by Jane Jamison
Had she been wrong about them? Had they gotten all they wanted from her and now they were doing the old never-call, never-show-up, dumping-her routine? She bit her nail and tried to stay positive.
They weren’t the kind of guys who’d stand a girl up. Or were they?
Had she trusted too fast? She’d made that mistake with Robert, but she’d been young and naïve then. She’d matured and had learned how to keep her emotions in check and her heart safe. She’d learned to be a better judge of character. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder. Had the Hardwick men broken her trust? Had she let her guard down too soon?
* * * *
Drake skidded around the corner along with Harrin. As soon as he saw Dugan’s body lying on the hallway floor, he started to shift. A trail of blood slipped down the side of his brother’s face.
Harrin grabbed his arm and dug in his fingers. “Fight the urge, man.”
“Why?”
“Because you fight and he dies.” The man stepped out of the shadows inside the doorway leading to the root cellar. He pointed a gun at Dugan’s head.
Drake’s wolf clawed at his insides, demanding to be set free. It wanted to sink its fangs into the lowlife that had hit Dugan over the head. Depending on how hard he’d hit Dugan, if he’d cracked his brother’s skull, Dugan could be knocked out—or dying.
Harrin’s snarl was in his tone. “You must be Robert Scanton.”
“The one and only. So you’re the smart one of the bunch, huh?” He waved his gun around, but as soon as Drake took a step closer, he leveled it at Dugan’s head again.
“What do you want?” Drake knew the answer, but he had other questions he needed answered. “Where’s Raven? If you’ve so much as laid a finger on her, I swear I’ll tear your hands off your arms and roast them over a fire.”
“Damn, man. Why so violent?” Robert smirked. “Raven’s safe. I wouldn’t want my woman to get hurt.”
His woman? Drake’s stomach fought to keep from spilling its contents. “What are you doing here?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” He motioned toward Dugan. “Take this one into the cellar. Slow and easy-like, you hear?”
“What for?” A growl slipped from between his lips.
“Easy, Drake.”
Robert frowned. “Did you just fucking growl? What do you think you are? A dog?”
“You don’t want to find out what I am.” But he was more than ready to show him. He could sense the amber, the first sign of an impending shift, coming into his eyes. The world colored with spots of the yellow.
“Move. I’m not sticking around here all day.” Robert’s sneer grew. “I’ve got plans with my girl tonight.”
Again, only Harrin’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. “Easy. Not now.”
“Don’t think about trying anything or your brother gets a bullet to the head.” Robert snickered. “Unless he’s already kicked the bucket. Beats the hell out of me how he’s still breathing. I fucking hit him hard enough to crack his head open.” He stepped aside, his gun still aimed at Dugan. “Now go.”
It took every ounce of restraint in Drake not to leap at the man, but Harrin was right. If he did, he’d end up getting Dugan or himself shot. It wasn’t the right time to make a move, but when it was, he’d take him out fast.
He took one of Dugan’s arms while Harrin took the other. Either one of them could’ve lifted him over their shoulder easily by using their shifter strength, but they didn’t want Robert to know their strength. Instead, they gently carried him down the steps leading into the dark cellar below. Robert switched on the overhead light and followed them down into the dimly lit interior.
Once they’d reached the cement floor, they laid their brother onto his back. Drake inched away, trying to stay as close to Dugan as he could.
Robert must’ve already scoped the place out. He found the rope they had in a box without searching. How long had he been planning his move? Why hadn’t they picked up his scent? They must’ve been too involved, their minds zeroed in on Raven, to be aware of the danger.
Robert tossed the rope to Harrin and jerked the gun at Drake. “Tie him up. Better make it good and tight. If it’s not, I won’t give you another chance to make it good.”
“Go to hell.” Drake’s voice was low and filled with hatred.
“No thanks. But if I do, I’ll make sure you lead the way.” The gleam in Robert’s eyes said it all. He had no intention of letting them live. “Tie him to one of the chairs.”
