by K. S. Martin
“Yeah, I was with Lauren on Friday. What else did Grams say?”
“That this guy was bald but had ink all over his head and neck. He was wearing a grey wife beater and did not seem to be in charge. Zoe did.”
“I see. How close are we to finding them?”
“The guy sounds like Tubby. He’s an enforcer for Devlin, not a bright guy but plenty of brawn. I’m calling in favors now sir to locate Tubby and Zoe. Uh hang on a sec boss.” Jake could hear him murmuring to someone. “She was spotted shopping on the east side but I don’t have a confirmation yet.”
“Bring her to me.” Jake said quietly.
“Yes sir.” Jake pushed end and called in his legal team.
Chapter 7
Jake ran his hands through his hair for the hundredth time. He was hungry, exhausted and needed a shower. Jennings interrogated Zoe Bell for hours in his office. They got nothing out of her. It was like there was a block on any information about Lauren or Devlin Enterprises. She was polite and courteous but knew nothing. It was weird. She couldn’t even acknowledge that she’d ever met Lauren let alone kidnapped her. Her pulse rate stayed steady, her respirations did not change, and she never averted her eyes. There were no signs of lying. It was the damnedest thing, Jennings was equally baffled. They decided to release her and Jennings’ team was going to follow her around the clock. This had to be the longest day of his life. Jake drove to Devlin and parked on the street. He watched the windows. All of the lights were still on. Strange. The parking lot still full and it was after ten. Jake could see people moving around but did not see Lauren. His eyes flashed dangerously. He was losing control for the first time in years. She was here. He could feel her, his mate. If he’d claimed her over the weekend the way that he wanted, his wolf would’ve already crashed through the front windows. Jake sighed, heavily pushing out a controlled calming breath. Lauren. He wanted her, needed her. Controlling the wolf would only get harder and he didn’t have his father or grandfather to help him maintain that control anymore.
Jake sped toward home before he lost it completely.
***
“He’s going to kill you.” Lauren grinned maliciously. “He’s going to tear you to pieces then he’s going to eat the pieces.”
“Wolves prefer fresh meat. I’m hardly fresh. I have leverage that he has not anticipated. I have you.”
“Big deal. We went out on one date. I’d hardly call that leverage.” Lauren crossed her arms and sat back on the couch. She couldn’t stand up unless he wanted her neck but he was letting her speak, at least so far. “You’re going to die for messing with his business not because of me.”
“I think you underestimate your worth.” He looked up at her now. “You are a very valuable employee and his mate.”
“Did you kill his father and grandfather?” Lauren asked.
“I admire a direct woman. No. I did not kill them. If anything I would’ve protected them.” He clasped his hands under his chin. “The oracle said that the unmated alpha of the Bryant clan would kill me. By killing Louis, it made Jacob alpha and he’s unmated. Those events set the prophecy in motion. If Jake had left his mark on you, I would be safe for another hundred years.” Lauren pulled a face.
“You mean that my being here has nothing to do with the murders?”
“You are not as smart as I thought my dear. No nothing. You are here purely on a professional mission, to let me hack his servers and files. The rest is coincidental and the fact that you’re his mate is actually an inconvenience. He will want you back of course but since he will, it can only save me later.
“You kidnapped me to hack Bryant IT?” She rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.” She scoffed. He seemed to enjoy talking to her and obviously wanted her close by. She knew the Bryant files and system thoroughly. But whenever he let her speak, she always tried to goad him into hopefully releasing her. If he got tired of her, it would free her one way or another. So far, every day was the same. Sleep, shower, dress, and eat bran and grapefruit for breakfast, salmon, and vegetables for lunch, salad for dinner. Lauren would kill for a burger right now. How many days had it been so far? “What is today?”
“Thursday. What does it matter?” He glanced up from the monitor.
“I’m just counting the days to the full moon. You know on the full moon what happens right?” Lauren chuckled. Actually she had no idea what happened on the full moon, not really, but in the movies it was always scary. “What do you do all night on that computer anyway? Are you playing solitaire? You know if I had all of eternity to do stuff, I wouldn’t sit at a computer every night. I would go see the world, do things, meet people.” Lauren lay down on the couch and stretched out.
