Into the Unknown

by Bethany Shaw

  “We’re leaving,” Gene said as the car roared to life.

  The car dinged as the back door opened. “I am not going with you.”

  “There isn’t a choice. Juarez’s men might have backup on the way. They’re right behind us; it will only take them a few moments to regroup. I’m sorry I upset you, but did you really want Adrian around the fighting? He could have been hurt,” Gene explained.

  Natalia pursed her lips, glaring at him in the rearview mirror for a long moment. With a huff, she yanked the door closed. She twisted to hook Adrian’s car seat into the sedan. “You did that to protect Adrian?”

  “You’re both members of my pack. We protect our own, Talia. I knew you’d want him to be safe, no matter what.”

  “You deceived me,” Natalia whispered.

  “No, you didn’t trust me,” Gene countered.

  Natalia situated herself into the back seat. Gene watched her check Adrian over from the rearview mirror. She swiped at her face as a tear rolled down her cheek. The alpha female lifted her head and caught his eye, snarling in response.

  “How was I to know?” she asked after a long moment, annoyed.

  “I thought we’d come to an understanding,” Gene spoke quietly.

  Natalia lowered her eyes, and Gene sighed, focusing on the tollbooth at the exit. Frustrated, he pulled out his wallet. He’d thought they’d made headway, but—at the end of the day—it had all meant nothing.

  Chapter Twelve

  Gene grumbled as his cell phone rang. He quickly scanned the freeway signs, steering them to the right. Lifting himself up from the driver’s seat, he reached into his back pocket to retrieve his blaring cell phone. Devon’s name was illuminated on the screen, and the alpha immediately hit the send button.

  “Dev.” He answered. Hitting the speakerphone feature, he gripped the phone and the wheel in the same hand.

  “I got your text and I’ve been calling non-stop, but it wouldn’t go through,” Devon replied. “Is everything okay?”

  “It is now,” Gene said. “Juarez had men waiting for us when we got off the plane.”

  “Shit.”

  “We managed to get away, but barely. We can’t have another run-in like that.”

  “How did they know?” Devon growled.

  “Is it possible your credit card was traced?” Natalia asked quietly.

  “No, I don’t think so. The card I used to book our tickets is a prepaid card. I highly doubt Juarez could track it without jumping through a lot of hoops,” Gene sighed.

  “Even if he did, he would need connections with the police, and the cops would need to get documentation to give to the credit card companies.” Devon said. “The only people who knew you were coming were Lark and my mom. Neither of them would have…” he stopped his voice trailing off.

  “What is it?” Gene asked.

  “It’s one of the girls,” Devon whispered.

  “What do you mean?” Gene asked, confused.

  “I told my mom while she was helping Maddie reorganize her room. We stepped into the hall, but—”

  “She listened in,” Gene cut him off. “Knowing what I know now, it doesn’t surprise me that he got his hooks into those girls.” Gene shook his head. Nausea and disgust rolled through him at the other alpha’s actions. Did he have no boundaries?

  “I’m going to question her,” Devon grunted into the phone. “Who knows what all she’s given to him?”

  “Dev, wait! She’s just a kid. How old is she? Fifteen? She’s young, impressionable. Talk to her, but have your mom or Lark help you. Don’t make it an interrogation. She’s as much a victim as the rest of us,” Gene said. He scrubbed a hand down his face as his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror.

  Natalia’s chestnut eyes met his as she shook her head. “It may not be easy. He has probably filled her head with lies.”

  “She’s probably right,” Devon said. “Juarez is manipulative. Whatever he’s told her, he’s painted himself as the hero and us as the bad guys.”

  “Dev, we both know you’re not a people person. Don’t scare the child,” Gene warned.

  “I’m not going to hurt her,” Devon scoffed. “But we need to find out what is going on.”

  “Find out what he promised her—how she contacts him,” Natalia said, leaning forward so her elbows rested on the center console.

  “Do you think that Daniel and Maddie were both spies?” Gene asked.

