Quinn's Quest

Chapter Five

Chrissten didn’t know if it was morning or night. It was all the same to her. Hours bled into hours. Days passed in a sameness that made her lose hope. They’d moved her again and she had no idea where she was. Not that she’d known before, but at least Bethany had.

Now she was alone. Again.

She closed her eyes to shut out her dismal surroundings. The room was tiny, barely large enough for a cot, a toilet and a sink. It was more like a prison cell than a room. The fact that her wrists were manacled to the sides of the bed completed the image. Her arms ached and she knew her wrists were rubbed raw from her desperate attempts to free herself. The metal had held but her skin had torn. The ripe scent of blood filled the air around her.

She was trapped. And like many creatures who found themselves in such dire straits she was tempted to chew her own hands off if she could free herself. It was probably just as well she was too weak to summon her wolf form or she’d have been sorely tempted to try. Of course, if her weakness hadn’t impeded her, the fact the manacles were coated in silver would have. Either way she was screwed.

Her brain was still foggy from the drug the doctor had pumped into her. Her body grew weaker with each passing day. Her strength waned.

She honestly didn’t know how much longer she could go on fighting. It had been so long. She could barely remember the carefree woman she’d been before. Her biggest worries had been paying the rent and keeping her nosy brothers out of her business.

Craig and Quinn. Their faces filled her mind and brought an ache to her heart. She missed them both. Oh God, how she missed them. She missed Quinn worrying about her, warning her to be careful riding the subway. She missed Craig asking her what was for supper. As a teenager, he’d been a bottomless pit. He was twenty now. A man.

She’d missed so much. She worried about them both, wondered how they were coping with her disappearance. One thing she knew for certain was they were searching for her. They were a loyal, loving family, depending on one another for support in everything. They wouldn’t stop looking until they found her body.

Chrissten worried that might happen sooner rather than later. The lack of food, the constant testing and, worst of all, the constant attempts to fight off Brian were slowly killing her. She’d lost weight and muscle tone. That combined with the silver-coated shackles made it impossible for her to summon her wolf.

She swallowed hard and ignored the growl of her empty stomach. The cold and damp sank into her bones and she wrapped her arms around herself to try to keep warm. There was just enough give in the chains attached to the manacles to allow the motion. It didn’t help.

She tried to picture herself in a cozy bed with about a dozen comforters thrown over her. She wiggled around slightly, trying to find a comfortable spot. When she found the sweet spot she sighed with relief.

With her eyes closed she could pretend she was somewhere else. It was the only way to get any relief from the unrelenting depression that threatened to crush her.

Strong male arms wrapped around her. Protecting her. Quinn, she thought at first. Then she frowned. No, it wasn’t her twin or Craig. The phantom male she’d created in her mind smelled delicious and he was so warm, almost hot. She was drawn to his strength, his heat.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured.

The fantasy was so tangible she could almost believe it was real. Then the sound of metal scraping yanked her from her waking dream and reality came crashing back down.

“Good, you’re awake.” The doctor strode into the room, a frown on his face. “It was quite a disruption to my schedule having to move so suddenly.”

As if she cared about his schedule.

He withdrew a needle from his pocket. “Let’s get some fresh blood so I can make sure the drugs have had no lingering effect on you.”

Chrissten didn’t speak to him. There was no point. She’d spent the first three months of her captivity desperately trying to reason with the man. But there was no reasoning with someone who was insane.

She wanted to lunge for his throat, but her own weakness and the manacles kept her at bay. He jabbed the needle in her arm. She didn’t even flinch. It would bruise, but it would heal. It always did. Or at least it had. The process was getting slower and slower each time. Another sign her body was wearing out. She still sported bruises from her escape attempt. If she were healthy they’d have been almost healed by now.

He took three vials before he withdrew the needle. He muttered to himself as he left, shutting the door behind him. Several bolts slammed home and she knew she was locked in again.

She closed her eyes, trying to recapture her earlier daydream. But it was impossible. It was gone.

A lone tear escaped the corner of one eye. It trickled over her skin, disappearing into the hair at her temple. She ignored it and began to count backward from a million, praying she’d fall asleep so she could escape her cell if only in her dreams.

Bethany couldn’t help thinking about Chrissten, wishing her friend were here. Guilt was eating at her, reminding her she’d failed. She was free and Chrissten was still a captive. It wasn’t fair. But in her experience, little in life was.

She ran her thumb over the edge of her mug of coffee and watched the large group interact with one another. No, not group. Pack. This was a pack of werewolves and half-breeds. It had taken her some time but she’d finally put names to the faces of everyone here.

