Jaxson (River Pack Wolves 1) - New Adult Paranormal Romance (9 page)

Jaxson waved Murphy toward the door. “Sweep the center.” But he didn’t expect they’d find Cassie. If she was here, she would have been locked in with these two goons.

“Where’s the girl?” Jaxson asked Thug Life, not bothering with preamble.

He smirked but otherwise didn’t move. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jaxson nodded and slowly walked up to the man. He was big, almost as tall as Jaxson, but even big men had something they feared. Not always pain, although enough of that could be persuasive. Something more primal was often more effective.

Jaxson lifted his chin to Jace, who eased off on the blade. Jaxson held up his hand, palm out, in front of the man’s face.

In a calm voice, he said, “Here’s how this is going to go.” He glanced at his hand and commanded it to shift, slowly growing five razor-sharp claws. They inched toward the man’s face as they grew. He leaned back, but his calm expression had evaporated. For non-shifters, the idea of being taken apart by claws and teeth often struck more fear than a blade or bullet. It wasn’t the pain so much as the horror of it. It conjured fears of being eaten alive, and the primal part of the brain—the part that had evolved a million years ago when man’s enemies had claws and fangs—had an instinctual fear of it built in.

“You’re going to tell me where the girl is,” Jaxson said quietly. “And you’re going to tell me now. Or I’m going to claw and bite the answer out of you, one chunk at a time.”

The man paled and blinked rapidly.

Jaxson might have to draw some blood, but it shouldn’t have to go much further than that. Only enough to convince the man that Jaxson was serious. And he was. Very serious.

Cassie didn’t have time for him to mess around.

Olivia would end up wearing a hole in Riverwise’s carpet with the way she was pacing her office. But she had to stay near the phone in case Jaxson called. Or someone from the Wilding pack. Or the hospital, saying that there had been a horrible tragedy at the homeless shelter and could she please come identify the bodies? Olivia sucked in a deep breath, dragged her hands across her face, and slapped her cheeks a couple times to stop that line of thought.

They’re going to be fine.

She snuck another peek at the local news on her phone, just to see if there was anything about a kidnapping or a shifter fight breaking out downtown. Nothing. Of course.

She slumped into her chair, thinking maybe she should try to do some work to distract herself, when a buzzing sound floated in from the front. Only when it was followed up with some banging did she realize it was someone at the door. She sprinted through the office to the frosted-glass entrance. She had to bang around with the lock a few times before she could spring it loose.

A gorgeous dark-haired woman brushed past her on the way in. “Where’s Jaxson?” she demanded but didn’t wait for an answer. She just strode around the corner toward the offices in back. A man hurried in after her. He was tall, well-built, broad-shouldered… and dark-haired gorgeous as well. He hardly slowed down and ignored Olivia just like the woman.

“Terra,” 
he called after her, his voice annoyed. Then he disappeared around the corner, too.

Olivia closed the door and followed after them, but obviously they were both shifters from the Wilding pack. When she reached the conference room, Terra was muttering something—half curses, half mumbled arguments—but her claws were out and slashing the air as she raced along the offices, looking in each one.

“Where is he, where is he…”

At least, that’s what Olivia thought she was saying.

Then Terra reached the last office. Not finding whatever she was looking for, she turned toward Olivia and screeched.
“Where is he?”

“Terra, calm down.” The man had reached her and tried to take her by the shoulders, but she just shoved him aside. Olivia gasped as Terra’s claws sliced across the man’s chest, shredding his shirt and causing a bloom of blood to darken it.

“Goddamn it, Terra!” he said, but he just followed after her as she took off again.

That’s when Olivia noticed Terra was heading straight toward her like a black-haired thunderstorm, eyes blazing with lightning. Olivia’s heart lurched, but she held her ground. She didn’t even bother putting up her hands in defense against Terra’s claws. Probably just get them sliced anyway.

When Terra arrived in front of her, all sound and fury, Olivia said quietly, “I know you’re worried about Cassie.”

Terra came to a teetering halt in front of her, and the storm in her eyes melted tears from the corners. “Do you know where she is?”

“Not yet.” Olivia was proud of how calm her voice was compared to her pounding heart. “But Jaxson will bring her home. You can count on that.”

Terra let out a breath, like it was escaping her without her volition. “How do you know?”

“Because he said he would.” Her words held all the conviction she felt in her heart. Even if she’d only known the man for a few days, she knew he kept his word. In fact, she’d known that much from the first few minutes, when he promised not to hurt her, and she believed him enough to give the electric prod over to him.

“Jaxson’s taken four of his pack members and gone after your sister,” Olivia continued. “The minute he finds her, he’ll call and let you know. He said you might be coming here.”

Terra was nodding, over and over in a distracted way, but Olivia’s words seemed to be having a calming effect.

Olivia reached out a tentative hand to lightly pat Terra’s arm—staying clear of the still-flexing claws. “I’m sorry I don’t have more news for you yet.”

Terra stared at Olivia’s hand, so she pulled it back. But the female shifter’s face wasn’t horrified… just confused. She looked up. “Who
are
you?”

“Oh… um…” Olivia folded her arms across her chest. “Just the secretary.”

The man accompanying Terra had been hanging back, but now he edged forward and laid a gentle hand on Terra’s shoulder. He arched an eyebrow at Olivia. “Sounds like Riverwise has made a recent and very smart hiring move.”

