“I said to say hello. Nothing else.” More unidentifiable noises came over the line before he came back. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to get the money and come here. I’ll let your mate and the pup go after I get a few miles down the road. You’ll wait fifteen minutes before going after them. If I see you before that, or I see any of your so-called brothers, your mate pays the price.”
My gut churned. I tried to hear Katie or Eli in the background, but there was just my father. “How am I supposed to get the money? I told you last time you called I didn’t have it.”
“You’ll figure it out if you want to see your mate again.” I heard a vehicle door open. “And remember. You come alone. Unless you need more proof besides the cattle and the truck that I’m willing to hurt her.”
He hung up, and my mind reeled at the confirmation that my father was the one who’d targeted Katie. Part of me hadn’t believed he would go this far. He must be desperate for money. And when he was desperate, he was unpredictable.
My phone dinged with a text showing his location and a reminder to come alone. I wanted to go immediately. Race to where he was and free Katie and Eli. But I had to think. How didI know he’d let them go after I gave him the money? I didn’t trust him for a minute.
The door to my shop opened, and Mason walked in. “I got another angle on the driver of the truck. Come take a look and see if they’re familiar to you.”
I leaned against my workbench, staring down at the scarred surface, barely registering my brother’s words. I didn’t have access to the money my father wanted, even if I believed giving it to him would save Katie and Eli.
“Luke? Something wrong?” Mason’s voice came closer.
Could I convince Declan I needed the money right away without telling him why? He always kept some in the office safe for emergencies.
I spun around when Mason’s hand landed on my shoulder. I scrubbed my hand over my face. “Sorry. I was thinking about… something else.”
“Want to share?” Mason seldom missed anything, his time in the military having taught him to notice every detail. “You know I’m here for you.”
I wanted to share. Badly. I wanted my brothers’ help.
I couldn’t solve this on my own. My father knew how to play me. But asking my brothers for help? He would never expect that.
My muscles tensed. It would mean telling them everything. They knew very little about my childhood. And they knew nothing about my father extorting money from me for months.
But for Katie and Eli, I could do it. I would face my brothers’ judgement.
“I need to talk to everyone. Now.”
Mason didn’t question me. He just nodded and headed for the door. “We’ll meet at the house.”
Ten minutes later my brothers and their mates, along with Mae, sat around the kitchen table. I paced alongside it, figuring out where to start. Wherever I started, I needed to make it quick.
“My birth father is a con man. He raised me to help him, then dumped me when I started shifting and wasn’t any use to him.” The weight of everyone’s stares settled on me. “He contacted me several months ago and asked for money. Said if I didn’t, he’d make sure you all knew what I’d done growing up. I gave it to him. Every month he’d contact me for more.”
Declan frowned. “Did you think we’d hold your past against you? You’re our brother. We know who you really are. A good man.”
“There’s more.” I drew in a quick breath, not wanting to acknowledge Declan’s words. “He’s taken Katie and Eli. I have to go alone, with ten thousand dollars. If I don’t, I don’t know what he’ll do to them. He’s already targeted Katie with the cattle and the truck.”
Mason crossed his arms, frustration clear in every line of his body. “I’m thinking I shouldn’t bother with security. I don’t know how everyone keeps getting through it.”
“You can’t cover every corner of the ranch.” Gabriel laid a hand on his arm. “It’s too open to protect properly.”
Mason grunted, eyes shadowed.
“I don’t know how to save them. I’m not even sure giving him the money will work.” My breath shuddered out as tears burned my eyes.
Gabriel stood, crossing over to me and laying his arm across my shoulders, letting his quiet strength seep into me. “We’ll figure it out. Together. With all of us working on it, we’ll get them out of there.”
Katie
The gag Luke’s father had hastily shoved in place was loose, and I worked it out of my mouth. Rolling over, I faced Eli. The boy’s eyes were wide with terror. I pitched my voice as low as I could. “I’m right here with you. I won’t let him hurt you.”
I talked him through rolling over and inching his way to where my hands were tied behind me. After a few tries, I loosened his gag enough for him to spit it out.
“Let’s try the rope around your wrists.” I coaxed him to stay calm. “One step at a time, Eli. We’ve got this. Together.”
