Page 9

K ai

Wyatt watched me enter and frowned. “You let Lily drive the SUV, I take it?”

“Yeah.” I stared out the window and saw Lily enter the shop. My gut tightened. She was too far from me. It took all my strength not to go to her. I suspected it would be this way until I could make the exchange.

Wyatt took a sip of his coffee before asking, “You’re in pain, aren’t you?”

I stiffened. “Huh?”

“Don’t fuck with me.” He pushed his cup away, then leaned close and whispered, “You’ll be in pain until you mate with her. And if you think it hurts now—”

“Drop it,” I bit out, tired of everyone inserting their two cents. What happened between me and Lily wasn’t anyone’s business. “I can handle it.”

Wyatt reached across the table and dug an extended claw into my forearm. “You need to do it soon. It’ll drive you mad if you wait too long.”

“I’ll handle it. Leave it alone.” I jerked out of his hold, then searched the room to see if anyone had seen my alpha unsheathe his talons. Everyone was too absorbed with their phones to notice. The one time I was glad that the annoying devices existed.

“It’s your funeral,” my brother muttered, then looked toward the parking lot. “And where the hell is Miggs?”

“I sent him a text,” I explained. “He’ll be here any minute.”

A few minutes of frustrated silence drifted by, then a sweet, blonde-haired waitress approached their table. “Hey, Kai.”

“Tessa. Looking pretty as ever.”

She grinned, then propped her hand on her left hip. “And you’re full of it, as always.” She took out her order pad and tugged a pen from behind her ear. “What can I get you?”

“Nothing for me. We’re just waiting on Miggs.” I remembered telling Lily about Tessa and added, “A friend of mine is coming here later. Name’s Lily. She’s new to the area.”

“Got ya.” Her smile widened. “I’ll take good care of her. Don’t you worry.”

“Thanks.” Tessa had only been in the area for a few years, but already folks treated her like a local. I winked. “I knew I could count on you.”

“Always, darlin’,” she replied, then smiled over at Wyatt. “A refill?”

“No,” he grumbled, staring at her as if he wanted to strangle her.

She gave me a curt nod, then left us alone. I leaned forward. “What the hell is your problem with Tessa?”

“She doesn’t need to flirt with every goddamn male customer who comes along.”

Seriously? “She wasn’t flirting and you know it. Tessa is always friendly. She’s the same with the women who come in here. It’s just her nature.” I shook my head. “Jesus, Wyatt, stop being a dick.”

Wyatt turned his rage on me. “And what’s your deal? You have Lily, remember?”

“I was being nice . It’s what people do.” Then a thought struck. “You know, it occurs to me that you’re always kind of a dick toward Tessa.” I narrowed my gaze on him. “Why is that, I wonder.”

Wyatt’s jaw tightened, his fingers drumming against the table. “I don’t hate her,” he muttered, not meeting my eyes.

I raised an eyebrow. “You sure have a funny way of showing it. Every time she’s around, you act like she’s the plague.”

Wyatt sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple, Kai.”

“Then explain it to me,” I pressed. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re hiding something.”

Wyatt’s gaze finally met mine, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something—regret, maybe even longing. “I made love to her,” His confession was barely above a whisper, but that didn’t lesson the hostility.

I blinked in surprise. “You what?”

Wyatt looked away again, staring at the scarred table. “It was a mistake. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but ... it did.”

I leaned forward, my interest piqued. “A mistake? Wyatt, come on. There’s more to it than that.”

Wyatt’s shoulders slumped. “I took a little of her blood. Just a bit. I couldn’t help myself.”

My eyes widened. “You took her blood? Wyatt, that’s—”

“I know what it is!” Wyatt snapped, cutting me off. He lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “I know what it means, and I regret it. But it happened, and I can’t change it.”

I studied him, and the pieces started to come together in my mind. “Wyatt, could she be your mate?”

Wyatt’s eyes flashed with anger. “No,” he said firmly. “She’s not.”

“But what if she is?” I insisted. “It would explain why you’re so drawn to her, why you can’t stand to be around her yet can’t stay away. Why you took her blood.”

Wyatt shook his head, his expression hardening. “Drop it, damn it.”

I frowned, but I knew better than to push Wyatt when he was like this. “Fine,” I said reluctantly. “But you can’t keep running from this forever. If she is your mate, you owe it to both of you to figure it out.”

Wyatt didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the table. I sighed, taking a sip of my coffee. The conversation was over for now, but I knew this was far from the end of it. The truth had a way of coming out, no matter how deeply it was buried. And when it did, I just hoped Wyatt would be ready to face it.

