Reed: Bowen Boys (14 page)

“I usually only record conversations when I’m making a business deal, but Baker never did strike me as the stable type, and he never told the truth when a lie was so much more interesting. Ah, here is it.” He started to hand them the conversation from several months ago, but took them to his conference table to spread out. “He was going to buy up this parcel of land from me. I didn’t really care, but he seemed to have a real need for it and I was willing to sell it, but only after he paid off the outstanding loans. He even bragged on what he was going to do with it.”

“And what was that?” He looked at Kerry and knew that she was supposed to be a big part of the plans that the idiot Baker had started. “I told you he was going to kidnap me. I can only assume that it was to get the money to get his project going.”

“He was going to open a hunting range.” Reed looked at him sharply. “I think your husband here got it. It was to hunt humans for fun and profit. He had this idea that he could get others like him, wolves and other paranormals, to pay him a great deal of money to hunt and kill humans. He seemed to think that he’d be a millionaire in a very short amount of time.”

“That’s barbaric.” He nodded at Kerry. “And you knew this? You knew the reason he was going to buy the land, and you were going to sell it to him. Why, that makes you no better than—”

“I wasn’t. I’m not going to, I swear to you. I’ve just been leading him on until I could get another buyer. But I told him that if he had the money and paid me off, I would sell, or to another buyer if one came along. I never in all honesty…I never believed he’d do it at all. In this market and with real-estate going to shit, I’ve not had a great deal of luck. I won’t sell to him, not ever. But if not this property, then someone else’s.” He pushed the last papers in the file at them. “You can see here what the property was worth and what it’s worth now. I’m not hurting for the money, so I’ll just sit on it forever if need be.”

Reed looked them over, then pulled out his cell phone and stepped into the hall, closing the door behind him. He was only gone a minute, two at the most, but when he returned, Burton looked at him. This was going to be wonderful. He just knew it. The man had a perfect poker face, and when he wanted you to see something, you knew it.

“I’ll give you fifteen percent over the land value.” Burton shook his head, not wanting to sell to them but give it to them if they wanted it. “I can’t go any higher than that, but I can get investors if need be. My family is not without funding.”

“I know your family, Reed. I’ve done a great deal of work with you as a corporation. But if you want it, then it’s yours. A wedding gift so to speak.” Kerry and Reed both shook their heads. “Then I’ll sell it off in small plots, and you’ll have neighbors around your nice property and you’ll not be able to run. I assume that’s what you want it for.”

“It’s near our house now and butts up against the family property too.” Burton looked down at where he pointed and laughed. “Yeah, it seems we’ve been neighbors for a while now.”

By the time they left, he’d given them the property and had an address and phone number where he could contact them once this was over. He was also sending Kerry’s eggs to her new home. Burton had even looked at the egg she’d brought him.

“I would love to purchase this. I have an eye for the finer things, and this is extraordinary.” Reed had laughed and said his mom would kill him, as it was hers to use as bait. But he did get to drool over it for a while.

Burton looked up when Rowena came into his office and took the bag of candies from him.

“You should know that I’ve had a check done on our Mr. Bowen. Their family is one of the most respected families in the state, not that we didn’t already know that. Not to mention the panther community.” Burton nodded. “Something else. Reed and his sister-in-law worked for the CIA up until a few months ago. They now run the local police where they live.”

He’d known about the police but not the other. “She’s in good hands, and when this thing is finished, I’m going to go and tell her about her mom and dad.”

“That’ll be hard on you both.” He nodded, and she stood up. “I guess I’ll have to lay in a larger supply of candies then. Could be you’ll need to start working out at the gym, too, if this keeps up.”

He was still laughing an hour later when his phone rang. It was Reed. Burton heard the sirens in the background as he spoke.

“They’ve taken her. Her family has taken her, and the motherfucker is going to pay.” Burton stood up. “He has my father too. And he’s just signed his death certificate.”

“What can I do to help?”

Chapter 14

Kerry watched her father-in-law as the van they were in seemed about to roll every second. He didn’t move, but she was sure he was awake. When he suddenly opened his eyes and winked at her, she nearly cried out with joy. The old buzzard had her scared to death.

“You okay?” She nodded. “Didn’t see that one coming a mile off. I figured he’d try to take you, but damn it, did he have to do it with me in the car with you? I could have been instrumental in getting you back and being the hero.”

“He hit you so hard.” He snorted and put his hand on his head, but there was no blood. “I’m pretty sure he knows you’re something different, but I don’t think he knows I am.”

“He doesn’t. Did you hear him say that he hated humans? He was talking about you. Seems to think you’re just a plain Jane and he can do whatever he wants to you.” He looked at her hard. “He can’t, and you won’t let him either, understand?”

“Reed said to try and figure out where he’s taking us. I can’t see anything. Can you?” She’d been trying to get sat up for the past ten minutes, but all she’d managed to do was tighten the bonds around her wrists. She looked at George and wanted to cry. “He’ll pay to get us back, won’t he?”

