by Renee Rose
Ashley’s eyebrows raised in surprise. He knew it was out of character for him to apologize for anything.
“As soon as your sister is released, the two of you are going to get in your car and drive straight back here. Keep an eye on the rearview mirrors to make sure you’re not followed.”
“What will you do?”
“We’re going to attack,” he said, looking at the two men to make sure they were on board. They both nodded their assent.
“If anything goes awry and we’re forced to come out before the trade is made—and I hope it won’t—” he added at her look of alarm, “then you get in your car and drive off. I will make sure we get your sister back and I will tear out the throats of every last one of her captors.”
She swallowed.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” she said.
“What happens if fighting breaks out?” he quizzed her.
“I get in the car and drive back here.”
“Good girl.”
They drove downtown. He rode with Ashley, instructing her to let him out a few blocks before the bus station. “Remember the plan?” he asked.
Her face was pale and drawn, but she nodded without hesitation.
“What do you do?”
“I get Melissa and drive away as fast as I can.”
“And if something goes wrong?”
“I get in the car and drive away.”
“No matter what. Don’t stay to watch.” He wrote a phone number down on a piece of paper and handed it to her. “If something really goes wrong, and we never come back to the apartment, call Shayla. Tell her what happened and she’ll help you. Got it?”
Ashley’s eyes had grown very round and her lips were trembling.
He cupped her face with both his hands, his thumb stroking her lips. “No, no. Shh. Nothing like that will happen. I’m just providing insurance, that’s all. I’m going to take care of this.”
“Okay,” she said, her voice cracking.
“That’s my brave girl.” He leaned forward, meaning to kiss her forehead, but his instinct to claim her took over. He took her mouth in a bruising kiss, sweeping his tongue against the seam of her lips until she yielded entry. He slid his hand from her face to her nape, holding her prisoner as he kissed and sucked at her lips as if they were his only salvation. It felt as if they were. When they finally broke apart, breathless, she stared up at him with a dazed look. He gave her one last kiss, then another before he forced himself to turn away.
“I’m going to leave my clothes in the car,” he said, opening the door and standing up to shuck his clothing. He dropped them in the seat, shut the door, and shifted, ignoring the screaming in his brain that said not to let her go into danger.
* * *
Cold sweat dampened her shirt under the bulletproof vest as she pulled the car into the Greyhound parking lot. Her entire body trembled and her hands were ice cold on the wheel. She parked in a space and grabbed the laptop, stepping out. She looked around. The lot was full of cars, but she saw no sign of movement, nor did she hear any voices.
She turned back to her car and put the keys loosely back in the ignition so it would be ready to drive off at a moment’s notice, if necessary. She left the door slightly ajar, as well. Then she walked out toward the middle of the lot.
Time ticked by, glacially slow. Where were the wolves? She peered in the shadows, looking low for the glowing eyes, but saw nothing. Still, she sensed Ben was there, somewhere. She paced up and down the lot, but no one appeared.
Maybe she should wait in the car.
She turned and started back.
A car pulled into the lot, its headlights blinding her. She covered her eyes and watched as it drove past her, up to the main building. A woman got out of the passenger side and ran up the steps, trying to open the locked door to the station. She turned and trotted back down the stairs and got in the car, saying something to the driver. The car turned around and drove out.
She exhaled. Not them. Well, where in the hell were they? She pulled out her phone and glanced at the time. Twelve fifteen. It felt like an hour had already passed. She forced herself to take a deep breath to the count of four, then held it until she thought her lungs would explode. When she blew it out, her body relaxed marginally. She tried a second time.
Three pairs of headlights swung in at once. Nice cars—not like last time in the Stone parking lot. Two black four-runners and a dark blue Mercedes. Not cars that belonged in a Greyhound bus station. Her heart jumped erratically in her chest. She turned in a circle, then forced herself to just stand still and wait.
