Freedom in the Smokies

by Becca Jameson

  Enrique had lied to them. There was no denying that. The man hadn’t searched those caves. He’d been near there, but he hadn’t gone inside. Had the Durhams been played or was Enrique also a victim?

  Sergius led the way, but Micah didn’t fall one step behind him.

  “Stop.” Sergius skidded to a halt before exiting into the clearing of the trees to one side of the barn. “Shift.”

  Two words. That’s all he communicated before he made quick work of shifting.

  Micah stared at his brother as he came out of his own change. “What the fuck are we stopping for?”

  “Instinct.” Sergius inched toward the clearing and peered out at the barn and the house.

  “Instinct?” Micah hissed the word. “We need to get to the house, Serg. What are you waiting for?”

  Sergius nodded to his left and Micah followed his gaze. “That,” he whispered.

  Sure enough, Micah found himself staring at the back of his nemesis, Keeton McKinney. Just the sight of the bastard made his gut clench.

  “No sense getting in front of him. It doesn’t seem like he knows we’re here.” Sergius’s hushed voice reached no farther than Micah.

  Micah followed behind his brother, keeping a close eye on the vampire as they made their way a few yards to the spot where they’d dropped their clothes. They grabbed their jeans from the ground.

  “What the hell is he doing?” Micah tugged the denim over his ass as he watched McKinney approach the house, pushing a reluctant Enrique in front of him. The man wore only the jeans they had dropped right in the spot Micah and Sergius now stood. But what side was Enrique on? If he had never reached the caves, why had he communicated the eastern caves were clear?

  Suddenly McKinney turned to look over his shoulder. “What you waiting on, boys? Join us.”

  From this new angle, Micah could see McKinney held a gun to Enrique’s back. He had his hostage’s arms tied behind him. Thick tape covered Enrique’s mouth. Enrique’s eyes were wide, imploring, as he stared in Micah’s direction.

  Neither Sergius nor Micah moved a muscle. Micah hoped McKinney was testing them. Hoping they were out there and would reveal themselves at his command. “I’m guessing McKinney blocked Enrique from communicating with us. That explains one thing.”

  “Yeah, that makes sense,” Sergius whispered, “but why did he lie about the cave?”

  “Oh for heaven’s sake,” McKinney began. “What are you waiting on? I could smell you from a mile away. I could even scent your fear. Come on out in the open and we’ll discuss this like gentleman.” He chuckled, his gun poking Enrique in the back until the man had to arch.

  “I’ve enjoyed your little friend here. I must admit, it took me by surprise when he showed up to rescue those whining women. I was damn tired of listening to them whimper. He has a soft spot for women though. It was way too easy to get him to tell you whatever I wanted and buy me some time.”

  Micah set a firm hand on his brother’s back. “That answers that question.” Micah sucked in a breath of relief. He’d had no desire whatsoever to have to tell his mate her childhood friend was a fraud.

  A noise made Micah glance at the back of the house as the screen door shut. Jaxon stood on the porch. He gave a subtle nod in Micah’s direction and then looked at McKinney. “What do you want, McKinney?”

  The vampire turned back in the direction of the house. “What? Didn’t you get my note?” He stepped closer, dragging Enrique along. “I thought I told you to get the fuck off my land.”

  Jaxon glanced around. “This property belongs to us. We bought it. We own it. It’s you who is trespassing, bloodsucker.”

  “Oh, you want to argue semantics? I was here first. This entire mountain was very peaceful until you three showed up.”

  “Do you really think we’re going to pack up and walk away because you demand it?” Jaxon widened his stance, facing down the vampire from several feet above him.

  “I do. Unless you want dead women all over this mountain range. So, you found the Wilks ladies. Women in this forest are a dime a dozen. I can and will take whatever I want off this mountain anytime I want it. God knows where you picked up another wolf, but I hope you weren’t very attached to him because he’s a dead man.”

  Micah stared in horror as McKinney forced Enrique to his knees.

  The screen door slammed again and Micah whipped his head in time to see Kaitlyn leap off the porch and run toward McKinney and Enrique. Only the strong grasp on his arm from behind kept Micah from running forward out of the trees.