Wyatt pointed toward the parking lot. Miggs had pulled up in his ’67 red Mustang. And he wasn’t alone. Fostine got out of the passenger seat. Even from a distance, I could see the stubborn expression on her face. Great, let the fun begin.

“I’m going to kill him,” Wyatt muttered. “She has no business here.”

“She could help us, Wyatt,” I offered, hoping to smooth the waters. “She spent time with Patterson, remember? A shit-ton of time. She could recognize scents that we can’t.”

“Catching a scent that reminds her of the hell she went through?” He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and how’s that going to go? She’ll either panic or go into a rage. Neither are good.”

My brother had a point. Still, I remembered the scars on Fostine’s back. “She deserves to see this through. We both know she does.”

Wyatt let out a heavy breath. “You’re right. I hate when you’re right.”

“Look, she’s not the silly little girl who left us, brother,” I replied. “She’s strong. Been through something that we could never imagine. Give her a chance.”

Wyatt watched me for a few tense seconds, as if weighing my words, then nodded. “She’s changed. I worry about her.”

As Miggs and Fostine approached, Miggs held up both hands as if in surrender. “There was no stopping her.”

Fostine crossed her arms over her chest. Her glare was so like Wyatt they could’ve been twins. “Dad saved my life. I owe him.”

Wyat slid out of the booth, then came nose to nose with Fostine. “You obey my orders or I’ll hogtie your ass and throw you in the trunk. We clear?”

Her head tilted and I held my breath, hoping she wouldn’t say something that would get us all in trouble for causing a disturbance. Finally she nodded. No words of consent, but the nod would have to be enough. Without another word, Wyatt walked out of the café, leaving me to pay for the coffee. I tossed a few bills onto the table, then followed him, with Miggs and Fostine in tow. When we reached Wyatt’s truck, I glanced over my shoulder and saw Miggs nearing his Mustang. “Stay close,” I shouted.

We tore out of the parking lot and headed south. I glanced in the side mirror, noticing Miggs’ car not far behind, then turned toward Wyatt. “I can’t stop thinking about that guy by the dumpster. His face was mutilated. That’s next-level crazy.”

“Puts new meaning to the word ‘psycho.’”

“Jesus,” I muttered.

“Keep your eyes peeled. We’re looking for any building that appears abandoned. Something isolated.”

“If he was smart he would’ve left the area. He has to know we’re coming for him.”

Wyatt shook his head. “He won’t do that. He thinks he’s God. That he can’t be stopped.” He paused before adding, “Besides, he wants to be close to us in case he needs another subject to experiment on.”

“As if losing his job at Cedar Haven wasn’t enough. Even the government didn’t want anything to do with his twisted shit.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“How is Patterson funding all this?” He glanced over at me for a second, taking his eyes off the road. “He has to have someone backing him.”

“True,” I agreed. “The equipment. The warehouse. The hired help. It all costs money.”

“Yeah, and hiring the kind of people willing to keep their mouths shut isn’t cheap.”

I cursed under my breath. “So, there’s someone else out there as crazy as he is. A wealthy nutjob. Terrific.”

“Or several someones.”

I slapped a hand against my thigh. “Even better.”

“I’m just saying, this could be deeper than one guy with a Frankenstein complex.”

As I mulled over Wyatt’s words, thinking of the ramifications, my phone rang. I yanked it out of my pocket, then frowned. “Fostine?” I listened a few seconds, then ended the call.

“What is it?”

“To the right, she said,” I replied, repeating her words.

Wyatt glanced out the side window. “There’s nothing there but trees.”

“I see that.” I shrugged. “But she says we need to go right.”

My brother cursed a blue streak, then slowed the truck until a dirt road came into view. He turned onto it. “Stay alert.”

Minutes later a large metal building came into view. A factory of some kind. Long rusted chimneys stuck out the top. It was rundown and appeared as if it’d been decades since anyone had used it. Weeds covered the walls. The concrete parking lot was littered with cracks and partially destroyed by time. As if Mother Nature had taken ownership. “What is this place?”

“Used to be a paper mill. A long time ago it was the main source of income around here. Employed over half the county. When it shut down everyone expected it to be bought up, reopened.”

“Well, hell, that never happened.” I whistled low. “No cars in sight. You think Patterson could be inside?”

“We won’t know until we search the place.” He pulled up at the front, then killed the engine. “Come on.”

Miggs and Fostine pulled up next to us. We all got out. No one spoke. Miggs scanned the surrounding trees, while Fostine stared at the building, tense and alert. I nudged her shoulder. When her attention was on me, I asked, “You okay?”

