by Faith Gibson
“Hello?”
“Hey, Dad. How’s your trip going?”
“Mav had to take a detour for a job, so right now, it’s just me. Did you find something on the missing O’Shea woman?”
“I think so, but it could be nothing.”
“Or it could be something. What is it?”
“Well, it really bothered me that I couldn’t track the car after it entered the forest, and then on top of that, you and Mav couldn’t find it anywhere. So, I started looking at all the vehicles leaving the forest soon after the car entered. There was a large vehicle, like a moving van, that left the area about an hour after the car entered.”
“Are you thinking the car was in the van?”
“Yes. I did some digging, and the van was registered under the same name as the car. I never stopped researching the woman’s name or next of kin. I finally found something. The woman was never married, and according to everything I found, she never had any children. I was finally able to find a relative – a nephew. His name is Steven Pinion. The odd thing about that is he was abandoned by his mother, Clara’s sister, when he was a teen. He went to live with Clara, but she disappeared and was presumed dead several years later. Steven married a woman named Maren Talbert. When I searched her name, nothing alarming came up until I got to her brother, Gideon.”
“What’s so special about Gideon?”
“I had to dig deep. Really deep, but what I found wasn’t good. He has ties to the Ministry.”
“Holy shit. If they got their hands on Kerrigan, she could be hidden away at one of their compounds.”
“I’m afraid so. I know those places are bad enough for kids taken against their will, but at least they haven’t lived full lives where they understand everything they’re losing by being held with those nutjobs. Kerrigan, even though she was abused by her boyfriend, has parents who love her, and from what you and Mav said about the people at the bar, they love her too. I know all about being taken, and I bet dollars to donuts Kerrigan isn’t happy where she is.”
“Were you able to follow the truck?”
“For a distance, and then I lost it again when it got deep into Vermont where there were no traffic cameras. Julian has offered to trace it using satellite, but that’s risky. If the government happens to find out Julian hacked into the satellite... Well, you know what happens when the government gets their hands on people doing what they aren’t supposed to.”
“How far into Vermont could you follow, and what direction was it headed? I’m on my way to Green Mountain, and I have nothing but time on my hands. I don’t want you or Julian risking yourselves for this. I want Kerrigan to be found and safe, but you’re my priority now, Lucy.”
“I’ll text you everything I have, if you want to follow-up.”
“Like I said. I have nothing but time, so I’m willing to continue looking. Now, other than learning from Julian, how are things in New Atlanta?”
“Really good. Tamian’s clan is wonderful. They’re a little more civilized than the Hounds, but I like them anyway.”
Warryck laughed at his daughter. He knew she loved their family as much as he did, but she wasn’t wrong about his brothers being less than civilized. At least the two younger ones. “That’s great, honey. I’m glad it’s not a case of you dreading the in-laws. How’s your mate treating you? Do I need to head south and make an appearance?”
Lucy giggled. “Not for the reason you’re asking, but you’re always welcome to come see us. Tamian’s great. Treats me like a queen.” The love for her mate poured through the phone.
“Well, you will be queen one day.” Warryck still couldn’t get over the fact that his baby girl would be queen over the Italian Gargoyles. If anyone could handle the job, it was her.
“Yes, but not anytime soon. I’m still getting used to my new life. Having the freedom to do what I want is wonderful, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been. How about you? Are you enjoying your own freedom?”
“I really am. Nothing like seeing the country on two wheels at my own pace.”
“So, do you have any plans, or are you going to be a nomad the rest of your life?”
“Well, I have been thinking.”
“Don’t hurt yourself.”
“Hey! That’s enough out of you.” War laughed along with Lucy, and his heart swelled with so much love for his daughter. “Riding with Mav has made me realize how much I miss my twin. I’m thinking I may join the family. I didn’t join him on his current job because I haven’t been trained. I’m thinking of working with Ryker so I can at least go in as backup if one of the Hounds needs me.”
