The fact that she was in danger was infuriating. His wolf’s instinct was to find the threat and eliminate it. Reece knew he was better off taking Hannah somewhere he could protect her from harm.
It was still hard to fathom that he was finished in Chicago, done with his job as a cop. He was proud of all he’d accomplished over the years, but he was more than ready to leave it behind. He wouldn’t miss the noise and claustrophobic feel of the city.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Knowing who it was without even looking at the display, he answered. “Hey.” He kept his voice low, hoping he wouldn’t wake Hannah.
“Where are you?” There was both worry and excitement in Sage’s voice.
“Still about five hours out. We stopped earlier for food.”
“How is Hannah holding up?”
Reece concentrated and made the mental connection with his twin. He caught a glimpse of his brother standing on the deck of the home he still shared with Uncle Elias, Aunt Sue, and Billy. Sage’s new home was under construction but wasn’t finished yet. Reece couldn’t wait for Hannah to see pack land and all the houses. He wanted to build a home for her, to give her a place she belonged. “She’s sleeping.”
“How are you holding up?” As always, Sage’s main concern was for Reece.
An ache grew in his chest. He’d been away for far too long.
“I’ll be better when I get home.” Even after a decade away, Salvation was still the place he considered home.
“Me too.” A long pause. “I’ve missed you so damn much.” A break in his brother’s voice brought a wave of emotion crashing over him. He could feel how much his twin had missed having him around, and knew Sage felt how much Reece yearned for his presence as well.
“I know.” He had to clear his throat before he could continue. “That’s all behind us now.”
“I hope so.”
Yeah, there was still a threat chasing Hannah. “I’ll call you when I’m closer,” he promised before he ended the call.
But he wasn’t done. There was a call he needed to make. He thumbed through his contacts list and hit the one he needed. Normally he’d never talk and drive, but these were quick calls and he wasn’t human. His reflexes and concentration were much more intense. Still, he planned to keep it short.
The phone was answered on the second ring. “Yeah.” Jacque’s deep voice seemed to boom over the line.
“We’ll be there in about five hours, give or take.”
“Good enough. We’ll see you then. And, Reece, make sure you’re not being followed.” The alpha ended the call. Reece tucked his phone back in his pocket. He’d been watching the road behind him since they’d left Chicago. He hadn’t seen anything to make him think they were being followed, but he wasn’t going to take any chances.
Less than fifteen minutes passed before his phone vibrated again. Since he’d just spoken with his twin and Jacque, he pulled out his cell to see who it could be. When he saw his partner’s name, a sinking feeling of dread welled inside him.
“What’s going on, Sean?”
“Hello to you too.”
Reece glanced at Hannah, glad to see that exhaustion was keeping her asleep. “Cut the crap. You wouldn’t have called unless there was a damn good reason.”
“Couldn’t I have just been missing your smiling demeanor?” He heard his partner—former partner—shuffling papers. “You may have a problem.”
“What happened?” Reece couldn’t imagine what else could go wrong.
“It could be nothing, but I was on my way out when Polanski on the desk asked me if a witness had gotten hold of me yet. Everyone knows about the assault on Hannah, mostly because of the way you hovered over her. It’s the talk of the station.”
That didn’t surprise Reece. It was totally out of character for him to take a personal interest in anyone.
“What did the witness say?”
“That’s just it. No one showed up. No one called me. The guy who called in said he wanted to know which detectives he should speak with.”
It didn’t take Reece long to put two and two together and come up with a complete clusterfuck. “You think the guy wanted to know so he could watch the station. Watch us.”
“I think we have to assume that’s a possibility.” Sean paused and lowered his voice. “Watch your back, Reece. And for God’s sake, watch Hannah Burdette.”
“Don’t worry on that account.” He glanced over at Hannah’s sleeping form and then back at the road. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Yeah. I’m still pissed at you for leaving, but as partners go, you were all right.”
Reece couldn’t help but smile. “You were all right too. I’ll call you when I get home.”
“You do that. I’ll keep you informed if I find out anything else.”
“Thanks, Sean.” He ended the call and tucked his phone away. That wasn’t good news at all.
The killer was smart. He obviously hadn’t been able to track down Hannah at home, work, or the hospital, so he watched the detectives in charge of her case. And Reece had played right into his hands by taking Hannah to the station this morning to make her statement.
“Fuck.” He whispered the word when he really wanted to shout it. Okay, there was nothing he could do to change what was already done. All he could do was watch for trouble and assume they were being followed.
He looked in the rearview mirror and studied the traffic. There was no vehicle close to him that looked suspicious. But that was the problem. With his superior sight, a werewolf could hang back and still keep them in view.
Reece kept one eye on the vehicles ahead of him and another on the ones farther back. Now every car and truck was suspect. On a major highway like this, they were all heading in the same direction. He’d have a better idea if anyone might be tailing them once he got on the secondary roads.
Until then, all he could do was keep a watchful eye.
