Page 102 of Callen's Captive
Chapter Twenty-One
CALLEN
Callen kissed the top of Kate’s head and then tore himself from her. He didn’t even need to tell Blade to protect her with his life. It was a given that Blade would do so. In less than two minutes, Callen reached the roof. Once he shifted, he made a show of running back and forth near the edge of the roof where he’d be seen from the street. He released a howl to ensure he had everyone’s attention, especially any mercenaries in the area. The people on the streets below all looked up. Within seconds, gunfire erupted from all directions.
Chunks of cement bounced off his flank and ribs as he raced across the roof and leaped to the neighboring roof. With the strafing gunfire, he couldn’t afford to slow down. Leaping from roof to roof had seemed like a good idea until he reached the end of the street. He was four stories up, too high to jump in human or wolf form.
A nearby oak gave him his exit. Amid gunfire, Callen backed up and launched himself over the edge and into the tree. As he crashed through several branches, he finally gained his purchase on a short but thick limb.
Callen shifted to human form and scrambled down the tree. Hell, Kate had been calling him ‘bear’ so long he was starting to act like one. Assuming he made it back to Blade, he’d have to leave a few details out about his escape or Blade would tease him endlessly, payback for all the shit Callen had given Blade over that tattoo of his, the one Blade later covered up with his brother’s image.
As Callen dropped to the ground, he heard the commotion down the street in the direction he had fled. He had lost his pursuers. The idiots couldn’t track a tank through the woods, let alone a wolf.
Callen shifted back to his wolf and doubled back through the woods behind the buildings. His claws dug into the earth as he sprinted fast and hard.
Blade howled. More gunfire pummeled the building where Callen had left Blade and Kate. Damn! Half the mercenaries had stayed behind, and Blade was trapped.
Callen howled, letting both Blade and the mercenaries know he was there. He didn’t care if it took a hundred attempts; he was going to lure those mercenaries away so Blade and Kate could escape.
“Fucking shifter went out back!” a mercenary yelled above the gunfire.
After Callen drew a half-dozen men into the woods, he circled around from the north and approached the building yet again. The remaining mercenaries had ventured inside to search the building.
Gunshots rang out from a few floors up as Callen’s wolf shredded the two guards at the entrance. Blade raced down the stairs in human form, shooting a pistol over his shoulder. Callen hugged the wall and waited for Blade to turn the corner. He let the first mercenary pass and lunged for the second. When the first turned around to shoot him, Blade shifted and took him out.
“Where is she?” Callen shouted.
“I’ll get her. You hold them off. Two more coming.”
Callen grabbed the Glock that Blade had dropped when he’d shifted. As Callen waited at the base of the steps, his breathing heavier than usual, a new terror ripped through him. What if Kate didn’t survive?
“Got her!” Blade suddenly yelled from down the lobby. Blade emerged from a storage room, with Kate again in his arms and her bag slung over his shoulder.
Callen shoved the gun into the bag. “Go, I’ll provide cover.”
Callen tore his eyes from Kate. She looked worse than twenty minutes ago. She needed a doctor, but they sure as hell weren’t going to find one in this town that would help her.
As soon as Callen gave the ‘all clear’ sign, Blade slipped out the lobby door and disappeared into the shadows where he’d weave his way to the woods. Callen turned, just as the last two mercenaries broke through the door to the first floor.
* * *
KATE
Kate heard voices, including one that sounded pissed off but hurt at the same time. Wounded even. Her eyes wouldn’t open, not that she had the strength. Why was she so tired? The fog in her brain started to lift enough to remember Briggs beating her, demanding to know where she had put the files she had stolen. She had smiled at Briggs, knowing the files were with her shifter. There was no way Briggs would get them from Callen.
Something cool was pressing against her face, dabbing actually. Refreshing water trickled down her neck. It tickled, reminding her of how it always tickled when Callen kissed her there. What she wouldn’t give for a few of his kisses now.
The water was sliding down her arms now. It felt like a sponge bath, like the ones she gave herself on the run, except not as nice. Everything hurt, especially her chest, which stung like crazy. She wished whoever was touching her wrist would stop. Couldn’t they tell it was broken?
Someone peeled back the blanket from her chest, and she heard curses and crying. Didn’t sound like Callen. More water on her chest. Pain flared anew. She couldn’t hold back the cry. Something soft and moist pressed against her lips. Tasted nice, like Callen. More pain. Whoever it was needed to leave her chest the fuck alone already. It really hurt.
Briggs! Kate screamed. Briggs was coming at her again!
Arms pinned her down, and someone was calling her name. No, not her name.Princess.Briggs didn’t call her ‘Princess’. Only Callen did. She struggled to open her eyes, but they wouldn’t move. Little puffs of breath landed on her ear. Some of the words made sense. Callen. Bond. Home. Kiss. She smiled at that last one. It had been a while since Callen had kissed her.
The smell of the woods filled her nose, but breathing through her nose was hard, so she couldn’t be sure. Nonetheless, she chanced a deep breath, accepting the pain that came with it. That smell reminded her of Callen. She really missed him. Never thought she’d miss him this much, but at least he’d gotten away. Briggs hadn’t found him and never would. She hadn’t given up Callen’s location. It didn’t matter what Briggs did to her; she wasn’t going to let him have Callen.
* * *
