Van, Becca - The Love of Three [Elite Dragons 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (8 page)

Stedman slipped his brother a look, but Bronsin, checking his weapons, was in a world of his own. He’d been acting off all day, and Stedman couldn’t quite figure it out.

He knocked on the door connecting their room to the Healys’. Linton admitted him immediately. Seton, Wolf, and Lander were already sitting at the small table and chairs by the window. Presumably they’d already started to fill in the Healys, since Codi’s first words to Stedman were, “Nothing, huh?”

“Fucking nothing,” Stedman answered. He sat down in a too-small motel chair with a frustrated sigh.

“Hang on, Stedman,” Seton said. “We were just telling them about the clinic.”

“Right, the clinic.” Stedman had a hard time getting enthusiastic about it. “Go on, then.”

Seton turned back to the Healys. “There’s only one clinic, and both women who were kidnapped had been there recently.”

Codi nodded. “So, just like last time.”

“It’s got the organ smugglers all over it,” Seton agreed.

Stedman’s hands clenched into fists. That was the part that had him worked up. This damn organ-smuggling ring was supposed to be destroyed. They’d put its mastermind in high-security prison and scattered its henchmen.

And
he
was supposed to be back at the stud farm, getting on with his life.

Thinking of Alicia, he made himself take a breath and relax his hands.
We’re doing this for her. For Brooke and Janie and those two women who are still out there. We’re doing this for anyone who might be in danger from these monsters
.

Seton was still explaining what they’d found to the Healys. “A Dr. Jones breezed into that clinic a few months back, but he hasn’t been seen in days. Just hasn’t shown up for work.”

“But that sounds promising,” said Bryden. “If these assholes have stopped using the name ‘Smith,’ something like ‘Jones’ is right up their alley.”

“Set up an alert on the name, by all means.” Stedman couldn’t help sounding weary with the idea. “But even if that’s a new alias, Jones has moved on. They all have.”

“If this is another branch of the organ-smuggling ring,” Bryden said, “they’d be pretty fucking stupid to hang around the town they just abducted two women from.”

“But they took the women with them,” Stedman said. “If they’re still alive.”

There was a moment of silence as everyone digested that thought.

Stedman was the one to break it. “We’ll set up an alert on Jones’s name. If he uses that alias to practice medicine anywhere in the Midwest, we’ll find him. We also have a lead on where he might have gone, but it’ll take some time to follow.”

He couldn’t bring himself to admit it, but it would probably take too long for the kidnapped women. It was impossible to stop thinking about Alicia in this same situation a few months ago. They had to find them before the smugglers killed them.

Codi spoke up. “Bronsin didn’t detect anything off while you were searching the clinic?”

“None of us did.” Stedman glanced toward the connecting door to assure himself that it was closed, with Bronsin on the other side. “He’s been weird today. Doesn’t want to put his shields back up.”

“Is that a bad thing?” asked Bryden. “If anyone’s going to detect some sign of a problem, it’s him.”

Before Stedman could answer, the connecting door slid open. Bronsin himself came in, followed by Ward. “Where’s the map?” Bronsin asked.

Ward produced one from his backpack and laid it out on the table. All the men gathered around, looking over one another’s shoulders or between gaps to see. Stedman hung back a little. He managed to catch Ward’s eye and raised his eyebrow with a significant look toward Bronsin. Ward just shrugged.

Bronsin scanned the map and then tapped another town. “We need to head here.”

“You want to go to Billings? That’s just over another two hours away,” Lander said.

“So what,” Bronsin replied. “We need to get here, and I think we should leave tonight.”

“Why?” Stedman queried.

“I don’t really know. Call it intuition.”

Ward and Stedman exchanged another look. Bronsin was looking at him as if he’d just made the simplest suggestion in the world, but it didn’t seem simple to Stedman at all. “Are you picking up something that’s telling you to go there?” he asked.

“Not really.” Bronsin rubbed his head, frowning. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

Stedman didn’t know what to make of this hunch, but he didn’t relish spending the next two or three days working out where exactly Jones had run to. He had no doubt that their sleuthing abilities would eventually pan out. By the time they did so, however, would Jones still be where they wanted him?

The others looked to him for the decision. “Okay, let’s pack up. I’m going to contact Coulter.”

Three hours later, Stedman drove his truck into a motel parking lot in Billings, Montana. Once he had three rooms, he and his brother decided to head to the main street to get food for everyone. Bronsin had been real quiet ever since they arrived in town, and Stedman wondered what was bothering him.

“What’s up?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that we need to be here.” Bronsin sighed. “Or at least, we’re getting closer.”

“What does that mean?”

Bronsin didn’t acknowledge the question. “We’d better get the food inside before they start gnawing on their knuckles.”

After eating, the men went to their respective rooms and settled for the night. Stedman watched Bronsin closely and wondered if his brother still had his mental shield down. His face was white with fatigue, and Stedman was worried his sibling would pass out.

Stedman only slept sporadically as Bronsin tossed and turned. He glanced at Ward when he sat up to stare at Bronsin.

“What the hell is wrong with him?” Ward whispered.

