by Lia Davis
Exhaustion weighed on Jess like a ton of bricks. She’d been bombarded with an onslaught of information, details of the inner workings of Caleb’s world, and all the possible strategies for retrieving Emma. She could have sworn her brain had gone twelve rounds with Floyd Mayweather. Tucker taught her how to use the internet to find just about anything, which scared the bejesus out of her when she thought about how easy it was. He did keep a few of his tricks to himself, joking that they would keep him employed in the not-too-distant future. She couldn’t help but laugh; from what she could tell, he was an invaluable member of the team and wouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
Cherry taught her a few self-defense moves she could use when in human form, which gave her the boost of confidence she needed. She’d never considered herself a fighter, but when the situation called for action, she would do whatever it took. Regardless, the feeling of helplessness began to overshadow her perceived abilities.
Tucker and Cherry were going to head into Westspring and meet up with the owners of some of the warehouses they’d scouted. Cherry had yet to hear from two of the building owners, so she decided to do a drive-by and check them out on her own. It seemed to Jess they were grasping at straws. The only information they’d gathered was a muffled conversation overheard from her sister’s pocket. Still, it was the only chance they had to find Emma.
“I’m gonna grab some air,” Jess said to no one in particular. She took one more glance around the room; the team members were all engrossed in their own jobs and she didn’t want to take their attention from the task at hand. The room seemed to close in on Jess; the stress of the past few days began to take its toll on her. Time to think was what she needed.
She made sure to grab her cell phone and slid it into her back pocket; she didn’t want to miss a potential call from Emma. As she made her way down the loft stairs, the blinding midday sun shocked her already tired senses. She raised her face toward its warmth and took in the much-needed energy. The sound of the chickadees as they chirped in the pines brought Jess’s attention to the forest mere feet from her.
Had it only been a few days since one of the most amazing nights of her life? She’d been too busy being distracted by the dangerously handsome Caleb Marsh. The weight of the guilt began to gnaw at Jess and made her feel raw and helpless.
Without even a thought, she found herself at the very same creek she’d lounged in just days ago. Jess knelt down at the water’s edge and took in her appearance. Her golden waves were haphazardly piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She had never thought in a million years she could get any paler, but she’d proved herself dead wrong. Dark circles hung beneath her tired eyes. She looked like shit.
Her hands dipped below the surface of the frigid water and splashed her face and neck. She sat back on her haunches, exhaled deeply, and closed her eyes. The faint vibration of her phone brought her back to the present.
Her heart stopped when she glanced at the caller ID. Emma’s picture danced across the screen and she would bet her life Emma wouldn’t be the one on the other end of the line. She jabbed the answer button.
“Hello?” She barely recognized her own voice; the ragged and husky tone sounded like nails on a chalkboard.
“How are we doing on this fine afternoon?” His cheerful voice grated on her last nerve and it took everything she could muster not to crush the phone.
“What do you want?” She frantically began to search the surrounding clearing, hoping to see Caleb nearby, but when he didn’t appear she returned her attention to the conversation.
“Straight to the point. I like that.” She began to pace with impatience, adrenaline pumping through her veins like lightning through the sky.
“I want to make a deal.” She stopped dead in her tracks and held her breath. It couldn’t be that easy?
“What kind of deal?”
“I’ll make a trade,” he offered nonchalantly.
“What do you want to trade? Money? What?” Her family didn’t have a lot of cash, but for Emma she would find a way to get however much he wanted.
“Money?” He scoffed. “I’m not interested in the measly amount of money you could scrounge up. I make more than you could ever dream of with each shifter capture.” Disappointment rushed over her. She had been naïve to hope it would be a simple exchange. She should have known better.
“I want you.” Her stomach dropped at the seriousness of the situation.
“You’ll give Emma back in return for me? Why?”
“Yes. You were who we wanted originally. Someone wants a certain ‘experience’ and only you would suffice. But when we failed to procure you, we needed to improvise and resort to Plan B.” Without saying her name, he’d insinuated Emma. Sweet Emma.
