BEARedtoYouBBWShifterEroticRomanceARe (12 page)

She pulled it from her coat and flipped it open. The lit screen glared in the dark and she had to squint to read it.

Katie’s cell number. Maybe she had some good news? Abby checked the signal indicator. Two bars. She might be able to make a call out. She hit the Send button and crossed her fingers.

Good news. Give me some good news.

Katie’s cheerful, “Hey, stranger! Wh—” was like the song of angels.

“Oh. My. God! Katie! Where are you? I have so much to tell you but I don’t know if we’ll get cut off.” Abby smiled at Tarik and mouthed, “My friend, Katie.”

“Where are you?” Katie asked.

“I’m not sure. Somewhere in Canada I think.” Abby looked up and down the stretch of road but saw no signs. “We’re next to a road—”

“Canada? What’re you doing in Canada in the middle of the night? Why aren’t you at the cabin?”

“Long story. Where are you?”

“At the cabin, which, by the way, is empty. Where’s your stuff? And I’m not happy with you. You didn’t come and get me at the airport. I had to rent a car.”

“You’re here? In Alaska? And you have a car? And your phone works? There is a God!” She hopped up and down and grabbed Tarik’s arm. “She’s here! She can come and get us.”

Tarik nodded.

“Listen,” Abby said to Katie, not wanting to risk losing the connection—when she got home she was switching cell phone companies to the one Katie used! “I’m going to give the phone to somebody else, and I want you to take down some directions. Okay? And make sure you bring all your stuff. And your driver’s license. You’re not going back. Got it?”

“What’s going on?”

“Just get a pencil and listen. I’ll tell you when you get here.”

For the first time in who knew how many days, Abby felt like things were going to be okay. She handed Tarik the phone and he gave Katie detailed directions on how to find them. Then after making Katie promise to call when she arrived in Bear Creek, they skidded back down the sloping ditch to wait for her.

She was more than grateful for Tarik’s offer to hold her as they sat on a fallen log to rest for a bit. She was cozy and safe and warm in his arms. There, with a bazillion brilliant stars overhead, he kissed her. It wasn’t a demanding, taking kind of kiss. It was a sweet, romantic, gentle but oh-so-sensual kiss. A kiss she knew she’d never forget.

“Let’s go. We’ll head back to the hotel and wait for your friend there.”

“I can’t believe I just hiked a million miles for nothing.”

“We could stay here. We wouldn’t have to risk crossing back over the border. But I figured a hotel room would be a lot more comfortable, since it’ll take close to ten hours for your friend to drive down.” He kissed her nose and then pulled her to her feet. “If I have to, I’ll carry you.”

“Like hell you will. I can walk on my own two feet, thank you.” She softened her response with a smile. “This girl is no wimp.”

“Yet another reason to love you.”

Her heart did a happy little polka in her chest.

Tarik loved her?

She hadn’t been dreaming the first time she’d heard it.

Chapter Eight

“We’ve located the truck, sir,” Zant said from Torborg’s open doorway. “As we suspected, they’ve headed into Canada. We found it behind a motel in Bear Creek.” The man hesitated for a moment, like he’d wanted to say more. But he remained silent.

“Good. Time’s running out for Evert and the woman. We need to get them in before it’s too late. I want you to go down there. Talk to him. If anyone can convince him that I mean them no harm, it’s you.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll leave immediately. By the time I hit the border, my men should have them in custody. Should I tell them to transport Tarik and the woman to the hospital in White Moose?”

“No. They’re going to need very specialized care. We’re better off if we can get them back here. As quickly as possible. Dispatch the helo. I’m coming too. I want to be down there before they’re taken into custody. We have one shot at this. No one can afford for something to go wrong. We’re cutting it too close time-wise.”

“Very well, sir,” Zant said, jerking  a nod.

“Go. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

As soon as Zant left his office, Torborg picked up the phone to call The Director. Finally, some semi-good news to share.

He hoped it wasn’t too little too late.

* * * * *

Since arriving in Alaska, Abby had witnessed some ah-
maze
-ing sights but the one that took second only to seeing Tarik naked was finally seeing Katie.

Because Tarik was afraid of being spotted by the Omega goons or Canadian police, Abby had to play it real cool when she finally spotted her friend. Although her insides were hopping around like grasshoppers on crack, she had to swoop around the corner and snag her friend before she made it to the hotel’s check-in counter.

Since Katie was clueless, Abby made sure Katie saw her face right away. She had to know things were serious and she had to be quiet.

All it took was a second for Katie to register what Abby was trying to tell her. She acknowledged with a nod then followed Abby toward the back door. Tarik was waiting in the woods at the rear of the parking lot.

“What’s going on? What’s with the mime act?” Katie whispered as she hurried along beside Abby.

“This is what you get for sending me to Alaska alone. Oh my God, I’m glad to see you!”

Katie hesitated, pointing at the motel, visibly confused. “Where are we headed? Why aren’t we going to your room?”

“Long story. Can’t talk now. Where are you parked?”

“Around front.” Katie pointed back in the direction of the road.

“Can you pull the car around back? Just stop right there, by the woods. I’ll explain as soon as we’re safely on the road.”

“Sure, but—“

A white van rolled around the side of the building. There were no cars to duck behind so Abby did the next best thing—she ducked behind her friend. “Oh shit!”

“What? What?” Katie stuttered.

Ducking down low in a failing attempt to keep out of the van driver’s view, Abby whispered, “Why, oh why couldn’t you be at least three inches taller and about fifty pounds heavier? Just walk casually toward the building. Try not to call any attention to yourself.”

