by Crissy Smith
The other members of the team were already spread out through town and within the woods. Kurt had also called Sheriff Webb, and the sheriff and his deputies would be keeping an eye out. If all went as planned then Kurt would be taken. Clint, who would duck out of the back of the coffee shop, would stay on his tail while Kurt tried to find out why they wanted the two shifters. He would also do his best to ferret any information out about Dan Carter.
Tony should be contacting Colt first thing. Colt would not step in unless Kurt’s life was in danger. It was still important to keep him undercover as long as possible.
Clint had run every way this mission could go over and over in his mind while they jogged.
When they reached the street where most of the stores were, they found the protesters were still out in full force. News vans and reporters were scattered around.
When the first of the crowd spotted them, the mob started to yell. Insults followed the two of them while they made their way through the packed streets. Cameras turned toward them as the crowd got louder, but Clint did his best to ignore everything around him.
No one touched them. So that was a relief. But the slurs used against them were full of hatred. Clint was actually shocked that these so-called religious people could be so terrible, and in front of the viewers of the news stations.
He’d never come across the disgusting behavior these people were showing before. He hoped the reporters were getting all of it. Kurt glanced over at him and Clint could see the same aversion on his friend’s face.
They slowed to a walk a few shops from the coffee shop. They ignored everyone around them as they stepped inside.
Clint was relieved to see Sara smiling behind the counter. Cecil was working the machine. The shop was only about half full and Clint recognized the town residents were back. He didn’t spot any strangers.
“Hey,” he greeted Sara when he reached her. “Business looks good.
Sara laughed. “It’s great. Everyone has come in this morning and said that they weren’t going to let these people chase them away. This is our home, and we support all our residents, fully human or not. Over a dozen people have given interviews to the reporters stating that the entire town supports the shifters. It should be interesting to watch later.”
Sara’s pride in her town and friends made his heart warm.
“Good. Hopefully they won’t have to deal with this for long.”
Cecil set two cups of coffee down and Sara pushed them toward him and Kurt. They settled at the closest table.
So far so good. The commotion they’d caused making their way to the shop had been enough that if the men from the day before hadn’t known where they were before, it was a good chance they did now.
Clint scanned the shop and noticed anytime his gaze landed on someone there they smiled at him. He nodded back to them. It was a little weird. The residents had always been kind and now it was like they were making a statement. Letting him know he was welcome and wanted there.
Sara finished serving an older couple, and she and Cecil joined him and Kurt at the table.
“Word has gotten around about you and Sara,” Cecil told him. “They are trying to show you both that they support your relationship.”
“Really?” he asked, surprised.
Cecil shrugged. “It’s weird, yeah, but they mean well.”
Kurt chuckled beside him, and Clint glared at his buddy. It was actually very cool.
Sara grinned at him and he winked. Yeah, he could sure get used to the town. Sara laughed softly.
The four of them made small talk while Clint and Kurt finished their drinks.
Kurt glanced at his watch and nodded. It was just about show time.
Sara must have picked up on something because she sent Cecil to go clean some tables and leaned close to Clint.
“Be careful,” she told him quietly.
He met her lips with his for a peck. “Always am. Don’t worry. I’ll be by your house tonight for dinner.”
She lifted an eyebrow.
He mirrored the movement.
She laughed and waved him off. “You two get out of here. I’ve got work to do.”
Kurt stood and stretched his arms. “I’m going back to the house,” he said loudly. “I’ll catch you later, man.”
Clint nodded and didn’t watch him leave.
Sara frowned and opened her mouth, but he shook his head quickly.
She nodded and picked up a towel. He waited until everyone’s attention was elsewhere before he slipped behind the counter.
He squeezed Sara’s hand as he passed.
The rear door opened silently as he pushed it open. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Sara in the hall.
“Lock this door behind me,” he ordered.
She nodded.
He stepped out and closed the door firmly. He started down the alley but froze when he heard a sound behind him.
He turned slowly and relaxed as he saw Deputy Gibson. He’d met the young man a few times and he was a nice kid.
“Hey, man,” Clint greeted. He knew the sheriff had his men watching out for them, but he didn’t know why the deputy would be in the alley.
“Clint,” Bobby Gibson said and then lifted his service weapon.
Clint took a step back right as his hearing picked up more sound behind him.
He managed to slip his phone out of his pocket. He held it to his side hoping to be able to press Kurt’s number.
He could shift, but the amount of time that it would take would leave him vulnerable. And he really didn’t want to get shot.
“Hey, Bobby,” he spoke to the deputy but tried to see who was coming up behind him by shifting his stance. “What’s this about?”
“Don’t move,” Gibson demanded. “They don’t want you dead.”
“Then what do they want?” he snapped.
If Gibson answered, he didn’t hear it. Something struck the back of his head and he was falling.
He hit the ground and rolled just as a boot came down on him.
