by J. A. Saare
"Keep looking," I said and filled the syringe, combining the two drugs.
"How about this?" she asked.
I hesitated. I saw what she offered. I wondered if he'd notice a missing scalpel. "Does he use it?"
"Not that I've seen."
Shit. That didn't reassure me.
"Then we'll keep it. Put these back. Just like you found them." I shoved my arm through the bars and handed her the vials. Then I motioned to paper towels next to a small sink. "Get a handful of those and wad them up. Use it to keep your door from locking. You'll have to pack it tight, or he'll see."
As she did as instructed, I returned to the mattress. I used the scalpel to slice the bottom side and placed the box with the sharp implement and syringe inside it. I put it down, making sure it looked normal, and went back to the bars. I noticed the cup on the counter.
"Angie, I need water."
"Shit. So do I."
She finished padding the latch in the door, got the cup and filled it at the sink, and brought it to me. She didn't wait for me to finish, returning to the faucet to drink straight from the fountain. I wanted another round but didn't want to waste anymore time. I returned the cup to her when she came back.
"Hand me the notes."
Dante knew about Noah and Steven.
I wanted to know why.
Angie handed them to me, and I scanned through the papers. I didn't like what I learned. Dante already knew the answers to the questions he asked. He merely wanted to confirm things. Some of the details could have come from the news, especially after what happened at the bank, but certain things were too detailed. He'd gotten information from someone, and I wasn't sure it would have come from a backstabbing werewolf. That wasn't saying much. Lately it seemed I didn't know squat about anything.
"Here," I said and handed the notes back. She took them, and I stood to look at the bars keeping us apart. They were too thick to bend or break.
We both heard footsteps and moved.
Angie tossed the notes on the counter, went back into her tiny space, and closed the door. I hoped like hell it would open again. I went to the mattress and laid down, facing the room. The door opened, and my blood turned cold. The male who'd come to the house and taken me and Trisha appeared. He carried a nude man over his shoulder.
"In there," Dante said, indicating the cell between Angie's and mine.
The werewolf did as he'd been told, depositing the man in the cage. Then he affixed cuffs to his wrists, made sure they were secure, and exited. As he closed the door, his head turned.
He looked at me.
"You should have left me alone," he said. He approached the cage and growled. His dark hair looked clumpy and his clothes were wrinkled. "Look at what it cost you."
"You expect me to believe you brought me here because I chased you around a mall?" I asked him, nearly growling back. "What did you do with my sister-in-law? Where is she?"
"How bad do you want to know?"
"I'm going to kill you." Stupid as it may have been to say it, I did.
"Not a chance."
"You'll see."
"Enough!" Dante ordered. "Come here, Ensel."
Ensel didn't do as he'd been told, staying put.
He smelled wrong, like he was about to shift.
Something he couldn't do as a wolf-man.
"Do it, now." Dante's voice dropped several octaves. "Come here."
It seemed like Ensel got a grasp on himself.
He went to Dante and pulled up his sleeve. I wondered why. Then Dante opened the cabinet. I held my breath, hoping he didn't notice anything out of place. He didn't, filling a syringe. He injected something into Ensel's biceps. The source of the odd lemon balm fragrance came from it. That explained why the scent had been difficult to identify. With his metabolism, the scent would fade. After a few seconds, his body seemed to relax.
"Go upstairs," Dante said. "I'll join you soon."
Ensel departed and Dante looked at me.
"Why do you think you're here?" he asked.
"I have no idea."
"Then I'll tell you. Save us both some time and misery. You think too highly of yourself. That needs to change." He behaved as though I should be grateful. "You put a target on your head at that bank. My research is on the verge of breakthrough. Your genetic code was highly desirable for that reason alone. But you have friends in high places. So we let you be. Then you put your nose where it did not belong." He inched closer and lowered his voice. "You should have left Peter alone. He was right where he was supposed to be. If you'd steered clear of him, he'd still be alive."
Wait. What?
"You wanted him there? You knew where he was the whole time?"
His posture changed, and he became hostile. "Should I finish?"
I didn't say anything. That pleased him.
"I'm aware of the heat I've generated, and I've taken steps to avoid being found." He saw the panic in my face and smiled. "I'm aware of the fairy-thing coming to the compound. She won't find me. I have my own sources, and this place is protected from spells and other such nonsense. I, too, have friends in high places. As for you." His gaze drifted from my face to my feet and back up again. "I know the situation with your pack. They want you out. Your alpha will look for you, but only for so long. Give it a few months, and he'll stop. He will have other things to worry about. Life will return to normal. And during all that time you'll be right where you are: here."
"They'll look for Trisha."
"Why would they do that?" When I frowned he said, "She's not here. She never was. She's right where she's supposed to be. Safe and sound at home." As I absorbed his words, grasping what he'd just told me, he appeared pleased with himself. "That's right. You're getting the picture. Good. Settle down and get comfortable. You're not going anywhere."
◆◆◆
After Dante had told me the truth, I'd returned the mattress to contemplate everything. And try not to cry. Obviously, I found comfort in knowing Trisha was safe, but I knew what he'd said was true. I'd scented the sincerity. Even if someone did find him, or trace my trail, it would be because he hadn't believed it was possible.
