Stalked (Rogues Shifter #2)
Page 24
Garrett's voice: I was instantly in Jackie’s room, sitting on her bed and reading the note. I sent Sash to get Bridgett, put Rick in charge of security at the house and then raced to the woods, dialing Liam’s number as I ran as fast as I possibly could. He appeared in the field at the same time I arrived. This was the location she’d written down in her note and as we both looked around and sniffed the air, I could smell her scent mingled with the odor of her terror. Kennet’s scent was there as well, but they’d apparently left through the lines, making it impossible to trace them.
Another hiss shot from my mouth. I looked at Liam’s face and all I could read there was empathy and concern. Why wasn’t he angry? Why wasn’t he growing fangs and spitting out flames?
I glared at him. “Why? Why would she agree to trade herself, maybe her life, for that stupid bitch?” The rage was making me tremble. In a few minutes I was going to be looking for something or someone to rip apart. I thought about Sasha bringing Bridgett to the house and almost smiled.
Liam spoke soothingly to calm the dangerous change taking place in me. “This is Jackie’s first experience with a real family. She wants desperately for it to work. The healer in her dictates many of her actions.” He shook his head in frustration and raised his voice. “I’m sure there are a dozen reasons, Garrett. She did what she thought was right. Jackie will never change in that way.”
My eyes were tingling with silver. “When I see the sister, I might kill her.” I couldn’t bring myself to say her name. She’d been nothing but trouble since the first day she'd met Jackie. But this was beyond anything else. She’d gone out of Maya’s safely warded house at night, alone, knowing that Kennet was out there waiting for an opportunity to use someone as a hostage.
“Garrett, you should think about what Jackie would want you to do.”
I shouted at him. “She wants me to save her from Kennet and bring her home safely, Liam. She’d be home now if it wasn’t for that…” I paced back and forth across the clearing.
“I know you’re blaming yourself, but guilt is useless now. You were downstairs at a meeting, not out leaving her unprotected. No one could have predicted these circumstances.”
“You weren’t there either.” He met my accusing gaze. Pain and guilt rippled across his features, which only made me feel worse. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Right now, I want to rip out Bridgett’s throat. I may need you there to stop me.”
He placed a hand on my arm. “We should all meet back at your house where we can question her and plan a search. It’s best if you organize it.” Liam was easy for me to read tonight. He knew that if I was occupied I’d be less likely to tear into Bridgett with my fangs. But it was so tempting. I smelled blood and looked down, surprised to see that my fingernails had dug into my palms, my blood dripping on the grass.
“Come back with me now.” Liam was not allowing himself to give into the rage he must also be feeling. I'd need to reach down and pull up that same kind of control if I was going to find her.
I nodded and watched as the crescent shaped wounds disappeared on my palms. “I’ll come in a minute. Could you tell Sasha to take Bridgett to the second floor den so I can question her without the others around?” He started to speak but I interrupted him. “You should be there too.”
He gave me one more concerned look and then dissolved into the ley lines, giving me a moment to myself. I sat on a stump and pulled Jackie’s note out of my jacket pocket. I put it under my nose and breathed in her scent, giving me the strength I needed to read it again, her last words to me.
Please take care of her, I read. Hissing in frustration, I realized that I needed to release my anger before I exploded and killed someone. I stood up and screamed. That only managed to make my throat hurt, so I sat down again and read on.
I know that you and Liam and the team will find me. I closed my eyes. Jackie, I swear that we will and you’ll be home again and safe. I pulled on the lines and sent that message out to her, knowing that she probably wasn’t able to hear it. I read the last part of her note.
Garrett, you are my life and my heart is yours forever. I’ll always be with you no matter what. I held the note next to my chest and thought about the way we’d spent the last few hours before I’d gone downstairs, wrapped so blissfully in each other’s arms. No one in my long life had ever shown me a fraction of the love she offered up with every kiss, touch and smile. On the phone just now, she’d begun with Je t’aime, mon ange, I love you, my angel. Saying it like that made it precious, an intimate gift for me to cling to.
No matter what. She knew that she might be killed or tortured and if her torment was intolerable, she might consider suicide. This I could understand, although it terrified me that she’d give up before I found her. I’d use all of my resources and every drop of my power as a vampire, a shifter or a magic user. But if it was too late to save her, I would be content to join her in death.
My last deep breath was unsuccessful at sensing her, so I turned and ran with the wind back to our home, standing outside the open window and breathing in her sweet scent once more. She’d made the decision to take her chances with Kennet rather than sacrifice Bridgett. Now I was responsible for getting her back safely. I’ll question Bridgett, organize the search, set up security at home and then do whatever is necessary to find her. And when I do , I'll destroy the scum who took her.
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STALKED is the second book in the Rogues Shifter Series by Gayle Parness
The story continues with TWISTED Book #3
Jackie's now a prisoner of a powerful fae lord and her situation is dire to say the least. Unexpectedly, she joins forces with another powerful supernatural and together they work on a plan of escape. At the same time, Garrett is desperate to find her, enlisting the help of all of his trusted friends, including the two fae brothers, Liam and Aedus. At the house, Jackie's sister, Bridgett is dealing with her responsibility to communicate information to Garrett, her guilt over Jackie's capture and her surprising new interest in William, one of Garrett's nest of vampires. Fought on three fronts, the battle to find and rescue Jackie merges in a surprising way.
In case you haven't had a chance, check out the first book of the series:
REBIRTH Book 1 in the Rogues Shifter Series by Gayle Parness
Jackie discovers that she's a shape shifter and part of a large supernatural community. She trains with a group of young shapeshifters who become her close friends and allies and also meets Garrett, the magically powerful vampire who steals her heart. Together they face off against his destructive maker, Eleanor
BLOWN AWAY: Book 4 Available Now
CAUGHT BETWEEN: Book 5 Available Now.
TORN APART: Book 6 Available Now
Book 7 will be available in late, 2013
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