The drive to the bar was short and he wanted Cece to relax some. He had invited a few people out to come keep her company, but he knew Becky was way to pregnant to come to a bar, and Millie was now playing catch up on sleep she missed while she was puking the last few weeks until Cece found something to help her. So tonight, he had Lily, the little witch, come and Tiny. He had also invite Emerson, a friend of Tiny’s and Cece’s. He had personally never met the guy, and he was only in town for a couple of days to visit Mike. However, with Mike gone the poor guy had nothing to do tonight and leave it to Dmitri and Nik to suggest his bar. Growling in frustration, especially since Becky let it slip that at one time Cece had a big crush on the guy. He was interested to see what this man had over him that would draw his mate’s attention.
“What has you all growly over there, Yogi?” She started calling him that when he did the bear act, he didn’t mind it too much, at least when it was them, but if her sexy ass did it in public, he had no problem putting her over his knee and making her cheeks bright pink.
“Thinking.”
“Uh huh, about what?” She reached and held his hand. The small act seemed to calm his bear down some.
“How well do you know this Emerson?” He watched as she blinked a couple times.
“Emerson’s back?” He couldn’t help but growl some. “I know him well enough, but not the way you are thinking. He and Mike are best friends, but he went away to college to be a doctor or something while Mike stayed to work on the PD. He comes into town here and there. God, I wish he would have been here sooner, maybe he could have kept Mike from leaving. I know he is in a bad place right now with what happened with Sandy and everything, but it still sucks.” Nodding was all he could say, not trusting himself to answer without coming out growly as she said it.
Pulling around the back of the bar, he saw Grey was already there and people started to fill in. Stepping out of the cab he walked around, helping Cece out before walking her inside and into the office.
Grey looked up and couldn’t help but wipe the drool from his mouth as his sexy as hell mate walked to him. A slow sexy smile played on her face as she held him steady with her eyes. Fuck me, she is wearing a dress and heels. He suddenly had the images of bending her over his office desk and fucking her until neither one of them could move. She must have read his mind because the little vixen shook her head before reaching him and stealing a quick kiss. Grey wasn’t having any of that. Granted he knew the bar was starting to fill up, but he wanted to stake a claim, especially with her looking like she did. Grasping her hair with one hand, he bent and claimed her lips, pushing his tongue in her mouth while his other hand lowered and pulled her closer to him. Her small whimper didn’t help his cock any. He heard a small laugh and released her lips happy to see she was still dazed and her lips slightly swollen from his kiss. Damn she is so beautiful.
“So, I see the sweet little librarian is taken by the big grizzly bear.” Grey turned at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. He saw Tiny instantly standing next to a man with hair pulled back into a pony and a small beard. Taking a deep breath, he couldn’t help but smile at knowing what the man was. He hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting a puma before, but now he did.
“Emerson,” Cece jumped and wrapped her arms around the man’s neck hugging him. He couldn’t help but growl and show his teeth to the man, who was smirking at him.
“Don’t worry any there, care bear, Cece and I are longtime friends. We went to school together.” He released his hold on her looking her over. “You sure have grown up, little bit. Damn, if you weren’t mated, I might have had a chance.” Grey knew the man didn’t have a death wish, but he still grabbed his mate, pulling her close to him.
“Greyson, it’s okay, really.” She leaned up and kissed him before whispering in his ear, “I’m yours, only yours and Sam’s.” Again his mate seemed to understand what he needed to hear to calm his bear.
She turned, then hugged Tiny and the small little witch before they all went to the bar where Sam was mixing some drinks. Tonight was going to be interesting.
*****
“Yeah, boss, she’s here again. Sure we can do that, just the way you want it. They won’t even know what happened until it is too late.” The man hung up the phone and Billy started his truck. Tonight he was going take her once and for all. He had his original plan laid out until the stupid ass went and got herself fired and fucked everything all up. The Master wasn’t happy with him, but he needed to make things right.
Looking next to him he made sure he had the right equipment to keep her silent until the Master came and took her. He didn’t know what the hell he wanted her for, but he learned the hard way not to question him. Taking a sharp left, he headed to the cabin making sure his lackeys were ready, because if those bears came for him, they better keep the fuckers distracted until he got her to the Master.
Chapter Seventeen
“So this home based business is doing pretty good then? I am just happy to stay out of a library for a while. Not that I mind watching out for ya or anything, honey, but seriously, it does something for my masculinity.” Tiny started to flex his arms trying to prove his point and all she could do was laugh. Having a few more drinks than normal, she was feeling pretty damn good, or maybe it was because of both men that she was finally coming out of her shell.
“Oh come on, man, you are all he-bear all the time. I’m sure it didn’t hurt to pick up a book or two and stretch your knowledge some,” Emerson stated.
“Well not all of us could be amazing doctors and know everything,” Cece countered, trying to lighten up the atmosphere, but instantly regretted it as Emerson’s face fell.
