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MANDY
I was wedged between Carl and Dale on the front seat of their truck and felt like a child squished between two hulking males. They hadn’t been forthcoming on why they’d taken me. I knew I should be worried about what they were going to do with me, but I was more angry than afraid. All I could think about was Nick, the forlorn expression on his face before he’d ended up unconscious in the dirt. I’d feared the worst when Carl had pulled out the gun and aimed it at his chest. Nick was alive, and that was all I cared about.
They hadn’t tied me up, blindfolded me, or tried to keep their destination a secret when they headed into the mountainous area near Hanford. Did it mean I was expendable, that my life would be over whenever they got what they wanted?
Dale draped his arm across the seat behind my head and shifted his weight so his thigh brushed against mine. “Relax, sweetheart. No one’s going to hurt you.” With his other hand, he tugged on a tendril of my hair.
“I’m not your sweetheart, and don’t touch me.” I smacked his hand away and inched closer to Carl. Of course, there wasn’t much room to move, so the small space I’d put between Dale and me meant I was now pressed against Carl.
Dale laughed. “Feisty. I like it.”
Carl squinted and shot him a warning glare. “Leave her alone.”
“What? I’m just having a little fun.”
“Well, don’t. The boss is going to be pissed when he finds out I had to tranq her mate. What do you think he’ll do if he finds out you couldn’t keep your hands off her?”
They thought I was Nick’s mate. I tensed and sucked in air. Surely Carl was mistaken. If I was really that important, wouldn’t Nick have said something to me? Unless he was planning to leave or, worse, was disappointed he was stuck with a human for his mate.
He’d been so attentive and caring lately that I didn’t want to believe it was possible. I swallowed past the large lump forming in my throat, unwilling to accept that I somehow wasn’t what he’d expected, wasn’t what he wanted.
“You worry too much,” Dale grumbled, then turned his head to stare out the window. Carl’s words must have carried some weight, because Dale silently brooded and left me alone for the remainder of the trip.
It wasn’t long before the back road Carl had taken from the cabin connected with the main two-lane highway leading to the Hanford Regency. Please let it be our destination. The employees would no doubt be loyal to Bishop, but that didn’t mean he could control the guests. I wasn’t above making a scene, and with plenty of witnesses, Carl and Dale wouldn’t be able to keep me from escaping. That little nugget of hope was quickly extinguished when we drove about a half mile past the hotel’s entrance and Carl entered a private access road.
I was taken aback when we rounded a curve and slowed to a stop near a thin wooden structure resembling a guard shack. A man casually dressed in a black shirt and pants stepped out and waved us through. I was curious to know what other kinds of business dealings Bishop was involved in that required him to be this cautious about his safety. No wonder my father had warned me to stay clear of the man.
At the end of the drive was a massive two-story home with a luxurious natural landscape. The alterations to the property seemed fairly new. The house was vaguely familiar, and it dawned on me that I’d been here years ago with my father to do some plumbing work for Leo Turner, the previous owner. I’d heard he’d retired somewhere down south to live near his daughter and her family. I didn’t know Desmond Bishop had been the one who’d purchased the property. A fact I had confirmed shortly after Carl ushered me into an office and insisted I sit in a plush chair opposite an oversized mahogany desk.
For a man who had no problem breaking the law, Desmond certainly had good taste. The room was decorated in shades of green and accented with hints of mauve and gold. It was a design the interior decorator in me could appreciate.
I startled at the sound of a man clearing his throat. I’d been so busy taking in the nuances of the room that I hadn’t heard him enter. Glancing over my shoulder, I wasn’t surprised to see the owner of the house dressed to the same degree with which he’d decorated his home. His chocolate-brown hair was cropped close to his head, not a strand was out of place. The amber rimming his dark eyes added to the intensity in his already unnerving gaze.
“I’m Desmond Bishop. Welcome to my estate.”
Though I’d never personally met the man before today, I’d recognized him immediately. I’d seen his picture in the newspaper when they’d published an article announcing the hotel’s opening. The man exuded a haughty charm, and even if I wasn’t seeing it for myself, I’d heard enough distasteful things from my father and his friends to know he couldn’t be trusted and was extremely dangerous.
“It’s Mandy, isn’t it?” He politely held out his hand, then returned it to his side when I refused to take it.
Even though he maintained a forced smile, the muscles of his jaw tightened. This was a man who was used to getting his way and didn’t appreciate being snubbed. Too bad. I didn’t think being kidnapped qualified for the use of good manners.
