by Tl Reeve
“Let him go.” Danielle might have hesitated, but Keeley did not. She moved closer. Rapier could see the worry in her hazel eyes. “Let my mate go.”
“He’s dangerous,” Rapier warned.
Keeley snorted then gave him a long look. “He won’t hurt me. It’s just stressing him out more that you’re restraining him. He can scent me.”
“He’s feral,” Rapier said.
“He isn’t. Let. Him. Go,” she demanded.
Rapier took a deep breath. Deep down he knew the other man wouldn’t hurt his mate, but he wasn’t sure if he was still willing to risk the sister’s well-being.
“Now, Rapier.”
He’d have liked to say he let the other man go, but it was a lie. Kalkin Raferty busted from his hold, moving at a speed that was even unnatural for a shifter. Kalkin snatched up his mate from the floor before backing her up against the wall. The sound of her skull bouncing off the wall had him wincing.
Keeley spoke in soft whispers, almost like a mother comforting her hurt child.
“Rapier,” Cookie said softly beside him. “Something’s happened?”
The worry in her voice had him on guard, and he rushed to assure her it wasn’t her own mate that had caused Kalkin’s breakdown. “Come with me.” Rapier held out his hand, not willing to set off the other man’s anger again by explaining what happened to Everett.
Rapier led Danielle to an empty room across from where her sister still stood wrapped around her mate, then proceeded to tell Danielle everything the doctor had said about Everett Hardley.
“Where is he?” Danielle asked.
“Didn’t get that far with the doctor.” Rapier peeked out to make sure Keeley was still safe. “That happened first.” He gestured to Kalkin.
“He won’t hurt her,” Danielle’s tone remained certain. “He wanted me here to help heal Everett. Keeley too, so I don’t get completely drained.”
“It’s too soon,” Rapier stressed, well aware the other woman was still dealing with her recent loss of her third child.
“Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “Does Caden know?”
Rapier shook his head.
Danielle glanced out into the hallway. “He’s in no condition to make the call.”
“I’ll do it.” Rapier noticed the concerned look on Danielle’s face. He didn’t blame her, he didn’t have the best relationship with her mate. “I promise not to be an asshole about it, Cookie.”
She nodded as a single tear slipped down her cheek. “Get him to the hospital first, then tell him. I just got him back and can’t imagine how I’d deal with all of this if he should get into an accident and get himself killed.”
“And Kal?” he probed.
“He’s blaming himself right now. Keeley will get his head on straight,” Danielle assured him. “Help me find the doctor so I can get to work on healing Everett.”
“He’s going to need surgery.”
She nodded. “I know. Keeley and I are going to be in the operating room with him. And every step after. From what Kalkin told me, that man gave up everything. He lived in filth, doing and seeing things that would break anyone else. He did it, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. He deserves everything my sister and I can do to save him…and then some.”
Rapier didn’t correct her. Instead, he pulled her from the room to locate the doctor. Once he got her straightened out, he went downstairs to call Caden. Keeping it simple, he assured the pack Beta that his mate and children were fine, as were his brothers. But something had happened, and Kalkin needed him at the hospital as quickly as possible. Like his twin, Caden hung up before Rapier was finished with the conversation.
Less than ten minutes later, Caden pulled up in his own Enforcer, parking behind his brother’s. Caden removed his big body with ease from the driver’s side and wearily approached Rapier. He didn’t blame the guy; they didn’t have the best relationship.
“Where is Kal?” Caden demanded.
“Inside. As is Coo”—Caden growled and Rapier, not wanting to inflame the other man further, corrected himself— “Danielle and Keeley.”
“Why?”
“They found Everett, Caden,” he said somberly.
“How bad?” Caden asked tentatively.
“It’s heinous,” he answered.
“Where is Kal?” Caden asked again, his blue gaze searching the area behind Rapier.
“He was with Keeley.” Rapier held up his hand, holding Caden back before he lumbered into the hospital. He was stubborn, not stupid.
“You’re concerned on how I’m going to act,” Caden stated.
“Yup,” he declared.