She nodded. “Something is here. Be careful. Patterson enjoys playing games.”

I stiffened. “You think it’s a trap?”

“Definitely. But Dad might be in there. We don’t have a choice.”

Miggs shook his head. “Like some kind of fucking cat and mouse bullshit?”

“Exactly like that. He enjoys it. Watching people suffer.” Her gaze darted to the right, staring at the tree line. “He’ll be close. So he can watch.”

Wyatt stepped in front of Fostine, breaking her from the predatory hunt. “Can you smell anything?”

She shook her head and lifted her upper lip at one corner. “He would’ve expected me. Would’ve stayed far enough away. Fucking coward.”

“But he’s still close enough to watch us squirm,” Wyatt quietly surmised.

Her eyes lit with fury as she leaned around Wyatt and continued to stare at the woods. “Pretty much.”

I cleared my throat. “We need to shift. Our Yucilon senses are better.”

“Agreed,” Miggs stated. “And we split up. I’ll go around the back.”

“Fostine, you’re with me,” Wyatt ordered. When she started to argue, Wyatt grabbed her by the shirt and dragged her up close. “It’s that or I shove your ass in the trunk of Miggs’ car.”

“Fine,” she relented. “But I’m the one who spent time with Patterson. I’m the nose we follow.”

“I have no problem with that. But use your head here or you could get Dad killed. Get it?”

She nodded, then stared at the ground. I unsheathed my claws. “I’m keeping watch out here,” I stated. “We don’t need any surprises.”

Wyatt agreed. “I wouldn’t put it past him to plant a bomb the minute we’re inside.”

“No,” Fostine argued. “He’d consider that wasteful. And he needs all the guinea pigs he can get.”

“Jesus.” Miggs ran a hand over his face. “Someone needs to put a bullet in that fucker.”

“After we get Dad,” Wyatt agreed. “Then we can each take a turn.”

“Yeah, well, me first,” Fostine stated, her voice devoid of emotion.

I snorted. “Like there’ll be anything left.”

Fostine chuckled. Wyatt held a fist in the air and we all went silent. “Shift once we’re inside.” He glanced at me. “Do it there,” he said, pointing toward the far side of the building. “Out of sight.”

I headed off in the direction Wyatt indicated, watching as Miggs jogged around to the back. Wyatt and Fostine headed straight for the front door. I prayed we weren’t making a terrible mistake. Was our father in there? Waiting, hoping to be rescued? Or was this just another of Patterson’s sick games?

Once I was out of sight, I stripped out of my clothes and boots, then shifted. On all fours now, my senses on high alert, I sprang out into the open. First, I looked toward the area Fostine had been so interested in. I saw movement, but it was small. Squirrels and groundhogs most likely. I looked up at the building next, seeking out anything that didn’t fit, anything that didn’t seem right. Alert and watchful, eager to eliminate the threat to my people. In a perfect scenario, we’d get our father back and end Patterson’s miserable life in one swoop. But we were Ravenbriars, and we rarely had that kind of luck.

****

L ily

“You’re staying with the Ravenbriars?” Jake asked, his eyes wide in surprise.

“Yes, is that a problem?” I answered, feeling exasperated by the question. The man at the auto shop had asked the same thing. As if it were completely ludicrous.

“Oh, I see.” The slim blond teen shifted from one foot to the other. He’d been helping me for fifteen minutes. He’d explained that my phone was beyond repair, and after checking my account realized I was due for an upgrade anyway. Now, as I started to check out, Jake stopped and frowned at me.

I was confused by the guy’s hesitance. “Is there a problem with my account?”

“Uh, no, not at all. I just never ... well, I’ve never known the Ravenbriars to allow strangers out there.”

I smiled. “Well, Kai’s the one who found me after I wrecked my van.”

“Van? That was you?”

“It was.” I knew too well how quickly gossip spread in a small town. “Not my finest moment beyond the wheel, I admit.”

Jake cleared his throat. “I think I’d better put this on the Ravenbriar’s tab.”

It took a moment to digest what the clerk said. “Wait, what?”

“They’d want this taken care of,” he explained. “It’s just how things around here are done.”

“Look, I had the same conversation with the guy at the auto shop,” I complained. “No, absolutely not. I broke the phone. I’ll be the one to pay for it.”

“Um, yeah, let me, let me get my manager,” he stuttered out, before nearly tripping over his own feet to run toward the back of the store.

“Wait!” I called out, but it was too late. Several long seconds drifted by, then the clerk returned with a balding, overweight man who appeared to be in his late fifties.

