Drake slowed down for a brief moment, only to allow the car to take the corner and remain on all four wheels. Tension filled the air in the car as he drove down the road that would lead them to her apartment building.
Once the line went dead, he immediately grabbed his phone and called his contact at the local police station, informing them of what had happened. Of course, his contact was a shifter who jumped to his aid and promised to send uniforms out to check on the apartment.
He knew that Penny was worried sick about Tori. Shit, so was he. She should have listened to him. Curiosity could have potentially gotten her killed. Tommy would kill him if anything happened to his sister.
He cursed as he slowed down at the street, to the circus that was going on in front of them. He brought the car to a halt by the curb.
“Oh my God. Please, let her be all right,” Penny cried out, opening her door.
“Penny, wait!” he called out, cursing as he watched her scurry from the vehicle. Police cars and an ambulances blocked the street in front of her apartment building. He turned his car off and got out, surveying the scene. Nosey neighbors stood outside as they tried to observe what was going on.
His eyes scanned for Penny, until he heard her frantic voice.
“Please let me in! It’s my apartment! Where’s Tori?” she demanded as he made his way to her side.
“Let her by,” he practically growled at the uniformed man. The kid had to be fresh from the academy. Drake couldn’t even see any hint of hair on the kid’s chin. His eyes widened as he took in Drake’s size.
“Um…go right ahead,” he stuttered, waving his arm to allow them to pass.
“Thank you.” Penny brushed past him, jogging to the stairs of her apartment building. He threw the kid another glare as he ambled past him.
His wolf was on full alert as he followed Penny. The door to the building burst open as paramedics brought out a cursing Tori, strapped down onto their cart. His friend’s sister was a firecracker, and using some very creative curses as they carried the stretcher down the stairs.
“I’m fine. Nothing is wrong with my legs,” she hollered.
“Tori!” Penny exclaimed, relief evident on her face. “What happened?”
“Penny!” Tori immediately calmed down. “The fucker was still in the apartment. Ambushed me from behind and knocked me unconscious. I swear to God, if I ever get my hands on him, I’ll tear him apart myself.”
“Are you okay?” he asked as they walked alongside the EMT’s as they led her to the squad.
“Fuck yeah.”
“Did you get a look at him?” Drake asked. Tori frowned as she thought about it.
“I mean, I didn’t see him, but—”
“Ma’am, since you’re refusing to go to the hospital, at least let us check you out,” the first EMT cut in. Tori’s eyes turned to the EMT, as if just now seeing him for the first time. Drake rolled his eyes at her look. The EMT wouldn’t even know what hit him.
“I’m going to go talk with the cops. Stay here with Tori.” He laid a kiss on her head as she nodded. His wolf and he were satisfied that their mate would be safe sitting in the ambulance with Tori. He turned and walked toward the cops that were going into the building. He recognized his contact in the dark suit.
“Detective Ambrose,” he called out. Jude Ambrose was a wolf shifter that worked for the local police department. He was slightly shorter than Drake and had the build of a linebacker, thanks to his shifter genes. Jude paused as Drake made his way to him.
“Drake Ransly.” Jude greeted him with his hand outstretched. Drake gripped his hand in a strong shake. “Thanks for the call. This could have turned out much worse.”
“No problem.” He nodded to the other detective as Jude made introductions.
“So, how did you come by protecting Penny Berkey?” Jude asked as his partner went ahead of them and entered the apartment.
“She had my card,” he murmured as they entered the apartment. Jude nodded in understanding. As a shifter, he would be quite familiar with Drake and his company. No other questions were needed for why Drake was there.
His eyes focused on her small place and was glad that he had Penny stay with Tori. Her cozy apartment was ransacked, with furniture tossed and her personal belongings strewn all around the room. His eyes zeroed in on the words spray painted on the wall in red.
You’re mine.
His wolf slammed into his chest at the thought that another was in the area, trying to claim their mate. He could feel his gums burn from his incisors trying to descend. He would tear whoever this was apart. They would not lay a hand on his Penny. He must have growled because Jude calmly moved in front of him.
“Calm down, big guy,” he soothed in a calming tone, looking over his shoulder. His partner was in the other room and out of hearing distance from the living room. “She’s safe. Is she your mate?”
Drake nodded, trying to pull his beast back. He took a deep breath, winning the battle of beast and man.
“I’m good,” he said, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He relaxed his shoulders. Jude was right, Penny was safe. She had been with him when the person vandalized her apartment.
He glanced around the apartment and knew that she would have to start over. Luckily, she was a very rich woman and would be able to do so. Hell, if she didn’t have the money, he would provide anything she would need or want for.
The memory of her stiffening under his touch at the mention of money made him realize that even if she hadn’t won the lottery, she wouldn’t be the type of person who would take handouts. She was a strong woman, and he respected her for it. He stepped through the rest of her apartment, not touching anything, but observed all the damaged items.
“Doesn’t seem to be anything missing,” Jude muttered as Drake entered the living room. He had come to the same conclusion.
This wasn’t a robbery.
This was her stalker.
His wolf pawed at his stomach and let loose a whine.
Something was wrong.
He stood in place, closed his eyes and inhaled.
An overwhelming, but familiar scent hit his nostrils.
He cursed and rushed out of the apartment. The stalker laid a trap, and they may have just walked right into it.
Drake ran down the stairs that led outside, his eyes scanning for Penny. He rushed over to the ambulance, finding Tori sitting up on the side of the cart with an icepack to the back of her head. She was all smiles and openly flirting with the EMT.
But no Penny.
“Tori!” he shouted, rushing to her. Startled, she turned to him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, forgetting the EMT as she turned to him with a concerned look.
“Where’s Penny?”
“I don’t know. She said she was going to find you.” The color drained from her face as she tried to talk. Her mouth moved, but no words escaped. “She’s not with you?” she asked, her voice ending on a squeak.
He shook his head as fear gripped his heart. He turned and scanned the scene. The crowd, disappointed that there were no dead bodies, had started to disperse, leaving a few curious bystanders.
Growling, he snatched his phone from his pocket.
The stalker had her.