“That’s great. I know Ryker will be glad to have you back. He’s missed you. All the family has.
What about the club? Are you finally going to patch in?”
“Probably. That’s something else I’ll need to talk to Ryker about. Mav seems to think all I’ll have to do is say the word and Ryker will give me a kutte already kitted with rockers, but I don’t want that. I want to go through the process of being a prospect first. I don’t want the patch handed to me because I’m their brother. I want to earn it.”
“If this was a normal club, I think that’s exactly what would happen, but Dad... This is the Hounds. You’re already one of them. It won’t surprise me at all if Ryker already has a kutte waiting on you.”
If it were anyone other than his older brother, Warryck would agree with his daughter, but Ryker had hardened over the years, and he still held a grudge against War for letting Lucy be raised outside their family. “We’ll see. For now, I’m going to shower, grab something to eat, and get a good night’s sleep. I’ll take up the search for Kerrigan in the morning.”
“Okay. Keep me posted. I really hope you can find this woman. She has to be scared out of her mind.”
“I’m going to do my best. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Bye, Dad.”
The call disconnected, and War leaned his hip against the dresser where the television sat. Twisting the phone in his hand, he imagined the brothers welcoming him into the MC with open arms. He didn’t deserve for it to be that easy. Even if Ryker surprised him, War wouldn’t accept anything more than a prospect patch. He had a lot of years to make up for, and he was going to do it the right way. But before he called his older brother, he was going to do his level best to find Kerrigan O’Shea. With that decision made, his Gryphon pushed against his mind.
We need to go.
“It’s pouring fucking rain. I’ll get something to eat and a good night’s sleep. We’ll head that way in the morning.”
No. We need to go now.
“What the fuck is so urgent we need to go out in this shit?” His Gryphon didn’t answer. It continued to push against his mind, urging him to leave and head toward the state park where he planned to camp. “Fine, but if I wreck because of this weather, it’s on you.” Grumbling, Warryck took one longing look at the bathroom where the shower wasn’t happening and grabbed his things. He might not be spending the night in the dry room, but by Zeus, he was getting some fucking food.
Chapter Sixteen
Kerrigan
“EXCUSE me?” Surely Kerrigan had misheard Sparrow. “What do you mean, he’ll give you to Lewis? I thought his process of putting people together was to find those most compatible.”
“Who told you that?”
“Gideon did. He said it was important for him to interact with all the couples so he could determine if they would be a good match for the long haul.”
Sparrow stared at her like she had three heads. “That’s... uh.”
“That’s what? If he lied to me, I’d like to know. Why would you be given to Lewis just because he and Mac didn’t work out?”
“I want to take a nap. If you’ll close the door behind you, I’d appreciate it.”
Kerrigan hated the defeated look on Sparrow’s face, but more than that, she hated the thought of Lewis getting anywhere near the young girl. Of course, Gideon had lied to her. Had a
nything he said been the truth? Had he contacted her parents, or were they out there searching for her? Had Dalton truly been losing his shit when she ran away? How the hell had they known about Dalton anyway? And how, without her phone, had he known who her parents were? If they were as simple a people as they portrayed themselves to be with no televisions or computers, how did they know anything about her other than her name and address? Hell, her address on her driver’s license wasn’t accurate. She’d never gotten a new one when she moved in with Dalton.
Those realizations put a screeching halt to Kerrigan’s plan to get closer to Gideon. The kinder, gentler man she’d come to know in his home was just another layer to his already multi-tiered façade. But how the hell did she get away from him? If she rebelled at being his chosen, he’d send her back out into the masses where more people had eyes on her. Less freedom to figure out how to get away from The Sanctuary. Was that even possible? She recalled the intense scar on Mac’s face from her attempt at running. Who or what had marred the young woman’s face? There were too many questions and not enough answers. Kerrigan needed to bide her time in her own attempt to get away, but what better time than when Gideon was away?
