RaleighPointRescueSue (17 page)

“Yes, honey.”

Lisa quite liked that idea. Something powerful stirred
inside her again. Not
something
,
somebody.

“We need to go down and put Daniel out of his misery.”

Mac groaned again. “And what about putting me out of mine?
We could stay here for a little while.”

“I love you.”

Mac pulled her face to his. Teasing lips pulled at hers, and
she twisted slightly in his lap. He broke off. “Do that anymore, and we won’t
get out of here today. Hell, Daniel will be lucky to see us in a week.”

Lisa smiled.
God,
she
loved him so much. She said the one thing she knew would have an effect. “I’m
hungry.”

Mac’s face instantly changed, appalled. “Of course, you are.
I’m so sorry.”

Mac swiped her up again, and she laughed. “I can walk.”

He grinned, “I keep telling you, you’re too far away down
there.” He proceeded to carry her as far as the kitchen, where he let her
gently down.
“Ready for battle?”

Lisa pushed the door open, and everyone started talking at
once. Daniel had left. The kids were all back, ensconced at the end of the
table, tucking into fried chicken. She wondered where they’d been until Cassie
said softly, “Brett took them to visit the reservation school.”

Jamie carefully squirted ketchup on Molly’s fries without
her asking, and she gave him a huge smile that said more than any words could.
Alex was engrossed in the game scores shown on the TV in the corner, and Erin
had her face down, pushing her food around her plate and not looking like she
was eating any of it.

Lisa let go of Mac’s hand and deliberately sat down next to
Erin.

“Hey, so you’ve checked the school out? Do you think Molly
will settle in okay?”

A chin wobbled. Her fork was suddenly thrown down, and soft
arms clung to Lisa’s neck. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, it’s fine. You do know you helped save me, don’t you?”

Puzzled, tear-filled eyes looked up.

“You got Molly away. If everyone here hadn’t got such an
early warning that something was wrong, they might not have got to me in time.”
Lisa pushed dark curls of Erin’s face.

Alex nodded, catching on straight away.
Bless him.
“Yeah, only heroes allowed in this family.” He pumped
his chest out and flexed his biceps comically. “You’ll fit right in.”

Everybody laughed. Zack bounced Codie on his knee. “Molly, I
kind of need help with this one’s bath. Want to come?” He stood with the
squirming baby and held his hand out to Molly.

Erin put her fork down obviously expecting to join them, but
Alex nodded to the door. “
Wanna
catch the game with
me in the big room?
Too noisy in here.”

Erin glanced, astonished, as Molly smiled, put her tiny hand
in Zack’s huge one, and walked out the door without a backward glance. Alex,
without being prompted, gathered all the kids’ empty plates and loaded them in
the dishwasher. He asked at Cassie, “Anything else?”

Riley nodded to the door.
“Playroom, but
no going outside, okay?”
Alex gave him a
duh
look.

Mac placed a steaming plate down in front of Lisa and one
for himself.
“Chicken Carbonara.
Zack’s
specialty.”

“What’s yours?” Lisa asked, grinning as she picked up her
fork.

“You.”
Eyes gleamed.

Now the kids were all otherwise occupied, Riley told her
Jesse had been checked out by the local pack’s doctor. Brett and Angie were
taking him back to their pack to live with them. Jesse was anxious to see her
before he had to leave, but she hadn’t been awake when Brett came back with the
girls, and they’d wanted to go. Mac put in that they could arrange to go see
them in a couple of weeks when everything had settled down as it wasn’t too far
way.

Riley briefly explained Daniel’s plan. They were just going
to shadow her. Tracking devices were installed on all the vehicles, and she was
to go about the place normally. She couldn’t be with Molly though. Molly would
be too much of a temptation to grab as well. He handed Lisa a cell phone. “It’s
got a tracking device and a panic button.

Mac smiled and fished in his pocket. He brought out a key.
It’s made to look like the one for your truck. It works fine obviously, but it’s
also got a tracking device and a panic button.”

Lisa was stunned. Then a thought occurred to her, “Err,
guys, one problem. I haven’t got a truck.” She laughed embarrassed.
I can’t even drive.
“I can’t…”

Mac cupped her face. “Finished?”

Lisa smiled, amazed at her empty plate.

“Come on then.” He scooped up her key and took her hand. Mac
dragged her to the door and put his hands over her eyes. She stiffened. “Do you
trust me?”

She relaxed and nodded.

