by Jade White
Grace laughed at herself. Who was she kidding? The nearest motorist was miles behind her, and in the current climate, it was doubtful anyone would stop to help her.
Getting out and rolling up her sleeves, Grace popped the trunk and began rummaging through the trunk storage space for the jack and spare tire. If she hadn’t already planned on abandoning her car at the airport, she might have been upset that she’d need a new tire. But the spare would get her to the airport, and the car could rot in the airport parking lot for all she cared. There would be other cars.
The rear tire on the driver’s side was completely flat and tattered, having blown out quite dramatically. Grace got to work, leaning the spare against the car and sliding the jack under the frame. She’d made good time thus far, and she wasn’t worried about missing the plane. She still had almost an hour before the flight started boarding less than ten miles to go. She’d downloaded her boarding pass on her phone, so she could walk right onto the plane once she arrived.
Truth be told, if she ended up cutting it too close, she wouldn’t be opposed to parking in the loading zone and walking away from her car then and there. What could they do besides tow it? She’d be long gone before they realized her car was abandoned.
Grace had just finished removing the first lug nut when she heard a car pull up behind her. The driver got out, his shoes crunching on the gravel as he walked towards her.
“Here, let me give you a hand.”
Grace looked up at the man, his face with a nearly golden cast as the sun quickly fled towards the horizon. The handsome man from the gas station looked down at her, swoon-worthy smile brightening his handsome face as he held his hand out for the tire iron.
Standing, Grace handed him the tool and stood back. “You know you left before I got to introduce myself. I was afraid I’d never see you again. I guess fate has a way of setting things right.”
Grace couldn’t believe her luck. A handsome guy talking about her and fate in the same sentence without running, and she was leaving town for good. She watched his hands as he removed the next nut, noticing he didn’t have a tan line where his ring should be.
Three for three: handsome, interested, and available. What the hell, life?
“I’m sorry, where are my manners?” He stood and held out his hand, smiling at Grace. “My name is Tom.”
Grace took his outstretched hand, covered in dirt and oil like her own and shook it. His touch sent shivers up her arm and made her tingle in embarrassing places.
“Grace.”
“Grace? You’re just the woman I was looking for.” Before she knew what happening, she heard a sizzle and felt her body seize. She dropped to the ground like a ton of bricks, briefly wondering what that crackling sound was as darkness overtook her.
Tom looked up and down the road, making sure the highway was still clear before he threw Grace over his shoulder. He carried her to the open trunk, lying her down so he could tape her arms and legs together. Going back to her car, he turned the hazard lights off and retrieved her bag, cell phone and purse before closing the door. He put the carry-on bag in the trunk with her and closed the lid. Careful to drive as normally as possible to avoid being pulled over, he drove down the highway and took the next exit, heading back in the opposite direction.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tom was nearly giddy with excitement. He’d been following Grace for almost a week, hoping to be the one to bring her in. Laskin would be thrilled when he found out; he’d had a bounty on her head for so long. His only stipulations had been that she be brought in alive and that no one saw her when she was captured. The last thing the brotherhood needed was for someone to see them kidnap a human woman, even though she was a shifter-lover. By the time he would have been able to explain, the damage already would be done, exposing the existence of the brotherhood and putting their leader in jeopardy. Laskin had already suffered horribly for the cause, coming back from trying to save Olivia from her captor a scarred and broken man.
He shook in anger, thinking about the woman in the trunk and her role in Laskin’s injuries. If she hadn’t alerted the shifters to his presence there, Laskin would've been able to save Olivia and defeat the shifter councilmen sent there to execute the poor woman.
Knowing Grace was partly responsible for the death of an innocent human and the near death of the leader of the brotherhood filled Tom with rage. He was tempted to stop the car and shoot her in the trunk. She didn’t deserve any less. But Laskin had been clear, and Tom wanted nothing more than to please the leader of the brotherhood.
He took the next exit north, heading for the group’s hideout so he could call Laskin and let him know he had Grace. In the trunk, he could hear the woman moving around, likely already waking up after being shocked with a taser. The look on her face had been one of shock, the memory nearly arousing Tom as he continued to drive. Soon, she’d be awake enough to start fighting and kicking, screaming her head off in a vain attempt to get help.
But she could scream all she wanted. By the time they got to the exit leading to the secluded hideout, everyone on the road would be home and curfew would be in full effect. There would be no one to hear Grace’s screams except Tom, and he wasn’t about to help her.
He took the service road as the sun dipped below the horizon. He had a few miles to go before he could safely turn on his lights without alerting the authorities he was breaking curfew. With any luck, he’d hit the dirt road leading to the compound before he’d need his headlights, eliminating the issue altogether.
Grace’s cell phone chirped on the seat beside him. He grabbed the phone and read the text. The number wasn’t saved in the contacts, so there was no name, just a number.
When you land in Toronto tonight, feel free to have room service on us for dinner and breakfast. I left our credit card with the front desk so don’t worry the cost. See you soon!