* * * *
Sara grabbed the trash bags while still singing under her breath. It had been a good day at the shop and after two nights with Clint, she couldn’t remember being so happy.
His promise that he would be at her house again for dinner gave her something to look forward to. She needed to find out what his favorites foods were. She always enjoyed cooking, but making a meal for one sucked. Now she had Clint and Cecil she could cook for.
She’d convinced Cecil to once again stay with her. He’d tried to argue, but Sara was certain he was relieved she’d insisted.
Until the men that were threatening them were either gone or captured, she didn’t want to chance them going after her friend.
She pushed the back door open and headed straight to the dumpster. She threw the two bags inside and did a little dance. She laughed at herself. With everything going on she probably shouldn’t have been so happy, but she just couldn’t help it.
After being alone so long she was enjoying the time spent with Clint. Clint had been offered a job so hopefully he would be around a lot more.
He could be the man she settled down with.
She turned to head into the shop when something caught her eye.
Sara squinted and tried to make out what was on the ground but couldn’t get a good look.
Cautiously, she stepped closer.
A cell phone.
And dried blood.
Oh, no! No, no, no. The only person who had been in the alley lately was Clint.
Sara dropped to her knees and grabbed the phone. It couldn’t be Clint’s! She started to press buttons and looked at the outgoing calls and was horrified when she saw her own number.
“Oh, God!”
There were several missed calls and when she saw Kurt’s name she pushed the redial button.
“Hey, man, I was getting worried,” Kurt said when he answered.
“Kurt!” she cried into the phone.
<
br /> “Sara?”
“Kurt! Clint’s…” She didn’t even know what to say. She shook so hard that it was difficult to even hold onto the phone.
“Calm down, honey,” Kurt’s calm voice came over the line. “Where’s Clint?”
“I don’t know!” she sobbed. “I came out to throw the trash away and his phone was here. There’s…there’s blood on the ground!”
“Okay, Sara,” Kurt raised his voice. “Are you listening to me?”
“Ye…yes.”
“I want you to go into the shop. Lock every door and don’t open it for anyone other than me.”
“Okay.”
She looked to the back door. It seemed so far away.
“Now, Sara!”
She jumped and raced to safety. She slammed the door closed and threw the deadbolt. She still had the phone to her ear.
“Good. Now go lock the front door. Do not open it until I tell you,” Kurt commanded.
“All right.”
“I’m on my way, sit tight.”
Kurt hung up and Sara ran to the front. Cecil looked up when she stumbled into the counter.
“What? What is it?”
“Clint,” she managed.
“What happened?”
She shook her head. She didn’t know. Did she even want to know? He’d said he had it under control. That he would be fine. He’d even told her he would be there for dinner.
Anger started to replace her fear and she straightened her shoulders and wiped her face. Okay, she had freaked out.
She needed to get her shit together and help Kurt. She could do this. She’d just found Clint and there was no way that she was going to let him get taken from her.
She was known for her calmness in any situation. She would not fall apart.
“Lock the front door. Don’t open it for anyone but Kurt,” she told Cecil, thankful that her voice was stronger.
Cecil nodded and went to the door and threw the lock.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I was just…” She waved her hand. “I don’t know, but we don’t need anyone worried about us. They need to be looking for Clint.”
“Okay, what can I do?”
She hugged Cecil tightly. She could always count on him. “Not sure. Let’s see what Kurt says.”
They sat at one of the tables by the door and waited. It was hard to sit still, but Sara was determined to remain calm. She was still gripping Clint’s phone.
She jumped when it started to ring. “Hello?”
“Sara, it’s Kurt.”
“Any word?” Oh, please, let them have found Clint.
“I’m in the alley now checking it out. I’ve sent one of my men to the front door. You know Ryan Bishop?”
“Yes.”
“He should be out front. Go ahead and have Cecil let him in.”
“Cecil!” she called. “Can you let Ryan in the door?”
Her worker hurried to the front.
“Ryan’s going to take you and Cecil back to your house and stay with you until we know more,” Kurt was saying.
“No, we’ll be fine. You need everyone you’ve got to find Clint!” she protested.
“We know where Clint is,” Kurt informed her.
“What!”
Kurt sighed. “We’d set up a plan for this. They were supposed to grab me, not Clint, but we are still working it. This works because it gives us the chance to appear to notice Clint’s been taken and that we are looking for him.”
“Oh.” Sara wasn’t sure what to say about that.
“But since they did go for Clint instead of me, I want to tuck you and Cecil away.”
“I understand,” she assured Kurt. They didn’t want to have to worry about them while following whatever plan it was they had.
She glanced over at Cecil and almost dropped the phone when she saw Ryan run a finger down Cecil’s arm while talking with him. Well, that was very interesting indeed.
“Did you hear me, Sara?” Kurt asked over the phone.
“What?” She hated to ask him to repeat himself.
“Trust me. Clint will be just fine. I promise. This is what he does,” Kurt assured her.