He walked her outside and lowered his hands. A shiny red
truck stood gleaming at her. Lisa gaped.

“It’s yours. I had it delivered earlier”

“Oh.”
Oh.
Lisa
squirmed. Mac frowned. “If you don’t like it, we can get something else.”

“I love it.” She grabbed his head firmly and lowered it,
wanting to show him just how much. She came up for air.
“Mac?”

“
Mmm
?”
Mac was already bending his head, looking for more.

“I can’t drive.”

“
Mmm
.”

Lisa pulled back, face burning.
Stupid.
“I can’t drive.”

Mac pulled his head up. “I know, sweetie, but that’s hardly
your fault. I’m a good teacher.” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. “You just
better not distract me.”

Chapter Seventeen

Lisa was jittery. She should be pleased, shouldn’t she? She
hadn’t been shopping since she was at least twelve. All the while she was
getting ready for her trip to
town,
the thought that
someone was out to kidnap her was in the back of her mind. She heard a soft
knock on the door, and she shouted at whoever it was to come in. Brett put his
head around and smiled.

Lisa was surprised to see him. “I thought you two had headed
out with Jesse?”

Brett nodded and limped into the room shutting the door.
“I’ve had a phone call from Daniel. We have another problem, and he asked me to
talk to you about it.”

Lisa frowned. “Do you want me to come downstairs? What did
Mac say?”

Brett leaned against the door, absently rubbing his hip.
“Mac’s in danger. We can’t involve him in this.”

Lisa’s legs gave out, and she sat on the bed.
“Danger?
Danger from
who
? Killian’s
dead.”

Brett made shushing noises as he came closer. “One of
Daniel’s contacts says the people responsible for this have identified Mac as
the main target. He is to be removed to make it easier to get to you.” He
inhaled briefly, trying to be discreet. “You’re not mated yet?”

Lisa shook her head and frowned. “Brett, Mac isn’t going to
let me out of his sight.”

He looked at her carefully and changed his weight to his
other foot. “No one’s explained mating compulsion to you, have they?”

“Mating compulsion?” Lisa’s heart raced.

“I’m sorry. Shifter feelings are different to humans, more
intense.”

Lisa relaxed. Mac had explained all about mates being that
perfect someone that you were meant to be with forever. She’d thought Brett was
going to say something awful.

Brett shuffled again. “Lisa, you have to understand that Mac
is under a very intense mating compulsion.”

Lisa eyed Brett warily. There he went again, saying it like
it was something bad.

“Mating compulsion is like a shifter equivalent of something
like heroin. His feelings are governed by his hormones.” Lisa shook her head.
Brett made Mac sound like a teenager.

“Lisa, it isn’t love.”

“But…” Bewilderment set in.
Why would he say that?

“I’m sorry. I thought you understood. Shifters aren’t
capable of love in the same way. I mean, yeah, love can grow in a relationship
the same as anyone else, but it’s all about hormones at first.” He laughed.
“Poor guy can’t help himself.”

Lisa absently rubbed her chest, wondering why it hurt.

“I mean, Mac was always about the ladies. With his looks, no
one was ever surprised.” Brett flushed. “I’m sorry if he’s given you the wrong
idea. In his defense, he won’t have meant to.”

But he loves me.

“Of course, he can be very smooth too.” Brett eyed her
cautiously. “Oh hell, he hasn’t been telling you he loves you, has he?”

Lisa’s eyes swam up to Brett’s face.
He had.
“He…”
Had he?
Cold fingers clutched at her insides.
Do
you love me?
Never, I love you. He’d even got her to ask him, but then he’d
just kissed her.
He’d never answered.

“I’m sorry. Shifters don’t think clearly under mating
compulsion.”

Lisa shook her head. How could she have been so stupid? Of
course, he didn’t love her. She was a pathetic, little, fat, nobody that had been
locked up most of her life.
And Mac?
Mac was this
gorgeous hunk of fit male with the most beautiful blue eyes that saw right
inside of you. When this mating compulsion finished, he would be horrified.
God, he would hate her. He’d feel like she trapped him. Then he would go back
to his runway types like Miranda, and she would be in a worse prison than any
she’d been locked in before.

Brett put his head to one side as if listening for
something. “I have a car out back. We need to go now. All the arrangements will
stay the same, except Mac will be out of danger. I have two of Daniel’s agents
with me.”

Numbly, Lisa nodded.

