“We are.” Craig glanced over his shoulder at the dragon who shuffled impatiently. “We don’t know who is responsible for this. Gina suspects it’s her brother.”
“Harvey?” Red asked in surprise. “He’s the one who alerted the authorities that his sister was missing.”
“A good way to shift suspicion.” Craig sighed heavily. “If it’s not him, then we don’t know who it is.”
“Joaquin couldn’t have been the target?” Red folded his arms across his chest as he studied the two birds who lay at the feet of the massive dragon. “We could always make them squawk.”
“Tempting. But let’s see how this plays out first. I’ll keep a close eye on both Gina and Joaquin.” Craig shook Red’s hand and hugged him once more. “I owe you.”
“Craig…” Red began. “Be careful. If it is Gina’s brother who is responsible he might make another move when you get to Bear Creek.”
“I’ll look out for hired thugs.” Craig nodded as he headed toward the dragon.
“Or he might try something himself. He’s a good liar if he is responsible, so don’t let him see Gina alone.”
“Wait. He’s here?” Craig asked in surprise.
“Yes, he drove up here with Gina’s assistant.” Red cocked his head to one side. “I know that look. And I’m asking you to keep it under control.”
Craig was about ready to breathe fire himself. Had Harvey come to Bear Creek to cover his tracks and look like a concerned brother? From what Gina said they didn’t share a close relationship, and he resented his sister for taking over the company.
Let’s hope we can sense a liar in the same way we can sense a shifter, his bear said savagely as he gnashed his teeth in Craig’s head.
Our senses are good, but not always that good, Craig told his bear. But we’ll find out the truth no matter what.
He jogged across to the dragon and placed his hands on his scales. Warmth swept across his skin from the place they connected. He’d always thought dragons would be cold-blooded, but that wasn’t true.
“Hurry, Craig,” Linda urged. “Joaquin needs a doctor.”
“I’ve radioed ahead,” Red shouted. “Flint will meet you with a medical crew. The dragon knows where to go.”
“Thanks.” Craig hauled himself onto the dragon, immediately noting how pale and weak Joaquin looked as he clung to one of the dragon’s horny spines. Worried he might fall off, Craig positioned himself behind Joaquin. Until this whole mess was cleared up, and Joaquin released him from his contract, he was still under Craig’s protection.
With Joaquin secure in Craig’s arms, the dragon crouched down like a coiled spring before launching himself off the snow-covered ground. The thrill of flight filled every atom in Craig’s body as the ground rushed away from them. The steady thrum of the dragon’s wingbeats filled his ears as they rose higher and higher until they soared over the edge of the valley and began their descent toward Bear Creek.
In the back of his head he congratulated himself on the accuracy of his prediction, they were almost exactly where he figured they were. If the crevasse and the other shifters hadn’t become obstacles in their way, Craig was certain he’d have gotten them home safely within a couple of days.
But he wasn’t about to ask the dragon to set them down and let him prove it. No, he was more than happy to sit back and enjoy the journey on the back of a dragon.
A dragon. That was never going to get old.
They flew on, down the mountain. As they neared Bear Creek, Craig’s phone burst into life and a string of texts came through, followed by a call from Flint, the guy who ran Bear Creek Protectors.
With some difficulty he fished his phone out of his pocket, while hanging on to Joaquin who seemed to be slipping unconscious. “Hello.”
“Craig, thank goodness,” the gravelly voice of Flint was a welcome sound.
“Thanks for sending a search party out to look for us,” Craig replied. “They arrived just in time.”
“You’re welcome. Red said he would keep looking until he found you. Sounds like you had a bit of trouble.” Wasn’t that an understatement from Flint?
“Nothing we couldn’t handle.” It was an exaggeration, but he wasn’t going to tell his boss he couldn’t handle himself in a fight.
Flint chuckled. “That’s not how Red told the story.”
“You know how Red likes to impress people.” Craig gave a short laugh. “Don’t tell him I said that.”
“I won’t. Now, how far out are you?” Flint asked, returning to business.