“I’ve traveled the world and people are overrated generally except the vegans of course. Such tasty blood, those vegans.” Lauren cringed. Now, shut your yap until I say so otherwise. I’ve heard enough out of you for today.” Her mouth no longer worked. She rolled her eyes and shrugged. Zoe came in a few hours later.
“Hey boss.” She sat in his visitor chair not seeing Lauren. Lauren sat up and listened. “I was questioned today by Mister Bryant and Mister Jennings. I was unable to help them.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“You were questioned today?” She nodded. “Today?” She nodded again. He came around the desk and slapped her hard. “And you’re here in my office on the same day? Did it ever occur to you that you would be followed? You stupid little twat?” The back of his hand connected with her cheek again and she fell sideways onto the floor. Lauren could see that Zoe’s cheekbone was shattered. “Get out and don’t come back here. In fact,” his voice lowered threateningly. “Why don’t you go down to the subway station and wait on the platform. When the number five train comes through, step out in front of it.” Lauren’s eyes widened and filled with tears. She was unable to speak but not unable to feel. Zoe stumbled to her feet. “Better yet Zoe,” he looked over at Lauren’s panic stricken face. “Just go home and go to bed. Tomorrow you will become a health nut and will not eat, drink or take anything that is bad for you.” Lauren let out a nervous breath wondering what it would cost her for saving a girl that she didn’t even like.
“Sure thing boss.” Zoe called in her irritating singsong voice as if he’d told her to go have dinner on him. Lauren sighed.
“Don’t judge me or I will drain you dry.” Lauren’s eyes widened. He went back to his desk and sat at the computer.
***
“Everyone knows what to do right?” The family gathered around the dining table in a pack meeting. Geoff, his wife Catherine and his six sons made the trip to help Jake. They lived in another state and belonged to a pack there. Geoff’s alpha did not come but he did send three betas, and twelve volunteers. All told, there were forty five werewolves about to descend on Devlin Enterprises. Donna and Dora would be staying at home with the maid watching movies and eating popcorn. Geoff’s kids had gotten so big since he saw them last and he was impressed with each one of them, two would be betas someday Jake thought recognizing the traits but two more would be alphas and would have their own packs. He gave approving nods to each of them. “We have all doors covered. The roof is covered by my security team and the rest of us will go in through the front door. We think that Lauren is being held on the top floor where Devlin spends most of his time. Are we ready?” Several grunted and many stood, ready to kill for him. “Let’s move.” Jake stood pushing his chair back. They filed out of the house and into the vans from Bryant IT.
Devlin Enterprises was well lit as always at this time of night. They parked a block away, all shifting as they left the vans. The largest pack of wolves in the cities’ history was about to descend on Devlin Enterprises. Groups broke off and flanked the building. Their orders were simple. Find Lauren. Try to leave the humans alive, everyone except Devlin himself. Screams sounded almost immediately as soon as the fully morphed wolves entered the building. There were three ladies at the receptionist’s desk as the largest of t
he group entered the building’s front door. The receptionists dove under the desk for cover. The largest of the wolves entering the front turned to look over his shoulder at the twenty behind him. They split into four smaller groups of five. There were two elevators and two sets of stairs off of the lobby, wolves now controlled all of them.
***
“Sir, we’ve been breached.” The voice said over speaker of the telephone on Devlin’s desk.
“Kill him.” His answer was short and to the point. He smiled at Lauren who cringed. Her eyes filled with tears and he laughed. “Really. Did you think that I would give him quarter?” He shook his head and went back to the computer.