  “Leave him out of this, McKinney,” she shouted as she approached. “He doesn’t even live here. He’s no threat to your land.”

  “Get back, Kaitlyn. I swear to God, you’re gonna give me a heart attack.” Micah yanked on Sergius, but his brother had a firm grasp on his biceps. “Babe, the man is waving a gun. Please.”

  Kaitlyn ignored him. She circled McKinney in a wide arch.

  McKinney cackled. “Isn’t this rich? Micah, are you going to let this sweet piece of ass do your dirty work? I’ll tell you one thing, the woman has more balls than you do.”

  Micah held his breath as he watched his mate spiral closer to his enemy. He yanked himself free of his brother’s clutches and stepped forward into the clearing.

  “Stay calm. Don’t do anything rash,” Sergius communicated. He stayed right at Micah’s side as they gingerly approached.

  “Let’s discuss this, McKinney, come up with an agreement that makes everyone happy. No one else needs to die.” Kaitlyn surprised Micah. He had no idea she was such a negotiator.

  “Kaitlyn, I’m not kidding. If you don’t get your ass back inside ASAP…”

  “Trust me, Micah.” She didn’t even glance his direction as she cut him off.

  “Babe…” Maybe if he softened his approach a bit. The woman was infuriating. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His hands shook at his side, and his gut clenched with fear.

  McKinney jerked Enrique to his feet and backed toward the barn. “I believe I’ll spend a little time getting to know your new friend here. How about if you assholes start packing your shit in the meantime? If you get the fuck off this mountain by morning, maybe I’ll consider releasing your friend and we can call a truce. If not, I’ll shoot the bastard, snack on him a bit and then go grab another pair of women. That’s two women a day I’m going to suck dry for every day you’re still pussyfooting around here. Your Latin man will make a nice snack to tide me over. Got it?”

  Enrique stumbled and fell forward. Micah wasn’t sure if it was on purpose or not, but he managed to wiggle free and fell on his face, his arms jerking painfully out of McKinney’s grasp.

  In horror, Micah watched Kaitlyn lurch toward Enrique and reach out to help him up. She never made it.

  McKinney grabbed her by the hair before her hand could reach Enrique and the vampire tugged so hard she fell back into his chest. In less than a second he had the gun trained on her temple. “Isn’t this convenient?”

  Micah bolted into the clearing, but came up short when McKinney tucked his arm under Kaitlyn’s neck and squeezed. “Not another step, Durham, or the bitch dies.” For emphasis, he cocked the gun.

  The noise froze Micah in his steps. Fuck.

  McKinney continued backing up. When he hit the door to the barn, he kicked it open with one foot. “How about you join us, little wolf?” His gaze was trained on Enrique. “I mean after all the trouble this sweet thing endured to save your hide, the least you can do is commiserate with her.”

  Enrique stumbled to his feet. With his hands tied behind his back, his balance was off. Micah cringed and fisted his hands as he watched Enrique follow Kaitlyn and McKinney into the barn.

  Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

  “Goddammit.” Sergius surged past Micah and leaped onto the porch.

  “Shit.” Jaxon moaned and punched his hand into the wooden rocker to his left.

  Micah joined them, running his hands through his hair. “Fuck.” He sta
red at the barn, a barrage of emotions raging through him. His mate was in there. With a crazed vampire.

  Everyone else, who must have been watching from just inside the house, burst out onto the porch. Micah glanced back at them and then returned to stare at the barn. A ringing noise filled his ears as he fumed. “Where’s James?” he muttered under his breath.

  Juliana took his arm and stepped into his line of sight. “In the barn,” she whispered with a small grin.

  Micah’s shoulders relaxed marginally. At least there was that. Hopefully the sheriff was well hidden and could wait for the perfect moment to put an end to this madness.

  “Kait?” Micah figured it couldn’t hurt to attempt a communication.

  “I’m here, Mic. I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop myself. I just wanted to get to Enrique.” Micah could hear her stress through their connection.

  “McKinney’s not blocking you,” Micah noted.

