“Audrey has the car serviced on a regular schedule,” said Seth.
“Most people do. That’s part of owning an automobile.”
“Not the kind of service Audrey has done. It’s not just an oil change and tire rotation. She has everything checked, and I mean everything. If it’s part of what makes the car go, it gets checked.”
Forrest frowned. “Why would she do that?”
“Audrey is afraid of two things happening. The first is a car wreck like the one that killed my parents. The second reason is she is afraid of breaking down in the middle of nowhere. I think that may have happened to her when I was little. I’m not sure. You’ll have to ask her.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Anyway, the car was serviced just the week before last. And I know she had the battery replaced.”
Forrest let the information sink in. “Someone tampered with the car.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. I wouldn’t put it past her parents having something to do with it to make her look bad.” Seth wrinkled his nose. “I really can’t stand being around those two. I know they don’t like me, but they’re really mean to Audrey and she’s the only child they have living.”
Forrest pressed a button on his steering wheel and a mechanical voice asked for a command. “Call Audrey.” The mechanical voice responded and a couple of seconds later, Audrey’s phone rang. “Come on. Answer the phone.” Forrest felt his bear pushing closer to the surface. When Audrey’s phone rolled over to her voice mail, Forrest’s bear went crazy.
“Forrest?”
“I’m fine,” he said after several deep breaths and a mental tussle with his bear. The animal wasn’t happy about being restrained, but it was the only option Forrest had at the moment.
“Maybe Audrey was doing something and she couldn’t get to the phone. She has a bad habit of setting it down in one room and leaving it when she goes to another.” Seth tried to sound optimistic. “Try her again.” He crossed his fingers hoping she would answer her phone.
“Okay.” Forrest went through the steps of calling her phone. After several rings, Audrey’s phone went to voice mail again. Forrest’s heart started racing. He had to get to Audrey. His bear growled its agreement.
The drive to Audrey’s house felt like it took forever. It seemed everyone who had a car was on the road. Finally, Forrest pulled into the driveway leading to the house.
“Look!” shouted Seth as he pointed to the front door.
Forrest’s heart skipped several beats as his worst nightmare seemed to be unfolding in front of him. “Stay in the truck,” he told Seth as he put the truck into park but left the engine running.
“But…”
“Stay in the truck!” Forrest’s voice projected the command stronger than he ever had before. “I need to find Audrey. I can’t be worrying about you while I’m doing that.”
Seth nodded. “I understand.” His eyes were wide and the scent of fear filled the vehicle.
Forest handed Seth his cell phone. “Call my brother, Hank. Tell him where we are and what’s happening. Do you understand?”
Seth nodded.
“Lock the doors when I get out and do not get out of the truck. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal clear. Call Hank. Stay in truck. Lock the doors,” said Seth.
Forrest nodded and started to get out.
“Find Audrey,” said Seth. His voice quivered with fear.
“I plan to.” Forrest got out of the truck. He heard the click of the locks two seconds after he closed the door. With Seth in the truck, Forrest turned his attention to the house. He knew he should wait for his brothers, but his mate was in danger and he had to find her.
As he got closer to the house, he realized the front door wasn’t just open. Someone had kicked it open and forced their way into the house to get Audrey.
Forrest slipped through the opening. The coffee table was in pieces. The couch had been shoved to the side with a knife stuck through a piece of paper and into the center of the cushions. The end tables were turned over and broken glass was everywhere. Someone had put up a fight. The fading scent of Audrey’s fear and the strong odor of her blood sucker punched Forrest in the stomach.
Audrey had fought someone and lost.
The sour stench of human male musk was mixed with Audrey’s smells.
“Audrey!” Forrest searched the rest of the house but it was empty. Audrey wasn’t there. As he made his way back to the living room he fought his bear’s determination to break free and hunt the owner of the musky scent. The animal wanted blood, but as much as Forrest wanted to give in to his bear, he knew he had to stay human for Audrey’s sake. But once he found her, all bets were off. The man who took her and caused her to bleed was dead.