Again, the wolf inside Drake roared to the surface. Even if he got shot trying, at least he’d give Harrin time to attack.
“Sit, Drake.” Harrin had guessed what he’d been thinking.
Drake paused, unwilling to give in so fast. Yet, Harrin was insistent, the amber in his eyes flaming to life. Hating it, Drake sat in the first chair and waited as his brother wrapped the heavy rope around his arms and then tied his hands behind him.
Robert watched, warning Harrin again to make sure it was tight. “Good. Now it’s his turn.” He toed Dugan in the ribs. Their younger brother moaned.
Drake’s hope that Dugan was conscious and playing possum was alive one second and gone the next. Robert’s blow might’ve killed a human, but as a werewolf Dugan was able take the blow and keep breathing. Still, his heart sank as Harrin lifted his brother into a chair and propped him up. Harrin’s gaze met his, his anger radiating into him. If Harrin didn’t make a move soon, they’d all die. He couldn’t believe Harrin hadn’t tried anything yet.
Unless…
With Robert’s attention fixed on Dugan and Harrin, Drake tested the restraints. The rope was tied tight enough that no one would be able to get free. No human, anyway. He tucked his head, hiding his slight smile.
Dugan was soon tied and bound to the chair. His head lolled to the side, but his breathing was strong and regular. If only he’d come to…
“Okay, man, it’s your turn. Sit down and put your arms behind you. Try anything funny and your brother bites it.”
I’d like to bite you. Hard enough to sever your head from your body.
But Drake stayed silent. Instead, he kept his gaze averted, hiding the amber in his eyes, and worked on keeping his animal subdued. Subdued, yet ready.
Robert soon had Harrin tied up. “Damn, this is fucking sad. Raven sure chose a bunch of pussies. Not even one of you gave me any kind of a fight. Fucking pitiful. But never mind. She won’t have to worry about you losers much longer.”
“Leave her alone. You’ve already done enough to screw up her life.”
Drake doubted Robert could hear the edge to Harrin’s tone, the edge showing that he, too, was having a tough time holding down his wolf. He checked Dugan and saw his eyelids flutter. Hopefully, Dugan wouldn’t instinctively shift once he came to and saw what was going down.
“What are you going to do? Leave us here to rot?” Drake had finally taken complete control of his wolf. As soon as Dugan was awake, he could risk breaking the rope and going after the man. Until then, he’d play along.
“Raven and I are going to get out of this shithole of a town. But don’t you worry none. It’ll all be over soon enough for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Why hadn’t he shot them if he wanted them dead?
Robert dug into a nearby duffel bag. What he pulled out stunned Drake.
“Explosives?” Harrin jerked against the ropes holding him to the chair.
“I figure I’m doing the world a favor by getting rid of you three.” Robert knelt down, putting the gun on the floor next to his feet. He started laying out blocks of the explosives.
Drake checked with Harrin and Dugan. If only their brother would wake up. If they jumped Robert now, they could still risk Dugan getting hurt. He silently urged his youngest brother to come to.
“I should thank you guys. I’ve always wanted to blow up a house, especially with someone inside it.” He held up a remote control. “One little push of the button and boom! You’re m
incemeat.”
“You’re fucking insane.” Drake sneered. “You won’t get away with it.”
“And who’s going to stop me? You?” Robert finished setting up the explosives. “I don’t think so. Good-bye, assholes. I’ll be sure to fuck Raven good and hard. That’ll take her mind off you for good.”
Robert picked up the gun and pointed it at Dugan as he stepped backward toward the stairs. “Sweet dreams, boys.” He whirled around and bounded up the steps, slamming the cellar door closed as he made his escape.
* * * *
Dugan came to just in time to see the man who’d jumped out of nowhere and hit him on the head running up the stairs. He blinked, trying to get the blurriness out of his vision. His arms were pulled back and he found it difficult to move.
“Shift, Dugan. Now.”
