Chase stepped forward, a low growl emitting from his throat. “You were fucking when Slade’s mate was stolen?”
A red haze of anger washed over Slade and when the change hit him, he did not fight it. Shifting quickly, he launched himself at Kent, attacking the man in blind rage. The enforcer was no match for Slade, and soon he was on the ground, bleeding severely from several wounds.
“Enough.” The deep, commanding voice of his alpha was the only thing that stopped Slade from killing the other man. He wanted to tear out Kent’s throat to show the other’s in the room what happened when anyone allowed his precious mate to be taken. His wolf growled in agreement, but Chase would not allow it.
“Let him go, Slade.” Chase’s tone brooked no argument, no matter how much Slade wanted to fight the command.
Loosening his jaw where it was currently wrapped around the enforcer’s throat, Slade stepped back and growled in warning, before shifting. Baring his teeth, he snarled, “Gypsy is back in the hands of a psychopath who tortured her for months, a man I promised her I would keep her safe from, because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants while you were supposed to be ensuring the safety of not only my mate, but everyone in this compound.”
When Tori stepped forward, Chase turned to her with a low growl. “You are both stripped of your enforcer titles, and will be placed in solitary confinement until I am ready to deal with you.”
“But, Alpha...”
“No!” Chase’s voice boomed throughout the small room. “You were under oath to protect this pack. You broke that oath. Now go!”
As Kent struggled to rise, Tori shrank back towards the door. “Please,” she whispered, “we didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Chase turned from her without another word. Bran motioned to Sable and Charlotte, “Take them and lock them up.”
“Slade,” Becca called out from where she was still typing furiously into her keyboard. “I think I found something!”
Stalking over to a cupboard, Chase opened a door and removed a pair of jogging pants he kept there just in case something like this happened. When someone shifted with clothes on, it shredded them, leaving nothing but tatters. Throwing the pants to Slade, he said, “I will deal with Kent and Tori. You concentrate on Gypsy.”
Slade slipped into them quickly, before moving to Becca’s side. “Talk to me.”
“I found six properties under the name Titus Fendricks. I was able to eliminate four of them because they do not have basements.” Pointing to her computer screen Becca said, “This one is all of the way across the states, but this one is just a six hour drive from here. It matches the timeframe if he took her and drove straight there.”
“That’s exactly what he did!” Jade exclaimed, looking at the properties highlighted on the screen in front of her. “He would have to have a private jet or helicopter to fly her all of the way to New York. From what you found out, he doesn’t own anything like that, and there’s no way they would be there already if he drove.”
“Figure out the fastest way to get there and send us the coordinates,” Chase ordered Becca. “Slade, Bran, Jade, and I will go.”
“We are going to,” Xavier said, stalking into the room. He was pale, but he moved easily, showing no outer sign of pain. He was dressed for battle, with his sidearm strapped to his leg, another on his hip, and a knife hooked to his belt. “Gypsy saved my life. Aiden and I are going to help save hers.”
“I appreciate that, Xavier,” Slade said, “but we can’t have you slowing us down.”
“Have I ever slowed you down before?” Xavier demanded. “I’m fucking going, whether it is with you, or on my own.”
“The fastest route I can find will still take you approximately five and a half hours to drive,” Becca interrupted. “I can’t find anything quicker.”
“I have a guy at the airport that owes me a favor,” Bran said. “I’ll get him to fly us there.”
“I already checked, and the closest airport to where Gypsy is being held is just fifteen minutes away. I will make sure you have a vehicle waiting when you land,” Becca promised.
“Good” Chase said shortly. “Get your gear, and let’s get out of here. You have ten minutes to meet me out front.”
Everyone left quickly, but Jade grabbed Slade’s arm tightly before he could slip out of the conference room. She looked as if she were fighting an inner war before she finally said, “Slade, I promised Gypsy I would relay a message to you.” Slade stiffened at the seriousness in her gaze. “She wants you to know that she understands why you chose to marry Sarah.” Slade fought tears as Jade’s eyes filled with compassion, “She said to tell you she loves you, and always will.”
