“We have a plan,” Harlan said with relief.
“A start of a plan,” Monica added. She glanced at Jack, who had been listening to them speak, and decided not to add her next thought. Finding Trent was the beginning, but this would only end when they found Yolanda and brought her home safe. But if Trent didn’t know where his wife was, and it was doubtful her kidnappers would have divulged that information, then Monica had no idea how they could track Yolanda. Unless she had her phone with her. But what kind of kidnappers let their victim keep a phone, and if she did, why hadn’t she called for help?
“We’ll find him,” Wyatt reassured her, his hand covering hers. As she looked at the other people at the table, despite her own doubts, their expressions said the same thing. They could do this.
Monica allowed herself a glimmer of hope—because the alternative didn’t bear thinking about.
Chapter Ten – Wyatt
After they ate, Monica settled Jack into Harlan Jr.’s room while Wyatt helped Harlan clean up and wash the dishes. Wyatt had lived in his low-tech cabin for so long, that even hot running water seemed like an extravagance. But he could get used to it, along with the food. And real coffee whenever he wanted it.
“You’ll OD on that stuff,” Harlan warned as Wyatt poured himself another cup.
“I’ll be bouncing off the sides of the car,” Wyatt admitted as the caffeine buzz hit him. “But it’s too good not to.”
“Okay, Jack is settled. I’ve left his backpack in the room. Are we ready to leave?” Monica asked as she returned to the kitchen.
“I’ve got some food for you to take.” Harlan opened the fridge and took out freshly made sandwiches and placed them in a container. “It’s not much, but it’ll keep you going.”
The sound of Liam’s truck pulling up in front of the house signaled it was time for them to leave. “Look after Jack.”
“We will,” Harlan assured her. “If Fiona has one flaw, it’s her love for children, she will protect him with her life. But it won’t come to that. If we need to we’ll take the boys and run. Or fly.”
“You know, if anyone told me I would meet a dragon shifter or three, I’d never have believed them. I certainly wouldn’t have believed they would be so friendly.” Monica kissed Harlan on the cheek. “Don’t tell Fiona.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” Harlan hugged her close. “Go find your man. Don’t worry about Jack.”
“We should be back sometime tonight or in the early hours of the morning,” Wyatt told him. “If all goes to plan.”
“But we’ll call when we get there,” Monica promised. “And as soon as we know what’s happening.”
“Stay safe, and please bring Liam back in one piece, his mate will skin my dragon hide if anything happens to him.” Harlan followed them to the door, where they were joined by Ruby.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Ruby asked.
“I think we can handle it.” Monica stood on the porch, looking back into the house. “Look after Jack, that’s the thing we need you to do. For now.”
“We will.” Ruby leaned against Harlan and he put his arm around his daughter. They were a strong family unit, reminding Wyatt of his Army days. His squad was tough, they knew they could rely on each other. So, what had happened?
“Are you good to go?” Monica asked him.
He swung his head around to look at her. “Yes. Don’t worry, we’ll be back before you know it.”
“I know.” She hitched her backpack onto her shoulder. “Let’s hit the road.”
They walked across to Liam who sat in his truck waiting. Taking his truck was the smart thing to do since no one would be looking for it. There was a chance that whoever was behind the kidnapping knew that Trent had handed Jack over to Monica and might be looking for her car.
“I think I should have a disguise, too,” Monica said as Liam backed the truck around and drove off toward the road, his hand stuck out the window as he waved to Harlan and Ruby.
“We could always pick up a pair of glasses and a mustache,” Liam told her with a grin.
“How did you survive undercover?” Monica asked him curtly.
“With my wit and charm,” he answered easily.
Wyatt sank down in his seat and closed his eyes, this was going to be a long journey, and none of them had any idea what they would meet when they got there. They’d assumed Trent would be alone, but he might be with some of the kidnappers. It made sense for them to keep a close eye on him, and maybe give him instructions as to how to free Tarak. If so, he was going to need all his strength.
However, it was impossible to rest. His newfound mate troubled his thoughts. If there was danger ahead, he would rather she was back with the dragons, nice and safe. However, if he told her his fears, she would surely bite his head off with her big, strong bear jaws. That didn’t change the fact that he wanted to protect her from danger.
She was a soldier, she’s capable of taking care of herself, his wolf told him firmly. How would you like it if she offered to look after you?
Not one bit, Wyatt replied.
Then do her the same courtesy. She’s strong and smart and could probably kick your ass if she wanted to.
Wyatt chuckled and opened his eyes to be met with the watchful stare of Monica. “Sleeping on the job?”
“I was resting my eyes.” He sat up and got himself comfortable.
“Well, rest them on this map.” She handed him a copy of the area the signal had originated from. “We could stick a pin in it and guess where Trent might be, but I thought we could try to make a more educated guess.”
Wyatt focused on the buildings. “These are stores. He might have a room above one of them.”
“At short notice?” Monica asked, and took her phone out of her pocket. “But if the store was empty, and the room above was empty, too...”