He didn’t question Harrin’s order. His brother’s angry tone was enough. He shifted, the power of his inner wolf surging through him. Fur skimmed along his body and teeth morphed into fangs. His claws replaced his fingernails and he flexed his hands. Clothing shredded away from his body as his form twisted and contorted, growing larger. He pushed against the rope circling his chest and wrists, breaking the bonds apart.
Fully transformed, Drake leapt out of his chair, tearing apart the rope and breaking the chair into pieces. Harrin, also in his wolf’s body, shoved against Dugan, urging him to move. Their growls echoed around the cellar as they bounded toward the window on the far side of the cellar.
He sensed his brothers’ warning. They didn’t have time to take the stairs. Something bad was about to happen and they needed to get out of the house the quickest way possible.
Drake threw his body into the air, crashing against the window pane. The glass shattered as he landed on the ground at level height to the bottom of the window. Harrin spun around once and, again, pushed at Dugan to move faster. He leapt into the air, his body stretching as his paws bit into broken glass on the windowsill. Using his strong leg muscles, he pulled his way out of the house and raced after Drake. He heard Harrin’s panted breath as his brother jumped through the window and stayed on his heels.
Drake had already shifted back by the time Dugan and Harrin caught up with him. Dugan shifted back to his human body along with Harrin. Both Drake and Harrin turned, searching for their attacker.
“Where the hell did he go?” Drake’s eyes were still filled with amber as the last of his shift shuddered out of him.
“Beats the hell out of—”
A huge blast of air hit Dugan, knocking him off his feet. Pieces of wood, metal, and glass flew past him.
Fuck.
For a moment, the ringing in his ears deafened him. The world spun as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Debris floated in the air and slowly settled around them. He squinted, hoping he wasn’t seeing things correctly.
Their home was destroyed, the roof blown off and fire flaming into the sky. Embers drifted on the breeze as the heat from the blaze swept over them. “Shit. The fucker blew our home up.”
Drake was the first one to get back on his feet, even if he was a little shaky in doing so. “Forget that. He’s going after Raven.” He stormed toward his pickup.
“Drake.” Harrin snatched up a shredded piece of his jeans and dug into the pocket. He tossed his keys to Drake. “Your keys went up with the house. Drive my truck.”
Dugan was thankful to have Harrin help him to his feet. Getting knocked for a loop twice was hard enough, even for a werewolf. He stumbled toward the truck, his legs rubbery. Soon enough, however, he found his footing and launched himself into the back seat. He started pulling out the extra clothing they kept there for emergencies. Yet they’d never expected to have an emergency like this one. “Anyone got a phone?”
“To call and warn her?” Drake backed the truck out of the yard and pointed it down the road all while yanking a shirt on. “Not me. Mine went up in flames along with everything else.”
“Same here.” Harrin pulled a T-shirt over his head then held onto the steering wheel as Drake tugged on his jeans. “You?”
“No. Maybe we should stop along the way and use someone else’s phone.” Two ranches were between theirs and Raven’s rental home.
“I don’t think so. The Mitchells are out tonight. As for the Rayburns? Your guess is as good as mine.” Drake gripped the steering wheel, his body leaning forward as though he could will the truck to go faster.
“We can make it to her place in the time it’ll take to stop and call. Besides, we don’t know if she’ll answer. If she’s even physically able to answer. Just step on the gas, Drake.”
He hoped Harrin was right. If not, Dugan didn’t want to think of what would happen if they got to her too late. Losing their home was bad. Losing Raven would be hell on earth. “Go, Drake. Floor this thing.”
* * * *
Raven was up and off the couch a moment after the knock came. She shouldn’t be excited, not after waiting so damn long. In fact, she shouldn’t open the door and, instead, tell them to go home, that dinner was ruined a long time ago.
She should have done exactly that, but she didn’t. Instead, she twisted the doorknob and flung the door open, ready to throw herself at whichever man was the closest.
“It’s about time you got here.”
“I came as soon as I finished my chores, honey.”
Her elation fell, panic setting in. The look in Robert’s eyes was enough to tell her what would happen next.
