“Look. I know that you and your brother are on the fritz, but we need your help. Sky’s been kidnapped.”
“What?” Gracie snapped, her shoulders immediately squaring.
“Dr. Thompson kidnapped him. Look. Just listen to the voicemail, and everything will make sense,” I said.
Fletcher handed me his phone, and I did exactly what he had done for me—I played the voicemail on speakerphone so everyone could hear it.
The entire table was silent. River was still, his hands balled into tight fists, shaking slightly. When the call ended, he slammed his hands down in a rage with a roar. “FUCK!”
“River!” Xan gasped.
“GODDAMNIT! I THOUGHT WE WERE FINALLY FREE OF THIS BULLSHIT!” He clawed at the back of his neck almost desperately, like he might find the tracking device inserted there, but Xan pulled his hands away.
“River, please. Breathe. They came because they need your?—”
“No. I REFUSE to go back to that hellhole! I refuse! You don’t understand what I’ve been through, Xan! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND.”
“I do,” Fletcher said softly, his eyes filled with tears. “I do, River, and I’m so sorry. But please, don’t let your fear end up being the reason Sky is forced into slavery again. We can save him if we all work together.”
“No. Just… No.” River stalked away, pacing the floors, raking his hands through his blond hair.
“River, I don’t think you have a choice,” Gracie said quietly.
He wheeled on her, his eyes flaring with rage. “What do you mean I don’t have a fucking choice?!”
“You’re next. He knows where you are. He’s been watching you. Watching us.”
“So, what? Now that I’m a danger, you’re gonna kick me out?” He snarled at her, fangs bared.
Gracie stood, throwing her hand to the side, her voice sharp as knives. “Don’t put words in my mouth, River. I never said that.”
Xan reached for his mate. “River… Don’t you see? We could end it all for good.”
“What?”
“The pack could help, right Mom? We could go to the facility and get the cops involved.” When Gracie slowly nodded, Xan turned back to River and grasped his arm. “You wouldn’t have to go alone. Thompson’s madness would be over, and you’d never have to be afraid again. You and Sky could be free.”
River growled and ground his teeth together, but he said nothing. Xan continued, “We could end this, but we don’t know where the facility so. You said yourself, you don’t even know the exact location. You’d have to find it by scent. We can’t do this without you.”
“Please, River.” I finally found my voice, but it was quiet, nearly hoarse. Emotion choked me. “I’m begging you. Help us. I can’t lose him. He’s a part of me now, just as Xan is a part of you, and he’s carrying my daughter.”
“Our daughter,” Fletcher added.
“They’re right,” Gracie agreed.
River stared at us, his teeth bared and hackles raised. “I don’t like it. I don’t fucking like it one bit. I don’t wanna be the goddamn bait in this stupid plan!”
“But you gotta be, baby,” Xan said softly, touching his cheek with tender fingers. “You’re the only one who can.”
“I’ll think about it. I need time.” Before anyone could protest, River stormed off down the hall.
A door slammed. A moment later, a baby began to cry. Xan rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m so sorry, Adam, Fletcher. He’ll come around, give him a little time.”
We don’t have time,I wanted to tell him, but I nodded instead.
Gracie turned her attention to us. “Adam, you’re welcome to stay in the spare room for now, so you’re close. In the meantime, I will reach out to my enforcers and strategize a plan for moving forward.”
She reached out and squeezed Fletcher’s arm. “Don’t give up hope.”