“We were already on our way here when Seth called. What happened?” asked Hank as he stormed into the house closely followed by Wes.
Forrest scanned the room before his eyes settled on his brothers. “Someone broke in and took Audrey.”
Hank cursed as a familiar scent from the past hit him. He let out a low almost feral growl.
“Keep it together,” warned Wes as he pushed past Hank.
“I recognize the male scent.” Hank’s eyes were no longer human.
“Who is it?” demanded Forrest. A name would give him place to start looking for Audrey.
“It’s the scent of one of the hunters who killed our family.” Hank closed his eyes. “I’ll never forget their scents. Their foul smells covered everything,” he said in a low, deadly voice.
Forrest’s hands balled into fists. The monsters of their past were trying to destroy his future. “Why now?”
“Guys, I don’t think it’s about us this time. Whoever has been asking questions about Audrey and Seth is responsible. He just happens to be one of the hunters from our past.” Wes looked at his brothers. “Read this.” He held up a piece of paper that had been attached to the couch with the hunting knife.
Forrest took the paper and read it. Rage rolled through him. The hunter wanted to exchange Audrey for Seth. There was no way he could give up one family member for another. He handed the paper to Hank.
“He didn’t give us a lot of time.” Hank looked at Forrest. “It’s to keep you from coming up with a plan other than the one he has laid out for you.”
“How much time do we have?” asked Sheriff Todd Anderson as he walked into the house.
The brothers looked at the sheriff.
“I don’t know why you’re here or how you knew, but you need to leave. You don’t want to be a part of this,” growled Forrest.
Todd raised an eyebrow. “Seth called and told me something had happened to Audrey and he was worried something would happen to you. I guess we know why the stranger has been asking questions about Audrey and Seth.”
“Sheriff, you need to leave. The less you know the better it will be for everyone.”
Todd took off his badge. “I’m not here as the sheriff. If this is a hunter, it doesn’t just affect you. It affects all the shifters living in Bryant Station, Briary Creek and the surrounding area, but most of all, it affects my family too.”
Hank stared at him. Slowly he held out the paper.
Todd took it. He shook his head. “I’m really beginning to hate that bridge. We need to get Seth to some place safe.”
“Why do I have to go to a safe place?” Seth pushed past the sheriff. “Where’s Audrey?”
“I told you to stay in the truck.” Forrest shook his head.
Seth stared at Forrest. “Audrey may be your mate, but she’s my aunt and the closest thing I have to a mom. And when it comes down to it, I’ve known her a lot longer than you have.”
Forrest nodded to the sheriff. “Show him. He has a right to know.” Forrest realized he wasn’t just raising a coyote shifter. He was raising a boy who would one day be an alpha male.
Seth took the paper and read it. “So when do we make the exchange?”
“We aren’t,” said Forrest.
&nb
sp; Seth growled. “It’s the only way to save her. I can shift. Audrey’s human. She can’t shift, plus she’s hurt. I smell her blood.”
Forrest put his hand on Seth’s shoulder. “We’re dealing with hunters. Humans who murder shifters because they believe we shouldn’t be allowed to live.”
Anger and fear danced across Seth’s face. “My parents died because my dad was a shifter.”
“My family was killed by hunters. I’m not exchanging you. I’m going to get Audrey back and…”
“And kill the bastard who took her.” Seth finished Forrest’s sentence.
“What have I told you about your language?” asked Forrest.
Seth shrugged. “I would rather have Audrey yelling at me because of my language than me having clean language and no Audrey.”
Hank laughed causing everyone to look at him. “What?” he asked when he realized they were staring.
“It’s rare to see you laugh,” said Wes, voicing Forrest’s thoughts too.
“The boy makes sense,” said Hank.
“So what can I do to help?” asked Seth.
