by Tl Reeve
Everett was still in a medically induced coma. Danielle sat with him for an hour a day to induce more healing not only to his body but also to his mind. Rapier didn’t like it. Taking away some of the worst memories, or hiding them, would only end up hurting Everett in the long run. However, he also couldn’t see the guy remembering all the trauma.
“True,” Kalkin replied. “I still feel like I’m missing something important.”
“Don’t we all?”
He grunted. “I know what Raymond’s beef with me is, but why did he come after you?”
“We talked about this...” Rapier blew out a breath.
“Yeah, well, run through it for me one more time.” Kalkin shrugged. “My mind ain’t what it used to be.”
He chuckled. “You’re so full of shit.”
“Meh,” Kalkin replied. “Keeley says it all the time.”
Rapier bet she did. “Well, a little over ten years ago, we found Mackenzie wandering out in the desert. He was mangy. Skinny. Frail. He had a scar on his temple and one bigger right behind his ear. Don’t know how he survived as long as he did, but he did. We brought him home.” He scrubbed his chin. “Didn’t know who he was. Don’t think he could have told me anyway. When he finally got strong enough, that’s when Raymond came snooping around. You know the rest.”
Kalkin nodded. “Yeah. Don’t you think it’s a little suspicious that he came around after you found my brother?”
“At the time, no. Now, yes. I am convinced Mackenzie was a loose end. It would appear, all loose ends in Raymond’s world are killed, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Hard not to with all the evidence pointing in that direction. I wonder if—"
Jasmine’s ring tone began to play, surprising Rapier. She never called in the middle of the day, unless... “Hey, kitten, are you thinking of me too?” Rapier answered his phone. “I was going to come home early and maybe get a little one on one—”
“Rapier,” Jasmine sobbed. “The girls... The girls are gone.”
Had he heard her right? “Jasmine, what did you say?”
“The girls are gone!” The shrill cry of his mate’s voice had the hairs on his arms standing on end.
He gripped the phone a little tighter than he had to. “Kitten, I need you to start from the beginning. What happened?” He had to keep his wits about him. Shifting now and going on a tear wouldn’t help them at all. In fact, it would leave more of his family vulnerable.
“I was making lunch,” she said. “I’d put the girls in their room to watch a movie because they were full of themselves while Tate and Henry decided to go with Nico and Bodhi to the orphanage. I thought it would help keep them occupied.”
He snorted.
As Jasmine recounted the events of the early afternoon, he could’ve kicked himself. The girls, the longer they were in Window Rock, were opening up. They were stretching their legs, testing boundaries. It didn’t surprise him that Jasmine would try to keep them entertained. What did, was the girls leaving the house without anyone knowing it. Sure, they hadn’t told them the truth about Raymond, but why should they? Ten-year-olds had no business knowing about a despicable man who’d been out to hurt his family. Kids needed to be kids. Obviously, now he understood their children should’ve known the danger they were currently in.
“Have you called Caden or the Sheriff’s Department yet?” he asked. “What about checking the security system? Better yet, how did they get out without tripping a sensor?”
“No. I called you first. Utah is out. So is Osirus. Cormyr and Wy are on their way to you,” Jasmine replied. “I... I kind of yelled at everyone.”
The sadness in her voice killed him. He glanced up at the window as one of the work trucks pulled into the driveway. “You did good, kitten. You were upset. They’ll understand.”
“I doubt it.” She sighed. “I don’t want to leave the house in case they come back, but I also want to be out there with everyone, looking for the girls. I have the recording. One of the girls unhooked the sensor from the window and the back fence.”
“Stay there,” he replied, holding a hand up to Kalkin as he took a step forward. “Someone needs to be home just in case they do return. I’m sure the girls—”
“No, don’t,” Jasmine snapped. “The girls have never done anything so reckless before. There’s testing boundaries, and there is doing this.”
He let out a breath. “You’re right. But, telling them the truth would have caused more problems.”
“I don’t want to argue.”
He didn’t either. “Stay there. I have a feeling I know who unhooked everything.”
She blew out a breath. “Yeah, I think I do too.”
“We’ll get them back. I promise,” Rapier said. “Hang tight.”
