Redeeming (15 page)

“Daniella…” Tricia said as she squeezed her friend’s arm.

In complete shock, Daniella shook her head. Were they about to shoot them? A sickening silence hung in the air as the radio once more went quiet. Daniella felt as if her heart were about to leap from her chest as the seconds ticked by. All of a sudden, the radio blared with life once again.

“Um, negative on that team two. Restrain and return. Acknowledge.”

“Copy that command.”

“Search them…” Rudy ordered.

Before Daniella realized what happened, she found herself on the back of a four-wheeler with her head inside of a hood. They restrained her arms and legs to prevent either injury or escape but she wasn’t sure which. As they sped along the trail to who knows where, she wondered about Jett. Was he close by? Did he see what happened? If so, was he doing anything about it?

After about ten minutes or so, the four wheelers rum
bled to a stop. One by one, they took the hoods off each of them. As Daniella reoriented herself to her surroundings, they caught her by surprise. Perhaps she thought that all shifters lived like Owen or in even more rustic accommodations.

But in fact, the opposite appeared to be the case.

All around here were a series of simple white ranch style homes. Each nearly identical with the exception of the one in front of them. Literally twice the size of every other home around, a long series of steps led up to the home’s front entrance.

“Go…” one of the men said as she shoved Owen from behind.

Owen snapped his head over his shoulder and snarled at the guard.

The man leaned into him with the butt of his gun pressed into the middle of Owen
’s back. “Do it old man… please… please do it. I would fucking love any excuse.”

“Hey,” Rudy said. “Knock it off, Marcus.”

Rudy turned his attention towards Daniella and Tricia. “Let’s go…” he said as he gestured towards the rear of the house.

***

Still bound, the group made their way around the back. Once there, Rudy unlocked the rear entrance and ushered them inside into a basement.

“Where is Kane?” Owen demanded as they walked.

“Hey,” Rudy said while he flipped on a light switch. “Just shut your mouth and do as you’re told.”

From behind, the men pointed their hostages towards chairs in the middle of the room. Once seated, they restrained each of them. Then without another word, the men climbed a nearby flight of stairs, opened a door at the
top, and disappeared.

“Listen to me… both of you…” Owen began with a whisper. He looked up, temporarily distracted by the sound of the men walking overhead. “Whatever happens… whatever questions are asked of you… you
must lie
. Do not let anyone here suspect you know me. Do you understand?”

Daniella
’s stomach swelled with nausea. The dank basement air filled her nostrils and did little to assuage the budding illness within her.

“Well, what do we say?” S
he asked at last.

“I will handle all of that…” he replied. “You need to remain silent above everything else.”

“I don’t understand… why?” Daniella asked.

“That is…
exactly
the problem, Daniella. You don’t understand.” He said as he bit his lip. He spat and his eyes narrowed at her in anger. “I specifically told you not to come here. You have no idea the mess the both of you have caused. For once, just listen and do as I say. Do I make myself clear?”

Before she could respond, Daniella heard the front door to the home open overhead. After it slammed shut, the footsteps of several more people groaned against the old wood flooring above them.

“Daniella…” Owen said with impatience in his voice. “Do. You. Understand. Me?”

Daniella nodded as she looked upwards.
“Ye… yes.”

Owen craned his neck towards Tricia.
“Tricia… Do you understand?”

“Oh yes…” Tricia replied within a fraction of a second. “A hundred percent.”

“Good…” Owen said as he leaned back into his chair. “Now remember, not a word…”

Daniella turned her attention to the commotion above her once more. She listened as a number of male voices intermingled. Aside from the occasional word or two, she found it almost impossible to understand what anyone said. However,
a voice stood out from all others. Low and bass filled, it distinguished itself with ease.

Daniella leaned over towards Owen.
“Who came in?”

“Kane…” Owen replied without looking in her direction. “Kane is here.”

Just then, the door at the top of the stairs creaked open. A clamor of footsteps followed and in the next second, a large, barrel chested man appeared before them. With a full black beard and hair to match, if it was Kane, he looked every bit the fearsome nightmare Daniella imagined.

Clan enforcers flanked him on all sides while he descended and as he did, his gaze moved from one captive to another unt
il it came to rest on Owen. The man stopped dead in his tracks and shook his head as he looked at him. As their eyes locked, Owen straightened his spine in his chair and raised his chin up in a show of defiance.

“I should have known you were behind this.” The low voice boomed.

Owen remained expressionless while the large man spoke. As he finished, he continued down the stairs and walked right up to Owen’s face. For several seconds, the two of them stared at one another without a word. At last, the man turned away from him, wrapped his arms behind his back, and joined them just below the waist.

“After all this time. Why have you come back here?”
He asked Owen in a suspicious tone. “You know what will become of you my brother.”

Brother?

“You know why I’m here.” Owen replied. “And don’t call me that, Kane… my brother died decades ago.”

Kane chuckled.
“Where is he? The boy…” he said. “You realize you’ve sent him on a hopeless quest, don’t you?”

Owen shook his head but didn
’t reply.

“Fool…” Kane began. “You’ve trained him as well I suppose.”

“I did.” Owen replied as he snapped his head upwards. He narrowed his gaze at Kane and said, “And you’ve never come across anyone with ability like his.”

“I have no concern with that,” Kane replied with a casual wave of his hand. “I’ve never been beaten. Ever.”

“There’s a first time for everything.” Owen replied.

