Chapter 8
EIGHT
Luke
I put down my chisel and studied the block of wood in front of me. I’d been trying my hand at sculpture, but what was supposed to resemble a human face looked strangely alien. I snorted and muttered under my breath, “Better stick with furniture and picture frames.”
I had almost gone with Eli back to their cabin, but the boy had been quiet after our run, casting thoughtful glances at me as if still thinking about our conversation.
As much as I wanted to see Katie again, I also didn’t want to push Eli too hard.
The best thing I could do was let him know I was here if he needed to talk, and then give him the space to think.
My cell buzzed on my workbench. I wiped my hands on my pants and reached for it, stomach dropping when I saw an unknown number. It had been days since I’d heard from my birth father. Days since I’d told him I couldn’t give him more money right now.
I punched the accept button. “I told you the last time you called. I need more time.”
He barked a laugh. “No, you’ll get it to me now, except I want more.” He named a figure that stole my breath. “You owe me, boy. That ranch, that family—you wouldn't have any of it if I hadn't taught you how to play the part.”
His words were a knife twisting in my gut. “I can’t give you what I don’t have.”
“You’ll find a way. I’ve got something you want.”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t want anything from you.”
“Tell me that again in a minute.” I heard a rustling over the phone, followed by him speaking to someone on his end. “You. Say hello.” There was some more rustling. “Now. Unless you want the pup hurt.”
My world narrowed to a point when I heard Katie’s voice. “Luke? He has Eli.”
“I said to say hello. Nothing else.” More unidentifiable noises came over the line before he came back.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to get the money and come here.
I’ll let your mate and the pup go after I get a few miles down the road.
You’ll wait fifteen minutes before going after them.
If I see you before that, or I see any of your so-called brothers, your mate pays the price. ”
My gut churned. I tried to hear Katie or Eli in the background, but there was just my father. “How am I supposed to get the money? I told you last time you called I didn’t have it.”
“You’ll figure it out if you want to see your mate again.” I heard a vehicle door open. “And remember. You come alone. Unless you need more proof besides the cattle and the truck that I’m willing to hurt her.”
He hung up, and my mind reeled at the confirmation that my father was the one who’d targeted Katie. Part of me hadn’t believed he would go this far. He must be desperate for money. And when he was desperate, he was unpredictable.
My phone dinged with a text showing his location and a reminder to come alone. I wanted to go immediately. Race to where he was and free Katie and Eli. But I had to think. How did I know he’d let them go after I gave him the money? I didn’t trust him for a minute.
The door to my shop opened, and Mason walked in. “I got another angle on the driver of the truck. Come take a look and see if they’re familiar to you.”
I leaned against my workbench, staring down at the scarred surface, barely registering my brother’s words. I didn’t have access to the money my father wanted, even if I believed giving it to him would save Katie and Eli.
“Luke? Something wrong?” Mason’s voice came closer.
Could I convince Declan I needed the money right away without telling him why? He always kept some in the office safe for emergencies.
I spun around when Mason’s hand landed on my shoulder. I scrubbed my hand over my face. “Sorry. I was thinking about… something else.”
“Want to share?” Mason seldom missed anything, his time in the military having taught him to notice every detail. “You know I’m here for you.”
I wanted to share. Badly. I wanted my brothers’ help.
I couldn’t solve this on my own. My father knew how to play me. But asking my brothers for help? He would never expect that.
My muscles tensed. It would mean telling them everything. They knew very little about my childhood. And they knew nothing about my father extorting money from me for months.
But for Katie and Eli, I could do it. I would face my brothers’ judgement.
“I need to talk to everyone. Now.”
Mason didn’t question me. He just nodded and headed for the door. “We’ll meet at the house.”
Ten minutes later my brothers and their mates, along with Mae, sat around the kitchen table. I paced alongside it, figuring out where to start. Wherever I started, I needed to make it quick.
“My birth father is a con man. He raised me to help him, then dumped me when I started shifting and wasn’t any use to him.
” The weight of everyone’s stares settled on me.
“He contacted me several months ago and asked for money. Said if I didn’t, he’d make sure you all knew what I’d done growing up.
I gave it to him. Every month he’d contact me for more. ”
Declan frowned. “Did you think we’d hold your past against you? You’re our brother. We know who you really are. A good man.”
“There’s more.” I drew in a quick breath, not wanting to acknowledge Declan’s words. “He’s taken Katie and Eli. I have to go alone, with ten thousand dollars. If I don’t, I don’t know what he’ll do to them. He’s already targeted Katie with the cattle and the truck.”
Mason crossed his arms, frustration clear in every line of his body. “I’m thinking I shouldn’t bother with security. I don’t know how everyone keeps getting through it.”
“You can’t cover every corner of the ranch.” Gabriel laid a hand on his arm. “It’s too open to protect properly.”
