by Barb Shuler
My eyes never left the candle. In it, I would see whoever was involved in the plot to hurt my girls and me. Just when I thought I wasn’t going to be shown anything, a face came into the flame. I leaned forward a little to get a closer look. I recognized him as the man from the bar who’d had a knife to my throat—the one that Jay took down. That image soon disappeared and I was shown Josh and Peter. Those two names I already knew. When it came to the fourth image, though, I had to hold back yelling for Dalton.
That son of a bitch! He had convinced me to buy Bar None, and I would bet any money that he was the one who was supposed to convince me to sell it. That’s what he wanted that night. He planned on taking me to see Peter and forcing me to sign over the club to him. My hand clenched into a fist and the flame grew larger as I put more energy into it. The next image was of the alley where the staff parked their cars. I saw a woman standing in the alley, but I couldn’t see her face. Someone else was in that alley, I could feel it. I kept watching as the girl moved to her car. A figure stepped out of the shadows and injected something into her neck. I wanted to scream out, but I couldn’t. I had to watch as this poor girl was dragged into a waiting car.
“Enough!”
The candle blew out and I closed my eyes. My heart was racing and my breathing was fast. Before I could move, Dalton came bursting into the room.
“Mia, are you okay?” He crouched down in front of me, his hands reaching up to cup my face.
“That traitorous son of a bitch!”
“What happened? I thought we said you weren’t going to talk to him? What did you do?”
“I didn’t speak to him. I spoke with my Goddesses and cast a spell. I couldn’t handle not knowing who was coming for me. It was killing me. So I asked for help to show me what their intentions were.” Taking a deep breath, I wiped the tears that were now falling. My heart hurt. Someone I considered a friend could do this to me? How long had he been working against us and why? “Sylvester was involved. The night he came into town, he was supposed to take me to Peter and they were going to force me to sign over the club. Then he was going to take me to the serial killer who was going to…” I cut myself off, unable to finish that sentence.
Dalton pulled me from my chair and picked me up. He carried me into the bedroom and laid me down, curling up beside me. He reached for his phone, but he was sure to keep me close where he could keep me safe. I hid my face in his chest, his hand rubbing my back as I cried.
“He’s going to attack the club. He’ll be waiting in the alleyway for one of the girls. I don’t know when or who, but we need to put the guys on it. We can’t let him take someone. He’s going to inject them with something and take them away.”
I couldn’t imagine why someone would want to hurt my girls. They were innocent and Jay had been through enough. Dalton was on the phone; I was trying to calm myself down, but it all kept playing over in my head like a movie on repeat. I wanted it to stop, but a little voice in the back of my mind told me, “You asked for this.” It was then that I knew I would be stuck reliving this over and over until it happened.
I must have fallen asleep after crying into Dalton’s chest because I woke up a few hours later and he was gone. I could hear voices in the other room. I crawled off the bed, grabbing one of D’s jumpers and putting it on. Pulling the sleeves up over my hands, I moved to the door to see who was out there. One of the voices was D’s and the other was Ty’s.
“Liam has looked everywhere. The bastard is in hiding. You heard what Peter was told. He wants the girls or he will take a life, anyone will do. Until we catch the other one, we aren’t going to get Sylvester to come out of hiding. The little weasel knows his days are numbered.”
D sighed and ran his hands over his face. “How the fuck is that going to be any comfort to Mia? She just cried herself to sleep after being given this information.”
“I don’t suppose she can help lure him out?”
D’s next words were growled. “I am not using her as bait. Come up with another fucking plan, Tyson.”
Ty held his hands up. “We’ll keep looking, but with nothing to go on, our best bet is to go after the serial killer. We have the club locked down every night. No one is getting in or out without us knowing about it. We’ll walk the perimeter, put Liam on cameras focusing on the front door. Angus is Mia’s shadow, so that leaves you and the other guys on the bar. No one will get to her.”
