If everything went according to plan, Kane and his team would now begin getting the children out.
The first corner was up ahead. As they approached it, a voice came over the intercom, loud and commanding.
“Stop,” Jacob shouted, his tone reverberating with authority. Despite everything, Lucas froze. The man himself. Exactly who they’d come to see.
Chapter 16
Though the sound of Jacob’s voice brought Lucas the familiar reaction—fury—he refused to let it affect his judgment.
“Come on,” he urged Blythe. “Make them come after us. We want the showdown to be in his office, away from the children.” They tore around the corner, passing the elevator and heading for the stairs.
Heart hammering, Lucas glanced at Blythe. She was balancing on the edges of her toes, ready to sprint. “Let’s go.”
Taking off, he hit the stairs two at a time, Blythe thundering up right alongside him.
When they reached the top, two men appeared. Skidding to a halt, Lucas braced himself for a fight.
“Look at their auras,” Blythe murmured. “I think they might be on our side.”
One man jerked his head in a barely perceptible nod. “Come with us,” he ordered.
The other man mouthed the words “Play along.” Then, raising his voice, he spoke again. “We’re taking you to see Jacob.”
The other Shifter made motions for them to hide their guns. Lucas jammed his into the waistband of his jeans, pulling his T-shirt down over it. Blythe did the same. As hiding places went it was less than ideal, but would have to do.
The men moved to flank them. One grasped Lucas’s arm and the other took Blythe’s. “Come with us.”
They went willingly, only pretending to be reluctant.
Finally, they stopped outside the familiar double doors.
Jacob’s office. The other man’s place of power.
The guards knocked once. At Jacob’s command to enter, they opened the door, stepping aside as Lucas and Blythe entered together. Jacob waited, seated behind his massive desk like a king holding court. He steepled his hands in front of him, eyeing them with an odd combination of disdain and eagerness.
Standing there, finally facing down his own personal demon, Lucas realized that Jacob, the monster, was only Jacob, a man. One who clearly thought a lot of himself and hurt small children. But he wouldn’t be powerful without the thugs and brainwashed sycophants in his congregation.
He’d be nothing. Nothing but pure evil.
“It’s about time you came back.” Voice triumphant, Jacob stared at Lucas. “The prodigal son, finally returning to repent his sins.”
“No.” Lucas didn’t even try to hide his contempt. “I’ve done nothing wrong. And, as far as I’m concerned, I’m no longer your son. I haven’t been since I was fifteen.”
Heaving a sigh, Jacob glanced at Blythe. “No, I suppose not.” He leaned forward, malice lighting his eyes. “Are you ready for a truth? You never were my son. As if such abomination could come from my loins.” He snorted.
Beside him, Blythe made a strangled sound low in her throat. Lucas felt her support, giving him strength.
Jacob’s words made no sense. “What do you mean?”
Jacob’s smile sent a shudder of revulsion up Lucas’s spine. “Though I raised you, you weren’t my son by blood. Your actual father was a member of my church and had been completely blindsided to learn his wife—and the mother of his children—was a werewolf.”
Though Lucas kept his face expressionless, inwardly, he winced. The man—his actual human father—had confided in the wrong person. “Where is he now?”
Jacob sighed. “He had an unfortunate accident when you were an infant.”
“What about my mother?” Lucas asked. “What happened to her?”
“She was evil,” Jacob spat, pounding the desktop with the flat of his hand. “That bitch trapped a human with her succubus ways, got him to impregnate her and then left him with her devilish spawn.”
Despite the jumbled mixture of words, Lucas focused on one thing. “My mother is still alive?”
“Of course not.” Again the satisfied smile. “Do you truly believe God would suffer a harlot such as that to live? She died in a house fire a few weeks before your father. An unfortunate accident.”
Hands clenched, Lucas had to forcibly restrain himself from leaping over the desk and taking Jacob by the throat.
“Was it?” he asked. “That sounds like it might have been another one of those things you engineered for your own benefit.”