Mason grunted, eyes shadowed.
“I don’t know how to save them. I’m not even sure giving him the money will work.” My breath shuddered out as tears burned my eyes.
Gabriel stood, crossing over to me and laying his arm across my shoulders, letting his quiet strength seep into me. “We’ll figure it out. Together. With all of us working on it, we’ll get them out of there.”
Katie
The gag Luke’s father had hastily shoved in place was loose, and I worked it out of my mouth. Rolling over, I faced Eli. The boy’s eyes were wide with terror. I pitched my voice as low as I could. “I’m right here with you. I won’t let him hurt you.”
I talked him through rolling over and inching his way to where my hands were tied behind me. After a few tries, I loosened his gag enough for him to spit it out.
“Let’s try the rope around your wrists.” I coaxed him to stay calm. “One step at a time, Eli. We’ve got this. Together.”
My fingers scrabbled to find the knot and undo it. This was more challenging than the gag. But there was hope he hadn’t tied Eli up too well. From what Luke had shared, his father was a con man, not a seasoned kidnapper.
It was hard without seeing what I was working on, but I explored the rope carefully with my fingers. I fumbled with the knot. Adrenaline made my fingers shaky, and it soon turned into frustration.
“I can’t do it.”
“Try now.” Eli twisted and gave me a different angle on the knot. With less confidence than before, I resumed my efforts. I kept waiting for Luke’s father to appear and catch us, but the smell of cigarette smoke remained faint.
My fingers ached from working in such an odd position. Eventually, I thought I had it loosened and slipped my finger through the opening. With a sharp pull, the rope slackened.
“You got it!”
I shushed Eli. “Undo your feet, but keep the rope looped around your ankles. Then hold your hands behind your back as if you’re still tied up.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to distract him so you can run.” I stopped Eli before he protested. “Listen to me, Eli. If we both run, he’ll have to come after us. If only you run, he’ll probably let you go. I’m the one he really needs.”
“I don’t want to leave you.” Eli sniffled, his face smeared with dirt.
“It won’t be for long. You’re going to run back to the ranch as fast as you can and get help.” I gave him a weak smile that I hoped was reassuring. “You’re fast, even in human form. Luke and his brothers will know what to do.”
I prayed I was right, and they would save me. But as long as Eli got to safety, I convinced myself it was enough.
“I can’t.”
“You can. Eli, you are strong.” I met his teary gaze, trying to transmit any strength I had to him. “You are brave, and you can do this. I believe in you.”
He blinked back his tears and rolled his shoulders with one last big sniff. “I’ll get Luke. He’ll save you. You’re his mate. Fated mates are a big deal to shifters.”
“They are.” I gave him a shaky smile, surprised he knew that. “Get ready to run as soon as I have him distracted.”
He nodded, rolling over to hide his hands behind his back. Once he positioned himself, I kicked at the side of the truck bed and yelled. “Hey! I need to go to the bathroom.”
I kept banging on the truck and shouting until he slammed the truck door closed and appeared at the end of the truck, face furious.
“Stop yelling. How’d you get your gag out?” He grabbed my ankles and dragged me to the end of the truck bed. He reached into a box and pulled out a long strip of cloth. “I’ll have to tie this one tighter.”
“Please. I have to go to the bathroom.” I squeezed my legs together to convince him. “It won’t take long.”
“Do you think I’m a fool? You can hold it. Or not. I don’t really care. It’s not my truck.” He moved to gag me again, and I kicked out with my bound legs, catching him in the gut and pushing him back. He stumbled, almost falling, but caught himself at the last second. “You little—”
I kicked out again as he approached, aiming for his face this time.
He blocked with his arms, and curses flew from his mouth.
He caught my legs on my next attempt and dragged me out of the truck, pinning me to the ground as he tried to gag me.
I kept twisting my head and body, making it more difficult for him.
Over his shoulder, I saw Eli slipping out of the truck. He hesitated, but I gave him a slight nod. His jaw firmed, and he squared his shoulders before disappearing into the cornfield.
I continued to fight Luke’s father, buying Eli time to get farther away, but I was tiring. Finally, he had the gag tied tightly around my head. He dragged me to my feet and lifted me to put me back in the truck bed, only then noticing Eli was gone.
“You think you’re clever, don’t you?” He snarled at me. “Well, you’re going to cost Luke even more now. I deserve it for my troubles.”
He shoved me into the back and tied my ankles to part of the truck. “That should keep you in place.” He shut the tailgate and growled. “Need to switch locations since the pup got away.”
He stomped along the driver’s side of the truck. I heard the door slam, then the engine revved, and we started moving. The rutted path to the highway tossed me around, but with my hands behind me, I could do nothing to stop it.
I winced as my head hit the metal of the truck. Then, with no recovery time, I slammed hard against the opposite side. I would be a giant bruise after this. If there was an after this.