“We need to get surveillance on the other girls when they’re at home. The attack might be planned for the club, but it could change.”
“Will Mia know if it is?”
“I don’t know how it works.”
“I’ll see the decisions he makes. If he changes the plan, I’ll see the new one. I can’t tell where he is, but I do have locating spells. I doubt the Goddesses will be of help again anytime soon, though. I’m being punished.” I stepped out of the bedroom, Ty and D both turning to look at me. “It’s a constant loop in my head. I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t stand them being one up on us all the time.” I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of D’s jumper, then moved to him when he opened up his arms.
“I promise you, Mia, we’re working on this. None of us will sleep until we have found both of these two bastards. We’ve got you, sis.” Ty spoke and my heart melted.
Not very often do you see the soft side to him, but when you did, he meant every word he said. These boys were like family to me and I knew, just like they had vowed to D to keep me safe, they would do the same for my girls.
“Thanks, Ty. You’re still not allowed in my club.”
He chuckled and pushed himself up off the couch. “You’re lucky I love you, Mia.”
“I am, love you too, Ty.”
He kissed my cheek then fist bumped D.
“You stay here where you’re needed. I’ll go and conference the boys and we’ll get to work.” I watched Ty leave and lock the door behind him. Shifting a little, I turned and hid my face in D’s neck. I just wanted all this shit over with. I wanted my life and my club back. Hell, even my fucking sanity.
21
Dalton
Where could he be? I’d been racking my brain for the last few days trying to decide if this was ever going to end. It was pulling my insides apart to see Mia so damn upset. She was on edge, which put me on edge. My wolf was about to lose his goddamn mind. The pack was on high alert waiting for him to go bonkers. They had more important shit to worry about. Like finding the fuckers we were looking for.
Morris, the serial killer who was wanted in twelve states, had disappeared, despite being hunted by the FBI and a few other of the alphabet soups of law enforcement agencies. I know he’s close. I feel it. My wolf is just waiting for him to make a mistake. It will be his last. If we got him, we got Sy.
“Dalton, this fucker has more aliases. Son of a two legged whore! Dude’s not even original with his shit…”
I paced the hallway outside of Liam and Mia’s offices. She was out in the bar with Jayden, trying to be brave and act as if she wasn’t seconds from crumbling again. I needed to get these assholes so my girl was safe again. I heard a double knock followed by a double tap, so I moved to the back door and slipped outside.
“There are no signs of him at the house. We tracked from there, covered a five mile radius, and again, nothing.”
Max looked as defeated as I’m sure I did.
“Thanks. Liam is on the killer's trail. Once we find him, we’ll get Sy. Then we all get to see him die.”
“Painfully for messing with our sister.”
“Damn straight.”
I cupped the back of Max’s neck and squeezed. He was a good pup, even if I wanted to throttle him for his antics most days.
“Go keep watch. The number of people inside is starting to increase. It’s been quiet until now.”
“Later, boss,” he said, jogging back around the building.
I moved back inside and paced. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Feeling hel
pless was never good for me or the wolf. Liam shouted and I bolted into the office.
“I got him! The stupid bastard, I got him!”
“Where?” The snarl left me before I could push my wolf down.
Liam looked from the computer screen to me then dropped his eyes.
“Creekmore Motel on the highway. The facial recognition I was running has him going into a room ten minutes ago.”
“Room number?”
“Last room on the back. Corner room, I can’t see the number, they’re security cameras are shit.”
I moved from the office and hurried down the hall, bursting through the back door. My lips came together and I let out a shrill whistle while I ran flat out to my truck. I tore my shirt off, replacing it with a black long-sleeved Henley. My boots and pants were next. I pulled on black sweatpants and slid my feet into trainers before I dropped the tailgate and hopped in the back. When my thumb made contact with the small code reader, I felt the warmth of the scan. The toolbox opened and I flipped down the front panel.