So Grace was heading to Canada? Fleeing north with the rest of yellow-bellies that were too cowardly to fight for human rights. He held the phone up in front of him as he drove, typing a simple reply, Thank you! Can’t wait to see you! He turned the phone off and tossed it on the chair. Someone expected Grace in Toronto this evening. It wouldn’t take much to look up flights and figure out when that was supposed to be. He’d check it when they got to the stronghold and make sure to text whoever it was tonight and claim to have landed. It wouldn’t do them any good if Grace’s disappearance was noted before they got what they needed from her. Once Laskin was finished with her, they would dump her body in shifter territory and let the animals take the blame for her death, since she loved them so much.
**
Grace came to in the dark, confusion clouding her thoughts as she tried to figure out what was going on. Her legs were heavy, her arms unmovable and her skin on her stomach felt burned. She tried to roll over and turn on the bedside lamp when it hit her. She wasn’t waking up from a bad dream – she was waking up to reality.
Suddenly aware, she shook her head to clear the last of the cobwebs. She could hear the road below her, the tires whooshing across the smooth surface as it sped down the highway. The driver was mumbling to himself, but the sound was muffled by the seats. Grace closed her eyes and listened to the sounds on the road, trying to get her bearings, searching for any sound that could help her figure out where they were headed so she could escape later. He had to stop at some point.
She heard nothing outside of the sound of the road, smooth and flat under the sedan’s tires. Tom’s face flashed in her mind, his handsome image now contorted by anger welling up inside Grace. The coin incident at the gas station had been a ruse, giving him a moment to do something to her tire to ensure he would find her alone and helpless down the road.
She’d been in such a hurry to get away before he returned that she hadn’t even noticed if the tire had anything wrong with it, though she doubted whatever he did would have been noticeable. With the tire blowing the way it did, any evidence of foul play would have been scattere
d along the highway in the mass of tire shreds and litter from other cars.
One thing was for sure, their meeting hadn’t happened by chance.
Grace’s phone chirped, indicating she had received a text. The car slowed, and Grace assumed the man was reading her text. She was instantly grateful she hadn’t saved Olivia’s number to her contacts. While he’d see her phone number, he would never know whom she’d been heading to see. If she died, at least her friend was safe.
A single tear slid down her cheek. She wasn’t sure what this man wanted from her, but the way he’d secured her spoke volumes. He hadn’t taped her mouth shut, which meant there was no one to hear her scream. And he hadn’t blindfolded her, which meant it didn’t matter if she saw his face. Which meant that she wasn’t going to survive to turn him in. But Grace wasn’t going to make it easy on him. If this man thought she was going to just lie down and die, he was in for a big surprise.
The car picked up speed again and she heard a muffled bounce. He’d probably answered the text, which meant it would be tomorrow before anyone knew she was missing. Not that anyone would care; she’d been branded a traitor, and the only ones left in the world who cared about her, had bought her a flight out she’d never use. One hour away from freedom and she was trapped in a car trunk, speeding towards her death, or worse. Of all the luck.
*
Olivia woke up the next morning, nearly jumping out of bed with excitement. Grace had texted her last night, Super exhausted, talk to you soon. Olivia had responded to Grace, wishing her goodnight and asking her to text when she got on the plane the following morning. Grace didn’t answer, but Olivia understood; it had been a long day for her friend and she’d probably passed out as soon as she checked into the hotel.
Signing on to the airline’s website, Olivia checked into the morning flight and had the boarding pass sent to her phone. Now, when her friend woke up, she wouldn’t have to do a thing except eat and get on the shuttle to the terminal.
Sable was already up, the smells wafting their way up to the second floor suggesting that Sable had started cooking breakfast already.
“What a good man.” She crawled out of bed and headed for the shower, eager to get the day going so she could go to the airport and get Grace. She soaped up her hair and showered quickly, jumping out in record time and dressing before going downstairs. The smell of sizzling bacon and eggs enveloped her, a welcoming scent reminding her that no matter where they lived, if she was with this man and their son, she was home.
She stood in the doorway, watching her little family move about the kitchen. Morgan sat at the table, devouring his frog-faced pancakes and bacon. He’d begged her to buy that pan last month and ever since refused to eat pancakes unless they looked like a frog. He may have been the size of a ten year old, but he was definitely her sweet baby still.
His baby-soft hair was strawberry blond, with a hint of shimmer that reminded her of the silver coat he wore when he shifted. He also shared her smattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose. The rest of his features were all Sable: strong chin, bright eyes that were dazzling when he smiled. She loved him so much that at times, she felt like she would burst when she looked at him.
He devoured his food, running back to the stove with his plate for more. Sable dumped another stack of frog-shaped pancakes onto his plate and a few slices of bacon. Noticing Olivia for the first time, he set his plate down roughly and flew towards her, wrapping his arms around her neck and planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Good morning, Mommy.” Morgan hadn’t yet mastered the art of the “inside voice,” instead his voice echoed off the walls and filled the room. He sat down and continued eating. Where he stored that food was anyone’s guess.