“I don’t know, but I sure as hell don’t like it.”

“I’ve never seen him like this before.”

“Me either.”

Just before dawn, Bronsin bolted upright in bed. Sweat glistened on his skin and he was shaking.

“Shit, we need to move
now
!”

“What is it?”

“Just get everyone up and into the trucks. I’ll tell you on the way.”

Bronsin was already pulling his clothes on. Stedman went to the connecting doors and roused the others. When they were all loaded and ready, they headed for the vehicles.

“Bryden, you and your brothers need to keep a low profile. Stay in the truck unless we call for assistance,” Bronsin commanded.

Stedman just stared at his brother. Bronsin had always followed orders, not given them. It was so out of character that he didn’t question him.

Bronsin directed Stedman out of town. They headed southwest and then turned onto Buffalo Trail Road, heading north. There was nothing around them apart from the occasional farmhouse, but even those were few and far between.

“Stop the truck,” Bronsin yelled.

Stedman skidded to a halt and looked around. There was nothing here.
What the fuck?

“Bronsin…”

“Shh, no voice communication,” Bronsin whispered but made sure his mic relayed his command to the others.

Bronsin eased from the truck, and when he closed the door he made sure it hardly made a sound. Everyone else followed suit except for the Healy brothers. They remained hidden in the back of their vehicle.

Bronsin took to the fields. They must have traveled for nearly three miles before he indicated for them to slow and keep to cover. Stedman scanned the area, but all he could see was an old, dilapidated barn. The sun was just lightening the sky, which would make it easier for them to see, but if necessary, their enhanced sight would kick in automatically.

Using hand signals, Bronsin indicated for them to spread out and close in on the barn from all angles. Stedman could see faint tire tracks in the dirt and places where the grass had been flattened by a vehicle.

They converged on the barn, but it was totally empty. Stedman turned to Bronsin to question him by raising an eyebrow. His brother tapped his head, and Stedman sighed as he lowered his mental shield.

Fear like he’d never felt before slammed into him, causing him to stagger. He watched the other team members blanch and flinch as they, too, lowered their protective walls.

Bronsin began searching the ground, so Stedman and his colleagues copied him. They spread out across one end of the barn. Using their feet, they tapped lightly, checking for changes in the sound.

When they were three quarters of the way down, Bronsin raised his fist and then pointed to the floor near his feet. Stedman and the others convened around him. He saw a small rusted metal handle but nothing else. Getting down on his hands and knees he felt around with his fingertips. It was concealed very well, but Bronsin had found it. There was a wooden panel in the floor, and it was covered with a thick layer of dirt and dead grass. He felt around the metal and must have touched in the right spot. A light
snick
sounded and a metal tab popped up.

Pulling his gun from his shoulder holster, he took off the safety and looked at his brothers. Then he unclipped the small put powerful flashlight from his belt. No words were necessary. They would always have his back.

Taking a deep breath, Stedman pushed all emotion away and pulled his mental shield back in place. This wasn’t the time or place to feel. Grabbing the handle, he pulled hard and then pushed the large wooden panel away. A quick search with his flashlight showed there were no stairs or ladder, so he jumped.

Stedman landed on his feet and quickly went to his belly and rolled, using his enhanced speed, all the while shining his flashlight around while aiming his gun. Getting to his feet, he called to the others.

“All clear. Wolf, you’re needed.”

At the far wall, two women were chained with metal manacles around their wrists and feet, their eyes wide with fear. Their mouths were covered with duct tape, and they were both battered and bruised.

Stedman controlled his reaction to the sight of women in pain. It brought back all at once the moment he’d set eyes on Alicia. He had to remind himself that their woman was safe back at the stud. His attention needed to be here. “It’s all right. We’re here to help you,” Stedman said in a calm, soothing voice. His brothers as well as Seton, Wolf, and Lander were at his side moments later.

“Wolf, help me get the tape off. Seton, contact the others. We need bolt cutters.”

Both women were in their early twenties and half-naked. They looked so damn scared, and he was about to cause more pain by removing the tape.

“I’m sorry, honey. I don’t want to hurt you, but we have to get this tape off.”

She cringed back at first but then seemed to gather her courage. She stood up straighter and gave a slight nod. He peeled the tape from the dark-haired woman’s mouth, while Wolf did the same for the other woman.

“We have to wait for the bolt cutters to get you out of here,” Stedman said calmly and smiled. “I’ll bet you’d like a drink.”

At her nod, Stedman removed his backpack and retrieved his canteen. He unscrewed the top and held it to her lips. She tried to gulp, so he pulled the bottle away. When she whimpered he told her, “You have to take it slow, honey. If you overload your stomach, you’ll make yourself sick. Just a few sips now, and you can have more again real soon. Okay?”

She nodded again and took a few sips. Wolf was also talking to the other female and giving her precious fluids. Ward, Bronsin, Seton, and Lander were searching the dirt room. Seton cursed when he opened a large toolbox, and Stedman questioned him by raising an eyebrow. His colleague shook his head, and Stedman knew he would have to wait for his answer.