ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (100 page)

“Hey!”  She said loudly. 

Bridgette’s eyes flashed in the rearview mirror. 

“Dakota needs a bathroom.”

“She can hold it.  We’ll be there soon.” 

“No, she can’t just hold it.  She’s a little girl!” 

Bridgette’s eyes flashed again, and Sydney saw the crinkle around her eyes.  She was smiling. 

“So, tell me, Bridgette, how did you go from being a Navy lifer to a terrorist whore?” 

Bridgette’s face smoothed, but she didn’t answer.  Sydney glanced at Annette.  She was shaking her head slightly in warning.  Don’t piss off the bad guys, Syd.  She was sure that was what her look meant. 

“Can we just stop the damn car?” 

“No.” 

Sydney smoothed Dakota’s hair.  “It’s ok, just try to hold it for a little bit.”  Dakota nodded in the darkness, determined to be a big girl.

“Vince.”  The deep voice didn’t sound impressed. 

“Yeah, it’s me.” 

Vince was sure he heard a dry chuckle.  “So, the pack life wasn’t good enough for you before, but now that you need our help, well…it’s just fine, right?” 

“You know why I did what I did, Randy.” 

“Yeah.  I get it.  Woman can screw up a guy.” 

“You said I would always have a place with you guys.”

“You aren’t asking for a place with us, Vince, you’re asking for help with some seriously heavy shit!” 

“I see Justin still can’t keep his fricking mouth shut.” 

“Hey, he answered the phone.  You gave him, I’m assuming, a partial rundown.  Now how about you give me the full rundown.”

Vince launched into his story, staring with the assassination of the Prince of Hearts and ending with him dialing Randy’s number.  He felt the time ticking quickly away.  Every wasted second put Sydney, Dakota, and Annette in more danger. 

There was silence on the other end of the phone for ten seconds.  Vince could afford no more.  “Will you help?” 

The sigh was deep, but Vince couldn’t help hearing the satisfied excitement there as well.  “We’ll be there by morning.” 

Stanley listened with hope as Vince made plans of where they would meet with his old pack, and what weapons were being brought in.  He still couldn’t wrap his mind around it, but if it would get Annette back, he was willing to believe that the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause were coming.  

Vince ended the call on his cell and looked at Stanley with unease.  His face held the faint quality of one going mad. 

“Were going to book a room where Highway 60 meets up with Rt. 13.” 

“We don’t know which way they’ve gone.” 

“No, but we’re going to find out.  They want something, or else they’d already be dead.” 

Vince didn’t honestly believe it, and he could see by the sheen in Stanley’s eyes that he didn’t either.  They had been over there with the terrorists where their rampant cruelties had run free and unchecked.  But hope is a need just like air or water.  Hope was all they had right then.

Bridgette exited off 64 and Annette and Sydney watched the lights of Williamsburg whiz past them as Bridgette drove into a rural area past Colonial Williamsburg and the mighty outlet shopping area.  She pulled to the side of the road and the man, who Sydney heard Bridgette refer to as Joe, got out and went to the trunk.  He came back with dark pillowcases.  Sydney wondered if Joe was his real name. 

Annette squirmed and tried to jerk her head free, but the man deftly pulled the pillow case over her head and knotted it in the back before securing her hands with zip ties.  He looked at Sydney with meaning. 

“Don’t hurt Dakota, and I won’t fight.”  Once again he shrugged in a careless manner.  Sydney held Dakota close to her as the pillow case went over her head.  She heard Dakota whimper as Joe pulled her arms away from Dakota’s body so she too could be secured. 

“Almost there, kids.”  Bridgette said cheerily.  The passenger door slammed and the car took off again. 

Sydney tried to keep her sense of direction straight.  They had been heading north on Rt. 60, but she felt what she thought was a left turn and then another right.  They drove for quite a distance before the car veered to the left and Sydney felt and heard the unmistakable crunch and slide of gravel.  It was either a road or a very long driveway.  She lurched forward as the car bounced in and out of a large pothole, coming to a stop moments later. 