Michael and Benjamin were arguing over hockey scores from the night before while Kevin and Meredith discussed shipments for the bar. Teague teased a smile from Neema, promising he’d take her to see the latest werewolf flick at the theatre as soon as possible. The humor in that struck her and she almost grinned as she imagined the two half-breed werewolves critiquing the movie over popcorn and soda. It was all so bloody normal.

It hurt to watch them, but it fascinated her as well. They were a loud and boisterous lot. And they loved to eat.

Several tables had been pulled together in the bar area and they were all seated around eating piles of pancakes, bacon, eggs and toast. There was a ton of food but it was quickly disappearing.

Sharing the meal gave her the opportunity to sit back and study all of them. These people were different than anyone she’d ever met. Of course, they weren’t totally human, but werewolf. But it was more than that. It was the way they interacted with one another. Totally at ease. Individuals, yet somehow a unit.

Isaiah and Meredith were the alphas of this pack and both of them were incredibly memorable. Isaiah commanded attention simply by stepping into a room. The fact that he stood six and a half feet tall, all of it solid muscle didn’t hurt, but it went much deeper than simply physical. The man oozed power and testosterone. It radiated from his rugged face and dark eyes. Meredith was just as compelling, the perfect female counterpart, with her long black hair and blue eyes that reflected deep wisdom and love toward her family.

Then there were Meredith’s two grown sons, Michael and Benjamin. Benjamin was the younger, quieter of the two. They both looked a lot like their mother with their straight black hair and blue eyes. Michael’s face was more rugged.

As if sensing her perusal, Michael glanced her way and smiled. There was masculine interest in his eyes. She nodded and quickly looked away, not wanting to encourage him. Not when she knew he was drawn to her by the pheromones her body was throwing off.

Teague and Neema were mates. Teague didn’t look anything like the rest of them with his red hair and hard, suspicious green eyes. Tattoos covered his arms and a trio of gold hoops decorated his left earlobe. He looked dangerous. Neema was his total opposite. She was beautiful with her darker skin and brown eyes that were always filled with kindness. They were an unlikely pair but there was no doubting the love they shared.

Kevin was quiet and kept to himself. She didn’t find him quite as intimidating as the rest of them. He was the most normal of the lot, if that was the right word. His humanity seemed more in control than his wolf side.

Then there was Hank, who in spite of being a half-breed seemed just as intimidating as the other pureblooded werewolves. He was tall and broad and aloof with short blond hair and pale blue eyes. He was one intense dude, his gaze always moving, always watchful.

But no matter how much she tried to avoid him, she was always drawn back to Quinn. He was seated across from her talking to his brother. Craig was an anomaly. The only non-werewolf in the group. The only true human of the bunch.

She wished she was sitting beside Quinn, but she’d been late coming down after her shower and everyone else had been seated, leaving only one chair open. Still, it wasn’t a bad view. She could easily watch him out of her peripheral vision without him knowing it.

Damn, he looked fine. He’d showered and dressed and wore a black T-shirt that stretched at the seams as the material tried to contain his shoulders and biceps.

As she watched, he forked up some eggs and chewed them as he listened to whatever his brother was telling him. His strong jaw moved and the sunlight from one of the bar windows glinted off his blond hair. She knew how soft his hair was and wanted to run her fingers through it again. She wanted to do more than that with him, but it was a start.

“More pancakes?” Teague’s rough voice interrupted her daydream. She glanced down at her plate and realized she hadn’t eaten a bite.

“No, thank you.” She lifted her fork and knife and cut off a piece, popping it into her mouth, not because she particularly wanted to eat but because she didn’t want to be impolite. As hungry as she was, her stomach still felt jumpy around all these werewolves.

The pancake practically melted in her mouth and she almost moaned aloud with pleasure. “This is so good,” she said after she swallowed. That was an understatement. These were the best pancakes she’d ever eaten.

“Thanks. Glad you like them.”

She glanced at Teague with surprise and he grinned. It made him look less forbidding somehow. “You made them?” She couldn’t hide her surprise. Last thing she expected was a macho werewolf to be able to whip up a huge batch of fluffy pancakes.

“Teague can cook anything.” Neema smiled at her mate. “He’s amazing in the kitchen.”

Bethany nodded and kept on eating. She had to stop stereotyping these people just because they were different. Heck, she was different too. That’s what had gotten her into this mess.

Isaiah put down his fork and picked up a mug of coffee. That seemed to be the signal that mealtime was over and it was time to get down to business. The other males lowered their utensils and leaned forward to listen.

“What do you know?” Isaiah addressed his question to Craig, who was in the process of pushing his own plate away. The younger man looked tired and she knew he hadn’t gotten much, if any, sleep. He’d been working nonstop for hours searching for clues of his sister’s whereabouts.

