by Dianna Love
“No car. I’ll explain on the way. We can’t waste a second.”
“Oh, hell. I’m losin’ my mind. You’re not afraid to ride with me are you?”
Finally. A break. “No, sir. I’m glad to help your friend and get out of this weather.”
“Well, you get in.”
“Thank you.” She got in the back seat that smelled of old boots, mud and coffee. She lifted George’s head carefully and placed it on her lap, then checked his pulse. It was getting harder to feel anything through his cold skin.
Sam cranked the engine and asked, “You been out in the woods long?”
“Half the night.”
He handed her an insulated lunch bag and a thermos of coffee. “It’s not much, but you can have it all. We were headed to breakfast. I can’t stomach anything until I know George will live.” His grim voice broke at the end.
She unzipped the food bag and one whiff of a ham sandwich set her stomach growling. Ravenous with hunger, her hand shook as she unwrapped the small feast.
After swallowing the first bite, she said, “This is wonderful. I appreciate any food. Where’s the closest hospital?”
“In Lenoir.”
She had no map of North Carolina and had only hoped she’d been headed in the right direction. “Is that anywhere near Clarenceville?”
“’Bout ten miles past.”
Her heart dropped, but with this food, she could keep going a little longer and double back.
He slowed to ease over a bumpy area, muttering, “We’ll get to the road soon, George. You just hang on.”
She stayed quiet as he fought his way out of the woods and continued to feed George a trickle of energy through her finger. With her free hand, she ate everything in the lunch bag and drank the bitter coffee.
The food might not have seemed like much to Sam, but to her it had been an unexpected blessing.
Sam had a laser focus on maneuvering their way through what appeared to be barely a path. The minute he reached a highway, he checked his phone and slammed it down.
Must not have a tower yet.
He pushed the accelerator and the diesel engine roared, but the speed increased smoothly. Sam’s stress filled the interior. She could understand his emotions. She’d drown in guilt if she’d shot her best friend. She had two friends outside of Kodiak, Alaska, and would take a bullet for either one of them.
The fact that Sam had pulled the trigger to save George’s life failed to soothe his torment.
It only took a moment for him to focus on her again. With a glance at the rearview mirror, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Had the mud washed off her face and revealed the long scar? She kept her hands from her face. No point in bringing attention to it if he hadn’t seen the identifying mark.
Sam said, “I live in Clarenceville. You live there?”
Glad he hadn’t noticed her face, she jumped on this chance to find out anything about her destination. “No, sir. I was headed there, but I’m not exactly sure where it is,” she lied. She hadn’t needed any extra energy to cover that fib since he was human. Still, considering where he found her, that hadn’t been far from the truth.
“You got family there?”
“No, sir.”
“How come you’re out in the woods alone?”
She’d had time to work on a story during the long hours of reaching this point and hoped he’d believe her. “I’ve been begging rides and walking to get away from a man in Raleigh. He was ... bad. I left with the clothes on my back. I looked at a map in a truck stop and asked about some towns. Clarenceville wasn’t on the map. When I walked outside, I heard a trucker talking about hunting near Clarenceville years back. I asked him about it and he told me he’d forgotten the exact location, but to head for Blowing Rock and watch for a sign to the town. I figured it would be hard to find me if even I didn’t know where I was going.”
Sam’s expression changed from suspicious to murderous. His deep voice demanded, “What kind of sorry man hurts a woman?”
Her words had worked, but she didn’t answer him.
He asked, “What about the cops?”
“Even a restraining order made no difference. I barely got out with my life. If I can find a place to make some money and save up, I’m going further. I’m going to keep moving until I’m sure he can’t find me again.”
Sam nodded. “Let me see what happens with George. Once I leave, I’ll give you a ride to Clarenceville.”
The tears that burned her eyes were for real, but she wouldn’t let them fall. Choking on her emotion, she breathed out, “Thank you.”
Sam drove with a single-minded purpose, safely moving around the few vehicles on this backroad early in the morning. The clouds had stopped dumping rain, but still blocked sunshine. “Hell, least I can do with you saving my friend’s life. What’s your name?”
Rule one of phony names was always stick close to the truth to avoid being confused. “Janet.”
He snapped his fingers. “You’ve got skills. Bet we can find you a job with a doctor or a medical center.”
Hurrying to shut that down, she said, “That’s nice of you, but I want to go somewhere they don’t need a lot of information. I’ll work cheap for cash.”
But she needed to find out what happened to the female bartender who went missing a week ago from the only bar in Clarenceville.
His stress ramped back up. To distract him, she asked, “Any chance someone has a restaurant or bar who needs help? I have experience.”
He jerked at her question, clearly deep in his own personal Hellsville. “Let me think on it. I’m sure someone needs a worker. Just depends on what you’re lookin’ for.”
She answered honestly. “I’m looking to make a living to feed myself and put a roof over my head right now. I’m not picky or proud when it comes to getting my hands dirty.”
He gave her an understanding glance. “Sally Mae might need someone at the diner. Not sure what it pays.”
“I’d appreciate anything. It would be more than I’m making now,” she joked.