A pleased smile played around the corners of Jacob’s mouth as he continued, “Being the kindhearted pastor I am, naturally I stepped up and took over the care of his children.”
“Why?” Lucas asked. “Why would someone like you do such a thing?”
“For the pleasure—and fame—of exorcising your demons. I knew what your mother was, so I followed her. The moment I learned she was a werewolf, I knew she had to die. Then, only your father stood in the way of me taking her demon spawn.”
An inferno of fury engulfed Lucas. Not only had Jacob murdered his twin sister, but also their parents. And Jacob called them demons?
Lucas nearly started when Blythe slipped her hand into his and squeezed. He glanced at her, saw the steely determination in her beautiful green eyes and felt his own resolve strengthen.
“Jacob, all of this is history, in the past, and can’t be changed.” He flashed his own smile, aware of the savage ruthlessness welling up inside him. “I didn’t come here to hear your explanations. I knew they’d be skewed in such a way that they’d sound rational to your evil, twisted mind.”
At his words, Jacob recoiled, his malicious smile slipping. Noting his advantage, Lucas took a step closer.
“Here and now, right now, there’s only one bit of knowledge from the past that I care about.”
“Your sister?” Jacob guessed, once again clearly enjoying himself.
Lucas tensed. Beside him, Blythe turned and stared. Suddenly, Lucas realized she needed to know the truth about everything. About him.
He took a deep breath. Again, Blythe squeezed his hand. Unflinching, letting every bit of his hatred show in his eyes, he met Jacob’s gaze. “What did you do with Lilly’s remains?”
For a split second, shock flashed across Jacob’s aristocratic features. Then, as he schooled them back to indifference, he let one silver eyebrow rise. “Remains? What exactly do you mean?”
Tamping down a blazing flash of anger, Lucas stared at the other man, aching to reach across the desk, haul him up by his tie and wrap his hands around his neck. “Did you bury her? Cremate her? Either way, I’d like to know where she is.”
Jacob leaned back in his chair, craftily narrowing his eyes. “Now why exactly would I tell you that?” he drawled.
A man could only take so much. Lucas started forward. Only Blythe’s grip on his hand pulled him back. Glancing at her, he saw empathy in her expression.
“Breathe,” she murmured, drawing Jacob’s amused look.
Ignoring the evil incarnate across from him, Lucas did exactly that. He took one deep breath, then another. Finally, when he had himself under control, he responded.
“Why would you tell me what you’ve done with Lilly?” he asked, his tone cold and level. “Because if I only do one thing before you kill me, I’d like to honor my sister.”
Jacob laughed, the guffaws more insulting than any word could ever be.
Lucas couldn’t help it. He saw red. His inner wolf snarled. He let his own lip curl back in response as he felt his body begin the change.
Not yet. Not only did he need to make sure Kane had enough time to get the children out, he wasn’t finished with Jacob.
“Do you miss Lilly?” Jacob taunted him, sounding amused. He looked at Blythe, speaking to her. “He and his sister were very close. The two of them were twins, as alike in every way as they could be.”
He sounded fatherly, like a kind, loving man
reminiscing about the past. Even Lucas might have bought into it if he hadn’t been there. He knew what kind of horrific acts the older man was capable of.
“We were.” Clenching his teeth, Lucas tried to force himself to stay cool as he eyed Jacob again. He lost the battle.
Blythe at his side, he faced Jacob, waiting. “I should kill you now,” he snarled. “You’ve single-handedly destroyed everything I had. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.” Jacob’s instinctive recoil brought Lucas a violent sort of pleasure. “Now, you have one more chance. I asked you a simple question. Where are my sister’s remains? I have a right to know how she was laid to rest.”
In response, Jacob puffed himself up, trying on his bravado like a suit. “So that’s it. That’s what you’re willing to exchange for your freedom?”
Lucas narrowed his eyes. “Let’s not forget the children. You said you were willing to make a trade. Us for them.”