I hadn’t needed the extra fire power or to be prepared to shift with Sinclair, but with Morris, we couldn’t take any chances. Heavy footfalls thundered up behind me. I tossed Ty a shotgun and a box of ammo, which he caught mid-stride.
“Kody, I need you to stay here, watch this place for any signs of Sy. Max and Ty, you’re with me.”
“Boss, you sure—”
I held a hand out and nodded. “I’m good. Ty and Max will be enough if the fleabag goes crazy.”
“All else fails, bring Mia to him. She’s the only person on the planet he’d never hurt,” Max said, catching the knife belt I tossed him.
“You going unarmed?” Ty asked, taking in my attire.
A grin pulled at my lips, and I was sure by the looks on their faces that I impersonated the Joker well.
“I’m the only weapon I need. Max, the GPS should be programed now, you drive my tru—”
“No offense, but no. I’ll drive my car…”
“Dude, you want a pissed off wolf tearing up those seats?” Kody asked.
He grimaced. “Never mind.”
I tossed him the keys and closed the toolbox, securing the top latch back into place. I planted my ass on the floor of the bed.
“Let’s go.”
“Go get ’em, boss,”
We pulled out of the lot, my mind racing with possibilities. I wanted to show this fucker a thing or two before I let my wolf have him for dinner. If the sight of me didn’t make him piss himself, my two hundred and fifty pound wolf would.
The trip to the motel wasn’t long, just enough to make me jittery. When the truck rolled to a stop, I hopped over the side, landing on the balls of my feet.
“Which room?” Ty whispered.
“Last one in the back. You and Max go around and come in on the sides.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going through the door.”
We split off, my trainers crunching on the gravel drive. I wasn’t trying to be quiet. I wanted him to hear me coming. If he was stupid, he’d run… I really wanted him to run. I’d give him a head start then follow after him, enjoying the chase.
As I approached the room, I heard a muffled scream.
My foot met the door before I could process what was happening. The woman’s screams filled the room then went quiet. The smell of days’ old blood and fear filled my nostrils. Morris jumped from the bed, grabbed a handgun, and pointed it at me. I stalked forward, not afraid of his toy.
He fired, missing me as I ducked one bullet. I didn’t miss the second one. The bullet grazed along my bicep. Another hit my side. I felt it burn as it hit my rib cage. I roared and lunged for him. His body slammed into the floor, knocking the breath from his lungs. My fist connected with his jaw, once, twice, three times. He struggled to break free, but there was no chance of that happening.
“Why are you trying to kill Mia James?” I slammed him back against the floor.
“Money. The bitch stole what should have been mine.”
I was tired of people calling my girl a bitch. I knocked his head into the floor again. My nails bit into his flesh, drawing blood.
“How much?”
“Twenty,” he gasped.
Twenty thousand dollars to kill her. This was mind boggling. I got up, grunting as the pain set in. This fucker was going to pay for this. With a snarl, I yanked him to his feet, just then noticing the half-naked, bloody woman on his bed.
“She was fun…” he laughed, his blood-stained teeth showing as he looked at the corpse. She was marred with cuts and bruises.
I pulled the door open and shoved him outside. He fell down the three steps and rolled into the gravel.
“Run,” I growled out. “Run fast.”
He stared up at me, stupefied. Guess I looked a little crazy to him. The change was seamless for some of us. For others it was a bit slower, more painful. But either way it was a sight to see. His eyes bugged and he skittered backwards, his hands moving him away from me. I stalked down the steps, my change taking over with a surge of anger; the need to hunt calling to the beast inside of me—I hit the ground on all fours. Ty and Max both stood back, ready to do what was needed. They knew this was my kill. He’d hurt my mate.
My lips pulled back to put my fangs on display. My growl sent my jowls flapping, saliva falling to the ground. I was going to enjoy this. He scurried to his feet, stumbling across the gravel. He headed toward his vehicle, but encountered a snarling golden-eyed Max and decided to go the other way.
