Fighting For Their Mate

by Vella Day

  Not wanting to chance the sound of gunfire drawing others, he easily removed the men from her. He was tempted to snap their necks, but he figured their unconscious bodies would give the woman time to get out. She was so thankful that she clung to him.

  Ford had been at a loss. He didn’t want to leave her there, but he couldn’t take her back with him. Eventually, he convinced her to go, before the men awoke. Her haunted eyes bore into him. She tugged on his sleeve and motioned he come inside her house. She rushed over to a dresser. With nimble fingers she located a smooth rock in the shape of a heart and placed it in his hand, her smile full of woe. What significance it meant to her, he didn’t know, but he pocketed the item that seemed so special to her and left.

  He should have tossed it, but he never did. To this day, the smooth stone sat on his dresser as a reminder of what happened over there. He didn’t doubt that she felt a kinship to him for saving her.

  “You okay?”

  Ford looked up. A tired looking brother stood in front of him. Christ. Ford had to pull himself together. “You made it.” Stupid comment. “Where are your bags?”

  “I rushed out when I heard Bailey scream.”

  Ty had already given him the details of the abduction. “She’ll need a few changes of clothes in the coming days.” They had all their gear at the lab—assuming they could get in. “We ought to pick up a bag and a few things for her while we’re here.” The souvenir stores always sold T-shirts and hats and stuff. Wouldn’t help with the undergarments, but it would be the best they could do for now.

  “Do we have time?” Ty asked.

  The message about Bailey’s capture had come around eight this morning. It would take Dram and Tony a little over twelve hours to reach Toronto. They’d be tired and probably stop for a while.

  “By my calculations, we have a few hours head start.”

  “Then let’s do it.”

  After a quick shopping spree, they jumped in the rental for the long haul to Falling Pines.

  * * *

  Ford was exhausted by the time they arrived at the lab. It was late at night, but he needed to make sure that Bailey wasn’t already there. Stranger things had happened. They planned to sleep in their room at the lab in order to be ready when Dram and Tony did show up. Wouldn’t they be in for a big surprise?

  “I’m betting Statler deleted their access codes already,” Ty said.

  Ford shrugged. “He won’t if he thinks they can deliver Bailey.”

  He’d spoken with Statler’s secretary, Carla Dietrich, about the shunned members before he left the last time. She loved to gossip. Not the brightest bulb, considering Statler might find out. According to her, Statler blustered about eliminating all threats. The fact he let those two walk out meant he believed they might deliver his prize.

  As soon as Ford pulled into the lot, his senses shot to high alert.

  “Where are the other vehicles?” Ty asked.

  “Good question.”

  They didn’t expect anyone to be parked in front of the furniture store at this hour, but Statler had his scientists working around the clock. The lab was never without security. Ford drove to their usual parking place and eased out. His limbs were stiff, but he shook it off. “At least our long distance friends didn’t beat us here.”

  Leaving his luggage in the car, Ty followed. “This place is eerie. It’s too silent. Why isn’t someone patrolling the outside?”

  “The security lights are still on, so it’s not like they had a power outage or anything,” Ford said.

  He pressed his thumb on the scanner and leaned over for the eye scan. The door clicked open, and let Ty enter before him. Their steps echoed on the hard tile floor. They stopped and looked around.

  “Where are the inside guards?” Ty asked.

  “Good fucking question.” The hairs on his neck bristled.

  Ford glanced up to the cameras. The red dots weren’t lit. That was odd. Perhaps there had been an electrical short. “If I believed in aliens, I’d say something came in and wiped everyone out.”

  Ty moved slowly down the hallway. “This is creepy.” He peered down another hallway then continued. “Hello?”

  No one answered. “What the fuck is going on?” Ford asked more to himself than to Ty. Trouble was, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Ty held up his hand, sensing they were about to walk into a trap. The lab employed a shitload of people, many of which were enhanced shifters. Besides those workers, there were a handful of new recruits who had yet to undergo the transformation. So where the fuck were they?

  Let’s check the security center, Ford telepathed.

  Ty nodded and followed Ford to the bank of elevators. “I’m in need of some exercise,” he said loudly enough for any nearby mic to pick it up. “Let’s take the stairs.”

  “Good idea.”

  The last thing they needed was to be trapped in an elevator. The eye scanner wasn’t even lit, indicating anyone could get in. That wasn’t good. “I’d like to stop in our room for a sec.” Ty tried to act as casual as possible, but his pulse was racing at the ramification.

  Not only would that be their normal routine, Ty wanted to see if any employees were in their rooms. There had to be some explanation why the place wasn’t alarmed.

  Ford didn’t argue. As they entered the hallway, all of the room doors were closed. That wasn’t unusual, but men were often in the hallways. Shifts changed, and that necessitated some comings and goings.

  They entered their room and immediately began checking for bugs. When they came up empty-handed, Ty dropped on his bed. “What the fuck is happening? I feel like we’re in an episode of Twilight Zone.”

  “Beats me. Let’s check the security room. George, Phil, or Nate ought to be there. It’s never unmanned. They’ll have answers. From there, we’ll be able to see what’s happening in the rest of the facility.”

