“He and a whole lot more. I figure there are at least twenty members of the pack who are dead courtesy of me, Cody and Hunter. What I need is know now is how many are left?”
“Actually, there are now twenty-three dead members,” Zane replied. “I intercepted an email between the pack’s Alpha and the dude leading the mission. Based on that, I’d say there are about a hundred and fifty in all, but only about fifty were sent here. The others are on different missions elsewhere. By the way, there’s something else you should know…the Alpha ordered an attack on us…the Blackwood Pack…to seize Fionn so they can complete their mission.”
“Any idea when that will happen?”
“The emails didn’t give any details about it.”
Nodding, Dylon quickly messaged an alert to Jackson, then asked Zane, “Do you know where the uncle was staying before the court hearing?”
“I couldn’t find him registered at any of the hotels, so I checked rentals and found out he was staying here,” Zane said, handing Dylon several sheets of paper.
Studying the information, Dylon discovered the house Fionn’s uncle had rented was near San Francisco. “Would this place be within…”
“Yup,” Zane said, “it falls within the area where the call to Fionn was made.”
“Have anything else for me?” Dylon asked.
“Not right now, but I want to be part of the team that rescues Hunter. Fi is my friend and I know he’d do the same for me,” Zane said.
“You’re already on the team,” Dylon said. “If you find out anything else about their pending attack on us, send me and Jackson a message immediately.” After getting an affirmative nod from Zane, he and Cody left the room.
~/~/~/~/~
Moaning softly, Hunter looked at the stone floor through slits, unable to open his eyes fully. Remaining still, he listened intently, trying to determine if he could hear someone breathing but was relieved to discover he was alone—other than for some he could hear scurrying about. Keeping his face down, he closed his eyes, trying to remember what happened, but the pounding in his head wouldn’t let him. Unable to think, he began to breathe deeply, letting his mind float in an effort to ease the pain. When it finally receded, at least to the point where it was manageable, he searched his mind, then snarled as the memory came rushing back to him.
Opening his eyes fully, Hunter raised his head, surveying his prison and assessing the situation.Not great, but could be worse.His arms were cuffed behind him while his chest was bound to his chair by a chain. He could move his legs, but they were weak—as was the rest of his body…probably from what they injected me with.Checking his wolf, he found him lying down, looking as sluggish as he was; he’d have to wait until his wolf recovered before attempting an escape. Hearing a door open, he listened as someone descended the staircase he’d seen off to his right. Closing his eyes, Hunter let his head fall forward, pretending to be unconscious.
~/~/~/~/~
Mason was working at his laptop in the dinette of the motorhome, when Mac slid into the seat facing his brother. “Hey, can we talk?”
“In a minute,” Mason replied, not bothering to look up. With Hunter now involved with his mate, Mason was handling their clients’ accounts and, right now, that included hand-holding an investor who was getting nervous about his money. Finally, after calming him down, Mason glanced at Mac. “What’s up? Was that Hunter and Fionn I heard returning on the chopper?”
“Ahh…that’s what I want to talk to you about,” Mac said. “Shit, there’s no easy way to say this…”
“Say what? Dammit, spit it out.”
“Hunter’s missing…well not really missing…he’s being held.”
“You mean like a prisoner?”
“Yes…Hunter and Fionn were attacked. Dylon and Cody saved Fionn but Hunter was taken.”
“Fuck! Get Sawyer and Robin…we have to organize a rescue…but don’t tell Quin yet,” Mason ordered, slamming his laptop closed just as Mac gripped his arm, pinning him in place.
“Stop, Mase. Jackson’s already doing that. He wants to speak to all of us in a few minutes about it…but I wanted to talk to you first because our brothers will follow your lead. Look, I know I’m asking a lot, but please, I need you to trust that Jackson will bring Hunter home.”
“So you expect me to do nothing?” asked Mason in disbelief.
“Basically…yes…and I need you to keep Sawyer and Robin from doing anything either.”
Slumping back against the seat, Mason crossed his arms over his chest, studying his brother.He knows more than he’s telling me.“You better start from the beginning, Mac…and make it fast.”
~/~/~/~/~
Twenty minutes had elapsed since Fionn’s uncle had given his ultimatum. Now, with just forty minutes remaining, the rescue plan had been finalized and Jackson watched as his cousins, brothers and their mates along with Theo and Norm and Adam filed into his study. After everyone was seated, he began. “Since time is of the essence, I’m going to make this brief. Hunter is a prisoner of Fionn’s uncle, who’s demanding Fionn in exchange for Hunter.”
“No!” Quin shouted. “Hunter won’t agree!”
