Chapter 14
Sienna walked to the market the following day with her mother and Jamie. She helped them unpack before heading to work.
Liam.
The man wouldn’t leave her mind. They’d been together since leaving the gathering, and she missed him.
Weird. Whatever they were, and whatever came next—her heart ached for him.
Jamie’s claim that he’d hit his head again worried her.
Had he truly required rest, or was he injured and in need of medical attention?
She should’ve grabbed his phone before fleeing the castle, but leaving it meant no one could add theft to the charges of abduction.
Still, she wished she could contact his home and let them know Liam was alive. Whether he was okay was another matter.
She fisted her hands until her fingernails dug into her palms, took a deep breath, and pushed through the double doors leading into the council offices. After yesterday, they were eerily quiet. Sienna glanced askance at Molly, who stared grimly at her computer screen.
“Is something wrong?” Sienna asked.
“Those bastards broke into the Pascoes’ house last night.” Molly’s hands shook as she gripped her tea. “Sophie was…she’d shifted for the first time. They took her.”
Sienna gasped, shock walloping her in the chest. She slid into her seat, stunned. “In her leopard form?”
“She’s only thirteen. The first shift is terrifying enough without…” Molly shuddered. “God, I hope she stays in leopard form. Those men with a young girl.”
It was easy to imagine what might happen, and the horror of it had Sienna’s pulse racing.
Molly turned away, dashing away the moisture before anyone else noticed. “If her family acts recklessly, we’ll have a bloodbath. Then more investigators will come, and possibly government agencies.”
“What is the mayor up to?” Sienna demanded.
“Nothing,” Molly said with harsh disapproval. “He says he warned everyone. If they didn’t listen, it’s their problem.”
Sienna’s skin crawled. “Really?”
“He says he’s going to France for a prolonged holiday.”
“A holiday? Now?”
“Probably guilt. Sophie is a child! She shifted in the privacy of her home,” Molly said, glancing at the mayor’s closed door, her expression one of distaste.
“We didn’t receive a warning about the hunters. If it weren’t for Jamie, we wouldn’t have known.”
Molly paled. “No one told you.”
“No one,” Sienna reiterated. “We were lucky the hunters didn’t swoop down on the locals’ homes earlier. They don’t have authority, yet that isn’t stopping their high-handed methods.”
“The mayor is ignoring complaints,” Molly said in disapproval. “Something else is going on with him. He hasn’t been himself.”
“He arranged for them to come to Stoneford,” Sienna said.
“Heard that, did you? I don’t know how Cormoran Richards can look you in the face. I saw Kitto and Jules together one night. They’re friends. They were comfortable together, but I didn’t see romantic intimacy.”
“Kitto would never push himself on anyone. Our parents taught us better.” She’d do everything in her power to put this situation right.
Molly offered Sienna a sad smile. “I was glad when the mayor agreed we should employ you. You have a work ethic young people should aspire to emulate. Your entire family works hard.” She shook her head. “Villagers could learn a lot about life if they paid attention to your household.”
“Thank you. Do you know Sophie’s parents?”
“No one is helping them,” Molly said before Sienna could say more. “Not a single person.”
Shock surged through Sienna again, this time mixed with disgust. “Where are the hunters holding Sophie? Are they still in the village? Are any of the hunters still at the house?”
“No, Sienna,” Molly said. “The mayor will sack you if you interfere.”
“How much are they paying him?” Sienna asked.
Molly grimaced. “I don’t know.”
“But he’s gaining more from this than separating my brother and his daughter?”
“That’s my assumption.”
Sienna snorted. The mayor had gone way down in her estimation. “Where would they keep Sophie, and who would help in a rescue attempt?”
“Sienna, it’s too dangerous.”
“Someone has to help her family. They can’t do it on their own. Sophie is a child,” Sienna snapped. “I can’t live with knowing I didn’t help try to save her.”
“Your brothers would assist? After everything that has happened?”
“Yes,” Sienna said. “Is the mayor in his office? A rude man called late yesterday and wanted to see him about the mall project. Said it was urgent and the mayor should stop avoiding him.”
“No, he’s working from home for the rest of the week before he leaves for France.”
Of course, he was. He didn’t want to be available to people right now, and if that didn’t spell guilt, then Sienna had two heads. “If I left work now to put together a plan to save Sophie, would you tell him?”
“He’ll find out. He has spies everywhere.”
They were leaving, so what did it matter? She didn’t say this aloud. It was best not to broadcast their plans—not yet. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.”
After a long pause, Molly nodded. “I’ll cover for you. I’ll also ring around and help assemble a team of shifters willing to help with Sophie’s rescue.”
“Thank you.” Sienna stood and strode from the office. She rushed to the market and was relieved to find Jamie still with her mother.
“Sienna, is something wrong?” her mother asked.
“Have you heard about Sophie Pascoe?” she asked in an undertone.
“What about Sophie?” Tony said, overhearing. “My wife is friends with her mother.”
Sienna smelled human, but he also carried a distinct feline scent, so she took a calculated risk and included him in the conversation. “Hunters pushed into the Pascoe house last night and discovered Sophie in her feline form. They captured her and took her away.”
“Fuck,” Tony said in understatement.
“That’s not legal, surely?” her mother said. “What is the mayor doing?”
Sienna’s lips twisted. “The mayor is doing nothing. He warned everyone about the hunters, and now it is up to them to maintain their safety. He seems more worried about his business interests.”
