Feral Revised (Weekend Treats Collection) (8 page)

I don't give up!

Tamarius and his wife were enjoying a day at Englishman's Bay in Tobago when he noticed a missed call from his cousin Tobias. He listened to the voicemail then sprung into action.

"Baby we have a problem," he said to his wife, Makayla.

"What’s wrong babe?" Makayla asked.

"We have to go; Tobias my cousin thinks that his new bride was kidnapped." Tamarius said standing from the beach towel they were laying on.

"Didn't they just get married?" Makayla asked.

"Yes," Tamarius answered.

"Maybe she ran away. Didn't your aunt say it was an arranged marriage?" Makayla reminded her husband.

"Well, he's upset and if he didn't care about her he wouldn't call me," Tamarius summed up to his wife.

"You’re right," Makayla replied. "Let's go," she added, pulling up the large towel.

"I'm dropping you home, I don't want you in any danger," Tamarius said pulling his wife close.

"Babe, I can help" Makayla insisted.

"Please baby. I can handle this, but if I have any problems I will call you, I promise." Tamarius pleaded.

"Fine, I guess," Makayla sighed.

Tamarius returned his cousin's phone call. "Tobias, I'm on my way, just give me a few hours to get there. Text me your location and try to keep calm; we are going to get through this," Tamarius encouraged his cousin. They spoke for a bit longer then hung up.

"Baby, don't worry about me. Go on and take care of business. I will be by my parents," Makayla said knowing that he would like to be at his cousin's side as soon as possible.

"I can't just leave you here on the beach, but let me take you to your parents home and then I will take the jet out to my cousin," Tamarius suggested.

"Okay, that's better," Makay
la said planting a kiss on his lips.

♥

Tobias looked at his phone to check the time. Azura had been missing for a few hours now, but he had no idea how long. "I won't give up," he said under his breath. He was determined to find his wife no matter what. The police were now there and turned the entire cottage into a crime scene. An officer found tire tracks and foot prints that matched the ones around the cottage. He and another officer followed the tracks until they disappeared into the traffic of the main road. A detective was brought in and a medic to test Tobias' blood to see when the sedative entered his body. The detective hoped that this would give him a better estimate of how long his wife may have been missing.

Tobias tried to call Shelby numerous times, but got no answer. He was quickly losing his patience with her and was even beginning to suspect her of having something to do with his wife's disappearance. The detective continued to ask him repetitive questions and it was quickly beginning to feel more like an interrogation rather than a simple questioning.
 

"Excuse me, but I need to call my in-laws. They should hear this from me and not over the news," Tobias said abruptly cutting off the detective. He pulled out his cell phone and called Azura's father and told him the difficult news. They ended the call quickly letting him know that they would be flying out there shortly. He tried to call Shelby once more and still no answer. He sighed as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.

"Are you certain your wife was happy in the relationship?" the detective came at him again.

"Yes, we made love and fell asleep holding each other. Does that sound like an unhappy relationship?" Tobias snapped.

"Sir, you should eat something, you haven't eaten all day," Debbie said offering him a plate of food.

"I'm sorry Debbie, but I can't eat right now, maybe just a cup of tea.
"Tobias suggested. He knew that it would just sit and get cold, but he knew she was just trying to be helpful.

"Tea sounds good," Debbie replied as she walked back towards the kitchen.

Tobias sighed; this was not what he had intended as their weekend getaway. His cell phone rang and it was his parents. He explained everything to them and they also made arrangements to come as soon as possible. Soon the cottage would be packed.

♥

They had been traveling for eight hours. Jason only made one stop for gas four hours ago and soon he would be making another stop to fill up the tank. Azura was planning her escape. Having the ability to see in the dark, she found a sharp object to help shred the rope that was tied around her wrist. It took a while, but she was finally able to cut them off of her hands. She kept her hands behind her back and faked being asleep any time the van stopped. She thought about sneaking up behind him as he drove, but worried about her unborn child. In the end she realized that she would only have one chance to try and escape and she wasn't sure if she wanted to put her child in any further danger.

Azura decided to wait it out longer for the perfect opportunity or wait for Tobias to come through. Either way she did not want to put her pregnancy in any further danger. She overheard his conversations with his partner and realized he needed her alive rather than dead which gave her hope in getting out of this somehow.
  She also heard them mention Miami. It would be a long drive, eventually he would have to stop and rest. Azura decided that if the opportunity was right, she would make her escape then.

Jason pulled into a gas station and fille
d up the tank again. He was determined to put in seventeen hours of driving before he made a rest stop. He needed to distance himself as much as possible from the cottage in Wyoming.

