by Bryce Evans
Putting his hand on his shoulder, Kingston patted then walked over to the chair and sat down. “You owe me nothing my friend. Nothing at all. Your friendship has kept me going.” Kingston was eaten up with guilt. He had so much to say to Libby, but before he could the accident happened and he never got to ask her if it was all a lie. If their life together was just a lie. “I just want Emerson happy, and she looked destroyed when she left. Maybe I should let her live her life. Maybe—”
“Dammit man. She was mating with a filthy animal just like Libby did but I took care of that just like I took care of this.”
Kingston looked up at him. “What…what did you say?”
“Nothing. I took care of this with Emerson. The wolf is now out of the picture. Don’t start folding on me now. We have come to far.” Franklin glanced at his watch. I’ve got to go. I need to get this finished tomorrow.”
Kingston nodded. He got up and walked his best friend to the door and shook his hand.
“Poker game Friday night.” Franklin said with a smile.
“Of course, we need to break in the new table.”
“Yes we do. See you soon.” Franklin walked out the door.
Kingston couldn’t think clearly. The look on his daughter’s face disturbed him. “What if she never got over it? When Libby told him about the shifter she was mated too, he couldn’t believe it. He researched and researched shifters and their mates. Everything he read talked about what happens when a shifter meets their mate. It’s not something they can fake or even change. At least that’s what the books said. But how could his wife who told him he loved him and their daughter just want to pick up and leave him. No, he wasn’t going to go through this again. Emerson would meet someone of her own kind. It would be better for her. She would be safe.
Chapter Nineteen
“No cell service right now,” Nash said, pushing his phone across the table.
“It’s the storm,” Jonas answered. His head was laid back against the window and his eyes were closed. Nash looked outside as the snow continued to fall harder. “Unfortunately, they said it would be like this until the morning. Relax, Nash. I promise that once she realizes she made a terrible mistake, she’ll come back and apologize.”
“Plus, her car won’t run,” Ashland commented, looking out the window.
“What did you do, Ash?”
Ashland Wilder shrugged and said, “Just took a belt off so she couldn’t leave, and Bernie knows not to answer his phone until we get back. He owes me a favor so I called it in.”
“My mate the matchmaker,” Larsen Wilder said, kissing Ash on the cheek.
“I appreciate you trying to help, Ash, but Emerson has been through a lot and I don’t want to push her too far. I just want her for once to see me and to know that we are mates and that I would never touch another woman.” His friends sat quietly, listening. “Any word on the witch yet?”
“Can’t get through because of the storm,” Larsen replied. “But the guys will locate her, Nash.”
“I still can’t believe her father would stoop so low.”
Jansen leaned up to the table, looking serious. “You don’t know these kind of people, Nash.” He laughed then shook his head. “These are purebloods, which means arranged marriages to make sure the bloodlines are kept pure. Vicious people, that’s what they are. They’ll stop at nothing to get their way.
“I’m truly sorry you’re having to go through this. Not all of my kind feels the same way they do. It’s only a small group of them who continue on with this aristocratic way of thinking. They actually bring their kids up this way, making it a vicious cycle. Some of their kids run away and we never hear from them again. It shows me that Emerson is strong if she told her father that she was going to join the Unit and then left. I still think we haven’t seen the last of Emerson Prescott. She’ll see the truth, Nash. I know it’s hard for you to hear this because you want your mate near you and safe, but she’s with Jessie and that woman is one powerful witch. She’ll take care of her.”
“I hope you’re right,” Nash said looking out the window as the snow continued to fall.
Emerson and Jessie walked through the door at the lodge. There wasn’t time to enjoy the big fire inside the fireplace or the sweets tickling their noses; Emerson was on a mission to find her father and get the truth.
She stopped and turned around. “Jessie, I need to handle this on my own. I hope you understand that.”
“I do. Just remember I’m your friend, and if you ever need me, just call me or come to the house.” Jessie started to walk off, then stopped and glanced back. “Emerson, ask everything you ever wanted to know. Get it all out in the open.”
“I will, and thank you for being my friend. You don’t know how much that means to me.” Emerson pulled Jesse to her and gave her a hug.
Smiling, Jessie pulled away and walked out the door. Emerson took a deep breath, turned around and went in search of her father. She didn’t have to go very far; he was sitting at a table in the back of the dining hall. There were only a few people left, since dinner wouldn’t start for a couple of hours. His head was bowed and he staring at the table. Not like the strong-willed man she knew. He looked like the world was on his shoulders, but she couldn’t feel sorry for him right now. No, she had to do this and tell him exactly how she felt.
Pushing her shoulders back, she walked into the dining room and sat down across from him. It took him a few seconds for him to realize someone was sitting there.
“Emerson?” Her father’s eyes widened, and then he smiled. “I’ve been looking for you. I thought you left.”
“Just tell me why you did it.”
“Did what?” This was the man she knew—he straightened up and pushed that chin out like he was somebody. The privileged of her kind all acted like they were special, but they were human just like her.