If she waited until he returned, she had no idea how long it would be until he left again. And when he came home, what would he expect of her? She’d all but convinced him she wanted to be with him. If the rumors were true, and Gideon had been lenient with her because he wanted her, things would more than likely progress in ways Kerrigan wasn’t ready for. She’d lived with an abusive, controlling man for months, and Dalton had been child’s play to what she knew in her heart Gideon was capable of.
With Sparrow holed up in her room, Kerrigan took a chance and padded to the other side of the house to Gideon’s bedroom. She’d never had the chance to look deeply into the man’s sacred space. A cursory glance was all she’d managed when cleaning. Now, with him gone and Sparrow behind her closed door, Kerrigan slipped into the room. She didn’t close the door in case Sparrow decided her self-imposed timeout was over. Like the rest of the house, this room was more like a normal home, instead of the bland walls of the cabin where she’d first been put. The bed was king-sized, covered with a billowy, navy comforter. That she already knew.
She wasn’t surprised to find the closet was a large walk-in. What did surprise her were the rows of military-style outfits lining the left side. Either Gideon had been promoted from guard when taking over as leader of his little cult, or it was a position he still filled, just not at their compound. It made sense he had a military background with the way he ruled his kingdom. He moved with unguarded precision. Not seeing anything else of interest, she closed the doors and skipped over the dresser. She already knew what those drawers contained, as she did his laundry.
The bedside table held an oil lamp and a well-worn Bible. She pulled open the top drawer and paused. A handful of condoms was scattered across the bottom. Well, well, well. It seemed abstinence was good for the goose but not the gander. Several neatly folded handkerchiefs filled the rest of the space. The bottom drawer held an intricately carved wooden box. Kerrigan withdrew the small chest and placed it atop the table. Holding her breath, she opened the hinged lid.
“Oh, my god.” Kerrigan looked behind her, making sure she was truly alone. When she turned back, she touched the top object. A photo of a redhead – a very naked and bound woman – stared back at Kerrigan. It was almost as if she were peering in the mirror. The woman could have been her sister. Pushing aside the photo, Kerrigan found more pictures of the same woman. A woman with eyes the same color and shape as Mac’s. “Holy shit.” Had Gideon been involved with Mac’s mother?
When she dug farther in the box, Kerrigan found her driver’s license and credit cards. Her heart raced, tattooing rapidly against her chest. Closing the box, Kerrigan returned it to the drawer and rushed out of the room, back to the kitchen. She poured herself a tall glass of water and downed it. What the actual fuck was going on?
Gideon’s attraction to her made sense, if the photos were any indication of the type of woman he was attracted to. There had been no indication he’d taken the pictures. Maybe he just had a kink for bondage and had found those particular photos to his liking. Regardless, the similarity between the woman and herself was uncanny. And she didn’t like it. Not one bit. She had to get out of there before she found herself tied to his bed. The thought of leaving Sparrow alone with Gideon didn’t feel right, but if he hadn’t taken the younger woman to bed before now, he more than likely wasn’t going to.
But what if he took his frustrations out on Sparrow? What if her leaving set into motion something worse than Gideon keeping Kerrigan for himself? No. She couldn’t stay. She would get out of there and get help. From whom, she had no idea, but there had to be someone out there willing to rescue those at The Sanctuary who didn’t want to be there. Those like Mac. Sparrow’s sister might be the only one who wanted to escape that life, but what if she wasn’t? What if there were more like Kerrigan who’d been brought there against their will? She had to do it for them.
But how? She wouldn’t ask Sparrow to cover for her. She wasn’t strong enough or brave enough to go up against Gideon or someone like Lewis. A diversion would be best, but there was no one she could ask for help. She didn’t trust anyone. Mac would be the only one who might possibly agree to it, but Kerrigan had no idea where the girl’s cabin was. Even if she did, Mac was surrounded by others who would definitely be against Kerrigan leaving and threatening their solitary way of living. No, this was something she’d have to do on her own. If only Mac had elaborated on her own attempt, Kerrigan might have a better understanding of how the girl had managed to get as far as she had.
