Shifted Temptations (27 page)

The steel surrounding
me looked strong, but I knew I was stronger. I backed up and crouched, ready to lunge at the wire with all my weight. It should not have been a problem to break through. In fact, I wondered why Alex hadn’t done it yet.

“Jordan, No!”

I ignored Alex’s shout and charged. My body crashed into the metal wire, but instead of breaching the cage, an electrical charge ripped through me. My breathing halted as I shook violently for over ten seconds as the electricity coursed through my sore body.

Finally
, I slumped to the ground, twitching uncontrollably. Spasms wracked my muscles, the pain crippling as I tried to take a breath.

“Jordan! Man, are you alright?
”

I took a few deep breaths and tried to slow my erratic hea
rtbeat as my muscles began to relax. A metallic flavor coated my tongue. I spit out the blood and rolled over to look at Alex. His gaze was concerned and yet knowing.

“I assume you tried that as well,” I said as I sat up. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand
upright yet, so I hadn’t even tried.

Alex smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, yeah, I tried. It was the first thing I did.”

“We have to figure a way out of here.”

“There is no way out,” A voice croaked from across the room.

I looked over at Markus and could see him curled into a ball inside his cage.

“We’ll find a way,” I growled.

Mark shifted so he could face me. “The only way out is when we’re thrown in the trench. But we won’t be free.”

“What are you talking about? What’s the trench?”

When Mark didn’t say anything, only rocked back and forth with his arms curled around his knees, I looked to Alex.

“Did you notice something strange about the jaguars?” He asked.

I remembered the way the cats’ eyes were glowing red as repulsive pink foam filled their mouths. Their strength was so that I couldn’t fight them off.

“They weren’
t strange, Alex, they were fucked up.”

“Yeah, fucked up on drugs,” he nodded.

“What?”

“Cocaine,” Mark
said. “The cocaine is what caused it.”

“What’s he talking about?” I asked Alex.

“It seems cocaine has a nasty side effect for shifters. Not only does it cause their eyes to change and gives them that disgusting drool, but they also obtain immense strength.”

“Don’t forget to tell
him how crazy they are,” Mark whispered.

Alex sighed, obviously irritated with
the man. It looked to me like Mark was going a little crazy himself.”

“The drug also make
s them volatile and on edge. While high, they can’t shift, irritating them even more.”

“Why didn’t he tell us about this before?”

Mark had been the one who called Teij for help to begin with. He became our informant and along with our Intel, helped us get in and out unseen along with stashing stuff, like my clothes at Layla’s house.

“
He was captured soon after he found out, as he was trying to contact us.”

Shit! I ran my hands over my face wearily. I was tired and wish
ed like hell that my dream of Sam had been real. I would have giving anything to have been with her right then.

“How long has he been down here?”

“Since before you went to Layla’s.”

“What?” I asked shocked.

“Jordan, they knew you were there. Layla was murdered with you there on purpose, but they didn’t want you killed.”

“Why?”

Alex blew out a loud breath. “That, I am still trying to figure out.”

“What’s with Mark? He’s told you all of this, but now he wants to stay quiet?”

“I think he’s just about snapped. He’s been in here a long time and he’s scared, but of what, I’m not sure. He won’t talk about anything else and he hasn’t said exactly what the trench is.”

“Something’s going down though,” Alex continued. “A guard has come in a few times a day since we got here, just to check to see if you were awake yet. This room must be sound proofed because every time that door has opened, I’ve heard screams.”

“Like torture?”

“No,” he shook his head. “More like
a lot of people having good time. They scream, whistle and shout out names like they’re at a sporting event.”

My mind began putting the pieces together. A sporting event, shouts, drugged jaguars with vast strength... Before I could finish my
thought, the heavy metal door opened with a loud groan. Immediately I heard the cheering of a crowd and I knew exactly what was going on, but my attention was somewhere else. It was strained on the man walking into the room.

He was tall, but shorter than
I was, with wide shoulders and lean build. His brown hair was graying at the temples and he had wrinkles at the corner of his familiar brown eyes. The cruel and satisfied expression contorted his face into an evil mask.

“I’m glad you are finally awake, Jordan,” he said as my gaze took in his appearance.

He must have thought he was some hot shot with the way he was dressed. The grey power suit seemed a little much for the dank, dungeon like basement. I wrinkled my nose in disgust, but said nothing to the asshole.

“I guess you are going to ignore me.” He clucked his tongue. “But we’ll see how long that lasts. I have big plans for you; both of you.”

He turned to Alex and narrowed his eyes. “Well, hello son.”

Alex growled, but I did not turn to look at his reaction. My attention was all for the other man entering behind Alex’s father. He was taller than Alexander, with a more slender build. His thinning blonde hair was slicked back and his blue eyes were glassy and bloodshot. It was obvious he was still a drunk.

Alexander glanced behind him and placed a hand on the man’s shoulders.

“Look who we’ve got here
, Lee. Our son’s have finally come home.” He smiled back at us, but I continued to stare at the man who called himself my father.

I hated him for what he had done to
my mother and me. So much anger coursed through me at that moment, I thought I’d combust. I knew in that instant I would kill him if I got the chance.

