by Milly Taiden
“Dad, open the trunk to see if there is anything we needed to see or if this was just a trap. I’ll check the door.” Quinn walked over to the opening in the floor they stood on and pushed down with his foot to see if it budged at all. When it didn’t move, he knelt and looked to see if there was some kind of latch or release he needed to hit. After a moment, he found nothing.
Thankfully the house had power so they could see but the room was empty. No windows either. “Summer, come here, please.” Quinn walked around the side. “I want you to stand on the door and give me your arms. I will keep you from falling if it opens.”
Summer walked over as his dad opened the chest. He heard the slight squeak of hinges as they moved. His dad’s indrawn gasp had him turning to see what he found, but his dad blocked his view into the chest. Summer grabbed his arms so they were forearms to forearms and then stepped onto the door.
At first, nothing happened so she moved to the edge of the door. “I thought maybe if I stood close to the seam it would push the door down, but I’m not sure where to stand. It doesn’t seem to matter either way. It’s not moving. I think we are locked in here.” She stepped off the door and moved back to the chest.
Quinn was curious about what his dad found. They could deal with the door in a few minutes. He followed Summer and knelt next to his dad. The first thing he saw was a photo. “Is that us? I mean, before they disappeared?”
Summer leaned close to look at the picture. Quinn could see the tears in his dad’s eyes. “That is the only picture I ever had of the four of us. I haven’t looked at my copy in a long time. I don’t know if this is a copy or if someone took my copy and placed it here.”
With a shaky hand, he reached out and lifted the picture. “I miss your mom every day, even when I can’t recall what day of the week it is, I still remember them.”
Quinn put his hand on his dad’s shoulder and squeezed. “What is that?” Summer pointed into the chest to a piece of paper. Quinn reached in and picked it up. “The paper isn’t aged, so it hasn’t been sitting in this chest for a long time.”
“Quinn, open it and read it to us.” Anthony still stared down at the picture.
Secrets left long buried, it’s time for the truth to come out. Your family is alive and well, though one doesn’t remember, and the other has been deceived.
The note laid on top of a kitchen towel. Anthony reached out with a shaky hand and lifted it. The towel revealed a pile of baby clothes filling the bottom of the chest. “Dad, do you think these are supposed to be my brother’s clothes?”
Anthony reached out again and took a sniff of the pile. “Yeah, I do. Even if not true, this was meant to hurt me.”
“Not to add tension to the situation, but how are we getting out of here?” Summer looked around the room and Quinn could feel the nervousness radiating off her.
Quinn froze. “I think we have a bigger problem. Do you smell smoke, Dad?” Quinn walked to the attic door and leaned down close. “I think someone set the house on fire.”
Summer pulled her phone out of her pocket and tried to call 911. “I’ve got no service.”
“Quinn, use the pack link. You’re stronger than I ever was. You should be able to reach them.” Quinn walked toward the wall that should be closest to the yard. He wasn’t sure it would help, but he wanted every bit of edge he could to be heard. “Donovan, Reno, if anyone can hear me, we are trapped in the attic of the house at 45758 E. Nagani Street. Please send help ASAP. It’s on fire.”
Summer gasped as more smoke poured in the attic. “Do you think if you shifted, your weight would open the door, or your combined weight would open the door? Hell, maybe the fire would weaken the structure enough for us to get out, but not too bad we would die.”
“Summer, you’re rambling, sweetheart. Let’s not wait for the structure to weaken. I think the weight of my bear is a brilliant idea, though. At least the door is close to the entrance so we should be able to get out without too many issues.”
Chapter Twenty-One
For fuck’s sake, she sounded like an idiot and not a trained private investigator. What was it about this man who turned her mind to mush? She had to admit part of her was excited to see Quinn shift again.
“Quinn, let me shift and stand on the door. There’s not much difference between our weight. You could hold onto me to try and keep me from falling. We won’t know if the fire is below us or not.“ Summer watched the pain cross Quinn’s face. She didn’t want either man to get hurt, but the thought of Quinn falling scared her to death.
“Wait, there has to be another way.” Summer frantically spun around and checked the room to see if they missed anything. “What about the trunk? It’s one of those really old steamer trunks. If one of us just stood on it on top of the door it might be enough weight. The two of you can hold onto me to keep me from falling to the ground.”
Quinn was quick with an angry protest, but Summer could see Anthony agreed with her. “Quinn, you know this is the best way. I trust you to keep me safe.”
Quinn turned away and growled. She didn’t need to see his face to know both him and his bear were pissed. Summer hurried to the chest and tried to push it closer to the door. “Let me get that, Summer.”
She smiled at Anthony in thanks.
Quinn stomped over and grabbed the right side of the chest. “I’ll help, Dad.”
Summer turned around and noticed the room was getting smokier. “It’s starting to fill up in here. We need to hurry.”
They carried the chest over and set it on top of the panel. They heard it creak and Summer smiled in relief.
“This will work, just hold on to me carefully.” Quinn grabbed her left arm, forearm to forearm, and looked her in the eye. “I love you. I’m not letting go.”
