Page 20 of Passion & Betrayal

“Kill the tiger.”

“No.” My answer is immediate and emphatic. I won’t let any harm come to either of them.

“Then I will kill your mate!” he yells from the other end of the line. I can hear him panting as he tries to get his anger under control. He has never enjoyed being defied, least of all by his own children. “You have an hour to decide.”

He ended the call, and I almost threw the device in my hand before Rylee snatched it away. Sypher watches me carefully, and I know with his enhanced senses he heard every single word of that conversation. Everyone in the room did.

“Will he hurt her if you don’t do what he says?” Sypher asks. His voice is soft, and for a second, he looks smaller than he actually is.

“Yes,” all three of my father’s children say in unison.

****

Isabel

I run until my legs start to give out. I think there’s a bit of the drug still left in me because I’m getting dizzy, but I can’t stop. I decided to change into clothes and go into the first business I find and call my mates.

I walk as fast as my human legs will carry me and find a drugstore open. I rush inside and up to the counter where a girl in her twenties is standing, reading a magazine.

“Hey, can I use your phone? I’m in trouble, and I need to call my family.”

The girl hands over her phone. I wait for someone to answer. I asked the girl, “Do you have a can of air freshener?”

The girl bends and brings up a large canister, and hands it to me.

“I know this is going to seem weird, but I’m going to spray a lot of it outside and just in the door.”

The girl shrugs. “Go for it.”

Cian answers the phone as I’m spraying for all I’m worth.

“What?” he yells.

“It’s me. Your father is the one who kidnapped me. I got away, but I’m not sure which way to go home. It will be bad if he catches me.”

“Oh, God, Babe. Tell me the name of the place?”

I looked up. “It’s Walgreens on Maple Street.”

“We’ll be right there. Hide if you can.”

“Okay.” I hang up and spray a little more to cover my scent. I see an old truck headed down the street, but I can see it’s a few kids. I take off my shoes and toss them in the back of the truck. Hopefully, it’s enough of my scent for them to follow.

I race back into the store. I spray myself down, choking on it and making myself nauseous, but it’s better than nothing.

“Here’s your phone. Thank you so much.”

“Hey, Lady, there is a secret door that goes downstairs. My boss keeps all his important papers and money stored there. If you need to hide, you can do that until your friend gets here.”

“Oh my God. Yes. Where is it?”

“It’s under the rug back here.”

I rush around the counter, and the girl already has the door open. There’s a light switch. I’ll put the rug back over the door so no light will come through.”

I go down a few steps. “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Kristy.”

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