CAGED (Mackenzie Grey #2) (18 page)

“Yeah, okay,” I said sounding more confused than ever. I grabbed my coat and followed my attorney out of the room.

Before I left, Garrett latched onto my arm. “I don’t know what kind of shit you’re into, but if you need help, you know where to find me,” he muttered and let me go.

“Thank you,” I said and left the squad room.

***

Tom and I went out through the back exit of 1PP. He was speed walking and I was having a hard time keeping up.

“Hey thanks for the bail, but if you’re in a rush I can just take the bus,” I said as I stopped to head back to the front of the building.

He gripped the sleeve of my jacket. “No, our ride is waiting out back.”

“Dude, get off, I left my cell phone,” I pulled my arm back but his hold on me didn’t loosen. My stomach fell and my face turned up a few degrees. Something was off.

“I said,” he gritted, “we’re going through the back,” he released my arm and grabbed a chunk of my hair. “Now let’s go, Bitch.”

Someone pulled the fire alarm in the building, as sirens blared around us. Tom dragged me harder down the back street toward a van. The sliding door of a vehicle opened and before I could see inside, someone tossed a hood over my head and knocked me out.

Lucian

Everything was falling apart.

Mackenzie Grey was never supposed to have been found—much less be a wolf. She was meant to live a normal human life.
Where had it gone wrong?

The blasted witch gave me the formula, it should have worked.
Why didn’t it bloody work?
I’d been burying myself in the past, retracing all of our steps to figure out what was missed.

“Lucian!” Roman yelled as he snapped his fingers in front of my face.

“What, boy? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

He snorted. “Yeah, busy staring into space.”

“Fine,” I waved him off. “What do you want?”

“The human friend and wolf are here. They say it is urgent they speak with you,” he said. I remember when I first found him a few centuries ago. A savage feeding off the deaths of many on the battlefield. He’d come a long way since then.

“If they must,” I sighed. “Bring them in.”

Roman escorted the human girl and Jackson Cadwell into the library and I plastered on a smile. They were the last people I wanted to see. I had better things to do.

“Amelia, Jackson, what a lovely—not so much—surprise,” I smiled.

“Trust me, the feeling is mutual,” Jackson grumbled, “but she made me bring her,” he jabbed his thumb to the little human girl. She was a spunky one—it intrigued me how much loyalty she had for her friend. Her bright red hair hung loose in beautiful curls and all her body art was covered up by winter clothing. The weather in March was harsh, I could only imagine how cold she must be. I hadn’t felt it in so long, I think I’ve forgotten. When you’re no longer human, it’s hard to remember, much less maintain your humanity.

“Lucian, its Mackenzie, she’s been taken,” she cried out and that’s when I noticed. Those enchanting green eyes were blotched red and her lips trembled at the brink of further tears.

I stood unmoving. “Excuse me?” my gaze flickered over to the wolf. “Explain.”

“The Chicago Pack has taken her and we have no clue where she is,” he said, not too fond of having to tell me.

“How in the bloody hell is that possible?” I yelled. “Didn’t she leave the warehouse with the other Cadwell?”

“The humans arrested her while she was with Jonah. They were pinning the incident at the bodega on her,” Jackson said. “Someone pretended to be her lawyer and grabbed her from the precinct.”

“Fuck!” Roman screamed as he ran his fingers through his hair. “This is just wonderful, Lucian. You didn’t tell me the Brooklyn Pack was filled with a bunch of geniuses.”

“Hey asshole!” Jackson stepped forward. “This isn’t our fault. You know Mackenzie just as much as us, she makes her own rules. If she wanted to leave her only sanctuary, no one would be able to stop her.”

“He’s right, Roman,” I chided. “Makes no sense to point fingers,” I turned to Jackson. “Have you sniffed the precinct, have you found a trail?”

He shook his head. “We lost it in Time Square. It’s hard to track in the city.”

“Very well,” I turned away. “Go back to your home.”

“What?” Amelia exclaimed. “You’re not going to help us?”

“Go home, Amelia Fitzgerald,” I said. “There is nothing you can do hovering over my shoulder. Let me work my magic.”

