The men showed their badges and rushed inside, trying to find Melissa.
They called to her through their link and got no response.
They saw Charlie just as he saw them.
“He got her, guys. I can’t fucking believe this, but he got her.”
“Who got her, Jamie?” Vince asked.
“No. Bret.”
“Oh, fuck!” Sunny exclaimed.
“What the fuck happened?” Jake demanded to know, and Charlie explained.
They checked out the crime scene and showed their IDs to the men who secured the backroom. They were wolves, and they had to ensure that no humans saw what had occurred in the back room. Luckily, Charlie had heard the gunfire and ran in there first. He knew enough to secure the room and evacuate the building.
They talked to the men in charge as they absorbed the scene. Jamie lay dead on the floor, covered in blood with his throat ripped out. They knew that a wolf was the culprit. A few feet away, another man lay in half shift. It was Chu, Bret’s right-hand man and bodyguard. He had multiple bullet wounds to his chest and shoulder. Obviously too many to shift and save him. He was dead, too.
“This is a big fucking mess, Logan,” one of the investigators complained.
“You’re telling me, but it gets worse. The man who this guy works for has our mate. Any indication of which way they headed?” Logan asked.
“Your fucking mate? Shit, Logan, what do you need? I’ve got guys everywhere on standby for some secret multi-raid thing going on in New Jersey and here.”
“Yeah, it’s all part of the same situation. We’re going to head out. We need to find where Bret took her.”
Logan walked through the mess and into the back parking lot. He looked around the ground and sniffed the air. His brothers were right there with him.
“I smell her blood,” Frankie stated in a growl.
“Right here,” Sunny added as he bent down and touched his finger to the blacktop.
He brought it to his nose.
“Is it Mel’s?” Vince asked.
He nodded.
“Fuck!” Frankie replied.
“Where could he have taken her?” Jake asked out loud.
“I don’t know but the first place we have to look is his home. Let’s go,” Logan commanded, and they ran toward their truck.
They headed out of Manhattan and across the George Washington Bridge to New Jersey. They knew that the location of Bret’s house was somewhere near where the showroom was.
“I hope to the gods we find her before he hurts her,” Frankie said. The others added similar comments.
“I tried to contact her through our link and got no response,” Vince told his brothers.
“We all did, and nothing,” Sunny said then banged his fist on the dashboard.
“We should have never let her go, man. We should have made her stay with us,” Frankie spoke as he ran his fingers through his hair. The helpless feeling filled them all.
* * * *
“Team three, I have a visual on another vehicle entering the maid’s quarters on the right side of the estate. Please confirm our guest and add them to the list,” Mick stated through his headset as he watched the house and building through his binoculars, waiting for the order to go in. So far, six high-profile drug dealers entered the showroom and party. None had left.
“That’s a negative on the vehicle, sir. I have a large tree in my way and a male and female guest fucking against it. Maybe you can assist?”
They laughed over the airway, and Mick crawled backward to get into a better position as he spoke softly into the mouthpiece.
“I got it covered. Just try not to lose your focus. The call will come in any minute.”
Just then, Mick had the limo and its occupants in view. His heart hammered in his chest. There was Bret lifting a voluptuous brunette with a perfectly round ass out of the limo. When he tossed her over his shoulder, Mick immediately recognized her.
“Fuck, commander! I got a fucking visual, and it ain’t good!”
“What do you got, Mick?” Willy asked, sounding concerned.
“I got team two’s woman. It’s Mel, and she’s unconscious and bleeding from her head.”
“Son of a bitch. I’m on it. Keep her in your sights.”
“They entered the house, Commander. What’s your order?”
“We move in seven minutes. Fernandez family en route and in the vicinity.”
“Out.”
* * * *
Willy banged his fist on the dashboard inside the SWAT team surveillance truck. They had the place surrounded and all other locations in position on his command to enter.
He called Logan.
* * * *
“Hey, Willy, what do you got?” Logan answered his phone, hoping that Willy had a lead on Bret. “I got a visual on your mate.”
“What?” Frankie yelled.
William explained the situation and told the men where their position would be and to get there in six minutes. Logan stepped on the gas and ditched the car two blocks from the location. They grabbed their gear, put on their headsets, and ran to meet Mick and the rest of the team.
As soon as they arrived, they got into position and watched the house.
They waited for Willy’s order.
* * * *
Melissa rolled her head back and forth. The pain was excruciating. She blinked her eyes and tried to focus on where she was. When she tried to lift her hand to her face to rub her eyes, she couldn’t move them. She was tied to a bed. Looking down, she saw that she was only wearing a bra and panties and her legs were loose.
“Ahh, Sleeping Beauty finally awakes. Or should I say Miss Robin Hood.” Bret chuckled as he rose from the chair. He held a snifter of brandy in his hand, and all he was wearing was a silk robe. She prayed that he was fully dressed under there.