  Reenergized with the possibility of finding an answer, Ty levered himself up from the bed. When they reached the third sub-basement level, the eerie hum of the computers didn’t bounce off the walls like normal. The eye scanners were down, too. “What the fuck?” Ty asked.

  “Door’s open,” Ford said, as he pushed it back. “Holy shit.”

  Ty stepped behind him and whistled. “Everything’s fucking gone. Do you think Statler did it?” A heavy thud landed in his stomach. There wasn’t a computer or electronic device in sight. All that remained were the two long tables.

  Ford stabbed a hand through his hair. “Don’t know, but my guess is yes. Let’s check out the wing for the women, but I’ll wager they’re gone, too.”

  Damn. They’d been so close. “What, or rather who, tipped him off, do you think?”

  Despite the evidence they might be alone, Ty kept vigilant.

  “Dram and Tony are the most likely suspects,” Ford said. “They’ll be the golden boys now that they have Bailey. Once Statler sees her, he’ll know we’re The Pack members.”

  “I’m not buying it was those two who tipped him off.”

  “Why not?” Ford continued down the hall, but at a jog now. He took the stairs two at a time but slowed as he came to the exit door. He held up a hand and eased open the door. After looking around, he stepped back into the foyer. It was still empty.

  “Statler won’t believe them until he sees Bailey, which he has not. I’m thinking the fact Tatum escaped would be enough for him to run scared.”

  “Possibly.”

  Ford stopped. “Shit. Once Statler knows they have Bailey, he’ll tell them the new location.”

  Ty’s gut twisted. He prayed that wasn’t the case. “Would you trust those two bozos? Statler had every reason to think it’s a trap. Remember, they are supposedly Pack members.”

  Ford flashed him a quick smile. “Good point. Come on.”

  As they rushed toward the research portion of the facility, each room remained empty. Ty was more convinced they wouldn’t find
anything. They were able to run from hallway to hallway since all of the eye and fingers scanners were no longer working. A few of the doors to the women’s rooms sat open, but the insides were vacant. And by that, he meant the beds were gone, as well as the instruments.

  Ty shook his head. “When did he do this? We haven’t been gone that long.”

  “Fuck if I know. Might as well see how Statler left his office.” Ford’s shoulders were a bit slumped.

  When they reached the inner sanctum, the place had been wiped clean. The floors had been swept and every placard and bookshelf gone. “Apparently, the only thing he didn’t bother to touch was the living quarters,” Ty said.

  “We need to call the General and let him know what’s going down.”

  “No. The first thing we need to do is prepare for Bailey’s arrival.”

  Ford nodded. “We’ll have to assume they don’t know the lab has been closed down.”

  Ty shrugged. “We didn’t know. Why should they?”

  * * *

  Bailey was exhausted. She tried to sleep in the backseat, but either the men were jabbering on about stupid stuff or they turned up the volume on the radio. She suspected it was to keep them awake rather than to piss her off, not that it mattered. It prevented her from sleeping, and she was becoming more irritable and probably more irrational with each passing minute.

  They did stop for gas and food a few times, but they only let her out when the restroom had an outside access. Even then, they escorted her to the bathroom and planted their backs against the wall until she knocked to let them know she was finished. Asses.

  The last time she was inside the stall, Brad was on the phone discussing something about meeting up with a group of people. They hadn’t crossed the Canadian border, so the people wouldn’t have been from the lab. She sensed they wanted these men to go with them to Falling Pines, but why would they need reinforcements? They couldn’t know Ford might be there.

  Oh, crap. Brad and Tom had probably asked a few of their former cohorts to call them should either Ford or Tyson show up at the lab. Her stomach almost heaved at the thought. Here she was being little miss smug, picturing her men beating the shit out of these two and saving her. Her hope now would be if Statler had told everyone to keep an eye out for Brad and Tom and to stop them at all cost. She almost smiled, picturing those two being dragged inside.

  Then reality intruded. She’d be dragged inside, too. Once she entered that terrible place, she’d be escorted, probably in chains, directly to Statler’s office. She closed her eyes to keep the tears at bay and tried to think of happy thoughts—that of loving her men.

  As evening drew near, Brad pulled off the highway. She sat up, wondering why he was getting off the main road. Nothing was out here. Surely, they didn’t plan on killing her. Tension gripped the muscles in her neck and she rolled her shoulders to relieve the pain, but it didn’t help. “What are you doing?”

  “Pull off over there,” Tom said, completely ignoring her question.

  Brad headed down a dark road, bordered on both side with thick shrubs. He drove onto the berm and stopped. Without a word, Tom got out. The trunk popped, and he returned with a piece of cloth and plastic tie wraps.

  “Get out,” he commanded.

  She debated disobeying, but she was no match for their strength. Dread swirling inside her veins, she eased out. Bailey did everything slowly. The longer she delayed, the sooner Tyson would find her. Hopefully, she’d be alive when he did.

  Tom held up the cloth. “Turn around.”

  “Why?”

  He lifted a hand and smacked her across the face. The shock nearly stopped her heart. She’d never been hit before, and tears welled in her eyes. Her knees buckled. She dropped to the ground and covered her stinging face.

