Isaias ground his teeth together. "Yes. What do you want, Marcus?"
"Five million dollars for each of the girls. I want it delivered to the middle of the park, underneath the swing set. Tomorrow at noon, or one of these gals is going to lose their toes. Think you can do that?"
"Ten millions dollars in less than a day?" Isaias glanced at the clock and paused for as long as he dared. "It will take longer than that to liquidate my assets. I can't just go to the bank and pull out that sort of cash."
Marcus coughed. "No? Then we'll start with a gesture of good faith. Four thousand dollars tomorrow and two days to get the ten million. Is that enough time?"
Holliday, who had been typing furiously at the computer, suddenly grinned. He gave the thumbs up and Isaias smiled.
"Yes," he said. "That's just enough."
Marcus hung up and Isaias strode over. The cops talked around him but he ignored them all. His gaze zeroed in on the computer screen, where a red dot flashed. He knew instantly where it was from the buildings around it and headed for the door at once. Dolls called after him but he ignored the cop as he burst from his home.
His bear beat against his chest, wanting blood and Isaias grinned. They would have blood–and Marcus would finally be out of Adela's life for good.
Chapter Thirteen
Marcus lounged on a chair as he hung up the phone and grinned over at the two of them. Becky frowned. That conversation seemed to have taken an awfully long time. And the way he asked if it was enough time, it was like he was asking if it was enough time for the call to be traced.
Maybe she was just grasping at straws, hoping for something that might see them get out of this mess alive. Nothing she thought of to try to escape had worked.
One of the other bears, Phil, stepped in from the office. He frowned at Marcus, a low growl reverberating through the air.
"The boss said we weren't allowed to contact Durant. He's going to take care of everything. What do you think you're doing?"
Marcus remained where he was. There was no visible sign of him tensing at all. "The boss, huh? I'm getting tired of the boss. What does he do except swagger around, ordering us around and talk about what we'll be able to do when we're all rich? He keeps playing games with us and I, for one, am sick of it. I know I'm not the only one."
Was he trying to sow dissention in the kidnappers? Becky picked at her thumb, watching nervously. Neither she nor Adela had been allowed out of this cage except to use the bathroom since Marcus had dragged her into the office to get a chance to talk privately with her. Her legs were numb and her back aching so bad she wasn’t sure she'd be able to walk when she finally got out.
A few more of the bears came in and Marcus turned to them. "What do you guys think? Tired of listening to the 'boss' do all talk and deliver nothing?"
"It's coming," Phil said. "You heard him—"
"Heard is right.” Marcus sneered. He stood up, rolling his shoulders. "Only heard. I haven't seen him do anything. And he won't even tell us when we'll get our cash. He's not even a shifter, how can we trust him?"
A few of the bears nodded along with him but Phil remained glaring. "You don't know what you're talking about. You know what? I'm starting to think that you just want the females. We know you used to have a relationship with the Asian girl, and I think you want her back. Can't blame you, she's got curves like there's no tomorrow. As for the white girl, I think you want to humiliate Durant by taking his mate away."
"I want my money," Marcus snarled. He slammed his hands against the table. "And if the boss isn't going to give it to me, then—"
"Then you'll what?"
Everybody fell silent. They parted to allow a man to walk through. Becky's first impression was he didn't look the part. He was significantly shorter than all the bears, his frame more slender. Salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back and his face had a few wrinkles on his brow and around his eyes. Those eyes, though. Bright blue and cold as ice. She'd seen more humanity in the eyes of a shark. They flickered over her briefly and she fought the urge to shrink back. Adela whimpered.
"Well?" His voice was low. "What are you going to do, Haught?"
"What am I going to do?" Marcus towered over the smaller man. He poked him in the chest. "I am going to get my money. You've given us nothing but half-assed plans from the start of this. You're not trying to help us. I don't know what your game is but it's not to see us all rich."
The boss–Sawyers–didn't break his gaze. His stance didn't change at all. Somehow, it made him even more terrifying. Becky had no idea who he was or what he had done, but she understood why Adela called him the devil. He looked perfect for the part. Terrifying and emotionless.
