“We tried looking for him in the woods,” I continued, thinking of Sami’s manifestation of power. “We found blood but not Franklin. I went back later with my wife to look closer. That’s when we found Ralph. He was dead … and it wasn’t a pleasant death.”
Maggie gnawed on her bottom lip. “You think Franklin killed him.”
“I think that it seems like one heckuva coincidence if he didn’t.”
She sat in silence, blinking. For a moment I thought she was in shock. Finally, she shook her head. “No. He wouldn’t do that. He has a kind heart.”
“He’s a wolf,” I reminded her. “I like to think I have a kind heart, too. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t kill to protect what’s mine.”
“He doesn’t know for sure that Granger is his,” she persisted.
“You said that Granger looks like him,” Zoe pressed. “He probably noticed the resemblance right away. Plus, well, he could do the math.”
“Then why wouldn’t he approach me?” Her voice cracked. “Why not ask me about him?”
“Maybe he’s angry,” I suggested. “You kept his child from him.”
“I still don’t know – not a hundred percent anyway – that Granger is his. He looks like Franklin, but I’ve never done a DNA test.”
“I think you didn’t do the test because you felt it was unnecessary,” Zoe suggested, her voice soft. “I think knowing in your heart was enough. You probably figured that was the only piece of Franklin that would ever truly belong to you.”
“Was Ralph a good father to Granger?” I asked.
Maggie nodded. “He was a wonderful father. Granger loves him. I don’t know how I’m going to tell him what happened.”
“How old is he?”
“Eight. He’s in third grade.”
“Same as Sami,” Zoe remarked.
“Yeah.” I exhaled heavily. “I think you’re going to have to get that DNA test no matter what. Ralph is gone. Granger deserves to know where he came from. That said, Franklin is still out there. I don’t know him … or what he’s capable of.”
“He didn’t do this.” Maggie was insistent. “He didn’t kill Ralph. There has to be another explanation.”
“You might want to believe that, but I don’t know if it’s realistic.” I was careful when expressing myself because I didn’t want to shake her. “I don’t want to make you feel bad, but I would be furious if someone kept my child from me. In fact … there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to claim that child.”
Zoe shot me a curious look. “Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
“Would you kill me to do it?”
I worked my jaw. “I don’t like that question,” I said finally. “I always knew Sami was mine – and I would never hurt you.”
“Still,” she pressed. “You said it yourself. The tie to a child can be fierce. If Franklin realized after the fact that he lost out on eight years of his child’s life he might’ve snapped. Maybe he confronted Ralph, thought he was the one who kept his child from him.
“If Ralph didn’t know, it would’ve come as a shock,” she continued. “They could’ve fought. It might’ve turned bloody. There’s every chance Franklin didn’t set out to kill Ralph. It could’ve been a ‘do-or-die’ situation.”
I pressed my lips together, contemplating. “If that’s the case, where is Franklin now?” I asked after a beat. “Did he panic after killing Ralph? Is he on the run?”
“If he runs now, he loses whatever chance he had of getting to know Granger,” Zoe pointed out. “There’s no coming back.”
“He didn’t do this,” Maggie insisted. “It’s not in his nature.”
“A man’s nature will change if he thinks he’s protecting his family,” I pointed out. “Zoe is right. He won’t leave without Granger.”
“And Granger is at school,” Zoe noted.
I shifted my eyes to her. “Which means that Franklin is probably very close to the school. We have to get over there right now.”
ZOE’S LEGS MAY BE shorter, but she burst into the elementary school a full five feet in front of me. She’d been calm when we left Maggie’s house – the woman following us to the facility – but her anxiety grew with every moment until she was practically champing at the bit.
“I want to see Sami Winters right now,” she demanded when we stopped in front of the secretary.
Confused, I furrowed my brow. “Granger Stewart,” I corrected. “We’re checking on Granger Stewart.”
“Sami Winters,” Zoe corrected, shaking her head. “We’re her parents.”
I recognized the woman behind the counter. Sarah Something-or-other. I couldn’t remember her last name. The look she shot Zoe was right out of a bad movie. “I know who you are, Mrs. Winters.”
Zoe didn’t bother to correct her that it was “Mrs. Lake-Winters” and instead remained focused. That’s how I knew something was seriously wrong. “Sami,” she repeated. “I want to see her right now.”
“She’s in class,” Sarah replied, forcing a serene smile on her face. I could practically read her mind. She thought Zoe was crazy. “You can wait and we can collect her once she’s out of class, but we don’t interrupt unless we have good reason.”
“I’ll give you a good reason,” Zoe snapped, lurching forward.
Expecting the move, I caught her around the waist and cradled her close to my chest. “You’ll have to excuse my wife. She often loses her mind.”
Sarah didn’t as much as blink. “That tidbit has already made the rounds.”
Before Zoe had time to respond, Maggie was through the door. “Is he here?” she asked, breathless. “Is he safe?”
“Is who here?” Sarah asked.
“Granger Stewart,” I responded. “We’re looking for Granger.”
“I thought you were looking for Sami.” Sarah furrowed her brow. “I’m confused.”