  “He’s preoccupied. Or maybe he doesn’t care.”

  “What’s he doing now?” Micah stepped to the edge of the porch. What he wanted to do was storm the barn. But he wouldn’t risk it as long as Kaitlyn was all right. And it didn’t hurt knowing James was in there somewhere…watching…waiting.

  “Pacing…and waving that damn gun around. He’s agitated.”

  “Good. He’s not on his game completely when he’s worked up like that. He makes mistakes.” Micah gripped the railing with both hands as someone squeezed his elbow. He couldn’t stand the idea of giving up his connection with Kaitlyn.

  “As long as his mistake doesn’t include killing one of us,” she muttered into his head.

  “Kait. James is in there somewhere. Try not to look obvious, but maybe you can figure out where he is. That might come in handy.” Micah tore his attention from Kaitlyn at the insistent tugging on his arm.

  Sergius stared at him intently. “He isn’t blocking your communication with Kaitlyn?”

  “No, she says he’s pacing distractedly.”

  “Good. That helps. We need to wear him down. Mentally. He fucks up when he’s strained.” Sergius narrowed his gaze and pulled on Micah. “Let’s go inside. Plan.”

  Micah shook his head. “Are you kidding? I’m not leaving this spot.”

  “I figured you’d say that. Okay, George is going to stay here with you and keep watch. The rest of us are going to try to come up with a plan.” Sergius backed away.

  Micah worried about darkness closing in later and making his task harder.

  Kaitlyn sat huddled in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest. She didn’t want to move and draw attention to herself any more than necessary. She had no idea where James was, but the idea that he was in the barn somewhere soothed her.

  Enrique sat just in front of her, protecting her from McKinney with his body. “I’m sorry,” he whispered without turning toward her. “I hate that you got caught up in this.” She’d managed to rip the tape off his mouth, but McKinney had gone berserk when she’d reached for the ropes binding his arms.

  “Not your fault.” I’m the idiot that ran out of the house and into the arms of the enemy.

  “Micah is going to have your hide.” She could hear the slight mirth in his tone.

  “Yeah, he is.” She almost grinned thinking about it. If we get out of this mess.

  “If you were mine, I’d spank your ass.”

  Kaitlyn flinched at the visual. Not of Enrique, but of Micah.

  “Shut up, both of you. Shut the fuck up,” McKinney shouted. “Don’t think I give a fuck about either of your puny lives. If you piss me off, I will shoot. Got it?”

  Neither of them moved a muscle. The man was crazy. She had no doubt he meant it. Hell, he’d killed two women yesterday and left their bodies on a hiking trail. He didn’t have any empathy toward human life…or wolf life either. She knew in the marrow of her bones that he would keep killing until the Durhams left the property. A chill shook her frame and she gripped her knees so tight her arms began to ache.

  “What’s happening, babe?”

  “Nothing. He’s still pacing and we’re still waiting. Just lying low, trying to avoid pissing him off,” she told Micah.

  Time ticked by. Where the hell was James? Kaitlyn tried to glance around, but she didn’t want to move more than her eyes. If McKinney figured out they weren’t alone, who knew what would happen?

  McKinney wheeled on her. “I don’t see any activity in the house. Does your mate think I’m bluffing?” His voice was gruff.

  Kaitlyn shook. She couldn’t keep her teeth from chattering as though she were cold. “At least get a moving truck in the driveway, Mic. Before he shoots us.”

  McKinney stared at her and stepped closer. He must know I’m talking to Micah.

  “Already done. It’s almost here. Are you okay?”

  “Sure, if you like having a rapid heartbeat for hours on end while waiting for a madman to decide your fate.” She stared straight ahead and kept a close watch on McKinney pacing only feet in front of her.

  No wonder James didn’t come out of hiding. Even if he did, there was no clear shot. He’d be putting both her and Enrique at risk shooting in this direction. She needed to do something to shake things up a bit.

  The horses. They were getting restless waiting for their evening meal. She could tell McKinney she needed to feed them, but she doubted he’d allow it, and if she were honest, she didn’t want to risk one of them getting shot.