“Course he will, if it comes to that. But we’re not going to let it. Corrine said to tell you to buck up or she’ll come after you. She can be a mite on the mean side when the mood suits her.” Kerry knew he was lying to try to make her laugh, and she appreciated it, but she was terrified. She felt Reed touch her mind.

He’s not contacted me as yet to demand a ransom. Have you stopped moving?

Not yet. But your dad is awake now. I think he hit him pretty hard, but he seems to have healed already. He’s talking to your mom.
She pulled at the bonds at her wrists.
He’s got us both tied up. How did he get us when all we were doing was picking up diapers for the baby? I mean, I didn’t even know we were going anywhere until George and I were asked to go.

I don’t know, love. Unless he was watching the house to see when and where we might be going. I’m glad about Dad, but if it comes to it, protect him. Mom said he’s a bit of a fool when he’s in trouble. Jack has some favors she’s calling in to find you. Don’t be alarmed if other animals come close to you. She has a friend that can be a hawk too.

She has a friend that’s a…you know, I don’t care. I just want to get away from this idiot Baker. Did I tell you what he called me? A human. As if I couldn’t kick his ass before I changed, now it’s going to be all out war.
He laughed, and she told him to behave.
I want to come home to you. It’s our wedding day, and I’m with your dad and this damned wolf that makes me so mad I want to shift into my cat and tear his wolf to pieces.

Try to refrain from that, because if you shift with your hands tied, it could cause you to sever them. And I want to be with you as well. Do you have any idea the plans I had for your luscious body? The first thing I was going to do to you?
He growled low, and her body seemed to catch fire
. You are going to be so sore when I finish with you.

Christ. I could come now.
She felt the van they were in slow
. I think we’re going to stop. I can smell some…that’s weird.

What is?
She lifted her head and saw that George did the same. She had a feeling he was talking with someone else and figured it was his mate again. When she tried to bring in as much of the scents around her as she could, she realized what she smelled.

I smell our pond, but it’s a little different.
She tried her best to figure out what it was about it that made it different when it occurred to her.
Remember when we took a bath in the water and we ended up on the far side? You said it was different because of the fact that no one had been there before. You said that all the scents from the animals that moved over our property weren’t there. I think we’re on that side of the pond.

Fantastic. I’m on my way. Try to keep safe for me, love, I need you
. She told him she needed him as well, and he sent her his love.
When I find you, I’m going to beat your pretty ass, because I’m hard just thinking about it being pink from my touch.

Find me soon and I’ll more than make it worth your while.

He growled again just as the door was being torn open. There in front of her stood Dora and Gilbert. And they didn’t look all that happy. She started to move forward when she felt a pain in her head, then nothing at all.

When she came to, she found that she’d been moved to a dark room. When she shifted on the floor, she realized it wasn’t a room but a dirt floor. She tried to reach for Reed and hit a hard wall. Waiting for her eyes to adjust, she was shocked to find that she was deep within a cave.

“You should have just let us kidnap you in the first place.” She looked toward the voice and saw her sister sitting within a light, and knew that she was near an opening. “This would have gone so much better if you would have just let me have what I wanted, and then you’d be okay and that other man wouldn’t be dead.”

Dead? George was dead? She tried reaching for him, thinking it would be easy if they were in the same place, but again hit a wall. She tried to think what to do when Dora started talking again.

“You’re really stupid if you think that after all this is over I’m not going to bleed you dry. I hate you and the fact that you simply won’t do as I tell you. What the hell is wrong with you giving me what I want?”

Kerry ignored her. “Where is he?” Dora shrugged, and Kerry felt her cat stir under her skin. She was tied up with those plastic ties, and remembered what Reed had told her would happen if she tried to shift like this. “You can’t possibly think that if you killed their dad any of the Bowens will give you shit, do you? I mean, I know you’re stupid, but certainly not that much.”

“I’m better than you. At least my mom didn’t drop me off on a door step and run off.” Kerry started to tell her that her mom didn’t drop her anywhere, that Norman had killed her, but she didn’t get the chance. “You just wait and see. Death said that he’ll give whatever he can, ‘cause you’re his wife.”

“That’s enough.” Gilbert walked more into the little part of the cave she was in after telling Dora to go and check on the old man. Kerry was so relieved that she nearly told him thanks. At least George wasn’t dead.

“What do you hope to gain by this? Money? I’m pretty sure you’re going to be shit out of luck.” He backhanded her, and her cat snarled at her. He took a step back. “Yeah, you piece of shit, not so easy to slap around now, am I?”

She jerked on her hands and felt the ties bite into her skin. She was going to kill this man if it was the last thing she did. He didn’t come any closer to her, but she could feel not only his rage at her but confusion as well.

“You mated with that bastard, and he changed you.” She shook her head, and he started toward her. “You weren’t a cat before. I would have noticed it. Norman said that your mother said you’d never shift, that you didn’t have the right genes. And now you’re mated to that fucking panther? What the fuck, Kerry, didn’t you know I had big plans for you?”

“I’m sure you did, but I’ve always been a cat, you moronic dick. She just didn’t want to come out and play until the right man helped me.” She felt his rage boil over, and then he shifted. She watched as he circled around her several times before he lay down. “You think you scare me? You don’t, not any more. Why don’t you cut me loose, you fucking prick, and let me show you just how much you don’t frighten me anymore?”