“We’re close. Where are we meeting you?” Craig asked.
“The dragon knows. We’re in a clearing on the higher slopes. The dragon shouldn’t be seen in daylight, so he’ll bring you in steep and fast. But don’t worry, he knows how to handle himself. Just you all hold tight.”
“We will.” Craig stuffed his phone in his pocket and told the others to hold tight, then he wrapped both arms around Joaquin, cradling him against his body and hoping he wasn’t damaging his ribs any more than they already were.
Flint wasn’t joking about the landing. The dragon swooped down, hugging the treetops as Bear Creek came into view in the distance. Craig pushed his senses outward, trying to locate anyone who might see the winged beast and its passengers, but all he sensed was a group of four people in a clearing, which turned out to be the rescue party.
Relief flooded him as they came in to land, he’d never been so happy to see Flint. The man was ex-Army, the kind of guy you wanted in your corner in a crisis. And this was a crisis.
“Okay, help get Joaquin down.” Flint barked his orders and the paramedics took the injured Joaquin and carried him to the awaiting truck where he was quickly loaded into the back and secured on a stretcher.
“Gina needs to go, too,” Craig said.
“You’re all going to the hospital, so the doctors can check you over,” Flint told him. “But Gina can go in the truck with Joaquin and the two of you can travel with me.”
“I should stay with Gina,” Linda told them as she slid down to the ground from the back of the dragon. “Thank you.” She patted the dragon as if he were a dog and the dragon blew smoke at her.
“He likes you,” Flint rasped with a chuckle. “But not as much as Craig likes you. You two are mates?”
“You mean Red didn’t tell you over the radio?” Craig asked in surprise.
“Maybe he didn’t think it was his news to share.” Flint ushered Gina into the back of the truck with Joaquin. “There’s no room for anyone else, Linda. You should come with me and Craig.”
“Come on, Linda, we will be right behind them,” Craig assured her as the paramedics shut the tailgate of the truck. The driver of the truck, a man Craig didn’t know, started the engine and drove slowly down the rough trail, heading toward Bear Creek and the hospital.
“Thanks.” Flint approached the dragon and stroked his snout. “I owe you one. And if you go back and get Red and the people who attacked Craig, I’ll owe you two.”
The dragon nodded and then launched himself off the ground. He skimmed the trees as he rose in the air and then banked left and headed across the lower slopes before climbing higher.
“Do I get to know who he is?” Craig asked as they watched the dragon grow smaller in the distance.
“Nope, not unless he tells you. He only agreed to help if he didn’t have to reveal himself. Dragons are secretive creatures and he has a family to protect.” Flint led them quickly to the second truck. “Get in.”
“The dragon has a family?” Linda asked as she pulled herself into the passenger seat. Craig climbed in beside her.
“He does. But that’s between you and me. I gave my word his identity would be kept secret, especially since we don’t know exactly what’s going on here.” Flint started the engine. “I sure would like to hear that you know who set this all in motion. We don’t usually have a small army to deal with.”
“We believe someone is trying to kill Gina Taylo
r,” Craig began.
“She believes her brother, Harvey, is behind the attempt on her life,” Linda added.
“That’s where this becomes a little murky,” Flint glanced sideways at Linda as he navigated his way along the dirt trail.
“Murky how?” Craig asked.
“Murky as in Harvey Taylor came to town and offered to hire the best search party money could buy. Luckily, I shut him down before he employed people to come looking for you. We did not need another group of mercenaries on the mountain. Someone would likely have wound up dead.”
“Do you think it was to cover his trail?” Craig asked. “Gina is pretty certain Harvey is behind all of this.”
“I don’t know. It’s a risky business to hire two groups of mercenaries and get them to play off against each other. I’m not saying it wouldn’t happen, I’m just saying it’s dangerous.” Flint caught up with the other vehicle as it crawled along the bumpy trail.
“If not Harvey, then who?” Linda asked. “A competitor? Gina has turned the company around, they are a force to be reckoned with.”
“What about Joaquin?” Flint eyed Craig. “Just because we’re paid to protect someone, doesn’t make them the good guy.”