Summer smiled and nodded.
Anthony grabbed her right arm and smiled at her. ”I’ve got you.”
With a deep breath, she stepped up onto the trunk and waited. Instantly it jolted a little bit but not enough for the door to open. “Okay, guys, I’m going to jump a little and see if it works.” She gripped their arms tightly and jumped, as soon as her feet hit the chest the door popped up and she dropped. She let out a scream but was jolted as the guys held on.
“We’ve got you, baby,” Quinn mumbled as she felt them lift her. As soon as she was on solid ground again, Anthony leaned down to open the ladder.
“Come on, Quinn, Summer, let’s go.” Anthony went down first and Summer waited until he called up. “Hurry now, the front room isn’t bad yet but the house is smoky.” Anthony started coughing and Summer rushed down. Quinn followed and together they hurried to the door.
Anthony reached it first and tried to pull it open. Summer could barely breathe. Her throat burned and her lungs ached. “Quinn, it won’t open.”
“Dammit, just a minute.” Summer could see a little through the haze. Quinn broke the window open with his hands. Anthony wrapped his arm around her and helped her to the window. She could hear him coughing just as much as her.
“Hurry, Dad, the fire department is coming. I can hear the sirens. Summer, are you okay?” Her head was spinning and Anthony was choking on every breath. How the hell was Quinn breathing better? Fucking Smokey the Bear over there was tolerating it better than them.
Quinn pulled her through the frame and glass scraped against her leg. She hit the porch and fell to her knees taking in fresh air. “I’ve got you, Summer. Quinn, you got your dad, or do you need help?” Donovan’s voice was the sweetest sound just then.
“Reno! Get over here! We need your help!”
Summer looked up to see Donovan carrying her to the sidewalk and glanced over his shoulder to see Reno helping Quinn get his dad out.
“Smokey the fucking Bear up there.”
Donovan laughed and glanced down at her. “Are you okay?”
Summer looked up at him and nodded. “Yeah, it wasn’t too bad in there. My throat burns a little, but I’m okay. When did you get here?”
/>
Donovan set her down and turned to watch Reno, Quinn, and Anthony make their way over to them. “Just as Smokey the Bear busted out the window. We heard Quinn’s call and came as fast as we could.”
“Donovan, did you see anything at the front door? It wouldn’t open when I tried it.” Anthony turned and Summer glanced at the door as well.
“Wait, how are you talking normal already? You were coughing, too. You have to have some throat pain, too.”
Quinn picked her up off the ground and hugged her tightly. “Shifter healing, my love.”
“That’s not fair, dammit.” Summer groaned. She didn’t feel bad, really, just tired now that her adrenaline was waning.
Behind her, she heard Donovan and Anthony talking quietly. “Quinn, what’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but I will find out.” Summer heard the rumble from Quinn’s chest, and she assumed it was his bear. It soothed her ragged emotions and filled her with a peace only true love could bring.
After talking with the police and signing a waiver for refusal of medical treatment, Summer felt like she couldn’t stand around any longer. Her hands and mind itched to get to work, to find answers.
Whoever decided to play this sick little joke on those she loved would pay, if it was the last thing she did. This was planned. How Anthony and Quinn played in, since her information came from Gerri’s doorman, she had no clue. The two couldn’t be related. Gerri’s break-in happened long before she met any of the shifters.
Maybe her next move should be to interview the person where this all started. The person who broke into Gerri’s office.
“Hey, Quinn,” she said, “I’m going downtown to check out the person who might know something about this fire.”
His eyes widened. “You know who may have done this?” His chest expanded and hair sprouted from his forearms.
She punched his bicep. “Chill out, babe. I said maybe, and this person is in jail, so he didn’t do it.”
Quinn deflated to his normal large size. She shook her head but inside, she was thrilled that she had someone who really cared if she was alive or dead, besides her sister, of course, but she didn’t count.
“I’ll go with you,” he said. She stopped and held her hand up.
“You need to get your dad home and safe,” she said.
Quinn harrumphed. “Donovan can take him.”
She blew out a breath and put her hands on her hips. Their relationship was brand new and parameters were being set up. This was the time for her lay down rules when it came to her work and her personal space.
“Listen, Quinn,” she started, “I want this thing between you and me to happen, but you’ve got to give me what I need to do my job and keep my sanity.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes, planting his feet. She almost laughed at how alpha he was trying to be over her. It would sooo not work.
She cleared her throat, swallowing her laugh. “Quinn, need I remind you I’m not one of your bears to boss around?”
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “I do not boss them around.”
Donovan clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, Alpha. Let’s go before she figures you completely out.”
She watched the beta drag her guy toward the trucks. She heard Quinn say, “I don’t boss you around, do I?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
On the drive into town, Summer’s mind whirled with possibilities and far fetches. What was the connection between Gerri’s break-in and Quinn’s lost family? Was there a link or just coincidence?
Barry had to know something more than what was in the note. But he seemed so nice, so caring. She needed to talk to him again.