“Lisa,” Brett hissed. “We have to hurry.”

He was right. She didn’t want anything to happen to Mac,
because even though she now understood the reasons he had been so attracted to
her, she still loved him, so, so much.

Brett opened the door and beckoned her toward the back
stairs. She stumbled, and Brett put his arm out to steady her. She shrugged it
off. She could hear Mac and Riley in the kitchen talking about timetables.
Riley was offering, but Mac was saying quite forcibly that he had no intention
of letting Lisa be anywhere he wasn’t.
Why
does that hurt so much?
Lisa felt a little bit of her heart break off, like
she lost a small part of herself. Later, later when this was done, she would go
away. She wasn’t going to trap him into mating with her.

“Won’t it seem strange going to the mall without another
girl or Cassie?”

Brett shrugged, “One of Daniel’s female agents will meet us
at the mall.”

Lisa nodded and climbed into the back of a black SUV idling
tucked around the corner near the basketball court. Brett settled next to her
and nodded to the two agents sitting up front. Lisa blew her hair out of her
eyes.
Well, this was going to be fun
.
The car was really warm, and Lisa fanned her face.

Brett noticed and smiled. “Sorry, the air conditioning is on
the blink.” He pulled a bottle of water from a side pocket, unscrewed the cap,
and passed it to her. Lisa took it gratefully.

“Will Mac try to come after us?” She cringed at the hopeful
tone she tried to squash back down.

“Daniel will clue the others in. They’ll make him see sense.
I know it’s hard, but trust me. Mac has always been about the ladies. Riley and
Zack are always giving him grief about it.” Brett leaned over and pointed at
the water. “You need to drink, Lisa. Everyone will be seriously pissed at me if
you get sick.”

I don’t think so.
Lisa
absently rubbed at the pain in her chest.

He laughed shortly and ran a finger around his collar. She
looked at the beads of sweat that had bloomed on his brow. She offered him the
bottle. “I think you need it more than me.”

Brett smiled and leaned over to the other pocket. He pulled
another bottle of water out. “Cheers.” he said and put it to his lips.

Lisa gripped the bottle with shaky fingers and drank deeply.
“What mall are we going to?” Then she suddenly thought. “I don’t have any
money.”

“Not a problem.” Brett grinned, visibly relaxing some more.
“This is all on the company. With the help you’re giving them, the least they
can do is
buy
you some new clothes. You’re warm,” he
added, “drink some more water.”

Lisa nodded and took a few more sips. Brett seemed to be a
bit happier. “Is your pack far, Brett?”

He smiled and nodded to the bottle.
“You
done?”

Lisa frowned down at the bottle of water. Funny, she’d drunk
half of it, but it seemed so heavy all of a sudden. Brett eased it from her fingers,
and she blinked slowly. She thought he’d said something else, but she’d missed
it.

“My new pack’s up in Erie, near the border.”

Lisa shook her head in confusion. “I thought you were going
to be local.”

Brett smiled. “It’s a beautiful place. You’ll love it
there.”

Lisa struggled to process what he was saying. Why would she
love it? “What do you mean?”

Her head lolled back on the seat of its own accord. Like her
neck couldn’t support it anymore. Wow, she was sleepy. It must be the heat in
the car. Funny though, the car was cooler now, like the air had turned back on.

“You look tired.” Brett eyed her cautiously.

Lisa tried to nod and failed. Her eyes drooped shut, and she
had to force them open. Brett had said something else. Lisa struggled to hear
him. She lifted one hand. It was really heavy. She tried to sit up. Brett laughed
shortly and pushed her back. She wanted to say something, but a buzzing had
started in her head.

“Just relax, Lisa. We’ll be there soon.”

* * * *

Sometime later—Lisa wasn’t sure how long—she became aware of
voices and the steady hum of a car engine. She could hear Brett and wondered
exactly how far away this mall was. She must have dozed off for a few minutes
and guessed by the sounds she was still in the car. Lisa was about to sit up
when the next words shocked her into holding still.

“She’ll probably be out for hours yet.”

That must be one of the guys in the front as she hadn’t
heard the voice before.

“Good job. The trip’s only usually about six hours, but we
have to avoid all major roads, so it’s going to be more like ten, maybe more.”

She recognized Brett.
What?

“Well, she’s out like a light now.” Someone laughed.

“If she starts waking up, I’ll just give her more water.”

“The Alpha will be pleased by his gift.”