“That was before I had all the cards.” He gestured to his guards. “Handcuff them and get them out of here.”
“Just a minute,” Blythe said, advancing toward Jacob. “Lucas is not the only one with a beef against you. You tried to kill my daughter,” she snarled. For the briefest second, Lucas swore her wolf visage showed through her human face. “For that alone, I should rip your throat out. I don’t have a single reason not to.”
Standing, Jacob nearly stumbled over his chair in his haste as he took a step back. For the first time since they’d entered the room, he seemed uneasy. “Guards, cuff them,” he ordered.
The two guards, Shifters both of them, didn’t move.
Watching the woman he now knew was his mate, Lucas felt a savage sort of joy.
“I should join you,” he told Blythe, letting Jacob see his teeth.
For a man who believed them to be demons, apparently Jacob didn’t have a lot of faith in the protection of his God. This deity, whoever he was, bore absolutely no relation to any Christian god, as far as Lucas was concerned.
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Lucas took another step closer, chuckling as Jacob shot a nervous glance toward the door, as though contemplating flight.
Blythe moved to block it.
Lucas growled, low in his throat.
Again, Jacob tried to order his guards to protect him. When they didn’t move, he matched Lucas glare for glare. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Maybe I will.” Lucas made a slow circle around the older man, like a wolf stalking hapless prey, while Blythe watched. “But I suggest you tell me what I want to know. Now. What did you do with Lilly?”
Instead of answering, Jacob made one last attempt to command his men. “Guards, seize them!” he ordered, managing to sound both autocratic and desperate.
When neither man showed the slightest indication of obeying, Jacob’s face became mottled with rage. “Do you want to lose your jobs? Do as I say! Immediately!”
After exchanging a look, the two guards moved slowly forward, one on each side of Lucas and Blythe, each taking an arm in a grip that was not meant to confine anyone.
“Well?” Jacob demanded impatiently. “What are you waiting for? Get them handcuffed and throw them in one of the holding rooms.”
At that moment, one guard’s walkie-talkie crackled. “All clear.” Kane’s voice, confident and sure. “We’re done here. Proceed as planned.”
While Jacob was still frowning in puzzlement at this, the two guards withdrew their weapons and pointed them at him. One of them glanced at Lucas before handing him a pair of metal handcuffs. “You need to cuff him, not kill him, all right?” he asked, smiling.
Accepting the cuffs without another word, Lucas grabbed Jacob and shoved his hands behind his back. Once he was cuffed, he pushed him back against the wall. “One last chance,” he snarled. “What did you do with Lilly?”
But Jacob only pressed his mouth tight. Ignoring Lucas, he faced his two employees. “What is this? You’re here for my security. Release me this instant.”
One of the men flashed a badge. “FBI. You’re under arrest for the unlawful kidnapping and holding of minor children. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney—”
“Yes,” Jacob interrupted. “I demand you let me call my attorney.”
“Come on.” Shaking his head, Lucas led Blythe from the room. He could feel her anger, mingling with his own impotent rage. “I wanted to kill him.”
“Me, too,” she said. “I’ve never felt anything like that blinding rage. The only thing that stopped me—”
“Was the knowledge that I didn’t want to become just like him,” he finished.
“Exactly,” she said, her mouth tight and grim.
“He’s evil incarnate,” he said, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
The long, careful look she gave him reminded him she now knew his innermost secret.
“Listen, about my sister,” he began.
She blinked, focusing on him. “I understand.”
Though he wasn’t certain she did, that explanation would have to wait for another time. “As soon as possible, I swear I’m going to find out what that bastard did with her remains.”
She nodded. While it would never be enough, it was a start. Eventually, maybe he could let go of the bitterness and the anger entirely.
“Hey, you two.” Heading toward them at a brisk walk, Kane called out from farther down the hallway. “All the little ones are out safely.”
“Good.” Lucas squeezed Blythe’s hand once before letting her go. “That’s all that really matters.”
