24. Hail
Hail
T he throbbing in my head woke me. Needles of pain shot through my skull with each heartbeat. I tried to reach up, to touch the source of the ache, but my arms wouldn’t move. My wrists burned, something rough biting into the skin. Rope.
Fragments of memory flashed through my mind.
Checking on Allie through the connecting door.
Her small frame bent over a box of mostly intact pottery, carefully sorting pieces worth saving.
Tressa circling her like a furry guardian, always watching, always alert.
The image of them safe together had been reassuring as I ducked back into the kiln room.
I’d been examining the cracks in the firing chamber, my upper body halfway inside the kiln. The damage looked bad, but not irreparable. Maybe we could salvage it with the right parts. Money wasn’t an issue, but it might take months to get a new kiln.
When I heard soft sounds behind me, I’d thought it was Allie coming to check on me. I backed out of the kiln, a smile on my face. I found two males crowded into the small shed, wearing cold expressions. I’d barely registered the threat before something hard cracked against the back of my skull.
As I fell, I heard one of them ask, “Should we grab the woman too?”
Another voice answered as I landed hard on the floor, my mind swimming in and out of focus. “I’m not challenging that wolf. We got what we came for.”
My last thought was relief. At least Allie had Tressa. At least she wasn’t alone.
Now, as awareness slowly returned, I forced my eyes open. Sunlight filtered through tree branches overhead, dappling the forest floor with shifting patterns of light and shadow. I was outside, tied to a support beam of a solid wooden structure. Not a tree. The surface behind me felt flat.
I blinked, trying to clear my vision. An abandoned mining camp.
I’d heard stories about this place but had never come this far into the foothills.
The remains of several wooden buildings created an uneven half-circle around a central clearing.
Tools and equipment long forgotten lay scattered and rusting.
A track disappeared into the side of the mountain, the mine entrance partially collapsed, what was left held up by wooden supports that had survived decades of neglect.
The place had an eerie quality, as if time had simply stopped here.
Nature was slowly reclaiming the site, with young trees growing through collapsed roofs and vines crawling up the sides of structures still standing.
The camp sat in a small valley between two slopes, well-hidden.
Perfect for someone who didn’t want to be found.
“Finally awake.” A voice came from my right.
I turned my head, wincing as pain lanced through my skull. A man sat on a camping chair several feet away, cleaning his fingernails with a knife. Not one of the men who’d taken me, but the resemblance was there in the same hard eyes, the same efficient movements. Another of Will’s people?
“Water,” I croaked, my throat dry as clay dust.
The man regarded me before reaching for a canteen lying on the ground by his feet. He approached, keeping the knife visible, and held the container to my lips. I drank, water spilling down my chin and onto my shirt.
“That’s enough.” He pulled it away too soon, returning to his chair. “Boss wants you alive for now. How does it feel to be bait?”
The word dropped like a stone in my gut. They were using me to lure Allie here without Tressa.
I tested the ropes binding my wrists behind me, careful to keep my movements subtle.
The fibers were coarse and tight, but there was a tiny bit of give.
If I worked at it long enough, I might be able to create enough slack to free one hand.
I kept my expression neutral, not wanting to alert the guard.
As much as I wanted to bellow and try to rip this place apart, I could tell I was too tightly secured to free myself. It would take patience and subtly.
“How long was I out?” I asked, trying to gauge how much time had passed.
The man shrugged. “Not long enough.”
I’d bet it had been long enough for Allie to discover I was missing. What would she do now?
I knew my mate. She’d do anything to save me, even at risk to herself. The thought sent fear roaring through me, sharper than the pain in my head.
Around us, the forest was alive with sounds. Birds called from the trees, small creatures rustled in the underbrush. A light breeze carried the scent of pine and earth. Such a beautiful setting for something so ugly.
“Your boss is Will Carmichael?” I asked.
The guard gave me a flat stare. “You know who he is.”
“I know he’s been causing trouble for my mate.”
“Your mate .” He almost smiled. “That’s what you orcs call your women, right? Sounds possessive.”
I didn’t take the bait. “Where is he now?”
“Around.” The guard gestured vaguely. “Setting things up for your mate’s arrival.”
The casual certainty in his voice made my blood turn to ice. They expected Allie to come, which meant they would’ve left instructions, likely with threats to ensure her compliance.
I worked my wrists against the ropes while keeping my shoulders still. The rough fibers scraped my skin raw, but I felt them giving, bit by bit.
Footsteps approached from behind one of the buildings, and the guard straightened, suddenly alert.
A moment later, a male wearing a starched shirt and dress pants walked into the clearing, his expensive shoes appearing out of place on the dirt path.
Even before he turned to face me, I knew this had to be Will Carmichael.
He looked nothing like the monster I’d imagined. Tall and slim, with carefully styled hair and the kind of face that belonged in the business forums. I’d seen his picture on Allie’s phone, but this male possessed the cold, calculated gaze of a predator.
“Hail, I presume.” His voice came out cultured, pleasant even. “I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but we both know that would be insincere.”
I said nothing, watching him.
“Not much of a talker? That’s fine.” Will walked closer, studying me with casual interest. “I know plenty about you already. You’re from the orc kingdom.
You and your brothers came here and built the quaint tourist town in the middle of the valley.
You’re a potter. Owner of a moderately successful tourist attraction in that charming little town.
And most relevantly, lover to the woman who has hidden things that belong to me. ”
“Allie doesn’t have anything of you-you-yours.” I kept my voice steady.
“Now, see, that’s where you’re wrong.” Will smiled, the expression never reaching his eyes. “Her father took some very valuable objects from me before his unfortunate accident. Allie is the key to recovering them.”
“What accident?” I already suspected the answer.