“Not that obvious apparently. I didn’t see Mike taking the pain of losing Sandy like he did. I knew he loved her and such, but she found her mate and he will too. It seems that is what people are doing now, but he needs to come home. His sister is due to have those babies soon, and she needs him to be here.” Emerson drank the rest of his beer signaling for another.
“Come on, doc, you couldn’t see this happening. No one could. But now that you’re in town, are you looking at staying for a while?” Cece was hoping that maybe if Emerson stayed he would be the new town doctor since Doctor Ray was getting up there and really didn’t know how to treat shifters and other supernatural people.
“The thought did occur to me, we will wait and see what happens.” She smiled at them and decided it was time to use the restroom. She stood and Lily seemed to have the same idea, or at least Sam didn’t want her leaving without someone going with her. As she passed the bar she winked at Sam before heading to freshen up.
“So, Lily, what do you think of the bar?” Cece knew Lily was a lot like her in keeping to herself. She wasn’t used to being out and about, but Tiny was trying to help, and maybe once Travis returned he could take Lily out too.
“It’s nicer than I thought a bar would be like. Then again, I've lived a pretty sheltered life until I met you three and now it seems like the whole world is a lot bigger than I thought.” Lily smiled and went to the mirror to apply more of her shiny lip gloss.
Both of them finished and started to head out of the restroom when the smell of smoke started to fill their noses.
“Is that smoke?” Cece was now concerned, was the bar on fire, did the kitchen burn something? Both she and Lily started to head out when the door swung open and men in weird masks came in grabbing both of them. She screamed, kicking and pulling against the masked man’s arm. The room started to fill more and more with a weird smoke and her vision started to blur. She screamed again, but before it could actually leave her mouth, a fist came up and connected with her face and the world spun into a sick and scary darkness.
*****
Sam waited at the bar watching the door making sure no one came or left the restroom while Cece was in there. Even though the threat to her was still high, he felt she was safest with them at home and here at the bar. Grey was in the back working on an orde
r that seemed to not have shown up by the distributor. Lisa was at the bar working the drink orders when the smell of smoke hit him. Quickly looking around he spotted the kitchen. He knew Grey could see it, but he also didn’t want to bar to get bad.
“Lisa, keep an eye on the bathroom, Cece is in there.” He took off to the back to see what the hell was going on. He didn’t see the stove on fire, but he also didn’t see Ben, the young wolf who he hired to cook the food, there either.
“Ben? Man where the hell are you?” walking around the kitchen as it started to fill with smoke. Why the hell didn’t the smoke alarms go off? Looking up he suddenly had a sick feeling, the small alarm he had installed was broken and hanging lifeless. Shit, Cece. Running to the door he didn’t have time to stop when something hit him over the back of the head knocking him out.
*****
Grey didn’t understand what the hell happened. The distributor said that it was sent, but his guy didn’t return yet and the shipment should have been there. Grey once again knew this was a set up. Billy had something to do with this business and wanted to fuck with them. Well he sure as hell didn’t need this shit. The business could fail, but losing Cece was not an option. The weird smell of smoke hit him, he turned to look at the computer with the cameras, and for the first time noticed they were all showing static. Fuck. His bear roared and came out of him, pushing him to find his mate and save her. He went to open the door but the damn thing was stuck. Smashing his shoulder into the wood, he heard it give way and splinter as it broke open. The hall was filled with a cloud of smoke and people were screaming and running outside. He dialed 911 on his cell and told them about the fire, but he needed to find Cece. He hoped Sam had her right now. As he made his way outside, he spotted Tiny and Emerson.
“You guys seen Cece or Sam?” Grey had a sick feeling that something was wrong.
“No, man, Sam was at the bar and the girls went to the bathroom.” Without another word, he ran inside the bathroom and used his bear sight to see past the smoke and look for her, calling out her name. She wasn’t there, but he looked to the left on the bathroom sink and saw her purse. Fuck me, they got her. Running out he ran to the kitchen, the only other room he hadn't checked yet and about tripped. Reaching down he found Sam. He was unconscious and blood trickled from a cut on the side of his head. Grabbing hold, he pulled Sam outside as Emerson and Tiny ran up to them.
“I can help him, where are the girls?” Emerson asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t pick up any scents with the smoke, but I can’t seem to find a fire anywhere. We need help, like now.” The last part came out as a growl because in his heart of hearts he knew that Billy had his mate, and the worst part was he knew what the man was capable of.
“We need help, and I know the right people who can do that.” Grey watched as Tiny pulled out his phone and made a call.
*****
Cece felt like hell. Her chest hurt, but she hated to admit that she had worse. The realization of why she hurt suddenly made her eyes fly open. Someone had grabbed her and Lily. Looking around as she still felt foggy, she spotted Lily tied to a pipe that was attached to a furnace not moving.
“Lily,” she croaked trying to whisper. But she didn’t move.
“She will be out for a while, I’m surprised you are even up, but it's fine, you will be out of my hair soon enough and until then, I even have someone to play with.”
Billy.
