5. Hunter
FIVE
HUNTER
My wolf complained at my churning belly, saying it was making him seasick. Not surprising because of the situation. My attention was on Odell and how scared he was. He was reacting as anyone would who’d been kidnapped. Shit! I should be doing more to calm him. But my priority was his safety. Affection and love would have to come later. Hopefully.
“Lights on.” Unlike the ones outside in the basement, this lighting was soft and warm. I’d designed it to be as welcoming as possible, considering the circumstances of why my family would need to be in a panic room. Technically, it was rooms.
Let him go , my wolf demanded.
I’d forgotten I was holding my mate tight, not that I wanted to release him. Keeping him next to me, his scent filling my nostrils, was where I wanted Odell to be forever. But I did as my wolf suggested, and my mate rubbed his arm where my fingers had dug into his flesh.
“Sorry.”
He lifted his head. “For all this?” He extended his arms and swung around. “Or for the bruises that’ll appear on my arm tomorrow.”
Fuck! I’d hurt him. “I’m not aware of my own strength sometimes.”
His short, sharp breaths didn’t fill me with confidence, but I didn’t want to get too close and overcrowd him, making him more panicked.
“Sit on the couch and I’ll get you a glass of water.”
He guzzled the cool liquid, splashed some on his face, and I turned the air-conditioning up to frigid, figuring being too hot would only increase his anxiety.
“Odell, look at me.” I sat on the couch opposite him and leaned forward, hoping I wasn’t too close. I had to get him to focus on something other than that he was underground.
His eyes that were fixed on paintings on the opposite wall slid to my face.
“You’re safe here.”
He gripped the now-empty glass and shook his head. I could almost hear his teeth rattling.
“I want you to mimic my breathing. I’m going to inhale and count to four. Then hold for four more counts, and exhale for six.” I did as I’d explained, but his eyes had a glazed appearance. Taking a chance he wouldn’t freak, I kneeled at his feet and followed the technique again.
He squeezed my hands and copied me, and we did it together. Eventually, his breathing calmed. We were part of the way there.
“Okay, I want you to look around and tell me five things you can see.”
He gulped and glanced around the space. “I see three sofas.” There was a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Is that one thing or three?”
Now my breathing was easier because his panic level was decreasing. And that smile gave me hope we could get beyond the kidnapping.
“I’ll count it as one.” He swung his head the other way. “There’s a small kitchen with a fridge. That’s two. Oh, and the shelves are lined with snacks.” He paused. “Only two more to go.”
His head swiveled in another direction. “There are soft rugs on the floor and a lot of cushions on the sofas and armchairs.” He craned his neck toward one of the other rooms. “There are one, two, three, four closed doors, but the fifth one is open and I see bunk beds.”
“Well done. How about something you can hear?”
His eyes lit up as if he were enjoying the game, but I suspected it was more relief that his mind was no longer in panic mode.
“I hear the hum of air-conditioning.”
“And what about something you can feel or smell?”
“The sofa is so soft, better than any bed I’ve ever slept on.” He sniffed. “Can you smell fresh air?” He pushed hair from his brow. I longed to do that and more. “It smells clean but interspersed with that is your cologne. It’s…” He hesitated. “No, not that. Ummm, it reminds me of a fall day and reading a book by a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate beside me.”
Was that his home he’d described? It sounded delightful. If he was reacting to even a sliver of my scent, I was squeeing inside because he’d made a huge leap forward. Not yet into my arms but slowly, slowly.
“Not that I ever stayed in a place like that. But I’ve read countless stories and imagined a fall day exactly like it.” He chewed his bottom lip.
But we had to deal with practical matters. “There’s a bathroom. No shower though, sorry.”
“Sorry, I can’t abide by a kidnapper who puts me in a hole in the ground and doesn’t provide a shower. Perhaps we can try this kidnapping caper again when you’ve upgraded this place.”
My mouth hung open. Was he serious? A moment ago he’d been in panic mode, and now?
“I, ummm…” He had me at a disadvantage. Me, the guy who always oozed confidence. “Sorry, I guess.”
Odell tilted his head to the side. “I was kidding, kidnapper.”
“Right.” It was as though the ground under my feet was swallowing me, and I was hanging on by my fingertips. I didn’t know how to respond except that I’d lie down and die for this man.