“Doctor Philip Morton, boy genius. He had two doctorates by the time he was twenty. He worked for the government in military research, primarily in genetics. He left them about two years ago, quite unexpectedly. I couldn’t find out exactly why. Those files were a little bit tricky and I didn’t want to risk setting off any alarms unless I had to.”

“You hacked into government files? The military?” Bethany was shocked and set her fork down on the side of her plate.

“Of course,” he replied. “How else could I find out what I needed to know?” Bethany made a mental note not to underestimate this man. He was young, but he obviously had skills that made her glad he was on their side.

“Anyway,” Craig continued. “The doctor’s parents were older when they had him. They’re both deceased, but they left him very well off.”

“How well off?” The sound of Quinn’s deep voice seeped into her cells as though they were starved and he was the only nourishment around. It frightened her how much she wanted to sit beside him and soak in his warmth.

This morning had been a revelation. She wasn’t frigid after all. All it had taken was the right man to bring out her sexuality. That and a bit of help from Mother Nature. This whole biology and going into heat thing was still freaking her out.

How could she figure out if what she felt for Quinn was real?

Not that it mattered. He obviously wasn’t looking for more than a sexual relationship. She could handle that. She was a grown woman. Why shouldn’t she have a friend with benefits?

She rubbed the back of her neck and tried to pay attention to the conversation.

“Filthy rich. I’ve been doing some digging into local property in his name, his parents’ names and various combinations of all of them, in case he’s trying to hide anything. I’ve come up with a list of seven properties so far, mainly on the South Side, but I’m still looking for possible dummy companies that he might own. The name on the title of the abandoned building where Bethany and Chrissten were held is under a totally different name.”

“So we search the buildings you’ve found one by one while you look for more.” Hank picked up his mug and sipped his coffee. Intensity rolled off him in waves. “If we split up into teams, we can be more effective.”

They all looked to Isaiah, and Bethany realized that his word was final. The dynamics of the group was fascinating. They all had their say, but ultimately any decisions were made by the alpha.

As a person who’d spent her entire life with one parent and then alone, it felt strange to be a part of a group, even if it was only a temporary thing.

Quinn was practically vibrating with barely suppressed anticipation. She knew he wanted to get out there and start looking. She couldn’t blame him one bit.

She also knew he’d be taking that list and checking each building no matter what Isaiah said. Like her, he wasn’t really part of this pack.

“I’ll take Michael and Benjamin. Quinn, you and Hank and Teague can go together. We stay in larger groups. It might take longer, but we don’t know what the heck we’re up against.”

“I want to go.” The words were out of her mouth before she’d had time to think them through. “It’s only right.” She wanted, actually needed, to be a part of this. Chrissten had sacrificed herself, and the only way Bethany could repay that debt was by finding her friend.

Isaiah inclined his head, acceding to her right to go with them. “Go with Quinn’s group.” He glanced at the rest of the pack. “The rest of you need to get the club ready for business. Damek will be contacting us if he finds out anything.”

“Who is Damek?” They’d mentioned him before but she still knew nothing about him. His name had made all of them take a deep breath. He had to be pretty special to draw that kind of reaction.

One corner of Isaiah’s mouth kicked up in a grin. “Damek is a law unto himself. He’s also a vampire and not someone you want to cross.”

Bethany shivered at the warning. “A vampire? Truly?”

Meredith smiled. “Truly. And why not? We’re werewolves.”

“But a vampire…” She trailed off, not quite knowing what to say. It was crazy. Then again, her entire life was crazy these days. Who would have thought vampires were real. Did he live in a coffin? Drink blood?

“You okay?” While she’d been lost in thought chairs had been shoved back and most of the group had left the table. Quinn was beside her, watching her.

“I’m fine,” she told Quinn. She should have those two words tattooed on her forehead she’d said them so damn many times. But what else could she say?

“You don’t have to go with us.”

She found it hard to read his expression. Did he want her to go? Or did he think she was a pain in the ass for tagging along? No matter, she was going. Just because they’d slept together it didn’t make him the boss of her.

“Yes, I do. I want to,” she added. Somewhere out there, Chrissten was still being held captive. She owed it to her friend to find her.

“Good enough.” He nodded toward Hank. “As soon as he grabs his sniper rifle, we’re going to set out.”

It was a reminder of just how dangerous this mission was. But Bethany didn’t care. No one would worry or mourn if something happened to her. But Chrissten had family and Bethany was determined to reunite them.

It was the least she could do before she went home to Detroit. Speaking of which… “Do I have time to make a call?”

Quinn shrugged. “Sure. You can use the phone in Meredith’s office. She won’t mind.”

For a second, Bethany thought she saw heat in Quinn’s eyes, a longing that matched the sensations racing through her. Then it was gone and his pale blue eyes were expressionless once again. “Thanks.”