  “I don’t know. I never really got to finish questioning Daniel. He took off the first chance he got,” Devon snapped into the phone.

  “Was he running because he was afraid or because he was guilty?” Gene pointed out.

  “Because he was guilty,” Natalia hissed. “He is not a good man.”

  “He’s proven himself in the past,” Gene replied.

  “I don’t know. He never denied my accusations. I’ll look into it but…I don’t know,” Devon said, sighing loudly.

  “It won’t hurt to investigate further.” Gene flexed his hands on the steering wheel, his eyes flitting to the road signs. “We’re going to take a roundabout way home. Hopefully, we’ll lose any stragglers as we go.”

  “Be careful,” Devon replied.

  “You too.”

  Gene hung up the phone and placed it in the cup holder.

  “I should have guessed Juarez got to one of those girls. He was very nice to me when I first came to his home. He feeds on your inhibitions,” Natalia muttered as she slunk back into her seat.

  “It’s not your fault,” Gene assured her.

  They sat quietly for a long moment. The loud hum of the engine filled the otherwise silent car.

  “Where are we going?” Natalia asked as she focused her gaze on the darkened night.

  “It’s a very roundabout way, but I’m taking us to Missouri, we’ll cut down to Arkansas—and Louisiana if we need too—then back across Texas. Juarez will probably expect us to take a more direct route. This should help.” At least, he hoped it would help. The more time he spent with Natalia, the more he wanted to protect her—shield her from all the horrible things going on around them. He just hoped he could.

  He peered at Natalia in the rearview mirror as she rifled through the remnants of Adrian’s bag. “As long as we are not captured, I do not care how long it takes us. We will need to get a few things for Adrian, though. His food and diapers were in the diaper bag and I lost some of them in the parking garage.”

  “Of course. We’ll stop as soon as it’s safe, hopefully before he gets hungry.”

  ***

  “Are you sure this is a good idea? She’s just a kid.” Lark commented taking a seat in one of the three chairs arranged around the large cherry desk.

  “She’s been spying on us Lark. We need to know what she’s told Juarez and why,” Devon said as he sank down into the chair on the opposite side. “I asked you and my mom to be here so she doesn’t feel intimidated by me.”

  Lark smirked. “I think she’ll be scared, regardless.”

  “I’m not that scary.”

  Lark bit her lip to suppress a laugh. “You forget I’ve been opposite you in an argument.”

  Devon’s eyebrow rose, his blue-green eyes meeting hers. “You didn’t seem fazed.”

  “No, I suppose I was too riled up, but I can see where you could appear threatening to someone much younger.”

  The office door creaked open. Lark turned in her chair to watch as Maddie and Claire entered the office.

  “What is this?” Maddie asked as Claire shut the door behind them.

  Claire placed a hand on the younger girl’s shoulder and guided her to a chair. “I think you know what this is about sweetie. Sit down. We need to talk to you.”

  Maddie swallowed as tears shone in her eyes. Claire nudged her to the middle chair, helping her to sit before taking the other seat.

  “I know that you’ve been talking to Fernando Juarez,” Devon stated. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

 
; “I…” Maddie started, glancing to Claire.

  “It’s okay. Nobody is mad at you. We’re very worried, though,” Claire assured her, placing a hand on the girl’s trembling one.

  “Did you overhear me talking to Claire earlier?” Devon asked.

  Maddie nodded as she fixated her gaze on her hands.

  “And did you tell Juarez what you heard?”

  Maddie nodded again as Claire sighed, covering her mouth.

  “Juarez sent men after Gene, Natalia, and Adrian, Maddie. They attacked them,” Devon said quietly.

  “What? No!” Maddie’s head popped up, and her bottom lip began to tremble. “He said no one was going to get hurt. He just wants to help Natalia. Natalia’s sick. She needs his help—he has her medicine!”

  “She’s not sick,” Lark whispered. “Juarez kidnapped her from her home over a year ago. Talia just wants to get away from him.”

  “But they’re family,” Maddie explained as she looked around the desk at them.

