Chapter 15
Their plan was simple.
They’d distract the hunters standing watch at the rental home and pick them off one at a time. For once, fortune favored them—fog had delayed the boss’s plane. Sienna had overheard that bit of intelligence while skulking around the house, trying to learn the hunters’ positions.
Now, she and the others—an unlikely mix of family and allies—closed in on the holiday home.
Sienna had hoped more village men would step up, but most wanted to avoid trouble and protect their families.
She understood. She did. But didn’t they see?
If that billionaire collector left Stoneford with Sophie, the child might never see her kin again.
And if the vets drew blood, it could spell trouble for them all.
“Stop stewing. It won’t change the locals’ opinion or their inaction. We’re doing the right thing,” Liam said.
“I know. Liam, I’m so sorry I kidnapped you. I can’t make it right, but I am sorry.”
“I’m not.”
She stopped in her tracks and stared at him.
“Head in the game,” he whispered. “We’ll talk once we ensure Sophie’s safety.”
It sounded like forgiveness, but his casual tone left her stunned. Could it be that simple? Had he dismissed her crime with a single word…or was it a distraction for the mission?
She shook herself and gathered her thoughts. Liam was right. Each of them needed to focus and do their part of the plan. The window of opportunity was incredibly tight with Edwin Smith on the way to Stoneford.
When they neared the rear of the rental home, they split into pairs and waited. Jago undressed and placed his clothes under a handy bush. He shifted, and after a nod at her and Liam, he padded through the thick undergrowth, a silent and deadly predator.
Today, they didn’t intend to kill anyone, but they would render them unconscious if necessary and leave them bound and gagged.
Jago released a soft growl.
The guard they were targeting heard because he whirled and peered into the undergrowth. His hand twitched toward his weapon, body rigid, before he called out, “Who’s there? Come out where I can see you.”
Sienna and Liam slipped behind the hunter and waited for Jago to appear. Long seconds passed before Jago growled again.
The hunter cursed and fumbled for his radio. Before he could make the call, Jago darted forward and bit his leg while Sienna and Liam pounced. The hunter’s strangled cry barely carried beyond the trees, and Sienna didn’t think anyone heard before they gagged, blindfolded, and restrained him.
One down.
Her father and one of Sophie’s uncles slinked deeper into the rental grounds. They disappeared into the wisps of fog and the growing gloom of the late afternoon.
She, Liam, and Jago took out the next guard using the same plan. Two more team members slipped inside to help in case there were unseen hunters. They now had their best people inside, equipped with tools to cut through padlocks and steel bolts.
Creeping around the house toward their next target, Sienna and the others approached the trickiest part of the plan—the section facing the road. Several homes lined the street, and none of the residents knew shifters existed.
Even as Sienna considered this, a car crawled along the road, its headlights attempting to spear the mist. Sienna thought the vehicle would continue past, but at the last moment, it swung into the driveway.
“The boss man has arrived early,” Liam said as they studied the flashy limousine.
“They need more time to free Sophie,” Sienna said. “We should give him something to see. Offer a distraction.”
“I’ll do it.” Calan was already tearing off his clothes. A moment later, he shifted.
“Wait,” Liam said. “This man is wealthy. He’ll have security with him. I bet they’re armed.”
“That’s not legal in the UK,” Sienna said. “If this man’s team carries weapons, it will be unlawful.”
“Try telling him that when they’re shooting at you,” Liam fired back.
“He’s right,” Hedrek said, “but I don’t see we have another option. How about this? Sienna, you help with Sophie. She’ll do better with a woman present. The rest of us will shift and distract the big man.”
Sienna slipped inside the house, and she found Sophie’s father working on the locked door on the second floor.
“Sophie, are you there? It’s Papa.”
A weak mewling came from the other side—not the strong feline growl Sienna had expected.
“Something’s wrong,” she whispered, her stomach plunging.
When they forced the door open, Sophie lay curled in the corner in her leopard form. Her movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. Her ears flattened at the sight of them—even her father.
“They’ve drugged her,” Sophie’s father said, anguish cracking his voice. “Sophie, kitten, it’s Papa. You’re safe now.”
Sienna kneeled beside the girl, her mind racing. The same sick feeling she’d had watching Liam’s confusion filled her chest. “We can’t carry her out like this. If the sedative is wrong for shifters, we might make the situation worse.”
