Page 77 of The Bookseller and the Alpha (Witch Twins #1)

Luc

The address given to me was in a seedy part of the city.

There were still a few businesses operating, but abandoned factories and warehouses occupied by squatters or gangs were more common.

The building I was directed to was in better condition than many: walls and floors intact, with security cameras and a new strong door.

Whoever was in charge had spent a bit of money on this setup.

And the fact they’d let me see their base of operations confirmed my worst suspicions.

There was no way they would let me go after I handed over the journal.

My instructions were to park the car out front and come inside alone.

Unarmed. For Caly, I had followed the instructions to the letter.

But I wouldn’t give them what they want until she was safe.

I turned off the engine, sitting in the silence, readying myself.

I knew it would come to this. From the moment I received their ransom note.

I knew. And I accepted it. If I could gain Caly’s freedom, even if it cost my life, then I’d been a good mate.

But I had no plans to die without a fight. These idiots had no idea of the shitstorm that was coming.

Bring it on motherfuckers .

Pulling out my phone, I dialled the number I was given. “I have what you want.”

“Your instructions were to come inside.” The voice on the other end of line was cold, sounding almost bored. Beast snarled. He dies first .

I stepped out of the car, keeping the vehicle between myself and the building. Being shot wouldn’t kill me, but I didn’t want them to know that. Reaching into my shirt with my free hand, I grabbed the chain attached to the journal and waved it in the air.

“You want this, you bring Caly out first.”

My skin tightened as Beast strained for release. I was taking a risk and he sure as shit didn’t like it. They might hurt her to get my compliance. They wouldn’t kill her, because they needed the leverage. But they could hurt her. My claws lengthened, punching holes in the metal of the car.

Keep it together dude. Just a little longer.

We needed to get her out first. They couldn’t be trusted to release her once I gave them the book.

“Get the girl.” The words were muffled, as though the speaker at the other end of the line tried to muffle the call, but Beast’s hearing, my hearing , was far superior to a human’s.

I waited beside the car, Beast coiled and ready for violence. As soon as Caly was out and safe, I’d give them the journal, then Beast and I would take down as many of them as we could.

There was a commotion at the other end of the line. I heard whispered words and then a curse. “The girl’s gone.”

Wtf? Gone? Where could she have gone? What did she do?

I told her I was coming to get her. For a moment, my chest was tight with panic.

And then it hit me. I should have known.

She was my mate. Of course she didn’t wait passively to be rescued.

She wasn’t afraid of me when I shifted in the parking garage.

She was powerful, intelligent, beautiful and perfect for me in every way.

And that meant…

We were going to Plan B.

I stiffened as the change rolled over me.

Plan B was fucking simple because I no longer needed to negotiate. Plan B involved killing every single one of these assholes who used my mate as leverage. But first I needed to tell my mate how much I loved her.