Chance Encounters

by Kathi S. Barton

  “He wasn’t your master. Neil should have been protecting you, as you said, not raping the women of his pack. I want you to know that I don’t work that way.” She nodded and looked at the man again. “He can’t hurt you now. And you can count on none of the others doing anything against you either. I’m in charge now.”

  “He said...Neil said that you were coming here. That’s why we had the meeting here instead of at the field. We been waiting here for a few days, having...it’s been horrible here, just waiting on you to come to be killed. Then that other man came, Bill somebody, and he told him about the party they were having. He said that they had a bunch of bitches stashed up there.” Trevor asked her were. “I don’t know what he said while I was in the house. Bill and this other man told him that it was going to cost Neil ten grand to be a part of it, and I know that he paid him. I’m guessing they were taking your mate there.”

  “Do you know what they were planning?” She nodded, but bit her lips tightly in her teeth. When a trickle of blood slid between her closed lips, he wiped it off and licked the blood off his thumb. She knew the meaning of what he’d done if the look on her face was any indication. They were connected and would be until one of them died. “Tell me.”

  “A hunting party. Human women were going to be let go in the forest somewhere, then as wolf they were going to chase them down and kill them. I think...I’m betting just killing them wasn’t all they were going to do either. I think they planned to do to them what they’ve been doing to us. Only worse. That’s what part of the money is for. Clean up. The rest is for some catering job for them.”

  A look to Paul had him moving back from them and pulling out his cell phone. Trevor had already warned Sara that they might need her help on a few things. What he’d hoped was for her to find somewhere for he and Andrea to hide after he found her, but this would take them one step closer to finding her. He told the woman to gather the rest of the ones that had been abused and have them go in and clean up the house and make it theirs. He’d have to think of something for them to do later, but for now, they had a purpose. Trevor sent five other men, most of whom had been on Neil’s squad, to take care of the bodies. Monty Shriver said he’d make it look good so that nothing came back on them. Trevor wasn’t sure he wanted to know how his friend knew how to take care of that sort of thing.

  When Paul came back he was smiling. Not the kind that he would usually associate with his friend; this one didn’t reach his eyes and there was anger there as well. When he asked him what he knew, he told him that he wasn’t going to like it.

  “I don’t like any of this. Least of all being a pack master to a bunch of wolves that I’m more than likely going to have to kill most of. I don’t want to kill anyone, but I fucking will if I don’t get any answers.” This time Paul’s entire face lit up. “Christ, you drive me insane.”

  “The catering company is called Naked Blossoms. I’m assuming...well, I don’t want to, but you can imagine all the images that are going through my head right now.” Trevor nodded. “Sara is working on one of the owners now to get an address. I have no idea how she knew it was them, by the way. That woman scares the shit out of me.”

  “Me too, if you want to know the truth.” Trevor turned back to the few men who had looked like they’d not had a decent meal in months, and a few of them looked beaten. “There is a place for you in this pack, but it won’t be like it was before. You want to stay? If not, I’ll find you somewhere safe to live in a better pack.”

  “I want to stay and help you get her back for you.” The man closest to him stood up, but kept his head bowed. “I’ve been out of work for some time now. I’ve got a family to feed and take care of, but Neil said I served him better by being on the welfare card, which he took from me. I had to beg for food and stuff. I don’t want to die.”

  Trevor told him to see Benson and Con, then report to where they told him to go. After getting a list of names from him of the men who were in charge with Neil, he set Shriver and Con to work on weeding them out. They weren’t to kill them unless necessary.

  Paul and he went to the car. They were going to be ready to go as soon as the call came in from Sara. And when it did, they were headed in the opposite direction to where they needed to be. Making a U-turn, they made their way to the ranch even as she gave them instructions.

  “Mason Ranch. Mostly it’s been empty of anything more than a bunch of rats, but Maribel told me that her daughter has this big party out there tonight that is going to make her some major money. Poor thing is about to go under. I told her we’d help out.” Trevor said he would. “You should also know that there are about ten cars there, and a few limos. I have it on good authority that there are some major players there. You might want to watch your back. That new satellite thing on my computer has sure come in handy lately. Thank you for it.”

  He had no idea what she was talking about, but knowing Sara the way he did, he more than likely didn’t want to know. She was scary, like Benson had said, and he wanted to stay on her good side no matter what. She told him again to be careful.

  “Fuck that shit.” She laughed and told him she thought she’d say that. “No cops. I want to be able to get her out without much in the way of fanfare.”

  “Good luck, boss.” He thought they were going to need it. As soon as they pulled up in front of the big barn, he had a feeling that this was not going to be as cut and dried as he’d hoped. The chief of police, as well as the mayor, were there.

  Chapter 7

  Her body was hurting. Andrea thought perhaps her arm had been broken again; the pain in it was making her sick to her stomach, but she knew it had more to do with the fact that she’d been laying on it rather than it being hurt. Rolling to her back made her put her unhurt hand over her mouth as she moved to an upright positon. It was difficult because heavy silver tape was stretched across her cast and bare skin, but she managed to hold onto her meal.