“I thought she would have at least an ounce of fight in her but, no, she’s truly pathetic.” His words dripped with disappointment, as though he were unimpressed with the whole situation. Jess’s hackles rose and her fangs elongated as the urge to protect her sister surged through her.
She needed to get Emma back; after all, she was the reason Emma been taken in the first place.
“How do I know you’ll release her?” She needed to hear a promise. Anything to reassure her.
“You don’t, but you’ll never know if you don’t try.” His voice lightened as if he were smiling at his own joke. “And Jess…if you were smart, you’d keep Mr. Marsh out of this.” Panic swelled in her chest, but she soothed the uneasiness with the thought of Emma and what her baby sister had been through.
“Fine. You got a deal. Where do I meet you?”
“Tell you what…how about behind your parents’ diner at around eight tonight?”
“I’ll be there.” Her stomach churned in dread as she agreed to the terms he offered. Being a woman of her word, Jess couldn’t help but feel anxiety wash over her like a cold shower, making her less confident every passing second.
“Good girl.” The line went dead, which left Jess alone with her thoughts. The likelihood of it being a trap couldn’t be higher, but she wouldn’t just leave Emma with those monsters. They needed to get her back and if that meant being bait then so be it.
Even though the man had said to not get Caleb involved, there was no way she couldn’t tell him. The possibility of a trap was high and she wouldn’t take the unnecessary chance of not including him in the plan.
She slid her phone back in her pocket and then ran as fast as she could back to the guest house. They needed to come up with a plan, fast. She didn’t know how much longer Emma could last.
“There’s no way in hell you’re gonna be there tonight,” Caleb said as he clenched and unclenched his fists in an effort to still the shakes rocking his entire body.
“That’s not your call—it’s mine, and you got another think coming if you think I’d sit this out.” Jess faced him and crossed her arms across over her chest in the most stubborn fashion he’d ever seen. Caleb ground his teeth in an effort to keep from saying anything that would set her off.
“You don’t understand, Jess. This is what we do. We deal with this type of situation regularly, and there is no way we can predict what this man is capable of.” He reached out and grasped her shoulders, giving her a gentle shake. “Things could go horribly wrong and not only would Emma be in jeopardy, but so could you.”
She didn’t even flinch. “I can’t take the chance. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.” Shock flashed across her face, which spurred on his argument. “I know you want to get Emma back, but there are better ways, safer ways.” Of course, none came to the forefront of his mind, but that wasn’t what mattered. He needed her to stay safe.
“Caleb…” Jess pleaded. He saw the indecision in her eyes.
“I’m asking you to let my team and I deal with this.”
“And I’m telling you I’m gonna go.” Her voice showed no sign of the uncertainty from earlier. “Whether you like it or not. Now you can either help or you can step asid
e. It’s up to you.”
He let a low growl rumble through his chest. Without a word, he turned and stalked from the room. He needed space. Unfortunately, the only empty space was the bedroom he shared with his stubborn wildcat. He slammed the door and began to pace furiously. There were too many unknowns; he couldn’t shake the uncertainty he felt. Who were the men responsible? How long had they been in operation? Who could be trusted? They could be ambushed, or worse, killed.
There were too many variables. Too many things could go wrong, and he knew full well Jess would be his main distraction, which could put the whole team in danger.
He composed himself enough to return to the living room after taking the much-needed breather.
“All right, you can come, but…” He needed to gain control of the situation whether she liked it or not.
“No buts, Caleb.”
“Too bad. I have conditions and you’re gonna listen. If you don’t agree, I have no problem locking you up here and going to the diner myself.” She sent him an icy glare and quieted down. “Tucker, Cherry, and I will be downwind and hidden throughout the alley. If we feel you’re in danger, we end the whole thing. Do you understand?”
