After shifting back, Willow used the bathroom, to wash off her kidnappers’ blood. Then dressing, she searched the apartment, looking for anything that could offer a clue as to why she’d been targeted. There were several possibilities, but she needed more information before knowing for certain. Finding nothing—not even her purse or phone—she removed the men’s wallets fromtheir pockets, hoping there was enough cash in them to get her to a safe location. Luck was on her side; more than $1,500 between them. Pocketing their wallets along with their driver’s licenses, Willow looked through the peephole in the front door and, seeing the hallway deserted, slipped out. Making her way down to the street, she kept her head down to avoid contact with anyone who might be living in the building.
Once on the sidewalk, Willow looked around and recognized the neighborhood where she’d been held. Heading north, her mind quickly sorted through the possible places in the city where she’d be safe, immediately ruling out where she’d been living. Somehow her stalkers/kidnappers had found her and until she knew who was behind the attack, she couldn’t risk going back there to pick up her clothes, credit cards and passports. So, until she could get replacements, her options for fleeing the country were slim to none.
She hurried along, her thoughts focusing on her current situation, grateful she’d survived this latest attempt on her life. Being on the run again wasn’t really a surprise; her stay in the Big Apple was longer than most other places she’d lived. Nevertheless, she was sure going to miss the New Yorkers and the energy they generated. But this was no time for regrets over a place she’d come to love. Not when there were immediate needs—buying a new throw-away phone, a laptop and finding some place to sleep.
Chapter 11
“Hey, Mase,” Sawyer called out, as he entered his brother’s office.
Looking up from his computer monitor, Mason rubbed his face before focusing on his brother. “Hey, yourself. What’s up?”
Folding himself into a too-small chair in front of the desk, Sawyer asked, “Isn’t it amazing…the difference in Quin? Ever since he became friends with Theo, our little brother is a whole different person.”
“He seems much happier,” Mason agreed, noncommittally.
“So true…so true. Boy, you could have knocked me over with a feather when Quin moved into the pack house.”
Studying his brother, Mason saw the tension in his brother’s usually relaxed body, guessing it was only there for one reason; Sawyer wanted something, and he was afraid of what Mason’s answer would be. Thinking about his brother’s comment about Quin, Mason put two and two together. “When do you want to leave on your grand adventure?”
Dumbfounded, Sawyer’s jaw dropped, his eyes narrowing. He didn’t know why he was surprised his brother had figured out what he was planning; Mason had that ability, even when he was young. It was unnerving at times, because unlike his twin brother with whom he shared a very tight bond, Sawyer wasn’t particularly close to Mason; he always considered him to be a stick-in-the-mud kind of guy. While ‘fun’ was Sawyer’s middle name, it certainly wasn’t Mason’s.
“Why are you surprised?” Mason asked. “You know I knew about your plans to travel.”
Shrugging, Sawyer said, “So what about my trip? Can I take the motorhome now that Quin doesn’t need it anymore?”
“Where will you go?” asked Mason.
“Down the coast to Huntington Beach…Surf City, USA,” Sawyer said, grinning.
“To surf?” asked Mason, raising his eyebrows in disbelief. “You know how to surf?”
“No,” Sawyer replied, “but I can learn. I found a place that gives lessons.”
“A wolf…surfing?” Mason snorted.
“Hey, what’s wrong with surfing?” asked Sawyer. “Wolves aren’t afraid of water…shit, we used to play in the river all the time when we were kids. Hell, wolves can even swim. Me, I always wanted to surf which isn’t that different from the game we used to play with a floating log.”
“But the river didn’t have sharks in it, did it?” asked Mason. “Haven’t you heard of all the shark attacks on surfers recently?”
“Of course, but you of all people shouldn’t be worried.”
“And, why is that?”
“Because the odds are 1 in 3,748,067 of getting attacked and killed by a shark,” Sawyer smirked. “I have a greater chance of dying by lightning and, consider the amount of time our wolves run, that isn’t as far-fetched as it might sound.”
“So, you did your homework,” Mason replied, his lips twitching as he fought his urge to grin.
“Yep. I researched the route, the places I can park the motorhome to stay overnight, the best beaches inSouthern California for surfing, along with who gives lessons. Face it, Mase, Hunter is off in France with his new mate, Mac is busy with his doctoring duties, Quin is spending all his time with his friends, Robin has left and you…well you’re hard at work. But what is there for me to do…play video games all day and night? This is the perfect time for me to seize the moment…and while it isn’t my dream trip, it’s better than me sitting here, twiddling my thumbs.”
Leaning back in his chair, Mason asked, “How long are you planning to be gone?”
As soon as Mason asked that question, Sawyer knew he had it in the bag. “Two weeks,” Sawyer replied, now more at ease. “Hunter should be back by then.”
Mason considered his brother’s request. Then, making up his mind, he said, “Okay…two weeks. But you have to stay in touch and leave me a copy of your itinerary, including addresses and phone numbers. I’ll send an email to Hunter, letting him know. When will you leave?”
“Day after tomorrow,” Sawyer said, jumping up from his seat, excitement racing through his body. “Thanks, Mase…thanks a lot.”
Smiling, Mason watched his brother literally dance out of the room, secretly envying Sawyer’s free spirit.