  Another half hour went by. The crunch of gravel filled the silence.

  “Finally. I was beginning to think none of those wolves had any sense. Tell your loverboy they better get a move on. They have about eight hours to get the hell out of here before I suck your little neck bone dry while your Mexican buddy watches.” McKinney’s gaze strayed to Enrique. “You look mighty tasty yourself, pretty boy. I might just snack on you first.” He cackled again, making Kaitlyn’s skin crawl.

  So he was leaving her communication open on purpose. He actually needed her. Sort of like an open line between him and the outside world.

  Kaitlyn didn’t say a word to Micah. She didn’t need to. Whatever was brewing outside the barn, nothing she said would change it.

  Noises filled the air as darkness descended. Whatever the men were doing out there, they were making enough racket to at least give the illusion they were packing and loading.

  Micah stood stock-still on the porch. He never let his gaze wander from the barn for fear McKinney would somehow sneak his hostages out and leave the premises. It was growing dark. It would be very dim inside the barn if no one turned a light on. He wished he had some idea what the hell James was doing. Fuck. It had been hours. A total standoff.

  Sergius and Jaxon were rattling shit around in and out of the truck that pulled up a while ago. He knew they weren’t really loading anything up. The deception was all that mattered.

  Suddenly a shot rang out—and then another. Micah jumped from the porch and ran toward the barn without pausing. Serg and Jax were right behind him. All bets were off. Screams rang through the dusk. Whose?

  Fear clawed at his insides. If anything happened to Kaitlyn…

  A third shot rang through the night just as he reached the barn door and whipped it open.

  McKinney fell to the ground right in front of Micah. He was down, but for how long? Micah spun in a circle looking for Kaitlyn. When he spotted her, a rush of relief swept through him, threatening to suck the air out of his lungs.

  She scrambled toward him on her hands and knees from a crouched position just inside the door.

  Movement to his right made him jump in that direction. McKinney attempted to stand up. Blood flowed from his arm.

  The sheriff emerged from the shadows, his pistol still raised as he stepped toward the vampire from the other side. “Don’t move, McKinney. Don’t even fucking think about it,” James shouted.

  McKinney paid no attention. He raised his gun with his left hand, but it was too late. James shot him in the back, causing him t
o fall forward onto the dirt once more. “Not today, asshole.” Sergius stepped around Micah and yanked McKinney to his feet. Blood poured from his chest.

  The vampire’s eyes bored into Micah. The game was over for McKinney.

  Micah turned toward Kaitlyn and reached her in two steps. He knelt on the ground and wrapped himself around her frame where she sat working the knot off Enrique’s wrists.

  Micah reached around and withdrew her trembling hands to finish the task. He threw the rope to Sergius who used it to tie McKinney with his own restraint. The vampire mumbled under his breath.

  He didn’t trust McKinney even now.

  “It didn’t have to be like this,” Sergius muttered as he tightened the rope around McKinney’s hands. His arm and chest dripped with blood, but the vampire’s only reaction was to cringe with the slightest hint of pain. His breaths sounded ragged. A normal human would have died instantly from such wounds, but not a vampire. Micah knew there was little doubt McKinney could overcome the wounds…given time.

  “What’s with you fucking wolves?” McKinney hissed. Spittle sprayed the ground as the vampire looked Micah in the eye. “All I wanted was for you to get the hell off my mountains and go back where you came from.”

  Sergius gripped McKinney and yanked him back several inches.

  McKinney cackled. The man was crazy. Sometime in the last few centuries he’d lost his ability to reason, or perhaps he’d never really been the brightest.

  Sergius grabbed him by the jaw. He stared him in the eye, but spoke to the others. “He used a lot of energy getting his ducks in a row today. He’s tapped out. Look at his eyes. They’re bloodshot.”

  He shook the vampire’s face and brought it back to center before he addressed McKinney directly. “You acted too soon, bloodsucker. You were too hasty. You needed more time to hone your skills before you tried to take on this many wolves at once. You were greedy and angry. That anger ruined you. Now your time is up.”

  McKinney spat on the ground. “Fuck you,” he snarled.