Wolf Tales 11 (10 page)

She slowly checked out their surroundings. It looked like a really nice hotel. The room was large, furnishings upscale. She thought she heard the sound of trolleys passing nearby, which meant they were back in San Francisco.

It was obviously a suite, since the sound of the television came from another room. She picked up the soft voices of men talking. Cuing Lisa to listen with her, Tala strained to hear what they were saying.

“I don’t know. Shit. I thought they’d come around within
an hour. It’s after two. The boss said that stuff would wear off really fast.”

“Yeah, but they’re both pregnant. Maybe it affects them differently. The one’s really tiny. I’m worried it was too big a dose.”

“Idiot. It was obviously too big a dose, or they’d both be awake by now. Fuck. If they can’t contact their husbands, how the hell do we get PD to do the job?”

“You hear back from the boss? He got any kind of antidote we can give them?”

“I asked. There’s nothing. You know what he’s going to tell us.”

“Kill ‘em and dump the bodies.”

“I’m not killing any pregnant ladies.”

“I’ll do it. Hey. Don’t look so surprised. It’s us or them.”

Lisa? Looks like it’s time to wake up and hope we can contact the guys later. I wonder where Tia is?

I don’t know, but I think you’re right. Besides, now since you brought up the subject, I have to pee really bad, too.

“Hey? Anyone here?”

Tala slurred her words and kept her expression as blank and doped up as she could. The rush of footsteps startled her. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but three well-dressed young men hadn’t even been on the radar.

They wore dark suits and they looked like they all went to the same high-end hairdresser. It was freaky, yet in a weird way, she was reminded of pictures she’d seen of her brother when Baylor’d worked for some government agency. He’d had the same slick, uptight look.

“What’s going on?” She held up her manacled hands. “Where are we? What’s wrong with Lisa? Where’s Tia, our friend? What have you done with her?”

“That one’s just taking longer to come out of the drug than you. It’s about time. The third one’s dead. No more
questions.” The dark-haired kid who spoke glanced over his shoulder. “Grab the phone, would you? She needs to make a call.”

“She needs to pee, first.” Tala refused to accept what he’d said. Tia wasn’t dead. She’d just figure he was lying until she knew better, so she ignored him and tried to swing her legs over the edge of the bed.

One of the men stopped her. “You’re not going anywhere until you make a call.”

“Oh, yes, I am, unless you want me to pee on the bed. You don’t drug a pregnant lady carrying twins and tell her she can’t use the bathroom.” She held her hands up and glared at the kid.

He glanced nervously at his companions.

The oldest in the group cursed. “Okay. Let her use the bathroom, but tie her again when she’s out.”

Tala kept her mouth shut while the youngest-looking one used a very sharp knife to cut the plastic restraints around her ankles. He left her hands tied. She shook her bound wrists under the guy’s nose.

He glared at her. “That’s all. You’re going to have to figure it out on your own.” He leaned close and leered at her. “Unless you need my help.”

“Fuck you.” For just a moment, she imagined shifting and tearing his throat open, but she was almost eight months pregnant, and shifting was out of the question. She stood up with all the dignity she could muster. Her mouth felt full of cotton and she hoped she could make it across the room to the bathroom without wetting her pants.

She did. Barely, though getting her slacks down with her hands restrained wasn’t easy. After she relieved herself, she managed to wash her hands and face in spite of the restraints, but the cold water helped clear her head. There were glasses still wrapped in plastic, with the name of the hotel clearly printed in a band around each glass. She fumbled around with one long enough to open the wrapper
and fill it out of the tap. Two glasses of cold water helped her even more. She felt Lisa in her mind and wished she could share the cool drink with her sister, but that was beyond her abilities.

“Hurry up in there.”

She glared at the closed door. “I’m hurrying. Give me a minute.” There was no window, so escape was out, even if they could shift. For now it appeared they’d have to play along with these bozos. She wished she knew what they wanted, what they knew.

So far, there’d been no sign at all they were aware she and Lisa were Chanku shapeshifters, that they had telepathic abilities. No hint of why they’d been kidnapped. She had to find out about Tia, but that would have to wait because they’d probably just keep lying.

She opened the door and walked back across the room. Lisa was blinking her eyes, pretending to come awake. Tala crawled up on the bed beside her. “Lisa? Honey, are you okay?”