♥

 There was now a crowd of news media, reporters and investigators surrounding the barricades that had to be put up near the cottage. The Kidnapping of a billionaire's wife had made nationwide headlines. Tobias had just finished his press release when a limo containing Tamarius and Maxwell arrived. The two men stepped out of the limo; Tamarius was tall with broad shoulders and a well built physic. He had a deep caramel complexion and maintained a bald head. They both had dashing grey eyes and a smile to melt your heart.

Maxwell was also tall with a spice complexion. He had a head fun of soft curls and he was the older of the two. As they made their way to the house, the cameras flashed and reporters did their best to get their attention, but there complete focus was on the grief of their cousin. They were going to use their unique abilities to help him find his wife and bring her back home safely.

Tobias greeted them before they could make it to the front door. "You made it here fast?" Tobias said as the feeling of hope filled him.

"Well our jet is just faster than your jet," Tamarius teased.

"Oh we will have to see about that," Tobias chuckled lightly. It was the first time he laughed since the whole disaster started. "Let’s go inside." he said "There isn't much room, and there are a lot of cops running in and out. So privacy doesn't exist right now."

"It's okay," Maxwell replied.

The three men walked into the home. Tobias introduced them to the lead detective and then they were all seated around the dining room table. Tobias told his cousins everything, including the pregnancy. Tamarius and Maxwell leaned back in there chair and thought quietly for a moment. Tamarius was the first to speak.

"One thing that I have learned is that when your wife has a dream or a premonition, you got to listen. Women are very perceptive. That's just how God made them."

"I didn't know," Tobias defended.

"Of course not," Tamarius replied. "How could you, technically you two are still getting to learn the basics of each other. It takes time and wisdom to see if her insights are correct. Just keep a mental note of all this."

"I will now," Tobias said with a sigh.

"Don't lose hope, she will be found." Maxwell added.

"Who is Shelby?" Tamarius asked.

"How do you..."

"He has incredible insight," Maxwell said cutting off Tobias.

"Shelby is my assistant," Tobias answered feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Tamarius sensed that there was more to that, but didn't want to put his cousin on the spot with so many people listening in on their conversation. Just as Tamarius was preparing to ask another question. Tobias' cell phone rang.

"Excuse me," Tobias said lifting one finger to his cousin, while answering the call. It was his father-in-law. Tobias could hear his mother-in-law sobbing in the background.

Albert cleared his throat and began to speak. "There is something I should have told you when I last called. It was the purpose of my call, but I heard Azura laughing in the background. She was so happy; we hardly ever experienced that side of her. What I wanted to tell you was that a friend of Azura's named Morgan came by the other day and he gave my wife a warning. He said that a red headed woman came into Jason's office and was trying to hire him to put a hit out on Azura."

"What?!" Tobias said instantly boiling with rage. "A red head!" Tobias got everyone's full attention.

"Is Shelby the red head?" Maxwell asked his brother, who nodded right away.

Tobias ended the call with his in-laws, and turned his attention to the detective standing close by. He told him all what his father-in-law had told him and the detective left while putting out an APB on Shelby Meade.
  Tamarius rushed out to the limo driver and they searched for a map, he found one in the glove compartment. Tamarius rushed back into the cottage as he opened the map and spread it out on the table.

"I'm estimating that the kidnapper has been on the road for about ten or more hours. So where will that put him. What is ten hours south of Wyoming heading towards Florida?" Tamarius question out load.

"That could turn out tricky, because we don't know if he will take alternate routes," Maxwell replied.

"Well, the other suggestion is to find this Morgan guy, see what else we can learn from him. We should fly back to Florida now," Tamarius suggested.

"I can't sit here and wait around for the cops to figure things out," Tobias spoke under his breath.

"Do you have anyone who can stay here and manage things while the three of us take a ride? I think I know where they may be headed," Tamarius said to his cousin.

"Well I don't, oh wait, Debbie!" Tobias called out.

"Yes Sir," Debbie answered quickly.

"You are in charge, I'm going to forward my calls to the cottage phone. I'm going to take a drive with my cousins and see if we see anything," Tobias informed her.

"Not a problem Sir. Good luck, I hope your wife is brought back home safely," Debbie replied.

The three men placed back on their winter coats and protective wear then walked pass the shouting reporters, got in the limo and slowly fought pass the horde of people camped out around the cottage.

"The kidnapper has a good head start on us. We are hoping to catch up with him before he reached his destination," Tamarius said then continuing to fill him in on what he picked up on psychically. "Shelby is behind this, but right now I think even her, is in trouble."