“I’m sorry,” Jasmine whispered.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, kitten. We all fucked up.” Rapier glanced at Kalkin. “We’ll find them.” He hit the end button the call then crossed to the door and opened it. “Jasmine called.”
“Good thing. She tore everyone a new ass,” Wy said, stepping into the house. “S’pose all of us deserved it though.”
“Want to tell me what the fuck is going on?” Kalkin crossed his arms.
“Like you couldn’t hear,” Rapier snapped.
“What I heard and what happened are two different things.”
“I don’t have time for this shit, man,” Rapier snarled. “You gonna help me find the girls or not?”
“Well, when you ask so nicely,” Kalkin muttered. “Why don’t we head to City Hall. We can gather teams and start searching.”
“Fine.” Rapier turned to Cormyr. “You and Wy shift and track through the desert. The girls don’t know where they are yet. They might think they’re heading for me but they’re going in the wrong direction.”
“On it.” Wy pulled off his shirt. “Don’t get jealous now, Sheriff.” He glanced over his shoulder at Kalkin and smirked.
Only the youngest of the Dryers could say stupid shit and get away with it. Rapier followed Kalkin out of the house and to the waiting Enforcer. Once he was inside, he called Saber. “Anything?”
“Nothing yet,” his brother said after answering his phone. “Charisma and Penelope are helping.”
“Fuck. Keep me posted,” Rapier snarled, hanging up.
“Where was the last place Jasmine saw them?” Kalkin said, speeding down the main road of town.
“Their room. They’re getting stir crazy. We didn’t tell them about everything.”
“Shouldn’t have to,” Kalkin said, swerving around a slow car. “They’re kids. Let them be kids.”
“Yeah, well, they’ll be grounded for the rest of their lives when we find them.”
Kalkin laughed.
“Don’t laugh, asshole. When your twins are Bell and Zoe’s age, they’ll do the same shit,” Rapier said.
“The hell they will. Colin won’t allow Elle to get out.”
“You say that now.” They pulled into the parking lot of City Hall. “Just wait. They’re going to give you a run for your money.”
“Don’t ever fucking threaten me,” Kalkin grumbled me. “My kids know better.”
Rapier rolled his eyes as he got out of the Enforcer. “Shouldn’t we be paying attention to finding my girls?”
“We are. I’m distracting you for a minute so you can get your shit together.” Kalkin motioned him to follow. “We’ll get everyone to return to city hall then we’ll start a search grid.”
“Should we call Jerome? He has the drones.”
“We will.” Kalkin pulled the door open then headed to their temporary department. He glanced at the deputy sitting behind one of the desks and snapped his fingers. “Recall everyone. Tell them we have missing twins lost in the desert. We need to start a search and rescue.”
“Utah’s out there,” Rapier muttered.
“Also, there is a deaf tiger as well looking for the twins. Those deputies who happen upon him, tell
them to keep their distance,” Kalkin added before stomping toward his office.
“He’s upset,” Rapier said. “Jasmine yelled at everyone, and Utah understood.”
“Doesn’t surprise me.” Kalkin grabbed a few county maps off a shelf then threw them on his desk. “Kid is smart as fuck. He reads lips. He studies everyone. The boy took it personal. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”
A knock came at his office door before it opened. The deputy from the front desk stepped forward. “Everyone is on their way.”
“Good. We’ll meet them in the parking lot.”
* * * *
Nico stepped out of Mrs. Martin’s shop and swore he saw a flash of stripes flying by the store front. Utah? Bodhi, Tate, and Henry were still at the orphanage helping Eloise while he made a lunch run for Mrs. Martin and Annabelle. Both women were fixing up the shop, and tomorrow, he’d promised he’d paint the shop to cover up the black writing. Already, they had several boxes of donations to help restock the shelves for Mrs. Martin.
He glanced down the road to his left, then his right. What the fuck? It had been Utah who jetted past the buildings, leaving a trail of bloody pawprints in his wake. “Not good.” He stuck his head back into the shop and called out to Mrs. Martin. “Call Kalkin, tell him I saw Utah in his tiger form.”
