Heartsridge Shifters: Cade (South-One Bears Book 2)

by Olivia Arran

  “And if he brings a team of rogues with him?”

  “At least we’ll know who they are so we can watch them. Deal with them.”

  Law conceded Austin’s point with a short nod.

  Carter took control of the room again, his decision short and sweet, “Agreed. We stay together. Now, any news on other purists hiding in our midst?” He made it sound like a crappy B-movie, but it drew the much needed chuckle from the room.

  At our silence, he snapped his file shut and shoved his pen behind his ear. “Good. It might be that they’re working in pairs and that when Morris and friend didn’t show for the rendezvous, they got spooked.”

  My gut was telling me different, but I bit my tongue. What the hell did I know?

  The meeting broke up and we made our way to our rec room, Austin leading the way.

  Nate bumped shoulders with Brent, earning a growl. “How’d you get a message to your brother? Carrier pigeon? Telegram? Did you send someone?”

  “I sent a fucking email.”

  “You didn’t try friending him online so you could IM him?” Nate was pushing it. Again. But a glimmer of a smile was twitching on Brent’s lips.

  “You’re a fucking dick, y’know that, right?”

  Our resident joker spread his hands as if to say whatever. “I’m just saying…”

  “Why didn’t you just say that you want to send my brother dick pics.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Sounds like you’d rather fuck my brother.”

  I tuned them out, rubbing at the bridge of my nose. Turning to Austin, I tried explaining what I’d been unable to say earlier, “Mina told me what Morris is like. No way has he caved.”

  Austin nodded, grinding his teeth together with a barely contained snarl. “I know. It doesn’t feel right.”

  “None of this feels right.”

  He grunted, then, “Truth.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Mina

  Clothes rustled at the periphery of my sleep addled mind, the sound of someone padding through my bedroom on silent feet.

  Biting back a grin, I forced myself to lay still, waiting for him to slide into bed with me, already hot for his mouth on my skin.

  The footsteps paused.

  I imagined the view through his eyes. I’d dressed in a cute little tank top and shorts, unable to bring myself to sleep naked when Liam could walk in any second, but easily removable given the right motivation. In fact, the shorts were baggy enough for him to slide his hand up inside. Or his mouth.

  The footsteps paused by the side of the bed.

  He took a breath.

  His hands would be on me any second, soothing the fire his words had built earlier this evening. Any … second … now…

  Another sucked in breath.

  From the other side of the room.

  Confusion jabbed skewers into my brain.

  Panic shrieked through my head and the world tilted. I opened my mouth to scream and a hand slammed over my mouth. A muffled screech ripped its way free. Blood filled my mouth, my own tongue bleeding. I tried to lift my arms, my eyelids, but nothing worked. Sickly sweetness smothered my nose, choking every sucked in breath.

  Time slowed, blurring as I fought to stay awake.

  The ground hummed beneath me, vibrating through my bones. No. Not the ground. A car. We were moving.

  “Dose her again. She’s waking up.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding.” Cloth rammed against my face, then black.

  Nothing but my screams.

  Cade!

  “We’re not getting out the front. Everything’s locked down thanks to Morris’ fuck up.”

  A sound of a fist smacking bone, then, “Show some fucking respect.”

  “What? He’s a fucking idiot, getting caught. It could undo everything we’ve— Fuck. She’s awake.”

  Sweetness stole my breath, sending me reeling back into darkness.

  My head bounced, pain behind my eyes threatening to spear into my skull and splinter my brain. Stomach heaving, I swallowed back the bile as I tried to force my brain awake. Fuzziness clung to me, a chemical blur that deadened my senses and left me weaker than a kitten. What had they given me? An elephant tranquilizer? I remembered something sweet. A cloth. But human drugs didn’t work on our kind…

  Forcing my eyes open, I nearly threw up. The ground lurched below me, the lump digging into my stomach someone’s shoulder, the hard pressure on my legs a hand. Too near my ass, though that appeared to be the least of my worries. I was still full clothed, thank God, but upside down, without a clue where we were. In the forest somewhere, judging by the trees that were flashing by in a blur. Craning my neck, I blinked up at the moon that shone round and full in snatched glimpses between the canopy of trees. Earthy bark rose up with every pounding footstep, along with the overwhelming stench of sweat and musk that emanated from the man holding me captive.