She turned and walked away, feeling colder with each step she took. Okay, so they’d had hot sex. It was simply two adults coming together during a difficult time. Mutually satisfying. No need to get bent out of shape or wrap it up in pretty emotions.

And Bethany knew she was lying to herself. What she felt for Quinn was totally confusing. It went beyond simply sex. That she knew for sure.

Male hands fell heavily on her shoulders and she found herself whipped around. Before she could speak, lips, hard and firm, pressed against hers.

Quinn. There was no mistaking his taste, his scent for anyone else’s. She opened her mouth for him, allowing him inside. He growled low in his chest as he swooped in. His tongue twined with hers. Tasting. Plundering.

By the time he pulled back, they were both panting for breath. Somewhere along the line she’d wrapped her arms around his neck and he’d placed his hands on her ass.

His voice was gruff. “Make your call. We’re leaving in five minutes.”

She watched as he walked away, admiring his firm butt and the way his well-worn jeans cupped it.

“Do you need anything?” The deep male voice was so close she jumped. Michael was standing next to her, staring at her face. No not her face, her mouth. He really was good-looking with his black hair, strong face and stormy blue eyes—a masculine version of his mother. But he didn’t stir her physically or emotionally, not the way Quinn did.

Now she was the one who was staring. “The phone.” Her voice was a bit hoarse so she cleared her throat. “I need to make a call. It’s long distance, but I’ll pay for it.” At least she would as soon as she got replacement identification and was able to get a new bankcard. She didn’t have a lot of money in her account, but enough to cover her debts, including returning the forty dollars that Margaret had given her.

“In here.” Michael put his hand on the small of her back and urged her toward a door. Bethany knew he was simply being kind, but she hurried ahead, not wanting him to touch her. It felt wrong somehow. Like a betrayal.

Which was totally nuts. She and Quinn weren’t a couple. They’d had sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.

“Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” His voice was warm, like a caress. “If you need anything else don’t hesitate to ask. And if you’re still hungry, drop by the kitchen and Teague will make you anything you want.” She raised her eyebrow in question and he shrugged. “I noticed you didn’t eat much breakfast and you need to keep your strength up.”

The fact he’d noticed what she’d eaten, or hadn’t eaten as the case may be, made her feel slightly uncomfortable, even though he’d really done nothing to make her feel that way. He’d been nothing but cordial and nice to her. “I will. Thanks again.”

She hurried to the desk and picked up the receiver. When she glanced at the door it was closed and Michael was gone. Bethany released a deep sigh of relief. Being around the others wasn’t easy. She was still trying to understand them and herself.

She shook off all thoughts of Michael and Quinn and dialed information first to get the number for the superintendent of her apartment building. Then she placed the call.

Four minutes later she hung up the phone. She no longer had an apartment, but the super had agreed to box up her few belongings and hold them for another month. She’d had to promise him a hundred bucks to get him to do it. But it was better to lose the money than what few personal possessions she had.

There wasn’t much but there were pictures from her childhood of her and her mother. Those were irreplaceable. Plus, she longed to wear her own clothing. Meredith and Neema had both loaned her some tops and jeans and, while she appreciated their generosity, it wasn’t the same. She’d also like her small collection of books and music and knick-knacks, the little treasures she’d collected over the years. None of it was expensive, but no matter where she ended up she’d want her own stuff around her. It would help ground her wherever her new home happened to be.

She made another quick call, this one to the diner where she’d worked. As she suspected, the owner wasn’t happy with her. She pleaded a family emergency, and he finally agreed to send her final paycheck. She found a business card on Meredith’s desk and gave him the address for the bar. Even if she didn’t stay here until the check arrived she knew Meredith would forward it to her.

Feeling better to have done something to get her life back on track, she left the office and headed back to the main area of the bar. The other men were waiting. Isaiah, Hank and Quinn were carrying duffle bags and she suspected there were weapons inside.

“If you find a likely spot, call before you go in.” Isaiah pinned Quinn with his dark brown eyes. “I mean it, Quinn. Our best chance to get your sister out alive is to do this right.”

Quinn nodded.

Satisfied, Isaiah turned to Hank. “If you think you’ve found her, find a high spot in case they try to slip out.” The alpha turned to her, offering her reassurance. “Hank is former military and is trained for this.” What went unsaid was that Hank would shoot to kill whoever tried to take Chrissten away.

Hank nodded and headed toward the door. Bethany followed the men, her stomach in knots. Would they find Chrissten today? She prayed they would. She didn’t want to think about what had happened to her friend since the escape attempt.

We’re coming, Chrissten. Hang on. She thought the words, trying to project them out into the world, trying to send hope to her friend.