Chapter Twelve
Vince: A Call for Allies
Jared had called the pack to let them know we were coming back with Mike and that he was severely injured. Three of Jared’s pack mates were standing outside waiting on us when we pulled into the parking lot. He was too large for me to be able to sit with him, so I had to manage to keep the pressure on his wound from the front seat. It was an awkward position for an adult that I perfected when I was younger, teasing my cousins in the back seat for being too slow to claim shotgun.
Jared called his guys who worked at the police department to inform them of what happened. Frank, who was a detective, told him that there was a rise in the number of women being kidnapped in the area, including female shifters, especially those of rare breeds. Frank said they were looking into it, but I felt I needed to do something to help.
I didn’t know what to do, but something I was doing caught Jared off guard.
“Brother,” Jared said as he approached me. “I know how you’re feeling right now, but going feral wouldn’t help Lissa right now. She needs you, so you need to keep a level head.”
“I’m not going feral, Jar,” I chuckled.
“You’re pacing like you’re locked in a cage, feeling helpless. I get the helpless part. I do.”
“I don’t know how I can help,” I said, standing still. I hadn’t realized I had been pacing.
“Look, Frank is stopping by with some information in a few. Mike may have something that would help us once he wakes up.” He paused, and I could feel his eyes on me as I continued to feel the weight of everything pressing down on me.
“Frank is one of the best detectives in my network. If anyone can help track her down, it’s him.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Look, you are a great guy, Vince. I’ve seen quite a bit in my lifetime. You are not alone in this.”
“Thank you, brother,” I replied, feeling a sense of relief envelop me.
“Maybe when the dust settles, I can visit you in New York.”
“That’ll be good,” I replied, but what he said wasn’t chipping away any of the anxiety that had built up.
“What I’m trying to say is that I trust you enough to tell you that Frank and I are part of an organization called the Knights of Freedom. We help relocate battered women and children or shelter them for protection. It’s a program called the Victim’s Protection Organization. We help with finding missing persons, too.”
My eyes darted to his, and a small smile tugged on his lips.
“Frank has connections that will help get your mate back.”
“I don’t want to be left out.” I was impressed and appreciated hearing this.
“And you won’t be.”
I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Lissa was out there, somewhere, and I would get her back.
About an hour later, Mike’s eyes fluttered open. His gaze was unfocused at first, but then recognition dawned, and he tried to sit up, grimacing in pain.
“Easy,” I said, moving to his side. “You’re safe now, but I need you to tell me what happened.”
Mike groaned, rubbing his temple as if trying to clear the fog in his head.
“It was a bear shifter,” he began, his voice hoarse. “Massive bastard... slashed my torso out of nowhere. There were two humans with him, armed with some tranquilizer. I tried to fight them off, but they got me good.”
I stopped by a local place for breakfast when I heard a woman scream. I saw two men trying to get a red-haired woman into their van, but she was putting up a fight. I tried to help, but the bear, who was the driver, got out of the car and told me this didn’t pertain to me.”
I sniffed the air and could smell your scent on her, Vince, and I knew I had to interject. I pushed past the bear, but the bear caught my arm, and that’s when he and I began fighting it out. The bear’s claws came out and slashed across my torso, slicing me open.”
Jared and I exchanged a quick glance. This was worse than we thought. I knew there were greedy bastards in the supernatural community. I had no idea they would stoop this low to do something like this unless she were wanted somewhere. But by whom and why?
“Did you hear anything? Names, places, anything that can help us?” Jared asked, leaning forward.
Mike winced as he tried to recall. “That was the last thing I remember... and then darkness.”
“Thank you, Mike. This bit of information will be useful to Frank. Please, try to get some rest.”
I grabbed my phone and dialed Aiden immediately. He picked up after the first ring, and I quickly filled him in on Mike’s account. He seemed understanding and wanted to help wherever he could.
Aiden’s voice was sharp, all business. “I’m sending a team. These are trusted pack members; they’ll be at your side in no time. We can’t afford any mistakes. Find whoever is behind all these kidnappings, Vince. And make those bastards pay.”
I ended the call, my jaw clenched in determination. “We’re going after them. Jared. Coordinate with Frank and get us everything he can dig up on this operation. Mike, stay here and recover.”
Mike nodded weakly, his eyes filled with gratitude and pain.
I turned to Jared. “Get the team ready. We move as soon as we have a location.”
As Jared left to make the preparations, I took a moment to steel myself. This wasn’t just about saving Lissa. This was about ending the threat against us once and for all. And I would stop at nothing to bring her home safely.
I’ll get you back, Lissa. I promise you that. I said to myself. It was a promise.