Olivia closed the distance between herself and Sable, giving Egan a chaste kiss on the cheek as she passed by him. She stepped into Sable’s arms and enjoyed his strength as he held her. Today was shaping up to be a great day, and she couldn’t wait to welcome Grace into their family. The house had more than enough room, and it was going to take all of Olivia’s self-control to let Grace settle in before she insisted on taking her shopping to decorate her room. She wanted her friend to feel more than welcome here. She wanted her to feel she was home.
“Mommy, can I go with you to get your friend from the airport?”
Olivia shook her head. “I need you to help Daddy and Uncle Egan get her room ready so she can rest when she gets here. She’s been traveling for a whole day, she’s probably really tired.”
Morgan nodded solemnly. He took responsibilities very seriously, even the smallest ones. Olivia had no doubt Morgan would be very helpful.
Olivia checked her phone, seeing the text from Grace she’d missed while she slept. Toronto was three hours ahead, so Grace had already been on her flight for several hours by the time Olivia woke up.
She ate quickly, then packed up her purse, kissing Morgan on the cheek and giving him a tight squeeze. “I’ll see you soon, Monkey.”
“I’m not a monkey, Mommy. I’m a tiger.” He smiled at her and roared, running out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
“I’d better go help him before he gets too far into it and makes more work for me.” Egan hugged Olivia, “Be careful, Sis. I’ll see you soon.”
Sable walked Olivia out the door and down the walkway to her car. “Don’t go straight there, and make sure you double back and few times and check for tails-” Olivia covered his words with her mouth, cutting him off and kissing him deeply.
“I’ll be careful. We’ll be fine. This is our home now, they’re not foolish enough to try anything here.”
Sable nodded, but his stomach was still tied in knots. He wouldn’t feel safe until Olivia and Grace were safely home. “I don’t know why you don’t want me to go with you.”
“Sable, come on. I just want to be alone with her for a little while before she comes home to all this.” She gestured around the house. “The three of you are a little overwhelming. I think she’d like a little peace and quiet before she’s thrust into the James household.”
Sable loved the sound of his name on her lips. She had married him shortly after they’d settled in Kelowna but she hadn’t changed her last name. It bothered him a little, but he’d let it go just to see her happy. He couldn’t win every battle, and he had won Olivia. That was plenty.
He opened the car door for her and kissed her once more. Standing in the driveway, he watched her until she disappeared around the corner. He checked his watch. Grace should be landing in about an hour and the airport was twenty five minutes away, leaving Olivia plenty of time to wend around town and make sure she wasn’t being followed. As a family, they’d relaxed a little over the years, but Sable never stopped being vigilant.
Unbeknownst to Olivia, Sable and Egan ran the perimeter several times a week, looking for signs that anyone had been in the forest behind their house. In five years, they’d found no cause for concern. But Laskin was out there, somewhere, and Sable wouldn’t rest until he found his body.
CHAPTER 12
Olivia slid into the parking space in the underground lot, grabbing her purse and heading for the elevators. The sign on the wall said she was in E2. She pulled out her phone and took a snapshot of the sign and her car. She’d lost her car before in a parking lot; she wouldn’t make that mistake twice. She hurried onto an elevator and rode to the terminal crossing. Rushing across the street in the crosswalk, she all but ran to the baggage claim area. Grace hadn’t checked any luggage but the passengers all had to come through her once the disembarked from the plane.
She grabbed a latte and found herself a seat where she could clearly see the escalator coming down into baggage claim. And she waited. She checked her phone several times, to see if Grace’s plane had landed. According to the airline’s app, the plane was landing on time and would be there shortly. She settled in, leaning back against the uncomfortable seat back.
People flowed down the escalator in well-timed groups, with one gr
oup leaving the baggage area a few short minutes before the next wave of people came down. Time passed quickly and the passengers from flight 5150 started pouring down the escalator. Olivia stood on the chair, trying to find her friend in the tight crowd. She pulled out her phone and texted her location, adding that she was wearing a lavender top and standing on the chairs across from baggage claim. Her text went unanswered.
The passengers thinned out, their luggage collected and their rides home located. Still no sign of Grace. Olivia sent her a few more texts, starting to worry about her friend. Maybe she’d missed her flight and boarded a later one.
Olivia jumped down from the chairs and headed for the ticket counter. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity in line, she finally got to a ticket agent, pulling out the electronic boarding pass that she’d forwarded to Grace the night before.
“Can you tell me if this boarding pass was used on flight 5150?”
The agent raised her eyebrow at the odd question but began typing into her computer without hesitation; the hundred or so people in line behind Olivia didn’t have all day.
“The passenger checked in last night but the boarding pass was never scanned at the gate.” The woman looked up to signal the next person in line when Olivia swiped to the next pass, holding it out for the impatient woman to scan.
“What about this one?”
With an exasperated sigh, she scanned the second barcode. “Same thing; checked in but never boarded. If you need additional help, please head to our office down the hall-” The woman began to direct her to the offices, but Olivia was already running for the car. Something was wrong, she needed to get home to Sable. He would know what to do.
