue over that.”
“What do the humans call it?”
“Don’t know and don’t care.” Gregor pressed his lips together when Geno unlocked the car. “Jesus. This thing is tiny.” Reaching in, he moved the seat back all the way and tucked himself inside. “It’s not the most comfortable ride, but I can bear it until we get where we’re going.”
Geno suppressed a grin when he climbed behind the wheel. Gregor sat stooped over, the back of his head pressed against the headliner, his knees almost touching his chest.
“Yeah, yuck it up, and I’ll see what I can do to shove your ass in the trunk.”
“I didn’t say a word.”
“You didn’t have to,” Gregor said with a growl. “Can we get this thing moving?”
“I’m waiting for my son to tell me where to go.”
“He’s probably waited a long time for this. Let him savor it.”
“Not when my female is in danger.” Geno glowered at him. “And if you even have half a mind to become a member of my family, honorary or not, you’ll not make jokes while my mate is in jeopardy.”
“Yes, sir!” In the process of attempting to salute, Gregor elbowed Geno in the head and cracked the windshield. “Oops!” He grimaced. “Sorry.”
“Don’t ever say that word to Wynter. She hates it.”
“Abused women usually do once they get out from under the thumb of the man who mistreated them.”
“How did you know?” She wouldn’t have told Gregor, would she?
“She didn’t tell me if that’s what you’re thinking, so get the scowl off your face.” Gregor chuckled. “Remember. I told you I know things sometimes. Her husband was everything she thought she wanted in a man until a few months before he died. Then he beat her, berated her, and attempted to keep her subservient to him. He made her feel unworthy, even though he was the one who wasn’t worthy if you ask me.”
“And you know all this how?”
“I saw it when I carried her away from you.” He grinned. “While she was gagging. Did I really smell bad enough to make someone gag?”
“Worse.” Geno pressed his lips together. “How did she put it? Your odor was akin to a garbage dump, rotting meat, and body odor.”
“Wow. Now I’m embarrassed.”
“Why? It wasn’t your fault. The blame lies on those who made you more beast than man.”
“I guess. I didn’t realize how bad I smelled. I don’t think I could really process the idea of body odor until I touched Wynter. Just the contact with her brought back a lot of my humanity. I hadn’t spoken a word in almost fifty years. I couldn’t until I picked her up and carried her off.”
“The gods work in mysterious ways.”
“Yes.” Gregor nodded. “I suppose you’re right.” He stared through the windshield. His head bent at a peculiar angle. “Do you think my mother will take me back into her life?”
“If she’s a mother worth a damn, yes.” Geno gave a sharp nod. “I know my mate Rowninda would have done anything to keep our sons with her before she died. It wouldn’t have mattered to her.”
Geno knew that because she had accepted him when he had been nothing more than a dirty raider with barely a gold trine to his name and a ship that could have disintegrated at any moment. No matter how wild and untamed he had been, she always welcomed him home with open arms. She would have done no less for her sons.
“I hope you’re right,” Gregor said with a grunt as they took a turn at breakneck speed.
Geno hoped so as well. Gregor didn’t deserve to lose his family because of some lunatic scientists who couldn’t leave people well-enough alone.
Chapter Twenty-five
NO MATTER HOW SHE TILTED her head, Wynter couldn’t see anything. The men who had captured her had shoved her into a hideous green van. Then they crammed a gag in her mouth. After that, they slipped a hood over her head, tied her hands, and jammed a needle in her arm.
Her body ached. Wynter blamed the drug they used to knock her out. But, it could easily have been from sleeping on the rough floor of the van.
She’d asked what they wanted with her before they shoved the gag in her mouth, but they’d only laughed.
They spoke to each other in low tones, most likely thinking she couldn’t hear them. “What do you think, Bertie? Will the doc still be pleased even though we didn’t get the big guy?”
“I dunno. He wanted the big one. I think it’s the same one he’s been huntin’ on that mountain. There can’t be too many of ‘em that size.”
“Maybe, but I think this is the frumpy old one that ran off with those twins a few weeks ago. If she is, she sure doesn’t look old and frumpy anymore. I think he might be happy she can take him to the fountain of youth.”
“You’re crazier than a one-legged goat trying to get laid, Cliff. There’s no such thing as a fountain of youth.”
The van hit a pothole, and Wynter bounced, her head hitting the floor. Pain exploded in her temple, and she groaned.
“She’s awake, Bertie.”
“Of course she’s awake. We didn’t give her a big dose, doofus.”
“Oh, yeah, right.” Cliff chuckled. “I’m just so used to using the darts. I guess I forgot.”
“Yeah, well, it didn’t help that the others used all of the tranq darts on the males. I sure would have liked to get my hands on those guys. Did you see that huge tiger? It was blue. I would have loved to see the doc cut up that one.”
