Caden

by Tl Reeve

  She covered her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. “Be careful.”

  “I will.” He headed for the door.

  “Caden?”

  He stopped. “Yeah, pumpkin?”

  “I love you.”

  He stood there for a bit longer then hurried out the door. Kalkin met him in the driveway. His brother’s dark, tumultuous gaze didn’t bode well for Raymond. He got into the SUV without a word. Anticipation twisted his gut. It’d been two weeks of quiet. For him and Kalkin it’d been too quiet. They’d expected this moment. However, they couldn’t prepare for it.

  “Growing bolder by the day,” Kalkin muttered. “We’re going to finish this shit.”

  “We always knew they’d be coming. How has always fucked with us,” Caden answered. “It’s actually perfect. Dani’s car is there. Which means they’ve been watching and waiting for the right time.”

  Kalkin glanced at him. “Oh, they’ve been all over the place. Everett has been tracking them. I didn’t want to say anything, because I didn’t want to tip off the wrong person.”

  “I guess we should burst their bubble.”

  The feral way his brother’s mouth twisted into a predatory smile had a shiver of dread sliding down Caden’s spine. “We’re about to do more than burst their bubble.”

  “We need them alive, brother,” he reminded Kalkin.

  “Who said anything about killing them?” Kalkin cocked a brow. “I want to scare the shit out of them. Make Raymond wish he never showed his fucking face on my pack lands ever again. I should have killed him a long time ago, but I granted mercy.” He shook his head. “I did a lot of things I should have done differently.”

  “You did what you thought was right,” Caden answered. “I get it. I think.”

  Kalkin grunted.

  They didn’t pull up to the house. Instead, they parked in Kalkin’s driveway, then eased their way toward the house via the walking bridge. Caden silently thanked Keeley for installing the security system. She’d done it to protect her and Danielle from Simon, but in the long run, it would also lead to the capture of Raymond and Marjorie.

  Caden placed his hand on the small of Kalkin’s back as they made their way to the sliding glass door. The kitchen was empty, but from where they stood, he could see the destruction. This wasn’t just about grabbing the boys and Danielle; they meant to destroy everything. He tamped down the growl of outrage building in his chest. They have to live, he reminded himself. The urge to rip both of them apart surged through him.

  Calm, you have to stay calm. Danielle’s words were a balm to his soul. You act irrationally, and they’ll bolt.

  Pumpkin, not now. Have to concentrate.

  Her soft sigh had him cursing under his breath. She’d been right though. Anything they did at the moment would have to be calculated. They couldn’t let either person escape. This had gone on long enough. Their town needed to get back to its peacefulness. You’re right.

  The crunch of gravel behind him drew his attention to the approaching deputy cruiser. Logan got out, leaving his door open so as not to draw too much attention. Behind him, a highway patrol vehicle and a black on black SUV. Well, aren’t we the special ones. He nudged his brother.

  Kalkin cut his gaze toward the gathering reinforcements and muttered, “Hi-yo, Silver.”

  Are you ready? Caden reached for the handle on the door after unlocking it with his phone.

  As I’ll ever be, Kalkin answered.

  Caden lifted his hand to give a non-verbal countdown. At one, he slid the door open. He followed Kalkin into the house. Where his brother went high, he went low. They cleared the kitchen area, then slowly crept through the house. He and Kalkin took to the stairs while Logan, the highway patrol office, and FBI agents finished clearing the bottom floor.

  Kalkin went up the stairs first, his gun pointed at the eastern side of the house while Caden followed, his gun trained on the west. The soft mutterings of conversation came from Danielle’s room, and Caden tapped his brother’s arm, pointing him in the direction. Rage burned through his veins. His wolf demanded to be let out. No one stepped foot into his beast’s mated space. His lip curled. His heart hammered. Caden had to get a grip on his emotions or else he’d blow their cover.

  The calming bit of energy returned, and this time, he accepted it without question or comment. He needed it. His wolf shuddered, backing away. The red haze covering his vision dissipated. The threads of his control he’d been grasping at moments ago tightened. Caden let out a silent breath. Their steps were light as they grew closer to the bedroom door. Either Raymond didn’t care no one was in the house, or he was just too stupid to believe they wouldn’t be found there. It didn’t matter in the long run, though. They were going to jail.