“Oh, I’m going to confuse you,” Zoe muttered under her breath, struggling against my grip. We both knew she could magically separate herself from me if she wanted it badly enough. She would never hurt me, though. I had no doubt about that.
“We’re looking for Granger.” I was calm and offered up my flirtiest wink. Women everywhere went gooey at the knees for it … even Zoe, although she wouldn’t admit it. “His mother has some concerns and it would make her feel better if she could see him.”
“But … your wife said you were looking for Sami,” Sarah pressed.
“My wife is … on a sugar high,” I volunteered. “She’ll come down eventually.”
“Uh-huh.” The look Sarah shot Zoe told me she thought otherwise. “As I said, the children are in class. We don’t interrupt unless we have no other option.”
“Yes, well, I think we’re going to have to insist.” I managed to keep hold of Zoe despite the fact that she was fighting even harder. “If you could get the principal, I would appreciate it. We’ll deal directly with him.”
“He doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
“Well … .”
“I’m going to make the biggest disturbance in the world if you don’t get him right now,” Zoe threatened. Her urgency threw me for a loop. I didn’t understand.
“Fine.” Sarah exhaled heavily and rolled her eyes. “I’ll get him.” She stomped toward the door at the back of the office, giving me a chance to turn to Zoe so I could look her in the eyes.
“What are you doing?” I hissed. “You’re acting like a madwoman.”
“Sami is in trouble.”
“We’re not here for Sami,” I reminded her. “We’re here for Granger. He’s the one in trouble.”
“Sami is in trouble, too.” Zoe stopped fighting and sent me a beseeching look. “I’m not making it up. I feel it.” She thumped her chest for emphasis. “I swear.”
I slid a glance toward Maggie and found her watching the scene with wide eyes. “Okay.” I released Zoe and ran my hands up and down her back. “Okay. We’ll insist on seeing Sami no matter what they say. Granger, too
. I … .”
The sound of a door opening caught my attention and I turned toward the principal’s office. I recognized the man – his name was Dan Weaver and Zoe referred to him as a milquetoast – but the expression on his face sent a chill down my spine.
“How did you know?” Weaver asked, moving closer. “I was just about to call you.”
“Know what?” I asked, dread pooling in my stomach.
“That Sami is missing.”
I wanted to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze. Instead, I kept my voice even. “What do you mean? How is she missing?”
“She didn’t come back from recess,” Weaver replied simply. “We didn’t notice until classes started. She managed to sneak away with another student.”
“What student?” Zoe demanded. “Who is she with?”
Weaver’s eyes flitted to Maggie. “Granger Stewart,” he replied, confusion etching his face. “They’re together … we don’t know why. I’ve never known them to spend time together before this.”
I viciously swore under my breath as Zoe exploded.
“Son of a … !”
BECAUSE THE LAST PLACE ANYONE saw her was the playground, that’s where we headed. The recess monitor and principal met us on the grounds. Maggie was a mess, tears coursing down her cheeks. Zoe was mostly silent, a fact that worried me as she prowled the grounds.
“Where was she?” I asked the young woman standing behind Weaver. She looked terrified that I was about to start pounding her in the face. My anger had teeth, but it was not directed at her.
“She was over by the jungle gym.” The young woman’s finger shook as she pointed. “She was talking to Granger.”
Zoe jerked up her head. “They were talking to each other?”
She nodded. “I don’t know what they were saying. They didn’t look to be fighting. There’re a lot of kids to keep my eyes on. I don’t remember seeing them after that.”
“So, they just took off?” I flicked my eyes to the woods surrounding the playground. When Sami first started attending the school I liked the trees. She was only half-wolf, but nature – the scents, sights and feelings – was soothing to the beast inside. Now the wilderness seemed vast. “We have to go in looking for her.”
Zoe was already moving, Maggie close on her heels.
“We’ll contact the authorities,” Weaver offered.
I slowed my pace as I considered the suggestion. A “normal” parent would want the police in on the action. But Maggie and I were shifters who would fight to the death to protect our children. Zoe was something else entirely. If the police witnessed Zoe unleashing her fire and brimstone act, they might not understand.
On the flip side, it would be suspicious if we didn’t ask for help. “Tell them we’ll be searching the woods,” I instructed, making up my mind on the fly. “There are children out there. Don’t let them get trigger-happy.”
“I doubt they would shoot first and ask questions later in this sort of scenario.”
“Let’s hope that’s true.”
I turned and lowered my head so I could catch up with Zoe. She was smaller than me, but when she was determined there was no stopping her. She was a good way into the trees when I found her.
“Hold up.” I grabbed her arm before she could increase the distance between us again. “Stop running.”
Her eyes flashed with fury. “Don’t tell me what to do!”
I pinned her with a dark look and waited for her to get a grip. “Are you finished?”
“Not even close!” She jerked her arm away from me. “Our child is out here.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? You’re going about this the wrong way. Running around in the woods with no idea which direction they headed is a mistake.”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. You can find her the same way she found the blood.”
Zoe stilled, realization washing over her features. “Oh.”