Wynter took shallow breaths. Nausea could kill her if she lost control and vomited with a gag in her mouth. Losing consciousness again wasn’t an option either. She’d already been asleep too long. They needed information, and as long as the two idiots kept talking, she had a chance of finding out where they were taking her—not that she could tell anyone. It was up to her to try and make a break for it.
Where were they, and how long had they been on the road? That it had been several hours was obvious, the midday sun streamed through the windshield, illuminating the interior of the van. She needed to be able to find a way to escape. If they thought her asleep, maybe they’d get careless.
“I gotta pee. When we gonna be there?”
“The bridge is about another ten miles from here. We’ll have to wait until the traffic lightens up, so no one will see us go inside.”
“I think it’s cool that the doc found an old underground camp by the bridge. Do you think it was military?”
“Probably, or some crazy rich dude who built a bomb shelter. Whatever it is, I don’t think anyone is going to find it. The doc lucked out with that one.”
>
“Yeah.” The van came to a stop. “You said you had to take a whiz. Get me a drink while you're in there, and for God’s sake, wash your hands after you handle your twizzle.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Cliff said as he moved away from the vehicle.
Wynter worked at removing the hood from her head. She managed to get it up over her eyes when she spotted a broken piece of a hacksaw blade sticking out from under the seam near the wheel well.
She tried to sit up, hoping her body would hide the fact that she was fumbling with the blade behind her back.
“What’re you doing back there?” Bertie glared at her through the rearview mirror.
Since Wynter couldn’t answer with the gag still in her mouth, and a piece of duct tape stuck over it, so she glared back at him instead.
Bertie nodded with a grin and turned his attention back to the front.
“Where the hell is he? I swear to God, if he’s in there jerking off to the sexy pictures on the condom machine again, I’m gonna kick his ass.” He checked his watch and glanced back at her. “Don’t even think about trying to escape. We’re out of here once Cliff gets back.” He turned to stare into the store. “If that bastard ever gets back.”
Five minutes later, Wynter cut through the last of her bonds and closed her eyes, praying that Bertie would get out to find his partner.
“Sonofabitch!” Bertie slammed his hand against the wheel and shoved his door open. “I should have known better than to let that idiot go to the fucking bathroom by himself.”
The door slammed behind him, and Wynter nearly sobbed with relief. As quickly as she could, she opened the side door and slid out. Not bothering to close it behind her, she ran around the back of the store as she ripped the duct tape from her face.
She glanced around, looking for a place to hide. When she didn’t find one, she ran around the fence and straight into a wide chest.
“Help me, you have to—“ Her voice caught in her throat as she stared up at the biggest, meanest-looking man she’d ever seen.
“Just as we thought. The doc knew those two would mess things up.” He grasped her by the upper arm and dragged her behind him. “I wouldn’t doubt it if they told you where we’re taking you.” He shook his head. “Those two are a waste of skin.”
He shoved her into the trunk of a dark blue sedan. The smell was horrible. The brute probably hauled dead bodies in it for those so-called scientists who employed him.
“Don’t try to escape from me, doll.” Smiling, he slipped on a pair of cheap sunglasses before he shut the lid. “I’m not nearly as nice as they are, and I take such things personally.” The sound of his voice came through muffled, but it came through, and Wynter was smart enough to take the advice.
“Why me?” Her throat burned, and her eyes filled with tears. What do they want with me?”
They probably want to see their handiwork, stupid.
An image of Geno scowling popped into her head. He didn’t like it when she berated herself. Would he have kissed her for that thought?
“Probably, if he knew about it.” Why hadn’t she welcomed him into her life while she had the chance? Instead, the doctor’s thugs had captured her again, and she’d soon be on her way back to those lunatics who tried to kill her. Wynter buried her head in her arms, sobs wracking her body.
After what felt like hours, Wynter thought she was all cried out. The trunk was sweltering, and the stench nearly overwhelmed her. The man, whoever he was, had left her there to die. That’s why the trunk reeked the way it did. He probably left his victims to die and then took them to his employers for dissection.
Closing her eyes, she prayed a rescue would come before the overheated trunk mummified her. The tears started again, and she buried her head in her arms.
“WYNTER.”
Wynter frowned, who was that and what did they want? “Leave me alone. I’m having a nice dream.” She batted at the strange woman’s hands as she shook her shoulder.
Closing her eyes, she tried to get back to the dream of making love with Geno on a deserted beach. Instead, the woman shook her again.
“Wake up.”
Tall and thin, with long dark hair, the stranger didn’t look human at all. Her face and bone structure appeared human, but she was a light orange, and her eyes were a clear, sky blue.
Fog swirled around the woman. Wynter glanced around and noticed the vapor churned around them both. Eddys of mist wafted around them as they stood facing each other. Wynter frowned. When had she stood up? Hadn’t she just been sleeping?
The woman grasped her hands.