He truly thought he had it all planned out.
The asshole felt completely secure.
"Ray?" Angie whispered.
"I'm here."
"Are you alright?"
"Yes and no. Plans have changed," I answered and crawled toward the door. "How's the one they brought in?"
"Out," she replied. "He'll be like that for another day. Maybe more. If he comes to at all."
"Then we don't have to worry about what we say. If he wakes up, he could be an implant or something. We have to be careful."
"What did Dante mean? About Peter?"
Hell. She had a right to know. "He was found by some hunters. He'd been changed, too, but he didn't accept the shift. He'd lost all of his memory. We went to talk to him one day, and he'd shifted. Dante had been there, and he made him do it when it wasn't time. That's how I recognized his scent. He'd come to Peter's house and made it happen. Peter snapped and went crazy. Noah..." I felt my throat clogging up. "My husband had to shoot him. I'm sorry."
"Couldn't you wait for him to shift back?"
"Not if I wanted to survive."
"Then why didn't you kill him when you found him? Why did you let him suffer?"
Confusion clouded my head. I had no idea what she was talking about. "What do you mean?"
"I can't remember anything after I shift."
"What? You don't?"
"I only remember the pain during it. That's it."
"Even when the moon is full?"
"Maybe that's it. I haven't been forced to change."
That didn't make sense. "No, you should feel and remember everything. Your mind should be intact. Especially during a full moon." I stood to study her. Her eyes were clear, she was lucid and aware. "It should be just like you are now, only you and the wolf communicate, you merge."
"My wol
f? I don't understand. That's not what I do."
"You should sense it. Don't you? You don't feel her?"
"No."
"Not even the first time you shifted?"
"No, not even then."
I didn't understand. That wasn't how it worked.
But then, Angie was unique. A miracle as I'd told her.
"The injections he gives you. What do they do?"
"I shift differently. It hurts more."
Since that didn't help, I changed the conversation. "What do you do for a living?"
"I wait tables during the weekends and answer phones at a car wash during the week. What about you?"
Waiting tables and answering phones didn't help either of us.
We had to be able to fight.
"I worked at a cafe, until I had to come home."
"Why did you have to come home?"
Angie was starved for companionship, and I planned to give it to her, but first things first. "It's a long story. I'll tell you about it after we get out of here."
"You heard him." Even across the distance, I felt her defeat. "Neither of us are leaving this place."
Oh yes we are.
"I have a plan. It's risky, but I'd rather die than be like this. How many people do you think are upstairs?"
"I have no clue."
"When you were shot, how long did it take to heal?" The injury looked to be the result of silver, but I wanted to be certain. "Does it still bother you?"
"It took a couple of weeks to mend. It doesn't hurt, it just looks like hell."
"Do you think you'd be able to handle yourself?" She appeared uncertain, and I told her, "If we try to run. Will you hide in a corner if shit hits the fan? Or will you fight your way out even if it means you'll die? I'm not judging you, but I need to know."
"I wouldn't say no to zapping Dante with that wand of his."
Okay, so it wouldn't be easy. But it could work.
"I could shift," I told her, thinking aloud. "But if I do, you have to work doors, windows, things like that. I can be the muscle, but you have to work the buttons."
"You'll be able to think when you change?"
"Very much so."
"But you'll be a wolf."
"Yes, but I'm still me."
"Dante's so strong. He could hurt you. Don't you feel it when he gets mad?"
"I feel it, but it doesn't affect me. It wouldn't. I'm a lupa."
"What's a lupa?"
I felt ashamed. Talking about escape tactics with a woman who'd been changed to something she knew little to nothing about. "Don't worry, I'll teach you. When we get out of here, I'll help you, Angie. You won't have to be scared or worried. Help me with this, and I swear I'll deliver in spades."
"You're really not afraid to die?"
She was, and it didn't take a good sense of smell to recognize it. "Not if it means I live like this. In a cage. Day in and day out. Waiting for food. Hell, waiting for water."
"I don't want to be afraid. I don't want to live like this."
"But you are, and that's okay." It was her nature. Despite being changed, she was very much human. "I thought I could wait it out, but you heard him. My people aren't going to be looking for me. There won't be any rescue parties or knights on white horses riding in to save the day. If we want to get it done, we have to do it ourselves."
Time lapsed in silence.
We had a syringe full of sedatives and a scalpel, as well as the 'wand' as Angie called it. The question became how to put them to good use? A plan formulated, and I tried to work out variables. I had no idea what I'd find upstairs. I didn't even know how large the house or building we were trapped inside was. I'd have to be cautious but deadly. I couldn't hesitate. Angie could only do so much, and I had to keep her safe as well.
It could be done. Because it had to be done.
I'm not staying here. I will not rot in this place.
I thought about Noah and pictured him at the quarry.
I should have told him I loved him.
I thought he knew.
Still, everyone wanted and needed to hear the words.