“Delta-2, status report.” The radio crackle from downstairs made everyone freeze.
“Delta-3, acknowledged. Checking perimeter now,” came another voice.
Jago appeared in the doorway. “First guard we took out missed his check-in. Backup’s probably already en route.”
“She needs to shift back,” Sienna said. “But someone has to stay with her—watch her breathing, make sure the drugs and the shift don’t send her into shock.”
“Shift, kitten,” Sophie’s father whispered.
Gunshots cracked from outside—too many, too close together. A chill rippled down Sienna’s spine, her hands trembling as adrenaline surged through her.
She bit her lip hard as Sophie shifted from leopard to human. The change dragged, as if her body resisted every step of the transformation. Copper filled Sienna’s mouth before Sophie was fully herself again.
“Can you walk?” Sienna slid an arm under Sophie’s to brace her.
Sophie nodded groggily but stumbled when she tried to take a few steps.
More shots rang out, followed by a man’s shout of pain—terrifyingly familiar.
Sienna’s instincts screamed at her to run outside, to help, to find Liam.
Her chest tightened, breath shallow, as she gripped Sophie’s arm with shaking hands.
But Sophie wouldn’t make it without support, and with her experience handling Liam’s drugged confusion, Sienna was the logical choice to stay.
“Come on,” she murmured to Sophie, wrapping the girl’s arm around her shoulders. “We’re getting you out of here.”
Sienna trembled under Sophie’s weight, realizing she couldn’t manage the distance alone. Sophie’s father took over without hesitation, lifting his daughter effortlessly.
As they stumbled toward the servants’ stairs, Sienna kicked over a table.
The glass vase perched on it wobbled precariously.
She reached out to catch it, but it crashed to the wooden floor, the sound echoing down the hallway.
It was a clumsy move, but one that drew the remaining guards toward her, diverting them from reinforcing the outside.
Immediately, heavy footsteps pounded up the front stairs. “Contact! Second floor!” someone shouted.
Sienna turned back and wedged a chair under the doorknob. When guards came looking, they’d waste precious seconds getting through.
Another shot sounded outside, rapidly followed by a second. A high-pitched feline yowl of pain had Sienna jolting. A man screamed seconds later, and Sienna winced. It didn’t sound as if their rescue mission was going well.
Jago growled, an order for her to get her head in the game, just as a radio blasted to life again.
“Where’s Jameson?” a man demanded.
Sienna grabbed a coat at the bottom of the stairs, enough to cover Sophie until she could find her own clothes.
She handed it over as they burst outside. The servants’ entrance opened onto a narrow alley leading away from the main garden and past a walled vegetable plot—precisely what they needed.
“Take Sophie and get out. If you come across any of our group, take them with you. Don’t go home—head to our cottage. I think you’ll be safer there than in your house.”
“Thank you,” Sophie’s father said. “Really, thank you. If you need anything, please ask.”
“No thanks necessary. I’ll see you later.” Sienna flinched as another burst of gunfire erupted.
Outside, a deep voice issued crisp orders, every syllable radiating authority.
“Quick, exit through the rear gate. Apart from Jago and me, everyone in the house should regroup at our meeting point.” She paused. “Or better yet, leave town entirely. Spend time with out-of-town relatives. This will have repercussions.”
“Aye,” Sophie’s father said. “Thank you again.” He squeezed Sienna’s shoulder and hurried away, clasping his daughter’s hand as if he’d never let go.
She watched them leave before turning to a silent Jago.
“Any plan?”
He shook his head, then grinned, revealing sharp teeth.
“Let’s hit them from behind. Let out a victory roar to signal success. Then we fall back and split up—make it harder for them to chase everyone.”
Jago nudged her knee and slipped past the garden.
“Guess my strategy meets with approval.”
She zipped her jacket and followed. Mist had fallen, shrouding the surroundings in murk and limiting visibility.
They listened as the battle continued near the house. Jago released a roar. Moments later, a man cursed—no feline growls this time.
“Where have they gone? Damn it! Don’t let them get away!” The boss shouted orders.
Sienna hesitated, but Jago nudged her firmly, big-brother bossiness demanding she follow their game plan. They had to get back to the cottage, take stock, and decide their next move. Using her feline senses, Sienna navigated the fog with Jago keeping pace.
“Search the grounds!” the boss shouted.
A man ran toward them. Sienna and Jago froze, pressing against the trunk of an old oak with low-hanging branches.