“I need you to go to the shop and stay with Ben and Ivy. And I do mean stay there. I can’t be worrying about your safety if I’m going to rescue Audrey.” Forest ran a hand through his hair.
Seth looked at the men surrounding him. “I understand. Stay at the shop with Ben and Ivy.”
“Good.” Forrest knew it wasn’t what Seth wanted but it was the safest place for him. Ben and Ivy would protect him.
“I’ll drop Seth off, and I’ll tell Ivy to use whatever spell she has to use to keep him there,” said Todd.
“Wait a minute! You said spell. What are you talking about?” Seth looked at the sheriff and then at Forrest as the light bulb when off in his head. “Ivy’s a witch. She’s the one who cast the…”
“So you had better behave yourself and stay put,” said Forrest.
“I’ll call Harrison, my brother, just in case we need a paramedic.” Looking at the brothers, Todd saw the understanding in their eyes.
Forrest hated to admit it but it was a good idea to have a paramedic on hand, especially not knowing how bad Audrey was hurt. Hank had the ability to heal, but he could only do so much. It was better to have all the help they could get. He nodded.
“Meet me at Bryant Station Cemetery. It’s close to the bridge but far enough away to give us an advantage.” Todd motioned for Seth to follow him.
“Be careful and bring Audrey home.” Seth bit his bottom lip and followed Todd Anderson out of the house.
“I will bringer her home,” said Forrest. “I will bring her home even if it’s the last thing I do.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Audrey wasn’t sure what hurt more…the whole left side of her face, her ribs, or her arm. The bumps on the back of her head ran a close second.
“As soon as you kill that abomination she is raising; you are to kill her too.” Edmund Thomas’s voice was cold and unfeeling.
“That will cost you extra,” said the man who had attacked her in her home.
“Why should I pay you more money?”
“Because kidnapping her and bringing her fat ass here was extra work I didn’t have to do if you wanted her dead. I could have killed her at the house and then waited for the boy to come home. Much easier than arranging this exchange crap.” The man grinned. “Besides the extra money will fund a trip I need to take to eliminate a cougar shifter problem down south from here.”
Audrey felt sick to her stomach. She knew her parents hated Seth. But they wanted her and Seth dead, and the man they had hired was talking about killing another shifter family as if they were nothing more than filthy animals.
“Fine. At least the money will be put to good use,” said Edmund.
“Edmund dear, we need to be going. We still have to get ready for the Martin’s dinner party. We don’t want to be late, if you know what I mean.” Olivia tapped her watch with a perfectly manicured finger.
Audrey glared at her parents with her right eye. Her left eye was almost swollen shut. “You make me ashamed even carry the same blood as you do,” she whispered.
Olivia raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow as she turned to look at Audrey. “I don’t have a daughter. My daughters were murdered by those horrid animals.”
Edmund shrugged his shoulders. “We tried to save you, but you refused to turn that animal over to the state. It’s too late for you. You are just like Ellie. She was stubborn too and refused to give up that animal and then she degraded herself by sleeping with it and giving birth to that abomination. We warned her about what would happen if she insisted on bedding a filthy animal but like you, she didn’t listen to a thing we told her.”
“It’s too bad her offspring didn’t parish with her in the car wreck like it should have.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “It would have been a lot less expensive.”
“You are a big disappointment. You should have listened to us.” Audrey’s father turned to the man. “Make sure you eliminate both of them. Once we have proof they are dead, we will pay the other half of what we owe you plus the extra. Now, if you will excuse us, we have a prior engagement we must attend.”
Audrey glared at the man and woman as best she could. “One day you will get what you deserve. You will pay for murdering your daughter and her mate.” She was beyond angry. She had never felt the level of hatred as she now did toward her parents. She had always in her heart known Ellie and Daniel’s deaths weren’t an accident but now she had absolute proof her parents were responsible. She watched them turn and leave without even a single glance back at her.
A few minutes later she heard two car doors close and an engine come to life. The crunch of tires on gravel grated against Audrey’s aching head.