“Being forcefully manhandled isn’t exactly the same as being invited, now is it?” Seething, I raised my chin and dug my nails into the lush fabric on the chair’s armrests. I wasn’t about to show him any fear. It was a wasted effort since he was a wolf and could scent any changes in my emotions.
“I do apologize for the methods my men used in bringing you here.” He cast a disapproving glance at Carl and Dale, who were quietly standing near the entrance. “I’d hoped our meeting would have happened under better circumstances. I can assure you I have no intention of causing you any harm.”
I was having a hard time believing his statement and held back a snort. I already knew Desmond would do whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. Or rather he’d have others do it for him. The man’s suit was too immaculate, his manicured fingernails too clean, and the skin on his hands too soft to be someone who did any real labor himself.
“Why am I here?” Memories of what Carl had done to Nick flashed through my mind. They’d expected trouble. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have shown up with a dart gun. I had some theories, but I wanted to hear Desmond’s explanation.
“Let’s just say you’re an insurance policy of sorts.” He propped himself on the edge of his desk, stretching out his long legs and crossing them at the ankle.
“For what?”
“To ensure I have Nick and his family’s cooperation. Once they sign the deed to the resort over to me, you’ll be free to go.”
“I could go to the police, file a complaint, and have you arrested.”
He released an impertinent sigh and twisted his lips into a confident smirk. “But you won’t. It would be your word against mine. And since there isn’t a scratch on you, who do you think they’ll believe? A lowly plumber or a reputable businessman?”
I hated that he was right. I might have grown up here, but I wasn’t anyone special, didn’t have any of the power he possessed. With a sheriff and two deputies, Ashbury didn’t exactly have much of a police force. “One of your guys injured Nick, and the other one shot him.” I tossed a thumb in Carl and Dale’s direction. “Is that going to be their word against his too?”
“I’m afraid you misunderstand the severity of the situation.” He unhooked his ankles and got to his feet.
His eloquent way of speaking was getting on my nerves, and I wished he’d get to the point. “Then explain it to me.”
“It would be a shame if Nick had an accident.” He twisted the silver band inlaid with numerous diamonds on his right pinky finger. “The woods around here can be deadly. Who knows what might happen to a wolf when he goes out for a run?”
Desmond’s insinuation was clear, Nick would end up dead if I didn’t agree to his terms and keep my mouth shut. Dale’s snicker, along with the echo of knuckles cracking, reinforced the threat. I would do anything to protect Nick, to keep him alive. Overwhelmed by defeat, I slumped my shoulders and sank into the chair.
––––––––
NICK
“Nick, wake up.” My mind slowly crept from the darkness and was greeted by a pulsing ache stretching across my forehead. Something jostled my shoulder, and I felt the repeated application of a slick, wet surface attacking my cheek and chin. I forced my eyes open and focused my blurry vision on Bryson’s hulking frame. “Had me worried there for a minute.” His deep frown lessened, and he snatched Bear and his slobbering tongue away from my face.
“Where’s Mandy?” I croaked through my dry throat, then glanced around before my mind registered that she was gone.
“She’s not here.”
“They took her.” I tried to sit up, then wished I hadn’t when another sharp jab spliced my skull.
“Take it slow. It looks like they shot you with enough tranquilizer to take down an elephant.” Bryson gripped my forearm and helped me to my feet. “It was the same guys from before, wasn’t it?” He tipped his head toward the road leading away from the cabin. “I recognized the scent and saw the same tire tracks.”
“Yeah.” I slowly nodded my head. “Bishop’s men.”
“Come on, I’ll take you back to the lodge.”
I staggered a few steps. “I need to go after her.” I braced my hands against the hood of his jeep, waiting for the nausea pummeling my stomach to ease.
“No can do.” Bryson tapped the handheld radio attached to his belt. “I already contacted Reese, and he’ll have my ass if I let you go after her in this condition.” He opened the passenger door to his jeep.
I was ready to tear into him when he shoved me into the seat. In his bear form, he’d be a worthy opponent and could kick my ass on a good day. High metabolism or not, with the remnants of whatever drug Carl had shot me with still coursing through my system, I didn’t stand a chance.
“Think about this logically. If Bishop wanted her dead, they wouldn’t have taken her. Something else is going on, and if you go after her by yourself, you could end up getting both of you killed. Better to talk to your brother, figure out our next move, and work as a team.”
