Chapter Twenty

“You’re sure this is going to work?” Joe Stringer looked skeptically at Vinny, his eyes narrowed to mere slits.

“Positive. Trust me.”

The man didn’t waver, but he did lift a hand to run it through his short, thick hair. He was only about thirty-five, but his black hair was graying at the temple. “I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, I don’t know what sort of arrangement you have with Rimouski, but I do know if you fuck this up, your ass will be toast. I’ve put a lot of manpower and financial backing behind your scheme.”

“It’ll work.” Vinny was as confident as he could be. Joe was right. He had no idea what Rimouski knew about Vinny. And he never would. Hopefully, when this was over, and Vinny had proven himself to be a respected, loyal team player, Joe would stop treating him like pond scum.

“You have everyone in place?”

“Yes. Eight men are positioned to move in on Reid Terrance’s condo when I give the word.” Human men. Human men with guns. So far they were awaiting word several blocks away.

Vinny wasn’t about to risk alerting Reid to the scent of unknown people around his home until the last second. Several of the men had approached the condo close enough in the last few hours to get a lay of the land and then retreated. They didn’t understand the need to pull back so far, but at least they’d followed Vinny’s instructions.

“And Osborn?”

“I’m handling Osborn myself.” Vinny turned toward the window and stared out at the twinkling lights of Calgary down below. He would be heading closer to Nolan’s location in a few minutes. Four men were waiting to go with him. Also human. No one besides Vinny was a shifter in this entire operation.

“You aren’t planning to approach him are you?”

When Vinny turned around, he found Joe’s gaze roaming up and down his body.

Vinny fought the urge to snarl. No, he wasn’t the largest man alive, but what Joe didn’t know was Vinny could end Joe’s life in two seconds flat if he wanted to. Nevertheless, he had no intention of taking Nolan out of the picture himself. The men with him had guns. Vinny didn’t need any blood on his hands. Especially not shifter blood. If the Arcadian Council ever found out he’d been involved in the murder of a shifter, his life would be toast.

He was lucky the council hadn’t bothered to hunt him down the last time he’d been involved in a borderline illegal scheme. If he killed a man, the council would hunt him to the ends of the earth and never let him get away.

Nope. He’d leave that messy task to the humans. But damn, he couldn’t wait to watch.

“Vinny?” Joe prompted.

He realized he hadn’t answered the question. “No. Of course not. Just gonna supervise.” He shoved away from the window. “Gotta go. I’ll text you when it’s done.”

»»•««

Nolan was in bed, but he wasn’t asleep. He’d been tossing around for over an hour when the hair on his arms suddenly stood on end. There was no explanation for the intense feeling of unease except intuition. Sure, several humans were nearby. It was a hotel. People were staying on both sides of him and occasionally wandering the hallway.

But something was off. He swung his legs around, grabbed his jeans, and shrugged into them. As he was zipping them up, a loud knock sounded on his door. Four quick raps that made him race forward. They ended just as quickly, and although he sensed the presence of a human in the hallway, he didn’t know the scent, and it was moving away so fast he couldn’t get to the door to open it before it was gone.

And he didn’t need to. Whoever it was had slid something under the door. A piece of paper folded in half.

Nolan wouldn’t have opened the door anyway. Too risky.

He flipped on the light and bent to pick up the paper. When he read the words, he froze. “Fuck.”

If you ever want to see your friends alive again, you’ll do as instructed. Be at the park two blocks south of your hotel in fifteen minutes. The orange slide. If you fail to show, they’re both dead. If you call for help, they’re both dead.

Under those words was a URL.

“Fuck,” He muttered as he lowered into the chair at the small desk in his hotel room and powered up his laptop. He had no doubt he was not going to like whatever the fuck he was about to see. “Please God. Please.” He tapped his fingers on the table as he waited for the computer to boot up. It seemed to take a decade.