“Oh,” I repeated, dragging a hand through my hair. “You’re the one who can find them, Zoe. You’re uniquely qualified for this. Use your magic.”
Maggie hopped from one foot to the other, surprised. “Magic?”
“Zoe is special,” I explained. “She can find the kids … and fast. Then, once we’re with them, she can handle whatever spooked them into the woods. You have no idea how powerful she is.”
“That’s great,” Maggie said dryly. “I’ll gladly let her fight whatever we find … and die trying if need be. We don’t need her to find the kids, though.”
I was understandably confused. “Why not?”
She tapped the side of her nose. “I can smell them. They went this way.” She pointed deeper into the forest. “They’re not alone. I smell at least eight different trails. Some are more familiar than others. They’re in trouble.”
I straightened, ashamed that I’d missed the obvious answer. “Lead the way.”
“Great. Let’s go.”
I linked my fingers with Zoe’s and dragged her with me as she fumed. I was hopeful the kids were safe. If they weren’t, whoever was chasing them would pay with blood. No matter what happened, Zoe would go on a rampage. I was prepared for it … but I was terrified for what was to come.
Goddess pity the person who touches my child, for Zoe will have none … and she would leave only one witness to tell the tale so no one would be tempted to come after our child again. It was hardly the first time this had happened, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it wouldn’t be the last.
Things were about to get bloody.
Nine
I couldn’t see Sami.
I could smell her, which was a small comfort, but I couldn’t see her.
The fact that Zoe was starting to pick up a sense of her and felt the need to increase her pace worried me.
“Where?” I demanded, hands on hips, and glanced between Maggie and Zoe when they slowed their pace at the same time.
“There.” Maggie pointed toward a heavy stand of trees and started stalking in that direction. My fingers elongated and acquired dangerous claws as I moved to follow. Zoe grabbed my arm before I could move too far.
“They’re not alone,” she replied to my unasked question. “There are people with them, surrounding them. I’m not sure how many, but we’ll have to fight.”
She said that like it was a bad thing. “Do you think I won’t fight for my child?”
“No. I think we’re going to have to kill for our child,” she replied simply. “You know what that means. You know the promise I made.”
I did know. I remembered well bringing Sami home from the hospital as an infant and finding four monsters — to this day, I don’t know what they were — hiding in the bushes. They attacked when my wife was still weak and recovering, the physical trauma healed by her own hands but the mental exertion still weighing on her.
Sami was the only mage-wolf in existence. She was coveted. Black market sellers wanted her, had plans to utilize the powers they were certain she would manifest.
Zoe was furious that day. She unleashed so much magic I thought for sure she would knock herself out. She burned them where they stood, leaving one standing (although he was badly maimed) as a warning. Then she sent him to spread the word. She wanted people to know what would happen if they attacked our family. There were still attacks after that, but Zoe’s bloodthirsty nature made the rounds and people were terrified to go toe to toe with her.
This would be a similar situation.
There was a reason we had only one child. We need to focus on protecting her. We couldn’t risk our priorities being split. Sami was it for us ... and we were both fine with that. It meant we would do whatever necessary to keep her safe.
“We’ll leave one alive,” I offered, knowing where her mind had drifted. “We’ll kill the rest.”
“You can’t kill Franklin,” Maggie protested, her eyes going wide. “He didn’t do this. I swear ... something else is going on.”
> She was so desperate I wanted to believe her. Sami’s safety was my biggest concern, though, and I could make no promises. “If he’s innocent I’m sure we will figure it out. We need to get to the kids. That’s the most important thing.”
Tears glistened in her eyes, but she nodded. “Just ... at least give me a chance to talk to him.”
“We’ll do what we can,” Zoe said, pushing past me to break into the woods. “We have to get in there. We can’t wait any longer.”
I didn’t hesitate to follow her. “Come on, Maggie,” I prodded. “We’ll figure it out.”
ZOE WASN’T SLOWING and she didn’t wait for me to catch up before sliding past the last row of trees.
We found ourselves in a small clearing, surrounded on all sides by brush and trees. At the center glowed a lone maple that had clearly stood for generations. It played host to a treehouse, and poking her head out the window of that treehouse – a good twenty feet above the ground – was Sami.
“You’re going to be sorry,” she screeched. “When my mom and dad get here, they’re going to rip your heads off and feed them to you.”
I shifted my eyes to the ground, where a variety of figures surrounded the tree. To my utter surprise, we were not dealing with members of the council. It was the motorcycle gang that had come to play. As for Franklin, he stood at the bottom of the ladder, his arms spread wide as he protected the area and faced off with Al and his cohorts.
“Stay away from them,” Franklin warned, his eyes never leaving Al’s face. “I don’t want to kill you, but I will to protect these children.”
“I don’t think you’re in a position to threaten us,” Al barked. “You’re badly outnumbered. You can’t take us all ... especially when you’re alone.”
“He’s not alone.” Sami’s head poked back out the window. I could see movement behind her in the treehouse. If I had to guess, Granger was in there with her. They looked to be relatively well cocooned, but they wouldn’t be able to hide inside forever. “I’m here and I will set every single one of you on fire,” she raged.
Wolf On the Job Page 8
