Page 111 of Siren in the Rain

As Harper had predicted, the human law enforcement officers from the LAPD don’t give us any overt trouble. Most of them do keep a wary distance, but the leader of the unit is friendly and respectful. She spends some time talking with Dallas, exchanging information on what her team found under the parameters of the search warrant.

Once the medics have Tempest on a gurney and ready to go, we leave the building and get her loaded into an ambulance. Anemone decides to ride along with her since she’s stable, and Shae volunteers to follow along with us since only one family member can ride in the medical transport.

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?” I ask him.

“Yeah. Anemone’s known her sister was still alive all these years and has never stopped looking for her. I think she’s earned the right to ride with Mom to the hospital.” He winces. “Besides, although Mom recognized me, the last time she saw me I was a kid. The familiarity of her sister is better for her right now.”

Just as the final ambulance pulls away, a flashy and expensive-looking black convertible speeds into the lot and screeches to a halt where the LAPD officers have congregated. A slim blonde woman and a middle-aged man with dark hair flecked with gray get out of the vehicle and storm toward the group.

“Who’s in charge here?” the woman shouts. “I demand to speak with the lead officer!”

The leader of the human team steps forward. “I’m Detective Monroe and this is an official police investigation. You need to stand back, ma’am.”

“I’m the owner of this building,” the blonde woman screeches, and I notice Shae shudder in response.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” the man demands in a haughty voice. “This is private property.”

Detective Monroe thrusts a piece of paper at them. “Earlier this evening, we were granted permission to serve a search warrant on this property.”

The man scowls. “I’m calling my lawyer.” He pulls out his phone and steps aside.

“That’s them,” Shae murmurs, his voice trembling.

Thinking his response might be out of fear, I turn to offer comfort but then realize he’s shaking with rage.

“So that’s your sorry excuse for a dad and your stepmonster?” I’m beginning to see where that nickname comes from. It suits her well.

“Are you Margaret Divine?” Detective Monroe asks.

Shae’s stepmother narrows her eyes. “I am, and you’re going to be sorry for messing with me.”

Detective Monroe doesn’t even bat an eyelash at the threat. “Ms. Divine, I’m taking you and your husband into custody right now. We’ve found evidence of illegal activities on the premises of your building here and need to ask you both some questions downtown.”

Margaret backs up. “I don’t know anything about any illegal activities. We have nothing to do with?—”

At that moment, she finally notices Shae, and her eyes blaze with fury as she stalks toward us. “You!” she shrieks. “This is your doing, isn’t it?”

Several officers grab her by the arms before she can get close enough to us, but she’s hissing with rage. “I knew I should have killed you as a child!”

Shae stands his ground and stares her down. “I guess karma’s a bitch, isn’t it? Your greed’s finally coming back to bite you in the ass.” He turns to Detective Monroe. “I’d like to press charges against this woman and my father for false imprisonment and child abuse. I was held captive by them from the age of ten years old until I escaped at twenty-five.” He gestures toward the scar on his neck. “I was forced to wear the same collar as those they held captive in this building. It limited my ability to access my magic and was also used as a punishment device.”

Margaret sneers. “All lies. This vindictive little liar is trying to blackmail his father and me for our money. We have nothing to do with him.”

Shae’s father finishes his call and pockets his cell, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “My son is nothing but a disappointment. A pathetic loser who likes to make up sad stories for attention.”

I growl a warning. Right now, I’m barely restraining myself from hurting these awful people the way they hurt my mate. My claws erupt on my hands and I shake with the effort of holding back from ripping these two to shreds.

I’ve never felt a burning desire for violence like this before. But when it comes to my mate, I won’t let anyone hurt him ever again.

But I don’t need to worry, because this turns out to be Shae’s lucky and long deserved moment.

“You’re the ones who are lying. Tell them what you really did to me,” Shae says softly.

Margaret opens her mouth to no doubt spout more bullshit, but that’s when I feel a crackle of energy in the air.

“Tell. The. Truth,” Shae commands, his voice powerful and sharp.

I jump a little. Holy crap, that was hot.

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