Visions of Reid and Adriana held hostage somewhere raced through his mind. Where would these fuckers take them? He worried whoever had them would kill them anyway even if Nolan gave himself up. While the computer powered up, Nolan shoved from the table to grab his cell phone from the bedside table. He palmed it and then set it on the desk next to his mouse as he resumed his seat.

Finally, the screen came into view. He entered his password and opened the internet. It took another thirty seconds to type in the URL with shaky hands and wait. He was shocked by what he saw. Not Reid and Adriana somewhere unknown, but the two of them asleep in Reid’s bed. Neither was moving. Reid was curled around their woman, holding her tight.

It took him a moment to realize it was a still shot. The picture was blurry. Whoever took the photo did so from a distance through the bedroom window. And then the photo disappeared and left him watching live video from outside Reid’s condo. The camera panned around the area to show several men dressed in black inching toward the home. They had guns. He wasn’t sure yet how many there were before he grabbed his phone.

All Nolan could do was pray no one noticed Reid reaching out for his phone. Although in truth, whoever wanted Nolan dead had to realize there wasn’t a chance in hell Nolan wouldn’t warn his friends. There apparently wasn’t a video camera positioned on the bedroom—neither inside or outside—just the long-distance blurry shot taken from south of the window.

How the hell had someone found him? And more importantly, how had they made a connection to Reid and Adriana?

Nolan had no choice but to alert his friends. It was time to put an end to the charade. In a few minutes, Adriana would be lost to him forever.

»»•««

The sound of an incoming text drew Reid from his sleep. He was aware he had only recently managed to doze off, so he was alert enough to know an incoming text at this hour was not a good sign. He lifted the hand holding Adriana to his chest and snaked it out to snag the phone from the bedside table.

His heart raced as he saw the message from Nolan.

Don’t move. You’re being watched. Rope.

Reid yanked the phone under the covers, hoping to avoid anyone detecting the glare of the screen while assuming it was probably too late. The last word made him stop breathing. If Nolan was using their agreed-upon code word, something serious had happened.

The moment he pulled it out of sight, with his body fully alert, it rang. Nolan.

He clicked the screen beneath the covers and pulled it to his ear. Before he could answer, Nolan was speaking. “Camera is on you from outside, aimed through the shutters. Not a video. Still shots. But don’t take any chances. I have no idea how fast that camera is clicking.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah.”

At his expletive, Adriana stirred. “Reid?” she whispered, attempting to twist in his arms.

He held her tight. “Stay still, baby.”

“Give me a sec to reach out to my dad,” Nolan stated.

Adriana stiffened. “Is everything okay?”

“No, hon. It’s not. Don’t move.” He waited for Nolan to come back on the line.

“Okay. I’m back. My dad will get the Arcadian Council moving. He’s also calling the police.”

“Talk to me,” Reid gripped the phone.

“Got a note under my door. They want me to meet them. I get to choose—me or you two.”

“Don’t you fucking meet them.”

“Oh, believe me, I’m clear on that. But they obviously know where I am and you too. It’s time, Reid. Do it.”

Reid’s hands were shaking so badly he had trouble holding the phone.

Adriana’s adrenaline was racing also. She didn’t try to move away from him—thankfully obeying his demand—but that also meant she could hear Nolan clear as day with her head so close to Reid’s.

“Do what?” she asked tentatively.

Reid squeezed his eyes shut and held her so tight it had to hurt. He didn’t want to do it. It wasn’t fair. “Nolan…”

“You promised.”

“Only to placate you,” Reid retorted, frustration building.

“Don’t you fucking renege on me, Reid. Not tonight. Her life is at stake. So is yours.” Nolan’s voice was louder.

Adriana’s voice shook when she spoke again. “Reid? What did you promise?”

Reid leaned his head toward her and nuzzled her neck. “Dammit.”

She jerked in his arms.

He drew her so close he could feel every inch of her sweet body tensing. “How do you know it’s not just a cameraman?” He closed his eyes and inhaled long and slow, cursing under his breath at the exhale.