  Screw it. This time, there was no holding back, the motion and smell and panic triggering a reaction I didn’t bother to restrain. I retched, stomach heaving as I emptied my lunch down the man’s back.

  I hit the floor in three seconds flat.

  “Fucking bitch threw up on me!” A man towered over me, stocky with dark hair that curled from his head and from the front of his too tight t-shirt. With a scruffy beard and a face that even a mother would find hard loving, he sneered at me, pulling his foot back with clear intent.

  Weakness still dragged at my limbs; no way was I jumping to my feet and fighting, so I did the only other reasonable thing. I dragged my legs up to my chest and curled myself into a ball.

  “No.” The other man came into view, his silver eyes flashing under the light of the moon. Strong, with a hard face, a nose that was decidedly crooked, and eyes a little too wide spaced to be called classically handsome, he was obviously the one in charge, if this little scuffle was anything to go by. Looking me over with a dispassionate assessment, he dragged me to my feet, uncaring of whether my legs stayed underneath me. “Morris wants her alive.”

  “He didn’t say anything about unharmed,” his accomplice spat out, grabbing a handful of leaves and swiping at the back of his jeans.

  “He didn’t have to. You’re not to touch her. You know how he gets.”

  “If he manages—”

  “Giles is going in.”

  “Lucky fucker.”

  I tried to follow the conversation despite my woozy head, locking the names away in my memory for later. “What’s your name?” It came out a slurred mumble, my chin crashing down against my chest. I tried to yank it back up, but failed.

  A hand threaded into my hair and my head whipped up. My eyes watered, but I blinked away the tears before they had chance to form. Ever heard of whiplash, asshole?

  “Why do you want to know?” Moist breath on my cheek had me wrinkling my nose.

  “So I know what to call you when they lock you up and throw away the key.”

  The man growled low in his throat, looking like he already regretted having saved me from his friend’s boot.

  “You can call me Sir.”

  Over my dead body. “I think I’ll call you Bob,” I declared. Whatever the hell they’d given me had loosened my tongue and all my best lines—the one’s I usually kept locked up inside my head—were spilling out, free and easy. I raised my arm, angling my finger toward his friend, the digit wavering in the air like a drunk bumblebee. “You, I’m going to call—”

  His hand tightened in my hair. “Let me guess. Bill? You’re not the smartest button in the box, are you, sweetheart?”

  “Don’t call me that!” I hadn’t meant to shriek—the sound almost split my poor head in two—but Cade’s endearment on his tongue… I was going to be sick again. He dropped me, letting my knees hit the floor as I hunched over, until I was dry heaving and my throat sore.

  Rough hands yanked me up and I landed over his shoulder. “Let’s go … sweetheart.”

  “Why do you want me?
”

  “Morris wants you,” the man behind us answered, earning a sharp look from his friend.

  Bill shrugged. “What? It’s not like she’s going to get the chance to tell anyone.”

  “I haven’t seen Morris in years,” I protested.

  Bob, the one carrying me, answered this time, “You’re his. And if you haven’t taken a good look around lately, there’s not too many suitable fox shifters left.”

  Suitable. It could only mean one thing. I clamped my lips together, waiting for the nausea to pass. “Why doesn’t he just change someone?”

  The flippant answer had my heart twisting. “He’s tried. Not a single one survived. Seems Morris can’t control himself when he’s under the blood lust.”

  I cautiously sniffed him. “You’re a bear. Why are you helping him?” As purists, they shouldn’t be mixing.

  “Because needs change. Don’t worry, we don’t share our women.” And that explained why they hadn’t looked at me in that way once. Relief flooded me, for the moment.

