Page 26 of Rescued By the Rebel

“Why start the fire?” I demand to know, and he spits out more blood.

I can tell that I broke his nose with the way that he’s wheezing.

“Why?” I ask again, cocking my arm back like I’ll hit him again, and he winces.

“The land,” he blurts out. “They want the land.”

“Why? What’s so important about this land?”

“It’s on the route,” he says, and I frown.

“What route?”

He pales, and I can tell that he’s about to clam up. That’s okay, I’ve got enough information and I can piece together the rest.

“You’re going to be staying with us for a little bit longer, but first, you need to send a message to your friends,” I say, pulling out his phone.

There’s only one number in the phone, and I type out a quick message.

Stay away from Furry Haven and Maplewood.

I hit send and then punch the guy in the face again. He passes out, and I smile. My phone buzzes and it’s Triton letting me know that the car is here.

Two guys come into the barn and we carry the guy out to the SUV.

“Where are we taking him?” Triton asks, and I give him a grim look.

“Take him to the clubhouse and stash him there. I’ll be around to check on him later.”

He nods, and the guy takes off. Meanwhile, I go in search of my girl.

TEN

Winnie

I frown as Aldis heads out to work. He’s been distracted since he got home yesterday. Sure, he’s still here, but I feel like every time I turn around, he’s on his phone whispering to someone or chewing on his lip, lost in thought. I tried to talk to him about it, but he just told me it was a work thing and that he was fine.

I know he was lying. I just don’t know what about.

I decide to distract myself with work. Maybe by tonight, Aldis will be back to normal and will tell me what was going on.

I head over to the sanctuary and park in my usual spot. I notice that some of the animals seem a little jumpy as I climb out of my car and look around. I frown, wondering what’s gotten into them. Maybe it’s going to storm soon.

I lock my car and am about to turn around when something, or someone, crashes into me from behind. I go to scream, and that’s when a hand clamps down around my mouth. My heart takes off in my chest, and I wiggle in their hold. I kick and scratch at the hands around me, but it’s no use. They’re stronger than me.

My vision starts to grow hazy around the edges and I feel tears splash on my cheeks. The arms tighten around me, and then I’m being dragged backward. I can see the front of a white van, and I panic, a fresh surge of energy hitting me.

I hear the door slide open, and then I’m being tossed into the back of the van like a sack of potatoes. I scream as I land inside, crying out as pain radiates up my arm to my shoulder. I sob as a masked man glares down at me. Then he’s sliding the door closed.

It slams shut with finality, and pure terror overtakes me.

What do I do now?

There’s no handle on the inside of the door, and I scramble to my knees, wincing as more pain spreads from my arm to my shoulder. Something is fractured or maybe I dislocated my shoulder.

There’s a man behind the wheel and the passenger door opens. I go to the back of the van, desperately looking for a handle or some way to escape. There’s nothing though, no latches or door handles.

“No,” I whisper.

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