“There’s a live video feed I’m watching. Men are surrounding you. Black clothes. Guns at their sides. I can’t identify them. Can you scent them?”

“Yes.” He inhaled again. So did Adriana. Reid continued to speak. “There are a lot of people in the vicinity. It’s hard to say which ones don’t belong, but I’m going to guess about eight. Human.”

“Not a single shifter?” Nolan asked.

“Not that I can detect.”

“The man who left the note was human also. Let’s hope no shifter is involved. That will give us leverage.”

“Marginally,” Reid responded, not feeling all that hopeful. Eight humans with guns could do a fuck lot of damage if they wanted. Even shifters couldn’t live through fatal gunshot wounds.

“Please tell me you have a weapon.”

“Of course I do.” It wasn’t legal, but Reid had one. He was a bodyguard. Granted, he was a legit bodyguard who didn’t carry a weapon as far as his clients were concerned. But he wasn’t stupid.

There was a moment of silence. “Reid…” Nolan’s voice was calmer, but the urgency was there.

“I know.”

“They aren’t there to kill anyone.”

“I know,” he repeated. Those men wanted hostages. Leverage.

“You can’t leave her unprotected.”

“I know that, too.” Reid blew out a breath.

Adriana gasped, squirming in his arms. “No,” she stated emphatically the instant she must have realized what Nolan and Reid had agreed upon.

“Baby…” Reid grasped her wrist with his free hand and held it between her breasts. “Calm down.”

“No. We can’t.” She sobbed.

“Let me talk to her,” Nolan stated calmly.

Reid pulled the phone from his ear and held it to hers. He could hear every word Nolan said just as she obviously had.

“Adriana,” Nolan began. “Listen to me.”

“No. Not this time. Maybe you can order me to move in with a bodyguard and let him drive me around everywhere, but you can’t order me to bind to him. That’s crazy, Nolan.”

Reid stiffened as she referred to him so flippantly as if he were nothing but a hired man. He knew it wasn’t true, but it still hurt.

“Baby, there’s no other choice. Do this for me.”

“No.” Her voice cracked. She was near hysteria. “It’s not right, Nolan. I won’t.”

“Adriana. It’s not about right or wrong. It’s about keeping you alive. I’ve seen you with Reid. I know you feel the same thing for him you feel for me. Maybe this is Fate’s way of stepping in and making the choice easier for you.”

“No.” She shook her head, making it hard for Reid to hold the phone and keep her from squirming away from him.

He was having trouble keeping his own emotions in check. He needed to get his shit together and think about her.

Nolan’s voice dipped lower, soothing. “It’s done, baby. You’re surrounded. You can’t take a chance of being kidnapped and vulnerable. You need the connection. It’s the only way to keep you safe. And Reid too.”

That last part was true. Neither of them had stopped to consider what would happen if Reid were taken hostage. They’d only ever thought about protecting Adriana. After all, originally Reid hadn’t been a factor in this equation at all. But things had changed.

How much did Stephen Rimouski know about the three of them?

Reid shuddered.

Adriana breathed heavily, probably pondering Nolan’s last words. She also cried, silent tears running down her face. “I’m in love with you,” she whispered.

“I know, baby. It’s okay. Everything will be fine.”

“You would give me up to keep me safe?”

“I would do anything in the world for you, Adriana. So, yes. I’m going to do this. I’d rather know you were alive and leading a happy, full life than never see you again because I was too selfish to make the tough decision to let you go.”

She sobbed out loud again, her body shaking in Reid’s arms.

Reid tucked his lips between his teeth and bit down to keep his own emotions from tumbling out. It was time. He pulled the phone back to his ear. “I love you, man.”

“I love you too. Keep her safe.”

“You know I will.”

“I’m a sitting duck here.”

“I know. Wait for help. Don’t try to leave.”

“I’ve never felt so helpless in my life,” Nolan stated.

“Nor have I. I’ll wait as long as I can before I do it.”

