Chapter 13 #2
Turning on the computer, Steel entered the website Zane sent him and for a moment, nothing…
then Colton’s face came up on the screen.
His eyes were closed, and his features were relaxed—maybe sleeping, perhaps—until he looked closer.
Fuck, he was unconscious. Steel moved his eyes to the description and the bidding.
Fuckingbedamn! It was over two million dollars.
Steel looked at his brother. “We need a name for bidding purposes. I can’t use either of ours or Cody’s because I don’t know how much the guys who have Colton know. ”
“Use mine!” said Ian.
“Perfect.” He entered Ian’s name but did not identify him as a doctor and entered his bid. “I’m bidding five million. I want to chase all the poor bitches out of the game.”
“Steel,” said Slate, “I’m taking Turk and a couple of guys to see Miguel. He’s the only one who knows about Colton other than Juan and me. Stay here and make sure we’re the winning bid.” His brother nodded while keeping his eyes on the screen.
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Slate knocked on Miguel’s door, ready to bust through if he didn’t answer.
He stood, anger on his face, and fists at his sides, as the door opened.
He watched as Miguel blinked at him several times before his eyes widened as he took in the group of men standing behind Slate.
“Senor Miguel?” asked Slate, stepping forward, not giving him a chance to close the door.
“Sí?”
“My name is Slate and I want to ask you a few questions.”
“Come in,” Miquel said as he moved aside.
Slate and his men crowded into the small living room where a woman sat with three small children next to her.
After seeing the men, she gathered them in her arms and gave Slate an aggressive look as if daring him to touch them.
He studied the woman’s face, as Miguel took a protective stance next to his mate and children.
In a split second, he knew they had nothing to do with Colton’s disappearance.
He turned to Turk, “Have the men wait outside until I call.” After the men left, he turned to Miguel.
“I’m sorry for the interruption but it is a matter of life and death. ”
“Why did you come here?”
“Do you remember the day you were in the hospital and Dr. Luna and a man by the name of Colton came to see you?”
“Sí, you were there also, along with Pablo.”
“Pablo?”
“Sí, after the man healed me, Dr. Luna told Pablo to stay with me until I shifted. Then you, the man and the doctor left my room. I shifted a short time later and then Pablo left.”
“Do you know who Pablo is?”
“Si, he lives over in the old section by himself. Dr. Luna would know where. Why? Are you looking for Pablo?”
“I need to ask him about Colton.”
Nodding his head, Miguel said, “Sí, Pablo likes Colton.”
“Why do you say that?”
“After Dr. Luna left my room, I could hear you talking about Colton. Pablo listened at the door. When I asked why, he said he was trying to find out about Colton because he liked him. I thought he wanted to claim Colton.”
“Gracias, Miguel.” Slate left the house and met his men outside. “Pablo has Colton. His house is in the old section. Turk, get the rest of the men. I’m calling Juan to get Pablo’s address.”
After talking to Juan and verifying Pablo wasn’t at work, Slate ordered Turk and his men to meet him at Pablo’s place.
“Boss, wait for me and my men. Don’t go in by yourself. We’ll be right behind you.”
Slate knew Turk was right. “I promise, but make it fast. Colton’s life is in danger,” he said, getting into his jeep.
He started the engine, put it in gear and peeled out with tires screaming, kicking up dirt and gravel.
He knew the auction was still going on and if he was right, Pablo had Colton at his house.
He and his men could stop the auction and rescue his brother-in-law.
Parking several houses away, Slate stayed in his jeep, waiting for the rest of the strike force. He kept his eyes on Pablo’s house, just to make sure he didn’t leave. Soon, this would be over and Colton would be on a plane home. Can’t come fast enough for me.
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So far, four bidders had dropped out—good—now it was a game of one upsmanship until the others gave up.
Steel watched the strategy of the remaining bidders to see what they did, using his knowledge to beat them.
Slowly but surely, one by one, they dropped out until only Steel and one other remained.
This one was cagey. He had no set pattern in his bids—sometimes just bidding a dollar more and then, other times hundreds of thousands in this life-and-death game.
Ian watched Steel at work, amazed at his ability to outguess and out maneuver his opponents.
Blow by blow, his future brother-in-law delivered knock-out punches.
The auction was now down to the last five minutes and yet he still could not call who would win.
The bids topped ten million and climbing.
Ian closed his eyes, unable to watch the drama anymore.
This was his mate, the one chosen for him after all of these years by the Fates.
What would happen if Steel lost? How would I rescue my mate then?
Where would I even begin to look? Ian’s brain shut down.
The last two hours wreaked havoc with his wolf and himself.
The waiting, the losses and triumphs—all were too much.
He started to hyperventilate. The end was coming towards him at light speed and he still didn’t know if he would survive.
Ian’s mind, body and wolf could no longer stand the stress and he fainted.
Cody grabbed Ian before he hit the floor while Steel let out a mighty roar as he placed the final winning bid.
He did it! He won Colton! Now to get him and kill the kidnapper.
He looked over and noticed Ian. Jumping up, he helped Cody set him in a chair.
Dr. Luna entered his office and, seeing the problem, dug out some smelling salts and waved them under Ian’s nose.
“Thank goodness, I have a first aid kit here. We can thank Colton for that,” Dr. Juan Luna said to Steel. “What the hell has been happening and where is Colton?”