He smiled, then offered his hand. “I’m Ron. Jake here tells me you’re staying out at the Ravenbriar place.”

Here we go again. I tried for patience, then answered, “I am, but I don’t see how that matters. I’m just trying to get my phone replaced.”

“We’ve been doing business with the Ravenbriars for years. The rules are very clear.”

“What rules?”

“Their account is one of our biggest and we wouldn’t feel right charging you. Not if you’re a friend of theirs.”

“Well, I only just met them recently.”

He smiled wider. “But you are staying there? At the house?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then the phone is paid for.” I started to protest further, but the manager held a hand in the air, stopping her mid-complaint. “You’ll have to speak to the Ravenbriars, Ma’am. In the meantime, Jake will be glad to finish ringing you out.”

I knew when I’d been beaten. Still, I intended to take it up with Kai when I saw him. After Jake rang up the purchase, it took some time to transfer everything from my old phone to the new one. When it was finished, I thanked him and left the shop, then headed across the street toward the café Kai had told me about.

When I entered the little building, a blast of warm air hit me. It felt good. I hadn’t realized that the temperature was dropping. I scanned the room, noticing the checkerboard linoleum floors, red leather booths that bore the marks of countless conversations, and a long counter punctuated by chrome stools.

The aroma of comfort food wafted through the air, mingling with the chatter of only a few patrons and the sizzle of the grill. The last rays of daylight filtered through the lace curtains, casting a warm glow over the cozy space. Behind the counter, a friendly blonde waitress in a retro uniform jotted something onto a pad, while the sound of clinking dishes echoed from the open kitchen.

The walls were adorned with framed photographs capturing snippets of the town’s history, telling stories of generations. The jukebox near the entrance hummed with a nostalgic melody, adding to the ambiance.

I saw a clock on the wall behind the cash register. Five in the evening. It’ll be getting dark soon. How long would Kai be? I worried about him. Worried about his plans toward the mysterious Patterson.

“Are you Lily?” the pretty blonde waitress asked, smiling at me.

I smiled back. “I am. Are you Tessa?”

“Sure am.” She pointed toward a stool at the counter. “Does that work?”

“Of course,” I answered, following the tall, voluptuous woman. What exactly was her relationship with Kai? I was tempted to ask.

Tessa leaned closer. “What can I get you?”

I didn’t even have to think about it. “I’d do just about anything for a black coffee.”

She laughed. “Feeling like you need a fix, huh?”

“So much,” I sighed. After Tessa placed a cup in front of me and poured a portion of the dark brew, I decided to ask the big question. “So, you and Kai are friends?”

“Sure are.” She poured herself a cup, then replaced the carafe. “He’s sweet, but just a friend.” She winked. “In case you wondered.”

Relief swamped me. “He’s helped me out since I wrecked my van. They’ve all been so gracious actually.”

“That was you?” At my nod, Tessa replied, “I saw them bring it to the shop. Looks like you’re lucky to be walking.”

“Very lucky.” My experience at the auto shop and the phone center prompted me to add, “What is it with the Ravenbriars around here? They seem like...”

“Legends,” she supplied. “I’ve only been here a few years myself, but everyone seems to respect them. And the Ravenbriars have done a lot for this town. My understanding is that the town fell on very hard times when the paper mill closed down. Put a lot of folks out of work. But Kai’s grandfather bought up a bunch of land, opened up several businesses, and got the town back on its feet.”

“Wow, I’ve never known anyone to do something like that.”

“No, but the Ravenbriars have called this place home for generations. I suppose they felt it was their duty to step up and do something.”

“I’m staying with them,” I blurted out. “That fact seems to have garnered a fair amount of shock from some of the townspeople.”

“Uh, yeah, I’d say.” Tessa moved closer, then whispered, “No one goes out there. Not ever. They’re mighty private. Sort of survivalist types, I hear. Their daddy taught them everything. Fishing, hunting, trapping. From what I’ve seen, there ain’t nothing those boys can’t do.”

“Including medicine,” I added, tapping my brow. “Creeg fixed me up, even gave me a CT scan.”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Yep. They have their own clinic. It’s kind of crazy.”

Tessa glanced out the front window. “And you’re driving Kai’s SUV. Ain’t never seen him hand over his wheels to a woman.”

I could feel my face heat. “He’s, uh...”

Tessa laughed. “Yeah, enough said. Those boys have all the women around here drooling, let me tell you.”

“And you? Got your eye on one of the Ravenbriar men?”

She snorted. “Are you kidding? I have enough problems without adding one of them to the pile.”