“No.” The urgency in that word was intense. “Do it now. I’m watching the live feed. They’re inching closer, Reid. You don’t have much time. Moments. I don’t care what kind of gun you have, you can’t fight them. There are too many.”

Reid knew Nolan was right. He could scent the approaching danger. They were closing in on the house. They weren’t in a hurry because they thought he was sleeping. He needed to stay as still as possible until the last second to buy them some time. Any movement on his part or Adriana’s might be caught on camera, and then the unknown enemy would rush in.

“Later, man.”

“Later.” Nolan ended the call. If there were any other options… They couldn’t even shift. Not in the middle of a populated neighborhood surrounded by humans. Too risky. It was forbidden anyway. Shifting was never a choice, not even as a last resort if there was even a chance humans would discover them. With at least eight humans closing in, Reid and Adriana needed to remain smart. Alert.

And bound.

Reid dropped the phone to the pillow behind him and held a sniffling Adriana closer. He tucked her free wrist in with the first to hold them between her breasts. It wasn’t that he was trying to restrain her, but that he wanted her to feel secure. Loved. Cherished.

With his free hand, he brushed her hair from her neck and kissed the spot where her neck met her shoulder. “Adriana?”

He needed her consent. Binding a woman without consent was strictly forbidden.

She shuddered, panting.

“You know I love you, right?” he stated.

“Yes.”

“Adriana?” He still needed verbal consent. Someone was literally on his front porch. Another two men were on the back deck. He knew it. She did too. They were probably waiting for a command that would come when Nolan didn’t show up at the planned location.

“I love you too.”

“I know, baby. It’s going to be okay.” He wasn’t sure of his own words at all. How was this ever going to be okay? But he had to trust that Fate knew what She was doing. They were out of time. There were no other options.

“Do it,” she whispered.

Reid didn’t hesitate. He licked the spot he intended to bite and immediately sank his teeth into her. A second later he let the serum that would bind them together for life flow into her bloodstream.

She flinched at the initial bite, but then she slowly relaxed against him. Her heart rate picked up, as did her arousal. She moaned.

Reid’s cock jumped to attention. It wasn’t surprising. That’s how a binding worked. They would be thrust into a new level of lust neither of them could imagine. After living with her for the past week, he couldn’t fathom craving her more than he already did, but he’d heard the stories from everyone he’d ever met who was bound to another. Intellectually, he knew. In real life, it was still shocking.

Her breath came heavily as he released her neck and licked the puncture wounds with his tongue. A war raged inside him. Half of his body insisted he flip her onto her back and fuck her until she couldn’t see straight and didn’t have the ability to form words. The other half was fully aware there was a threat to their lives looming outside.

He had no choice but to deal with the second problem first. Later they would consummate this union. Not now.

“Reid…” Her voice was nothing but a thready breath of intense need.

“Pull it together, baby.” He gripped her wrists tighter and spoke into her ear.

She started shivering and then flat out shaking. “Oh God.”

“I know,” he whispered, his lips on her sweet lobe. “Ignore it. We have to neutralize this situation before anything else.”

“Right.” She panted, her ass thrusting back against his cock. And then she moaned. “My God. Reid…”

Damn, this was hard. He hadn’t considered how fucking difficult it would be to fight the hard battle right after binding to his mate. A near impossibility.

“They aren’t moving.”

“I know.” He tipped his head back, partly to draw in a deep breath that wasn’t laced with pure Adriana and partly to assess the situation. No one was moving. He still counted eight men. All close. All stationary. They had no idea the people they were hunting were aware of their arrival and far more than human.

“What do we do now?” she panted out.

“Wait. I want them to think we’re still asleep and unaware.”

“They will come inside though, right? I mean soon? Because they’ll have to show Nolan they meant business.”

“Yes.” Seconds ticked by. The longest ones of his life. He alternated between concentrating on the imminent threat and fighting back the lust he felt for the woman in his arms.

“Need you,” she murmured, tipping her head to kiss his knuckles between her breasts.