***

Left to my own devices, I rushed to the bookshelf hidden in a far corner of the library. I scanned the spines in a rush until I found the one I was looking for. I slid out my copy of
The Oracle of Delphi
and opened it. A square had been cut out and inside was an empty vial and a ripped sheet of paper. On the paper there were a set of numbers I never thought I’d have to call. Throughout the years it had changed, but he never failed to update me with it—at least he hadn’t in the last ten years.

I sat in my reading nook, dragged the black rotary phone closer to me, and dialed the number.

“Ello’?” he answered.

“Alexander…its Lucian, we need to talk.”

With my wrists bound behind me and a hood draped over my head, I was thrown to the ground and landed on my left arm. I could hear my shoulder dislocating from its socket and I cringed to keep from screaming. It didn’t take a genius to figure what was going on, and if I was a betting woman, I’d say this was the Chicago Pack’s second attempt.

My eyes stretched to see through the woven fabric of the hood, but not even the wolf had that super power. The smell of mold and rat droppings filled my still-breathing nose as I took in the scents around me. I reached my palm to the ground and dug my nails into the dirt—the soil.
Outside maybe?

Someone grabbed my right arm and tugged me to a sitting position. The hood rose from my head, my hair flew everywhere. I had to adjust my eyes, although my surroundings weren’t all that bright. I was in something similar to a jail cell—was I underground? The only light came from a utility work lamp that was positioned on the opposite wall.

“Have a good nap?” said the man who stood before me. He was of average height, about six feet. His shaved head reflected the brightness from the single lamp. Dark eyes that glassed over like orbs slid over my disheveled body as if I were dessert. He licked his lips and I gagged. Actual fear wracked through me with the thought of what could happen if I didn’t get out of here.

“Who are you?” I asked, my throat dry and rough.

“I’ll be whoever you want me to be,” he smirked, “but most people call me, Logan.”

My stomach twisted into knots and I felt icy pins prick my skin as I realized who had taken me: the monster who had disfigured Rachel—the Alpha of the Chicago Pack.

“Speechless? Yeah, I have that effect on Lunas, but don’t worry,” he squatted in front of me and dragged a finger down my cheek in a crude caress. “I’ll take good care of you. Quid pro quo, that is.”

I flinched away. “I’d rather go down in a plane crash.”

He chuckled. “Oh! Snarky, I like it! Makes the chase all the more entertaining.”

“Entertain this,” I slammed my head against his and attempted to crawl away—as far away as my bound hands could take me—which wasn’t far. The beating pulse of my forehead made my attempts to flee sloppy.

He growled. “You’re turning me on, Mackenzie Grey.” He caught my leg and I kicked both of them out, hoping I’d get a good hit in but all I caught was air.

I screamed, I cried, I prayed.

“Touch me and I swear I’ll kill you!” I yelled.

He laughed as he dragged me away from the corner by my ankle. The zip ties cut the skin of my wrists with every movement.

“Darling, you can try, but you’re just a Luna. Your place is either on your back or on your knees,” he grinned. “So choose, what’s it going to be?”

“Neither, you piece of shit,” I spit in his face. “Wait until King Alexander hears about this,” I threatened.

He back-handed me and I went flying to the ground, my cheek bouncing off the dirt. I bit my inner cheek and a metallic taste filled my mouth as if I’d been sucking on a penny.

“What? You think I don’t know every single detail about you, Mackenzie Grey. I know everything!” his hand cupped my face and squeezed my cheeks, bringing me face to face with him. “Down to the detail of you not wanting to know a goddamn thing about your father. I doubt he’ll be hearing about my…time with dear ol’ Princess Mackenzie, eh?” His grin was of a mad man, of a maniac. It scared me to my core.

“Find a better source, dipshit,” I grumbled, his hand holding my face roughly. If he knew that much about me, someone was tipping him off. No amount of recon could give him that much information.

“You’re bluffing,” he grinned and threw me to the ground. “You’ve put me off for tonight. Get some rest, tomorrow’s going to be a
long
day,” he said as he touched himself.