He lifted his hand from Terra’s shoulder and extended it to Olivia. “My name’s Trent Wilding. I’m the crazy girl’s younger brother.” His hand was warm, and his smile kind.

“Olivia Lilyfield.” He didn’t seem bothered by the red stains across his chest, but she had to ask anyway… “Are you all right? I mean, I’ve heard shifters heal fast, but I could get the first-aid kit, if you would like.”

Trent broke out into a wide grin. “You
are
new, aren’t you?”

Olivia blushed and ducked her head, feeling like a fool.

“It would be nice if everyone was as considerate as Ms. Lilyfield here,” Trent said. Those words were directed at Terra, but they made Olivia feel better enough to peek up at him. He smiled with enough flirtation to make her blush again.

“Can I get you two something to drink?” Olivia asked, trying to move on. “I can fire up the coffee pot. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like. I mean, until we hear news.”

Terra didn’t answer, just drifted over to one of the couches in the center of the room. Trent watched her go with a pinched look. As Terra perched on the edge of the couch, tears slid down her cheeks, flowing freely one after another. She was staring into space and twisting her hands.

Trent’s warm hand landed on Olivia’s shoulder and interrupted her staring. “How about I help you with that coffee?” His long-lashed, black eyes were sparkling, but he didn’t seem in tears over his younger sister the way Terra was.

Olivia nodded and ushered him back to the lunch room. It was small—even the whole pack couldn’t fit in there at once—and it was just a converted office, but it had a coffee maker on the counter by the sink. Olivia filled the pot with water. The gushing sound of the tap muted any conversation for a moment, but Olivia was painfully aware of how Trent was checking her out. Not like he thought she was hot—more like she was a zoo specimen that fascinated him.

Once she poured the water into the coffeemaker, the silence became more obvious. “Is your sister going to be all right? Terra, I mean.” She only flicked a look at Trent, who was leaned against the counter, watching her measure out coffee.

“Terra is overly dramatic in the calmest of situations.” He sighed. “But she’s very close to Cassie. Our mother died when Cassie was still a baby, so she’s really more a daughter than a sister. Although Terra’s really no one’s idea of a mother.” There was a teasing laugh in his voice, but also an incredible amount of love for both his sisters. Olivia could hear it.

She finished setting up the pot and flipped the switch to run. “I know how hard it is to lose a parent when you’re young.” She pursed her lips and peered at Trent.

He was still studying her, but a frown had gathered on his forehead. “Do you? I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “It was a long time ago.”

His face opened in curiosity. “But you still carry the scars.”

That made her heart stutter. Was it that obvious? “I just…” But there was no way she could explain that she didn’t just
lose
them, like you lose your keys. And they weren’t
stolen
from her, the way Cassie had been taken. She was responsible for their deaths. And that was a wound that would never heal.
Shouldn’t
heal. “I’m just saying, I’m glad you and your sisters had each other. And I’m sure Jaxson will bring Cassie back to you. He’s a good man.”

Trent shifted a little closer, still eyeing her curiously. “Yet he’s not a man. He’s a wolf. A wolf who’s hired a human as a secretary.”

Her back stiffened. “I don’t need to be a wolf to run the accounting.”

A small smile crept out on his face. “I didn’t mean any offense. He obviously trusts you. And I can see why.”

Olivia frowned. “What do you mean?”

Trent gestured back to the open door, beyond which they could hear Terra’s soft sobs. “I’ve seen grown alpha male wolves quiver under one of Terra’s freak out assaults. This one tonight was
epic,
and you completely kept your cool.
And you’re human.
” He paused to give her a heart-stopping smile. “If Riverwise ever decides to let you go, please let me know. I could use someone who’s got a good head about her on my staff.”

She was back to blushing again, not least because Trent seemed to mean every word. And he had no reason to flatter her, none that she could see, anyway. “Staff? What kind of work do you do?”

His smile tempered a little, but he seemed pleased that she was asking. “Software development. But we have a need for all sorts on the payroll. The company’s rapidly growing, and I’m always on the hunt for talent. Tell me, Ms. Lilyfield, what kind of work would you
like
to do?”

The coffeepot sputtered next to them. Olivia could hardly believe Trent was trying to recruit her in the middle of this crisis to find his sister, but maybe that was how they did things in the Wilding pack. The least she could do was make distracting small talk until Jaxson had some real news for them.

She just prayed that would be soon.

“So, you and Olivia, huh?” Jace’s voice was barely above a whisper.

They were hunched outside a warehouse at the outskirts of Seattle. A little drawn blood and one good bite had convinced the broken-nosed thug to give up the location where the shifters were transported to—the only question was whether Cassie was inside or not. And, if so, how they were going to infiltrate it. They’d left the thug unconscious with his friend so he wouldn’t be ratting them out. Right now, they were waiting for Murphy, Taylor, and Rich to scout the perimeter and report back with options.

“Focus, Jace,” Jaxson said. “We’re on a mission, remember?”

“I’m just saying… I didn’t see that coming.” Jace moved his weight from one foot to the other, easing his muscles. They were crouched behind the natural shrubbery next to the electrified, razor-wire fence surrounding the warehouse. A single guard inhabited the shack next to the gate, but even taking him down wouldn’t necessarily gain them entrance.

“Unless the men can find an alternate entry point, I’m thinking the shack is our best option. But we need the guard alive if we’re going to gain a passcode.”