“Looks like it’s just you and me.” The man smiled. “Too bad we don’t have the time, because if we did, I would love to fuck you even if you aren’t a shifter. I would love to hear you beg for your life as I slowly gutted you.” He actually looked disappointed.
“You’re a sick bastard,” growled Audrey.
“Like I haven’t been called that or worse. Now, get out of the truck.”
Audrey shook her head.
“I’ve already showed you once who the boss was. Don’t make me do it again. I won’t be so easy on you this time.” The man pulled a gun out of his waistband and pointed it at her. “Get out.”
Audrey stared at the gun. She wouldn’t let him get Seth. She had to do something to stop the man. Slowly she climbed out of the truck. Luckily he hadn’t tied her hands together. He thought he had beaten her into submission. Audrey used her hands to brace herself so she wouldn’t fall flat on her face.
“Don’t even think about doing something stupid. I have no problem shooting you here and now. You’re nothing but a filthy shifter sympathizer or worse. That makes you trash that needs to be taken out and burned.”
“Yet you wouldn’t have a problem fucking me or a shifter. What does that make you?” Audrey winced as she stood up. A wave of dizziness swept over her. She closed her good eye and willed the dizziness to go away.
“Don’t try pretending you’re hurt. It won’t do you any good. We’ve got some coyote hunting to do.” The man laughed. “I hope he runs. It’s so much more sporting when they try to run away. I love the thrill of the chase.”
A cold chill rippled through Audrey’s body. The man was excited at the thought of killing Seth. He actually wanted Seth to run so he could hunt him down as if Seth wasn’t human but some sort of game animal. Hatred and anger slowly replaced the chill of fear of what would happen to Seth if she didn’t do something.
“Move to the bridge. We have an exchange to pretend to make.” He grabbed Audrey’s shoulder and shoved her ahead of him.
“You’re not going to get away with this.”
“I already have,” gloated the man. “When I finish here and collect my money, I’m going to find me a steak house and order the biggest T-bone they have with
a loaded baked potato on the side and a large slice of apple pie for dessert. Yelp! That’ll make a mighty fine celebration meal.” He smacked his lips. “I can’t wait.”
Audrey grimaced. Never again would she be able to eat a T-bone and baked potato ever again. If she survived. She saw the old camel back bridge looming in front of her. The dank smell of old wood and river water caused her to wrinkle her nose. The bridge was no longer in use. The county had built a new modern style bridge about a hundred feet away. Instead of tearing down the old bridge, the county left it up for foot traffic. Huge poles had been cemented into the ground in front of the entry points to prevent vehicles from driving over the bridge. Audrey was sure if they hadn’t been there, the man would have driven onto the bridge.
“Quit stalling.” He shoved the barrel of the gun into the small of her back.
Each beat of Audrey’s heart sent adrenaline coursing through her battered body. With each step she knew she was running out of time. She had to do something. She had to protect Seth and Forrest.
She had to warn them they were walking into a trap. Rescuing her was not an option. Forrest needed to protect Seth.
The man shoved her again.
“Quit pushing me,” growled Audrey. She knew Forrest would have been proud of her growl.
“I told you no stalling.”
“And what are you going to do? Beat me? Kill me?” Audrey slowly turned around. “You’ve already done the first and you’ve bragged about the second.” She glared at the man. She saw a thin layer of sweat glistening on his forehead.
“Turn around and get to walking.” He motioned the gun at her.
“I won’t let you do it. I won’t let you hurt Seth or anyone else.” Audrey’s voice was colder than it had ever been. An eerie clarity filled her. Deep down she knew the odds of her surviving this were not in her favor, but if she could take the man out with her, then her death would be worth it.
“I’ve got the gun. What do you think a fat cow like you can do?” He waved the gun at her as if that was supposed to scare her.
“Run! It’s a trap!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.
Mated Hearts (Durant Brothers Book 1) Page 9