Steven would have given me hell for being so relentless. He wanted to be with me, but he'd always insisted it had to be the two of us. Our feelings had to match. That's how he'd loved his wife, and that's how he expected to love someone else. I accepted that I'd failed him in many ways, as I'd believed I felt exactly as he did. But, deep down, I knew I never did.
Everything always came back to Noah.
Although I hadn't realized it enough to accept it.
It was ironic I clung to the notion now, when I was likely to die.
"Ray?" Angie whispered.
She sounded different. Determined.
"Yeah?"
"What do you want to do?"
"Can you still get out?" I hoped like hell she could.
I heard the door to her cell creak.
Yes. A good omen.
I went to the mattress, grabbed the things I'd stashed, and went back. "You'll need these for yourself."
Her hesitation worried me as she took them. "You won't need them?"
"I'm going to shift for this."
"He'll see you." She swept her finger along a cage bar.
"No, he won't."
"How?"
"I'm about to tell you." I reached through the door, grasping her arm. "Are you ready to get out of here?
Her hand shook slightly as she wrapped it around mine. "I am."
"Then this is what we're going to do."
Chapter Nineteen
Ilifted the mattress, turned it, and carried it to the door after we'd talked. The size was just right, hiding me inside the cell I'd been caged in. When I felt sufficiently covered, I went to the back of the space and crouched.
"Get ready," I warned. "Whatever happens, you don't have to be afraid of me. I won't hurt you. I swear."
Then, I called on my wolf.
She'd grown stronger, which relieved me.
I didn't know if I could get out of the shackles on my wrists. There was only been one way to find out. I made sure my knee rested on the chain between the cuffs. I didn't focus on the pain, willing the shift to come fast and hard. My wrists lengthened as my forearms changed, the bones slightly pliable.
I moved immediately, yanking my torso upright.
My hands slid free as they morphed into paws.
Yes. Freedom.
After I'd finished changing, I clawed the floor.
A signal to tell her my plan had worked.
Since we'd had no idea when Dante would come back, we'd made two plans. If he came to my cage first, I'd get his attention while she opened her door and came at him from behind. I'd told her to use the medication we had. It would knock him out in seconds. If he went to hers, I'd use the mattress as a buffer and launch myself at the door keeping me inside. While the metal bars were solid, the bolts holding them to the wall weren't.
If I used all my strength, I could get free.
I considered trying it, anyway, but worried about the noise.
We needed to use surprise to our advantage.
It felt like an eternity passed as I waited at the back of my prison. Resting on the cold floor, scenting the air. In this form, I was able to decipher scents from above. The variations indicated there were at least three men on the floor above us, not including Dante or Ensel.
That meant we had to make it through armed men.
With silver bullets.
The goal was to take Dante down immediately. Then he couldn't force Ensel to shift. I'd be facing adversaries on two legs instead of four. That gave me a slight advantage. I moved faster as a wolf, I would be far stronger, and my teeth were deadlier than fists.
I detected movement. I could hear it before Angie.
I whined, low and soft, and scraped my nails against the floor.
I hoped she got the message.
When I scented the strong aroma of blood, I knew she had.
I'd
told her to make a cut so blood flowed. The more the better. Dante needed to believe she was seriously injured. Backing up on my haunches, I prepared to ram the mattress. My nerves were shot. I worried my plan wouldn't work. I wondered if I was about to die.
The door opened, and I heard Dante yell, "Angela!"
He'd gone to her first. She'd been as important as I'd thought. I heard him run to her cell, worry with the lock, and open the door.
The time was now. Do or die.
Help me. I begged the wolf. Be with me.
A surge of energy spiked through my body. I tried to gain as much speed as possible and slammed against the mattress. It hurt, the momentum sending me back. The bolts gave way, just as I hoped they would, with a loud snick. The door didn't come completely free, and I struggled to stand upright. I felt unbalanced on the mattress but moved forward and leapt. I couldn't land gracefully, hindered by cotton and metal, but I made it to my feet in time to see Dante coming out of Angie's cage.
He hadn't believed such a thing was possible.
The alpha was in shock.
I took advantage, rushing him, and opened my mouth as I went for his throat. As soon as a connection was made, I clenched my teeth together. He gurgled and fell back. I landed on top of him and didn't let go. Instead I braced my front paws on the table and the floor, creating pressure. Then I eased my grip on him, pulled back, and brought my jaws together with a snap.
His neck broke in an instant.
Alpha my ass.
I let him go and stepped back, licking my lips.
Then I saw Angie. She had backed to the wall.
Frozen in fear.
I wagged my tail, exuding strength and confidence.
She snapped out of it. "Ray?"
I kept wagging my tail and went to her.
I was almost tall enough that I didn't have to look up to meet her gaze.
I cocked my head.
"Oh yeah, okay. Got it."
I felt proud of her as she went to Dante, gave him a kick to the side, and knelt down. She pilfered through his pocket and retrieved a set of keys. I turned from her, watching the door. From now on, I had to be her bulletproof vest. Just as I swore I would be. I waited, ready to protect us, but no one burst through the door. Whoever was upstairs didn't belong to Dante, or the pack connection was weak. They'd should have felt his death immediately and came to him.