Spinning around, she ran, but she didn’t get far. She let out a scream as his arm wrapped around her waist. Struggling, she did her best to fight against him, but he was too strong.
“Don’t fight, honey. You knew we’d end up together.”
She cried out again, but this time the sound was muted by his hand covering her mouth. Fear split her apart, taking away her ability to think. Instead, primal instinct took over. She kicked and tried to hit him, to hurt him, but her blows did nothing.
Terror swamped her again as he carried her toward the front door. Her heart thundered, her pulse raced as she screamed against his palm.
No. I can’t, I won’t let him take me.
If he took her away, she knew she wouldn’t survive. Even if he didn’t kill her, he’d kill her will to live.
The night air wafted over them as he forced her toward an older car. She let her body go into a dead fall, her feet dragging along the ground, but still he wouldn’t let go. No one was around. Only the darkness of the woods saw them.
“Stop it, bitch. You’re just making it harder on both of us.”
Her screams burned her throat. He shoved her against the trunk of the car. She tried to get away, tried to run, but he grabbed her by the hair and yanked her backward. As another cry moaned out of her, she saw his hand coming toward her.
Pain blasted across her jaw and the world spun. His blow took her last bit of strength and she fell against the car. Fighting to stay conscious, she slipped toward the ground.
Robert threw the trunk open, then bent over her, anger glaring in his eyes. “I know what you did with those guys, bitch. I fucking heard you moan. I was outside the jail while you were fucking them.”
She whimpered as he reached under her arms and hoisted her onto her feet. “No. Don’t,” she whispered.
He scooped her into his arms and laid her inside the trunk. “That’s good, honey. Go ahead and beg. I like it when you beg.” He sneered, then clamped a hand over her breast. “You’re going to beg to lick my cock. You’re going to beg me to fuck you. Yeah, that’s it, honey. You’re going to be my personal sex slave.”
“No, Robert.” She stuck out her arms as he started to close the trunk. “Don’t do this. Please, just leave. I swear I won’t tell anyone.”
For a wild moment, she thought he was reaching for her and would pull her out of the trunk. Instead, he grabbed a piece of rope on the far side of the trunk, then bound her wrists together in front of her.
“Robert, stop.” She kicked out
, almost catching him in the crotch.
He was faster, jerking her hands together and wrapping the rope around her wrists. Once her hands were tied, he found a dirty cloth and shoved it into her mouth. She cried out, but the sound was muffled as he pulled the cloth tightly around her head, gagging her.
“Be a good girl or I’ll shut you up the hard way.”
Tears sprang to her eyes as anger and frustration swamped her. She wouldn’t let him take her. He’d already done enough harm to her. With a muffled roar, she grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him toward her.
“Fuck! Let go!” He slammed his hands into her breasts, pain searing into her.
The sound of honking split the air. At first, she wasn’t sure she’d really heard it until Robert yanked out of her grip and spun around. He lifted his hands, blocking the glare of headlights.
“Shit. How’d they—” He didn’t finish. Instead, he slammed the trunk closed.
She screamed, writhing around in the darkness. The engine came to life and the shudder of the motor vibrated into her. The crunch of the car’s wheels on the gravel road came and a hard turn threw her around.
Where is he taking me?
She could only pray that whoever was in the other car had noticed her inside the trunk.
The car picked up speed, bumps pounding into her as she tried to find anything to hold on to. Splinters of moonlight filtered in from the cracks, but the light was blurred with the dust cloud billowing behind the car.
Another honk came, then another. One long honk blasted the air.
She worked the gag out of her mouth and shouted, knowing that whoever was in the other car couldn’t hear her, but having to try. Was it the Hardwick men? Had they finally shown up? Or had someone else seen Robert putting her into the trunk?
The small hope the honking gave her was enough to blossom. She kicked and beat her hands against the interior, drawing blood as her skin met metal. An abrupt zigzagging of the car had her yelping with surprise, but she wouldn’t give up. The motor revved as the car picked up speed.