  Sitting up had cost her, but now that she was in that position all she wanted to do was to lay down and close her eyes again. But the noises were getting clearer, and she thought someone was telling her to get up. Opening one eye, she looked around.

  She was in a cell of some kind. As her vision got more in focus she realized it wasn’t a cell but a stall…like the kind horses and cattle were stored in. She could even see ropes and a few other items that she was sure had to do with animals, but for the life of her, she had no idea. The grass—or, she supposed, straw—under her wasn’t sweet smelling like she’d heard it would smell, but sour and dirty.

  “Are you awake yet?” Andrea turned her head in the direction of the voice and nearly threw up on herself. Everything was making her sick, and she nearly let go of whatever might have been on her belly when she closed her eyes again. “Hello. Are you awake yet?”

  “Yes.” Even to her, her voice sounded hoarse and scratchy. Andrea wondered if the woman could understand her, so she told her again. “I’m awake. I’m hurting, so just give me a minute to get...I just need a minute. Can you tell me where you are or where are we? I don’t remember how I got here.”

  Her legs were bound together by tape too. Her hands, cast and all, were also taped together, and it was so tight that she was sure she might lose fingers if it was on much longer. Working to get it free, she looked around carefully.

  The woman—there was little doubt that was who was talking to her—sobbed. If she was talking to her, Andrea had no idea what she was saying over the sobs and tears. There had to be something that she could use to get free.

  The barn, she could see now, was overgrown with weeds and smelled like some animal had been stored in here and had died. There wasn’t any sign of anything like that, but she knew the smell of death and decay. The roof was falling in…there were large holes in it where she could see the morning light. It could also have been twilight, but she felt sure it was coming on morning, as the sun was just too high. When the woman spoke again, Andrea knew she might have a better grip on her
fear.

  “You came in about an hour ago. They just dropped you on the floor, and then one of them...he jerked off and...well, it’s on your back, so you know. But yesterday morning we were brought here in a van. We were told that we’d be having some fun and that we’d be paid well. I came because my friend thought it would be a hoot. But then these men came in, groomers they called themselves, and started getting us ready, as they said, for ‘the big event.’” Andrea asked her what they’d done to them. “I’ve been shaved. Everywhere. The only hair on my body is on my head. What the fuck? Don’t they know that’s going to itch like hell when it grows back? I told that man that and he said I’d not have to worry.”

  Andrea looked down at the clothing she had on, wondering where it had come from. The last thing she remembered having on was a gown. And that had been...she supposed this morning. Looking it over, she could see that there were indeed stains on it, and knew there was little she could do about it now. But as soon as she figured out who had done it, she was going to tear their balls off and feed them to them. Sick now that she knew what was on it, she looked up at the woman that was hanging there. She wanted to help her, but was still feeling too much pain.

  “Did he tell you why you’d not have to worry?” There was more crying, and that was when Andrea realized that there were more than just her and the woman here. It sounded to her like there might have been at least a few more. “What’s your name? I’m Andrea Dean.”

  Andrea had been thinking she liked that name much better than Marshall. It might have been because she’d been told that was her name first, but she had a feeling it was because of the man who had said he was coming for her.

  “Penny James. There are a bunch of us here. We’re all prostitutes, in case you were wondering.” Andrea had no idea why she thought that would matter, but said nothing. “I think they’re going to kill us when they’ve finished with us.”

  Andrea felt the blood in her arms start to move again as she got the tape pulled back a little more. She tried to move her ass over to where the gate had been broken down, and moved toward it a little at a time. Her head was pounding now, and she thought that if she was killed right now, she would almost welcome it. Almost.

  You will not die. The man gave her pause, and she thought maybe it was the best thing she’d heard in a very long time. There are a bunch of us working on a plan to get in and get you out. Can you tell me where you are?

  A barn. It’s kind of run down. I don’t know how I got here other than being thrown in the back of a car, I guess. But there are a bunch of us. Penny, one of the women, thinks that we’re going to be killed when they’re done with us. He didn’t say anything and that scared her more. Look, Buster, I want you to help me, but I’d just as soon have a little information to arm myself with, if you don’t mind. Just tell me what the fuck is going on. Somebody jerked off on me, and I’d really like to get me some payback.

  I’ll take care of him. But the men, they’re going to shift and run you all down, then rape and kill you. Okay, maybe she didn’t want the information. Do you know what I mean by shifting?

  There are men out there that can change into something else. Like...like cats and stuff. She had a thought and felt her heartrate pick up. Are you a shifter too? Like one of the men that are going to try and kill us?

  Yes, I’m a shifter, but no, I’m nothing like the men that are going to die for hurting you. Closing her eyes, she tried to think what that meant to her. I’m a wolf, as are most of the men that are going to try and kill you and the women that are with you.

  They brought them here for the purpose of killing them. He told her yes, that was their plan. They groomed them, she told me. Shaved them all over their bodies, and now they’re hanging from the rafters of the barn. But you’re going to fix this. Save us, right?

