Chapter 20
Once inside the warehouse, Dylon gestured to Cody to lead the way.
It was slow going, weaving through a minefield of scrap metal pieces littering the floor that could alert Willow if they accidentally stepped on one.
The three of them moved more slowly than Cody did when he was alone, but Dylon knew better than to rush this part of his plan.
When his mate finally stopped in front of one of the office doors, Dylon sniffed Willow’s tiger scent seeping out from under it.
Motioning for Zane to step forward, he clasped one of his hands while Cody grabbed the other one.
Giving a short nod, Zane whispered, “One…two…three…ghost walker.”
Once inside, Dylon saw Willow lying under a wrinkled piece of cloth, her face to the wall. Knowing how powerful her animal was, he glanced at Zane, jerking his head toward the door.
Dropping Dylon and Cody’s hands, Zane turned and, ghost walked out of the room to stand guard in case more of the Collector’s kidnappers showed up.
With Zane out of harm’s way, Dylon watched as Cody became invisible. Babe, you know what to do.
Yup…approaching her now. Leaning down over Willow, Cody softly called her name. When nothing happened, he did it again, only a little louder, causing her to roll over so she was now facing Dylon. Using his mind link, Cody asked Dylon what he wanted him to do.
Babe, do it again only louder.
“Willow Thatcher,” Cody said, raising his voice .
Watching her body for signs of movement, but seeing none, Dylon wondered if she was still suffering from the effects of a sedative her kidnappers probably gave her.
His eyes searched the slumbering body again but found not even a twitch of a muscle until he reached her face and saw her yellow eyes glowing.
Tyger, tyger burning bright …popped into his head—the beginning of the poem his mother made him memorize when they were living in India.
“Cody, get back!” he shouted, just before Willow shifted and lunged at Dylon, knocking him down.
Alarmed at the sounds of scuffling coming from behind the door, Zane yelled, “Cody!” Then, unsure of what to do next, he stared at the door, his urge to re-enter the room fast becoming uncontrollable.
Dylon was struggling to grab the tiger by the neck and flip her on her back, while trying to avoid the snarling, snapping jaws filled with razor sharp teeth.
It took him several tries, then using his Herculean strength, he was finally able to immobilize Willow’s tiger.
Once that was done, he slowly rose to his feet while keeping a tight grip on the animal.
Creeping forward, Glenn held up his hand, bringing Riley to a sudden stop behind him.
The shifter who could ghost walk was facing away from them, looking at the door.
Alarmed by the sounds of growls and gnashing teeth followed by silence, he now feared for his mother’s life.
Drawing a knife strapped to his leg, Glenn rose silently, advancing until he stood directly behind the guard.
Within seconds, he had Zane in an inescapable choke hold, whispering, “Don’t make a sound, or I’ll kill you.
” After his prisoner squeaked his acknowledgement, Glenn turned to his friend. “Showtime, Riley,” he said.
Dylon was trying to speak to Willow when suddenly the door to the room smashed against the wall, revealing a man holding Zane tightly with one arm while the other held a knife pressed to his throat.
Glenn’s gut reacted to seeing his mother’s tiger immobilized, realizing then just how powerful the wolf shifter was.
His eyes skirted the room, looking for the third shifter; he couldn’t see him but assumed he was invisible and still a threat.
Then, focusing on the man holding his mother, he snarled, “Let her go or I’ll kill your buddy here. ”
Seeing the fear in Zane’s eyes, Dylon released Willow’s tiger, raising his hands as proof he’d done as ordered while telling his mate thru their mind link. Cody, get behind me.
“Riley, help Mom,” Glenn commanded.
“I did as you requested, now please release my friend,” Dylon said, calmly.
“Not until I find out why you were trying to kidnap my mother,” snarled Glenn.
“We weren’t,” squeaked Zane.
“That’s not what I saw,” growled Glenn.
Dylon studied the man holding Zane hostage. There was something familiar about him. Racking his brains, it took a minute before he realized where he’d seen him before. “Glenn, I’m Dylon Royd…you were one of my teachers at the High Council’s Elite Fighting Force School.”
“So, you say,” Glenn snapped. “What I wanna know is why you were attacking my mother.”
“Our Alpha sent us here to find her and bring her back with us,” Dylon said. “She’s in danger because of what she knows. ”
After shifting and getting dressed behind the tarp Riley held up to give her privacy, Willow appeared. “Who’s your Alpha?”
“Jackson Blackwood,” Dylon said, “but you would know him as Hope’s son, Jackson Fox River.”
“Sorry,” Willow answered, “I don’t know Jackson or his mother.”