No one spoke and she heard Annette give a little squeak as she was pulled from the car. 

“Mommy!”  Dakota shrieked, and Sydney felt her body move away from hers.

“Let her go!”  She yelled in fury, as rough hands pulled her from the car.  She was led up steps that were solid like concrete and onto an area that had give and creak like old wood.  Sydney couldn’t see anything, but light temporarily bled through the dark fabric over her head before she was led down stairs.  She stumbled twice, but the rough hands were there to grab her. 

The temperature changed drastically, and she could smell earth and must. 

A cellar or basement.  

The pillowcases were removed but not the zip ties.  Two men had their back to them as they mounted the slender staircase.  A single bare bulb hanging from a cord, was in the center of the tiny area, no bigger than her living room.  The light was dim, but she could see.  The floors were in fact dirt, and the walls stone.  Old cellar doors were above three stone steps on the opposite side of the area, and had heavy two by fours nailed over them.  A dirty tiny window was in the farthest corner, and Sydney stared grimly at the five gallon bucket with roll of toilet paper sitting beside it.

“Oh God.”  Annette breathed, her eyes large and searching.

Dakota pulled at Sydney and clutched Pickles closer to her. 

At least she has that blasted doll.   “Baby, squat over that bucket and use the potty.” 

Dakota’s face scrunched, and she shook her head furiously.  “That’s not a potty, Mommy!”

“No.”  Sydney agreed patiently.  “But it’s all we have.” 

“Don’t look, Aunt Annette.” 

Annette diverted her eyes.  “Of course.” 

Sydney frowned as her daughter peed into the bucket.  There wasn’t a splash, it was dry.  The smell would soon be unbearable once they all had used it. 

Sydney closed her eyes.  She needed to think.  She tried to stand and Dakota came quickly and assisted her.  The little window was too high for her to see through the window, but if she jumped she could see out. 

One jump, grass and part of a bush.  Two jumps, a shadow.  Three jumps, a man’s legs clad in combat boots. 

“Well?”  Annette asked. 

“There’s a guard, I think.” 

Annette’s shoulders slumped.  Dakota held onto Sydney as she eased herself back to the floor.

“That man…”  Annette began.  “He was the one talking to Dakota at the park.”

Sydney’s eyes widened.  She looked down at Dakota.  “Is it him?”

Dakota nodded, her dark brown eyes welling with fresh tears.  “When’s Daddy coming, Mommy?” 

Sydney smiled weakly at her daughter.  “Soon, baby, real soon.” 

Annette began to weep. 

Vince and Stanley slept in two hour increments until day break.  They needed the rest for whatever would come, but they couldn’t risk leaving the door unguarded.  So much was out of place and uncertain. 

Stanley shoved Vince’s rifle and tripod into a duffle bag, before checking their other weapons and ammunition for the third time. 

Vince smiled as the sound of heavy footsteps mounted the outer metal staircase and tromped directly to their door.  It was just before dawn.  A fist pounding knock rattled the door. 

When Vince opened the door, Sydney shrank back.  A man of at least 6’6” and 300lbs stepped into the room.  His red hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and he had a thick mustache that curved past the edges of his lips and didn’t stop until it reached either side of his chin.  His deep blue eyes took in Vince and Stanley before he grinned toothily and pulled Vince into a bear hug. 

“My Spanish brother!” He pegged Stanley with mischievous eyes, and jutted his chin forward.  “This Stanley?”

“Yeah.  Stanley, this is Randy.  He’s the pack Alpha.” 

“Ok, whatever that means.”  Stanley mumbled and shook the much larger man’s hand. 

“It means I’m in charge!”  He laughed good naturedly.  “Meet the other boys.”

Three other men stepped into the room.  They weren’t as large as the first, but they were no less imposing. 