  “Freeze,” Kalkin barked. “You’re both under arrest.”

  Raymond and Marjorie jerked. They both acted as if they would bolt. The stench of their fear along with fury laced their scents. Oh well. They fucked with the wrong family for the last fucking time. The one thing standing out for Caden had been their filth. They were covered in dirt, like neither one of them had seen the inside of a bathroom or shower in weeks. Marjorie’s curly hair hung in a thick mass of tangled knots. Red, desert clay marred her face and arms. Raymond didn’t fare any better. If Caden had to guess, they were living out in the middle of nowhere, using the desert as cover.

  Raymond took a step toward them. His lip curled into a vicious snarl. The glint of red in his eyes signaled to Caden he would rather fight his way out. So would he, but unlike the chicken shit standing in front of him and Kalkin, Caden believed in justice. Raymond would stand trial for everything he’d done. For the lives he and his ruthless band of thugs took without compunction.

  “Don’t do it,” Caden stated. “Or you can, and it’ll make my job a whole lot more complicated, but I’ll feel better for it.”

  Marjorie screamed, “You can’t do this!”

  The shrill sound hurt Caden’s ears. “Shut it.”

  “Too bad a vet hasn’t clipped her cords,” Kalkin said, giving a small shake of his head. “We can, and we will.”

  His brother hadn’t even finished his statement when the FBI agent and highway patrol officer along with Logan joined them. The FBI agent stepped forward, tapping Kalkin on the shoulder as he passed. Caden finally recognized him. The crazy ass mountain lion, Hauser Benefield. The last time they’d seen him, he still had the wild-look of his cat in his eyes. He’d been shot in the upper-right side of his chest. Thankfully, his vest protected him. The animal had been close to the surface then. Today, he was cool, calm, and collected.

  “Raymond Quincy? Marjorie Burke? You’re both under arrest.” Hauser stepped forward, pair of cuffs in his hands. “You have the right to remain silent...”

  The highway patrol officer excused himself, stepping into the room to help Hauser with the arrest of both people. Caden should have felt some inch of relief after catching both Quincy and the bitch who almost stole everything from him; however, they weren’t finished yet. They still had to find out why. He wouldn’t have any sense of peace until both of these fucked up animals were euthanized or behind bars for the rest of their lives. Then he could take a deep breath and know it was over.

  “Sheriff,” Hauser said. “If you and your under-sheriff would like to follow us. We’ll begin our questioning.”

  Marjorie thrashed and growled, pulling at her restraints as the highway patrol officer frog-walked her out of the room. “You’ll all pay for this. I won’t let this set. You can’t do this, pig. Fuck all of you!”

  “Logan, bring a team in here and catalogue everything,” Kalkin said. “Lead the way, Agent Benefield.”

  Kalkin tugged Caden along. Danielle couldn’t see the house in this state, not after everything Simon had done to them while they were on the run. He couldn’t allow her to relive the trauma.

  Their room had been trashed. The mattress had been slashed. Giant, spray painted Q’s along with the words bitch
, whore, and cunt covered the walls. All of her belongings were cut to ribbons, and her dressers were broken. The whole scene sickened Caden. He’d have to replace it all. While they waited for Raymond and Marjorie to be booked, he’d call Mrs. Martin. She’d know who could help them out in a pinch.

  “Call Danielle,” Kalkin said. “Tell her everything is okay and until things settle you and her will be staying with us.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Kalkin tsked. “Are we going to have this fucking conversation again? Yes, I’m sure. Neither of our mates need to see this shit. Nor do your children.”

  Caden grunted. “Fine. I was going to call Mrs. Martin and see if she has some stuff we could pick up to fix the broken furniture.”

  Kalkin nodded. “Good. We’ll make it right.” He clapped Caden on the shoulder.