Caden sneered at him. “If my mate and children are good, so am I.”
Rapier cocked a brow then told Caden about his former best friend, who had been abused and beaten to hell and back because he’d been considered a traitor by Raymond Quincy.
Chapter Sixteen
Noon at the Dryer home could be hectic. Add in all of the brothers being home for lunch for a change and, well, Jasmine was losing her mind. Thankfully, Jenna and Utah were there to help her. While she portioned out some of the potato salad she’d made earlier, Jenna and Utah were finishing up with the pulled barbeque pork she’d made overnight in her slow cooker. In a way, she missed this. As much as it was a pain in the ass, the noise had been a welcomed change.
Earlier, when Rapier left in a rush, she’d put the girls in their room and turned on a movie. Tate and Henry were with Bodhi and Nico assisting Eloise at the orphanage. Having all of them occupied abetted her sanity. She loved her daughters to pieces and the boys too, but after the incident in town, she had moments of pure panic. With as loud as they could be, especially when excited, it raised Jasmine’s anxiety and then left her feeling guilty for even reacting like she had.
She’d been a bundle of nerve endings, either snapping or cracking at every little thing. Jasmine had said sorry more times than she could think, and she refused the warmth of her mate’s body because she didn’t feel like herself. She didn’t have the emotional fortitude to allow herself to even be aroused. Again, another guilt she couldn’t express in the proper manner to her mate. Sure, she promised to talk to Jenna, but again, she didn’t want to burden her sister either while she and Osirus tried to figure things out. It wouldn’t be fair to them. So, she kept it bottled up, only letting it out when she was alone and could, which wasn’t healthy at all for any of them.
“Here you go,” Jenna said, with a small smile.
Jasmine hated Jenna had to walk on eggshells with her lately. “Thanks.” She grabbed the sandwich her sister made and placed it on a plate, before handing it to Saber. As she grabbed another one, her phone rang. She tried to quiet everyone down, but it was like telling buffalo to tip-toe instead of stampede. She grabbed her phone off the counter and went into the laundry room where there was some semblance of quiet.
She slid her finger across the screen and answered, “Rapier?”
“Kitten.” The rumble in his voice put her on alert. It wasn’t his usual affectionate, playful tone. “Where are you right now?”
“Laundry room. Everyone is home for lunch. Why?” She glanced at the door and the family members who were waiting on her so they could eat together.
“Go out to the kitchen and put your phone on speaker. I have some bad news.”
Her heart sank. Her stomach clenched, and bile burned the back of her throat. “Give me a second.” She took a wobbly step toward the door then stepped out onto the back porch. The raucous laughter and easy banter of her family did nothing to calm the fear building within her. “Rapier’s on the phone.”
No one heard her. They’d been so caught up in their conversations they didn’t even pay attention. Or, had she even said it out loud. She stepped closer to the table and held up her phone. When they still didn’t pause, she cleared her throat. Jenna glanced at her and frowned. She placed her thumb and forefinger just past her lips and blew. The sc
reeching whistle made her panther flinch and recoil from the sound.
The chatter instantly stopped. “That’s better. What’s wrong, Jasmine?” Jenna cocked her brow.
“Rapier said he needs to tell us something.” She put the phone on speaker and set it down in the middle of the table. “They’re listening.”
“Fucking finally, assholes. She only told you I was on the phone twice,” Rapier snapped.
“Sorry, bro,” Wy said. “Too hyped up about work.”
“That’s not it at all,” Rashid teased. “He’s got himself another date.”
“Do I sound like I give a fuck right now?” Rapier roared.
Rashid cleared his throat. “Sorry. What’s wrong?”
“Everett’s been injured. Badly. We’re not sure he’ll survive and if he does, what he’ll be like when he comes out on the other side of this shit.”
Jasmine fell into her chair. She didn’t know Everett very well, but if the paled, shocked expressions on Rapier’s brothers’ faces were any indication, the man had been liked. She listened as Rapier recounted all of the man’s injuries, including the silver poisoning and sodomy. She shivered. The churning of her stomach had her swallowing several times to hold back the need to vomit. How could anyone do anything like that? Why would they?