“I never liked the man,” Tony muttered. “Too interested in money. I need to leave early. My wife will need me.”
“Wait,” Sienna said. “Before you go, I want to gather a team to rescue Sophie. It won’t be easy, but we must try.”
“Count me in,” Tony said. “I’ll put the word out. Where should I tell them to meet?”
“Would they be willing to gather at our place?” Sienna asked. “It would be best not to draw attention. Our cottage is out of town.”
“I’ve heard rumors but never met your father or siblings. You’ve been nothing but kind and generous to me, especially since we’ve gone into business together. I’m willing to help. My friends will too. Sophie is a kid.”
The man hurriedly served the few lingering customers and packed up his stall.
“Jamie, could you let Papa and the boys know what has happened? We’ll need their help if we want to free Sophie.”
“I’ll leave now,” Jamie said.
Tamsin gave him a quick hug. “Be careful. Don’t attract attention.”
He nodded and hurried away.
“I’d better pack up,” her mother said.
“No, Ma. You should stay here and sell what you can before returning home. We need the income, especially if I end up losing my job.”
A muscle in her mother’s face twitched, and for an instant, Sienna saw the pain she couldn’t hide. This weighed heavily on her, and she’d given up a lot to mate with Hedrek Teague. Her parents had disowned her, and life had been a constant struggle.
Sienna gave her mother a robust hug. “I’m sorry, Ma. None of us is making life easy for you.”
“I’m scared, Sienna. Lately, every day, I wonder if someone will take your father or your brothers away from us. I wonder about our food situation.” Her slender shoulders shook. “I wonder what fresh horror will arrive next.”
Tears stung Sienna’s eyes. “I kidnapped Liam.”
Her mother gripped her shoulders. “And what a godsend that turned out to be. Liam is the one bright spot in our world.”
“He’ll want to go home to New Zealand,” Sienna said. “Listen, Ma. I need to discover where the hunters are keeping Sophie and what they plan. No matter the mayor’s excuses, we can’t turn our backs on her. I can’t.”
“Be careful, Sienna. I couldn’t bear to lose you.”
Sienna squeezed her mother’s biceps. “I’ll be careful. All I’m doing is gathering information. We’ll make a plan once Liam, Pa, and the boys get home. I’ll try to find others to help.”
“Ask them to meet at our home,” her mother said. “If they’re willing to meet Hedrek, I might trust them.” Her mother’s tone held defiance.
“I love you, Ma. You’re the strongest person I know.” An understatement.
Her mother patted her cheek. “You take after me, Sienna.”
They grinned at each other before a woman and her two teenage daughters stopped to ask about the hearts.
Sienna left her mother telling the customers about the local artists who made the hearts and hand-painted the designs.
She wandered down the street, pretending to window-shop but using the reflection in the shop windows to check if anyone was watching her.
Two hunters entered a coffee shop, but Sienna saw no sign of the others in the village.
Gradually, she made her way to the Pascoe house, hoping there might be visitors or people who could offer help, perhaps even provide a rescue plan.
The other villagers’ absence was conspicuous, and Sienna’s anger bloomed.
She tapped on the door, feeling the weight of the neighbor’s stares as she waited for someone to answer.
Sophie’s father, Arthur, answered the door. His eyes were red as if he’d been weeping.
“Hello, Mr. Pascoe. Can I come inside? I want to help.”
A quick glimpse of disbelief showed before he stood aside in a wordless invitation for her to enter. Sienna waited while he closed the door. His two older brothers and their wives were in the sitting room with Sophie’s distraught mother.
“How can you help?” Arthur’s brother demanded while his wife tried to comfort Sophie’s sobbing mother. “We tried to fight them off last night and failed. Tonight we’ll try again.”
The instinct to snarl struck Sienna first, but she fought for calm. This wasn’t about her or her family. This was about an innocent young shifter girl sucked into this mess through no fault of her own.
“I’m not sure yet. I want to spend the day gathering information and arranging a meeting at our house for anyone willing to help. Do you know where they’re holding Sophie? Has anyone heard whether the hunters plan to leave soon?”
“The mayor let them stay in one of his rental properties.” Arthur’s voice cracked. “And now…now that monster wants to come see his prize.”
“Do we know when he’s expected?” Sienna asked. Timing would be critical.
Arthur scowled. “Butcher said this afternoon. Flying in from Scotland.”
Scotland? That was where they had intended to seek safety. They’d have to reconsider this or at least investigate the reclusive man to determine if he’d pose a danger to them.
His wife burst into noisy tears, and Arthur sent Sienna an apologetic look.
“So they’re keeping Sophie at the rental?” Sienna asked.
“We think so, although we don’t know for certain,” one brother said.
Okay. She needed to confirm this info. “Are the rest of the hunters staying there, or are they still at the hotel where they’ve been to date?”
“The hotel. I saw four men returning from the hunt this morning when I was going to work.” One of Arthur’s brothers spoke up. “Two men at the holiday home.”
“How do you know?” Sienna asked.
“Asked around, then went to see myself.” He shot a glance at Arthur. “I couldn’t do nothing.”
They’d need to strike before the boss arrived, in case he brought more men with him.
He’d need someone to look after his prize and maintain Sophie’s health.
An involuntary shudder rippled through her.
They had to move fast. The hunters weren’t stupid.
Soon, someone would connect the clues and realize the number of shifter sightings might bear closer scrutiny.
Everyone was in danger, and doing nothing was the greatest threat of all.