Voices drifted through the fog—organized, methodical.
“Thermal shows movement northwest section.”
“Copy that. Switching to night vision.”
The hunters weren’t bumbling anymore; they were adapting.
Jago nudged Sienna again, and she slipped away stealthily. It took them over half an hour to navigate the village, dodging hunters and wary locals, before reaching home.
Those who had beaten the hunters back were there—Sophie, her father, Sophie’s mother, and her siblings. They huddled in a tight group, seeking comfort in each other after their ordeal. Sophie clung to her mother, her slight frame trembling.
Mama and Papa were busy brewing tea, passing cups around with Jamie’s help.
Where was Liam? Kitto and Calan?
Sophie’s two uncles arrived, breathless and red-faced. They scanned the group, relief flooding them when they spotted Sophie.
Jago had shifted and changed, then joined Sienna when she stepped outside.
“I can’t see Liam, Kitto, or Calan.”
“They’ll be here,” Jago said.
His confidence didn’t ease the fear flooding Sienna.
“But we heard shots fired. Those men had guns.”
“Everyone else is here. We took longer because we had to dodge hunters in the village. The boss man has everyone on high alert, so they probably had to backtrack to avoid hunters. Don’t worry. They’ll be here.”
Jago was right.
Sienna scanned the foggy path to the village. The mist hung low, typical for this time of year.
“We were lucky with the weather.”
“True. At least Sophie seems none the worse for her ordeal,” Jago said, frowning. “But it’s not safe for them to return home. Those hunters act like they’re above the law.”
“We might’ve made things worse. Even here, it’s dangerous. The boss man saw leopards and will wonder why his hunters have spotted so many around town.”
“He will if he’s got any sense,” Jago agreed. “We should move up our plans. Pack up and leave Stoneford—even if Pa refuses.”
Sienna shook her head even though she agreed with her brother. “Papa loves the land. He always says as long as we pay taxes, no one can take it.”
“This will be hard, but Liam’s right. With hunters here, we must adapt.”
“But money…” Sienna’s worry returned. “We barely have enough to rent a vehicle. The mayor started this mess—I should ask him for help.”
“Shifter families have been leaving all day. At least, that’s my guess. The village was unusually quiet, with only hunters out.”
“They will if they’re smart,” Sienna said. “Do you think Liam, Calan, and Kitto are okay?”Jago nodded, one ear pricked from beneath his hair. “Liam’s clever. He’ll watch over our brothers.”
“Should we search for them?”
“No, wait longer. Returning to the rental now would put us in danger. You heard the man in charge—his orders showed how seriously he takes this.”
“His arrogance,” Sienna muttered. “He won’t give up. Money and power are his weapons, and no one who stands in his way will win.”
“That, too,” Jago said. “I’m going to talk to Sophie—see what she remembers about her time with the hunters.”
“I’ll help Ma.” Sienna needed to gauge her parents’ feelings. She hated the thought of forcing them from their home, but staying was dangerous.
Sienna moved among the group, mentally making a list of necessities. Clothes and food, of course, but also the goods her father and brother had crafted, the paints and ribbons for hearts, and any tools her father deemed essential.
Despite her focus on practicalities, her thoughts kept drifting to Liam. Where was he? Kitto? Calan? Her gaze darted to the window and the path beyond, still empty. Her hands twisted the hem of her shirt, pulse fluttering faster with each tick of the clock.
“Thank you for helping with Sophie,” one of Sophie’s uncles said.
Sienna blinked, dragging her focus from the world outside to the man speaking. “I couldn’t stand by and do nothing, though we may have made things worse. The man in charge didn’t earn his millions by being stupid.”
“No,” the uncle agreed, a tall man with a broad frame and graying hair. “We’re collecting vans and will pick up the bags Sophie’s mother packed. We’re leaving town. You should go too.”
Sienna sighed. “We don’t have transportation.”
“We can squeeze you in and give you a ride to the neighboring town. You could rent a vehicle there. Do you have a plan?”
She nodded but kept the details to herself. He didn’t ask.
“I’ll talk to my parents, but there’s little time to prepare.”
“Better to leave possessions behind than risk captivity,” he said.
“Thanks. I’ll let you know when we’re ready.”
Sienna knew her parents would worry, but leaving Stoneford was the only sensible course of action. Now all she could do was wait—and hope Liam and her brothers were still alive.