  I heard the creak of a door opening, then my ass hit a pile of musty blankets piled in a corner. We were in a shack that had seen better days, parts of its roof missing and holes in the floor. A large spider crawled along the wall, winding its way toward me as it wove its web.

  Bob crouched down in the corner, digging through a pile of what must be supplies. Pulling out a canister, he chuckled. “Thanks for reminding us, sweetheart.” A hiss filled the space as he sprayed first himself, then the other man, then advanced on me.

  I threw my arms up, scrambling back. At least my legs had decided it was time to wake up and join in the party. “What is it?”

  He tossed it in the air, catching it in his other hand. “It’s harmless.”

  “It masks our scent,” Bill piped up from where he had slid down to sitting, watching me with guarded eyes.

  Bob rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. His gaze snapped back to mine, his mouth sliding up into a smile, and fear slid its icy fingers down my spine. There was nothing kind or good in that smile. No hint of humanity rested behind his eyes. He was cold. Not detached—he was enjoying this—but he didn’t care either way. A sociopath at his finest. “You could smell my bear.” The spray hit me, coating my body. They were taking away my scent, the only way to track me!

  I eyed the door.

  “Try it. I won’t prevent the beating my colleague wants to give you this time.” It was a warning, a promise.

  I couldn’t run. Not yet. Not while they were watching me. Shivering, I slid my arm across my waist, using the movement to suspiciously check my watch. Anytime now Cade would be sneaking in my window for our rendezvous. And I wouldn’t be there.

  And he would start looking for me.

  All I had to do was make sure I remained in Heartsridge and stayed alive.

  He’d find me. I trusted him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Cade

  Anticipation had carried me up into Mina’s bedroom, but dread carried my roar of anger through the house.

  Lights flicked on, but it didn’t matter. I already knew.

  She wasn’t here. Ignoring her family, I pressed a hand to the mattress. It still held a trace of her warmth. She had been stolen from her room not too long ago.

  “Mina?” Granny was looking around the room, as if expecting her granddaughter to jump out of the closet. With her silvery hair unbound and flowing loose around her shoulders, she looked younger than her years. And more fragile, until she sniffed the air, her lip curling with disgust. “Nothing.”

  “They have scent blockers.” We’d been stupid. Fuck. Forget stupid. We’d been reckless. Thinking that we’d contained the threat.

  “Who took her?” Liam voiced the obvious, still wiping sleep out of his eyes but fast gaining a sharp fierceness as he watched me comb every spare inch of the room.

  Leaning into the mattress, I inhaled, filling my lungs and holding it there. Something danced at the back of my mouth, a scent that eluded me, slipping out of grasp every time I tried to pin it down. An elbow landed in my gut, pushing me out of the way.

  “Almonds.” Granny pushed herself back up to standing, worry making her wobble. Liam tucked his hand under her arm, easing her down to sitting. He looked up at me, expectation clear on his face. Find her.

  Pulling out my phone, I placed the call.

  Carter answered on the first ring. “Cade?”

  “Mina’s been taken.” The words were like bullets through my chest, each one carving out a special kind of anguish that promised to never abate until I found her.

  Carter let out a string of curses blue enough to make a sinner wince. “Everyone will be looking for her in the next two minutes. We’ll find her.”

  Disconnecting, I speed dialed Austin and filled him in.

  A pause, then, “Carter didn’t tell you, did he?”

  Storming over to the window, I scanned the street, searching for a clue on where to fucking start. At Austin’s carefully worded question, I froze, the level of dread in my bloodstream doubling until it was a wonder my heart still pumped. “What?”

  “Morris escaped. Twenty minutes ago.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Mina

  “Wakey-wakey, rise and shine, bitch.”

  I’d fallen asleep. Actually fallen asleep. Or they’d drugged me again. I tried to remember, but the sharp pain in my head warned me off. Did it really matter? Straightening up from a slouch, I shuffled my feet back until my knees hit my chest, wrapping my arms around them like a barrier.