  “They are.” Devon acknowledged. “But, sometimes, family doesn’t have our best interests at heart. Do you know what Fernando Juarez does to the women on his homestead?”

  “He helps them to find mates. Good, strong mates. I am going be a mate with one of his grandsons. I see how things work here. Do you think I want to be shackled with an impure human like you,” Maddie sneered, turning to Lark. “God forbid you ever become pregnant. It’s bad enough Natalia already tainted this pack with a half-breed—”

  Lark’s mouth popped open, and she sat back as heat crept across her face. Was that how others saw her?

  Devon growled low in his throat, slamming his fists down on the desk, effectively cutting Maddie off. “Being a wolf does not make someone a good mate,” Devon said standing up so he towered over her. “A good, strong, mate is someone who is fierce and loves you and is willing to do anything to protect and help you. It makes no difference if they’re human or wolf.”

  Claire squeezed Maddie’s hand. “Devon is right. Lark may be a human,” she said, meeting Lark’s gaze, “but she is a strong woman and, we’re blessed to have her in our pack. There is more to having a mate than strength and what you consider acceptable DNA. I, for one, would rather see my children madly in love—and loved in return—than mated to someone based on genetics or birthright.”

  “So, in exchange for information, Juarez promised you to his grandson?” Lark asked, steering them back to the original conversation.

  Maddie glared at her as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes.”

  “Did he also mention that you’d probably be passed around to mate with all of his grandsons?” Devon asked.

  “What?” Maddie gasped.

  “Devon,” Claire chastised.

  “It’s important that she knows what she’s getting into, Mother.”

  Maddie shook her head and looked around the room. “I don’t believe you! It’s not true!”

  Claire licked her lips, grasping both of Maddie’s hands in her own. “I’m afraid it is, sweetie.”

  “No! He is a good man. An honest alpha like Emmett was,” Maddie snapped.

  “Oh Maddie, Emmett was not a good man. He would’ve sold you to the highest bidder any day, and that is exactly what Fernando Juarez will do to you,” Claire exclaimed. “With Emmett and Fernando, you will only see the side of them they want you to see. There is another man who comes out behind closed doors child—you do not want to meet him.”

  “If you continue down this path, Maddie, you will become a breeder. Do you know what that entails?” Devon fumed.

  “Enough, Devon,” Claire reproached, holding up a hand. “She is still a child. We speak the truth, Maddie. You have known me for years. Would I lie to you?”

  Maddie lowered her head as a sob tore free from her throat. She shook her head mumbling at the floor.

  “We don’t want that to happen to you. In fact, I’ll make sure it doesn’t, but you need to help us with Juarez,” Devon said. “What have you been telling him?”

  Claire handed Maddie a tissue. “It’s okay, take your time. We are here to protect you—to help you.”

  Maddie sniffled as she dabbed at her face. “I tell him things I overhear. Like today. Things that are important. He asks about how many people live here, and what you and Gene do during the day.”

  “Are you willing to help us Maddie, or should I turn you over to Juarez now?” Devon asked as he sat back down in his chair.

  “I…I want to help,” she whispered, looking at Claire.

  Claire wrapped her arms around Maddie and pulled her in for a hug. “It’s okay, sweetie.”

  “I’m going to need the phone that you use to contact Juarez. From now on, you will only contact him while you’re with me or with Gene,” Devon ordered, crossing his arms over his chest. “Are you willing to do that?”

  “Should we really keep her in this?” Lark asked, watching the frightened girl. “She’s just a kid.”

  Devon let out a long breath. “At this moment, I don’t think she has much of a choice. But, Maddie, I promise we won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I don’t have a phone,” Maddie mumbled into Claire’s shoulder.

  “How have you been contacting him then?” Claire asked gently, pushing Maddie back as she gave the girl a stern look.