He stared at the map, while she scrolled through her phone. The route they would use to move Tarak was marked on the map. None of the stores directly overlooked the street he would pass along, but there were several alleyways they could disappear down like rats in a sewer. It made more sense than trying to break him out in open territory. But the town would soon go on lockdown.
They would need a way out.
“Subway tunnels.” Wyatt jabbed his finger at the map.
“I have something better. The town of Reaminster is old, they used to trade in pottery, and use the river to move the goods.” Monica took the map from him and looked at it closely. “Here. This building is empty and has direct access to the waterway.”
Liam glanced across at them. “This sounds promising, maybe I won’t have to go eagle after all.”
“Maybe not.” Monica folded the map away. “But it’s always good to have a backup plan.”
They drove on, the miles slowly disappearing as the afternoon wore on. They stopped for gas and dinner at a roadside diner and then drove into the gathering dusk. It was eight o’clock by the time they reached the outskirts of Reaminster. Without stopping, Liam steered the truck toward the building with access to the canal. A shiver of apprehension passed through Wyatt. This was all like some dream. Or nightmare.
He’d just met his mate and yet here he was on a dangerous mission with her. They should be out dining together on a date.
You mean you could serve her up a nice plateful of berries from the woods, his wolf said.
I was thinking more of rabbit stew, Wyatt replied as Liam parked the truck and switched off the engine.
“This is it, we walk from here.” Liam pocketed the keys and opened the driver’s door. “Or fly.”
Wyatt opened the truck door and they got out. His legs ached from sitting still for so long. “I am not used to road trips.”
“Do you want me to try the phone again?” Liam asked.
“No, Trent might become suspicious.” Monica patted her pocket where she’d stashed the map. “Let’s check out the empty building. Look for any sign that someone’s
been in there recently.”
“Once inside, I’m going wolf,” Wyatt told her. “My senses are a lot keener.”
“It’s risky,” Monica said.
“Not as risky as a bear. And my senses are much better than a bird’s. No offense, Liam.” Wyatt shrugged at Liam.
“None taken, although that is debatable. My hearing is pretty good and so is my eyesight.”
“Okay, while you two have a pissing contest, Trent might leave the area.” Monica’s no-nonsense voice made the two men stop talking. With a nod, they walked toward the boarded-up building. Nothing said abandoned like nailed-up windows.
“This way,” Liam said and beckoned them toward a doorway. The wooden door had been braced from the inside, but now hung ajar. The eagle shifter slipped in through the door, and Wyatt followed, while Monica brought up the rear. Once inside they stood still, each one listening for any sign of movement. “Nothing.”
Wyatt lifted his head and sniffed the air. “I’m going wolf.” He shifted in mid-air and loped off toward the center of the room, head down, searching for Trent’s scent amongst the garbage strewn across the floor.
“Anything?” Monica asked as she followed him across the room. He shook his head and returned to the task of sifting through the scents that littered the large room. Rotten food, urine, both human and cat. His wolf wrinkled his nose in disgust. Urgh, cats. Something else. His wolf focused on a door toward the back of the empty storeroom. A light breeze in the room beyond, most likely from a broken window, brought a scent to him. Human. Trent.
He scratched the door with his front paw and whined at Monica who was by his side in an instant. “In here?” She tried the handle of the door, but it was locked. “Step back.”
“Do you want me to do it?” Liam asked as he joined them.
Monica shook her head, lifted her foot and slammed it into the door where the door catch met the door frame. It splintered, and the door opened inward. They rushed through, his wolf, head down, picked up the scent and ran toward stairs leading upwards. He was here, the scent was fresh. A rush of excitement filled him as he chased down his quarry.
He is our friend, Wyatt reminded his wolf.
I don’t want him to get away, his wolf replied. We have him cornered. If he runs, we might not be able to track him. I can’t exactly run along the road like this, can I?
His wolf had a point. They rushed on with Liam and Monica close behind. As they reached the top of the stairs, he slid to a stop. There were several rooms leading off the landing. Which one?
A sound from a room to the left alerted him to movement and he raced forward. Strong legs powering him, his shoulder slammed into the door and it swung open, to reveal...a pigeon.
Dammit! They circled the room, only a faint scent of Trent met his nostrils. He’d been in here, but had gone.
Monica and Liam had already turned around and were going to each room systematically, swinging the doors open and looking inside before moving on to the next one. Wyatt joined them, but he followed the scent trail, leading to the last door. There he stopped. This was it.
He nudged the door open with his nose and peered inside. There was Trent, looking pale and tired, his hand trembling as he held out a gun. “Don’t come any closer.”
His wolf whined and took a step further into the room. Trent wouldn’t shoot them, he didn’t have it in him. “Wyatt?” His wolf closed the distance between them and rested his head on Trent’s thigh. “What the hell are you doing here? I asked Monica to find you, so you could help keep Jack safe.
“Jack is only going to be safe if his daddy comes home to him,” Monica said from the doorway.
“Monica...you didn’t bring Jack here?” Fear fractured his voice and he took a shuddering breath. “I need to know he’s safe.”
“He’s safe,” Monica assured him. “We didn’t bring him.”
Trent looked down at the wolf at his side and stroked his head. “I’ve missed you, Wyatt.”