I stifled a snarl, hating to admit that Bryson was right. After setting Bear in my lap, he got into the vehicle and drove us back to the lodge. It was a short drive, yet it seemed to last forever. My anxiety and the need to find Mandy was compounded by my wolf’s increasingly hard-to-control determination.
Once we arrived, Bryson reached for Bear and tucked him inside one of his massive arms. “I’ll take care of the dog. You go talk to Reese.” He tipped his chin in the direction of the main entrance, where Reese and Berkley were rushing outside.
“Thanks.” I slid out of the jeep and headed toward them. The throb in my head was down to a dull ache, and I was glad my reflexes were finally cooperating.
In seconds, my siblings were at my side. “Oh my God, Nick. Are you okay? All Bryson said was that you’d been shot.” Tears filled Berkley’s eyes.
“I’m fine...really.” I gripped her hand, trying to comfort her. “It was only a dart filled with some kind of tranquilizer.”
“Who did this?” She didn’t wait for me to answer before running her fingertips over the tears in my shirt. She reached for the hem, lifting the fabric and examining the partially healed wounds.
“One of Bishop’s guys.” I glanced at Reese. “They took Mandy.”
“Fuck.” Reese shoved his hand roughly through his hair. “Let’s go inside, and you can fill us in on what happened.” He straightened his shoulders. Determination bounded from every step Reese took as he led us into his office. Once inside, he promptly aimed me toward the chair opposite his desk.
I was too keyed up, and the last thing I wanted to do was sit. However, I was still struggling from the aftereffects of the drug and reluctantly complied with my brother’s wishes. Reese walked around his desk and dropped into his chair, and Berkley made herself comfortable on the arm of my chair. I spent the next few minutes filling them in on my encounter with Carl and Dale.
“It sounds like Mandy was their intended target,” Reese said.
“Yes...to get to me.” I rubbed the back of my neck, the pain in my head dulled in comparison to the pressure constricting my chest. I’d failed to protect my mate and could lose the one person who meant everything to me.
“I need to get out there and find her.” I started to get out of the chair, and Berkley gripped my shoulder, urging me to stay seated.
“And we will,” Reese said. “I know you care about her. We all do.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, striving for calm. “You don’t understand.”
“What don’t I understand?”
“She’s my mate.” I hadn’t wanted to tell them until I’d spoken to Mandy first. I needed them to know, to realize why I was so close to losing control.
“I knew it. You were acting way too possessive and protective around her.” Berkley seemed satisfied with herself. She tapped her chin, her smile fading and her gaze narrowing. “Wait a minute. Mandy doesn’t know, does she?” She punched me in my sore shoulder, and I winced. “Why didn’t you tell her?”
“Berkley, not now,” Reese ordered.
“Fine,” she snapped, giving me one of her looks that said we would be finishing this conversation later. “If I was able to figure it out, then there’s a good chance Bishop did too.”
Reese and Berkley didn’t have to say anything for me to know what they were thinking. Bishop had chosen Mandy because of her connection to me. He knew if he had her, he had me. Wolves, specifically wild ones, would do anything to protect their mates.
There was a knock on the door, and Bryson stuck his head inside. “Bear’s done doing his business. Mind if we join you?”
“Not at all.” Reese waved for him to enter.
Bear took a few cautious steps inside, sniffed the floor and the air. Satisfied by what he smelled, he rushed over to me and began whining and pawing my leg. “It’s okay, boy.” I picked him up and set him on my lap. Stroking my hand along the dog’s back helped soothe some of my anxiety. Too bad it didn’t have the same effect on my wolf.
“In case you were wondering, the tracks from the truck were headed in the same direction they took that night after the break-in.” Bryson propped himself on the edge of the lateral cabinet.
“Is it possible they took her to the hotel?” Berkley asked, picking Bear up off my lap and cuddling him against her chest.
“No, he’s too smart for that. It’s too public and the first place anyone would look.” Reese pulled out a drawer of his desk and retrieved a business card. “I think it’s time to give Bishop a call.” No sooner had he placed the card on the desk than the phone began to ring.
“That’s probably the slimy bastard now,” Berkley said.
“Let’s find out.” Reese picked up the receiver. “Yes, Nina.” He listened to whatever she was saying, then nodded. “Put Mr. Bishop through.” He glanced from Berkley to me before pressing the speaker button.