“Aw, I see you understand more information now huh. Stupid bitch should have stayed put and then your friend wouldn’t have been in the middle. I do have to say though it was fun trying to catch you, but it’s not like your smart enough to avoid me for long.” He sneered and for the first time Cece looked at him with something other than disgust. This man had pretended to be her brother and for what?
“Why? Why me?” She needed to know, and if she was going to die, she wanted the reason.
“Because the Master told me to. He said you were important, but I have no clue why. I served him and did my time. I will be rewarded in the end.” His smile was slow, causing her to shiver in fear, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t have answers.
“A Master? What the hell? Come on, you serve someone else, that’s hard to believe. You always were the one who called the shots and you tell me you’re just some puppet for someone else.” Trying to goad him in to untying her. She needed to make a plan to get her and Lily out.
“Don’t fucking talk to me, you bitch. I served him loyally and did everything he asked. How the hell do you think those fuckers died! They were your parents. He told me to do it and I did without question.” Cece was going to be sick. She knew he had something to do with her parents' death, but now it was real and she didn’t know how to take the news.
“Fuck you, you sick bastard.” She did her best not to cry. “When Sam and Grey get here, they are going to eat your ass and floss their teeth with your bones.”
“You mean those bears? Don’t worry, they won’t come for you. You’re just a simple little piece of pussy. Not even a good one if you ask me, but I wouldn’t touch you, Master commanded it.” Billy had started to run a finger down her face close enough for her to smell the heavy aroma of alcohol on his breath. When he closed in enough, Cece turned her head and bit his finger. The metallic taste of blood made her want to gag, but it made Billy cry out. Releasing him, she spit the blood in his face. As much as she wanted to hurt him, the move seemed to have angered him quickly and she prayed he would just kill her and leave Lily alone. The blows came swift and hard. But she didn’t cry out, she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. Over and over he punched and kicked her until her eyes swelled and her vision blurred.
“You’re lucky I can’t kill you, you damn bitch.” Billy’s breathing was heavy and labored. She had no feeling left in her, the pain stopped, and everything once again turned black.
*****
“Millie, you have to contact her for us. Becky won’t be able to locate her and we need help,” Tiny was pleading with the tiny fairy as she looked sick and had just finished puking.
“I will do my best, but I really don’t know how to contact her. You have to find her and quick. Cece has always been there for us. And Lily, she, damn,” and the woman puked again.
Grey growled, but it only earned him a glare from Axel who was hovering over his mate. He wasn’t mad at her, he just knew every minute was important to save Cece.
Sam had woken up and was now pacing around the small house. They both felt caged in and needed to run and eat something, preferable Billy. But he needed his mate back.
“What the fuck do we do? We can’t sit here with fingers up our asses and watch the world go by.”
Just as he was about to say something when a weird light like before floated in. This was Xandria, Millie’s mother.
“We don’t have much time. I cannot help you, but I have found her. A small cabin outside the forest. You must go and get her back before he comes. Should he get her, then I won’t be able to help.”
“Who the fuck is he?”
“He calls himself the Master, but he is very old and powerful. He has had this plan in place for a long time, and it seems he has started to rise again. You cannot defeat him, not yet. It will take all of the pack and the combined power of all to stop him. There is much left to do. Go now, he is coming for her.” Grey and Sam didn’t need to be told twice and it was Axel, Tiny, and Emerson who followed them. Gage stayed behind to help with Millie, while Dmitri and Nik stayed with their pregnant mate who looked panicked.
“This time I will kill him,” Sam growled, and it was a silent command to let everyone know Billy was his kill.
Chapter Eighteen
Grey saw the cabin and everything in his body was shaking with rage. The smell of blood and anger radiated everywhere. He couldn’t see Cece or Lily, but he could smell them. Sam had already shifted, taking his bear form, not able to hold back his anger anymore.
“We need a distractio
n to get in there,” stated Tiny. He knew they did, but for the life of him he couldn’t think straight.
“How many are there?” He had to know before he sent someone into a world of hurt.
“Looks like we have five wolves, three humans, and a hyena outside, but I have no clue who is inside.”
“Okay, Sam, guess you’re up.” Grey hated that Sam was going to go in charging, but he needed to draw them away from the cabin so he could go and get the girls.
Everyone nodded knowing what to do. Emerson stayed as Axel and Tiny took their places for the ambush. Holding his breath, he gave Sam the signal and then the chaos began. Sam roared running halfway, then standing on his two back paws, drawing attention to him. He grabbed one wolf, quickly snapping him in his jaws around his middle before flinging him into a large tree trunk. The others came at him, Sam took off to the tree line drawing them away from the house. The sounds of snarls, whimpering, and growling could be heard in the still of the night. Keeping low in the darkness he and Emerson made their way to the cabin. He could hear one voice inside yelling at someone and the sound of screaming followed. His steady resolve snapped and he busted through the door only to be halted in his track. Before him was a frazzled Billy holding a gun to what looked to be his mate. Blood, welts, and bruises covered her body and her eyes were swollen shut. The sight of her mangled body nearly broke him. He had to save her and never, never let anyone touch her again.
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