Lee Jeffery Hunt, aka my father, snarled, showing off yellowing teeth. “I think a celebration is in order. How about a little fun in the trench?”

Alexander’s grin widened as his eyes
glinted with secret merriment. “Perfect.”

I had a bad feeling we weren’t going to like the trench.

~ 30 ~

Sam

“Bear
, you have got to do something! They have been gone for almost three weeks now! I can’t stand this any longer!”

Bear was sitting in the armchair across from where I had curled up on the couch, wringing my hands in worry.
Jordan and Alex had been gone for so long and no one would tell me anything.

Liz walked in to see what was going on. I had moved back i
nto our house as soon as she got home. Bear came with me, saying wherever I went, so did he. I had not really minded. He was my only link to Jordan and Alex, even though he refused to tell me much.

“We have to wait, Sam.” Bear’s deep voice was sympathetic, but I was tired of waiting. I wanted action.

I stood up, a little slower than I wanted to due to my huge stomach and the lower back pain I had been experiencing all day. At least the casts were gone.

I began to pace back
and forth, unable to stay still any longer. The waiting was excruciating. The only peace I had was that at least I knew they were not dead, but how much time did they have left? Were they hurting, being tortured? I just could not stop my imagination from producing images I would rather not see.

Liz came to stand in front of m
e. I tried to move around her, but she placed a gentle hand on my arm.

“Sam, I know this
is hard, but listen to Bear. Stay calm sweetie, at least for the baby, okay?”

“I understand what you’re trying to say and I don’t want to harm the baby, but I just can’t
stop thinking about them. They have been missing for so long and I’m worried sick.”

My eyes prickled with tears. I sniff
ed and willed them away. I was so tired of crying. My head felt swollen and my muscles were sore from all the sobs. The ache in my back was only getting worse.

“Sam, I hate to say this, but you are going to have to start dealing with this situation better.”

How dare he tell me to deal with it better? My men were out there with God knows what happening to them. I opened my mouth to tell him exactly what I thought of that statement, but his raised a hand to stop me.

“I know you are worried. Hell, so am I, but Jordan and Alex have a job to do. Being part of the
Alpha Division
is dangerous and this kind of thing is going to happen occasionally. If you can’t handle it, then I’m not sure your relationship will survive.”

He was right, I knew that, but how could I not worry? Was this really something I was going to have to get use to
on a regular basis? Could I handle them having such a risky job?

The answer was obvious. I loved them and wanted them arou
nd not only for myself, but also for our child as well. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my restless nerves.

“What exactly is the
Alpha Division
?” Liz asked.

Bear and I turned to her with wide eyes. I had forgotten she was in the room and from the look on Bear’s face, so had he. That fact had me realizing how much he was actually concerned for Alex and Jordan. He was so worri
ed that he had not paid attention before spilling a piece of their secret.

When Liz
had come home, I told her most of what happened. I had told her how Jordan, Alex and I were trying again and we even discussed me moving out. She had been happy for me and told me not to worry about the house. We decided to talk more when the guys came home.

As far as their job, I only said they worked for the government and that Bear was helping me while they were gone. She was confused about why he was still around since she was home, but I convinced her that he was a good friend and that Jordan and Alex would want him with me until they got back. She reluctantly let it go.

She now stood with her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed on our guilty faces. I looked to Bear for an answer.

He shrugged. “It’s only the name of the mil
itary division they are in.”

Liz crossed her arms and narrowed her gaze on us.
“No, there is something else going on. Both of you have been whispering and stopping discussions when I walk in a room since I came back from Europe. Furthermore, why exactly do you need to be here anyway? I am capable of taking care of Sam.”

“I...” Shit, I
did not know what to say, but I did not want to lie to her. She was my very best friend. There was no way I would be able to keep the secret from her for long.

I looked up at Bear, pleadingly. He shook his head no and stared at me hard in warning.

“Bear, I trust Liz one hundred percent. I have known her for a very long time and she has been there for me at my lowest times. I don’t think I can keep this from her.”

“Sam, you can’t.” Bear growled a warning.

“I’m sorry, but I have to tell her.”

“Tell me what?” Liz’s eyes were bouncing back and forth between Bear and I.

Bear sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I can’t stop you, but if this goes badly, I won’t be able to protect you.”

“Goes badly as in if Liz can’t keep her mouth shut then I will be killed?”

Bear looked me in eyes and nodded once. I could see the regret in his expression, but it did not stop the shudder from moving down my spine at the thought of ‘things going badly’.

Liz raised her hands up
in alarm. “Wait! What are you talking about? You can’t kill her! I won’t let you!” She ran to her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “I’m calling the cops.”

“No! Liz, put down the phone.”

Liz looked at me, her eyebrows lowered in confusion. “That guy just threatened you.”

I swallowed hard. “
Sort of, yes, but I know you won’t tell anyone, so I don’t have anything to worry about right?”

“What is going on, Sam?”

“Put down the phone and I will tell you.”

Liz shook her head. “No, tell me first.” She held the p
hone against her chest protectively.

I sighed. “Just promise me you will keep this to yourself.
This can never leave this room; understand? No one and I mean
no one
can know what I am about to tell you.”

Liz eyed me warily, but nodded as she moved to the couch and sat down. “Yes, I promise.”