Page 16 of Married into the Mob
“I’m not hisfriend. He captured me.”
SEVEN
HUNTER
“Captured is such a strong word.” Dad wasn’t making things easier. He steered Odell back to the couch. “But I have experience with these things.”
He was referring to prior kidnappings. Not mine. But both my brothers had sort of technically kidnapped their human mates. Like me, Ranger was protecting his mate from a possible death, whereas Flint was so discombobulated at being mated to a human, he stuck his mate in the basement of his house until he made a decision about what to do.
My siblings and I didn’t have a great track record for meeting mates, though meeting them wasn’t the problem, it was converting them to mates. That made them sound like a statistic. How did I put it? The leap from kidnap victim to mate was over a huge chasm. My brothers’ relationships worked out great, they were loving partners and amazing dads, and I adored my brothers-in-law.
As there were only three siblings in our family, the chaos stopped with me, though I did have a niece and nephews.
But I had to get out of the panic room and help Flint and Ranger and the rest of my pack. We all had memories of our warwith the Silverback pack, and I couldn’t hide away while they were scouring the city.
Draven and his cronies would be on the lookout for me and, by association, Odell. It wasn’t a secret I managed the club, and this would be the first place they’d stake out.
The second place they’d search would be my home outside the city. I lived alone, and other than trashing the place, they’d find nothing.
I was pleased Dad and Uncle Arnie were here, as they lived in the countryside with few neighbors, not too far from my place.
“What about Treyton?” He was Arnie’s grandson who had just completed his midwifery training.
“He’s visiting his parents. Don’t worry, he’s far from here,” my uncle replied as he prepared food.
“Do you have any siblings?” Dad was interrogating Odell. I sent him a look, but he ignored me.
“No.”
“Good.” Now Dad caught my eye. Damn it. I understood what he was getting at. The sibling reference was to do with Ranger’s brother-in-law.
“And your parents?” More questions from my dad. If he continued, I’d take Odell into a bedroom saying he needed to rest.
“They died when I was young.”
My dad nodded. That question was in regard to Flint’s father-in-law, and Dad was mentally checking possible pitfalls or trouble spots in Odell’s and my relationship. He needed to stop.
My phone beeped. Ranger was asking where I was, saying his and Flint’s family were at his apartment being guarded by pack members.
That wasn’t safe enough. They had to come here. As well as this main space, and the bathroom, munitions room, monitoringspace, and the room with the four bunk beds, there was an adjoining room with more bunk beds and sofas.
The panic room walls were made of concrete, steel, and kevlar to withstand an attack. It was soundproofed with hidden ventilation shafts. The solar-powered generators provided power with a backup system in place. Anyone trying to break in would be detected on the monitors and any signals jammed.
I should probably switch to the satellite phone because the signal was weak down here.
But with all of us in the panic room, the food would run out after three days. It would be a little cramped with three kids, but it was unlikely me and my brothers would be here. We couldn’t allow the pack to fight our battles alone.
But now I had to admit where we were.
Bring the entire family to the club. But make sure you’re not followed.That was what every crooked cop, petty thief, amateur sleuth, and private detective said in movies and novels.
The phone rang. “What are you talking about?” Ranger’s voice bounced off the walls. “Is this to do with your super-secret project I keep hearing about?”
I should have known I couldn’t keep it from my siblings.
“Yes. Bring them now.”
I ended the call, but as soon as my brothers-in-law arrived with the children, I’d leave.