Logan opened the cell door and shut it behind him, clipping the lock. Once he was out of eye sight, I leaned to my side and vomited.

***

I didn’t get any sleep that night—my mind tortured me, going to dark places. I feared a visit from Logan in the middle of the night. I had imagined many scenarios, but this wasn’t one of them. Even after Sebastian warned me, I didn’t listen. I wanted to slap myself for being so ignorant. It made me think about what Rachel had said, I was privileged and I thought I was exempt from all of this. No matter who I was, or how I carried myself—I wasn’t invincible. And I was getting a sick lesson on that.

My stomach rumbled with hunger and my mouth tasted like a cotton ball from thirst. I had to come up with a plan, anything to get myself out of here or at least get word out to Bash and Jonah. But from the looks of everything around me, that would be impossible. I was surrounded by darkness.

“There’s nowhere for you to go, Princess,” Logan’s sinister voice came through my muddled thoughts. “You can scream and not a single soul will hear it.”

“Why are you doing this?” I croaked. He unlocked the cell and came inside. “I’m no one important, this is pointless.”

“For someone who is so confident, you sure have a low self-esteem,” he said as he laid next to me on his side. I couldn’t move away—my body was too weak.

“I’m stating facts. If you want the throne, you won’t get it through me.”

“Not yet,” he grinned. His hand outstretched and he tucked away a stray hair behind my ear. “You’re so pretty, Princess. Even with all that dirt and filth, your eyes shine like a diamond in the rust. You’re quite captivating.”

I swallowed the bile in my throat. “They’re just eyes. I’ll ripped them out before I let you near me.”

He sighed. “That would be a shame, Princess.”

I built up enough strength to turn my head to face the devil incarnate. “What made you the monster you are today? You must have some serious mommy issues if this is what you do to get your kicks,” I muttered.

Logan smiled. “Look at us bonding already.” His finger traced the outline of my body, sending unwanted shivers through my body. “You respond well.”

“And you’re avoiding my question, Ted Bundy.”

His grin faltered. “Your sarcasm will only get you so far, Princess. The more you fight me, the longer you’ll be down here. I like my girls scared, it makes things more exciting.”

A cold sweat dripped down my spine. I was scared—but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Then I guess we’ll be here for a while,” I mumbled. 

He stood to leave and desperation gripped me.

“Where are you going?” I demanded as my head swiveled to his direction.

“I’m going to have lunch,” he said closing the cell door.

“Water,” I begged. “I need water.”

Logan shook his head. “Not today.” The metal clanked into the quiet underground and my heart sank.

***

I tried to lick my chapped lips, but my mouth was so dry all I did was feel the ridges of cut skin. As the minutes ticked by, the less I moved, the less I’d feel the pain of my dislocated shoulder. I was losing track of time—and the hunger within me was giving me a second wind. I couldn’t take another day of this. With no sleep or food or water, I didn’t know how much longer I would last.

“Did you dream about me?” Logan said, startling me from my thoughts. He was leaning against the metal bars that locked me in. “I dreamt about you, Princess.”

“You could say I dreamt about you,” I grumbled. “Skinning you alive brought me to my happy place.”

“I was told you had a tendency to talk a lot, but they made you sound like such a drag,” he smirked.

“Hm. I wonder who that could be,” I mused. “I have such a long list of people I’ve annoyed in my lifetime. It could be anyone.”

“I can’t imagine why,” he chuckled. “Riddle me this, Mackenzie Grey, how did you manage to take down one of my boys? A small thing like you cannot have possibly killed Big Joe.” Small? I was five feet, nine inches tall. I was the farthest thing from petite.

I raised my bound wrists. “Untie me and I’ll show you.”

“Tempting, but no,” he said.

“Worth a shot,” I shrugged. “Although it’s comforting to know you fear me.”

“Fear you?” he howled. “Not in the slightest, but you do seem like a sneaky little minx.”

“I aim to please.”

He watched me for a moment. His dark gaze followed my every move, as if analyzing how I worked, like I were some strange species. I found it impossible that I were the first Luna who was a lone-wolf. Why was I so intriguing to these idiots? It had to be the royal blood.