"Is that why you've brought the cops down on all your friends?" Sawyers said.
Marcus jerked, eyes widening. "What?"
"Somebody called in an anonymous tip to the cops… You keep saying that Rebecca Lake is your female… Maybe you called them to try to save her from the rest of your companions."
The bears growled and closed in a little on him but Marcus soon smiled again. "Yeah… I called the cops alright. I called them because I don't want my money or my female. You all know that as soon as I get my share of the dough, I'm taking my female to Puerto Rico… why would I call in the cops and threaten that? But you, on the other hand… if you know that the cops have been called, maybe you're the one that called them."
Adela shifted forward. She crouched on her toes, grasping the bars. Becky's thumb started to bleed and she popped in to her mouth. The bears turned their attention to them as Adela made a strangled noise in her throat. The attention made her shy back and Becky held her breath. What was she going to do?
"He's an anti-shifter zealot," Adela shouted, her voice high-pitched. "Dwayne Sawyers murdered Isaias Durant's parents and my parents for being friends with them, because Isaias' father was a shifter. He wants to register all potential shifters and lock them away in camps and zoos. He's been jailed for killing shifters and—"
Sawyers cut her off with a laugh. His cold, dead eyes glittered. "Convincing. How long did it take for you and your friend to come up with that story?"
"It's not a story. Look him up!"
"Rebecca Lake is a well-known story writer. A liar by profession. It's a good tale, I'll give you that." He grinned at her and she was surprised that his teeth weren't filed to a point. "But really… a prisoner will do anything to free themselves. And what better way than to turn their kidnappers against each other? I promised you your money and you will have it."
"When?" Marcus' voice took on a hoarse quality. "Cause you've been saying that but I don't see—"
"Then you are an impatient fool." Sawyers eyed him for a moment before he drew a handgun. The bears drew back slightly.
Marcus narrowed his eyes and growled. "So you're going to threaten to shoot us now?"
"I'm not threatening anybody. But somebody tipped off the cops. Which one of you was it? Which of you betrayed the rest of us? We'll move out as soon as the traitor is taken care of…"
Becky grasped Adela's hand as she whimpered. The bears weren't going to listen to them… or maybe they would. Maybe Adela had planted enough seeds of doubt in their minds that they could drive in the final wedge… But just as she opened her mouth to speak, Sawyers glanced at her. A shudder stopped her. If she tried to speak, he'd shoot her. She knew he would. She fought the urge to be sick.
"Now." He turned the gun on the bears, a small smile playing on his lips. "One of you called the cops on us. So which of you is the traitor? Is it you, Marcus? You're always causing trouble for me. Trying to turn the others against me… or is that just arrogance on your part? What about you, Phil? You're seemingly the most loyal of all of us… is it just a cover or are you truly loyal?"
Adela shook the bars of the cage again. "He wants you all dead! Hold us for ransom, fine, whatever you want but don't let him get away with this."
What happened next went so quickly Becky didn't register it
until the fine spray of mist hit her face. The gunshot echoed and she screamed, reaching for Adela.
But it wasn't the other woman who had been hit.
Marcus dropped to one knee. He gasped noisily.
"Throwing yourself in front of a bullet meant for someone you keep saying you hate?" Sawyers' eyes glowed. "Tsk, tsk. Whatever made you do that?"
He pressed the gun to Marcus' chest and fired again. The force threw him onto the floor. His chest was a mangled mess but Sawyers kept pumping bullets into him until the gun clicked empty. Becky was frozen in horror as Adela screamed and reached for Marcus. Tears streamed down her face, cutting paths in the blood.
"It seems we've found our traitor." Sawyers put the gun back into its holster and stepped over Marcus' body. "Get him out of here."
The other bears looked shocked but Phil and another one lugged Marcus's body out of the room. Becky's blood pumped in her ears. She didn't hear what else Sawyers said but the next thing she knew, they were alone, staring into the eyes of the man who had just killed Marcus and hadn't even blinked. She shrank back, arms locked around Adela as the other woman sobbed.