“Just a word of advice – don’t go into the woods.” Mac’s words floated through Kerrigan’s brain as she stared out the window. Lewis had been right about the rain. Sheets poured from the sky, tapping against the side of the house. She couldn’t see far at all. If she couldn’t see more than five feet in front of her, then nobody would be able to see her either. And with twilight setting in, what better time to make a run for it? Kerrigan wished she had darker clothes to help camouflage herself. Camouflage. Gideon had a closet full of it. Granted, the pants would be too large, but at least she could swipe one of his black T-shirts. There was nothing to be done about her flimsy shoes, though.
After making certain Sparrow’s door was still closed, Kerrigan returned to Gideon’s closet and removed the last black tee from its hanger. Stopping at his bed, she once again opened the wooden box where her things were hidden beneath the photos of the mysterious redhead. She grabbed her license, leaving her credit cards where they were, and stuck it into her bra. With no pockets on her clothes, it was the best she could do. After slipping the black T-shirt over her head, Kerrigan went to the back door and peeked out the window. She couldn’t see anyone, but that didn’t mean someone wasn’t out there waiting. Watching. Shoving against the rain, she opened the door and slipped into the wet evening.
Kerrigan set out toward the pastures where the cows were kept. If Mac had attempted to escape through the trees on the far side, hopefully the woman had known where she’d been heading. Kerrigan had no idea what lie in wait within the woods, but it had to lead somewhere. Getting there was slow going. She kept to the shadows, using the rain as cover. When she made it to the fence, she had to decide whether to risk climbing the fence and making a straight line toward the path she’d seen earlier, or taking more time going around. Valuable time she doubted she had.
Going around took her closer to the barn and the other building where someone could walk out at any moment, so she climbed the fence and ran through the pasture. The ground was unstable where hooves had dug into the wet grass and mud, but she ran hunched over and moved as quickly as possible. When she reached the opposite fence, she climbed over, falling to her knees when her pants caught on a stray nail sticking out of the wood. Kerrigan picked herself up and took off toward the break in the trees.
“Stop, Kerrigan!” Lewis’s deep voice called out.
Shit! How had she been spotted so soon? Adrenaline kicked in, and Kerrigan dashed into the woods with her arms in front of her face, pushing away the low-hanging branches. She had a head start, but not enough of one. It had been a long time since she’d done any amount of running, and her legs were already trembling with the exertion. Still, she had to push through the pain, because whoever had seen her would have already alerted others to her running. When she landed in a deep mud hole and pulled her feet out of the muck, her shoes were sucked off in the process. She didn’t have time to dig around for them, and even if she did, they’d be too wet to do any good.
Kerrigan pushed on barefooted, and not too much later, the soles of her feet were bleeding, cut from the rough ground she trampled over. Slipping on the leaves, she grabbed hold of a tree branch to keep from falling, but she lost her grip. Landing against a sharp rock, she tried to suck in air when pain lanced her ribs and stomach. When no air was to be found, panic set in, but Kerrigan pushed through it. She couldn’t lie there when she needed to move. Her life depended on it. When she righted herself, she took a shallow breath and set off again.
The pain had long since passed excruciating, and now her body was numb except for the tree branches scraping her face and slapping against her arms as she lurched through the dense brush. The woods were thick, and the lack of moonlight only added to the darkness. How she wished her brain was numb, too.
Escaping into the forest had been her only option. Kerrigan should have known someone would be watching. Known she was gone and come after her. Gideon noticed everything and everyone. He was the wolf in sheep’s clothing she’d heard about in church all her life. Too bad the preacher failed to mention how to get away without the wolf’s sharp teeth digging into your skin, ripping the flesh, and tearing through the marrow, metaphorically speaking. If she was caught, it would be literal. Just look at Mac.