“If he did, why get on the plane?” Craig asked. “I’ve turned it over and over in my head and it makes no sense. Plus, he’s in love with Gina.”
“One thing this job has taught me,” Flint began, “is that people don’t always act in a way that makes sense.”
“Unless she’s your mate.” Craig placed his hand on Linda’s. He’d found the perfect woman in amongst all this intrigue and attempted murder. He knew he could trust her to always have his back and always hold his trust.
“I’ve never had the luck to find out.” Flint looked at the couple with a wistful look in his usually jaded eyes. “But when I look at you two, I can see how special that bond is.”
“The most special thing in the world.”
Linda’s eyes locked with Craig’s and her small smile was one of agreement.
Chapter Nineteen – Linda
“Listen, Harvey, I don’t think you seeing Gina right now is a good thing.” Linda blocked the door leading to the room where a doctor was assessing Gina’s condition. They had made it to the hospital in Bear Bluff, the neighboring town to Bear Creek, a little over an hour ago. Joaquin had been whisked away for treatment while Linda and Gina gave all the information about the crash and their days in the mountain to a nurse. As soon as that was done, a doctor had come for Gina.
Luckily this hospital knew all about shifters so no one thought it strange when Linda and Craig said they didn’t need treatment. What they did need was food and Craig had volunteered to go get some, and Linda was happy to let him fulfill his role as a hunter-gatherer.
“She’s my sister.” Harvey stepped to the side and attempted to barge through the door.
Linda placed her hand firmly on his shoulder and pushed him backward. Shock registered on his face. He thought he could walk all over her with no repercussions. “And she’s safe behind this door.”
“How do you know?” Harvey asked.
Because you are out here, her bear replied caustically.
“Because I’m guarding the door.” Linda folded her arms in front of her and straightened her back.
“Weren’t you guarding her when the pilot bailed out of the plane?” Harvey asked hotly.
“I was. And what do you know about that?” Linda leaned forward. She stood half a foot taller than Harvey and hoped to intimidate him into backing off.
Harvey’s brow creased. “What are you implying?”
“That the plane didn’t go down all on its own.” Her eyes narrowed as Harvey looked at her blankly. “The pilot jumped out of the plane.” Linda didn’t mention shifters, she wasn’t sure if Harvey knew about them or not and things were complicated enough right now without having to explain how shifting worked.
“He jumped.” Harvey huffed. “What, like took a parachute and jumped before you crashed? Aren’t they supposed to go down with the… Oh, that’s captains going down with their ship.”
“No. The pilot bailed out of the plane. That’s what led to the crash. Joaquin fought for control, which was why he got badly hurt. He tried to save us.” Linda watched Harvey’s expression closely and didn’t like what she saw. Or, what she didn’t see.
Gina’s brother was either a very good liar or he had no idea what happened in the plane.
“Sabotage.” Shock registered on his face. “Someone tried to kill Gina.” He shook his head. “Who?”
“You tell me.” Linda so wanted to pin this on Harvey. It would make the whole thing neatly stitched up. However, they had to get the right man, not the most obvious man.
“I don’t know.” He stared at the floor. “Everyone loves Gina.” He looked up suddenly. “Wait, what about this Joaquin character? What if someone wanted to kill him and Gina was in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“Joaquin only got on the plane because Gina was on it.” Linda let that sink in.
“I don’t understand.”
Obviously, Harvey is thicker than we thought, and things don’t sink in, her bear said tartly.
“There’s no way anyone would know Joaquin would be on the plane. He bought the ticket at the last minute.” She didn’t want to tell Harvey about Gina and Joaquin’s relationship if he didn’t already know.
Harvey pulled away from her and walked in a small circle, his fingers stroking his chin. “Who would want to hurt Linda? She’s so nice. And good at her job.” He pressed his lips together. “You think I want to get rid of her because her job used to be my job.”
“You said it.” Linda cocked her head to one side. “What do you say to that?” she asked defensively. Unless she was mistaken, Harvey was the one doing the accusing.