“She told me you would say that,” Dylon replied.
“Really?” Willow asked. “When?”
“A couple of nights ago, Hope dreamed Josiah found out you witnessed the massacre and ordered your death. She begged Jackson to find and protect you. As soon as we learned you’d been kidnapped, we flew to New York.
We found where your kidnappers were holding you and went to the apartment, but you were gone.
It just took a little more detective work to find you here. ”
“Impressive,” Willow remarked, “however, I don’t believe any of it. Jackson is dead. I saw it with my own eyes.” Turning to her son, she said, “Do what you want with them. I’m leaving,” walking toward the door.
“Wait a minute…” Glenn growled. “Mom!”
Cody, now visible, stepped out from behind Dylon. “Mrs. Thatcher, I’m Cody, Hope’s son, and Dylon is my mate. Before we left, my mother gave me the secret code you guys agreed on in case you needed to contact each other.”
Pausing, Willow turned, looking at Cody. “Is that so? Pray tell, what is this secret code?”
“Justice prevails.”
Swallowing her gasp, Willow stared at Cody, finally seeing her friend’s eyes reflected in his. But none of this makes sense…I saw Josiah kill all of Hope’s pups. Eager now to know more, she asked, “How did you survive? How many of you?”
“Seven,” Cody began. “We escaped because we detoured to Los Vegas for some fun on the way home from college. That’s where we learned what Josiah did.
Then we hid out…until Jackson met his Fated Mate.
We didn’t know our mother survived until our cousins showed up with her a couple of weeks ago and found out how you saved her.
She wouldn’t give us your name until she had her dream.
She said to tell you she’s sorry she broke her promise, but she was afraid for you. ”
Trying to absorb everything she just heard, Willow stood still, staring at her best friend’s son, someone she hadn’t seen since he was a young child.
After it sunk in, she walked over to Cody, pausing a moment before hugging him.
“You have no idea how happy I am you and your brothers survived! How’s your mother? ”
“Mom,” Glenn said softly. “Is this the reason you spent the last six years on the run?”
Glancing over at Glenn, Willow saw her son holding her friend’s son, the knife still pressed against his jugular. “Let him go, Glenn,” she ordered. “They mean me no harm.”
Releasing Zane, Glenn murmured, “Sorry…are you okay?”
Taking several steps, Zane glanced up at Glenn before moving next to Dylon. “Yeah man…I’m fine…just let’s not do that again…okay?”
Holding his hands up, Glenn replied, “Promise.” Then looking over at his mother, he said, “Mom, we need to talk. ”
Moving over to her son, she pulled his head down so she could kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you, dear, for coming.”
“Any time,” Glenn said, giving his mother a hug.
“Ms. Thatcher,” Cody said, “we have a plane waiting to take you to California. Is there anything you want to bring with you?”
“Now, wait a minute,” growled Glenn, “I appreciate you all coming to my mother’s aid but she’ll be safer with me.”
Willow took a step back from her son. Standing still, her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “I think you have forgotten I’m an adult and quite capable of making my own decisions.”
“I didn’t say you weren’t,” Glenn replied, recognizing all too well the tone of his mother’s voice. “I just think…”
Willow studied her son, fatigue etched in the lines around his mouth. Exhaling softly, she urged, “Dear, can we just get out of here? I promise to tell you everything.”
“Fine,” Glenn murmured, “let’s go.”
“Ms. Thatcher, I think you’ll be safer with the Blackwood Pack,” Dylon said, taking a step forward. “While I have the utmost respect for your son, he won’t be able to protect you like we can.”
Growling, Glenn replied, “That’s bullshit. You know who I am…”
“Exactly,” said Dylon. “And how long are you planning to stay in town? A day, two maybe, before you leave on assignment? How are you gonna protect your mother from the Collector, then? ”
“Not your business!” Hiding his surprise about their knowledge of the Collector, Glenn placed his hand on his mother’s shoulder and murmured, “C’mon, Mom, you too, Riley.”
“Glenn, what is he talking about?” Willow asked her son.
“Nothing,” Glenn muttered.
Shrugging off her son’s hand, Willow turned to Dylon. “Who’s the Collector and why is he after me?”
“The person known as the Collector, hired the two men to kidnap you,” Dylon explained.
“Why? Is it because of my son?” asked Willow.
Shifting his eyes over to Glenn, Dylon watched him as he said, “No, it’s because you are the last Bali Tiger Shifter on earth. The Collector acquires rare shifters—though how he found out about you is still a mystery since you’re listed as deceased according to the High Council’s records.”
“Deceased?” Willow couldn’t believe she’d heard correctly. “I’m not dead.”