A chill went through Hannah. She shivered and curled into herself for warmth. Something was out there in the dark. And it was looking for her.
Fear tightened her throat so she couldn’t scream. Not that she would. That would only give away her position. She needed to be smart. Where was the threat?
She heard someone call her name, and she jumped to her feet and whirled around. There was no one there.
Why couldn’t she see? With her enhanced senses, she’d always been able to see in the dark. Now everything around her was a menacing shadow, ready to pounce.
Her breathing increased and her heart pounded. She had to move. It wasn’t safe to stay in one spot. She took one cautious step forward, and a male voice cut through the darkness. “You didn’t think you could escape me, did you?”
Hannah gasped and jerked away. She hit her head so hard she saw stars.
“Jesus, Hannah. Wake up. Are you okay?”
The voice penetrated her confusion and fear. She opened her eyes and blinked. It was dark outside, but she was in a truck going down a road. Reece’s truck. It had only been a dream. She pulled her coat tighter around her. She was so cold.
Of course, he saw her shiver. Reece reached forward and turned up the heat. Then he angled the vents so the warm air was directed her way. “Are you okay?” he repeated.
She nodded. The throbbing in her head was already dissipating. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You made a couple of sounds before you woke. Were you dreaming?”
She thought about lying but figured there was no point. “It was about my attacker. Sort of.” She rubbed her forehead. “I was outside in the dark, but I couldn’t see like I normally could. I knew I had to get away from there, but just when I thought I had, he was suddenly there.”
Reece reached out his right hand and rubbed her thigh. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“I pulled away in my dream. That’s when I hit
my head.” It wasn’t real, she reminded herself. The heat pouring through the vents helped to dissipate the chill coating her skin. She usually didn’t have much trouble with the cold, but the dream had really gotten to her.
It reminded her of just how vulnerable she was. She might be stronger than most humans, and have better eyesight and hearing, but she was no match for a full-blooded werewolf.
“Where are we?” How long had she been asleep?
“We’re only about an hour from home.”
She was shocked. “I slept for four hours?”
“A little more than that.” He gave her leg a squeeze before he released her. “I figured you needed it.”
She’d really been out of it. She knew she needed rest to fully recover. Yes, her wounds had knit together, but she still wasn’t quite back at full strength yet.
Now that she was awake and aware, she realized that Reece seemed tense. “What happened?” she asked. “What’s wrong?” He sighed and shot her a reassuring glance before focusing on the road again. She noticed he kept checking the rearview mirror. “Are we being followed?”
“I’m not sure.” The fact that he didn’t categorically deny it worried her. “Sean called while you were sleeping.”
He had her full attention now. “And?”
“He thinks your attacker might have called the station posing as a witness to find out who was in charge of the case. He might have been watching this morning when we went in so you could give your statement.”
Don’t panic. She needed to think logically. “How likely do you think that’s what happened?”
“Whoever attacked you is determined. Your apartment was broken into. You can bet he called the hospital and probably your workplace as well. When he came up short in all those places, the only thing he could do is watch the cops working the case. He knew there had to be a chance you’d meet with us at some point.”
He hesitated and she tensed, sensing there was more. “What else?”
“I’ve been thinking about it. I was in your apartment when I took you home from the hospital. Both Sean and I were.”
She tilted her head and studied his profile in the dim light of the cab. “I’m not sure why that’s important.”
“Smell, Hannah. He’d have been able to smell me, just as I was able to get his scent at the crime scene.”
“Oh God.” She rocked back and forth, trying to think. “You’re in danger. We can’t stay together.”
“It’s too late for that, Hannah. He already knows who I am. Even if you left, it’s only a matter of time until he comes looking for me. There’s safety in numbers. In Salvation, there are a lot of wolves, and they’re all on our side.”
She knew what he was saying made sense, but that didn’t help with the enormous load of guilt currently threatening to crush her. “I put you in danger.”
He adamantly shook his head, denying her claim. “No, whoever targeted you is responsible. Maybe he chose you because you’re a half-breed. That’s the only theory that makes sense. He has to be able to scent my wolf. If he’s after me, it’s simply because he likes to kill.” His jaw hardened. “Some do.”
And he would know. He’d probably come up against murderers before in his job. Maybe in his personal life too. She really had no idea about his pack or his life before Chicago. And even then, she only knew the bare basics about him.
“What do we do? I don’t want to put anyone in danger.” That was her biggest concern. Yes, she was afraid for her own safety, but she didn’t want to put innocent people in harm’s way. “You said yesterday that you suspect the man who attacked me was responsible for a murder in Chicago.”
“Yes. That’s why it was important to get you out of town to somewhere I can better protect you.”
“I’m still not sure going home with you is the wise thing to do. Shouldn’t we go somewhere he wouldn’t think to look?”
“Too late for that.”
“Because he knows who you are,” she finished his thought. “He’d eventually go searching your hometown.”
