He went down the steps, got in his car, and drove off.
As she was about to shut the door, Vicki pulled to the curb.
Becca waved at her friend as she got out.
“Waiting for me?” Vicki called.
“No. Just perfect timing.” Becca laughed.
Vicki came up the steps. “Wow. You look great. Glowing.” Her eyes narrowed, then they flew open and she shook her head. “You’ve been busy.”
“Busy?” Becca tried to act innocent as she led the way into the living room and fell onto the sofa.
“Yeah. Getting busy. As in great sex.” Vicki sat down and tossed a pillow at her. “Jake was here, wasn’t he?”
“Yes.” Becca grinned.
“And you got laid.”
Becca rolled her eyes. “Not exactly.” She petted the arm of the sofa as she fought off a smile of satisfaction.
Vicki tilted her head. “Oh. My. God.” She jumped off the couch. “Here? On the couch? Ewww!”
“Relax. We didn’t…well, just a little…” Becca stumbled.
“Say no more. TMI.” Vicki laughed. “I guess I can sit there without any images popping into my mind.”
“Good. My lips are sealed.” Becca laughed.
“You are one lucky girl.” Vicki shook her head. “Jake’s a great guy.”
“He is.” Becca nodded. “What about Barker? He’s pretty cool.”
“Barker?” Vicki looked down at her lap. “Forget it, Becca. He’s just a player. Love ‘em and leave ‘em. And I’m so not going there.”
“But he likes you, I can tell.”
“I have the feeling Barker likes anything with a vagina.” Vicki rolled her eyes.
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. I think he likes you.” She tapped Vicki on the shoulder with her finger. “Just Vicki.”
“Forget it. I’m not going to do it. I’ve given up on men, I told you that and I meant it. Can we talk about something else?” Vicki’s eyes pleaded.
“Sure. I’m going to church with Jake tomorrow and lunch at his house.”
“Great.”
“Why don’t you join us?”
“Uh no. Barker will be there, right?”
“I guess.” Becca shrugged.
“Forget it.” Vicki shook her head and stood up. “Where’s the little man? I want to see my boy.”
“Sleeping. But he should be up soon. I’ll get him.”
“I’ll come with you. I love to see babies sleeping.”
Together they went down the hall to Ben’s room. Becca opened the door and went to the crib. Her darling baby lay on his tummy, his little fist tucked under his chin, looking like an angel. Love filled her heart as she gazed down on him.
She had it all. A beautiful baby. A wonderful man who loved her. A future mother-in-law she actually liked and a business of her own.
It didn’t get any better than this.
Chapter 15
The wolf trotted to his spot under Becca’s house, lay down in the cool dirt, and kept watch. Now that he knew for sure that his brother was still in the area, he wasn’t ready to give him or anyone else a chance to get to Rebecca and Ben.
But he still couldn’t believe Trey would do this. He might talk a good game, all bluster and bragging, but murder a woman and a baby? No way.
Right?
Trey’s words haunted him. “Get rid of her,” he’d said, as if he’d ordered someone’s death before, and as if Jake would do it.
The wolf growled, teeth bared.
No matter who was trying to hurt Rebecca, no one was going to slip past him. He’d do whatever it took to keep her and the baby safe, even if it meant giving up his own life.
The house was quiet and dark. Rebecca had gone to bed hours ago.
Morning would come soon enough. At dawn, the wolf would leave his post and Jake would try to catch a few hours of sleep before the day started.
He’d be seeing Rebecca at church.
Alert, vigilant, the wolf rested his head on his paws.
* * * *
Parked around the corner in his truck, Allen waited, his finger tapping against the steering wheel. It was the perfect place to watch the house. This morning he’d make his move and ensure his fortune for the rest of his life.
Sundays were quiet in small towns, that’s why he’d chosen today. People either slept late or headed off to church, including Jake McCallan. Allen had been following him, learning his routine. With McCallan out of the picture, Allen would be able to snatch the bitch and the kid, take them to the mill, and by this evening, he’d be a rich man. Maybe even part owner in the mill.
Allen glanced at his watch. Nine-thirty. After checking all around him, he got out of the truck, and walked up the street, his eyes darting around, checking porches, driveways, and windows for any sign of life. Hands in the pockets of his jacket, he strolled around the corner to the woman’s house. Once there, he turned and quickly went down her driveway, slipped into the shadow of the house, and made his way to the back.
Before he made another move, he waited, listening for any sign that he’d been seen. Five minutes passed. Then ten. Just as he was about to go up the stairs to the back door and force it open, he saw movement near her car.
Fear skittered through him, and he ducked back down, his gaze locked on the car.
It was the woman. And she carried the baby.
Shit. She was supposed to be home. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down.
Didn’t matter. Just a change in plans, that’s all. Nothing to worry about.
She leaned into the car, putting the kid in the back seat.
He took his chance. Crouched, he stayed in the shadows as he ran along the house to the car. Just as she got in the driver’s seat, he pulled his gun, threw open the door and got into the backseat.
“Don’t scream.” He pushed the gun in her face. Then he turned it on the baby. “Not one fucking word, or else.”