“Why does seeing Utah have you so upset?” Mrs. Martin rubbed her hands in her apron.
He pointed to the sidewalk. “He’s bleeding.”
Mrs. Martin frowned. “Go, boy. Track him. Find him. I’ll call Kalkin.”
Nico nodded while removing his clothes. “Tell him Utah was heading out of town, toward the museum.”
“I will, son. Now off with you.” Mrs. Martin shooed him out of the store.
Nico called to his wolf, allowing him out. The warm white light in the middle of his chest expanded, helping to reshape his body into that of the wolf. When his paws touched the ground, he took off running, following the trail of his new best friend.
He’d liked Utah from the moment he arrived in Window Rock. Him not hearing didn’t bother Nico one bit. They found other ways to communicate when they got the chance to hang out. He lifted his head and sniffed the air. Utah’s scent clung to everything. He was hurt. Bad. Which begged the question, what had the tiger gotten into?
Come to think of it, whenever Nico saw Utah, he had Zoe and Bell, Rapier’s daughters, with him. His gut knotted. Nico kicked it into high gear, running harder and faster than he ever had before. Utah didn’t take his job as protector lightly. Zoe and Bell were his family. In a way, his cubs. His siblings. If Utah was in tiger form, something had to have happened and whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good.
Sidewalk became dirt trail. The kicked-up dust muddled the bloody footprints, making it harder to track Utah. Nico couldn’t give up. Instinctively he knew his best friend needed him. He followed the trail until he came to a Y in the lane. Nico lifted his snout once more and caught the second smell of cat. Zoe. He sniffed again and found Utah, but nothing else. Bell was always with Zoe. What happened?
As he came over the small ridge, he found Utah standing over a small form on the desert floor. Nico slowed his pace, being careful to come up at Utah from his side, not from behind. If Utah stood over Zoe, and he did anything wrong, Nico knew Utah would kill him. About a quarter of the way to Utah, Nico shifted back to his human form. If anything, Utah could smell him now, and he hoped, wouldn’t attack.
“Hey, Utah,” Nico said holding his hands up. “Stupid me talking to you like this, because I know you don’t hear me, but I also don’t want to die.”
Utah continued to lick at whatever he found. Nico crept closer until he saw an unconscious Zoe along with a needle beside her. A bruise formed on her cheek, swelling her right eye shut. Her right hand was also swollen and cut up. Whatever happened, Zoe got in a few good licks too. Good job, kid.
“Utah...” Nico touched the tiger’s shoulder. “Look at me, buddy.”
Utah snapped his head up and roared at Nico then shook his head and sat down. The fear he saw in the tiger’s eyes stole Nico’s ability to swallow, let alone breathe. He lifted his hands and began to sign. It’s okay, Utah. You did good. We need to get her to Rapier and Danielle. Can you help me?
The tiger chuffed.
Thank you. I’m going to put her on your back then we’ll walk out together, okay?
Utah nodded then stepped back.
Nico lifted the little cub onto Utah’s back then shifted back to his wolf form. No way in hell he’d walk back to town completely naked. Once Utah started for town, he grabbed the spent syringe between his teeth, careful not to poke himself or break it, then followed the tiger. He watched as the girl on Utah’s back clung to the tiger as if he were a lifeline.
The wind changed, and the scent hit him at once. He knew that smell. It was death and rot combined with shit. Mrs. Martin would whoop their asses when they were younger for coming home smelling like such after rolling in carrion. Nico sniffed again and curled his lip. Hyenas. They were rare for the area. They were orphans like him. Quincy liked to use them. He’d starve them, sure enough, yet whatever he promised them for doing his bidding kept them hooked.
The only reason Nico knew about them had been because of Shadow. He liked the Alpha-in-training. The kid hated his father with a passion and would tell anyone who listened what Quincy liked to do to pack members. Some of it made Nico sick to his stomach. The hyenas were new though. An experiment. A group of kids who would do anything to belong. It appeared, even hurting little girls. He growled. When Nico got his hands on the boys who hurt Zoe, he’d kill them. Him and Utah.