“Let me loose, Bret. You’ve lost your mind.”
He placed the glass down on the bedside table then stared at her body.
“I missed you, Mel. Fucking you once and never having you again was like torture.”
He ran a finger over her thigh then to her mound. She kicked her legs at him, forcing his hand away.
“There’s no need to fight it. You’re mine now, and tomorrow we head out to the coast. Oh, and don’t worry about the little brats and the old lady. They’ll be dead in about ten minutes,” he stated smugly as he glanced at his wristwatch.
“You fucking bastard. Don’t you touch them! I’ll never be yours!” she screamed then cried in fear for her children and aunt. She prayed that Willy and his men protected them as they promised.
“Now is that any way to talk to your Alpha?” he teased then leaned down to lick her lips. She spit at him, and he backhanded her across the mouth.
She tasted the blood, and she felt the pain in her jaw as she tried to pull on her restraints.
“Don’t touch me!” she screamed, losing her voice as the rope cut her skin on her wrist.
In a flash, Bret was on top of her. He straddled her hips, and she cried out for help.
“We’re here. Just hold steady.”
She heard Logan’s voice and gasped. They were here, and they would save her, just like they promised. Her heart pounded in her chest as Bret leaned forward and licked her cleavage.
“Get off of me, you idiot. I’ll never be yours,” she yelled, and he hit her again. She thought she saw stars. It was such a hard hit. It took her a moment to refocus. Anger filled her body as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“You’re going to be my mate, my woman, forever.”
“Never! I will never be yours because I belong to the Valdamar pack. My men are my mates, and they will find you and kill you!” She clenched her teeth and spit at him again.
His eyes changed color, and his incisors elongated before her. She felt the claws by her ribs. Then he grabbed her arms and cut her skin.
Melissa screamed just as the sound of glass shattering filled the room. Out of nowhere, she saw mult
iple things fly into Bret. Then she heard growling and fighting as she tried to get free. Melissa was so scared she cried and screamed until she heard the howl and then a torturous sound fill the room.
She closed her eyes and continued to cry in pain and fear until she felt the hand against her stomach. She jerked her body. “You’re safe, Melissa. Your men are here.” She opened her eyes and saw Mick. Her chest heaved up and down. Then she felt the fingers at her wrists undoing the ropes. Looking up, she saw Frankie and Vince. They caressed her hands and gently brought her arms down cursing at the damage to her forearms and to her face and head.
She closed her eyes and cried until she felt all her men around her, touching her.
“I’ll get a first aid kit. Don’t move her yet,” Mick whispered then rose from the bed.
* * * *
Logan and Sunny shifted back to human form and fixed their clothing. They tried to calm their breathing, but they were still fired up and on the defensive. Logan had freaked out hearing what Bret was doing to Mel while they waited for the order. When she cried out in pain, they had to move in. All he saw was red as the anger filled his wolf and the need to protect his mate took precedence over everything else. Logan ripped Bret’s throat out as his brother Sunny cut his claws across Bret’s chest.
“You’re going to be okay, Mel. We got you now,” Vince whispered as he placed his hand over her belly. It seemed to be the one place besides her legs that wasn’t cut or bruised.
Frankie did the same, and then Jake kissed her lips, being sure to not get too close to the cut there.
“Is she okay?” Logan asked.
“I’m okay because of all of you,” Mel replied as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
Sunny touched her ankle just as Mick returned with the first aid kit. In the distance, they heard the gunfire and the sound of sirens fill the air. The simultaneous raids were going on all over the place from New Jersey to Manhattan.
The men tended to her wounds. Mick got her something to wear. Then they carried her out of the house to take her home.
“What about the kids? Are they okay? He said he had someone there to kill them,” Melissa asked, filled with concern.
“They’re fine. We had team four nearby and they intervened. They’ll be waiting at the hospital,” Jake added.
“I’m not going to the hospital,” she refused.
“The hell you’re not. You have a cut that needs stitches and possibly a concussion. Never mind the scratches to your forearms and that nasty cut lip. You will go and that is final,” Frankie ordered, and she huffed and puffed, causing pain to radiate through her body. She closed her eyes and let her men take care of her.
Epilogue
Melissa stood by the picture window looking out toward the grassy area near the woods. Her mates were teaching Brandon and Lea some strategic defense moves while Aunt Peggy sat in a garden chair watching Tommy throw a basketball into the hoop.
Everything had worked out just fine. They were a family, and her mates would teach the children about their heritage and about all the necessary training they needed.
She tapped the envelope against her lip, and its contents didn’t seem as important anymore. She had everything she could ever want. Logan, Vince, Frankie, Jake, and Sunny were five wonderful, handsome, strong men who loved her. She had three children to raise and another on the way. She smiled to herself. The men were going to flip out. So this letter telling her if she passed the bar exam or not didn’t mean as much as she first had thought it would. She wanted to start a family. She wanted the best for her children. Her Aunt Peggy, the sneaky woman, knew all along that the children were wolves, that her niece married a wolf, and that the Valdamar were wolves and Melissa’s mates. So all those nights worrying about how to explain the relationship was wasted stress. But it gave her the strength and determination to achieve her degree and take the exam.
