Page 61 of Rescued

We climb back in, and as Gabe starts the engine, his phone rings. He glances at the screen, and I see Todd’s name flash across it. The shift in Gabe’s demeanor is immediate. His easy smile fades, and his jaw clenches.

Something’s wrong.

Todd wouldn’t call unless it was important, especially not while on shift. A chill creeps up my spine as Gabe taps the screen to answer, putting the call on speaker.

“Todd?” he says, glancing at me. I can tell he’s trying to stay calm, but I see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands grip the steering wheel just a little too tightly.

“What’s wrong, Todd?” Gabe asks, his voice strained with urgency. There’s no time for pleasantries. But the voice that answers isn’t Todd’s.

“Ah, actually, this is Adam,” the vet says. His tone is shaky, and unease settles deep in my chest. “Todd’s been hurt out at your place. He’s—”

“Is he okay? What happened?” Gabe cuts him off, his panic rising sharp and raw. I grip his hand, trying to steady both of us.

“He, ah, he should be fine. Hopefully. I mean, the doctor said he’ll fully recover.” Adam’s voice wavers. “That’s what I’m trying to say, Gabe. I stopped by to check on things, to make sure, um, he and the dogs were okay, you know?”

The stammering gives him away. He stopped by for Todd. That much is clear, but I shove that aside for now.

“What happened, Adam?” I growl, my voice low and rough. I can’t keep the frustration out.

“Uh. I got there and found…Todd. He was out at the kennels, and he was…on the ground. Bloody, unconscious.” Adam’s voice cracks, and my fury spikes as I feel Gabe’s grip on my hand tighten. “S-someone had b-b-beaten him with…” Adam’s voice breaks, followed by a quiet sob.

Gabe slams his foot down on the gas, and the truck roars as it picks up speed.“What the fuck!”

Adam takes a shaky breath, trying to pull himself together. “There was a pipe near him,” he finally chokes out. “It was covered in blood…”

I snarl through the link, my rage spilling over.“If I was there, I could scent out who did this.”

Gabe shakes his head, keeping his eyes on the road.“Only if you knew the scent, right?”he replies, his voice calmer than I expected.

I hate to admit he’s right. I grit my teeth and turn my focus back to Adam’s trembling voice.

“Adam.” Gabe’s tone is firmer now, though I can sense his worry just under the surface. “We’re heading back. Still in New Mexico, so it’s at least fourteen hours, but we’re hauling ass. What condition is Todd in? Were the dogs hurt?”

“He, uh, he has some broken ribs, a fractured jaw, and a pretty bad concussion. He hasn’t regained consciousness yet. The doctor said that’s normal, given the extent of his injuries. They’re running an MRI to check for brain bleeding—it should be happening any moment now.” Adam’s voice shifts, adopting a clinical tone that barely conceals his emotions. “The dogs are…they’re fine, Gabe. I should have said that sooner. I don’t know if Todd finished everything he needed to do before…” Adam trails off, his voice thick with guilt. “I can’t leave him alone up here—”

“It’s okay, Doc,” I say, though it’s anything but. My chest aches with helplessness. I glance at Gabe, who looks ready to break the steering wheel with how hard he’s gripping it.

“We’ll be back as soon as we can,” Gabe promises. His voice is steady, but I know him well enough to see the storm brewing just beneath the surface. “Just stay with him, Adam. Keep him safe until we get there.”

“I will.” Adam’s words are quiet, but there’s steel in them.

The helplessness in Adam’s voice makes me grit my teeth. I can’t imagine the pain or fear he must be feeling, finding Todd like that.If anyone hurt Gabe like this…I shove the thought away before it can fully form.

“We appreciate what you’ve done, Doc,” I say, keeping my voice calm, though my wolf is thrumming beneath my skin, itching for action. “It isn’t your fault some son of a bitch went psycho. Just stay with Todd and be alert. I can’t stress that enough. We’ll get there as soon as we can and call you when we hit town.”

I can feel Gabe watching me, sensing the control I’m barely holding on to. He’s smart enough to leave it alone, though. For now.

“Yeah, just listen to Mika, Adam,” Gabe says, his voice quieter now but still firm. “We’ll handle the dogs when we get back, and…whatever else, okay?” He ends the call, staring straight ahead for a long moment before turning to me, the tension in his face almost painful to look at.

“What the fuck, Mika? Why Todd?” His voice is raw, filled with worry and frustration. I don’t blame him. None of this makes any damn sense.

I shake my head. “I don’t know, babe. I wish I did. Seems crazy, even for that fucking batshit insane asshole, to attack Todd. I’d be more inclined to expect him to hurt the dogs.” I pause, considering. “Does Todd have any enemies that you know of?”

He frowns, thinking it over, and I detest how helpless we both feel. He finally shakes his head. “No. Everyone likes Todd. I mean, how could they not? He’s always polite, friendly, but he keeps pretty much everyone at a distance.”

“Because he doesn’t want people to know he’s gay?” I ask, but I already know the answer.

Gabe nods. “I think so. He knows how my family reacted, and his folks are… You know how they are. Besides being pretty religious, you know, thespare the rod, spoil the kidreligious way. I’ve already told you Todd wasn’t spoiled, either.” His voice softens, turning reflective. “Added to that, it’s harder for him because he grew up here, and everyone knows him, ya know? Me being gay, well, I was pretty much an outsider anyway, and I didn’t exactly rent a billboard announcing it. I just didn’t hide it, or deny it. Plus, I’ve never, uh…”

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