She didn’t know much about Quinn’s family. She needed more information to see where to begin with them. Being missing for so many years, she didn’t want to tell Quinn what the odds were of finding his mom and brother. Physical evidence had deteriorated with time, witness memories faded, and suspects disappeared into the crowd.
Her radio cut off as her phone rang through the car’s audio system. She recognized Gerri’s number and pressed the Accept icon.
“Hello,” she greeted.
“Summer, it’s Gerri. I’m calling to check on you. For some reason, I’ve been worried for a while.”
She smiled. The woman was crazy creepy and she loved her. “Thank you for calling. If not for a couple of bears, I wouldn’t be talking to you.”
“What do you mean?”
Summer recounted the incidents at the home. If Quinn hadn’t shown up, then Donovan and Reno, she would’ve been trapped inside to roast.
Gerri was quiet for a moment, then said, “I can’t believe Barry would deliberately put you or anybody in such terrible danger. I don’t know what to say. I guess that’s why he resigned.”
“He what?” Summer blurted.
Gerri sighed. “I spoke with management about the files fiasco. I was assured all would be destroyed and the new person to replace Barry would be respectful of privacy.”
“But, Gerri,” Summer said, “I don’t think he would do something like that. There’s more to his story. He’s not a master plotting kind of person. What do you know about him?”
“He’s worked here for years. Always courteous, always willing to help. I like him very much. Perhaps his mate will show up soon. But he’s not a very strong bear, gentler.”
“He’s a bear, like Quinn?” That was surprising to her.
“Oh, not a brown bear, dear, but a black bear.”
Her brows came down. “What’s the difference? Besides the color, obviously?”
“As far as I know,” Gerri started, “both bears can be black or brown. I think the brown bear is slightly bigger, in general, but not much to what I’ve seen.”
“Do you have any idea if he lives close by? I should drop by his home and see how he’s doing.”
“I would think he lives with the other black bears in Blisstown. Their den is located there.”
That would make sense, not that she had a clue about them. She had a lot to learn. When Gerri mentioned the town, Summer realized she knew it was about a half-hour away. She never knew it was a bears’ den.
“But, Summer, it’s probably not a good idea for you to go alone.”
“Why not?” Summer really hated when people told her she couldn’t take care of herself. She was a trained, licensed private investigator.
“Bears are not the most receptive of shifters. They don’t take to strangers.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if I go. I may not need to. Depends what the guy in jail tells me.”
“Oh, you’re going to see him?” Gerri asked.
“Yes, I think it would be good to see what I can get out of him. Maybe something to go on. A name.”
“That would be great. But be careful. You’re dealing with deadly shifters and people they work with that have zero morals.”
“I will be, Gerri. Thank you. I’ll call if he gives me anything important.”
A few moments later, she pulled into the familiar public parking at the police station.
When she stepped inside, she heard a familiar voice. “Well, long time, no see, Ms. Delgado. What brings you down here?” Officer Pelon, the older man who had run the front lobby as long as she’d been a PI, greeted her with his bright smile. The man never seemed to have a bad day.
“Hey, Officer P. I’m here to see a recent move-in of yours.”
“What’s he’s in for?”
“Asset reallocation,” she said.
“Oh,” he replied, “he stole something and tried to sell it?”
Summer laughed at the man’s banter. He was always trying to keep it real and she appreciated that. It was much preferable over those who thought a female PI was ridiculous.
“That’s what we’re thinking. Not sure if he got what he was after,” she answered. Gerri said she didn’t know what the man searched for since nothing was missing from her office.
“Gi
ve me a minute, young lady, and I’ll buzz you through.”
While she waited for the prisoner to be brought in, she stood and stared at the missing person wall. Seemed like every time she came here, another face or two had been added. It broke her heart to know not only one, but many people were affected with each photo tacked to the board.
She scanned the faces looking for anyone familiar who could be Quinn’s missing family. Did the human police even know about missing shifters? She thought about the photo they found in the trunk in the house.
The frame it was in looked well-worn and loved. The images were so faded, it was hard to see details that once had been there. She wondered if everything in the chest had been destroyed in the fire. It was only baby clothes and some dish towels, but they belonged to the brother Quinn had no memory of. The twin, when taken away, ripped him in half. Her heart started to ache knowing how much of a wreck she’d be without Winter.
“Ms. Delgado,” Officer P called, “we’re ready.”
He held the door for her to cross into the belly of the department. He handed her a piece of paper with the accused’s stats and info. Bello Marsala, with a rap sheet that ran down the entire page.
The guard outside the meeting room nodded as she walked in. Sitting on the inside of the booth, a bald man wore a pissed-off expression. Big guy like her Quinn. If she hadn’t known he was a human, she would’ve mistaken him for a shifter.
She sat and picked up the phone handle on the sidewall of the booth. The man stared at her for a moment before he lifted his own receiver.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m Summer Delgado. I represent the homeowner whose house you broke into.”
He looked her up and down, what he could see of her, anyway. “You don’t look big enough to defend a flea. They will eat you in two bites.”
“Who will?”
With that, Bello squeezed his lips together and shot fire from his eyes at her.