  An image of a sixteen-year-old Kalkin filled Caden’s mind. He cradled a bundle to his chest. We’ll make it right... Fuck. Caden shook off the memory. He didn’t need this trip into his past, not now. He had Sage back. The two people who played a part in not only the partial destruction of his town but also trying to ruin his life were on their way to jail. The chains of his past were broken. He didn’t have to live there, and he didn’t have to revisit it. His future was in front of him and damn if it didn’t excite him to see what would be in store for him and Danielle.

  A scuffle broke out at the highway patrol car. Raymond fought with the officer and Agent Benefield. The bastard snarled and gnashed his teeth. He twisted, thrashing his big body around, trying to get free. Kalkin quickened his pace, and Caden followed behind. No way in hell the asshole would get loose after everything they’d all been through.

  “You fuckers don’t get it.” Raymond’s laugh turned into a low growl. “If I don’t return in twelve hours, there’s a fine piece of panther pussy that will die without my phone call.”

  Kalkin slammed the man’s face against the trunk of the unit. “You mean the panther my mate found last week?” His brother laughed. “Didn’t think ahead, did you, fuckwit?” He grabbed Raymond by his greasy hair and yanked him toward the back of the patrol car.

  “Doesn’t matter. We’ll kill them all. Even the runts. We’ll ruin them. We’ll ruin you. You haven’t heard the last of me. You haven’t heard the last of the Quincy name. We’ll kill all of you!” Raymond screamed as Kalkin slammed the door in his face.

  “He’s got some spunk,” Hauser said.

  Caden grunted. “Too bad he’ll never see the light of day again.”

  “Is what he said true?” the agent hedged.

  “Eh, not sure. But, the woman’s mate is on the way now. I’m sure if there’s any trouble, we’ll be the first to hear about it.”

  Hauser chuckled. “I think I’m going to like being here.”

  Caden tilted his head. “What?”

  “Oh, didn’t you hear? Today is my last day. Tomorrow I start work for Vigilante Security with Jerome. I figured it was about time to lay down some roots.”

  “Well,” Caden stated with a chuckle. “Welcome to Window Rock.”

  * * * *

  Two days ago, outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado...

  The GPS on Rapier’s truck had gone out two hundred miles ago. He stopped to make one phone call and to take a piss. Since Keeley programed everything for him, he hadn’t a clue where the fuck he was going, only that he would finally be reunited with his mate and, he found out, his twin daughters.

  Beside him, his best friend, Osirus Blake, held onto the paper with the written instruction on it. His brother hadn’t said a word since they left the house early in the morning after Keeley called him or since they began their trip. He didn’t blame his friend. Rapier wasn’t in the mood to talk, and he worried if he did, he’d yell and curse more than he talked.

  At first, he’d been shocked, then pissed. Now, he yearned to hold his mate. Rapier understood his emotional rollercoaster was throwing his brother for a loop. It always did. He compartmentalized everything, except anger. Yes, the raging beast he chained within him had reared its ugly head when Keeley told him, but she’d done it because of the agents tracking Quincy’s men. They were making their way towards Colorado, so she started digging.

  Rapier realized there could only be one thing—person in Colorado Raymond wanted; Jasmine and her cousin Jenna. Leaving Cormyr and Saber in charge hadn’t been hard. He knew they would continue to work and watch over Tate and Henry as well as protect anyone who might want to do them harm. However, not doing stupid shit along the way had been a whole other thing. Hence, why Osirus said he’d go too. His friend didn’t mince words. He didn’t give him the optimistic view. After all the shit O had been through with his boy, Utah, Rapier didn’t expect him to. Which made their friendship even tighter.

  “Where do we turn?” Rapier glanced at the exit sign on the freeway.

  “Next exit,” Osirus replied. “Do you think Keeley warned her you were coming?”

  “No. She wouldn’t want to tip anyone off if there is anyone watching Jasmine. I trust her intel on this.”

  His friend stared out at the highway. “You figured out what you’re going to say?”

  He made a derisive sound. “Hell no.”

  “She is going to kick your ass.”