“Hold it at bay, baby. You have to.”

“I know.” She kissed him again, her tongue darting out to taste his skin.

He moaned, reaching for her jaw with the hand he had on her shoulder and gripping it to keep her from touching her lips to his hand again. “Adriana, help me out here.”

She sucked in a breath. Or a sob. “My skin is crawling.”

“I know.”

“I’m too hot.”

That was also true. He wished he could fling back the covers to give them space and air, but he couldn’t. They needed to remain as still as possible for as long as they could. He concentrated on her breaths, shallow, slow, in and out. In and out. In and out. She was breathing through her mouth. He couldn’t blame her. It wouldn’t completely keep her from scenting him, but it would cut down on the powerful nature of the binding.

He did the same, parting his lips but realizing the difference was subtle. He could taste her on his tongue with every breath as if her pheromones were a palpable solid in the air. Hardly different from breathing her scent in through his nose.

No one outside moved. How long had it been? Would they give Nolan extra time? Maybe they were negotiating with him again.

“Terrance.” Hearing his last name spoken into his head so abruptly startled him. He didn’t recognize the voice.

“Yes?”

“Laurence here. From the Arcadian Council.”

“Thank God.”

“Can you hear me too, Adriana?”

“Yes,” she communicated. Her body relaxed marginally in his arms.

“We’re watching your condo. Charles and I. Waiting for backup. There are only two of us. Eight of them. They have no idea we’re behind them.”

Thank Fuck.

“Nolan Osborn. You need to get someone to him. He’s—”

“Already on it. Henry and George are at his hotel.”

Reid blew out a long breath.

Adriana started to move.

He held her tighter. “Don’t move, baby. They still don’t know we’re onto them.”

“Right,” she muttered.

“Hang tight. I wasn’t sure at first that you two were aware of the danger.”

“Yes. Nolan called.”

“There’s a man with a camera aimed at your room and another with a video scanning the area.”

If Nolan was still watching, he had to be freaking out.

“We know. That’s why we haven’t moved an inch since Nolan called.”

Did Laurence chuckle into their minds? “It seems like you moved at least an inch. Smart decision, by the way. I was wondering if it was a coincidence or you had inside info.”

Right. Of course. Laurence could scent the fact that they had completed the binding.

Adriana twisted her hands in Reid’s grip and threaded her fingers with some of his.

“Last resort,” Reid replied, flinching the second the words left his mind. That didn’t come out right.

Laurence definitely chuckled this time. “In my experience, a woman doesn’t usually appreciate it if her man refers to their binding as a last resort.”

Was Adriana giggling? Her body shook. Yes. She was. Thank fuck. “It wasn’t romantic. That’s for sure,” she added.

“I bet. But no less powerful,” Laurence added, his voice serious once again.

“True,” she added softly.

Suddenly Laurence was in only Reid’s mind, the subtle difference obvious to him. “Don’t mean to sound crass or make light of things, son. I’m just trying to keep your mate’s mind off the threat.”

“Appreciated.”

And then Laurence was back in both their heads. “When this is over, you might want to swat him upside the head a few times, miss.”

Reid wasn’t sure he liked this particular advice even if it was an intentional tactic to occupy his mate’s mind.

She giggled again, her sweet behind rubbing against his cock as her body shook. Her nipples were rock hard peaks against his forearms.

How she could so easily be distracted was beyond him, but the council members had powers no one could ever understand. No doubt Laurence was controlling her mind enough to calm her. Luckily he left Reid alone, enabling him to pay close attention to their surroundings.

It was also possible that Laurence was manipulating Reid too. Perhaps helping tamp down the arousal to keep him focused. Reid wasn’t sure how he felt about that either, but he assumed, in the end, he would be grateful. Keeping his head in the game could be the difference between life and death.

“I need to make contact with my parents,” Adriana communicated.

“We already have,” Laurence responded. “They’re fully informed. You concentrate on keeping safe.”

She nodded against Reid, her fingers tightening in his.