  The man who’d woken me was inches away from my face, peering me with a look in his eyes I didn’t want to try and figure out.

  Bill. Or was it Bob? Did I care?

  I lunged, catching the end of his nose with my fist.

  He reeled back, clutching his nose. “Fucking bitch!” His fist swung out.

  I ducked, covering my face.

  The blow never came. Squinting, I peeled my fingers apart.

  The other man towered over his colleague. “No touching, remember?”

  “She fucking hit me.”

  “Poor baby. The little woman tapped your nose,” Bob—I was pretty sure that’s what I’d named him, the man who I hadn’t thrown up on—mocked.

  “Fuck you.” Bill glowered at me, and in his eyes I saw a promise of pain.

  “Grow a pair.” Stomping over to the far wall, Bob slouched down to sitting. Digging a knife out of his pocket, he proceeded to skin an apple, the peel spiraling between his knees in a never ending ring of red. He caught my eye. “Want some?”

  I jerked back, shaking my head.

  Bill paced the room, agitation clear as he rolled his shoulders and swung his arms back and forth. “What’s taking that bastard so long.”

  “Shut it.”

  For once, I agreed with Bob. I needed silence so I could think. Cade would be looking for me, but he wouldn’t have a clue where to start. It was up to me to give him that clue. Curling my fingers into my chest, I hugged myself to keep warm. My thin tank top and shorts weren’t doing a thing to keep out the cool breeze that rattled in through the gaping holes that most likely used to be windows. This place looked like it had been abandoned a very long time ago, if the layer of dirt scattered over the floor was anything to go by. “Where are we?”

  “Somewhere no one is going to find you.”

  “Steven—”

  Bill—now known as Steven—whirled around. “You fucking gave her my name.”

  “Like you said, who’s she going to tell?”

  The other man sneered, rubbing at his nose. I hoped it still hurt like hell. “Okay, then, Pete.”

  Cool dismissal met his attempt at bravado.

  Pete was ice cold. Collected. Forget Steven, Pete was the one who would give me the most trouble.

  “I need the bathroom,” I blurted out.

  A dry chuckle met my outburst. “Seriously? That’s how you’re going to play this?”

 
; “Let the bitch pee herself,” Steven snarled, moving closer to me, but not close enough that I could take another swing at his face.

  The knife flashed in his friend’s hand, twirling around his fingers. “It’s only right that she try and escape. Why not now?”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  The bigger man sighed, raising his eyes to the ceiling, or what was left of it. “Give me fucking strength. She’s going to try and escape. It’s inevitable. I’d rather she tried it now, than when we’re on the move.”

  “Why? She hasn’t moved a muscle since we got here.”

  “Except to bust your nose.”

  “Lucky shot.”

  With any luck, they’d carry on arguing and wouldn’t notice me edging toward the door.

  Pete smirked, the knife whirling faster and faster. “She’s got more guts in her little finger than you’ve got in that thing you like to call a dick.”

  I was starting to wonder if these guys were actually on the same side.

  He continued, not pausing for breath, “You can see it in her eyes. She’s a fighter. Not that you ever bother to actually see what’s fucking in front of you.”

  Steven spluttered, his jaw working but nothing coming out, until, “What the fuck are you—”

  “Like the fact that she’s reached the door and is about to make a run for it.” The knife glinted as it pointed at me. I froze in place.

  Steven spun around.

  I ran.

  I fucking ran. My feet barely hit the ground. I was flying, arms pumping and tears streaming out of my eyes as branches lashed at my face, ripping into my skin, oblivious to my need to hurry. I could hear one of the men behind me, his heavy bulk pounding the earth like a heartbeat echoing in my ears.

  The forest rose up around me, surrounding me in a blur of shadowy branches and tempting hiding places. Wait. The spray.

  I dove into a thicket, squirreling my way inside, pulling the branches and leaves down behind me. Then I froze. I didn’t breathe. Didn’t allow the whimper to escape, trapped it in my throat and forced it back down.