“This is Max.”  Randy said and slapped the shoulder of a tan skinned man with long black hair.  He looked Native American.  “And this is his brother, Rex.”  Randy said and slapped the back of Max’s twin.  “They’re brothers in case you’re wondering.”  He whispered to Stanley and winked.  “And last, but not least, is Justin.”  Justin walked into the room looking like a country girl’s wet dream.  He had strong muscular arms and a thick neck supported his chiseled and perfect face.  Light blue deep set eyes stared out at them.  He wore a tight white t-shirt and faded jeans tucked into cowboy boots.  He turned his green John Deer hat around backwards before nodding to Vince. 

“Only four of you?”  Vince had hoped the whole pack would come.  All eight of them.  

“Hey, it’s five counting you, old buddy, and five wolves are better than a couple of seals.”  He laughed and looked teasingly at Stanley.  “Right, little seal?”

“Sure, whatever.”  Stanley said dryly.

“Don’t worry, Vince, we have enough.  I needed to leave some man power at home.  I’m down a man, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.” 

“Yeah, Tommy left.  He met some chick in Kentucky and fell in love.” 

“She wolf?”

“Nah.  Human.  We have a she wolf now though.  She married Alex.  They’re expecting a baby.” 

“Nice.”  Vince said, hoping Randy would get down to business. 

He clapped his hands together.  “So, we’re going to need to get on the base.” 

“Do all of you have ID?”

“Yep.” 

“Then it shouldn’t be a problem.  You guys will be coming as our guests.  Stanley can take two of you in the car, and I’ll ride with two of you.”

“We have two vehicles.”

“That’s fine.” 

The men started back to the base, and prayed the guards at the booth would be understanding and lenient. 

Vince leaned out the window, flashing the winning smile.  “I have a few guests.  Stanley behind me has a couple too.” 

The guard smiled appreciatively.  “Having a few brews today?”

“You bet, and we might shoot some pool.” 

The guard wrote the names down.  “Getting started early!  Just keep it low key.”

“Will do.”  Vince was waved through.  It was all working out splendidly. 

As they approached Vince’s house, movement caught his eye.  A man, perhaps forty years old was ducking behind a bush as the vehicle came into view.  Vince threw the car into park, and bolted from the open door, catching the man easily when he tried to run.  Vince jerked him by the collar and looked into his face, stunned to see that he was the same soldier from the night before who wouldn’t allow Stanley and him to get past on the road.  The man’s eyes slid side to side fearfully as the other wolves and Stanley surrounded him and Vince. 

“Alright, you little shit, let’s go inside and talk.”

The man squirmed slightly, but didn’t waste his energy.  He had close to an entire roll of duct tape strapping him to one of Vince’s straight backed kitchen chairs.  The duct tape crisscrossed over his chest and around the back of the chair, and held his ankles in place at the legs. 

Vince stood over him.  “Going to try and scream again?”

The man shook his head, his eyes large.  Vince tugged at the tape over his mouth and yanked.  The man made a hissing noise through his contorted face.  He licked his lips and relaxed his features. 

Vince bent, hands on his knees, so that he was staring the man in his eyes.  “Where have they taken them?” 

“I don’t know.” 

Vince stood and struck the man in the mouth, sending his head reeling.  Blood bubbled from a split in the center of his lower lip. 

“I said I don’t know!” 

“He’s lying.”  Randy spoke with certainty.  He raised his fist, but lowered it slowly as the man shook his head and began speaking rapidly. 

“I know some places they might be!  I’m waiting on a call!  I don’t know yet!”

“Who do you work for?”

“Aalem Hanif.”

Stanley and Vince exchanged a look.  “I guess he’s related to Aaban Hanif?”

“Yes.” 

“Did he have anything to do with Captain Tillman’s death?”

“He committed suicide because he’s a coward!”  The man had a feral look to his eyes.  “Killing oneself should only be done to glorify Allah!” 

“Right.”  Vince said flatly.  “Where is Aalem now?  Did he take them?”

The man shook his head.  “No.  He had Bridgette and Joe take care of it.  They were to take them to a safe house somewhere with other soldiers until he called or showed up.  I’m supposed to get a call too.”