If I’d had a choice, I would have taken him to my place or our country estate that was now livable again after a huge flood. But nowhere up above was safe while Draven was rampaging. And he would be. People didn’t change, especially guys whose father believed our pack, La Luna Noir, and my family in particular, were responsible for every bad thing that had happened to him.
“There’s plenty of food.” I opened the cupboards to reveal more tins and packets. The fridge is small, but it’s solar-powered so it doesn’t drain electricity.”
I was babbling. He didn’t give a damn about the stupid fridge. But while I was helping Odell tamp down his anxiety, I’d had a purpose. Now I was flailing, wondering how this would end with Draven and how Odell and I could move on from the roles of kidnapper and kidnappee.
His tummy rumbled. Preparing food was something I could do, not that I cooked much. Or at all.
“Are you hungry?”
“Forget food. You need to do something for me.”
I strode back to the couch and sat.
“I don’t care what happens to me, but I need you to help my aunt.”
He obviously cared about her, not that I understood why she was in danger, but if Draven couldn’t get what he wanted, he’d hurt Odell’s family members.
“Mistakes were made, and I’m paying the price.”
“Tell me everything.”
He folded his arms, defiance in his eyes. He was the Odell who’d tried to get away from me outside City Hall, not the anxiety-ridden one I led to the panic room .
“Nope. Not saying another word until I know she’s safe.” His fists clenched, and he added, “My aunt and uncle. I guess you’d better bring him too.” He pinched two fingers and ran them over his lips in a zipping motion.
This wasn’t the moment to delve into why his uncle was an afterthought, but he gave me their names and address.
I had to go into the monitoring room, but I shut the door after me to prevent him seeing or hearing anything. Flint and Ranger were busy, and I would have to join them, but telling Odell he’d be alone in the panic room might bring on another anxiety attack.
After contacting two of my men about the aunt and uncle, I gave them instructions and told them to hurry, adding that the couple were extended family.
When I emerged from the room, Odell hadn’t moved, and he jumped at the door clicking. I had to be careful or I’d trigger more panic.
“Done!”
His face crumpled. “Please tell me you didn’t have them killed? Guys like you probably have hit men on speed dial.”
Yikes. We’d taken a step backward, or maybe a bulldozer had dredged a channel and I was teetering on the edge, about to fall in headfirst.
Odell removed a phone from his backpack. Instead of explaining why he couldn’t use it, I snatched it out of his hand. Keeping him safe was my priority, and my manners vanished. Or maybe I didn’t have any. Flint used to tell me I didn’t.
“Sorry, but you can’t use it here or anywhere ever again.”
“What?” He gritted his teeth, and color flooded his cheeks. “Look, I get you’re used to being a little warlord who oversees his… his… ummm, flock. Damn, that’s not the right word. Slaves? Hostages?” He pressed his fists into his eyes .
“I’m none of those things.” Odell’s words were barbs, stabbing at my body, the pain worse than a gunshot wound. “But your aunt and uncle are being looked after.” I put a hand over my heart. “I guarantee my men will not harm them.”
While removing the chip from his phone, I calculated how long before I could leave. He needed to eat, and after that, I’d encourage him to sleep. But I couldn’t sneak out. I’d told him to trust me, and I’d have to give him a heads up.
“Fine. Now can I have some damned food, because I’m starving. Being almost forced to marry a freaky guy will do that. Plus, being kidnapped has made me ravenous.”
I raced over to the kitchen, hiding a smile. That was the Odell that gave me hope we’d one day be mates. He had an inner strength that would serve him well for what lay ahead. That was assuming he’d want to mate with me and meet my wolf.
“And while you’re doing that, you can tell me why you’ve brought me to your underground hideout.”
I opened the cupboards. I could make something with microwave rice, a tin of spicy beans, and there was the makings of a salad in the fridge. I’d stocked the place only this morning because I figured I’d spend a night here, making sure everything worked as it should before inviting the family on the weekend.
“I’m no chef.” I peered at the instructions on the rice. “But I can do this.”
Odell rolled his eyes. He got up and removed the packet from my hand.“Please tell me I don’t have to prep food for me and my kidnapper.”