“Well?” Kane said as he looked around the room. “Where is he? The son of Dylan? The brave new leader of this clan? His absence speaks to his cowardice. The very same weakness that led to his father’s death.”

Owen scoffed. “You don’t know the first thing about what he’s capable of…” he began. “That always was your problem… Hubris. Arrogance. Conceit.”

Kane nodded.
“And yet, here I stand…” he replied as he made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “Still… leader of the clan after all these years. Does that attest to
my strength
or
your ignorance
?”

“Neith
er…” Owen began. “Intimidation and deception are not qualities any leader should aspire to hold.”

Kane walked over towards Owen and stopped in front of him. Darkness fell across his features as he looked down at the old bear shifter.

“That boy…” he said as he pointed into the distance. “Will die. As will you.”

***

“You don’t frighten me.” Owen replied.

Kane ignored his comment and instead turned his attention towards the women.

“And the girls… Who are they?” Kane said as he neared Daniella and Tricia. The man’s odor was pungent and strong. He smelled of wet soil and vinegar. It was an awful aroma and unlike anything Daniella ever experienced.

“No one…” Owen said in a dismissive tone. “Hikers that got lost.”

“Mmm, hmm.” Kane said as he moved closer to Daniella and examined her.

She turned her head away from him. Partially because of his odor and partially because of the way he looked at her. His eyes were black,
hollow, and lifeless and the thought of looking into them terrified her. She heard him close to within about a foot away and stop. The next sensation she felt was his large thumb and index finger grab hold of her chin. Once he had it in his grasp, he moved it back in his direction. Horrified, she turn to see a sickening smile across his face. He winced at her as he moved her chin from side to side in an attempt to discern the true purpose of her presence.

“What’s your name?” H
e asked.

Daniella
’s lips parted in unconscious fear.

“Her name is of no consequence to you, Kane.” Owen interrupted.

Kane’s head snapped in Owen’s direction. “Quiet!” He yelled.

The large man turned back towards her once again. He nodded and said,
“Go on, you can tell me.”

“I… um,” Daniella began as she tried to look in Owen’s direction. Kane held her chin tight making it impossible to do so.

“Yes?” Kane said.

“Daniella…” she said. “My name is Daniella.”

Kane nodded and released her chin. “There… you see. That wasn’t so difficult was it?”

Daniella swallowed hard but didn
’t respond.

“Let her go, Kane.” Owen growled. “What is this? You know the code.”

“Those old rules no longer apply here.” Kane said. “I am the law now.”

“The more things change…” Owen scoffed.

Owen’s comment didn’t seem to affect Kane at all. Instead, he looked at Daniella once again.

“Tell me… Daniella… how is it you and your pretty little friend were so unfortunate as to become associated with the likes
of this man?”

Daniella hesitated.
“Well, I…” she stammered. “We were lost on the trail. He um, he found us and was helping us when your men showed up.”

“I see.” Kane nodded. He raised his finger towards his chin. “Why is it I don’t believe you?”

Daniella shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s the truth.”

Kane nodded.
“Well, perhaps your story will change with the proper motivation.”

Proper motivation? What the hell did that mean?

A sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins.
As panic began to swell up inside of her, Kane turned on his heels and walked back towards Owen.

“These restraints…” Kane began as he looked back at his henchmen. “I think it’s safe to assume our guests won’t be going anywhere. Remove them.”

“Yes sir,” one of the men said as he stepped forward. “Right away.”

“Yes,” Kane nodded. “I see no need to be hostile. No need. At least… not yet.”

The man nodded. He produced a pair of wire cutters but before he cut the women loose, he looked at Kane. “And the shifter sir? Do you want him freed as well?”

“Yes…” Kane growled in a low voice.

And then, almost before Daniella realized it, the plastic straps that bound her to the chair fell away. She massaged her wrists as the restraints hit the floor.

“Please…” Kane said as he gestured towards them. “Stand and stretch your legs.”

Daniella and Tricia glanced at one another with nervous looks. For his part, Owen seemed underwhelmed with Kane’s display of hospitality. As the old bear shifter stood, several of Kane’s men raised their guns in his direction.

“No…” Kane said as he turned towards the men. “Holster your weapons.”

The men took a few steps back and did as ordered. Kane gestured towards a large table in the center of the room.

“Have a seat.” He said as he pointed towards it.

“I have no desire to break bread with you.” Owen replied.

“Nor I you
, brother. This is not a meal.” Kane bellowed. “You betrayed all of us and you will pay for that. Clan justice has a long reach and an even longer memory.”

“That’s where you are mistaken.” Owen replied. “I wasn’t running from the law of the clan, merely from you.”

Kane nodded and leaned towards Owen. A sinister smile broke across his face. “And that’s your fatal error, brother… For I
am
the law. Make no mistake you will pay for your transgressions.”

Owen nodded.
“And what about them? Why are you keeping them here?”

Kane shrugged.
“Because I can.”

Owen yanked against the restraints as the men walked around behind him to cut them loose.
“Let the humans go.” He said. “They don’t belong anywhere near this place.”

“That is exactly right, they don’t…” Kane replied. “Which makes their presence mysterious indeed.”

After they’d released the three of them from their restraints, Kane’s men gestured for them to take a seat at the table. With guns trained at their backs, Owen, Daniella, and Tricia did as he instructed. However, Kane remained standing.

He studied the women fo
r several seconds until at last he circled around behind Tricia. Her eyes widened as he disappeared from her peripheral vision. In the next instant, Kane reached down and fondled her hair. For several moments, he ran it back and forth between his fingertips.