“Head hurts. Really bad.” She frowned. “Where are we?” She shot a quick, confused glance at Tala. “Who are those guys?”

“I don’t know.” Tala tucked her legs under her and hoped no one would think to restrain her ankles again. She looked at the men in the room and tried to make eye contact. No one met her gaze. “Who are you?” she demanded. “What do you want with us?”

No one answered. One of the guys shoved a cell phone into her hand. “I want you to call Pack Dynamics. Tell them you’re alive, that your pregnant friend is alive. That’s all. Say anything else, and neither of you will stay alive for long.”

Tala glanced at Lisa and then at the man. She nodded and took the phone. Dialed the number for Luc Stone’s cell phone, the one they used for their business calls, and hoped like hell he had the damned thing turned on.

Mik answered on the first ring.

“Mik? Sweetheart! It’s Tala. I’m okay. So is Lisa, but—”

The older guy ripped the phone out of her hand. “You heard the bitch. She’s alive. You want to keep her that way, want to keep the other one alive, you know what to do. You’ll find a packet on the front seat of the black SUV parked in the driveway of your headquarters on Marina. Everything you need is inside the envelope. Screw up and you’ll never see either one of these women again.” He paused a moment and then stared at Tala. His eyes were such a pale blue they didn’t look real when he snarled, “You might find the babies, but they’ll be in pieces.”

He ended the call and turned a truly ugly smile on Lisa and Tala. “Okay. Now it’s up to them. The ball’s in their court.”

Quietly, as if she was afraid to speak aloud, Lisa asked for permission to use the restroom. The young kid clipped the restraints around her ankles and she hurried across the room. As soon as she returned, the older man gestured to his companion and they left the room. The one who stayed, the youngest one, glanced nervously at Tala and then at Lisa. Then he sat in a chair in the corner of the room and pulled out a pocket video game.

Lisa turned to Tala. Her amber eyes were wide and frightened, but Tala knew it wasn’t her own safety she worried about. No, it was the little girl she carried. Tinker’s daughter. The ugly threat the bastard had made was much too graphic for either of them.

She and Lisa still had no idea what Pack Dynamics had been asked to do, but whatever it was, it obviously went against everything any of them would consider.

Even with their women held hostage.

Honor and integrity could not be bought. It could not be compromised, ever. No matter the risk. No matter the threat.

Dear Goddess, she hoped Tia was okay.

Tala returned Lisa’s stare with a look of grim determination. We know our men. They will do everything in their power to protect us. By now, they’ll have everyone, every single Chanku across the country, involved in our rescue, but we have to be ready to save ourselves and our babies.

I agree. Lisa glanced at the one guard who’d been left to watch them. He sat in the corner, engrossed in his video game. Obviously he didn’t see two pregnant women as much of a threat. I have an idea that might help us contact the guys. We have to bust through whatever that drug is still doing to us. I think if we combine our energy when we reach out, it might help buffer the pain.

Tala nodded and scooted closer to Lisa. She opened her thoughts to her sister, connecting at an even deeper level with their familial bond. Lisa’s energy poured into her mind, powered by anger and her sense of resolve.

Tala pushed outward, reaching for Mik, for AJ. She felt Lisa drawing on her, reaching for Tinker. There was some pain, but it was manageable now, sharing it this way. Buffering the sensation, one to the other.

The link between them grew, and they reached out, together. Searching for the familiar mental signatures of their bonded mates. Tinker. AJ. Mik.

Tala? Is that you?

Mik’s voice. His familiar beloved voice, so frightened, so filled with emotion she wanted to weep. She glanced at Lisa and saw the soft smile on her face, knew she’d reached Tinker.

AJ’s words tumbled into her mind. Where are you? Are you okay? Dear Goddess, we’ve been worried sick.

Tia? They said she was dead? Is she …?

She’s fine. We’ve got her here. She was shot and drugged, but she’s okay. Don’t let them know. Any idea where you are?

The Four Seasons. I saw it on the wrapping on the water glass in the bathroom.

Okay. If you can figure out what room, let me know.

I will. No idea what the room number is, though it’s a big suite. I think those are only on the upper floors. What do they want with us? Why’d they kidnap us? They don’t seem to know we’re Chanku, so …

Mik broke in. It’s bad. They want us to assassinate the president. You’re our incentive to do the job right.