*
Rebecca swallowed down the scream lodged in her throat as terror filled every nook and cranny of her being. The gun in her face was bad enough, but seeing it pointed at Ben was absolutely mind-numbing.
Unable to move, she stared at it, black and menacing, as he held it in the air, pointing it at her child. Her body tensed as the urge to lunge across the seat, knock the gun from his hand, and beat him with her bare hands took over, but she knew it was foolish to even think she could get move fast enough to stop him.
She swallowed and nodded.
“Good. We understand each other. Now, we’re going for a drive. Back out and head to the highway. Nothing unusual. I’ll be back here with the baby. Cute kid.” He grinned at her and Becca’s heart turned to ice in her chest.
“Don’t touch him,” she growled. If he did, she’d go insane, lose it. Attack him and probably get herself and Ben killed.
“I won’t touch him. Just shut up and drive. Nothing stupid, okay?”
“Okay.” She turned around and started the car. After backing out, she drove through her neighborhood as familiar houses slipped past.
No one was out. Almost ten, most people would be at church. In fact, she’d been running late herself.
Maybe if she saw someone she could signal them.
“Don’t even think about it. I can pull the trigger and be gone before you blink.” His harsh voice made her believe everything he said. He’d tried to kill her and Ben before, and this time it seemed he might succeed.
“Why are you doing this?” Her gaze darted to the rearview mirror. He grinned at her.
“Money. Why else?”
“But I don’t have any money.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought them back. She had be stay calm, be brave, for Ben’s sake.
“No. But your boyfriend does.”
“Jake?” What did Jake have to do with this?
“That’s right. That mill he owns is a cash cow. It’s pulling in almost a million a year.”
“How do you know that?” A million? Jake nev
er mentioned being…rich. Yes, she’d seen the big house, but that had been passed down in the family. And he drove a company vehicle.
“I have someone on the inside.” He sounded smug. Sure of himself and his plan.
“Trey? Did Trey tell you about the money and the mill?”
“You’re a smart bitch.”
“Well, you’re wrong. Trey’s wrong. There’s no money.” Maybe she could bluff him into giving up this plan of his.
“No money? Right,” he scoffed. “Good try. Just shut up and drive.” He waved the gun once so she could see it.
She clamped her mouth shut as they rolled to a stop at a red light.
“Now, let’s go to the mill.”
“The mill? Why there? No one is there.”
“Exactly.” He smiled and her blood froze in her veins.
The light changed and she moved the car forward.
No one would be there. No one to help her. Just her, Ben and this crazy bastard. And his gun. Don’t forget the gun.
Tears threatened again. She was going to die. No, it was worse than that. Ben was going to die, his tiny, new life ripped from him by this fucking idiot. Her chin quivered, but she thought about what she’d do to him if she had the gun.
There would be no place he could hide. No one would be able to save him.
No matter what happened to her, she would do whatever it took to save Ben.
* * * *
Trey sat in the diner and stared out of the window. He ran his hands through his hair and tried to think of something to do, but he was out of ideas. The guy wouldn’t answer his phone, and he was still out there, trying to kill Rebecca and the baby.
His son.
Trey’s stomach cramped and he moaned softly, hoping the waitress wouldn’t hear. The pain passed, and he took a sip of iced water.
Rebecca’s car drove past and stopped at the red light. After staring at that car for days, he’d recognize it anywhere. Trey sat up, gaze intent on the vehicle.
Someone was in the car with her. In the backseat?
“Fuck!”
He tossed a ten on the table, slid out of the booth, and watched as her car started forward and headed down the street. Trey ran around the corner to Bryan’s borrowed truck, got in, and fired it up.
Turning onto the road, he followed the car, keeping several blocks behind them. They turned onto the highway, and his stomach sank.
They were heading for the mill.
* * * *
Jake paced back and forth on the top step of the church.
“Go on, Mom. I’ll wait for her. Save us a couple of seats.”
“If you’re sure.” Carrie nodded and pulled open the massive door. Organ music filled the air, then as the door slid shut, it was cut off. The service had started.
“Becca, where are you?” Jake pulled out his cell phone, punched up her number, and hit Send. The phone rang and rang.
* * * *
Her cell phone played Amy Grant’s “Baby Baby”. Rebecca jumped like a terrified mouse with its tail caught in a trap and let out a squeak.
“Don’t answer it.”
“Okay.” It was Jake. She knew it was Jake. He was probably wondering where the hell she was. Jake, help me.
The music ended.
Rebecca shuddered. What would Jake do now? Go to church? No, he’d come looking for her, but he would find the house empty, nothing out of place and no clue as to what had happened to her.
They passed the sign for the mill.
She scanned the highway behind her and in front of her, but it was clear. No one had seen her in town, and they’d passed no one on the road.
Jake wouldn’t find her until it was too late.
No one was going to save her, except herself.
She set her chin and her resolve and turned onto the road leading to the mill.
* * * *
Jake snapped his phone shut and bit his lip. She would have called, even if she couldn’t make it or was running late. He turned and stared at the door of the church.
Something was wrong.
His gut clenched, and he sucked in a deep breath, in an internal recognition that Rebecca, his mate, was in trouble. All he knew was that if he didn’t do something now, take some action, it would be too late.