“Probably sooner rather than later,” Reece agreed. “Better for everyone to be forewarned and prepared.”
“For how long?” The stress was making her stomach burn.
He frowned, not understanding. “How long what?”
“How long do they stay prepared? This guy, whoever he is, could walk away for weeks or months and then come back.” There really was no way to win in this situation.
“I don’t think he will wait. His attack on you was unplanned. Spontaneous. The murder was methodical and clean.” Reece turned on his indicator and eased into a gas station. “I figure you probably want something to eat or drink.” He pulled up to an unoccupied pump. “And I know you definitely need to go to the bathroom.”
She could feel her face heating. He was right. She did need to go to the bathroom. That didn’t mean she wanted to discuss the matter. “I won’t be long,” she muttered.
“Wait for me.” He turned off the ignition. “Let me gas up the truck and we’ll go in together.”
“You’re really that worried?” Now she was really starting to get freaked out.
Reece reached out, cupped her nape with his big palm, and pulled her forward. He brushed his lips over hers. Her entire body tingled. Being this close to Reece warmed her faster than any heater ever could.
She leaned into the kiss but he didn’t deepen it. He eased back and tenderly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. The touch of his finger on her skin made her nipples tighten.
“He went back to your apartment last night. I know in my gut he’s the one who called the station posing as a witness. He’s not going to let you go. Not easily. He won’t wait long to make his move.”
She shivered, cold once again now that Reece was no longer touching her.
“Try not to worry so much. You have me now. And in a little less than an hour, you’ll be in the heart of a wolf pack that will also protect you.”
That part was both scary and exciting. She’d never had the opportunity to be around so many of her kind before. That they would accept a half-breed stranger into their midst, especially one with trouble tailing her, spoke well of them.
“I’ll only be a minute,” he promised. He climbed out of the vehicle, leaving her alone in the cab of the truck. He moved with a fluid grace that caught people’s eye.
A woman filling up her compact car across from him bobbled the hose before getting it put back properly. She caught Hannah’s eye and shrugged. Hannah couldn’t help but smile. She totally understood the woman’s reaction. Reece was tall and handsome with a sexy predatory aura surrounding him.
Men would respect or fear him. Women would want to be with him.
When he was done, he climbed back in the truck and pulled over by the entrance of the station. Hannah hitched her knapsack over her shoulder, opened her door and slid out, eager to stretch her legs. Reece was beside her before she could shut it.
“We’ll hit the bathroom and then get snacks.” He opened the glass door and held it for her. “Sound good?”
“Works for me.” She went down the narrow hallway with Reece right behind her. The bathrooms were side-by-side. He waited until she checked the ladies room and found it empty.
“Lock the door and wait until I come back for you.”
All his precautions really weren’t necessary. They were inside a gas station and convenience store with other people around. “What if someone else needs to go?”
“They can hold it.” He pulled the door closed. “Lock it,” he reminded her.
She did as he asked and then turned to face the mirror. Her hair was a wreck. She’d fix it once she took care of her most pressing need. One step at a time. That was all she could do at the moment. Anything else was beyond her.
* * * * *
The killer pulle
d off on the side of the road and doused his lights. The truck he’d been following was parked right in front of the gas station, otherwise he might go lie in wait for them.
No. It was better to exercise some caution. He’d been following them for hours now. He’d done some research when they’d eaten earlier in the day. There wasn’t much to be found about Reece Gallagher. He’d found one tiny mention of him originally being from small town in North Carolina.
He had to be taking her home. The killer had no knowledge of a pack in North Carolina, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. It was actually a good place for a pack to live. Lots of woods to roam, and folks tended to mind their own business. He knew there was a wolf pack in Kentucky. It had been there for generations. This pack had to be fairly new or he’d have heard about it.
They all tended to keep to themselves, but every so often pack members would go roaming in search of a mate. His pack in Montana mostly kept to themselves, but they’d had dealings with several packs in Canada and Wyoming.
He couldn’t let them reach their destination. He was strong and smart, but even he was no match for an entire pack. That meant he had to make a move soon. He’d let them get back on the road. He brought up the map he’d found earlier online and studied it.
They were more rural areas ahead. There was bound to be a place where he could drive them off the road. He’d been anticipating hunting the wolf and then taking the girl. But that just didn’t seem feasible now. He was better off killing the big wolf as fast as possible. Then he could take his time with Hannah.
They came out of the gas station. Gallagher was carrying a bag while she had two large cups in her hands. Probably coffee. His stomach growled and he scowled. He hadn’t eaten for hours and was starving.
He could almost smell the coffee she was holding. Her red hair gleamed in the overhead lights of the service station. She smiled when the detective held her door open for her.
He growled and Reece Gallagher’s head rose. It was impossible that the detective had heard him. He was too far away and the windows were all rolled up in his truck. Still he lowered his gaze but didn’t move. Movement would attract attention faster than if he stayed still.
Wolf in her Soul: Salvation Pack, Book 8 Page 15