Wyatt stayed where he was, Trent needed the comfort of his soft fur and the strength from his sharp claws and teeth. They had faced many battles together, this one was no different.
We are here for you, his wolf said silently to his friend.
Just as he would always be there for his mate. No matter what life threw at them. They were family.
Chapter Eleven – Monica
“Are we safe here?” Monica asked as Liam entered the room behind her.
Trent nodded. “For now.” He put the gun back in the holster at his hip. “They gave me this. It doesn’t feel right though. Guns don’t belong here.”
“These men don’t belong here, either,” Monica reminded him. “But sometimes you have to deal with crap that doesn’t belong.”
“I’ve missed you.” Trent stood up and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close.
“We’re here to help.” Monica hugged him back. His body trembled in her arms, he was a man on the verge of a breakdown. After all he had seen, all he had done in the service of his country, it was his family that would break him.
Family is weakness. Isn’t that what her father once told her?
He also taught us family is strength, her bear reminded her.
He was right. They were the people who gave you strength to tackle whatever life threw your way, but they could also cut you down and wound you with words.
“Come on, I don’t know how much time we have.” Behind Trent, Wyatt had shifted back to his human form, a look bordering on jealousy in his eyes. “We need to know exactly what is going on here.”
“What’s going on?” Trent asked bitterly. “What’s going on is some piece of lowlife scum kidnapped my wife and the only way I’m going to get her back is if I free a terrorist who will likely go out and murder other women and children.”
“Not if we can help it,” Liam said, coming to join them now that their hellos were over.
“Who are you?” Trent asked suspiciously.
“He’s a good guy, he helped us track you.” Wyatt was evasive with the details, not even giving Liam’s full name. Monica glanced at Wyatt quickly. Did he fear Trent had been compromised? No, but he might be in the near future. The less Trent knew, the better.
Monica closed her mind to that train of thought. There was no use worrying what might be, it only messed with your head and influenced decisions. Decisions that were tough, even for the strongest of soldiers.
“Trent, what can you tell us about the people who are holding Yolanda?” Wyatt steered the conversation back to where it needed to be.
“Nothing. They came to the house three days ago while I was out. They must have been watching because I’d only gone to the local store for milk.” He raked a hand through his hair, which was no longer cut in a military style. “I got a phone call telling me they had her as I walked home. They told me they would be in touch.”
“Where was Jack at that time?” Wyatt asked.
“On a play date at the local park. When I got home and found Yolanda gone, I ran there to check that he was okay. He was playing on the swings...” A sob escaped him. “The relief of finding him there.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “I picked him up and took him home, grabbed his backpack and drove to Monica’s place.”
Monica nodded. This was the same story Trent had told her and she had no reason to believe it wasn’t the truth. “Trent told me to find Wyatt and gave me exact instructions how to find him.”
“I also told you not to try to find me.” The edge in Trent’s voice cut her.
“I haven’t betrayed you. You asked me to keep Jack safe, and to do that we need to figure out a way out of this for Jack, you and Yolanda.”
“Impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible, you taught me that,” Wyatt replied. “We need to get our heads together and figure this out. Work through it just like any other mission.”
“But it isn’t any other mission, this is my son and my pregnant wife we’re talking about.” Trent got up and p
aced the room. “I don’t know where she is. And there is no time.”
“Because in thirty-six hours they move Amir Tarak?” Monica asked.
“I should have known you would figure it out,” Trent replied.
“Isn’t that why you came to me?” Monica went to him and took hold of his arm. “You wanted us to help you.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I wanted you to keep Jack safe.” He didn’t meet her eyes, he was lying, but didn’t want to admit it. Still the same Trent, thinking he had to battle the world alone. Whatever happened to him and Wyatt had cut them deep and changed them in a way she couldn’t understand. But she would, and save them both, just as they had saved others throughout their Army careers.
“Well, we’re here now and we are not leaving until we have everything we need.” Monica folded her arms across her chest. “So spill.”
“Just you being here could be enough to get Yolanda killed,” Trent told her defensively.
“The faster you talk, the faster we’re out of here.” Wyatt joined her while Liam walked over to the dirty windows and looked outside.
“I told you everything I know. I was walking home, my phone rang, when I answered it a man told me he had Yolanda. He told me to drive to Reaminster and await instructions. When I got here, I received another call.” He sighed, closing his eyes as he dredged up the details. “He told me to come here, there would be a gift for me.” He gave a short laugh. “You know, I drove here thinking I was going to find a box with a part of Yolanda in it. A finger, an ear.”
Trent bit down on his knuckle and sobbed. “It’s okay.” Monica rubbed his back as if he were a child. “What was in the box?”
“This gun, some explosives and a route map. The next phone call gave me the target and told me I sure as hell better get my hands on Amir Tarak or my wife would die.” Trent kept his voice level, his professionalism kicking in at last. “There was also a detailed map of an escape route through this building. There’s a passageway that leads down to the river, where a boat is moored. The keys were also in the box.”
Silverback Wolf (Return to Bear Creek Book 17) Page 7