Jess crossed her arms over her chest and after staring at him for a moment nodded, conceding to his experience.
“We don’t have much time left,” Tucker cut in as he glanced at his watch.
“We need a plan, quick. How can we get Jess to the diner without them suspecting anything?” Caleb glanced at Jess. “I’ve got an idea.”
Everyone huddled close as Caleb started laying out his plan.
Just breathe, Jess, breathe!
The thought repeated over and over in her mind. No matter what she tried, she couldn’t seem to relax. She took another deep breath, trying to calm her shattered nerves one last time. It was no use; the bravado she’d shown to Caleb began to evaporate.
She glanced at her watch—a few minutes to eight. Her inner cat paced, on high alert, its ears perked up to catch the tiniest of sounds and its eyes peeled for any hint of suspicious activity. She stretched and rolled her neck as she tried to ease the tense muscles as best as she could. Even though Caleb and his team were downwind of the alley, she didn’t have to worry about being alone. The knowledge allowed her to slow her rapid heartbeat. Her eyes fluttered shut, she took one last deep breath in, and released it with as much of the pent-up tension she could. She needed her head in the game; Emma was depending on her.
Small-town Jess Baker never would have done anything like this. She would have balked at this kind of situation without a moment’s hesitation, but enlightened Jess had seen what the world was capable of and she wouldn’t let it take someone she cared for. For Emma or anyone she loved, she would gladly walk through Hell and back.
The piercing sound of brakes at the end of the alley brought her attention back to the present. A blue panel van turned into the alley. The windows were tinted black and made it damn near impossible to see any of the occupants. She squinted and strained to see.
The van skidded to a stop six feet from her and the sliding door screeched as it swung open. Her senses picked up the scents of two fox shifters, along with a coyote. She drew in a deep breath, and tried in earnest to scent Emma. Nothing. One of the fox shifters rushed forward and she took a step back.
The man’s shaggy auburn hair hung to his chin haphazardly and his stern face came to a harsh point, reminiscent of the fox he would shift into. He was a few inches taller than she but clearly outweighed her by fifty pounds. The menacing gleam in his eyes caused her heart to skip a beat. He took an aggressive step toward her. Liquor wafted from his breath and seeped from every pore on his body. She took another precautionary step away from the approaching male, the diner’s brick wall flush against her back. The shifter snagged her wrist painfully and tried to toss her over his shoulder. She flailed wildly in an effort to cause as much damage as possible anywhere she could reach. Her frantic movements became too much for the shifter to hold and he released her just enough for Jess to gain her footing. The screech of tires echoed against the cramped space of the alley. She needed to get out of there before time ran out.
The struggle coaxed her claws to elongate and she dragged them across the fox’s face, making him howl in pain.
“You fucking bitch!” He narrowed his gaze on her and slapped her across the face with the back of his hand. She gasped as pain exploded across her cheek. The force of the hit sent her sprawling to the concrete. While she tried to gain her composure, the second fox snagged her legs while the first grabbed her arms. In one fluid movement they tossed her into the van and quickly joined her.
Jess pulled herself up into a crouch, prepared to shift, which would give her the upper hand, but she didn’t get the chance. The larger shifter anticipated her move, launched himself into her, and slammed her into the van wall. The wind got knocked from her chest and halted all shifting attempts. He threw her to the van floor and straddled her hips. The sickening smirk he gave made her want to claw his face again. She struggled and fought, determined to free herself, but before she could, the smaller fox plunged a syringe into her neck and emptied its contents.
Surprise floored her; she tried to reach her hand up to her neck where the needle had pierced her skin but couldn’t seem to get her wayward limb to cooperate. She tried to clench her hands but when she couldn’t feel them, panic set in. The toxin worked fast as it flowed through her veins, the effects almost instantaneous. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t get her body to obey her. She felt sluggish and numb and the helplessness scared the hell out of her. She’d never felt so vulnerable, being at the whim of her captors, unable to fight back.