“Why did you hire a witch and do that to Nash? He’s never done anything to you. He’s a good man.”
“He’s an animal, Emerson. Don’t you see that?” Kingston reached out to touch her arm, and she jerked it back.
“What made you so hateful? Was it just because of Mom? I forgive her, Dad. Was she going to leave us, or just you? Did you tell her that you would crush her if she tried to take me too?”
“Yes!” Kingston slammed his hand against the table, making the silverware jump.
“I’m sorry she did that to you, but I would’ve stayed with you. I wouldn’t have left with her.”
“What?”
“I would’ve stayed with you. Why is that so hard to believe? If she had made the choice to leave, then I would’ve stayed. I would’ve picked you.”
“She said that you wanted to go with her. She said that she was taking you with her and her mate.”
“No, Father. I loved Mom, but you were the one I was the closest with. But it really doesn’t matter now, because you don’t love me enough to believe me.”
“Of course I do, Emerson. You’re my daughter.”
Emerson laughed. “I hear you say that, but I don’t see it in actions. In fact, I see you doing everything you can to make me hate you. I love Nash. You tried to keep us apart by hiring a witch to cast a spell on him. It’s not going to work. My dream was to work for the Unit, and you did everything you could to destroy that for me. Simply because of what Mom did to you? Why, why, do you hate me so much?”
Shaking his head, Kingston reached across the table, “I love you, but I won’t see you with that animal. You’ll be ruined back home.”
Emerson huffed. “You think I care what those people say about me? I never cared what they thought. They’re so caught up in being purebloods that they forget to live life to the fullest. You create loveless marriages and you pretend to be something you’re not. I could care less how much money someone has or who they’re married to. I only care that they love each other.
“But you treat me like I’m stupid and need a man of pure blood to take care of me. Well I don’t, and
I’ll never go back to that place with you. I’m staying here with my mate, to work for the Unit. If you don’t like that, I feel sorry for you. And you can go back home and make believe that I don’t exist, because you’ve been doing that since Mother died. Go home, Father, and never come back if you can’t be happy for me.” Emerson got up, while her father still stared at her. “Good-bye.”
Turning around and leaving was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she had to do this for herself or she’d be trapped in a fake life just like her father was. Not her; she had someone who loved her back. She had someone who would never leave her. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and tried to call Nash. The phone beeped, showing no connection. The snow was coming down pretty hard, so she figured she would call him in a few once it stopped. He had to be worried about her, and to be honest she was worried about him too.
There it was again, in the back of her mind. Something continued to bother her. It was only in little flashes, and she couldn’t make out what it was. A box of some kind popped into her mind, but then it went away as quick as it came.
Getting in the elevator, she pushed the button to her floor and closed her eyes. She could do this. Taking a deep breath, Emerson opened her eyes and held on as the elevator started to move. She waited for the panic to set in, but nothing happened. Not even a slight increase in her breathing or the slightest trembling. It was incredible, and she owed it all to Nash for getting her through this. He was the one who’d taken her mind off what happened every time they got inside the elevator. It had worked so well that now she had no fear or panic attacks. It was his love that cured her, and his unyielding belief that she was a strong woman who could overcome the tragedy that happened to her.
How could she have ever believed he would cheat on her? Nash Wilder was the most loving, kind, gentle man she’d ever known. She couldn’t be more thankful that the fates picked her to be his mate. Every day she would have to show him just has special he was to her.
Getting out of the elevator, Emerson smiled at Josh Winston, who was sitting in a chair reading the newspaper. He got up and smiled as she walked over to her room.
“Hey Emerson.” She could see the sadness in his eyes; he was clearly thinking she was there to get her things.
“I’m not leaving, Josh.”
Josh walked over to her and hugged her. “Thank you. I knew you two were meant to be together. You do love him, right?”
“Yes, I do. I wish he were here so I could tell him that, but he’s gone with the Unit. With the storm, I can’t get through. So if it’s okay I want to lay down and rest. I’m exhausted.”
“Sounds good. My replacement will be here shortly just like before, but if you need anything let me know.” Before Emerson could close the door, Josh spoke again. “Emerson, I’m glad you’re staying. Nash is a good man; he’ll make a good mate for you.”
“I know, Josh. I know he is.” Smiling, she shut the door and went over to the bed and took off her shoes. Right now all she wanted to do was lay down. She could still smell Nash’s musky scent all over the bed from when they made love. There was an ache in her heart from missing him already. There were a lot of different layers to Nash Wilder, and she look forward to peeling them back one at a time. If only she could reach him.
Chapter Twenty
Emerson jerked awake and looked around the room. She’d fallen sleep with the lights still on. She could still see the box she’d been dreaming about. It was so vivid that she searched her memory further to see why the white shipping box was so important.
Getting up from the bed Emerson walked over to the window. Leaning against it, she shivered as the coldness pressed against her forehead. It took her back to lying on that table as the cold air from the vents above her blew against her naked body. Only a sheet covered her as she listened to the two women talking.