It took Tala a moment to assimilate what her mate had just said. Assassinate the president? Who were they kidding?
Never.

Don’t worry. Mik sounded almost lighthearted, considering. It must be relief at finally making contact. We’re not even thinking of it, sweetheart. Everything will be fine, especially now that we have you and Lisa in our minds. It’s all going to be okay. Anton’s almost here. He’s got a plan.

Tala bit back a bubble of laughter and kept her features totally blank. It wasn’t easy.
Oh, shit. Anton’s always got a plan, hasn’t he? I feel better already.

AJ interrupted. You should. And he’s coming with Igmutaka. It appears the spirit guide is in contact with our daughter. He’s her spirit guide as well.

Tala leaned back against the headboard. Despite her restraints, she managed to turn and grab Lisa’s hands in both of hers. Lisa squeezed her fingers, but she was obviously still deep in conversation with Tinker.

Our daughter informed me of that fact a little while ago. She’s frightened, Mik. Get us out of here, please. I’m okay, but I hate that our babies are afraid. These are not very nice men.

That’s an understatement, Mik said. Hang tight. Keep the link open. As soon as Anton gets here, we’ll fill you both in on what’s going to happen.

Okay. We’ll be fine. I mean, what can possibly go wrong? Anton’s got a plan.

Mik, AJ, Tinker, and Luc sat around the big oak table in the dining room and looked over the packet of materials that had been left in the SUV out in front. Nick had discovered the package shortly before the phone call, when he’d left to pick up the Montana pack at the airport.

The silence in the room was unnerving as they studied the maps and diagrams describing the president’s route for the evening. Paperwork and badges giving them status as official security with top-level clearances, a complete schematic of the huge auditorium and every step the president would make, as well as a tightly defined timetable that was all spelled out were also included in the package.

All culminating in the death of the president.

Mik raised his head and looked at the others. “Anyone else notice what’s missing here?”

AJ chuckled. “You mean the lack of an escape plan for after the killing? Maybe they just forgot.”

“Look.” Tinker slapped his big hands down on the table. “We have contact. We can find our women, get to them before anyone hurts them. Kill the bastards that kidnapped them. We can save them now, before we go through with this fucking charade.”

Luc glanced up at Tinker. “You’re right, Tink. We could, but we’d only be getting the worker bees. We wouldn’t be getting the ones at the top. The ones who planned this. Lisa and Tala understand. Neither one of them wants out yet. The minute they feel as if they’re in danger, we pull them out, but not yet. Not if we want to get these bastards.”

Tinker sat quietly, but he was trembling with rage and frustration as he stared at the scattered papers spread across the dining room table. “She’s so fucking brave,” he said. His voice was hardly above a whisper. “Lisa keeps checking in with me, telling me not to worry. She’s calm, she’s got it all together.” He raised his head and looked directly
at Mik. “Our women are trusting us to save them. If anything goes wrong, if Lisa or our baby gets hurt, I …” He shook his head and pushed his chair away from the table. Walked across the room and stared out the front window.

The clear skies of the morning had given away to low, dark, ominous-looking clouds. Rain was forecast for later tonight, but now, with the barometer dropping as the storm moved on shore, the pressure change was affecting all of them, making it harder to concentrate. Increasing the tension in what was already a tense situation.

Mik stood up and followed Tinker, stopped just behind him and hung his arm over Tink’s broad shoulders. “Lisa and Tala come from tough stock. They’re survivors. I have to believe they’ll be all right, that our babies will be all right. Tink, you can’t let yourself go anywhere else. Not if you’re going to be there for your mate, for your daughter.”

Tinker shook his head. “I’m just so fucking tired of this, Mik. So tired. I want to live with my woman, raise our babies, have a normal life without constantly worrying about some bastard trying to hurt us. Lisa deserves better. We all do.”

“I agree.” Mik leaned against the wall beside the window and folded his arms across his chest. “Which is why we have to do more than just rescue them. We have to find out who’s behind this and take them down. I don’t care who it is, how high up they might be, even if it’s military or the government, but whoever they are, we need them gone. We go after the girls now … yeah, we can get them out, no problem. You know that, I know that, so do they. But what then? The ones who plan this start planning something else. They might do more research, find out stuff we don’t want anyone to know. They could make things even more dangerous for our children. I don’t want that. I don’t think you do, either, and you know Lisa doesn’t.”