Sawyers considered them for a moment before he wandered over to the cage. He crouched down next to them, that smile still playing around his lips. He gripped the bars and leaned in close. "Look at the poor little girls, covered in blood. But you like being covered in bear juices, don't you?"
Becky glared at him. "You're disgusting."
"Not as disgusting as you. But once I have what I want, you won't be my problem anymore. I'm sure your book sales will go through the roof once your body is found. Well. Pieces of your body, at least. Torn apart by bears. I wonder…" He smiled. "What will people think when an author who writes things portraying shifters as these wonderful people is killed by them?"
"You are never getting what you want," Adela hissed at him. "You're not going to win this time. You couldn't kill Isaias before and you're not going to kill him now."
Sawyers made a grunting noise in his throat. "Who said anything about killing him? No. I am going to use him as the example of what shifters are. They want to rule us and Isaias Durant already thinks he does. How will humans react when they learn about a shifter so rich, controlling so much media?"
Becky finally found her voice. "Shifters are human."
"It's cute that you think that."
"And as for a shifter being rich? They won't care. Not everybody is a bigot like you. Times are changing and people will stand against you."
"And that attitude there is why you must die." Sawyers reached between the bars and grabbed her face. "It's a shame. Someone as popular as you could share my message. But you're too blinded by them, aren't you? And traitors must be wiped out, so that the glory of humanity can be restored."
Becky shook her head. What sort of evil man was he? She hadn't realized that such reckless hatred could exist and yet here he was. Adela was right. He was the devil. "You're going to go to hell. I don't care who you think you are, you're going to hell for all of this."
Sawyers burst out laughing. He leaned against the cage but before he could say another word, there was a shout outside. It was answered by a roar and then another one. Screams of pain. Sawyers sprang to his feet and whirled.
Becky's heart jumped to her throat. Was that a voice she recognized? She leaned forward, her gaze fastened on the door. Another roar and she couldn't stop herself.
"Isaias!"
He had come for them.
Chapter Fourteen
As soon as he scented the other bears, Isaias released the tight reign he had on his own bear. He shifted seamlessly, feeling his muscled body become more powerful. The bears were carrying something, a body, and he scented blood. But it wasn't Becky. It wasn't Adela. So he didn't care who it was.
He rammed the first bear before they realized he was there, using his bulk to send it flying. Without pausing, he turned on the next one, driving his paw into its face. It tried to dodge but was too slow. Something bit into his leg and he whirled around, his jaws crushing the shoulder of the bear that had latched onto him. Another bear came at him from the side, snarling. He leaped onto its back, not holding back as he tore into his thick skin. A howl of pain rose in the air.
Another bear threw itself over him and started to tear at his neck. He threw it off and drove his claws into its belly.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard Becky shout. "He's loading the gun again!"
Heat swept through his body, bringing his blood to a boil. He tossed the bear aside and rammed into the door. It crumpled beneath his bulk, flying off its hinges. It hit the floor, skittering towards the man standing on the other side of the room.
A bang rang out. A fiery pain in his shoulder. Sawyers stood in front of a cage. A gun was in his outstretched hand. Another bang. A flash of light from the barrel and another pain in his other shoulder. Adrenaline and focused hate drowned the sensations and he charged, mouth open as he tore towards the villain.
Sawyers shouted, firing twice more before turning the gun towards the cage. A shadow shifted inside of it and he knew that was where Adela and Becky were. Isaias pushed himself harder, crossing the space between them in a single bound.
Isaias knocked into him at the same time as the gun went off.
Sawyers screamed. Blood hit Isaias' tongue, hot and thick and rich. He felt bone beneath his teeth and brought his jaws together, crunching through it. His body pinned Sawyers' to the ground as tooth and claw worked at the fragile non-shifter body, releasing the tang of blood into the air.