She looked at the envelope and imagined her men, and when she closed her eyes, she saw their handsome faces and she touched her belly. A baby was growing inside of her.
“Whoohoo!”
Melissa jumped at the sound of men yelling and hollering then stomping through the kitchen door and straight into the living room. As soon as she locked gazes with them, she realized they had heard her thoughts.
Placing her hands on her hips, she gave them the evil eye, but they didn’t hesitate to approach as Sunny lifted her into his arms and squeezed her tight. He kissed her then passed her to Frankie, who kissed her, too. They continued to pass her around. Vince held her tight as Jake caressed her hair and kissed her neck.
It was Logan who stood there with a serious expression on his face.
“Stop twirling her around like that. You might hurt the baby.”
Jake laughed, and so did Vince.
“This is great, Mel. When did you find out?” Sunny asked, smiling. By now, the kids and her aunt had joined the celebration. They were thrilled.
“I’ve known since yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” Jake exclaimed.
Logan cleared his throat and stared at her. She knew that look, and she knew just what to do. Slowly, she walked toward him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
He kissed her in return then released her so he could look into her eyes.
His large hand touched her belly. Then Frankie touched her belly as well as Jake, Vince, and Sunny from behind her. When she reached to cover their hands with her own, she realized she still held the envelope in her hands.
“What’s that?” Vince asked.
“My results from the bar exam.”
“Well?” Aunt Peggy chimed in, smiling and eliciting some chuckles from the guys.
She was silent a moment before she spoke.
“Mel?” Sunny whispered against her neck. The feel of her mates touching her and being so close as well as her aunt and the children brought joy to her heart.
“It doesn’t matter. I have everything I want right here.” She smiled and felt her mates’ love through their link.
“That may be so, young lady, but I still want to know,” Aunt Peggy exclaimed impatiently, and they all laughed.
“I passed!” Melissa replied, and everyone cheered.
“Looks like we have a lot to celebrate. I’m going to cook up a feast,” Jake exclaimed then kissed her cheek.
“I’m helping you, Uncle Jake,” Brandon exclaimed.
“Me, too,” Lea added.
“Then let’s get moving.”
They all hurried into the kitchen, and when Melissa went to help, Sunny stopped her and pulled her into his arms.
“You are going to sit right here and rest. You’ve been studying like crazy for that test, and you have a baby to take care of.”
She laughed as he lifted her feet and placed them on the stool.
Jake smiled at her as he and Lea began chopping up vegetables while Brandon climbed the chair and pulled spices from the closet.
Her aunt tended to Tommy, grabbing him a plate of crackers before she cut some cheese to go along with the crackers.
Vince placed a glass of water on the table for her then took out a couple of beers for his brothers.
Frankie began to set the table, and Logan put his arms around her as he teased Jake about some game they played with the kids outside.
It was all so wonderful. Melissa never thought life could be perfect. She wasn’t even sure what the future might bring, but today she had her family, she had her life mates and their baby growing inside of her, and she loved them with all her heart.
THE END
WWW.DIXIELYNNDWYER.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
People seem to be more interested in my name than where I get my ideas for my stories from. So I might as well share the story behind my name with all my readers.
My Momma was born and raised in New Orleans. At the age of twenty she met and fell in love with an Irishman named Patrick Riley Dwyer. Needless to say, the family was a bit taken aback by
this as they hoped she would marry a family friend. It was a modern day arranged marriage kind of thing and my Momma downright refused.
Being that my Momma’s families were descendents of the original English speaking southerners, they wanted the family blood line to stay pure. They were wealthy and my father’s family was poor.
Despite attempts by my grandpapa to make Patrick leave and destroy the love between them, my parents married. They recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary.
I am one of six children born to Patrick and Lynn Dwyer. I am a combination of both Irish and a true southern belle. With a name like Dixie Lynn Dwyer it’s no wonder why people are curious about my name.
Just as my parents had a love story of their own I grew up intrigued by the lifestyles of others. My imagination as well as my need to stray from the straight and narrow made me into the woman I am today.
Enjoy my newest series FIVE-O.
~Dixie~
Also by Dixie Lynn Dwyer
Ménage Amour: Were She Belongs
Ménage Amour: Sequel to Were She Belongs: Were Love Found Her
Ménage Amour: For the Love of Anna
Siren LoveXtreme Forever: The Men of Five-O #1: SWAT Team One and the Social Worker
Available at
BOOKSTRAND.COM
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - SWAT Team Two and Miss Robin Hood [The Men of Five-0 #2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 21