40. Shane
Chapter 40
Shane
G uilt nearly suffocates me as I leave Kaycia’s reply text unread. I can see part of her response on the screen along with a photo, but I can’t bear to open it. If I do, I’ll confess that I won’t be there tonight, and I can’t risk worrying her enough that she’d consider missing her exhibition. This night is too important for her, I won’t be responsible for ruining it any more than I already have. I can only hope she’ll be so wrapped up in work that she won’t be able to worry about me until things are finished. As long as she stays safe it will be worth it.
I send a message to Raquel, begging her to keep Kaycia focused and telling her that I need to deal with some family stuff before I head to Argent. I pace through the living room, running my hands through my hair and checking the time on my phone screen. I need to keep my wits and stay in control of my temper tonight. Around six-thirty, I start to text Max to give him a heads-up about what’s happening but pause mid-text when gravel crunches at the end of the drive. My heightened hearing alerts me to two vehicles approaching.
I wait inside, watching through the front windows of the cabin as a black SUV and a dark gray, heavy-duty pickup pull in behind my motorcycle. I could still get around them, but it wouldn’t be easy with the way they’ve blocked me in. They were already a day’s drive from their pack’s territory and heading toward Argent when Colton called me last night. I knew they’d reach me by late afternoon.
I’m not going to run again. I’m sick of looking over my shoulder. It’s time this ends.
Either we squash this feud tonight, or one of us dies and takes it with us to the grave.
Colton Ross gets out of the truck, another wolf following close behind from the passenger side. Two more exit the front of the SUV when I step onto the front deck. My claws and fangs threaten to shift with so many strange wolves nearby. I have to dig my fingertips into my arms when the back door opens and a third wolf pulls a woman from the back seat. She’s tall and lanky, wearing a burlap sack over her head with her arms bound behind her.
Even though it’s been ten years, I recognize my sister. The way she staggers and has to be supported confirms my suspicion they’ve drugged her. Nevertheless, she struggles between two of her captors, trying to free her arms from their tight grip. The clumsiness of her movements sends a wave of remorse crashing over me, followed by a rising tide of anger at Colton Ross.
“I’m here. Let Lana go.” The resignation in my voice surprises me.
I haven’t given up, but I sure as hell sound like I have.
“Nice place you’ve got here, McKinley,” Colton sneers, ignoring my demand while strolling around like a prospective buyer walking through an open house. I note the pistol he wears in a shoulder holster but see no other visible weapons on his companions. His dark brown hair is buzzed close to his scalp and his light blue eyes shine when he pushes his sunglasses up on his head. Their bright color doesn’t match the black heart he’s grown over the decade since Logan’s death.
His cocky attitude is the same as it always was, but he’s filled out since I knew him. He’s no longer the slim little brother to the Ross pack heir. This is an alpha wolf in his full glory, even if he’s sinking to deplorable depths by threatening the daughter of a high-ranking member of a neighboring pack. If my father knew he had Lana, he would have already started a war.
“Shane?” Lana mumbles behind the hood. “Brother, don’t turn yourself over to them. They’ll kill you.”
“Lana, this is between us.” I allow my anger to seep into my words, eyes never shifting from Colton.
“He killed himself when he killed Logan. Old man Cameron was a fool to think I would let that debt go with an exile,” Colton goads with a growl at my sister. To her credit, she doesn’t shrink or cower at his tone.
I step down onto the grass, scanning the men as they array themselves on the lawn. I don’t recognize three of them, instead thinking of them by their distinct characteristics: Ball Cap, Ripped Jeans, and Tattoos. A fourth, the one wearing a beat-up leather jacket, however, is familiar. “Caleb Davidson,” I call to the young man. “Have you changed pack allegiance? You’d dare lay hands on Sean McKinley’s daughter?”
He cuts his eyes to Colton before frowning and answering, “My mom remarried. The Rosses are our pack now.” Caleb stares at his feet and flinches when I spit on the grass.
I don’t offer any further response to the youth who once followed my brother and me like our own personal fan club, addressing Colton again, “Your father agreed to the exile. Logan was his son and heir. If old man Ross agreed all debts were paid, it’s your responsibility to abide by it.”
“My father was weak and too easily influenced by his desire for loyalty and peace. The old fool always wanted the packs to work together.”
I make a sound of disgust in my throat at his disparagement of his father. “Nice way to speak of the dead, Colt. We were friends.”
“Fuck that childhood shit, McKinley. What you did to my brother would never have happened if we were friends .”
My anger surges. “Logan brought it on himself and you know it. He fought dirty and died with his hands soiled.”
Colton growls low in his throat, his eyes flashing with rage. “I’m the alpha now and my wolves agree with me. It’s time for you to stand a real trial for what you did.”
“Challenge him, Shane!” Lana shrieks on her knees, her voice muffled from the sack still covering her head. “Gods damn you, challenge him!” I can only imagine the fury on her face.
Ripped Jeans lands a backhand across where her cheek should be, sending her sprawling across the lawn, unable to cushion her fall with her hands bound.
“Shut up, you bitch!” he snarls.
I reach the wolf before he knows what’s hit him. We roll into the gravel of the driveway, claws forming in my anger as I throw punches, ripping clothing and tearing flesh as we growl and wrestle. A gunshot silences us and I still, holding his shirt as I kneel on his chest heaving angry breaths.
“There’s the temper that got you into trouble before,” Colton chuckles, holding his pistol in the air. “Boys, get him and hold him with his sister until I’m ready for him.”
They drag me to Lana’s side panting and bloody. I don’t resist. I’ll bide my time for the moment. My cell phone remains in the driveway, the screen broken on the rough ground.
I spit blood on the grass as I stare at Colton. “At least prove to me that you’ve pulled them away from my girl, you prick. If you’re going to break your word about freeing Lana, show you have an ounce of dignity and keep that one. I kept my end of the bargain, at least honor part of yours.”
“Okay, okay.” He replaces his gun in its holster and pulls out his cell. Dialing, he places it on speakerphone and approaches so I can hear the ringing.
“What’s up?” a gruff male voice answers.
“You and the boys can back off the artist,” Colton orders. “I’ve got him.”
“You sure? Looks like a good time in there. It’s getting started now. They’ve got an open bar and those fancy snacks they pass around on trays for rich people. She’s a pretty little thing, too. You know I like blondes.”
I snarl, chest heaving and eyes gold with my anger. My wolf claws in my chest to shift.
“Leave it. Head back home. We don’t need her, and we don’t need any attention from the cops if you two fuck up.”
“All right, all right. We’ll head out. She’s been eyeing us. Thought I might have a chance to pick her up later if McKinley doesn’t show up for her. Maybe I can soothe her broken heart,” the fucker jokes, knowing I’m here listening.
Misery coils in my gut knowing she will have a broken heart soon when I don’t show up with Max. I should have been on the road hours ago. Not much time now before she realizes I’m not coming.
Colton hangs up, then returns his glare to me. His lips curl into an eerie smile as he approaches me. “Okay, McKinley. Let’s have a little heart-to-heart.”