by Faith Gibson
Giggles escaped her throat, and she pumped her fist in the air. “Thank you, goddess. Thank you, Mom.” The strap was still attached to her leg, but she could deal with that. Now, Rhi had to figure out where to go and how to get hold of Ryker. First thing was getting away from the house in case David decided to return.
Rhi slipped on her socks and shoes, then went inside to grab her jacket. She didn’t bother looking around. This house was no longer her home and hadn’t been since her mom died. Instead of heading out the front, Rhi slipped out the back door and headed through the woods. The path was overgrown, but she knew it like she knew her own name. She, Jimmy, and their other friends had worn it down, trampling through the trees when they wanted to take a shortcut to Mikey’s house. He lived on the next street over, and whenever they needed to get home quickly, they took the path instead of the streets.
Rhi stopped at the edge of the woods, trying to get her bearings. She knew Stefan’s house was an hour away from Xavier’s whose was almost that far from New Troy where Ryker lived. She just didn’t know how far it was to Stefan’s from where she was. Rhi decided the best place to research would be the library. Surely, they had maps. She never visited the local library when she was younger because she didn’t like to read. It was something she did because school required it, but they had their own library. The building was quite a ways from her old house, but she didn’t have an option except to walk since she didn’t have any money or identification. By the time she got there, she had removed her jacket.
It didn’t take long to find a map, but that didn’t help her situation much. She had no way of getting in touch with Ryker, and she was a good four hours away. Rhi looked up to think, and that’s when she saw the directional signs, one of which pointed her to the computers. Rhi headed that direction, but when she sat down, she had no idea what to key in. She opened an internet browser and typed in Ryker’s name. When that didn’t give her anything, she typed in Lucy’s name. Still nothing. She searched for all his brothers, his mother, the Hounds of Zeus, which populated some photos of the bikers at a couple charity events, but the articles had no contact information.
Frustrated didn’t come close to how Rhi felt. She leaned back in the chair and blew out a breath. As she stared at the screen trying to think of what else to search, the monitor went black. Rhi thought she might have somehow broken it, but then a message box popped up. Rhi leaned closer as words began to appear. “This is Henry. Help is on the way. Stay put.”
Henry? Rhi had heard that name. He was some friend of a friend of Tamian and Lucy, but how did she know it was really him? Her dad was the computer expert. He could be playing a trick on her.
Rhi rolled her bottom lip between her finger and thumb. How did whoever this was know where she was? Rhi looked around for a camera. She spotted several along the walls next to the ceiling. She wanted to trust this to be real, but she couldn’t. Not with her father out there.
“How do I know you are who you say you are?”
Another screen opened toward the bottom of the monitor, and a cute guy’s face appeared. He was super tanned and reminded her of a movie star. The camera moved around the room, and another face appeared. Whoever the guy was waved, even though he was frowning.
The picture disappeared, and Henry was typing again. “That was Julian. We’re both trying to keep your father occupied so your Hound can come get you.”
“Please hurry. I don’t know how long the library stays open. I have no money and nowhere else to go.”
“The library stays open until seven, so that gives Ryker plenty of time to get there, provided your father doesn’t find you first. Log off the computer, and don’t do any more searches. That’s how I found you.”
“Okay, but tell him to hurry.”
The screen went blank, then returned to the internet browser. Rhi logged off as best as she could. She remembered from middle school how the teacher told them nothing was ever truly deleted. Since she didn’t know how long she had to wait, Rhi decided to find a book to occupy her time. Now that she could choose the book instead of being forced to study the Bible, she was kind of excited. She wound her way to the romance section and started pulling books out and looking at the covers. When she found one with a man who looked a lot like Ryker, she took it over to a table and opened it. Maybe she could learn a little about sex so she’d know what to expect when she was alone next with her Gryphon.
David
“No, no, no!” When David’s computer alerted him to the back door opening at the house, he had expected it. What he didn’t expect was for Rhiannon to be brave enough to push through the pain. He should have, though. His daughter was extraordinary. It was why he had inserted chips into her. To always be able to find her if she was in trouble. Working for the GIA, David knew how people with special skills were treated. Studied. Analyzed to see how their abilities could be used as weapons. His daughter would never have to go through that. Not if he could help it.
David thought by taking Rhi to Haven she would be safe. He spent his days with the GIA tracking down the very people he lived with. Leading a double life was exhausting but necessary. He had done it for Rhi. To keep a promise he made Daisy on her deathbed. To ensure no one ever found out what Rhi could do. He failed. Josiah had used his baby girl, but she’d been strong enough to escape. Now, he had to find her. Again.
He had created an algorithm to alert him when various terms were searched on the internet. Names of those who had taken Rhi, claiming to protect her. When his computer pinged again, he typed in a few commands and watched the scene play out. Henry Palamo was getting on his last nerve because the man was good. When David got a look at the man, he shook his head. The man was barely more than a kid, but his skills were on par with David’s. It had been a long time since he’d come across anyone nearly as good as he was.