The fox grabbed her wrist off the van floor and let it go just to watch as it fell with a thump. He seemingly approved of her condition and he got off of her and dropped himself in the passenger seat. Even though she might not be able to move, she could still observe her surroundings. The van quickly accelerated, making its way out of the alley. Jess scanned everything around her; the driver was the coyote shifter she’d scented earlier. The larger fox flipped the sun visor down to study his face in the mirror. He lightly touched the gashes she had left him and winced.
"Serves you right, dickhead,” Jess inwardly scolded.
Her motionless body began to slide across the floor as the van made a sharp right turn. She couldn’t tell how far they’d driven, but the vehicle came to a screeching halt, causing the rear of the vehicle to swing out. The momentum not only sent her skidding towards the front of the van, but the smaller fox shifter face planted into the back of the passenger seat, causing him to curse. All of the men began to shift uncomfortably in their seats as they glanced around. The bitter scent of panic filled the tiny space and the coyote rushed to unbuckle himself as fast as he could. Before he could make a break for it, the van got slammed from the side, the door dented in. The fox shifters looked at each other and paled.
“Is that a bear shifter?” The smaller fox asked. He grabbed onto the back of the passenger seat as the van got slammed again. “I thought the boss said she’d be alone?”
The sound of metal being ripped from its hinges brought her attention back to the driver, who no longer occupied his seat. A yelp of pain echoed against the walls of the buildings. The remaining men began to bump into each other and trip over her sprawled body all the while trying frantically to catch sight of the threat.
“We gotta get out of here.” The larger man winced as the wounds on his face began to bleed excessively.
A laugh bubbled up in Jess’s chest. The muffled chuckle not only surprised her, but the foxes seemed taken aback by the sound as well. The larger fox sneered at her and gave a swift kick to her stomach. Waves of pain rippled through her whole body. With a grunt, Jess glared as much as she could muster with the range of movement her face allowed.
Jess caught his scent long before the men did. The smell of jaguar and the acrid odor of rage washed over her, making h
er sigh in relief.
The metal screeched as it was ripped apart and made the remaining shifters scatter. The sliding door was torn off its tracks and Tucker eclipsed the invading sunlight. They both lunged for the driver side door but were blocked by Caleb.
A growl rumbled through the van and made the cowards whimper in fear. The sour scent burned her nose.
“So, boss, which one should we keep?” Tucker asked nonchalantly as if he were wondering which movie they should go see.
The foxes watched the team with wide eyes, as if trying to gauge if they were joking or not.
“What do you mean, keep?” The larger fox finally asked.
“Well, we don’t need all of you for questioning and we can’t just let you go. So, we need to decide which of you will be the most helpful,” Tucker continued as he leaned in close to the smaller shifter and sized him up.
“Tell you what…how ’bout you boys make the decision for us,” Cherry chimed in from behind Tucker. Without a moment’s hesitation, the larger man nominated himself, sacrificing his partner without a second thought.
What a chicken shit, Jess thought.
Caleb entered the van and appeared within her line of sight. Pure rage was etched across his face, his eyes narrowed as he focused on his intended target. Every attempt she made to get Caleb’s attention failed, the drug still in full effect.
“You know…I think we’ll keep the driver. He would know where to find the bastard you work for.” The men both balked at the suggestion. Caleb’s face was only inches away from the now bloodied shifter, making the fox crane his neck just to peer into his face.
“If you want information, I’m the one you need to keep.”
“Here’s the thing… I will get whatever I can out of all of you, but I do plan on making you suffer the most.” Caleb gave the shifter a sneer, his fangs lengthened lethally, and they were within a few inches of the quivering man’s face. A whimper escaped from the fox’s chest.
Caleb grabbed the fox by the throat and tossed him backwards to Tucker, who easily held both shifters in his arms. Through her peripheral vision, she caught Tucker and Cherry walking out of sight. She assumed they were taking the kidnappers for questioning.