Sam didn’t smile, but he no longer pulsed out waves of anxiety.
A job would make it much easier to hang around for a few days, plus she really could use the rest. Any more than two days, three tops, and she’d have to leave.
That’s how she’d stayed alive for weeks while on the run since killing Kaiser. It had been self-defense, but the only eyewitness, his sister, showed up as Jaz’s wolf killed Kaiser’s. His sister screamed at Jaz, accusing her of murder.
Just like Sam taking that difficult shot, Jaz had a valid reason for killing Kaiser, but even taking a life in self-defense darkened her soul.
Sam kept trying his mobile phone and finally got a tower minutes before they arrived at the hospital with a half-full parking lot. She didn’t move from her seat as Sam pulled up to the emergency entrance and jumped out, shouting directions at the medical personnel. She moved out of the way as they unloaded George. In seconds, they had him on a gurney and raced inside.
A police cruiser came up with lights flashing and parked behind Sam’s truck, then the officer rushed inside.
Sam had left his truck running. No one said anything about moving it.
In fact, no one stood outside.
Jaz’s pulse jumped. Now would be the time to sneak away, but that would ruin her chance of reaching Clarenceville. She believed Daisy, the female wolf shifter she’d helped escape, had ended up captured by the same group who snatched a mountain-lion-shifter bartender from Clarenceville.
According to Jaz’s resource on female shifter kidnappings, no missing report had been filed with the police, because the owner of the bar had received a message explaining the woman’s disappearance. The shifter had been working among humans who had no idea she wasn’t one of them. Her disappearance had been included in a group of other suspicious disappearances in this region.
The kidnapped women were all in their early twenties and living on their own.
They were suspected of being rogue shifters hiding among humans, a common denominator. Perfect targets for predators like the Black River wolf pack.
She had to find out what she could about the last female shifter to disappear. Kaiser had been abusing Daisy when Jaz showed up that day and heard him order the woman to be quiet or she’d regret it. When Jaz jumped in to stop Kaiser from hurting the woman, Daisy begged, “He’s trying to kidnap me.”
Jaz told her to run to the road, hide, and wait for her.
Kaiser shifted. Jaz shifted.
They fought.
He died.
When she went to find Daisy, the woman was gone. Then Jaz scented another wolf shifter where the dirt and weeds had been damaged from a struggle.
Daisy had no family.
If Jaz had minded her own business, she wouldn’t be hunted, but Daisy would probably be dead. If she’d minded her own business, she wouldn’t have left Kodiak on a mission to do the right thing.
Time to leave? her wolf asked mind to mind.
Not yet, Jaz sent back. This man can take us to the town we need to find and maybe even help get me a job. That would save us time to rest and allow us to leave sooner.
Tarski had stayed alert, but quiet during the drive. Her wolf put everything in logical perspective. Whenever Jaz required physical help, Tarski would come forward. If she could better handle something in human form, her wolf remained vigilant, but silent.
Sam returned to the truck an hour later. He stuck his head inside. “They’ve got him in surgery to extract the bullet, but they say he’s stable. The doctor said we did a hell of a job getting him here with that weak pulse.”
She tensed. “You didn’t mention me, did you?”
“Nah. I wanted to just to give you credit, but you’re trying to avoid problems. I get that. All you have to do is give a statement to the police and we can leave.”
Not law enforcement.
Bad idea. She asked, “Do you really need me to talk to them if George is going to be okay? He’ll tell everyone the truth. I didn’t actually see anything. I heard a couple shots and came running, then saw a wolf run off.” Jaz scrubbed a hand over her face, which failed to wash away the exhaustion so she could think clearly.
“Damn, I hate to ask you to do anything after you saved my best friend’s life, Janet, but the sheriff is big on following the law, even for locals.”
She racked her brain for an idea, anything that would get her out of this position. Short of running, she had none. Taking off right now would destroy her only chance to reach Clarenceville.
This was not the time to panic. She said, “Okay, but I don’t have any identification to prove who I am.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
She wanted to believe him, but her gut screamed that nothing good could come of even meeting the cop.
Sam added, “Don’t worry. I’m sure he can confirm your identification.”
Hadn’t she said she didn’t want anyone to know she was here?
Law enforcement had a thing for photographs and fingerprints, both of which would hang her.
Chapter 2
Adrian ran in human form through the foggy jungle of Burkina Faso in West Africa. His wolf, Red, remained surprising quiet, not demanding to be freed so they could run faster through the difficult terrain.
Maybe he should shift.
He never struggled to decide. That never happened. Why now?
Everything blurred, then snapped back into focus, over and over. He blinked to clear his vision. What was wrong with him?
How could he save the female hostage if he couldn’t stay on track mentally?
He and his wolf had executed over a hundred solo missions. They were the best for inserting and extractions. He could have brought one of his team members this time, but he’d lost Leonard three weeks ago.
Adrian should have been the one killed. Not his teammate and best friend.
A scream pierced the early morning quiet and boomed in his head. He slapped his hands over his ears to stop the noise. Leaves and brush smacked him in the face. The putrid stench of decay from the jungle floor clouded his nose.