But there was another scent. Blood that didn't belong to Sawyers. Screams that were higher, fearful not pained. His name being called over and over again. Another shot and Isaias smacked the hand holding the gun. Bone snapped and the gun went flying.
"Adela."
The name wormed into his brain. It took him a moment to recognize the voice as Becky's. His head swung round to see the two women in a cramped, tiny cage. Becky had her arms around Adela. Hands pressed to the other woman's abdomen. Blood welled between her fingers. A pained roar ripped out of Isaias' throat and he slapped Sawyers out of his way. He didn't bother thinking about locks or keys; his jaws wrapped around the bars and he merely tore them out.
"I will get you yet," Sawyers shouted. He cradled a broken arm to his chest, covered in blood. "Next time I will kill your mate as well!"
Isaias lunged at him but he slipped into another room. He couldn’t go–Adela was hurt. He finished ripping open the cage and shifted, pulling Becky out and then Adela. He cradled her in his arms while both of his hands pressed into the wound on her stomach. Her skin was rapidly turning white and his throat closed off.
"911," he choked out. They had to stop the bleeding. "Becky—"
"There's a phone in the office," she gasped, then dodged into the room where Sawyer had disappeared into.
"Hold on." Isaias said to Adela, holding her closer. "You're going to be fine. Don't worry."
Adela whimpered. Her eyes were wide, roving over the ceiling, not focusing on anything.
Growls brought his attention to the door again. The bears that Isaias had fought his way through had apparently decided to join the fight again. They stood shoulder to shoulder as they advanced slowly, all growling and snarling. Isaias pressed his hands tighter to Adela's abdomen. If he left her, the blood would flow faster and she could bleed out in a matter of seconds. But if he didn't fight? The bears had bloodlust in their eyes. He didn’t know any of them. They had no reason not to attack.
"If you want any money from me, she can't die," he rasped. "I will pay you to let us go but if she dies I'll kill you all."
One of the bears paused, head tilted to one side. Isaias' eyes swept down the line. None of them were Marcus. His heart sunk despite himself. If Marcus was in the group, then perhaps they'd have a chance out of this. Adela whimpered, writhing from the pain.
The bears continued to advance. This wasn't about the money anymore. Isaias tensed
, bracing himself to shift and attack but before he could move, a gunshot rang out. One of the bears howled, its head being wrenched to one side. Half of its ear was gone just like that, a long scrape on its face showing the path the bullet had taken.
Isaias' head swiveled. Becky stood in the doorway of the office, Sawyers' gun held tightly in both hands, her feet spread apart and pointed at the advancing bears.
"That was just a warning shot." Her voice wobbled. "Get out of here or I'll blow out your brains!"
The bear curled its lip. Its head swung to look between Isaias and Becky. Slowly, it began to back up. Another of the bears made a whining noise but the others all seemed to have lost their nerve. They turned and fled, leaving Isaias and the two women alone.
Becky ran to them. "I called 911 but I don't know where we are. They said to just keep pressure on the wound and try not to move her. We have to keep her warm. They're triangulating our position and…"
Her face blanched but she shook her head and lunged for a dirty blanket in one corner. That she wrapped around Adela's legs before she retrieved a jacket to tuck over her chest. Becky brushed her fingers through Adela's hair. Tears running down her face.
"You're going to be fine," Becky said, her voice still wobbling. "Help is on its way and you're going to be fine."
Adela grasped Isaias' arm. "Luci."
"She's safe," he promised her. "She's with Margret. She misses you, though. So you have to hold on. Luci can't be without her mother. Understood?"
"Take care of her."
Isaias shook his head. "We're not doing this. You're going to be fine."
Adela's grip tightened. "Take care of her. Both of you." Her eyes roved to Becky. "She needs a mother, too. Take care of her. Take care of her."
Tears streamed down his face. Isaias pressed a kiss to Adela's forehead. "I promise. She will grow up happy and healthy and she will have her mother.'"
"Good…" Adela's hand dropped. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she was still.
The Bear Shifter's Virgin Page 8