“Yep.” Reaching them, Kane clapped Lucas on the back. “Several of them are listed on the missing children database. We should be able to get him—and his people—on numerous charges.”
“I’m so glad,” Blythe said. “Now he’ll never be able to do this again to anyone.”
“Exactly.” Kane shot Lucas a look. “Actually, he had more than children.”
“Adults?” Lucas shouldn’t have been, but for some reason he was taken aback.
“That’s not so surprising,” Blythe put in, shaking her head. “Considering what he did to me. He would have kept me prisoner here, too, if I hadn’t escaped.”
“Yeah, well...” Kane’s expression went grim. “I think the two of you need to see this. We found a woman...she’s in bad shape. It looks like she’s been here awhile. She won’t speak.” He glanced at Jacob first. “Maybe you might recognize her.”
Then at Blythe. “Considering that you’ve been through something like what this woman apparently has, you might be able to reach her.”
Though weariness had soaked Lucas to the bone, he nodded. “Of course,” he said. Blythe also agreed, her voice soft.
“I knew you’d help,” Kane said. “Follow me.”
Lucas took Blythe’s arm and—amazingly—realized he drew strength from the touch. The sharp glance she gave him told him she felt the same sensation.
They headed toward the elevator. As Kane pressed the button that would take them to the lower level, Blythe shuddered. “I hate this place.”
Lucas pulled her into her arms, hoping he was right and she could draw on his strength, too. “I know,” he said, kissing her cheek.
Seeing this, Kane smiled. “I always suspected you two were mates.”
Mates. The word settled around them as the elevator doors opened on the floor that had once meant terror to so many. Lucas’s nostrils flared at the smell. Still the same. Vile and repellent.
As for Kane’s supposition, that had no place in this hall of horrors.
Head up, Blythe stepped out of Lucas’s embrace and faced Kane. Only Lucas could see the tiny quivers she tried so hard to hide. “This woman. Where is she?”
“This way,” Kane said, heading past the lab. As they reached another door, one that had been locked the last time Lucas had been here, he paused. “I should warn you, there’s no way to prepare you for her condition. There’s
no telling how long she’s been here, but from the looks of her, I’d say a pretty long time. I was thinking maybe if another woman...”
Blythe nodded. Only Lucas, standing close in case she needed him, felt the shudder that racked her body. “I’ll do my best,” she said, sounding so brave and determined that he wanted to kiss her.
“That’s all you can do,” Kane said. He opened the door and stepped inside. Blythe followed, Lucas right behind her.
Inside the small, windowless concrete room, it took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. Blinking, Lucas tried to see. As things came into focus, he went very, very still, almost afraid to breathe.
A slender woman, emaciated and filthy, sat hunched on a cot. Long, dark hair lay lank and tangled around her thin shoulders. Her sallow skin and the dark circles under her faded blue eyes told of ill treatment and poor health. She looked up at their approach, her face blank, a complete lack of interest in her dull gaze.
Until she saw Lucas. The instant she registered his face, she let out an incredulous cry.
For Lucas, all time stopped at that instant. Moving forward, he fell to his knees in front of the cot, reaching out his hand to gently touch her thin arm. “Lilly?” he asked, shock and wonder, horror and joy coursing through him. “How is this possible?” he managed. “How can it be you?”
Weeping, his sister covered her face with her hands. When he reached for her, she pushed him away. “No,” she croaked. “Don’t touch me. I’m dirty, I stink and I’m sick.”
“I don’t care.” Lucas pulled her close, holding her with care. Skin and bones, she felt brittle and breakable. His sister, his twin. Not dead, but oh, what had she suffered? And how had he not known?
His throat ached as he smoothed her hair.
“I thought you left me here,” she sobbed, her tears soaking his shirt. “At first. Then Jacob told me he’d killed you. All these years, I’ve blamed myself for not protecting you.”
Incredulous, he could only stare. “Blamed yourself?”
“I’m your big sister. I should have done more.”
The Lost Wolf's Destiny (The Pack) Page 22