She loved him. Even after everything that had happened, Gypsy loved him. “I have to go,” he growled, pulling his arm from Jade. He had to get out of there before he lost it. As Slade ran for his apartment to grab clothes and weapons, all he could think about was a pair of large, dark brown eyes full of sadness as they turned away from him. He had failed Gypsy once, but he would not do it again.
Chapter 14
Gypsy’s heart pounded in fear as she stared into the cold, heartless eyes returning her gaze, but she refused to show Titus the affect he had on her. Straightening her spine, she glared at him as she waited for him to speak.
Titus’s mouth quirked up into an evil smirk as he reached down and cupped himself through his slacks. “You are finally mine to do with as I please. I’ve waited so long for this. I love to see the defiance in your eyes, my pet. It will be so much better if you fight me.”
Gypsy froze as his meaning sank in. “Don’t you dare touch me,” she spat, fighting the urge to brandish the knife in front of her. She could not show her hand too soon, or she would never get the chance to shove the blade through his cold heart. Could she really do it? Could she take a life? The answer was yes. To protect herself, to live to spend another day with Slade and Sari, she would do whatever it took.
“Oh, I am going to do more than just touch you,” Titus said darkly, as he let go of himself to remove a key from his pocket. “I’m going to do many, many things to you.” The cell door creaked open, and he stepped toward her. “Things you might not like now, but you will soon.”
Gypsy held her ground, breathing harshly as terror raced through her. Just a little closer, she thought, reaching behind her back to grasp the handle of the knife. A couple more steps...that was all she needed.
“I am going to train you to obey my every command,” Titus said, taking one more step toward her. “Before long, you will not only want my touch, you will crave it.”
“Never,” she hissed as he took the last step into her space. Swinging her arm around, she embedded the blade deep into his stomach, missing his heart by several inches.
“You fucking bitch,” he yelled, grabbing her roughly and throwing her across the cell.
Gypsy cried out in pain as she fell to the floor, gasping when she landed on her broken arm. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she fought to stay conscious. A hand grasped hold of her hair and yanked her to her feet, and she screamed when the back of Titus’s hand connected with her cheek, dropping her to the ground once again. Bringing his foot back, he kicked her hard twice in the ribs. “Be ready, my pet,” he ordered with one last kick, “After I fix this bloody mess you made, I will be back. You will learn who is boss!” Stalking out of the cell, Titus slammed the door shut before stomping up the stairs, shutting the lights off behind him.
Lying on the hard, cold, cement floor, Gypsy clutched her useless arm to her aching ribs and cried. How had she let him get the better of her? She’d had the knife; the power. She should have at least been able to incapacitate him long enough to get away. Pain racked her body as she lay there afraid to move. Now what was she going to do? She had no weapon. She was defenseless.
It was so dark. Gypsy loved the night, but she had learned to hate the dark when she was unable to see the moon and the stars above. As she la
y there, a sliver of light slipped through a small window on the back wall. She gasped as more came through another window on the wall above Titus’s torture devices. The moon.
Gritting her teeth, Gypsy pushed herself up on her good arm. The light from the moon slowly made its way across the floor, until it stopped just inside her cell. Slowly, she began to drag herself toward her salvation, as ragged sobs were torn from her throat. It seemed to take forever, but soon she lay just in front of the cell door, her body bathed by the moonlight. Her eyes resting on the crest of the moon outside the window, she chanted softly,
Blessed Mother above,
Breathe your light into me,
Share with me your power,
Take my pain and suffering.
She repeated the words over and over, as tears of agony streamed down her face. The tingling started first in her fingers, spreading up her arms, over her shoulders, and then down her body. The glow around her became brighter and brighter, and she lay in shock as she felt her pain slowly starting to recede. It was working! Panting loudly, she rasped,
Blessed Mother above,
Breathe your light into me,
Share with me your power,
Your strength, and your energy.