The answer was pretty clear though. Raymond Quincy would. She covered her mouth as she continued to listen to her mate talk about everything going on. As unwell as Danielle had been after the miscarriage, she’d been by Everett’s side with her sister, trying to heal the worst of the injuries. Even with them doing so, the chances of him making a full recovery without long-lasting affects were slim.
“We also have another situation on our hands,” Rapier said. “Judge Malcom has been murdered.”
“I heard it was suicide on the radio,” Osirus said.
Rapier grunted. “Already getting the first reports in. It was staged.”
Saber whistled. “What’s the plan?”
“Nothing. We’re to sit tight. Kalkin still thinks Raymond will bolt if we announce anything. We can’t be looking over our shoulders anymore. For now, go about your day. I never called you. You never knew about Everett. I am sure Kalkin will be doing some kind of press release on it soon, and then you can act surprised and shit,” Rapier replied.
“When will you be home?” Jasmine whispered.
“Ah, kitten. Soon. I promise. Caden and Kalkin went off the rails when they saw Everett’s condition. Both are having their hands looked at because the stupid bastards broke them. I suspect they’ll shift soon and let their wolf heal them.”
She could only imagine how both men reacted to the situation. From what Rapier told her, Everett gave up everything to help his pack stay safe and now, in return... No, she couldn’t think about it. Tears burned behind her eyes as she stared at the table in front of her. Another person hurt because of them. Because she came to town.
“Knock it off, mate,” Rapier snarled. “I might not be able to see you, but I know you too well. Everett did his job. He’d do it again if Kalkin told him to. He knew it was dangerous. He knew it might get him killed. Now, we have to prepare for whatever comes our way next. It won’t be easy, but I have faith in all of us to see it through.”
She nodded, swiping the tears from her eyes. “It’s hard not to take the blame though.”
“It is. Trust me, I wanted to walk away too. Almost came and got you and the girls,” Rapier said. “Where are they anyway and the boys? Usually they’re full of themselves.”
“They’re watching a movie.” Jasmine swallowed around the lump of guilt. “They were a little hyper this morning, and I thought it would do them good to just chill out. Tate and Henry went with Bodhi and Nico to the orphanage.”
“Best thing for them,” her mate replied. “Later, I’ll get them to shift and run their cute little butts around until they’re falling over tired.”
Jasmine smiled, picturing him doing exactly that. “Sounds great.”
“You can take me off speaker now, kitten.” She did, then brought the phone back to her ear. “I love you. Make sure the girls don’t give you too much of a hard time. I should be home in a few hours. As soon as Tweedledee and Tweedledum get their shit situated.”
“Okay,” she murmured. “Be careful. I love you too.”
“I know you do, kitten. I carry you over my heart every day for a reason.”
The warmth she missed shoved at the bitter cold filling her soul. Jasmine hung up the phone then let out a pent-up breath. Since everyone was eating, she stood then went back to the counter to make a couple more sandwiches for the girls. She found it a little odd they hadn’t come downstairs for lunch, but then remembered how enthralled they’d become in some of their favorite cartoons, even if they’d watched them a billion times.
When she had everything on a tray, she climbed the stairs to the second floor of the house. The silence was deafening. She tilted her head, waiting for a giggle or something to indicate what the girls were doing. Could they be sleeping? She frowned. She crossed the small landing to their room and paused.
No noise. Holding the tray with one hand, Jasmine opened the door with the other and found it empty. The TV was off. Bell’s bed was made perfectly while Zoe’s had been thrown together haphazardly like always. Jasmine placed the tray of food on Bell’s bed then glanced around. “Girls?”
No answer.
“Girls, this isn’t funny. Where are you?” She went to their closet and opened the door, half expecting them to jump out at her. But, nothing. Their clothes hung neatly. Their shoes, except for one pair each, were all lined up like she’d shown them so many years ago.
“Where did you go?” She went across the hall to the bathroom, hoping beyond hope they’d just decided to take a shower.