“I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.” He sounded sincere. “Sure, I was cut up about Dad firing me. But then I realized if I’d stayed in charge there would be no money left. I like having money.”
Harvey was a simple creature at heart, that was true. But you didn’t need brains to hire someone to kill your sister. Linda could not let herself be swayed without proof.
“Why are you here, Harvey?” Linda decided to go back to basics.
“Because my sister was in a plane crash.” Harvey rolled his eyes at Linda, as if her brain must be suffering from frostbite.
“When was the last time you cared about Gina’s welfare?” Linda’s eyes bored into Harvey and he shuffled uncomfortably.
“I care. But she doesn’t care that I care.” He swallowed hard. “Ever since she became CEO she doesn’t answer my calls, and she doesn’t want to see me.”
“Harvey, that’s not true…” Linda placed her hand on Harvey’s arm, but before they could continue the conversation, Chuck appeared behind them. He looked breathless, as if he’d been running.
Still don’t like this guy, her bear said.
But Gina does, Linda told her bear. We must respect that.
“Harvey, there you are.” Chuck gave them all a false smile as his eyes shifted from face to face.
“I can’t get in to see Gina.” Harvey looked to Chuck for help. Strange, these two men had never been close.
Perhaps they bonded over Gina’s disappearance and possible demise, her bear suggested.
“I’m sure Linda has her reasons,” Chuck said lightly. “Look, I’ll slip in and see her then tell her you are here. Try and persuade her to see you.”
“Not happening.” Linda put her arm across the doorway and stopped Chuck in his tracks.
Chuck looked puzzled. “I want to see that Gina is all right and fill her in on some developments.”
“Developments?” Linda smiled her most winning smile. “What kind of developments, Chuck?”
“Those that I can only discuss with Gina.” Chuck looked at Linda’s hand which rested against the door frame and then looked her in the eyes. The smile was gone.
L
inda was not about to be intimidated by Chuck. “Gina is with the doctor. She needs rest and she needs sleep. You can all come back tomorrow.” Linda sensed her mate approaching. “I’d scram if I was you, a big bad bear is approaching.”
“I’m not a child.” Chuck had a grown a backbone over the last few years, that was for sure. “Gina is my responsibility. I’m her second in command and I demand to see her.”
Behind Linda the door opened, and the doctor came out. He looked startled to see so many people outside the door. “Next of kin?”
Harvey had the trump card and he knew how to play it. “How is she, Doctor? Can I see her?”
“She’s in remarkably good health.” He glanced around the small group of people which grew one more when Craig joined them, towering menacingly above Harvey and Chuck.
“Can I see her?” Harvey repeated hopefully.
“Harvey, you don’t want to upset Gina if she’s resting. Why not let me go first?” Chuck stepped forward, blocking Harvey.
He sure is keen on keeping Harvey out, her bear observed. Why do you think that is?
Perhaps Chuck is working on Gina’s orders. It’s time we found out what exactly is going on with these two. Linda stepped forward.
“Back off, boys, I’m going to see Gina.” Linda held out her hand to the doctor. “I was with Gina on the mountain.”
“Linda? She spoke of you.” The doctor eyed Harvey thoughtfully. “But it’s hospital policy to allow next of kin in first in cases like these.”
“Doctor…” Craig looked at the doctor’s name badge. “Doctor Ben, can I have a private word?”
Doctor Ben nodded. “Of course, as long as this isn’t a ruse to get me out of the way, so Linda can sneak into Gina’s room.”
Craig chuckled. “No, it’s not.”
“We’ll stay put,” Linda promised as Craig and Ben walked away out of earshot. At least out of earshot of normal humans. By pushing her senses outward, Linda could hear every word of the conversation.
“What can I do for you?” Ben asked.
“You know the circumstances that brought us to the hospital?” Craig asked.
“A plane crash in the mountains.” Ben nodded. “You and Linda did a great job keeping Gina healthy considering the conditions up there.”
Survivor Bear (Bear Creek Protectors Book 2) Page 14