My claws bit into the earth, tearing at the surface as I slowly stalked after him. Each step brought me closer to him. He finally turned and ran for the tree line, leaving behind a trail of fear for me to follow.
Now it was time to play.
I lowered my head, my body elongating as I prepared to run. I’d give him a few more steps, I didn’t want to catch and kill him too fast. The son of a bitch deserved to suffer first.
When he disappeared from sight, I sprinted after him. My body glided across the parking lot and into the trees. The underbrush was patchy, but I knew where he was. My nose led me to him. I pushed through the trees and underbrush, moving closer and closer.
He had backed up against a large oak tree, frozen in fear. I stretched myself forward, teeth snapping at his face. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. I’d heard that before, but I’ve never really put the two things together. Fear is a mighty weapon. He knew he was going to die, painfully.
“Money. I—I have—money.”
Oh, if it were only that easy! That line may have worked on his crew, but nothing would stop me from disemboweling him inch by inch and eating his heart. There would less of him left than there was of Josh.
I swiped at him with my paw. He rolled, crashing through the underbrush, and slammed against a large maple. The tree shook, causing a few of the birds and small creatures to leave their nests.
I lowered my head and grabbed his leg just above the ankle, preparing to take a bite, when fire locked up my left flank. I bit down on his leg, letting my pain fuel the bite. His scream satisfied me, but only for a moment. I bent my head to the side and snarled. He’d embedded a knife into my flank.
His hand came up and I bit it off, spitting it back at him. He again screamed. It was a sound my wolf and I wanted to bask in. But not yet. We had things to do. My paw raked across his abdomen, multiple times, letting it fall open to the elements. I reached in and grabbed a mouthful of his insides. With a tug, they snapped loose. I made him lay there and watch as I swallowed his liver.
I raked my paw across his sternum, breaking through the bones and sinew. He fell apart faster than a Mr. Potato Head. My head dipped and with a vicious tug, his heart popped out like a grape from a vine. Three chomps of my jaws and it was gone.
I swiped at the carcass one last time before turning and limping back out of the woods. I couldn’t reach the knife embedded in my flank and I couldn’t shift with it in there. If he
wasn’t dead, I’d kill him again.
My mood soured as pain raced through me. An Alpha never showed pain; pain was weakness. Weakness could mean a fight to the death by another pack member. Each step hurt, the knife digging deeper into my muscles. It would heal, in time, once the knife was out. I stalked back toward the truck where Ty and Max waited.
“Dalton,” Ty motioned with his hand, “you’re not supposed to keep souvenirs.”
I snarled his direction. He was quick to drop his eyes. Max moved forward, but Ty stopped him.
“He’s got a damn knife in his shoulder!”
“I know that, Max, but if you go near him as he is now, you’ll pull back a nub. His wolf is too close. He’ll just have to suffer for a bit.”
“He won’t hurt me. My wolf has submitted to him.” He pulled free of Ty and moved closer, slowly. My growl stopped him.
“Boss, come on. Let me help you.”
The wolf and I saw he meant well, and I’d have let him help, but the wolf was in pain and not ready to play nice.
“Max, truck, now!” Ty growled. He looked defeated, but he got in. Ty opened the tailgate and stepped back.
“Get in, asshole.”
Twenty minutes later the truck was pulling into the back parking lot. My head was hanging over the side, tongue lolling as I panted through the pain in my left side.
Ty yelled for Kody. The bear came around the corner and whistled. Liam came out of the back door, his hand on Mia’s back, guiding her to me.
My wolf snarled and I struggled to my feet, trying to reign him back.
“Liam, stop touching her. He’s not in control.”
Mia moved to the truck, her brows pinched together. “Stop being an asshole!” she snapped at me.
My lips pulled back and I snarled.
“I will set your ass on fire. Don’t you snarl at me!” She climbed up into the truck and moved closer. I buried my head in her middle, breathing her in. I was so distracted by my mate that I didn’t know she had a grip on the knife until it was free of my body.