Wolves entered offices, humans screamed but none of those humans were Lauren. The pack moved meticulously from one room to the next. Browns, reds, whites, blacks, and silver wolves crowded the halls, crashed through doors and moved through stairwells. An armed security guard found his way into their path but Geoff subdued him easily. The guard curled into a ball and urinated with fear. Geoff snorted because it was the closest a wolf could get to laughter and moved on down the hallway behind his pack mates. Jake took the lead as they climbed the fire stairs to the top floor to Devlin’s offices. There were empty locker rooms, empty offices, and a kitchen on this floor. No humans in sight. He must keep this floor empty while he works. Jake scented death, living death. A scent his grandfather taught him as a pup when he’d killed a vampire that lurked around the estate. Louis said that they had to be detached from their heads. The stake through the heart would only work if the stake was carved from a particular tree. Detached was a sure thing and because vampires were crafty not to take any chances. Jake never forgot a lesson or a scent. Now he scented his mate, and the vampire. There was a vampire in this building and that would explain why they were working all night. Was it possible that this vampire had enthralled all of the Bryant IT employees that left? Was Lauren stuck here, not only kidnapped but unable to escape. He scented her strongly now and growled low in his throat. She smelled weak and desperate. Devlin’s office was at the end of the hall. By now, his security team would have disabled the cameras, overtaken the building and was destroying the server room if all was on schedule. They were also not leaving any evidence.
Seven minutes from the time the wolves entered the building the door slammed open. A huge dark brown wolf with blue eyes was the first through the door flanked by eighteen other huge wolves. Devlin stood and backed up against the wall behind his desk. A large red wolf quickly sank its teeth into Devlin’s thigh rendering him immobile.
“Impossible. There aren’t this many of you left.” Jake shifted and stood across the desk from Devlin bracing powerful arms on its now diminutive top. “I’ve tracked and counted endlessly. The werewolf population is limited. There are less than five hundred left. Did you bring them all?” He asked looking around the room. Jake pulled his phone out and texted Jennings. The monitor blinked and showed wolves all over the building staring up at the security cameras.
“Wrong. There are hundreds of thousands of us. We’ve learned how to hide better over the centuries.” Jake turned to look at Lauren who sat quietly on the edge of the couch. “Whatever you’ve done to her, undo it now. My mate seems incapable of moving.” The red wolf sank its teeth deeper. Devlin tried unsuccessfully to stifle his whimper. “You know that a well placed werewolf bite can kill you and it will be a long painful death. Jake’s eyes flashed as his hands morphed, black nails sprouting from his fingertips, his fangs lengthened and hair began to sprout on his face. He did not shift completely but he was frightening. Lauren watched fascinated trying her hardest to go to him but unable to move a single locked muscle. “Now!” Jake roared snarling. The other wolves crowding the room edged closer. Devlin swallowed hard.
“Lauren my dear, you are released. You may move, speak, and regain your free will. I no longer hold any power over you. Now call your mutt off.” Lauren sprang from the couch and launched herself at Jake. He shifted back to human before she got there. He caught her easily and buried his face in her neck.
“Ah sweetheart.” His mouth moved against her skin and she melted into him. “I’ve missed you.” Jake set her down and pushed her behind him. Lauren hung onto him and peaked around his middle at Devlin.
A large bald man covered in tattoos sprang into the room grabbing and tossing wolves. Caught by surprise several were thrown and dazed. Tubby, Jake assumed had one of Geoff’s beta friends by the throat. “Let the boss go or I’ll kill it like I did the two at your house.” He shook the beta who was struggling to get free and snarling. The beta was large but Tubby was a giant of a man, easily nearing seven feet.
“You shot the two wolves at my estate?” Jake asked him calmly.
“Yeah, sniper school finally came in handy for something.” He breathed hard through his mouth.
“You idiot!” Devlin screeched at him. “You caused all of this. Drop the wolf. Take out the gun you keep in the ankle holster.” Tubby dropped the beta and retrieved the small thirty eight caliber weapon from the holster. “Now put the barrel under your chin and pull the trigger.” Tubby did exactly as he was told. Blood and brains splattered the ceiling and wall. Lauren screamed and buried her face in Jake’s side. Devlin snatched the red wolf and flung it across the room then traced to Lauren. One Moment he was behind the desk and the next second he was behind her. Jake spun and grabbed him around the throat before he could move a muscle. Jakes long fangs sunk into Devlin’s throat, long canines ripped and tore until his head was separated from his body. Lauren sank to her knees and crumpled to the floor.
