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CODY

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. My wolf let out an audible snarl. Something was wrong with Riley.

Very wrong. More than our fight. In fact, something was wrong enough that she’d called me despite our breakup.

The tires of my Jeep screeched as I whipped a U-turn and hauled ass in her direction.

I’d been heading up the canyon to let my wolf out and run when she called. Seeing her name on my cell’s screen had initially made relief flood my veins, better than any drug. But when she called me daddy, I instantly knew something was off. Because the one thing she never wanted was for me to be a daddy to her.

Then she’d said she broke up with Pete. That little punk from the bowling alley. As if. That was when I knew she was trying to tell me something. I didn’t know what the fuck was going on other than that she needed me. Now.

My wolf wanted me to get out, shift, and run . But while I ran fast in wolf form, I was not as fast as the Jeep. Especially when I broke every speed law. Not knowing what I’d find, I parked down the block and approached the house quietly. Thank fuck it was in an older neighborhood with a shit ton of trees and shrubs dividing the property. I didn’t need a neighbor calling the cops. Well, maybe I did, but until I knew what was making me and my wolf lose our shit, I wanted to stay hidden.

There was a light on in the front room, but with the blinds drawn, I couldn’t see shit.

Working my way around to the back of the house, I peeked in the kitchen window.

Holy fuck. Fuck!

There was my girl with some fucker holding a gun. She sat at the kitchen table, hands resting on the wood surface. Was she shaking? Her back was to me, so I couldn’t see her face. But I could see the man. I’d never seen him before. He sure as shit wasn’t from Cooper Valley.

I could storm in and rip his fucking head off. Literally. Snap his neck. Destroy him. But Riley was right there. I might be able to survive a bullet wound, but she wouldn’t.

Who was the guy, and why the hell was he holding her hostage?

I needed help. Legit help, not a bunch of wolves wiping out a bad guy in the deputy sheriff’s kitchen.

Against every instinct in my body, I retreated from the house, only pulling out my cell and using it when I was on the sidewalk three houses down.

“Abbott.”

“This is Cody. We have a problem.”

“Yeah, it’s you. You’re my fucking problem.”

I couldn’t contain my wolf growl. “Someone’s got Riley at gunpoint in your house.”

“ What ?” I heard the sound of footfalls, like Kyle was already running to his car.

“If you’re not here in two minutes, I’m going in.” I only had so much patience when my mate was in danger .

“No! Do not go in. This is a police matter,” Kyle barked. “Stay where you are.” A car door slammed, and I heard the engine start. The station was only a few minutes away. Still, that felt like far too long.

There was no way in hell I wasn’t going in. “Park on Elm. I’ll meet you there.”