Hearing the door at the top of the steps open, Gypsy lay still on the ground, waiting for Titus to come down the stairs. It didn’t take long, and she continued chanting under her breath, even as he stood in front of her cell in shock.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded. When Gypsy didn’t respond, he unlocked the door and yanked it open. Grasping her by her arms, he pulled her roughly to her feet in front of him.
Gypsy stared into his eyes as she chanted louder and louder. Waves of energy coursed through her broken body, building and building. When she felt as if she could not stand it anymore, she reached out and placed her right hand on Titus’s chest, just over his heart. With everything she had, Gypsy shoved the energy from herself into Titus. It was like a huge bolt of electricity slamming into his chest, and he dropped her to the floor as it threw him across the room against his wall of toys.
Gypsy lifted her head weakly to look at the monster of her dreams, where he now lay on his back a mere twenty feet from her. His face was turned toward her, his eyes wide open in death, smoke rising from his body. Sighing, she lowered her head back to the floor as darkness swamped her.
Chapter 15
Slade slowly crept around the outside of the old farmhouse, Jade right behind him. The place was creepy as hell, with old, rotted out boards falling off the side of it, several broken windows, and large holes in the roof. At least ten miles from the nearest town, out in the middle of nowhere, it was the perfect place to take someone if you did not want to be found.
Stopping at the corner of the house, Slade closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, wondering what the acrid smell was that seemed to be creeping up from the basement. Holding a hand up to Jade, he silently made his way to the window nearest to him and knelt down, peaking in. Unable to see clearly, he shook his head, rising and moving quickly to the front of the house. Just as he started up the front steps, Jade rushed past him. “Jade,” he hissed, hurrying to keep up, “wait. You’re going to put Gypsy in danger!”
Jade shook her head as she looked back. “There is only one person alive in this house, Slade, and it isn’t Titus.”
“What?”
Ignoring him, Jade entered the house and ran swiftly across what looked like the living room. “All clear!” Slade yelled as he followed. He made his way down a long hallway, gun drawn and ready.
“She’s this way,” Jade said quietly, as they entered the kitchen. “There!” The doorway to the basement was by the back porch, and soon he and Jade were both through it and running down the stairs. Before his eyes could adjust to the dark, someone up above flipped on the light switch, and Slade looked around in horror.
Titus lay dead on one side of the basement, staring sightlessly at them, and appearing as if he had been fried from the inside out. There were burn marks on the walls, and the ceiling was scorched. Slade realized that Titus had been what he had smelled outside. The stench of burnt flesh was overwhelming in the basement.
Gypsy was on the other side of the room, just inside a crudely made jail cell. She lay broken and bloody on the ground, appearing as if she too, were dead.
She could not be gone. He would know if she was. He would know! “No,” he moaned, crossing the floor to her and dropping to his knees. “Noooo!” Slade gathered Gypsy in his arms and rocked her back and forth, burying his face in her neck as screams of denial tore from his throat.
“Fuck me,” Aiden whispered from the bottom of the stairs where he stood in shock.
Everyone watched in silence as Slade held his mate, praying she was alive, but wondering how anyone could live through something like that. It looked like a battle that no one had won.
“Slade,” Jade said, gently touching his shoulder. He shrugged her off and clutched Gypsy tighter to him. “Slade, stop. You’re going to hurt her.”
That got his attention. Hurt her? She was dead, wasn’t she? She lay limp in his arms, not moving. Pulling back, he looked at Jade in desperation. “She’s alive?” he asked, daring to hope.
“Yes,” Jade promised with a small smile. “Your mate lives, but we must get her back to Doc Josie quickly.”
With shaky hands, Slade rested two fingers on the side of Gypsy’s neck, relief hitting him when he felt a faint pulse. She was alive, but Jade was right. They needed to get her to Doc Josie. Holding her close, Slade stood, lifting her in his arms.
“Let’s take her home,” Chase said, clasping a hand on Slade’s shoulder. Glancing over at Titus, he growled, “Make sure the bastard is dead, and then burn this place to the ground, with him in it.”