Utah stumbled along the sidewalk, and Nico frowned. When they got near Mrs. Martin’s shop, the door opened, and she stepped outside. Since he hadn’t seen anyone from the department on their way back, he hurried inside and changed. He placed the needle in a bag, then joined Utah and Mrs. Martin in the front of her store.
“I’ve got this. Help Utah. He’s hurt.” Nico pointed to the tiger. “I’ll bring Zoe to City Hall.”
“That’s a half-mile walk,” Mrs. Martin said. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Nico looked at Utah then signed, Stay here. Let Mrs. Martin look at your feet. You’re hurt.
Utah curled his lip but didn’t try to move.
“Don’t worry about him. I’ll take good care of him.” Mrs. Martin caressed Utah’s head. “Looks like it’s a bunch of Jumping Cactus. I’ll get him fixed up in a jiffy.”
Nico lifted Zoe into his arms and carried her out of the store. “Don’t touch the bag on the counter. It’s evidence.”
Mrs. Martin gave him a curt nod. “Go, Nico.”
He exited the store and hurried through town. As he turned the corner onto the road their city hall was located, he could see all of the deputies’ Enforcers in the parking lot along with several other vehicles. Nico hefted Zoe into his arms. For such a small thing, she had a good bit of muscle on her. One day, she’d make a formidable feline.
Nico cut across the street then ducked under the yellow tape. Five hundred feet in front of him stood Rapier and Kalkin bent over a map on the hood of Jerome’s truck. Each of the Rafertys stood around them along with a few of the Dryer brothers. Maxwell was also there along with Hauser. When he was a few feet from them, Nico called out. “Hey, did someone lose a cub? I think I found one.”
Rapier turned. “Zoe!” The lion ripped her from his arms and tucked her into his chest.
“Where did you find her?” Kalkin asked.
“Desert, going toward the museum,” he answered.
“Where’s Bell?” Rapier said.
Shit. He knew he smelled her, but she wasn’t there. “I don’t know. Utah is injured. He’s with Mrs. Martin. I-I wish I had more information. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, boy,” Kalkin said. “You did good. What else can you tell us?”
“I found a needle near her and...” He licked his bottom lip. “Hyenas got her.”
<
br /> Caden ushered Rapier to a waiting Enforcer while he stood there not sure what to do next. “I got to her as quick as I could though. I hope she’s okay.” He glanced over to where the Enforce sped away. “Mrs. Martin is fixing Utah’s feet. Jumping Cactus got him.”
Kalkin grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “Come on, you’re going to take me to where you found Zoe, then we’ll go check on Utah.”
“I’m going with you,” Osirus said.
“Wouldn’t have stopped you,” Kalkin stated. “Get in.”
Nico opened the back door of the Enforcer and went to sit down. “Not so fast, kid.” Osirus put his hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Sit up front so you can show us where you found Zoe.”
He glanced up at the big guy. “You sure?”
“Yep. Go on.” Osirus urged him toward the passenger side.
Nico got in beside Kalkin and pointed toward the dirt road adjacent to the court house. “If you follow this trail, you’ll get there a whole lot quicker.”
Kalkin grunted. “Why didn’t you come that way?”
“Uh... I was naked. Didn’t seem like a good idea carrying a little girl without clothes on,” he answered.
Kalkin laughed. “Good call, boy. Now, show me where you found her so we can track the bastards who took Bell.”
* * * *
Rapier was a fucking mess.
His loyalties were split at the moment. While one cub lay behind the closed door, the other was still missing and in the hands of a madman. Rapier leaned against the wall opposite the little room Cookie used as a medical office when hurt kids arrived at the orphanage’s door. Danielle had flat out refused him entrance into the room. She was all business, even insisting on privacy while she examined Zoe. Rapier wasn’t stupid. He knew damn well what Danielle was doing—checking to see if Zoe had been raped. It wasn’t out of Raymond Quincy’s mindset to do something so vile to such a young girl.
And while Cookie did what she was doing his lion paced, roaring in his head to be let free. The fucker kept pushing to the surface, and Rapier kept pushing him back. I don’t need this right now, asshole. He told his lion. I need to stay focused. When the time is right, I’ll let you out to exact vengeance on those who’ve dared to touch what is ours.