Denial was sometimes a beautiful thing.

That eventually bit you on the ass.

Was I worried? Hell yes I was. I’d been worried since I’d been kidnapped and rescued, terrified Nezat would get his slimy hands on me again. Admittedly, he was gorgeous, but when you remembered what he was, all the good looks in the world weren’t enough to convince me to pop out his demonic babies.

I felt nauseous again but for a different reason. Just the thought of Nezat kidnapping me again, trying to force me to have sex with him, made me want to hurl right into my tiny trash can once more.

* * * *

The interviews later that day had gone okay. I wasn’t too impressed with either prospect but wasn’t disappointed in them, either. Both Gina and Carla had seemed enthusiastic about working at the café, and both had prior experience. That was always a bonus.

What I hadn't liked was the way Carla kept eyeing Ken from across the café. Since the place hadn't been busy, I’d done the interviewing in one of the booths. Carla’s green eyes kept straying to wherever Ken was. Yes, I’d wanted to scratch her eyes out, but I wasn’t going to fault her for it. Ken really was a good-looking dirty-blond-haired guy.

Jack had come out of the kitchen when things slowed, and I’d had to deal with Gina eyeballing him, seeming utterly distracted by his presence. I’d been distracted, too. Today Jack had on a pair of fitted jeans that hugged his waist nicely, cupping that well-defined ass of his. He also wore a red T-shirt, which he looked damn good in.

But no one else had applied, and I was running out of time. I had to make sure that whomever I hired knew their duties so, when I couldn't be there in the later part of my pregnancy, I would know things ran smoothly.

That was if I didn’t have to kill a bitch for flirting with my mates.

By the time we locked up, I was tired and hungry. I hadn't bothered eating because I’d been too afraid of getting sick again. The crackers had helped, but I just wasn't in the mood to scarf anything down.

We pulled into my driveway just like every night, and Jack cut the motor. When Ken got out, he reached into the truck and helped me. I hadn't needed any help, but trying to stop my mates from treating me like spun glass was futile. So instead of arguing with Ken that I was perfectly fine getting out on my own, I let him help. I liked him touching me and Jack touching me. I liked their sweet words and the way one of them was always watching me, that thrill that shot through me, knowing I had their attention, that I was the one they craved. It was a heady feeling that I was addicted to, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

They’d changed my life, in more ways than I could count. It wasn’t just the pregnancy thing, either. For six months, they’d been there, my heroes, showing up before the café opened and staying until after it was closed.

They’d come to mean everything to me. I knew in that moment that I loved them. Months and months of being around them, of getting to know them, had culminated in deep feelings for Jack and Ken. I felt like I’d hit the lottery and now had an ever-present buoyant feeling in my chest.

I was still terrified of having a baby but knew my mates would be at my side every step of the way. They weren’t Fred. They weren’t going to run away like cowards. They were good men who would always be there for their family.

Ken stroked my cheek with the back of his hand, a warm, handsome smile on his face. “What’s going through that sexy brain of yours?”

Before I could answer, something flashed on my right. I had no time to react. One moment I stood by the passenger door, and the next, I was in a room with a bed, and Nezat stood next to it, smiling at me.

Chapter Eleven

Jackson

“I want him found!” I wasn’t sure why I was yelling at my brother except for the fact that panic had settled into my bones, into my gut, as I paced the yard, wondering where on earth Nezat would take Casey. The reverend’s house was burned down, and I highly doubted Nezat would be stupid enough to return there even if the house was still intact.

Ken was already on the phone, calling the Bailey brothers and the York brothers. We had to pull together to rescue Casey, or I’d lose my mind. I should have known the lull wouldn’t last long. Nezat was determined to get his hands on breeders. He wasn’t aware that Casey was already pregnant, but he would soon find out, and when he discovered the truth, my worst fear was that Nezat would kill him. Casey was of no use to him now.

“It just happened,” Ken said into the phone. He was scrubbing a hand over his hair so frequently, every few seconds, that I thought he would rip out half the strands. He looked as desperate as I felt. “Yeah, meet us at the café. We’ll be there before you guys arrive.” Ken hung up and turned to me. “The panthers and wolves are on their way. They said whatever we need, we got it. Everyone except Lucas, who’s staying behind with Dillon.”

Lucas and Mikhia had no stake in this. Dillon was already pregnant, and Nezat had no interest in him, but they were willing to fight at our side. Only Mikhia, because Lucas was staying home with Dillon. I completely understood that and didn’t fault him for his decision. I wouldn’t leave Casey alone, even if there wasn’t a threat hanging over his head. Shifters were very protective of their mates, a hundred times more when that mate was with child.

Delvin and Joshua had said that Shane was safe, at home with his parents, so they would help us find Casey. I just had no idea where to look as we pulled into the empty parking lot of Casey’s Café. Seconds later a cherry-red Charger pulled in beside us. It was Delvin and Joshua. Five minutes later, Lucas was there.

“Any place you think Nezat might have gone?” Delvin asked. “Any place that holds some kind of significance to Casey?”

Casey had never mentioned such a place. “Do you think Dillon would know? They’re best friends.”

“Let me call him,” Lucas said.

No matter where Casey was, I was going to find him. Losing my mate wasn't an option.

* * * *

Casey