An old, beat-up truck was parked in front of the barn, just like he said. I fumbled with the door handle and yanked it open. After sliding behind the wheel, I flipped the visor down, and the key fell onto my lap. It took several tries to get it into the ignition.
I forced myself to slow down and take a few deep breaths. Panicking wouldn’t get me anywhere but in the ditch. I hadn’tdriven since driver’s ed in high school, and even then I’d barely passed.
The engine roared to life when I twisted the key. I shifted into reverse, backing up slowly as I turned the truck to face the driveway. I inched along at first while I got a feel for the vehicle.
Turning onto the highway, I glanced at my phone and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. I was running out of time. I fought to keep the truck on the road, wishing it was a car that would be easier to handle.
When my phone told me to turn, I turned, though it was barely a road. It led through cornstalks that were tall, though not fully grown. I bumped along the rutted trail as fast as possible without losing control. Soon the path opened into a small clearing with another truck. A tarp was tied over the truck bed.
It was the same truck that had tried to run me over on the ranch. And the man standing next to it was the man I’d met in town, who’d warned me about getting close to shifters.
I braked, the force throwing me forward on the seat, and slowly got out of the truck. “Where’s Eli?”
The man gave me a twisted grin. “Pup’s tied up in the back. Where you’ll be in a minute.”
“Let Eli go, and I’ll cooperate.”
“You’ll cooperate, and the pup is leverage to make sure you do.” He pulled out a cigarette and lit a match, holding it to the end. He took a long puff. “Now,you. You’re leverage to get what I really want.”
“I don’t understand. Why me?” I tried to keep him talking, hoping to buy some time as I thought of a plan. I needed to get Eli out of that truck.
“You think I don’t know you’re my boy’s mate?” He snorted. “Besotted fool. I told him mates were a weakness, but he had to go and fall for his.”
I drew in a sharp breath. “You’re Luke’s birth father.”
The man inhaled a long drag of his cigarette. “That’s me. Boy is finally useful again. Got himself a nice place and some money. And he’s going to pay to get you back.”
I needed to stall. Someone would notice Eli and I were missing, along with the ranch truck. Would the truck have a GPS tracker? I wasn’t normally one to pray, but I was praying now. “What about the cattle? The truck?”
He smirked. “Had to make sure my boy knew I was serious.”
“Are you working with the saboteur?” I was grasping at straws, trying to keep the conversation going.
“All I know is someone paid me a pretty penny to cause trouble and told me where to find my boy.” He dropped his cigarette and put it out with his shoe. “Now, you’re going to let me tie you up. Then I’ll be making another phone call.”
EIGHT
Luke
I put down my chisel and studied the block of wood in front of me. I’d been trying my hand at sculpture, but what was supposed to resemble a human face looked strangely alien. I snorted and muttered under my breath, “Better stick with furniture and picture frames.”
I had almost gone with Eli back to their cabin, but the boy had been quiet after our run, casting thoughtful glances at me as if still thinking about our conversation. As much as I wanted to see Katie again, I also didn’t want to push Eli too hard. The best thing I could do was let him know I was here if he needed to talk, and then give him the space to think.
My cell buzzed on my workbench. I wiped my hands on my pants and reached for it, stomach dropping when I saw an unknown number. It had been days since I’d heard from my birth father. Days since I’d told him I couldn’t give him more money right now.
I punched the accept button. “I told you the last time you called. I need more time.”
He barked a laugh. “No, you’ll get it to me now, except I want more.” He named a figure that stole my breath. “You oweme, boy. That ranch, that family—you wouldn't have any of it if I hadn't taught you how to play the part.”
His words were a knife twisting in my gut. “I can’t give you what I don’t have.”
“You’ll find a way. I’ve got something you want.”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t want anything from you.”
“Tell me that again in a minute.” I heard a rustling over the phone, followed by him speaking to someone on his end. “You. Say hello.” There was some more rustling. “Now. Unless you want the pup hurt.”
My world narrowed to a point when I heard Katie’s voice. “Luke? He has Eli.”