“Good afternoon, Reese. I assume you’ve spoken to Nick and know why I’m calling.” Desmond spoke as if Mandy’s kidnapping was an everyday business transaction.
“What do you want, Desmond?” Reese didn’t waste any time getting straight to the point.
I fisted my hands in my lap, the tips of my emerging claws digging into my palms and drawing blood. I had plenty of things I wanted to say to the asshole. I knew it would be better to let Reese handle things, because threatening to rip Bishop’s balls off wasn’t going to get Mandy back.
“You already know the answer. It’s what I’ve always wanted.”
“The resort.” Reese spat the words through gritted teeth.
“Yes.” Desmond’s smug enthusiasm grated on my nerves. “You sign the deed over to me, and I will release Nick’s mate.”
“How do we know she hasn’t been harmed?” Reese asked.
“You have my word.”
“Not good enough,” I growled, scooting forward to perch on the end of my seat.
Reese held up his hand to silence me. “I’m afraid we’re going to need some proof.”
“Very well.” Desmond sighed. “Carl, go get Ms. Jenson.”
A few minutes later, I could hear Mandy yelling in the background. “Let go of me. I can walk by myself.” I could only assume it was Carl who’d made the mistake of touching my mate again. Added to what I owed him for the dart, and I was determined to make our next encounter painful for him.
“Other than confirming your good health...” Menace resounded in Bishop’s tone. “You will not tell them anything else.” The man was doing his best to ensure we didn’t find out where he was keeping her.
“Nick, are you there?” Mandy asked.
“It’s me. Did they hurt you?”
“No. Other than being a little manhandled, I’m fine.” Hearing anger in her voice was better than hearing fear. I needed her to stay strong.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you back safely,” Reese diplomatically interjected.
“I know you will.” There was a pause, then Mandy spoke again. “Hey, Desmond.”
“Yes.”
“Nice house. Did you kidnap one of old man Turner’s family members to convince him to sell it to you?”
“That’s enough,” Desmond roared, cutting her off. “Carl, get her out of here.”
Mandy was an intelligent woman and was trying to tell us where she’d been taken. I didn’t know what property she was talking about, but she’d confirmed our suspicions that Bishop wasn’t holding her hostage at the hotel. Reese and Berkley had spent a lot of time here. It was possible they knew what Mandy was talking about.
“Nick, no matter what, don’t give him what he wants,” Mandy shouted before a door slammed. From the irritation I’d heard in her voice, I imagined sparks of anger darkening her crystal-blue eyes. Her bravery filled me with pride and fear at the same time. Taunting Bishop was a bad idea and could get her killed.
“As you heard, Ms. Jenson is fine. I’ll give you until sunrise to bring the papers to my hotel. After that, well...I can’t make any promises regarding her health.” Desmond disconnected the call, his stipulated threat clear.
I’d been in more fights than I cared to remember, and not once had I ever taken a life. That status was going to change quickly if Bishop or any of his men laid a hand on Mandy.
“Reese, you’re not seriously thinking about turning the resort over to that scumbag, are you?” Berkley stroked Bear’s fur, a flush of pink brightening her throat and cheeks.
“No, but until we figure out how to get Mandy away from him safely, we need to make him believe we’re playing along.”
“What about Mandy’s reference to this Turner person? Does it mean anything to you?” I asked.
“No, but Roy might know. He’s lived here all his life and done work for quite a few people.” Berkley pursed her lips. “We need to tell him about Mandy.”
“I’ll take care of it since I’m the one who didn’t keep her safe.” Failing to keep my promise to her father added another layer to the guilt already weighing down on me.
“Nick, this isn’t your fault. This is on Bishop, and we’ll take care of him.” Reese opened a side drawer and pulled out a worn leather-bound book with the word “directory” stenciled on the front. “Let me make some calls.”
“To who, the cops?” As a rule, shifters didn’t involve law enforcement in their problems.
“I know it’s hard, but I need you to promise me you won’t do anything stupid. We’ll figure this out...come up with a plan to get her back,” Reese said.
Stupid would be letting the men who took Mandy live after I found them. I pushed out of the chair, intent on leaving, but Bryson stepped in front of me and blocked my path. “I’d be feeling the same way if it were my mate. Reese is right. We need to make a plan, handle this correctly, and stop Bishop once and for all.”
I gritted my teeth, then crossed my arms and turned to face my brother. “I’m listening.”
“James had friends, people who might be willing to help. We’ll start with them.”