“Take a picture, it lasts longer,” I said with a bored tone. This wasn’t my best material but the lack of food was making me groggy.

“You’re magnificent, you know,” he said, enthralled. “You have your father’s eyes, a rare color in our world. Only those of royal blood are silver. It would be impossible for him not to acknowledge you.”

“Dude, I don’t care. Can you bring me a hamburger?”

He ignored me. “Do you know who your mother is? That is still a mystery, everyone has been speculating but no one knows for sure.”

“Good for you guys,” I faked excitement. “Can I at least have some water?”

“I heard you were a late bloomer. Didn’t shift until you were eighteen—”

“Logan!” I exclaimed. “We can talk about my estranged family members and your obsession
after
you feed my ass, yeah? I’m still a living, breathing being. I need something to eat and drink!” I awkwardly got to my feet and went up to the bars. My body weighed me down as I dragged myself.

“Fine!” he barked. Logan unlocked my cell and wrapped his hand in my hair, tugging it like a leash. “Let’s get the princess some food.” He drew me out of the cage and I tried to jerk away. My scalp burned as strands of hair were pulled from the root.

“Let me go! I can walk on my own!”

“Oh yeah?” he pushed my head down and I fell. He dragged me down the hallway, and I dug my heels in the ground to stop him but he was too strong.

The bumpy ground was filled with what I assumed were rocks, and they dug into my skin. I could feel my flesh being cut and ripped by the roughness, my dislocated shoulder, barely hanging on.

“Motherfucker!” I screamed.

“If I knew who she was,” he said as he threw me to the ground like if I weighed nothing.

I winced from the pain in my shoulder and glanced at my surroundings. We were underground, in what looked like an abandoned train tunnel. It was dark, but with the wolf’s night vision I was able to see the other four men sitting around. They were on overturned, wooden crates, eating out of cans. And I recognized my fake attorney.

“What, no one could spring for some Taco Bell?” I muttered when I smelled baked beans.

“What’d you say, Bitch?” my attorney demanded. I’d been thrown in the middle of the group and I scrambled to stand.

“Easy Tommy Boy,” Logan scolded. “Mackenzie is a little different, we’ll have to teach her how to be a Luna.”

Another one of his Pack members chuckled. “You mean break her? Nice. That’ll be fun.”

I snorted. “Not if I break you first.”

They all laughed at me. “She’s funny,” one of them said.

“She sure is,” Logan agreed, “but the princess is hungry. Any one of you care to share?”

Tommy stood up and started to unbuckle his pants. “I’ll share…for a price,” he grinned.

I looked away. “I rather starve, so put your little guy away.”

“Bitch,” he growled and charged toward me. Logan came between us before he could reach me.

“Heel,” he ordered. “Control yourselves. You’re only feeding into her nonsense.”

“Nonsense? Well that’s a first,” I joked. I was becoming delirious.

Logan gave me a sideways glance as if warning me to be quiet, which was impossible. If I was going to die down here, I was going out without a filter.

“You still hungry, Princess?” Logan asked.

“Duh,” I deadpanned.

He nodded. “Since you’re so keen on threatening us with physical violence, let’s give you the opportunity,” he said and looked to his Pack members. They smiled as if they were in on the joke. “You want a can of beans? Then fight for it. You take down one of my boys, and then you can eat. If not…well you know your other option.” He winked as he unbuttoned his pants.

My stomach churned. How disgusting could these wolves be? When I was told I was in danger, this was the farthest thing from my mind. I thought maybe being held up at gunpoint or something of that nature. But not rape—it made me wonder how the Brooklyn Pack even associated with their kind.

“I don’t get it, why are we here? Shouldn’t you be taking me out of Pack territory?” The thought had crossed my mind many times. I could feel it in my bones, we were still in New York—but why?

“How do you know we aren’t in Chicago?”

“Oh please. If we were, we wouldn’t be slumming it down in the sewers. You look like the bragging type. You’d be flaunting me around your Pack like a brand new car,” I smirked.

Logan’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Your boyfriends have blocked all exits out of the city. We can’t leave until things cool down. We’re working on it.”