Chapter 8
Lauren heard him speaking before she opened her eyes. His voice was barely a soft murmur. He was worried about her. She felt the heat of his hand on her thigh and went back to sleep. The room was dim when Lauren finally opened her eyes hours later. He was sitting beside her bed. His head was down and one of his hands held one of hers gently. His beard was thicker than usual and his hair was rumpled. She watched his back moved with the steady rhythm of sleep. She smiled softly. He was so kissable when he slept. She wanted to kiss him now but he looked so peaceful. “It’s good to see you my dear.” Victoria whispered from the other side of the bed. Lauren turned her head. Victoria’s eyes flashed in the dim room. “I’m so happy that you are okay.” She whispered again. “Convince him to go home and get some proper rest. He’s been here for days.”
“Days? How long have I been here?” Lauren worried her lip.
“It was four days a few hours ago. When Jake killed Devlin, you passed out from shock. When you didn’t wake, we brought you here. We weren’t sure how to attend to a human so we told them that you saw something traumatic and didn’t wake up. You were at the estate half a day first. The doctors said that you’d lost a lot of blood, but didn’t know how since you had no wounds. They’ve been giving you blood and fluids since. How do you feel?
“Okay, I guess. I need to pee.” Victoria laughed.
“The others that were being held as you were are in the same condition. The authorities are blaming an electromagnetic pulse. That’s what the security team used to destroy all the equipment at Devlin. Don’t tell anyone, it’s illegal.”
“How many were there? I only went from my room, to the shower to his office. I was his food so I never went where the others were.”
“Seventy I think they said. They’re at various hospitals in the area. Most of them are awake and wondering what happened. He had them brain washed. They all think that they’ve been living their lives as always. None of them has any idea of what happened to them or that they’ve been working at Devlin. He only used most of them to work and steal from Bryant.”
“Wow. Okay, I really have to pee.” She pulled her hand from Jake’s and he was instantly awake and on his feet. His eyes flashing and his body rigid. “It’s okay Jake.” Lauren was sitting up.
“Oh sweetheart. Don’t, you’ll hurt yourself.” He tried to push her gently back to the bed.
“She needs the restroom son. Help her.” Jake lifted her easily now and carried her to the small bathroom across the room.
“Okay I got it from here.” Lauren tried to pull away.
“You’re still weak Lauren.” His eyes were so full of concern it nearly broke her heart but the urgency that went with a full bladder turned her bitchy.
“Jake I’m going to wet myself, let me go.” Her voice was shrill and he released her. His mother laughed loudly at the look on his face.
“That’s panic son, don’t take it personally. Just think of how bad you would have to go after four days.” Victoria got up from her chair and straightened her clothes. “I’m going home. I will get your room ready. She will probably be released in the morning.” He nodded. The toilet flushed and he could hear her washing her hands. The door opened and he looked down into the beautiful hazel eyes that had haunted his dreams for a year now.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you.” She murmured. Jake scooped her up and held her to him. Lauren kissed his neck and cheek. He put her down on the hospital bed. “Can I leave? I don’t want to stay here.”
“You can yell at me anytime you want to sweetheart. The doctor has to release you but I will get the paperwork started. You’re coming home with me by the way.” Lauren nodded. “Devlin cleaned out your apartment and we have no idea what he did with your belongings. It was the same for every person he stole. They left your car though.” Lauren smiled. Little red was always waiting and reliable. “I’m going to buy out your rental agreement and you’ll live with me from now on.” Her brows knitted but she nodded. “Get dressed and I will find the doctor.” Lauren went to the closet and got the Devlin clothes out. Loose cotton pants and shirt. Everyone wore the same thing. She’d seen them in the dirty clothes bin in the locker room but she’d never seen the people that wore them.
