Page 100 of Callen's Captive
The note was clear, but Callen wasn’t willing to accept it. She’d made a choice that affected both of them without talking to him. That’s not what partners did, but they weren’t partners. They’d only slept together. They weren’t blood-bonded so there was no overwhelming need to be with one another, except that’s how he felt. Blood-bond or not, he needed Kate. Her laughter and easy banter filled his soul with joy, even when his thoughts became too heavy and tainted by the memories of some of the things he’d done over the years as the pack’s enforcer. Her relentless spirit, her fire, made him see everything around him in a new light. Before her, he’d been pulling away from everyone he knew, even the shifters he considered brothers. Kate had found the shifter inside of him, the one that had been retreating for some time, and breathed new life into him.
“Bastards,” Blade said, staring at the screen.
“What?” Callen said as Blade swung the laptop to him. The message board was the same one he’d seen Blade checking each day, except instead of a dozen posts on various topics, there was one message that repeated over and over again. ‘Give us the files or she dies.’
Callen clicked the link. It opened a window of a live feed showing the back of a woman. Given the camera angle, he couldn’t see her face, but it was definitely Kate. He knew the long line of her neck, that funny dimple at the outside of her right elbow, and that small scar on the back of her right shoulder blade that he never got to ask her about. The bastards had chained her to a chair, and she wasn’t moving. Then her hand fisted, and she raged, trying to break free of the rope binding her hands behind her.
“What do we—” Blade asked, but Callen was heading for the door, toward the woods to shift. Blade shouted after him, something about needing a plan. Callen ignored Blade, shifted, and sprinted.
Blade’s paws struck the ground hard behind Callen. His friend didn’t have his usual stealth, and he was falling behind. Blade was fully healed, but had not yet regained all of his strength and stamina. When Callen no longer heard Blade behind him, his training kicked in. His years of watching out for Blade and the others in his pack demanded he check on him. Callen had caused Blade’s injuries and until Blade was fully himself, he was still responsible for the scout. Hell, he’d always feel responsible for Blade. Callen retraced his steps and found Blade’s wolf on the ground, panting heavily, the bag with clothing and the laptop at his side.
Callen shifted. “Go back to Anna.”
As soon as Blade shifted, he grabbed hold of Callen’s arm. No one was going to keep him from going after Kate, not even Blade. Callen slammed him up against a tree. Blade’s eyes showed his shock, but he didn’t fight him. He wouldn’t.
Callen released Blade. He was losing perspective, control, and that wasn’t good, not with Kate’s life at risk. He needed to focus, to devise a plan.
“I’m not leaving you,” Blade said. “I’ll track you if I have to, but I’m not letting you do this alone. It’s too risky.”
“I don’t care about the risk.”
“You can’t save her if you get yourself killed.”
Callen shouted out his frustration. “I hate this!”
“Before we make any moves, we need to see what’s on those files, Callen.”
Callen rolled the pendant between his forefinger and thumb. “It doesn’t matter what’s on them. If I hand them over, she’s dead. If I don’t hand them over, she’s dead. Unless you’re planning on scoping out the place and helping me get into that building, fuck off.”
“I’m insulted you feel the need to say that. We’re pack.”
A small part of Callen relaxed. Kate had been right. Even if his pack didn’t need him, he’d always need them, whether it was simply Blade or the entire pack. Right now, that pack was Blade and Anna, but hell, Kate was a part of his pack too, the most important part.
“Tell me you have a plan, Blade, because I can’t stand here and do nothing much longer.” Blade was the best scout he’d ever known. He could get into any building, any compound, and out again without being seen.
“Not yet, but I will. First, we get the USB back to Anna to review while we scope the location for the swap tomorrow. I promise you, Callen. We’ll get her back.”
Callen nodded, unable to say more. He trusted Blade with his life, and Kate’s now apparently, too. He only hoped by the time they found her it wouldn’t be too little too late.
* * *
Callen sankinto the shadows while Blade sauntered past the building where the trade was to take place tomorrow at 11am. His friend was still having trouble walking in human form, and was only slightly better on all fours, but Blade blended in with the locals like he belonged there. He was a natural. As he turned the corner into the alley where Callen had been waiting and watching, Blade bent to tie his shoe. He spoke without looking at him. “We’re not the only ones here.”
“How many?”
“Three in the trees with rifles, two in the parked van, and another two on the ground dressed as homeless men. Forget the scent of gunpowder on them; the idiots are wearing military boots.”
“And the building?” The address provided in the message was an old mom and pop grocery store that had been shut down years ago.
“Empty.”
Callen knew that look. Blade was holding something back. “Spill it.”
“I smelled her blood, and there’s a webcam mounted inside. They moved her. Probably plan to bring her back tomorrow for the handoff.”
Callen forced his wolf and his rage down. It could be nothing more than a simple cut that Blade had smelled. This was not the time to fall apart, not when there was work to be done.
“Communications?”