He spun around and ran to his SUV, slid inside, had the engine running and the car headed out of the parking lot before he took his first breath. He had his phone still in his hand when it rang.
He flipped it open, not looking at the number. “Rebecca?”
“Close, but no cigar.” He didn’t recognize the voice. It definitely wasn’t Trey.
“Who is this?”
“Never mind. Listen closely. If you want to see your girlfriend and her brat, come to the mill in one hour. Alone. No cops, man. If I see a cop, I’ll kill them both. Got it?”
Jake’s hand shook and he almost lost his grip on the phone as he pressed it to his ear. “I got it.” Oh shit. This was so bad. What the hell had happened and who the hell was this bastard?
“Remember, no cops.” Then the line went dead.
* * * *
The man with the gun pointed at her baby laughed as he tossed her phone onto the car’s floorboard. “Good thing you kept your mouth shut. No sense getting your kid killed. How would you ever live with that?” He laughed.
Rebecca knew in her heart he did not intend on her living much longer.
But she also knew something the man didn’t know. She had a secret weapon.
Jake McCallan.
Chapter 16
Rebecca pulled up outside the mill. The parking lot was empty, and the mill stood silent. They were at least a quarter of a mile from the highway. No one would hear the shots or her scream.
“Pull around the back.”
She put the car in gear and eased it forward, then turned around the corner of the building. A sign declared “Contractors Entrance” and she drove past it to the back. The yard was empty. Two large delivery trucks sat against a chain-link fence.
There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
It wouldn’t matter. As soon as Jake got here, the odds would change in their favor.
Large sliding doors, probably used to move lumber in and out, were closed. Next to them was a smaller glass door, “McCallan Lumber Sales” stenciled on the upper half.
“Park here.” He pointed to a spot in front of the door and she pulled in, parked, and turned off the car. “Now, give me the keys.”
She took them out and handed them to him.
“I’m going to get out. You’re going to get out, then get the baby.” He opened his door, the gun still trained on Ben. Ben, now awake, began to fuss.
When she didn’t move, he shouted, “Now!”
Rebecca nodded, got out and shut the door, then opened the back door and took Ben out of his car seat. Clutching the baby to her, she bounced him to quiet him.
“Inside.” He jerked the gun toward the door.
“But it’s locked.”
He sauntered over to the door, smashed the glass with the gun, reached in, and unlocked it. It swung open, revealing the darkness of the closed mill.
“Not a problem, see?”
She nodded. Ben snuggled closer to her chest. Did he feel how hard her heart beat? Could he feel her terror? She needed to stay calm and just wait.
Jake, where are you?
* * * *
Trey drove down the blacktop drive toward the mill, then pulled onto the old trail that lead through the forest to the pond. He parked the truck far enough down it to not be seen from the road and got out.
He reached under his jacket for the gun he’d bought from Bryan, but it wasn’t there. Fuck. He’d left it back at Bryan’s house.
The only weapon he had was his wolf.
Even though it’d been a long time since he’d changed, he called his power. The first odd vibrations, once so familiar, traveled through his body. Then came the pain, blinding hot, and he slammed his ey
es closed and let it take him.
The wolf shook himself and his dark grey pelt stood on end, his full tail held down. He sniffed the ground, his black snout buried in the moist leaf litter of the forest floor. With a soft woof, the loose leaves scattered and he raised his head to drink in all the scents that floated on the air.
The mill was just down the road, but it was faster to cut through the forest.
He took off at a run, certain of the way, following almost invisible trails left by deer and by wolf.
* * * *
Jake knew he needed help. Cops or no cops.
He hit the speed dial for Barker.
“Hey, Boss. Shouldn’t you be in church?” Barker sounded groggy, probably had a late night on patrol.
“Listen to me. Someone’s got Rebecca and the baby.”
“What?” Now the voice was sharp and clear.
“He called me. Said he had Becca. Said he’d kill her if I called the cops.”
“You didn’t. You called your best friend.”
“Right.” Jake couldn’t help but smile. Barker was always there for him. “I’m on my way to meet him.” He checked his watch. “I’m supposed to be there in thirty minutes.”
“Where?”
“The mill.”
There was a low whistle. “Why the mill? Boss, any idea who this is?”
“Not Trey, that’s for certain.” Secretly, Jake was relieved.
“Did he mention Trey?”
“No. Not a word.”
“Okay, I’m almost dressed. I’ll meet you there. Listen to me. Do not go in without me. You’re going to need backup.”
“No cops, Barker. I can’t risk Becca and the baby.”
“No cops. No uniform. Just me, I swear it.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be at the mill in fifteen.” Barker hung up.
Jake closed his phone and shoved it back in his pocket. He’d be at the mill in ten minutes. Once Barker arrived that would leave only five to ten to scout it out and come up with a plan to rescue his mate.
Damn. Shit. Fuck.
* * * *
Rebecca stumbled through the door, the man’s hard shove on her back propelling her forward.
“Stop that! I can’t see a thing.” She spun to face him, but there was only a black silhouette in the doorway.
“Shut up,” he growled at her.
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