They stopped in a ring around her. Her eyes slid toward her vehicle at least one hundred feet away now. Damn. She should’ve just waited in her car. Why was she so stupid?
She peered at the cars, trying to see if her sister might be in one, but with the headlights shining in her eyes, she couldn’t see anything.
The door of the four-runner in front of her swung open. “Put the laptop down and back away,” he said.
“Where’s Melissa?” she demanded, wishing her voice didn’t sound so high-pitched and shaky.
She heard the sound of a gun cocking as the man extended his arm straight out, sighting her with a pistol in his hand. “Do it now.”
“Where’s Melissa?” she repeated. “I’m not giving you anything until I see my sister.”
The man fired his gun and the bullet struck near her feet. A scream erupted from her throat and she jumped, almost dropping the laptop, her entire body shaking so hard she’d lost all coordination. She wondered if the sound of gunshots would bring the cops.
She caught a shadow moving between cars. Ben. It gave her courage. “Show me Melissa and I’ll hand over the laptop.”
The man starting walking toward her at a menacing stride. Several other figures emerged from the cars, all closing in. A snarl tore through the air and a man screamed as Ben took him down.
“There’s her dog! Shoot it,” the first man yelled, not moving his aim from her and continuing to walk purposely forward.
She backed away, but he was upon her. He fired his gun right at her chest, just above where she held the laptop. She flew back and landed on her back from the force of it, a searing pain over her heart causing her to lose her breath. The laptop flew from her hands and skidded across the asphalt.
“Hey, watch the laptop, you idiot,” one of the men yelled at the shooter as he scooped it up.
She struggled to breathe, the wind knocked out of her. Hit but not hurt. She reminded herself she was wearing the vest and rolled to her side, wincing at the pain.
A light gray wolf arced over her body, flying at her attacker. He took the man down, tearing at his throat with a horrific snarl. It was a smaller wolf—not small, but normal wolf-sized. She caught the flash of a huge tan wolf launching through the air near the Mercedes and toppling a man despite the bullet he sank into him. Zolla and Mark.
She staggered to her feet, her breath still painful against her ribs. The gun had gone clattering to the asphalt and she snatched it up with her trembling fingers. Gripping the handle, she ducked her head and limped toward the four-runner, the laptop tucked under her arm.
She had to find Melissa.
She yanked open the back door as the sound of gunshots and growls still filled the air. The vehicle seemed empty. She stepped in to peer into the trunk. No one.
She climbed out. A high-pitched animal whine sent a shot of terror through her. Heart in her throat, she aimed the gun toward the sound. Ben was tussling with a man as several others fired shots into him. She pulled the trigger.
She missed, but the men turned and aimed their guns at her. She crouched down and ran for the next car. A driver still sat behind the wheel, which probably meant Melissa was in there. Staying bent in half, she raced around the car and popped up, pointing the muzzle of the gun through the open window, right at his temple.
“Where is she?”
Unnervingly,
the man didn’t look ruffled by the pistol she aimed at his head. “Not here,” he said.
“Where?” she hissed through clenched teeth, tapping the gun against his head.
He shook his head. “She isn’t here.” He gave her a greasy smile. “Too bad for you.”
She wanted to shoot him. She thought about pulling the trigger, but morality won out. She wasn’t prepared to take a life, even if they had killed her sister.
She backed slowly away, keeping the gun aimed at his head. The air still rippled with the confusion of shouts and growls. She backed toward the third car, but the man she held the gun on pulled out a gun of his own and fired it at her, but thankfully missed.
A flash of black fur flew over her and Ben was upon the man in the vehicle, tearing him out of the window, but taking at least five shots in the belly in the process.
“No,” she screamed, running toward them.
The gray wolf sideswiped her, shoving her in the direction of her car. When she started again toward Ben, he bared his teeth at her, blocking her way.
“Zolla?” she asked, frightened of him despite the fact that she knew he was a friend.
