Page 152 of Secret Shifters Next Door

“I was beginning to worry you weren’t going to answer, April.” Ryland’s voice set off an explosion of rage within me. My bear was ready to leap out of my skin and through the phone.

“Where’s Aiden? Please, Ryland, don’t hurt him. He’s just a little boy.” April’s voice trembled as she spoke, but she managed to keep her tears at bay. I’m sure the last thing she wanted was to give Ryland the satisfaction of hearing her cry.

Ignoring her, Ryland said, “Hello, Steff. I’m sure you and the other…thingsare listening. I’m glad you’re there. It means I won’t have to repeat myself.”

“We’re here,” I growled.

“Good. April, I’m a lot of things, but a child murderer is not one of them. I assure you that your nephew is safe. However, I do know some people who don’t share my views on violence. Sadly, they may actually take pleasure in injuring a child.”

April’s strength broke, and she started sobbing. I watched as her knees went weak, and she slowly lowered herself to the ground. I knelt beside her, wrapping an arm around her.

“Please,” she whimpered. “Please don’t let anyone hurt him.”

Ryland clicked his tongue in disappointment. “April, you know I’d never hurt you. I’ve loved you for years. I only wanted you to think I didn’t know who you were when we met. I’ve watched out for you and done what was necessary. Like that disgusting leech who’d been bothering you? I hoped you would enjoy the gift I left for you. He screamed so loud. I bathed in his cries, and knew they were all for you.”

This guy was a fucking nutjob. Listening to him sent chills down my spine. I glanced up at Tate. A worried frown creased his face, and his brows were knitted in concentration. He shook his head at me. Not good.

“Now,” Ryland said, “your nephew is safe and sound. You’ll find him at a park. I’ll text the exact location once I get off here. I want all of you to remember that this was a warning. You think you hold all the power. I did this to remind you that you have no power. As easily as we took that boy, we can take whatever we want.”

The threat was obvious. He wanted April. He was telling us he could take her whenever he wanted. He’d been playing games this whole time. Biding his time. I growled, sending a threat right back to him.

Ryland chuckled at the sound. “Don’t forget what I told you before. If I die? All the evidence I have forged will come out. It will point the cops right back at you. You all had better be mindful of your next move. I’ll see you soon, April.”

He hung up before any of us could say another word. A few seconds later, April received a text. It had an address and a picture of a shrub beneath a street lamp. Tate patted my shoulder. “Take her and Kellan. I’ll take care of the cops.”

April and I stood and waved Kellan over. Tate went to the police, telling them he needed to give his statement. He was so massive and intimidating that the two officers didn’t question it and looked a little scared to turn him away.

Kellan came toward us, his hands clenched into fists. “What is it?”

“We know where Aiden is.” April showed him the phone.

Kellan’s eyes softened, and his face went slack. “I know that place. It’s a walking park and playground. It’s only ten minutes from here. Let’s go.”

It was all I could do to keep up with Kellan as he ran to my truck. I leaped into the passenger seat, and April took a spot in the back seat. I drove to the park almost as fast as Tate had driven to Kellan’s house. I screeched to a halt in the parking lot, and Kellan was out of the car and running before I even had it in park. April followed a moment later. I cursed and jumped out, chasing after them.

Kellan ran to three different lamp posts, each with similar landscaping and looking almost identical to the picture Ryland had sent us. April and Kris checked the third one and moved on, but I sniffed the air. Hewasthere.

“Stop. Come back,” I yelled. I ran to the bushes and started digging through the leaves and limbs.

April and Kris hurried back to where I was. The shrubbery was thick, and it seemed like we’d never dig to the bottom. Then I felt my hand brush something that didn’t feel like a plant. It was hair. I finally saw a thick green blanket with bright red hair sticking out from beneath it. They’d hidden him so well, it would have been hard for anyone but a shifter to find him.

Kellan gasped in relief and pulled Aiden out from under the bushes and vines. The boy was breathing steadily. Unharmed, just asleep. Kellan was crying but smiling at the same time. He ran his fingers over Aiden’s body and pulled his shirt up, looking for injuries. Seeing that the boy was fine, Kellan pulled him close and wrapped him in a hug. He sat sobbing and rocking his son while April clung to me, burying her face in my chest.

“Steff, I can’t stand this,” April murmured into my chest. “We have to do something. Ryland has to be stopped.”

I couldn’t agree more. My mind played through a thousand different possibilities. Each one ended in Ryland screaming and covered in blood. It scared me how much the images I imagined pleased me. It made me wonder if I could control myself the next time I came face to face with him.

Kellan looked at us. “He won’t wake up. What’s wrong with him? He’s breathing, but I can’t get him to wake up.” He patted Aiden’s cheek gently, “Aiden? Buddy? Wake up for Dad, okay?” He glanced back up at us. “Why won’t he wake up?”

“Let’s get him to the hospital. I’m sure he’s okay, but it’s best to get him checked out.” I said that to calm him down, but I was worried.

I drove, letting April and Kellan sit in the back with Aiden, who was finally starting to wake up. He was definitely acting like he’d been drugged. I shot a text to Tate, letting him know we’d found him, and to tell the cops to meet us at the hospital.

It was a small regional hospital, and thankfully, they were almost empty when we got there. The doctors took Aiden and Kellan back immediately. We made sure to have them test his blood for whatever they’d used to knock him out. Kellan demanded they let me and April come back. I was happy to see Aiden sitting up in bed, awake and safe.

“Hey, buddy. How are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m good, Coach.”

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