"Well, she put herself in that situation," Tobias grumbled.

"Yes, but this is very bad," Tamarius replied.

Tobias leaned back in his seat. He now regretted the day he ever met Shelby.

Prowess

It was late Saturday night when they landed at a private airstrip in Orlando, Florida. Tobias, Maxwell, and Tamarius meet up with Azura's parents at their home, before they left for Wyoming. Tobias greeted both his in-laws with a hug. They all sat down in the living room, discussing Azura's Disappearance. Tobias was finally able to tell them the full story and why they were there. He however left out the part about Tamarius and Maxwell's special gifts

 "I'm sorry for all of this," Tobias said as he leaned forward on the couch placing his for arms to rest on his knees.

"No sweetie, we should have listened to Morgan," Albert returned leaning forward also.

"Where is Morgan?" Tamarius asked.

"We don't really know, and I'm not sure where he works in town. We never really paid much attention to him, but you’re more than welcome to search Azura's room for any information you can find," Amelia replied.

"Where is her room?" Tobias asked immediately.

"Follow me," Albert said standing up from the couch and
walking towards the large staircase.

The group all stood and followed Albert to Azura's room. It was at the end of the hall. On the door was a sign that read: Enter at your own risk. Tobias was eager to see what was behind that closed door in his wife's life. Albert opened the door and led them into the lavish bedroom. There was a full size bed at one end and the other looked like an inviting lounge area. On the walls was a full mural of a family of wolves in the snow. And everything in her decor reflected her love for wolves.

"She never really let anyone in her room. She liked her solitude." Ameila sighed thinking back to the difficulty in raising Azura.

Tamarius and Maxwell b
oth went straight for her nightstand. It would be the best place to look for an address book. Tobias went to her student desk in a corner of the room and pulled out an old note pad from high school. He glanced through it before moving on to her high school yearbook. He couldn't help but search for her senior picture, which turned out to be the unhappiest picture he had ever seen. She looked miserable and detached from the present reality. He flipped the page and found Morgan's picture, jealousy rose in him again, but it was weakened with the thought of never seeing his wife again, never touching her skin. It now seemed silly to be jealous of a man she wasn't longing for. Suddenly it hits him; Morgan's last name was very familiar. "Judd?" Tobias blurted out load. "Is this Uncle Adam Judd, by any chance?" he asked his in-laws.

"Oh I don't know dear," Ameila answered.

Tobias pulled out his wallet and quickly flipped through to find a business card from Adam Judd. Happy to see he had not thrown it out, he called the number on the card. It was after midnight but Tobias didn't care. "Hello?" said a voice on the other end.

"Adam, Adam Judd?" Tobias questioned.

"Yes, this is he, has something happen to my nephew?" the old man questioned right away.

"Is your nephew Morgan?" Tobias asked.

"Yes, Morgan Judd, is he in some kind of trouble?"

"No, but we need his help. Do you know how we can get a hold of him?" Tobias asked.

"Who is this?"

"Tobias Cavaughna,"

"Hey we had a meeting and you stood me up!" the old man shouted.

"Yes, I told my assistant to let you know that I am accepting your offer, but you haven't heard from her, obviously," Tobias replied.

"No, I haven't, but thank you," he replied happily.

"Yes we can talk about this later, can you please help me get in touch with Morgan," Tobias reminded.

"Yes, yes of course, here is his number. 555 0110, he plays pool down at the bar most late nights so he should be up. Good luck and we will be in touch," Adam said as he prepared to end the call.

"Yes we will be in touch, thank you," Tobias said then ended the call.

Tobias didn't wait another second to call Morgan. The phone rang and Morgan answered on the third ring. "Hello, Morgan, this is Tobias...Azura's husband."

"I -I know who you are, what happen is she all right?" Morgan asked. "I just turned on the news and I'm now hearing that she was kidnapped."

"I was told that you may know who is behind it," Tobias got straight to the point.

"Yes, Jason, my boss."

"Where is his shop located?"

"Kissimmee, off of 192 and John Young. You can't miss it. Jason's Autocare," Morgan informed them. "I will meet you there if you don't mind. I need to know that Azura is safe."

"We are leaving now...but don't make yourself obvious..."

"Meet me at the Waffle House in the same area," Morgan said cutting him off.

"Okay," Tobias answered then hung up.

"What did he say?" Maxwell asked his cousin.

"It's in Kissimmee and he wants us to meet him at the waffle house close by," Tobias answered.

"Let's go," Tamarius said heading towards the bedroom door.