They were discussing where her blood was going. The lady holding the box said that the witch’s blood was going to the North Carolina facility. The address was written in black ink in bold letters. Then she said that if anyone tried to find them there, they’d set a trap for them. There was another building down the road where all the mail went, but that wasn’t where they were performing all the tests. It was at another company down the road.
When the other lady asked what the trap was, the lady holding the box said, “Let’s just say the building will go boom.” They actually laughed about it as she lay on that cold table; not caring one bit that they were illegally killing paranormals for their blood. Torturing them and God only knew what else went on. She was one of the lucky ones who got out, but there had to be more still hidden and tortured every day. She read the address on the outside of the box. That was what was so important. It was in North Carolina: 5781 Sutton Road. But the woman said that they only received mail there and then someone drove it down to the other facility. This one was just a front.
Emerson had heard it all, but didn’t think anything about it until now.
She opened her eyes and started shaking. What if the Unit was going to the wrong address? They would be blown up without ever knowing they were walking into a trap. She picked up her phone and called Nash’s number again. The phone went straight to voice mail. She left a frantic message, telling Nash to not go to the address because it could be a trap. She remembered the address and she had to find out if they were going to the wrong building.
Sliding her shoes on, Emerson ran to the door, scaring the hell out of Josh who immediately went on alert. “What’s wrong, Emerson?”
“I’ve got to talk to Lilly.” She would know where they were going because her mate had also gone with Nash and the Unit.
Narrowing his eyes, Josh looked down at his watch and said, “Okay. I would think she’s asleep right now.”
“Josh, you don’t know much about me, but my mate is with the Unit. I think they are going to the wrong place and it’s a trap. I’ve got to talk to Lilly now.”
Josh didn’t hesitate, and dialed Lilly’s number.
“Lilly, I’m sorry to bother you but I have Emerson here… Yes ma’am, she’s okay, but she says she needs to talk to you now.” Josh handed her the phone.
“Oh Lilly, I remembered something from the kidnapping, and I think Nash and the Unit are going to the wrong building. The building is just a front, in case anyone ever caught on to them being there. They would go to this building first and it would blow up. It’s a trap. Do you remember what address they’re going to?”
She waited for Lilly to check her notes. “It’s 5781 Sutton Road. Please tell me that’s not the wrong building. The one that’s going to blow up?”
“It’s the wrong building.” Her heart actually felt like it was going to fall out of her chest. She had to warn them.
“We need to try everyone’s voice mail. I’m getting Joseph to help me call all of their phones.” Emerson could hear the fear in Lilly’s voice. Her family and mate were with the Unit. They’d needed everyone. If she’d been with them this wouldn’t have happened. She would have known that was the wrong address. “Can you try Nash’s phone again?”
“I’ve tried, but it goes straight to voice mail. They have to be halfway there by now. If they don’t check their messages it will be too late.” Emerson closed her eyes, trying to think of a way to warn them. “I’ve got to talk to my dad. He has a private jet here and if we can get the pilot to fly me, maybe I can get there before them.”
Emerson gave Josh his phone, then ran to the elevator. “Come on.” When the elevator opened, Josh got in with her. “I’m supposed to follow you wherever you go.”
“By whose orders, Josh?”
“The king himself, and I always follow my king’s orders.”
Emerson just shook her head. “Okay, but be prepared for the snarkiest man you ever met.”
Josh just nodded and winked. “I think I can handle it.”
“What if I don’t get there in time? What if they go in and someone activates the alarm and the place blows up
?”
Without waiting for an answer, Emerson jumped out the door and ran to her father’s room. She knocked hard, then took a step back, realizing that she had to calm down and get her emotions under control.
The door opened and her father smiled. “You’re here.” Kingston’s eyes widened when he saw her face. “What’s wrong?”
“You have to help me. Nash and the Unit are going to the wrong place. I remembered the address, and it’s the one they use for a front and it will blow up if they go inside. I have to stop them.”
“Just call them, Emerson.”
“It’s the storm, I can’t get through. If we use your jet, we may get there before them. Please, I’ve never asked you for anything but I’m begging you now. Please help me.”
“Okay.” She was shocked when the man didn’t ask any more questions or say no. She figured groveling and pleading with him would be her only shot. Kingston turned around and retrieved his wallet and keys, then followed them out the door.
“Let me call the pilot.” Kingston pulled out his phone but it went straight to voice mail, too.
“It’s the storm,” Josh said, staring at the man.
“Father, this Josh Winston. He’s a guard for the king, Sindrid Abner.”
Josh bowed to her father. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
Her father looked just as shocked at how Josh greeted him.
“Nice to meet you, too. How long have you been a guard for the king?” Kingston asked.
“Over a hundred years, sir. My king has truly blessed me.” Emerson held onto the pole in the elevator. This man had been on this earth over a hundred years. The things he had to have seen in his lifetime were extraordinary.