  Maddie licked her lips and looked around the room. Wiping at her face with the back of her hand, she mumbled, “I use other people’s phones. I have Fernando’s phone number written down. He…he told me to use Daniel’s phone. I snuck into his room and called from it when I could. Is Daniel in trouble because of me? Is that why he left? He didn’t know I was doing it.” She turned to Claire and buried her face in the other woman’s shoulder.

  Devon leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he asked, “How did you contact Juarez today?”

  Maddie swallowed. “I used your phone, Mrs. Claire. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” Claire crooned as she cradled the young girl to her. “It’s going to be okay.”

  ***

  Natalia followed Gene into the large suite. Setting Adrian’s seat on the red carpet, she took in the rest of the room. A brown suede couch sat in front of a large-screen TV. The kitchen was beyond the couch; there were two darkened bedrooms at the far end of the entryway.

  “Do you have a preference on which bedroom you want?” Gene asked as he juggled their things in his hands.

  “Whichever is fine,” she said, eyeing the assortment of items they’d purchased from the store.

  Gene nodded and led the way to the bedroom on the right. “I think this is the master bedroom. Both rooms have an in-suite bathroom.”

  Gene set the bags down on the bed and began to open the new pack and play.

  “You do not have to do that,” Natalia mumbled, setting Adrian down next to the bed. The infant had fussed for most of the drive, and Natalia had finally been able to calm him down by feeding him while they shopped. He was now thankfully asleep in his carrier. Whether or not he would stay asleep remained to be seen.

  “It’s fine. I don’t mind,” Gene replied.

  Natalia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I am sorry about earlier.”

  “There is no need to apologize,” Gene sighed.

  “I was not thinking. Adrian’s safety is my first priority. The leader, Malakai…he is my brother. He is one of the men who murdered my mother and Antonio. I was…I was scared,” she said, her voice thick as a lump formed in her throat.

  Gene paused, his eyes lifting to hers. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”

  “I truly am sorry for smacking you and for not trusting you,” she said sincerely.

  Gene continued working on the pack and play, extending the crib out and placing the mattress inside. “Its fine, Talia. I’m not angry.” He pulled out a blue sheet from the plastic shopping bag tearing the wrapping off of it before placing it in the bed. “I think it’s done. You shoul
d probably look it over; I’ve never assembled one of these before.”

  Natalia studied him for a long moment. His shoulders were tense as he placed his hands on the edge of the brown and blue plaid pack and play. Gene sighed, meeting her eyes.

  “I do trust you, Gene, and I want you to know how sorry I am for reacting the way I did. I was overwhelmed earlier, and scared. You put Adrian first today—protected him. And, for that, I am grateful. Thank you,” Natalia said, placing her hand on top of his.

  “I already told you, I’m not angry. I do hope that, one day, you will trust me, but I can understand why you don’t.” Gene squeezed her hand and smiled. “You should probably get him to bed. I was going to order room service. Do you want anything?”

  “A hamburger and fries,” Natalia said, smiling.

  ***

  Natalia wove her hair into a loose braid before giving herself one final glance in the mirror. It shouldn’t matter how she looked, but it did. She wanted to look attractive for Gene. Thankfully, Adrian had gone to bed nicely, barely fussing when she’d woken him to change and feed him. She felt refreshed, having used her free time to shower and change into her pajamas, she’d purchased pink and white checkered pants with a white tank top at the store.

  Satisfied with how she looked, she padded softly through her bedroom, taking a moment to check on Adrian before walking out into the front room.

  Gene lounged across the couch with his head on the armrest, and his legs sprawled out across the cushions.

  “Hey,” he said as he pushed himself up. His shirt rode up, giving Natalia a view of sculpted abs. Wetting her lips, she shifted her gaze to the coffee table. “Food should be here any minute. They said forty-five minutes about forty minutes ago.”

  “I’m starved,” Natalia said, sitting down on the free end of the couch. Tucking her knees up under her chin, she wrapped her arms around herself.

  “How are you feeling?” Gene asked.

  “I am a little sore, but nothing serious. Better than the last time.”

  “You did good. Where did you learn to fight?”

  “Antonio. His father taught at a kick boxing school.”