He wouldn’t curse the kid too much, since Henry had led him right to his daughter. Now, he just had to get to the library before Ryker Lazlo did. David wanted his baby girl to grow up and find love the way he had with Daisy, but he didn’t want her to fall for a mercenary biker. David rushed out of his office and headed toward the small town he and Daisy had raised Rhi in.
When he arrived, he didn’t see any SUVs or bikes, so David was sure he had gotten there in time to get Rhi out. He strolled into the building like any other person entering a library. He nodded at the young man behind the desk and turned toward the computers. Rhi wasn’t there, but it didn’t take him long to find her sitting in a chair, engrossed in a book. David came around behind Rhi and clamped his hand over her mouth.
“I should have known you’d find a way to get out of your monitor. You’re more powerful than even I knew,” he whispered against her ear. “Don’t fight me, Rhiannon. I just want to talk.” Rhi stopped struggling and nodded behind his hand. “Good girl. Let’s head out the back door. There’s a small park across the street where we can chat.”
Rhi went with him willingly. When he got her across the street, she turned on him. “I will never go with you. I have a new life now. A new family.”
“Those bikers are not your family. I am.”
“Are you even my father?”
“Of course I am. Why would you ask that?”
“I overheard you and Mom arguing before she died.” Rhi crossed her arms over her chest, looking more like her mother in that moment than she ever had.
“Whenever you acted out, Daisy would joke that you were my child in those instances. I will take you right now to have a DNA test done. But we need to get you out of here. The Lazlos don’t understand what’s at stake. If the GIA finds out about you—”
“No. I don’t care about the GIA, or Haven, or you. Like I said, I’ve found my family.”
“Rhiannon, I forbid you to take up with a bunch of mercenaries. You’re coming with me.”
“I said no!” Rhiannon shouted and flung her hands toward him. David was caught in the web of energy flowing from her fingertips. Rhiannon drove
him to his knees, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ryker
During the night, Ryker couldn’t find sleep, so he had shifted to both his lion and eagle. The Gryphon wanted to come out too, but Ryker held it at bay. Sleep wasn’t an option with his worry for Rhiannon swirling through his brain. At least in animal form, the worry lessened as they focused on their surroundings. Eagles could be explained away, but lions in the middle of the woods in Upstate New York? Not so much. They had just finished breakfast when the satellite phone rang. Ryker swallowed down his anxiety. After spending all night worried about Rhi, he prayed it was good news.
“Morning, Luce.”
“You were right. David took Rhi back to New Smithville. She’s at the public library, and you need to hurry before David figures out where she is.”
Ryker jumped to his feet. “I’m on my way. But what about the feds?”
“We’re working on that. Just get to Rhi, and hopefully by the time you get there, we’ll have that sorted.”
“Thanks, Little Dove.” Ryker disconnected and relayed the call to Sultan.
“That’s great news. Let me close up the cabin right quick.”
Ryker stripped while waiting, storing his clothes and phones in his bag. Sultan walked out of the cabin naked and shifted into his eagle midstride, clutching his own bag in his talons. Ryker pushed his bird faster with each mile they flew. When they reached the woods where they’d left the SUV after what felt like days instead of hours, they shifted back and dressed quickly. His cell phone had pinged midflight, and when he checked the message, he let out a huge sigh. “Henry discovered the digital trail leading from David’s computer to the manipulated video, matching the IP address for it and coding signature. He sent that with the original video including their timestamps and IP addresses to the feds.” Ryker climbed into the passenger side, letting Sultan drive so Ryker could text Lucy. “I don’t understand some of this, but the feds are now looking for both Josiah and David. Maybe this will give us some breathing room.”
Ryker searched the address for the library, then plugged it into the GPS. They were an hour away, and it was the longest sixty minutes of his life. He prayed Rhi was still there and unharmed.
“Breathe, Ryot. It’s going to be okay.” Sultan squeezed Ryker’s knee, and some of the tension melted away. Some, but not all. He wouldn’t relax until he had Rhiannon safely in his arms.
When the library came into view, it was all Ryker could do not to jump out before Sultan parked. There were a couple of cars in front of the small building. He scanned their surroundings, keeping his eyes peeled for David. He entered the library with Sultan on his heels. It was quiet inside with a young guy manning the information desk. Ryker didn’t see Rhi.
“Can I help you?” the librarian asked.
“I’m looking for my girlfriend. Tall blonde. Really pretty.”
“Only woman fitting that description was back in the reading nook earlier. I didn’t see her when I went to restock some books just now.”
“Which direction is the reading nook?”
“Back there.” The man pointed toward the right side of the room.
“I’ll go this way,” Sultan said, indicating the left side of the building. Ryker took off toward the right. When he got to the seating area, Rhi wasn’t there. A book was lying on the floor, and Ryker’s heart sped up. If Rhi had been reading it, she would have either put it back or set it on the table. Something was wrong. He scanned every aisle until circling back to the front door. Sultan shook his head.
“Was there anyone else in here?” Ryker asked.
“Yes. A man came in about twenty minutes ago.” The librarian tapped his finger to his chin. “Come to think of it, I don’t remember seeing him leave. What’s going on? Do I need to call the cops?”