  I am. I’m working now with a few of my pack. She wasn’t entirely sure what a pack was, but had a feeling that there were a lot of wolves out there. Andrea, you and the others, we’re going to need your help. The women with you are human like you are. And while they can help, they’ll die if the wolves turn on them. We need to get them to safety, along with you.

  I don’t know what I can do. I have a broken arm, I’m tied up, and I’m sick as a dog. They gave me something, and it’s not working well on my belly. Not that it matters, but...I just want the fuck to get out of here and somewhere that things are normal. Is there normal out there somewhere? I don’t think so right now. She realized she was talking out of her head and let out a low breath while she worked on getting free. You said that...I know that...we’re mates, and you have done something to me that makes it so we can talk, right? Trevor said that was right, that he’d bitten her. And we had sex. I remember having...we had sex on a plane.

  And just like that, it all come flooding back to her. Everything. The crash, the sex. Even the way he’d made her feel when he came inside of her. Andrea could hear him screaming at her now, his voice in her head telling her to calm down, that he was coming, but all she could see was the dead man’s head staring at her, the rushing water under the plane, and the way the plane felt when it fell into the cold freezing water.

  He was yelling at her. Calling her name and telling her that she was all right now. But she wasn’t. Things had been done to her, said about her, and now she was tied up again. Her entire life was flashing behind her closed lids, and she was suddenly terrified that she was going to die and have nothing at all to show for it.

  Come on honey, please answer me. I’m so sorry, but I had no idea that you’d freak out like this. Just talk to me. She wanted to tell him to shut up, but she had a feeling that he’d just keep talking. You’re going to be all right, I promise you…and I’ll take care of you. You’ll never have to worry about money again.

  I’m not worried about money now. He just laughed in her head. I’m not your wife. You lied to me. Don’t you dare do that again.

  I won’t. I promise you that. But I wanted to be sure of being able to give you the best care should you need it. And not being your husband would have given me no rights, or any kind of say in the amount of care you would get. It was...it was selfish of me. But I knew what you were to me when I sat down beside you. Looking down at the tape on her hands, she began trying to cut it loose with the wood there instead of thinking about everything else that seemed to be taking over her mind. But in order to save you, I’m going to need your help.

  All right. But for now I’m working on taking this tape off me so I can move. He told her good thinking. Yeah, believe it or not, I can think on my own.

  I have no doubt that you do it well too. She had a feeling that he was teasing her, but wasn’t sure. You said that you’re in a barn. There are actually three of them on this property…that we can see anyway. The one with the cars in front of it is not the one you’re in. And the other two are surrounded by men that have guns. While I’m not worried about a gun right now, I don’t want to bring them down on us until I can set you free.

  Us free. There are more than just me in here. You’re going to help us all, right? He told her that he was. Good. Because as much as I’d like to get out of here, I don’t want to leave anyone behind. I’ve been through enough shit to last me several lifetimes. That guy, Peter, the doctor? I don’t know where he is, but he needs to have his license taken from him. He and that nurse are terrible people.

  He has, in a way. She heard the hardness of his voice and asked him what he meant. They’re both dead. They touched what is mine and they had to be dealt with.

  Really? He didn’t answer her, but she could feel his anger, not at her. She had no idea why she knew that it wasn’t directed at her, but it was there all the same. You killed a man because he...well, he did tie me to the bed and give me drugs. He might even have brought me out here to be...okay, killing him was okay. But the nurse? Why her?

  She was his mother. That wasn’t a good explanation for killing her, but it certainly cleared up a few things. She wasn’t all that nice e
ither. We’ve since...can we table this for later, perhaps? After I get you out?

  The tape broke before she answered him, and she told him she was willing to wait, but that they would talk before anything else. Standing up as slowly as her body would let her, she could see more of where she was. And the other women. Walking to the women that were tied to the beams in the barn, she told Trevor what she could see.

  There are ten of them with me. All of them are naked, and it...it looks like someone might have taken a whip to a few of them. I’d say...Trevor, one of them might be dead. He asked her if she could get to them. Yes. But I’m going to need to find a knife first. To cut them down. They’re hanging...someone has hung them from the beams.

  It took her too long to find a sharp instrument to try and cut through the rope. She had no idea how long it actually took her, but it felt like forever. Cutting down Penny first, she sat with her as the woman sobbed and tried to get her circulation going in her legs and arms. When she was ready, they cut the rest down, and she told Trevor that two of the women were dead.

  I’m coming, love. Just as soon as we figure this out, we’re coming for you. She told him to hurry. You have no idea. I want this to be over as much as you do.

  She had no idea why he thought so, but let him go. There were things they could do to arm themselves in the event that the men, the other wolves, came for them before Trevor and his pack found them.

  ~~~

  Moving along the woods to sneak into the outbuildings was taking its toll on him. His anger was getting the better of him, and he’d had to bite his lip a few times when one of the men that were searching with him got on his last nerve. Sending them away so he could look alone, Trevor moved through the forest and found three more buildings that had to be searched. Everyone was on edge, he supposed, but he wanted to find her now and take her home. Just...he needed to touch her. As did his wolf. Entering the building in front of him, he knew immediately that she wasn’t there. His wolf whimpered in response.