Lisa concentrated on keeping her breathing steady.

“I’ll say,” the other guy chimed in. “Where’d you find her?”

Brett answered shortly. “Just drive, will you?”

She heard a snigger. “She’s his
in
with the pack, didn’t you know? Alpha let him in, even though
his leg’s no good, because he brought him a present.”

Lisa thought she was going to be sick.
Not again.
Lisa kept still, ignored her dry throat and tried to
figure out how she was going to get away.

The car hit a rough patch, and the driver swore. “Fuck.
We’ll be out of these woods in about another twenty minutes.”

Brett spoke up. “The Alpha’s going to meet us with a full
escort at Huntingdon. It won’t matter if she’s asleep or not then.”

Lisa focused on what the driver had said. Oh God, she had
only another twenty minutes to be able to escape. She knew once the pack met them,
she would have no chance. She nearly laughed, then wanted to cry.
What on earth gave her the idea she had a
chance anyway?

She had to do something. She moaned and blinked. Brett
shuffled over to her, “Here, have a drink, Lisa.”

Not on your life.
Lisa
twisted her head and tried to play dumb. “I need the bathroom,
please.”
She groaned again, “Sorry I
fell
asleep, guys, but I urgently need to stop.”

Through half-lidded eyes, she watched Brett glance at the
guys up front and then out of the window. They were clearly going through some sort
of woodland area, and Lisa’s heart sped up. She’d have no chance once they
joined the pack escort.

“We’ll be in town in a few minutes and find you a proper
restroom at the mall.”

So they were still
going with that one, huh.
“Guys, I’m sorry, but I really need to stop now.”
She laughed hoping she sounded embarrassed. “I’ll just duck behind a tree.”

Brett flushed as she gave him a pleading look and nodded to
the guys in front. “Pull over.”

Lisa scrambled to get out of the car once it was still. The
driver from the front walked around and solicitously put a hand under her
elbow. She was glad of it when she first stood up, then she straightened her
backbone. She bit off a sarcastic comment about privacy and walked a few paces
until she got her sea legs. “Okay, I can manage,” she added and tried to smile
reassuringly.

The guy looked hesitant and glanced at Brett. She pretended
not to notice Brett’s imperceptible nod and walked a few steps on her own until
ducking behind a tree. The guy was distracted by another car passing and Lisa
shouted, “Just give me a minute.”

Lisa watched the guy walk back to the SUV and leaned on it
with his arms crossed. He said something to Brett, who was standing by the open
passenger door, and they both laughed.

Lisa lost no time. She didn’t think she had a hope in hell
of losing the big guy. She could smell a wolf shifter, but she was going to
give it her best try. At least, Brett couldn’t run after her. Okay, so that was
only two gorillas chasing her then,
much better.
Lisa shook her head. She seemed to be acquiring quite a talent for sarcasm.

She scooted down a path. Realizing it would be the first
place they would look, she ducked left to push through some dense woodland.
Fear was making her clumsy, and she seemed to have developed two left feet.
Swerving into thicker trees, she scrambled over a couple of logs. She could
barely make out some traffic noises and veered toward it. Traffic meant people.

Shouts!
Oh God,
they’d realized. Her legs pumped harder. Harsh breaths pounded out, and her heart
threatened to beat out of her chest. Branches whipped her face and cut her
arms. She ducked, trying to avoid tree branches and tripped twice. Sprawling,
she pulled herself up and carried on. She could hear them. Her legs were
tiring. Her lungs ached. Her arms felt heavy.
Mac, Mac.

Shouts sounded awfully close, and she glanced around again
to see. At that second, her foot caught in some creepers on the ground, and she
cried out at the pain that rocketed up her leg.

Up, up, get up.
Lisa
tried to scramble up but nearly retched at the pain that shot up her foot. She
bowed her head. She wanted to sob, but no tears would drown the desperation
that pummeled into her. She heard the huge guy reach her, and felt an iron fist
close on her arm.

It was too late, they had caught her. They had caught her,
and she would be locked up again.
Wicked.

A loud roar rent the trees.

She lifted her head to see the big
guy’s
look of sick panic and the other guy from the car running toward them. Huge thundering
footsteps made the ground shake as three enormous bears pushed through the
trees. The guys didn’t even have time to shift as they were swept up by hulking
paws and flung into trees. Lisa gaped at the force. The hits caused the trees
to bend so
much,
she thought the roots would lift.