♥

Jason drove for a straight seventeen hours only stopping for gas and the occasional bathroom break. He was now making his planned stop to get a few hours shut eye.
  Opting to pull off to the side of the road and take a nap versus going to a hotel room, seem like the better choice. For the entire journey Jason had not checked on the extremely quiet Azura. He notices she was very different from the other girls he has taken in the past. Jason knew the drugs should have worn off by now, but she has not screamed or made any attempt to escape. He realized he would have to check to see if she was alive; it wouldn't be the first time a girl died during the kidnapping process.

Jason yanked his car to the side of the road as Azura’s mouth poured out a variety of curse words. He bitterly shoved the gear into park and exited the van. He walked around to the back, unlocked it, but only to see Azura lunging at him with full force. She knocked him to the ground and they began to wrestle. Her hands were around his neck doing their best to choke the life right out of him, but they just weren't strong enough. She knew it would be a matter of time before he would regain control. Although it was uncomfortable to fight naked she could not back down now. She abruptly stood then shoved her foot on his neck pinning him to the ground. She found the van keys before he knocked her off balance, and she found a knife. She slammed the knife into his thigh as he stood, he hollered out in pain. Azura ran to the driver side of the van, hopped in and sped off but was immediately struck by an oncoming car.

 
She was grateful that it was only the front bumper that got wiped out and not her. She threw the van in reverse, but Jason reached the door, he flung it open and shoved her out of the driver’s seat. Azura fell on the floor between the driver and passenger seat. She scrabbled to reach the passenger side door, however Jason yanked her back then locked the doors. He sped of nearly hitting the driver of the vehicle that hit the van.

He cursed, shouted and struck her naked body repeatedly. Azura managed to tuck herself down onto the floor by the passenger's seat. She glared at Jason and although the van was dark her eyes saw clearly in the dark. Jason glanced at her but the chills that ran down his spine concerning her frighten him beyond anything else he has ever known. He saw a wild animal ready to kill him at the first given opportunity.

Jason now realized he would have to drive straight to Florida without stopping. If he stays in the area the cops would find him because of the car accident, also he could not give her another chance to escape. He pulled out his dart gun that he hid under his seat and shot Azura. The eerie glow from her eyes finally faded and her eyes closed. Pain from his left thigh began to throb. He pulled off his shirt and tore off a strip while doing his best to keep the van on the road. He pulled the knife from his thigh while swearing. The pain was too much, he needed to pull over; but he knew it would be foolish to stop now. He regained his strength and wrapped the clothe around his wound and tied a tight knot.

As he settled in to the drive, he realized he may not make it another seventeen hours. He found his cell phone and called his partner. "We have a problem," he greeted.

"What's going on?" Duke replied.

"She tried to escape, I got hurt, and there was a car accident. I got away, but I'm sure those bastards are going to call the cops, so I have to distance myself." Jason explained.

"Then why the hell are you calling me!" Duke retorted. "Get some damn coffee and quit your complaining!"

Jason hung up his cell phone and turned on the radio full blast...

♥

"When I passed the shop, on the way to this restaurant, I saw an older man smoking a cigarette outside of the shop." Morgan said as he sat with Tobias, Tamarius, and Maxwell in a Waffle House Restaurant near the mechanic shop.

"I take it, that's not your boss," Tobias said as he placed his coffee down on the counter.

I don't know who he is, but he can't be a thief, he seems oddly comfortable." Morgan added.

Tobias opened his mouth to ask Morgan a personal question; however, his cell phone rang. It was the detective from Wyoming. He stepped outside to speak with him quietly.

 "I just wanted to give you an update. We are sorting through a lot of leads as we speak, and a few of them seem promising-"

"Can you do research on the owner of an auto shop called Jason's Auto care?" Tobias said cutting him off.

"Of course, what did you find out?" The detective asked.

"I don't know much," Tobias replied. "I really need you to look into that and let me know. We are back in Florida, and we are with a man who says that Jason, his boss, was hired to kill my wife."

"I will check on that now, I will call you back," The detective returned seeing the urgency to act quickly.

"Thank you," Tobias said before ending the call. As he turned to walk back into the restaurant he noticed an older gentleman walking in his direction from the corner of his eye. He thought about the man Morgan had described and could see that this man fit the description.  The stranger was tall, with short grey hair that was a ruffled mess. He wore black pants and a buttoned up shirt. He walked pass Tobias and into the restaurant. It just happened that Morgan was trying to get Tobias' attention from inside the restaurant. Tobias saw and Morgan signaled to him that he was the man he saw earlier.

Tobias made a quick decision to run next door to the mechanic shop to see if he could get any information on Jason or the stranger or anything he could find out concerning his wife's kidnapping.