No water was on, and the space was empty.
Had they gone into one of their uncle’s rooms? She tried each door, checking to see if Bell and Zoe were snooping around. Nothing, once more. Jasmine’s breath hitched. She bit her bottom lip to keep the cry at bay in case she was overacting and the girls were just in the backyard. Racing down the stairs, she didn’t stop when Jenna called her name. She pushed through the backdoor and stopped short. Nothing.
Jenna was right behind her. “What’s wrong?” The cool tone of her sister’s voice rankled Jasmine’s nerves.
“What’s wrong? You have the gall to ask me what’s wrong?” Hysteria bubbled up from her chest. Her heart pounded. Her body shook. Jasmine stared out over their backyard and the nothing surrounding her. “They’re gone!”
“Who is?” Again, Jenna kept her cool, and Jasmine wanted to rip her to shreds. Why did her sister get to remain impartial while her body churned with every fucking emotion?
“Bell and Zoe!” Jasmine snapped, facing her sister. “They’re gone. How could you let them get past you!”
Jenna held up her hands. “Whoa now. Don’t do this, Jasmine.”
“Don’t do what?” She advanced on her sister. “You were supposed to watch them. I only talked to Rapier five minutes alone and now they’re gone.”
“Hey! Knock it off, Jasmine.” Osirus joined them. “Don’t take your fear out on Jenna. Go grab your phone. I’m sure there’s something on the app Keeley gave you for the security system.”
“Right. I forgot. I’m the only one who gets to be responsible around here while all of you fuck off!” Jasmine clenched her fists at her side, not wanting to acknowledge what Osirus said. “All I ask is for a little help and what do I get in return? Not a Goddamned thing!”
“Jasmine,” Jenna whispered. “Don’t do this. You can’t fall apart. None of the alarms went off. Think. They’re probably still in the house.”
“Fuck you. My daughters are gone. My cubs! Maybe one day when you get your head out of your ass, you’ll understand what this feels like!”
Osirus took a step forward. “Jasmine—”
“No,” Jenna said. “What else, Jasmine? What else can you b
lame me for?”
“All of it!” she screamed.
Jasmine crumpled to the ground. Heaving sobs wracked her body as a pain so powerful lanced her heart. She lashed out at all of them for no reason, but it felt good. “I cook. I clean. I do laundry. I don’t get a thank you or a let me help you. I count on all of you for one important job, and you all failed me. You all failed your brother. My daughters are gone. Raymond is on the loose, and you couldn’t watch them. You couldn’t keep them safe.”
A loud broken roar came from the kitchen along with the crash of broken lumber. Jasmine glanced up in time to see Utah darting toward her in tiger form then out the door. Before Osirus could stop him, he leaped over the fence and headed out into the desert.
“You happy?” Osirus spat. “Now, all of our children are gone.”
She winced, lowering her gaze. No, she wasn’t by any means.
“He’s deaf for fuck’s sake, Jasmine. If someone jumps him in his tiger form, it’s on you.”
Jasmine recoiled from Osirus’ words. “I-I...”
“You didn’t fucking think. He reads lips, Jasmine. He heard you loud and clear and is now feeling the guilt that has been eating you alive for days! He’s a fucking kid. If anything happens to him, I swear to fucking—”
Jenna laid her hand on Osirus’ shoulder. “She gets it. We all do. We need to start looking. She has a point. Raymond is out there. We don’t know where, and we have no clue where the girls might be going.”
“Fuck,” Saber snarled. “Rashid and I will start looking near the subdivision park. We’ll also check with Charisma and Penelope and see if maybe they went to her apartment to see Crow.”
“Cormyr and I will check the construction site. They might think Rapier is there,” Wy added.
“I’m going after my son,” Osirus snarled. “Stay with her and see if you can get her to calm the fuck down before she really makes a mess of everything. And check the fucking security system!”
Each syllable of Osirus’ words cut her to the quick. Shame washed over her and warred with the anxious dread building inside of her. What if Raymond found the girls already? What if someone else had? What if that crazy bitch from the shop found them?