He snarled at her, and she growled back. She was pretty sure he was bigger, but she had hatred on her side. When he crawled on his belly closer to her, she let just enough of her cat go to snap at him, and he leapt back. Yeah, she was bad ass.

The leap startled her, and all she could do was put up her hands to protect her face. When she fell backwards her head exploded in pain, and she tried to hold on and fight the blackness. But when he hit her again, this time ramming his body into hers, she knew she wasn’t going to win this battle.

~~~

Reed was exhausted. His body ached in places he never knew existed. Lying down, he let his cat rest. He had to find his mate.

You need to try and rest a little. What sort of good do you think you’re going to do her if you’re dead on your feet?
Reed looked at Khan when his cat lay down beside him, clearly as tired as he was.
Mom is frantic, but she’s putting together a huge dinner to bring out here for us. Camps said to tell you that he had faith that you’d bring his mistress home.

I hope so.
It had been twelve hours since she’d contacted him that she’d been taken, and six since they’d been searching the area around the pond on all sides. Neither her scent nor that of his dad were there. He looked up when he heard a stick break nearby, and nearly jumped at the woman there, but Khan stopped him.

Let’s just follow her for now. She might lead us to them, or to someone that can help us find out where they are.
He didn’t want to follow Dora. He wanted to jump on her and tear her throat out. Then he smelled it. His dad. Khan must have as well, because he could feel his brother tense up.

Stay close to her and I’m going to go back and see—

Reed cut him off. There was no way Khan was going back to find Reed’s mate while Reed followed this bitch.

You follow her.
He thought Khan was going to tell him to do what he’d said, but he finally nodded.
I’ll contact you if I hear anything.

See that you do. And you be careful and try not to kill anyone please.

Reed said nothing. He wasn’t going to make any promises that he wasn’t sure he could keep. When Khan moved in Dora’s direction, Reed turned and moved along the path she’d come from.

It didn’t take Reed long to find her scent. Once he did, he found several others, but none of his dad and wife. He was wondering how he was going to find them when he got a whiff of something he’d not smelled before. It took him a few minutes to realize it was a panther, and he was very sick.

Reed followed the path up the long steep hill until he came to rock. There were several openings into the mountain this far up, but there was no time to explore them all. He moved along the edges of the larger stones trying to find a scent when he heard someone approaching from behind him. Going to the small stand of trees just on the skirting of the stone, he hid behind a large tree.

It was the panther. And he was more than sick; Reed could tell he was dying. The way he was breathing and staggering along the path led him to believe that the man didn’t have long to live. When the man sat down on a large protruding stone and pulled out a bottle, even from as far away as he was, Reed could smell the liquor.

He had to get around him. When he looked up the mountain, he saw a movement and moved slowly out from behind the tree to go there when the man spoke. Reed felt the hair on the back of his neck dance down his spine.

“You’ll find her well enough, but your dad is hurt.” Reed didn’t move as the man continued. “I would have helped them, but I don’t know what I could have done except to have gotten everyone killed, and no way for me to come out here and find someone looking for them.”

Reed moved out from behind the tree a little, and the man turned to look at him. There was something familiar about him that made Reed step more out into the open area. The man scooted around on the stone so that he was facing him.

“I can hear you if you would let me.” Reed nodded once, and the man put out his hand. The closer Reed got to him the more he could smell something else beside the sickness. The man was panther all right, but he smelled of Kerry. Faintly, but he could smell her on the man. Reed rubbed his head under the extended hand and felt the man’s finger curl into his fur and touch him deeper. There was no malice in the gesture, but it did deepen their connection.

Who are you and what are you doing up here? You’re panther; that much I know, so how the hell did you get this ill?
Reed looked up the mountain again.
I need to go soon. Tell me what you know. Please?

“I’m Olen Hendricks. And I can see by the look on your face that you’ve heard of me.” Reed nodded. “Good. I didn’t want to have to explain what I am to you. Do you love her?”

The change in subject was abrupt, but Reed had been working with Caitlynne for so long that he was an expert at keeping up. The woman could change the subject five times in a single sentence and expect you to keep up.

I…I do actually. I didn’t realize how very much until just now.

Olen nodded and looked to his left. Reed felt his brother, Walker, coming toward him.

“You’ll need them all. Your family, I mean. I know about where he’s taken her, but I’m not positive once you get inside the cave. I know it’s deep and has more twists and turns than a pig’s tail, but you’ll find her.”

Reed reached for his family and asked them to come to him.

Why does everyone think you’re dead?
The man lowered his head, and Reed didn’t think he was going to answer him.
I won’t tell her you’re alive if you don’t want me to, but I think she’d want to know.

“I let them inject me with all kinds of drugs to kill me off. Some of them made me sick; others did nothing at all. Then one day they brought me into this padded room and said I was going to die, that something they gave me stuck.” He snorted. “Stuck. Like they put a bandage on me and now they found a way for it to stay there. But they were right, I’m dying. Got some sort of untreatable thing that will take me out in a few months. Less if I can help it.”