Wolf Tales 11 by Kate Douglas Read Free Book Online

while Tinker, AJ, and Mik had to be worried sick.
    Tia raised her head and touched the side of his jaw with her fingertips.
They’ll be okay,
she said.
You’ll find them.
    He nodded, a short, sharp jerk of his head, and held his woman close. A few people gave them curious glances, but no one tried to stop them. By the time Luc reached the SUV, Tinker had the door to the back open and the engine running.
    He turned in his seat and watched as Luc settled her in the backseat. Then, his voice low and rough, he sighed. “Sweetie, any idea what the bastards did with Tala and Lisa?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know, Tink. They came up behind us and jabbed needles in all three of us. Whatever they used worked really fast. They got Tala and Lisa a few seconds before me, but they both went unconscious immediately. I felt the needle hit my throat and tried to get away. That’s when the guy shot me, but I think I deflected his pistol. He was aiming higher, but got me in the hip. I guess I was expendable.”
    “Not in my book you’re not.” Tinker shot Luc a sharp glance that spoke volumes.
    Luc met his glance with one of his own. “We’ll find them, Tink. We’ll get Lisa back.”
    “Damned straight we’ll get her back. And those bastards will pay.”
    Tinker watched quietly while Luc helped Tia lie down in back. Then he quickly backed out of the parking space and headed south to the city.
    Luc leaned against the door and pillowed Tia’s head in his lap. “Logan told me once that if we ever got shot and there was still a bullet inside, to shift as soon as we were able. The bullet should fall out.”
    Tia’s soft chuckle surprised him. “Sort of like Tala’s IUD?”
    Luc smiled, though he really wanted to howl with relief. “Yeah. Just like that.” He fished his cell phone out of his pocket. “Here. If you’re up to it, call your dad. Tell him you’re okay. The poor man’s frantic.”
    Tia cocked one very expressive eyebrow at him. “And you weren’t?”
    He shrugged and wondered if she could see the tears threatening to spill. “I knew you could take care of yourself,” he teased. He struggled to swallow back the lump in his throat. “Shit, sweetheart. Don’t ever scare me like this again.”
    “Trust me. This was not on my list of things to do. I think I’m bleeding again.” She tried to sit up to get a better look.
    Luc put a restraining hand on her shoulder. He wadded up Tink’s jacket and held it against the slowly seeping wound over her left hipbone. “Tink, looks like you just donated a jacket to the cause.”
    Tinker didn’t say a word. His focus was on the road ahead. Luc knew exactly how his friend felt. He gazed steadily at Tia, so pale and quiet lying across the seat with her head resting in his lap, and sent a word of thanks toEve for Tia’s safe return. He hoped their new goddess listened. Hoped she watched over Lisa and Tala. Fear and frustration practically overwhelmed him.
    He handed the cell phone to Tia. Then, as she made the connection with her dad, he sent another soft prayer to the Goddess, this one for the two missing women. Damn, he hoped that Eve was watching over her Chanku. There was no way they were going to get through this without a little divine intervention.
    The sky was steel gray over Washington, DC, when Baylor, Jake, Manda, and Shannon reached the capital city. By the time they’d driven the few miles from Freeport to Portland, Maine, Stefan Aragat had a private jet waiting to fly them to Reagan International. The moment they’d landed, a limo driver had met them with an envelope containing the keys to Anton’s apartment.
    Everything had gone seamlessly—almost too easy after the harrowing morning they’d had. The connections and properties Stefan and Anton had never failed to amaze Bay—or anyone who knew the men. The comfortable flight had certainly made a trip that would have taken them long hours by car into a fairly simple jaunt, though after the