“Wake up, Wynter. I need you to tell them. Tell them all I love them. Tell them everything is okay. Make sure Geno knows it is not his time. He has too many children to teach, and too much love to give. It is not his time.” Then, the other woman’s worry seemed gone, and she smiled, her expression serene. “You are good for him. I am glad he finally found you.”
The voice was musical. Wynter had always wanted a beautiful hi-pitched voice like that. Ben had called it a real woman’s voice.
“Now, you must wake up, Wynter. Wake up!”
Wynter’s eyes flew open. She tried to sit up, hitting her head on the trunk lid. She gasped at the pain, taking in lungs full of heavy, putrid air. God, it was hot, and the smell hadn’t gotten any better. Wynter looked around the dark interior, half expecting to find the woman sitting next to her. She’d seemed so real.
“...have no idea.”
Voices. There were voices, and it didn’t sound like the mean, dark-haired asshole who locked her in the trunk, either.
“The cashier saw Wynter run around the side of the building after she crawled out of the van. She still had duct tape stuck to her wrists. He said he called the police, but they didn’t find anything.” The voice sounded familiar, but Wynter couldn’t place it.
“We must find her. I can’t...” The voice broke. “I won’t live without her.”
Geno!
“I’m here.” Her voice cracked. Did they hear her? “I’m here.” Lifting her arms, she pounded on the trunk lid. “Let me out!”
They weren’t going to hear her. How could they? She’d been trapped in the heat for too long, her throat was dry, and her voice was gone. She was too damned weak to make enough noise for anyone to hear.
Hell, she couldn’t even cry. Her body was so depleted of moisture, that even tears wouldn’t come. Geno was so close but still so far away.
What would it have been like to love a man like Geno? She would never know what it was like to care for a man who would never hurt her or call her names. He said he would have loved her, cherished her, and cared for her for the rest of their lives.
She didn’t doubt that if there really were men who would care for their women and stay faithful for the rest of their lives, Geno was one of them.
Now, she would never know what it was like to have such a love.
“Wynter, you are such an idiot.”
“Wynter!” Metal screeched and groaned as the trunk lid peeled back like a foil wrapper on a piece of candy.
Light flooded in through the opening, but Wynter only had eyes for Geno. He stood over her, like an avenging angel. His amber gaze darted over her face, down her neck to her body, then her legs before making its way back to meet hers.
“Thank the goddess.” Bending, he scooped her up and carried her to the tiny car they’d taken to the beach. “Tell me you’re unhurt.”
“I-I’m okay. I’m tired and thirsty.”
“Here.” Sela shoved an unopened bottle of water in her face. “I’m glad I didn’t open it yet.”
“Hell, I’m so thirsty it wouldn’t matter if you’d spit in it.” Wynter opened the bottle and took a long drink.
“Don’t take too much too fast, love.” Geno knelt in front of her and stayed her hand when she would have tipped it back again to drain the bottle. “You’ll get sick.” Taking the bottle, he set it aside and clasped her hands. “I thought I lost you.” H
is eyes searched hers for a moment, and his lips trembled a bit. “I can’t—“ his voice broke. Lowering his gaze, he stared at the ground for a moment. “I would never survive if I lost you.”
Gently, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “We never would have found you if it weren’t for Gregor. He had a feeling that something back here would lead us to you.”
“A feeling?” Wynter shifted her gaze to the big man. Who knew such an attractive man was under all that hair and dirt? She hadn’t paid much attention before.
“I get feelings. Ever since the experiments. And I know things sometimes.”
“I never believed in that kind of thing before, but after the last few months, I’m beginning to believe almost anything.” Her lips trembled as she smiled and met his gaze.
“Tell them.” Gregor didn’t elaborate. He must have expected Wynter to know what he meant.
“Tell who what?” She tilted her head with a frown.
“Tell Geno and his sons about her.”
“About who?” Geno glanced back at Gregor. “She has plenty of time to tell us whatever she needs to. Right now, we should all get off the street.
“No.” Gregor shook his head. Wynter needs to tell you now before she forgets—before she convinces herself it was a dream.” He met her gaze. “Tell them about her. They need to know.”
“It was a dream.” She didn’t even want to think about how Gregor could know her dreams. The idea was unsettling.
“It doesn’t matter what you think. They need to hear. He needs to hear, and you all must understand the message she gave you.”
“Whose message? I don’t understand.” Geno glanced between them. His four oldest sons gathered closer.
“I don’t understand either. I was dreaming. I heard a voice telling me to wake up. When I did or thought I did, there was a woman with me. We were standing in fog so thick it swirled around us.” Wynter bowed her head and rubbed the spot between her eyes. “It had to be a dream. No one is that beautiful.” She bit her lip with a frown and stared at her hands in her lap. “The woman never told me her name. She was tall and thin. Her hair long and dark. She had sky-blue eyes and her skin...” Pausing, she shook her head. “Her skin was the color of orange sherbert.”
Wooing Wynter Page 18