  “Jesus Christ. Get up,” Tom shouted.

  Her cheek pulsated and was swelling fast. When Ford and Tyson learned what he’d done, she hoped they did the same to him. Before Bailey had a chance to compose herself, Tom pulled her to her feet. He jerked her around and yanked her arms behind her back. Quickly, he wound plastic around her wrists and pulled it tight, pinching her skin.

  “Why are you doing this?” She choked out the words.

  “We’re going across the border. Can’t have you seen or make any noise.” He slid the cloth over her mouth and panic ripped up her spine. She inhaled and found it hard to breathe.

  He lifted her up with ease and tossed her in the trunk, banging her elbow, knee, and hip. Fucking jerks.

  “Be careful,” Brad said. Statler will be pissed if she’s too beat up.”

  Tom shook his head, grabbed her ankles, and tied them together. “Make any noise and we’ll make sure you die a slow and painful death.”

  Good thing she was gagged or else she’d have tossed back a sassy remark. Her ladylike filter had long since disappeared. The hood closed and the fear began.

  * * *

  “How do you want to do this?” Ford asked as they exited the lab with their gear in tow.

  Ty leaned against the hood and glanced to the area behind the building. “The big question is: if you were Dram and Tony, how would you handle the exchange? Drive right up and escort Bailey inside?”

  Ford had been trying to think like them, too. “It’s possible. They always were arrogant, especially Tony. He was the brighter of the two.”

  “The real question is when they come here, how long will it take them to realize the place is deserted? Should we be inside or outside?”

  Ford blew out a breath. “Inside or we won’t be able to shift without possible notice.”

  Ty raised his brows. “Do you think they’re better fighters as humans or wolves?”

  “Even though they had the extra week of instruction, I’m going to say I can take them down in either form. Just make sure you get Bailey out of here.”

  “You don’t think they’ll bring backup?”

  “If they have any sense they will. To stand watch, if nothing else. They won’t believe they can waltz in with the others, even if they are shifters.”

  “Perhaps it’s time to call the General. He might be able to send someone over.”

  His brother was grasping at straws. “We’re in bumfuck nowhere. There won’t be time. We can handle anything they can bring. Remember, they aren’t enhanced.”

  Ty nodded. “I guess we need to head inside.”

  “On second thought, how about if you stay out here and lie in wait? If they suspect something’s up, they might separate.”

  Ty’s brows pinched. “Why do I get the cold end of things?”

  “Because I’m the better fighter.”

  Ty’s punch to the gut came so fast, Ford didn’t have time to twist aside. The blow wasn’t hard, but it served to remind him that he needed to be alert. “Ready?”

  “As ever.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The static from Ford’s radio mic jarred him to attention. “Car coming,” Ty said.

  Chills consumed him, knowing that Bailey was near. They had to save her. Drawing on his training to remain alert, Ford worried it wouldn’t go as planned. This whole setup didn’t sit well with him. He truly had thought Dram and Tony would wait to drop off Bailey until morning because Statler wouldn’t be here at this hour. What was their plan? Find an empty room and strap her down for the night? It made little sense. Then again, this was Dram and Tony.

  “Correction,” Ty said. “Two cars are arriving.”

  Fuck. “How many men?”

  “Looks like Dram and Tony are in the first car, and three others are in the second.”

  Five against two. “What about Bailey?” His pulse shot up, worried they wouldn’t bring her yet.

  “Can’t see her. They’re slowing down, though. The vehicle in front is shining his lights on our car.”

  “I trust they haven’t seen you?” Ford didn’t know why he asked. Ty was an expert in staying hidden. His twin could remain still for hours.

  “I’m
not answering that. They’ve stopped. Over and out.”

  From here on out, they’d play it by ear. Ford repositioned himself behind the main door. They wouldn’t expect an attack as soon as they entered, but he’d only have a second to charge since they’d sense someone was near. Ford removed his mic and set it on the floor. He then shifted. The attack would be more vicious with wolf against human—or in this case, wolf against humans, depending on who came in.

  Voices sounded outside the main entrance. It was time. The click of the door release sounded louder than a gunshot. Ford sensed two men—probably Dram and Tony.

  “Something’s not right,” Dram said to a man Ford didn’t recognize. Their backs were to him, but Tony was taller than Dram and this man was a good three inches shorter.

  Just as Ford was about to attack, the door opened again. More men arrived, but this time with Bailey. He pushed his thoughts to Statler and the scum that he was in order not to let his hormones rule. If Ford thought about what she’d been through, he’d have lost his edge.

  Dram turned around and his eyes widened. “You.”

  Ford launched himself at Dram’s leg and bit hard.

  The man yelped. Pussy. Attacking a leg wouldn’t have a big effect. He had to get to his jugular. As he released Dram’s leg, the man dropped to his knees. It was a small victory, but in seconds, he’d heal.

  Around them chaos descended. Fur flew, bodies spun, and bones cracked. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Ty, who’d raced in and shifted. As much as his brother probably wanted to grab Bailey and whisk her away, she’d be safer if—and that was a big if—they could take down all of these men. Right now, there were five adversaries against the two of them.