“Okay, thanks, Kurt,” she said sincerely.
“You’re welcome, honey. Keep Clint’s phone and I will call you later with an update.”
“Okay, bye.” She hung up the phone and stood.
Cecil and Ryan looked over at her.
“Let’s go home then,” she told them.
Chapter Ten
Clint’s head was pounding and there was a horrible taste in his mouth. He listened carefully without moving a muscle in order to use his senses to search for any danger around him.
He remembered everything that had taken place.
The deputy in the alley, the sound behind him and, finally, seeing two men’s feet when he’d been falling.
He knew he had to hold back his anger. He didn’t want to alert anyone he was awake yet. But man was he pissed!
He should have suspected something like this. But in all honesty, he hadn’t given the humans much credit.
They hadn’t been acting very smart. Plus the wolves had an inside man. His guard had been down expecting them to go after Kurt. And he’d been distracted by Sara. It was really his own fault he was in this situation.
He hoped the others realized he was missing. Kurt would get worried if the other men made it back to the compound and Clint didn’t check in. Sara would be concerned if he didn’t make it to dinner.
But the unknown was what he had a problem with. He had no way of knowing if Kurt had also been taken and he hoped like hell that Sara was safe.
Not sensing anyone around him, he slowly blinked his eyes open.
The room he was inside was practically empty. He lay on an old beaten wood floor with his hands and ankles tied together.
He rolled to his knees, fighting nausea. Probably had a concussion from the hit to the back of his head, but he could work through that. He managed to make it to his knees to sit up and bit back a groan.
The windows were boarded up, but he could still see light shining through, so at least he hadn’t been down for long.
Footsteps caught his attention and he braced himself for what was coming.
The plan was still in effect, he told himself. Kurt would know something was wrong and they already knew the most likely place he had been taken, thanks to Colt.
He just had to get through until he was rescued. He also needed to find out where Dan Carter was hiding. That would be easier if it was Carter headed his way.
He waited for the door to open. Perry Costa and two other men entered.
“You’re awake,” Perry Costa said in greeting as the door closed behind him.
Clint remained silent.
“I apologize for the means we had to use to get you here, but you and your friend would not cooperate,” Perry said coolly and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
The two other men moved around the room to stand behind him.
“Well, if I’d known the accommodations were so nice, then I would have reserved a room,” Clint sniped.
Perry Costa shook his head.
A foot to his back had Clint grunting as he tried to catch himself. His hands broke his fall and saved him from face-planting.
Clint growled as he pushed himself back up. “Not to mention the staff here is soooo polite,” he drawled slowly, still trying to catch his breath.
This time the kick was to his side. He managed to avoid the worst of the blow expecting it but it still fucking hurt.
“We can do this all day,” Perry told him.
He opened his mouth to taunt him further but gasped instead when his hair was grabbed and his head was jerked back.
Perry crouched down in front of him. “Listen carefully.”
Clint just glared.
“I can turn you over to the Church. They’ll probably burn you at the stake or something. They really
believe that you are evil and wish to get rid of each and every one of your kind,” Perry informed him.
“And you don’t?” Clint asked through clenched teeth.
Perry shrugged. “There is a little evil in us all, don’t you think? I, however, have another reason for wanting you.”
Clint couldn’t wait to hear this.
Perry was quiet for several moments before he grinned. It was a nasty grin and Clint really wanted to deck him.
“It’s simple. You do something for me and I will avoid giving you, your partner, girlfriend, and every other shifter over to the church.”
“Kill you?” Clint replied with a smile of his own.
Perry laughed. “Nothing that dramatic.”
Clint lifted an eyebrow.
“It’s simple,” Perry said. “Turn me into one of your kind, and I will let you go.”
Clint gaped at the other man. “That…that’s what you want?” Clint asked, shocked.
It wasn’t even possible! Clint started to laugh, at first low and quiet, then louder and a little more hysterical.
“I’m pleased this amuses you,” Perry snapped.
“You want me to turn you into a shifter,” Clint repeated.
“Yes, one bite. That is all that I ask for your freedom. I even have the ability to talk to Carter and have him leave you and this town alone. He trusts me.”
“You want me to bite you, and you’ll leave and take all of your people with you?” Clint asked, just to buy himself time to decide what to do.
“Exactly,” Perry replied.
Clint shook his head. He knew that when the shifters went public one very important point had been made over and over. Shifters could not turn a human into one of them.
You had to be born a shifter.
“Don’t you know that’s impossible?” Clint questioned.
Perry snorted. “I know that’s the position the government is taking, but we both know the truth.”
Clint had to play this smart. Perry Cole wanted to be a shifter? Well, since Clint knew that wasn’t even a possibility, he could have a little fun with this while he waited for his rescue.
“Untie me,” he demanded.
Perry gave a triumphant cry while Clint was roughly lifted to his feet.
“Don’t try anything funny,” Perry ordered, pointing his finger at Clint.