“Where’s the back door?” The guy pointed toward the back corner, and Ryker took off running as Sultan asked if there were security cameras. There was another parking lot behind the building with only one car parked in it. Ryker assumed the little hybrid belonged to the librarian.
“No!” Birds scattered from the sound of a woman shouting.
Ryker turned toward the voice. He’d know it anywhere, and his Rhi wasn’t panicking. She was pissed. There was a small park across the side street, and Ryker kicked it in, not using all his shifter speed lest he draw attention to himself. When he found his mate facing off with her father, she was drawing a crowd.
“I said no!” Rhi had her hands out in front of her body, like she was holding off an attacker. But David wasn’t coming after her. He was on his knees, his face screwed up in pain. To the humans looking on, it probably appeared as though David had proposed and Rhi was turning him down. But Ryker had been on the receiving end of her hands. Rhi must have tapped into her powers, but these weren’t ones of healing. Ryker’s hair stood on end when the energy Rhi was forcing into David hit Ryker as he neared.
Rhi was so focused on her father she wasn’t aware of Ryker or the handful of humans standing around with their cellphones out. Sultan ran up beside him, taking it all in.
“What the fuck?” Sultan shivered, getting a blast of energy.
“That’s my girl,” Ryker whispered.
“Don’t move!”
Ryker had been so fixated on Rhi he hadn’t noticed a couple of suits entering the park, guns drawn. Ryker and Sultan raised their hands slowly. Lucy said Henry was trying to fix things with the feds, but he didn’t know if that had happened or they were about to be arrested for murder.
“David Spencer, you’re under arrest. Put your hands up.”
When David didn’t move, Ryker said, “Rhi, it’s okay.”
Rhi turned to look at him. “Ryker?”
“I’m here, Angel. It’s okay. You can put your hands down.” He didn’t mention anything about her powers. That was a subject the feds didn’t need to overhear. Ryker lowered his arms, keeping them open. Rhi released the energy holding her father, and David slumped to the ground. The feds were on him, placing cuffs around his wrists. Rhiannon faltered, and Ryker caught her before she hit the ground.
“Is she okay?” one of the agents asked.
“She will be. It’s not every day your father kidnaps you.”
“We’re going to need a statement from both of you.”
The other agent pulled David to his feet. David tried to pull away, twisting and yelling, “No! Rhi, it’s not safe. I need to get you somewhere I can protect you.”
“The only one I need protection from is you.”
David continued to struggle, but the agent was stronger. He carted a still-shouting David off to the waiting vehicle. The remaining agent’s face softened when he turned back to Rhi. “I have no idea what you’ve been through, but it would be better to get your statement now while everything is fresh on your mind.”
“I’m okay.” Rhi looked up at Ryker. “You’re really here.”
“I am, and I’m never letting you out of my sight again.” Ryker cupped her cheek as he kissed the opposite temple.
The agent told the crowd to disburse before leading the three of them over to a picnic table. It took almost two hours before Agent McCauley was satisfied, both with Ryker recounting what happened at the warehouse and Rhi telling how David drugged her not once but twice. Ryker knew there were things Rhi omitted from her statement, but he was glad she had. The world didn’t need to know about her power. It was bad enough Josiah was aware of some of what she was capable of, and with the cult leader in the wind, Ryker wouldn’t rest easy until he was found. The agent assured Ryker they were searching for Josiah, but that only made him feel marginally better. Agent McCauley assured them the evidence the FBI received along with their statements were enough to put David away for many years to come. They exchanged phone numbers, and he said he’d be in touch.
Still seated at the picnic table, Ryker took Rhi’s hand in his. “Tell me what happened.”
Rhi blew o
ut a deep sigh, then proceeded to recount what she encountered from the time David kidnapped her to when Ryker found her in the park. “I guess my powers are getting stronger the more I use them. When I was in the backyard, I didn’t think I’d be able to get out of the ankle monitor, but I did. Something shifted. It’s hard to explain, but it was as if my whole body came alive with electricity. And when David was demanding I go with him because he forbade me to be with you, something snapped inside me. I know I’m supposed to use my gift for healing, but I couldn’t bear the thought of being away from you any longer than I already had been. I pushed all my energy toward David, not to hurt him, but to keep him from hurting me. From taking me again.”
“That’s amazing, Angel. And I doubt your goddess will hold that against you. Like you said, you weren’t harming David.”
“I guess.” Her shoulders were slumped.
“What’s wrong?” Ryker pushed her hair behind her ear, then traced her lobe with his fingertip.
“I just thought… It’s stupid, but I thought there might be some good explanation for why he was working for the Ministry. Why he ignored me for ten years. But there isn’t other than he’s selfish. When I woke up in my old bedroom, I went back in time, wishing I would walk downstairs and see my mom out in the garden. Wishing David would be the loving man he’d been before…” Rhi choked up, and Ryker pulled her to his chest.
“Let it out, Angel.” Ryker whispered loving words against her hair. He held her as she cried. As she once again mourned the loss of her father.
When the tears subsided, Ryker gripped her chin so she was looking at him. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop David from taking you.”
