Cool air conditioning hit my legs as the guy threw me inside the car. Brock’s musky smell hit me hard again, and he pulled me close to him. I bucked in the seat, needing to do anything to get out of here.
“Stay still,” Brock growled.
The others entered the car as I flopped onto the floorboard.
“Get up.” Brock grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me back into my seat. “This is pathetic. What would your father say?”
The last guy got in and slammed the door shut, and the tires squealed as they took off. I was too late.
Sadie! Donovan cried. Roxy. Axel. Go after the car.
Great, he’d made it here in time to see them drag me away. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. It’s too late unless Egan is nearby.
No, he was fighting the last few shifters with Lillith and Katherine. Roxy sounded as broken as Donovan. But I can try.
Egan couldn’t come for me. We were out in public. Humans would see him.
I love you. I had to tell him one last time, in case I never got the chance again. Always remember.
I love you too, but this isn’t goodbye. I’ll find you, Donovan vowed. And when I do, I’ll kill every one of those assholes.
I shut down the connection, needing to think clearly. It was the only way. “What do you want from me?” I hated being here like this. I couldn’t see a thing. It was all black, and even though I could smell five people in the car, I only recognized the scents of Brock, Tommy, and Pete. The other two were a mystery to me.
“This is Tyler’s daughter?” A voice I’d never heard before reeked with disgust. “I thought she was supposed to be complaisant.”
Great, my reputation preceded me. In all fairness, I’d been that way before Donovan.
“All the great, submissive women had a wild streak at one time.” Brock rubbed a hand down my leg. “It’s breaking them that’s the fun part.”
Bile crept up my throat.
“Will I get to help with that?” Another guy chuckled, making my skin crawl.
“What did you just say?” Brock asked lowly.
“Uh …” The guy stumbled over his words. “I just meant—”
“She’s mine.” Brock’s hand tightened on my thigh. “No one touches what’s mine.”
If that didn’t make me sound like property, I wasn’t sure what else would. But I was thankful for his protective stance. I didn’t need two sickos after me.
“Got it.” The same guy cleared his throat nervously. “I was just kidding.”
Yeah, right. The smell of his lie reeked. I was glad I had a barrier.
“Let me be clear. If you touch her,” Brock rasped, “I’ll kill you.”
The car descended into awkward silence.
After a few moments, I inhaled and pretended to cough. “I can’t breathe in here. Can you take this thing off me?”
“Oh, no.” Brock chuckled. “I won’t let your little pack track us down. They’ll try anyway, but letting you see where we’re taking you would make it that much easier for them.”
The determination was clear in his voice. Begging would only rile him up further. The only thing I could do was keep my mouth shut and figure out a way to escape before it was too late.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The noise of city traffic surrounded the car, adding to my already swimming head from being in this bag for God knew how long. The heavy traffic told me we’d rolled into another large city. It made sense that they’d take me to some sort of city where it would be harder for me to escape. I needed to get out.
I tried moving my arms, but I couldn’t feel them. I’d been sitting the entire ride with my hands cuffed behind my back. I’d lost feeling a while ago. Then a realization hit me hard.
I couldn’t get out like this. They had me exactly the way they wanted me: stuck.
I opened the link up with the pack. Is everyone okay?
It’s about damn time, Roxy replied instantly.
We’re fine. Donovan’s voice broke. Are you okay?
Yeah. I needed to be calm for them. Freaking out wasn’t going to help anyone. I’m fine. They haven’t hurt me, and we’re still on the road.
Where are you? he asked. We’re following the bond, but it’d be easier if you told us.
I have no clue. They’d have an idea of what I was going through now. I still have a bag on my head, and my hands are cuffed. I have no fucking clue where I am or where we’re headed.
Dammit, Donovan growled. They’ll pay for this.
The car rolled to a stop, and a garage door opened.
Brock touched my shoulder. I jerked away and wound up lying on Tommy, who sat right beside me.
“Stop being difficult,” Brock said and dug his fingers into my upper arm. “We’re getting out.”
The sensation was odd. I could feel his grasp, but not. He wanted to hurt me enough to scare me, but all I felt was pressure. When the circulation returned to my arms, it’d hurt like a bitch.
We’re here. I needed to shut down the bond before I fell apart. I … I’ve got to go.
Sadie … Donovan warned.
I’ll be back soon. I locked it down, not needing a distraction.
After the car pulled into the garage and parked, Brock dragged me across the seat. I tripped to the ground.
“Get up,” he said with annoyance. “Do not embarrass me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I let sarcasm lace each word. He couldn’t be serious. “I can’t see my surroundings, my arms and hands are numb, and I’m dizzy from the bag that’s been over my head.”
“Fine,” he huffed.
The bag slid off my head, and I blinked a few times, acclimating my eyes to the small, dim, cement garage. “What about my hands?”
“Nope, not happening until we get you situated in your room,” Brock answered, tugging me toward a white door that led into the building, house, whatever it was.
The more I begged, the more he’d get off, so I clamped my lips tight together.
Tommy grinned as he climbed out of the car. “It’s nice to be back. I can’t wait to see what opportunities you and your dad will offer me since I found the girl.”
Probably not what he expected. They would give him a reward that they could easily take away at the earliest convenience. That was how they operated.
Brock opened the door and dragged me behind him. We entered a huge basement with beige walls and off-white carpet. A large couch sat in the center, in front of a flat-screen television with a large pool table behind it. The walls were bare, and the room smelled musty like no one hung out there.
He yanked me toward steep wooden stairs in the far corner of the room.
The farther I entered the house, the more difficult it’d be to escape, but I couldn’t run away. Not like this. “Where are you taking me?”
“To your room,” he said sharply. “You have a visitor waiting for you.”
No, Tyler couldn’t be here. Surely not. “Who?”
He increased the pace as we neared the top. “You know who.”
We stepped into a den on the main floor. Just like downstairs, there was a large leather couch in the middle of the room that contrasted against the maple floor. The news played on a large flat-screen TV. A dark, cherry wood bar sat in the corner with cabinets full of liquor. I almost jerked to a stop when I found Tyler and Brock’s father, Mike, at the table next to it.
Tyler’s dark, soulless eyes landed on me, and he ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper goatee, which matched his hair. He was huge, the strongest wolf alpha in the United States, and he ensured his suits always enhanced his muscles. A frown marred his face.
“Ah … she’s here.” Mike leaned forward. His hair contained so much gel that it looked plastic, and his beady brown eyes scanned me up and down. His suit was more expensive than Tyler’s but didn’t fit him as well. Even though he wasn’t a small man, the outfit swallowed him. “We were beginning to wonder what was taking so long.”
“We hit traffic,” Brock grumbled.
“With your future mate cuffed.” Brock’s father chuckled. “You should be embarrassed.”
“You don’t—” Brock started.
Tyler cut him off. “If you can’t handle her, she shouldn’t be your mate.”
Did they think I’d changed my mind? I would never mate with Brock. I bit my tongue. Now wasn’t the time to declare war.