The woman’s assessment of Kai’s family surprised me. “You think they’re trouble?”

“I think they’re mighty intense. And I can’t let myself get derailed by all that.”

“Got plans to skip town?”

“Something like that. Been trying to save up.” She let out a heavy breath. “I’ve already stayed too long as it is.”

I tilted my head to one side. “Sounds like a woman of mystery.”

Tessa’s face fell. “Put it this way, the longer I stay in one place, the more I’m in danger.”

“Someone’s after you?” I asked, then realized I was prying into things that Tessa probably didn’t want to share with a random stranger. “I’m sorry. Please don’t feel like you have to answer that.”

She tapped the countertop with a manicured fingertip and said, “Let’s just say that it’s better for you to be in the dark about my crazy life.” She quirked a brow. “What’s your story? What brings you to Sach Valley?”

I sighed. “I needed a change. My entire life has been about taking care of my mother and sister. I woke up one day and realized I’d become an enabler. Enough was enough.” My phone dinged and I pulled it out and stared at it. My sister, asking for money. “I think it’s time I live my own life, ya know?”

“I do know.” A haunted look came over Tessa’s face. “Parents can sure be a pain, huh?”

“Amen to that,” I muttered, as I proceeded to block my mom and sister’s numbers. “I’d like to have kids someday, but I worry. I don’t want to be like her.”

“Hey,” Tessa said, reaching over and patting my hand. “You won’t be because you recognize the way she treated you was wrong. That’s already a step in the right direction.”

I shook the maudlin thoughts away. “How’d we get on this topic?”

Tessa laughed. “I don’t know, but it’s good to talk about this stuff with someone who gets it.”

“It is,” I agreed. Excitement skittered through me. “I blocked them. Their numbers. I feel... free.”

Tessa grinned, raising her cup in a toast. “To fresh starts and taking control of our lives.”

I clinked my cup against Tessa’s, the sound a small celebration of our shared triumph. “To fresh starts.”

We both took a sip, savoring the moment of camaraderie.

A loud noise from behind interrupted the happy moment. I turned in my seat to see three men entering the café. Two of them were tall, muscular, and wore all black. Their gazes scanned the room, landing on me. Ice-cold eyes, soulless. Shivers ran the length of my spine. The man in front of them had on a white dress shirt and black slacks. Blond hair with a receding hairline that he attempted to hide. It didn’t help. Wire-rimmed glasses and a goatee. When he followed the other men’s line of sight, catching me staring at him, a smile crossed his face. Something was off about it. Sinister. I started to turn back toward Tessa, when the glint of metal stopped me. From one second to the next, guns were drawn.

“This isn’t a robbery,” Goatee said. “If everyone could please remain seated, this will be over quickly and painlessly.” Someone in a booth near the back started to stand. “No, no, none of that hero stuff. My men will shoot, I promise.”

Several customers gasped. Tessa started to shuffle around the counter, but Goatee cleared his throat and warned, “I wouldn’t do that, Ms. Ashe.”

Tessa went still. “How do you know my name?”

“Never mind that.” His gaze went to me. “You’ll come with me.”

I clutched my purse in a tight grip. “I don’t even know you.”

Goatee nudged his chin and both men went into action, closing the distance and grabbing me, forcing me off the stool. I kicked one of them in the shin, earning a curse, and the other slammed a fist against my cheek, nearly knocking me to the floor. Tessa screamed, ran at one of the men, and took the butt of the gun to her temple for her efforts. She hit the floor. I screamed, terrified when she didn’t move. “What did you do!”

“She’ll live,” one of the black-clothed thugs muttered. “Now, you can move on your own or we’ll drag you.”

“Why are you doing this?” I shouted to Goatee Guy. “I’ve done nothing to you!”

“You’ll get all your answers later,” he said, smiling at me as if he’d lost his mind. “For now, we have things to do.” He stared at the men. “Immobilize her for the trip.”

“Yes, sir,” one of them answered. He spared me a glance, hatred blazing in his eyes, as he whispered, “The fun is just beginning.”

I kicked and screamed, but it was useless. They were bigger, stronger, and the guns in their hands ensured no one would be coming to my rescue. Just before they shoved me into the back of a white van, I looked back at the café. Tessa. Please be okay. Please.

A sharp sting at the side of my neck tore my attention back to the men holding me between them. “What...” My vision blurred and my legs felt numb.

“Sleep tight, sweetheart,” one of them muttered, before throwing me into the van and slamming the doors shut. Just before darkness sucked me under, I thought of Kai. Would I ever see him again?