Will crouched down to my level, his movements graceful and controlled. “The car crash that killed Howard Wilson was quite tragic, really. Brake lines gave out, they said. He should’ve been more careful.”
Rage bloomed in my chest. This man had killed Allie’s father. Had pursued her across the country, destroying her sense of safety, forcing her to live in constant fear. I pulled against the ropes, no longer caring if anyone noticed.
“Did she tell you why I’ve been looking for her?” Will seemed genuinely curious.
“Something about art-artwork.” I kept working on the ropes, ignoring the burn as they cut into my wrists.
“Not just any artwork. A collection worth millions.” Will stood up, pacing in front of me.
“Howard Wilson was a thief. He and his partner, Simon Blackstone, stole fourteen pieces from me, paintings that had been in my family for generations.” He stopped, turning to face me. “Do you know what happened to Simon?”
I stayed silent, already guessing the answer.
“So odd. He had an accident as well.” Will shrugged. “I want my property back. Allie knows where it is.”
“She doesn’t,” I said. “She would’ve t-t-told me.”
“Oh, I think she does.” Will smiled again, that same empty expression. “And if she doesn’t, she’ll lead me to it eventually. People reveal what they know when properly motivated.”
The casual threat in his words made my blood boil. I redoubled my efforts with the ropes, feeling them loosen slightly.
“You won’t touch-touch-touch her.” My words came out as a growl.
Will laughed. “You’re in no position to make threats. In fact, your current situation is entirely dependent on Allie’s cooperation. If she arrives alone, as instructed, and finally cooperates, you might both survive this encounter.”
One of the men who’d taken me from the pottery barn appeared from around a building, gesturing to Will. “Boss, perimeter’s set. No sign of company yet.”
“Good.” Will checked his watch. “She should be here soon. Keep an eye out.”
“What if she brings the cops?” the man asked.
“Then our orc friend here won’t survive to see her arrival.” Will said it matter-of-factly, as if discussing the weather. “We made that very clear in the note.”
So they’d left instructions, confirming my fears. Allie would come alone, walking into their trap to save me.
“Your mate has led me on quite a chase,” Will said, turning back to me. “Two years of watching, waiting, following only tiny clues. She was quite good at hiding. But I’ll never give up. It’s nothing personal, you understand. Just business.”
“Killing people is business to you?” I couldn’t keep the disgust from my voice.
“Did I admit to killing anyone?” Will shrugged. “Howard knew the risks when he stole from me. So did Simon.”
“And Allie? What risks did she take?”
“Being the daughter of a thief.” Will’s expression hardened. “If she’d simply given me what I wanted when I first approached her, none of this would’ve been necessary.”
I worked my right hand against the rope, feeling it give. A little more, and I might be able to slip free. I’d rip them apart. For myself. For Allie.
“What do you plan to do-do-do with us afterward?” I asked to keep him talking.
Will’s smile chilled through me. “I haven’t decided yet. It depends on how eager she is to talk.”
The implications of his words hit me. This man had no intention of letting us walk away. He’d killed twice without hesitation, perhaps other times. He wouldn’t want us sharing what he’d done.
“I don’t typically waste time explaining myself,” Will said.
“But since you won’t be sharing this information with anyone, I’ll tell you something about your Allie’s father.
Howard Wilson wasn’t just a thief, he was a clever one.
He replaced my originals with forgeries so good they fooled even expert appraisers for months.
By the time I discovered the switch, he and Simon had disappeared with my collection. ”
Will paced as he spoke, his agitation growing visible.
“Two years of searching. Two years of watching Howard’s daughter, hoping she’d lead me to the paintings.
They weren’t in his house or his studio.
His partner claimed to not know where they were hidden.
Now Allie is my last link to those paintings.
She knows something, even if she doesn’t realize it. ”
The sound of an approaching vehicle drew Will’s attention. He glanced toward the path leading to the camp, a smile spreading across his face.
“Right on time.” He straightened his jacket. “And alone, it seems. Smart girl.”
I strained against my bonds, desperation giving me strength. The ropes had loosened, but not enough.
“Don’t hurt her. Please. She’ll help you f-f-find what you’re looking for.”
Pity appeared in Will’s expression. “For your sake, I hope so.” He nodded to the guard. “Watch him. If he tries anything, shoot him.”
The guard pulled a handgun from the holster on his hip and nodded.
Will walked toward the path where the vehicle had stopped, disappearing around one of the buildings. My heart pounded in my chest, fear for Allie overwhelming everything else.
I twisted my wrists hard, ignoring the pain as the ropes bit deeper. A little more. Blood slicked my skin, making it easier to slide against the fibers. One hand, that’s all I needed. Just one hand free.
The guard watched the direction Will had gone, his attention divided. I took the opportunity to strain harder against the ropes, feeling them give another fraction.
I thought of Allie walking into this trap and facing Will, not knowing he’d killed her father. The image fueled my desperation, giving me strength.
The rope around my right wrist loosened enough that I could feel my fingers again. Blood trickled down my palm, hot and sticky. I rotated my wrist, testing the give in the binding. Almost free.
In the distance, I heard voices. Will’s smooth tones, and someone’s response. Had she come for me, walking straight into the trap?
I’d destroy this place before I let them touch her.
The guard turned back to me, his expression unreadable. “That must be her. Guess your mate does care. Won’t do either of you much good, though.”
I didn’t respond, focusing all my energy on freeing my hands. The rope slipped another bit. Blood made the fibers slick. One more good pull might do it.
“You’re w-w-wasting your time. The police w-will be looking for us.”
The guard snorted. “In these mountains? They wouldn’t know where to start. And by the time they figure it out, we’ll be long gone.” He advanced closer. “It’s going to be fun making your mate talk.”