He lunged forward, butting her legs with his head, once more pushing her toward her car.
“I have to find Melissa,” she said, and darted around him the other way, to the third car. She pulled open the door and looked inside. Empty. Unless her sister was in the trunk, the man had told the truth—she wasn’t here.
A low moan of despair rose in her throat as her legs carried her, running, toward her car. What had happened to Melissa? Was she lying dead somewhere? Had they meant the same fate for her?
She leaped in her vehicle and started it up, backing up with a screech of tires. Sirens sounded in the distance and she gunned the engine, shooting out the parking lot before the cops showed up. As she tore away, her phone rang in her purse. Pulling it out with shaking hands, she glanced at the caller.
Melissa.
* * *
When the police cars screeched around the corner and entered the parking lot, he and the other two wolves disappeared under the protection of the shadows. He hadn’t recognized any of the men, so he was no closer to knowing who was behind this attack, nor had they rescued Melissa. And dammit if Ashley hadn’t nearly gotten herself killed, several times over. He couldn’t focus for most of the fight, because he’d been too worried about protecting her.
She had blatantly disobeyed his instructions. They would be discussing that before all this was through.
Zolla and Mark followed him, slinking through the darkness until they reached Mark’s car where they shifted. All three were covered in blood, both their own and the men’s. He regretted their injuries, and making sure they were all right became his first priority, since they had acted under his command.
Zolla opened the door to his car and handed out clothes. Ben shook his head. “I’ll run back. I need the fresh air. How are you two?”
Mark looked down at the bullet wounds leaking blood on his torso. “Fine,” he said in a clipped tone.
“You?” Ben asked Zolla.
The smaller wolf was panting, weakened by his injuries. “Nothing serious,” he said.
“Are you sure? Can you drive?”
“I’ll drive,” Mark said decisively, his status outweighing Zolla’s. Turning to Ben, he asked, “Did you recognize anyone?”
Ben shook his head. “Not a one. Any sign of Ashley’s twin?”
“There was no female but Ashley,” Zolla said definitively. “I sniffed all three cars. They didn’t bring her.”
Ben swore softly.
“You think she’s dead?” Mark asked.
He met Mark’s eyes, his stomach knotting for Ashley. “Seems like it,” he said heavily. How in the hell was he going to tell her that? Red-hot anger on her behalf flooded him. “I’m going to kill every last one of them,” he growled.
The way the two men looked at him told him they had his back. He experienced a rush of gratitude for their help that nearly choked him. He wasn’t used to relying on others, or caring for anyone but himself. Rather than a burden of responsibility, the honor of their allegiance struck him hard. He needed them and they gave themselves freely, trusted his lead.
He grasped each man by the nape, bowing his head. “Thank you, brothers,” he said gruffly. Unable to say more, he released them and cleared his throat.
“Did they get the laptop?” Zolla asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Can you protect the data? I should’ve brought a decoy instead.”
“No, this will provide the information we’ll need. I’ll track who uses your passwords and find their location. If the girl is still alive, we can get her. And If it’s Jack, you’ll know it and can take appropriate measures,” Zolla said.
“All right, let’s get back so you can start tracking. I’ll meet you at your place. Ashley should be there already.” He shifted back to wolf form and started running, relishing the feel of the run, the air in his fur cooling the heat of his murderous instincts.
Chapter Nine
Ashley swung onto the corner of Platte and 15th, the address her sister gave her and pulled over, peering into the shadows. She saw movement and Melissa came bursting out from behind the building, trailed by a young man. She threw open the car door and rushed to meet her sister, the two of them falling into each other’s arms.
“Oh, my God, Melissa. Thank God. Thank God you’re all right. Oh, my God,” she said, hot tears spilling down her cheeks as she rocked her sister, not willing to release her from the hug.
“Come on,” Melissa said, “let’s get out of here.”
“Are you okay?” she asked, stepping back to look at her. Melissa looked pale and tired; a yellow bruise stood out on her cheekbone and her lip was cut and swollen.