He yanked his hands away from his ears and shoved them forward to find an opening in the thick undergrowth. His boots slugged through mud and made too much noise.
Adrian needed Red’s aid even in human form. He could feel his wolf, but not a powerful presence up close to the surface. Why was Red quiet when he’d normally be giving advice to help them survive this mission?
His wolf would move through this undetected.
Why hadn’t Red pushed to get out?
His wolf felt withdrawn and buried deep inside Adrian. To be honest, he couldn’t even feel his wolf. He didn’t understand. Red and he were brothers in spirit, always there for each other.
Light barely filtered through a tangle of foliage with daylight breaking soon.
The hellish scream kept on, curdling his blood. He’d never heard such a sickening sound.
Was the enemy torturing the hostage?
Shit fire. Adrian pushed harder.
Dark fog surrounded him again. He lost track of time and his surroundings. Dangerous mistakes.
He had to get a grip and keep his head in the mission to insert into the enemy camp and extract the female journalist, who had been taken two days ago from Iran.
Was she French? American?
Adrian fought panic. He should know who she was. He telepathically asked his wolf, Who’re we saving?
His wolf didn’t respond.
Why not? Red, where are you?
Something was bad wrong. They had a reputation as the best wolf shifter unit in their special military division.
More screaming. Adrian’s gut lurched, but had that been female? Nothing ripped him up like a woman being hurt.
The jungle came into sharp focus again.
At the first sign of the trees and underbrush thinning, he slowed before rushing in and ending up shot to pieces. Sweat poured down his face.
Deep voices spoke in Arabic. Not the local dialect of Mossi, or French, the official language deemed by government.
Laughter followed.
He caught enough of the words to know they were having fun with an American soldier. Who?
He had to save two hostages?
It didn’t matter. He and his wolf could do it.
Once Adrian determined the location of both prisoners, he would dump his weapons along with his clothes, then release Red. His wolf would take down the enemy silently where weapons would bring in unwanted support for the wrong side.
Smoke from a campfire rose in a single swirl and the smell of burning wood permeated the air. He eased around until he could see three average-sized men with thick black hair and beards squatting around the fire. They all wore dirty khaki uniforms.
Red growled. Finally a sign of life from his wolf!
With Adrian’s next move to the left, a thirty-inch square titanium cage came into view, stuffed full of a naked man. Claws poked from his bony hands and red fur sprouted in patches across the bruised and bleeding skin of his shoulders and back. His head had lost its natural human shape, but he clearly couldn’t shift in that small an area.
Adrian’s heart pounded loud in his head. Had someone in his special unit been captured?
Red snarled demonic sounds inside Adrian’s mind, getting louder and more furious each time.
The prisoner angled his head a tiny bit and looked at Adrian.
Brown eyes faced him.
The same eyes Adrian saw in his broken mirror every day. His hair stood on end. Terror ripped through him. He howled and screamed.
The three enemies turned and grinned with not a full mouth of teeth among them. One had a jagged scar through one eye. He knew them. Had seen their faces for weeks.
Red clawed his insides and accused, You trap us. You hate us.
The world spun and gyrated.
Adrian yanked at his hair. Claws
shot from his fingertips. His body twisted and warped, changing into a hideous half version of Red. Saliva dripped from his jaws.
His wolf howled in misery. Hate you!
Adrian fought a faceless enemy, striking out and ripping heads off. In the next instant, he was in wolf form, racing through the blurry jungle, attacking any animal that stepped in his path.
The Guardian would find him and put his wolf down. No Gallize shifter could lose control and remain free. Adrian flipped around in a spiral of noise and misery. He welcomed the end to this misery.
Anything to free him from this torture.
Gentle, but strong, arms circled him. A husky female voice whispered in his ear, “You are safe. You are no longer there. I will protect you.”
Jazlyn? He closed his eyes and soaked up the feel of her against his body. He’d met her in North Carolina. What was she doing in this country?
He didn’t care. His wolf quieted in that moment, observant.
“I miss you, Jaz. Are you safe?”
“I will be.”
“Stay with me.”
“I can’t.”
He reached a stream in the next moment and stopped. The world came back into focus. Every breath hurt to suck in and push out.
Jaz vanished, dammit. His chest hurt at losing her.
Where had she gone?
Stepping up to the edge of the water, he looked down at the still water’s smooth reflection.
Red’s wolf stared back through a raging yellow gaze. Blood dripped from his mouth and ruby tears ran from his eyes. In a gravelly voice, Red said, You made us this. I am me, not part of you anymore.
No, Red. We are one.
Not anymore.
Adrian’s heart squeezed at losing a part of him he’d loved from day one.
He deserved to be alone. He had failed everyone. Even his wolf.
He tried to move. His legs were caught. Furious, he clawed his way out, fighting a blurry enemy until ... his eyes opened in darkness.
No jungle. No stream.
The sound of his ragged breathing filled the room. His body stunk of sweat and fear. He felt his chest.
Human, not wolf.
Where was he?