  Didn’t he know it. Their mating hadn’t been a conventional one. Their paths crossed in Farmington, New Mexico. The full moon had grabbed him by the balls. He’d gone for a run, not really sure if it would work, to at least tire the lion out and cool the rising arousal coursing through his body. Instead, he literally crashed into his mate. The sleek panther tumbled with him, her sweet as fucking sin scent coated him. It made his dick ache. All he could think about was rutting. And, they did. All night long. In the morning, she was gone. The next time he saw her, she’d been walking out of a pharmacy and he’d been helping a customer. His mouth watered. His dick thickened. If he affected her in anyway, she didn’t show it. In fact, she scowled at him, pushing her big-ass fugly glasses up her nose before walking away. She didn’t need the glasses, of course, but for whatever reason, she always wore them. Something about blending in with the natives so as not to stick out like a sore thumb. Not everyone likes shifters you know. He thought she’d been adorable. She called him a tom cat.

  He probably chased her for a good year, hoping he’d get another glimpse of the sleek panther invading his dreams, night after night. When she finally gave into him and agreed to have dinner with him, he’d tracked her down where she worked, at the local library—a place he’d have never really thought of, had Wy not spotted her there. She’d been sitting behind the counter checking in books when he entered the building. He caught a glimpse of pink, turquoise, and purple streaks underneath her raven-colored hair. She had been a conundrum rolled into a compact ball of pure grace and power.

  Her cousin, Jenna, who lived with her, had been the opposite of her. She worked through the ranks to become a SWAT officer. The bitch, and he used the term affectionately, because she was one of the baddest bitches he knew and respected, could take down a man at two thousand meters without batting an eye.

  In a way, he understood Danielle and Caden because they reminded Rapier of him and Jasmine. Sure, Caden had done some fucked up shit, but the guy had his own fucked past he had to deal with, but the same could be said for Danielle. Whereas Jasmine did everything to keep people at arm’s length due to her being a shifter and not wanting any trouble, Danielle did it because she couldn’t trust anyone. Caden and him on the other hand were a lot more alike than he cared to think about. Both didn’t have great families. Both felt the sting of betrayal.

  Truth be told, Rapier and his ragtag group of brothers were orphans too. Cormyr and Saber were the first, then him and Rashid. He met O in high school and then one day, the runt, Wy, showed up looking for food. Damn pup wouldn’t go away so they had to keep him. Anyway, it made it hard for him, as much as he wanted Jasmine, to connect with her. It had led to several contentious arguments, and in the
end, almost cost him everything.

  Shit, ten years ago, he’d finally been in a good place to start his life over with a family filled with love and hope. Then shit went south and he... He lost it all.

  Rapier followed the exit ramp to the light and turned left. The miles slipped by as the town grew distant in the rearview mirror. At mile marker 58, he turned right and followed the dirt road. Anticipation thrummed through his veins. Ten fucking years. Ten years of waiting to hold his mate. To meet his cubs. Fuck. He realized they wouldn’t get a chance at getting to re-know each other. They had to get back to Window Rock first. Kalkin had already set up a safe house for them when they arrived. Someone named Hauser, he thought the guy had been an FBI agent, would be helping with all of their security needs and, well, Rapier was grateful.

  They came to a Y in the road. “Where to now?”

  “To the right,” Osirus said. “You okay?”

  “Ask me tomorrow, when we’re making a run for the border,” Rapier grunted.

  “She is so going to kick your ass.” His friend chuckled.

  “Probably.”

  They drove down the rutted lane. Trees closed in around them, giving them a good cover but also exposing them to anyone who might be hiding in the thicket. Fuck, he hated this. The hairs on his arms stood on end. He went on alert. Paranoia allowed the thoughts he’d squashed to swell back to the surface. What if they were too late? What if Quincy’s men were waiting for them? What if Jasmine didn’t want him anymore because he’d been gone for so long? He licked his lips out of nervous habit.

  The first glimpse of the small house on the left side of the road came into view, and his whole body went tense. There. A few more feet and he would see his mate. “Keep an eye out.”

  “You expecting anything?” Osirus went on alert.

  “Don’t know, but we should be ready, just in case. Fuck knows, if Quincy’s men saw us, they might be on our ass.”