“I’ll be a lot better when we get to your place.”
“Who’s this?” she asked, turning her attention to the man.
Melissa grabbed her sleeve and urged her toward the car, obviously nervous. “Jeremy. He helped me escape. Come on, let’s go.”
They piled in the car and Ashley took off for Zolla’s. “So tell me what happened.”
Melissa drew a breath, then closed her eyes and leaned her head back. “I’ll tell you everything, but can it wait? I just want to get somewhere I can breathe.”
Ashley reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I can’t believe you got away. I was so afraid I’d never see you again,” she said, tears popping into her eyes again.
Melissa returned the squeeze, twisting to look over her shoulder, as if fearful they were being followed. Jeremy, who had climbed in the back seat, reached forward and put his hand on her sister’s shoulder.
Ashley drove as fast as she could without attracting attention to Zolla’s house, entering with the code to the garage door Ben had given her. “Come in, this place is safe. Ben should be back soon.” She spoke with confidence, but a twinge of fear gripped her stomach as she remembered the sound of animals yelping every time a shot had been fired into one of the shifters. Were they invincible? Or could they be killed if they were shot enough or in the right places? No, she couldn’t think that way. Ben would come.
She led them inside and showed Melissa to the bathroom where she could get cleaned up. She brought her sister some ice for her bruise. “This is for your face.”
Her sister touched her swollen cheek. “I don’t think it will do any good at this point. This is from Friday.”
Ashley lifted her own shirt to inspect where the bullet had hit the vest. A huge bruise had already appeared, the surface puffy and tender to the touch.
Melissa stared at it with wide eyes. “What’s that from?”
“A bullet. But I was wearing a bulletproof vest.”
“Thank God,” Melissa breathed.
She threw her arms around her sister’s neck and clung to her for a moment. “Mel… I thought you might be dead.”
Melissa hugged her tightly. “I know,”
she said, her voice choked. “It was awful. Thank God for Jeremy or I might be.”
She gave her sister a kiss on the cheek and left her to finish cleaning up. Jeremy stood in the living room, looking uncomfortable.
“Thanks for saving my sister,” she said.
His eyes skipped around the room, and she thought he looked guilty.
Melissa reappeared.
“Are you guys hungry? There’s not much here, but I can make you something.”
“Yeah, I’m famished.”
She headed to the kitchen with Melissa and Jeremy trailing her. “So talk,” she said, reaching into the cupboard and pulling out a couple of cans of chicken meat, a jar of mayonnaise, and a Cajun spice mix. “I think there’s a jar of pickles in the fridge,” she said, looking at Jeremy.
He opened the refrigerator door and pulled it out.
“So I met these two guys Thursday night at work,” Melissa said, glancing at Jeremy, who Ashley thought looked guilty once again. Melissa worked as the manager of a trendy bar/nightclub in Colorado Springs. “They invited me to an after-party when we closed up, so I went.”
Ashley listened as she opened the two cans of meat and scooped them into a bowl, mixing in the mayonnaise.
“So we partied for a while and then—”
“Wait,” Ashley interrupted. “Was he one of them?” she asked, looking at Jeremy.
“Yeah. So the house party ends and Jeff, the other guy, invites me back to his place—with both of them,” she said, blushing.
Ashley blushed too, knowing the two-men thing was her sister’s top fantasy. She ducked her head to hide it and pulled some pickles out of the jar Jeremy had handed her. She picked up a knife and started chopping them.
“But he drove us to this nasty warehouse instead, and a bunch of guys with guns were there.”
“Wait a minute,” Ashley, said, whirling and pointing the tip of the knife at Jeremy. “You kidnapped my sister?” She took a menacing step forward, glaring at him.
He held his palms out. “I didn’t know what was going on. Jeff is a friend—not even that good of a friend. I don’t know why he brought me along.”