Twenty-four hours later, Slade sat by Gypsy’s bedside, her hand clasped tightly in his. The doctor had taped up her badly bruised ribs and reset her broken arm. She said Gypsy also suffered from a mild concussion, and that she would be very uncomfortable for days to come, but she would make a full recovery.
Sari sat curled up in a chair in the corner, sound asleep. She had refused to leave her sister’s side since they had been back. Slade understood, because he had not left either. He needed to be there when she woke up. He wanted to be the first thing she saw, so she would know she was safe.
Slade reached out and lightly traced a finger down the side of her badly bruised and battered face. Gypsy had been through so much in the past year. She had gone through the unimaginable and survived. She was strong and courageous, and he was so proud to call her his. Leaning forward, he whispered softly, “Come back to me, baby. I need you.” Resting his head on their hands, he closed his eyes.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat like that before he felt the slight movement against his fingertips. Raising his head, he whispered Gypsy’s name just as her eyes fluttered open. Slowly, she looked around the room and then back at him in confusion. “Slade?”
“I’m here,” he rasped, fighting tears. “I’m right here, and you’re safe, Gypsy.” Cupping her cheek in his palm, he bent down to kiss her gently on the lips. “We’re back at the compound.”
“Titus?” she asked softly.
“He’s gone, Gypsy. You never have to worry about him again.” He expected to see relief in her eyes, but instead saw horror and self-condemnation. “Gypsy...”
“I killed him,” she whispered raggedly, trying to tug her hand from his. “I’m a murderer.”
“No,” Slade growled, “you are a survivor, Gypsy Layne. A fucking survivor, and I am so proud of you.”
Gypsy’s lower lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears. “I told myself I would do whatever I had to do to get back to you and Sari. But, Slade, I took a life!”
Sliding onto the bed beside Gypsy, Slade wrapped her in his arms carefully, holding her close. He didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. He would have killed the bastard himself in a heartbeat and s
aved her the guilt if he could have. Nuzzling the top of her head with his chin, he rasped, “I was so scared when I found out Titus had taken you.” When she didn’t respond, he whispered, “I was afraid I would never see you again, never get to hold you and tell you how much you mean to me.”
Gypsy stilled, pulling back slightly to look up at him. “Me, too. Did Jade tell you what I told her to?” she asked quietly.
Cupping her cheek in the palm of his hand, he looked her in the eyes as he said, “I wish I could tell you that I would have done things differently over a hundred years ago if I had known you were coming to me someday, Gypsy. But, I honestly can’t say that. I loved Sarah, and I was happy with her. I am grateful for the time we got together. Losing her and my child was devastating.”
“Oh my God, Slade,” Gypsy gasped, covering his hands with hers. “I didn’t know you lost a child too. I am so sorry!”
“I lost them both in childbirth,” he told her roughly. Leaning his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I want to tell you I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you, Gypsy, but I will never lie to you. What I will tell you, though, is that you are the light to my darkness. You have brightened my world since you came into my life, and you make me feel things that I haven’t felt in a century. I want to be your mate, in every sense of the word, if you will have me. I will spend the rest of our lives doing everything in my power to keep you safe and make you happy.”
A tremulous smile crossed Gypsy’s lips, her eyes shining with emotion. “I want that too, Slade.”
“Good.” Kissing her softly, he said, “I want to do this right. I want to have a mating ceremony soon, so that we can pledge our lives together in front of the pack.”
“Okay,” Gypsy agreed softly, “When?”
“Not for a couple of weeks at least,” Doc Josie said from the doorway. “You need to be stronger to handle the shift.”
Slade didn’t want to wait, but he knew the doctor was right. After everything Gypsy had gone through, she needed time to heal. Then her words sank in. Why hadn’t he thought about the fact that Gypsy was human? Going through the change would be hell on her small body.
Slade's Desire (White River Wolves Series, #2) Page 10