“Like the girl who’s not really hiding behind me won’t call any attention to me?” Katie asked too loudly.

“Shush! They’re after me.”

“Did you become a paranoid schizophrenic overnight?”

“No. Take my word for it. This is no delusion. Fuck!” The van was stopped directly in front of them and a door swung open. “Go get your car.” Abby turned around and sprinted toward the woods as fast as her stumpy legs could take her.

A man’s voice echoed behind her, “Stop!”

Sure the man was following her, she ran with all she had toward the forest and toward Tarik. It was probably not a good thing, leading that Omega jerk toward Tarik’s hiding spot, but she was hoping Katie would see those guys meant business and they’d be getting a ride before they were in handcuffs. She didn’t slow down when she broke through the bare brush at the forest’s front but a pair of strong arms jerked her to a sudden, tooth-jarring stop a few yards into the woods.

She just about screamed, until she realized it was Tarik. “They’re here. Omega,” she whispered between huffing breaths. Oh man, she was going to puke. She hadn’t run that hard since grade school.

“Yes, I see that. I know this guy, but I don’t know if he’ll help us. I tried to call him on the phone.”

“He might help?”

“It’s hard saying. Depends upon what kind of lies Torborg told him. I don’t believe Raul would ever do anything intentionally to hurt me, but he might do something equally bad if he was misled into believing he was helping me.”

“Got it. What do we do?”

“We wait for him to come to us. Which won’t be long.” He pointed over her shoulder and she spun around. “You go back there and hide behind that tree. If it’s safe, I’ll give you a signal. I’ll wave like this.” He lifted both arms over his head. “If I don’t signal, I want you to sneak around to your friend’s car.”

She caught his hands in hers and squeezed. “What do I do if something happens to you?”

“You go with your friend and get far, far away. As fast as you can. Now, go. He’s coming.” He gave her a not-so-gentle push and swallowing a few choice words, she marched off into the woods. No man pushed her around! No man. Bad guys or not, she’d make sure he understood that.

And there was no way in hell she’d abandon him if things went bad.

Hadn’t he figured that out already?

* * * * *

It couldn’t have been an accident that Raul Zant was the one to have found him. Tarik knew better than that. No, Torborg had planned this. Which meant Raul was probably being used as a pawn, lied to and manipulated, much like Tarik had been all these years.

He hoped he’d be able to convince his old friend of the truth. He had to try, if they’d have any hope of escaping. He wanted a chance to do some research, see exactly what Torborg had been up to, what kinds of experimentation Omega was conducting. He hadn’t had time to do anything yet. The motel in Bear Creek didn’t have the internet. How could he possibly blackmail his way to freedom without information?

Raul slowed as he reached the outer fringes of the woods. He peered between the trees, pushed aside some branches and stepped into the cool shadows. Being careful to stay hidden from the van and whoever else might be in it, Tarik approached his friend.

“Tarik,” Raul said on a sigh. He looked and sounded relieved. “I wasn’t sure what to expect when I found you. I’m glad to see you’re okay still.”

“Still?” Tarik asked, not ready to say much yet. Raul had been a true friend for several years now, but it was hard knowing what he knew, what he thought he knew, and what he intended to do about both.

If there was one thing Tarik was sure of, it was that Raul was one very strong and very determined individual. If he was on your team, you had a guy who would move Mt. Everest to make things happen. If he was on the other guy’s team, well, then you’d be damn lucky to finish the game at all, let alone win.

Whose team was Raul on?

“Yeah,” Raul said, giving Tarik a thorough once-over. “Torborg told me you’ve been exposed to some kind of contaminant that’s making you sick. If what he said is true, you need medical care. Now. Not two days from now. Or even two hours. He even sent the helo.”

“Is that right? What kind of contaminant did he say I’ve been exposed to?” Tarik asked.

“He didn’t go into any details but with the kind of stuff you guys work with in the labs, it’s not hard to figure it’s possible.”

“That’s interesting.” He eyed his friend. “Now that you see me, do you believe him?”

“Honestly? I don’t know what to believe. You yourself said you looked at him as a mentor, a friend. The man claims you’re like the son he never had. And you have to admit he’s always treated you like you’re special. So why would he lie? Why would he go to all this trouble and expense if it wasn’t true?”

“Yes, why do you suppose he’d do that?” Tarik asked.

Raul didn’t speak for a long time. Looking like he was contemplating the future of all mankind, he regarded Tarik with narrowed eyes. “Do you know for a fact you haven’t been exposed to anything dangerous?”

“Yes. I’m positive.”

“Because if you are sick and I don’t haul your ass into the hospital, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

“Believe me, I’m not dying from some kind of poisoning or exposure to a virus.”

Raul crossed his arms over his chest. “Then tell me what this is all about, Tarik.”

“I can’t. Not yet. Not until I know more. I need to get to a computer. I need a few hours at least. Will you help me?”

He heard the hum of an engine. It had to either be the van Raul had been driving or Abby’s friend. He glanced in the direction of the sound but his view of the parking lot was cut off by the scrub at the front of the forest.

Raul glanced in the same direction.

“Who’s with you?” Tarik asked.

“No one. At least not in the van. I left Torborg and Verga off at the front door to check in.”

Tarik glanced back toward Abby’s hiding spot. Had she walked around them? If she had, she’d been quieter than he’d given her credit for. “Then that must be my ride. I have my friend’s cell. I’ll give you the number. Abby’s friend probably has a pen in her car. We can keep in touch. I won’t call you. You call me. Okay?”

Raul slanted a glance at the motel. “Wellllll…”

“Torborg’s feeding you lies. I’m not sure exactly what he’s up to, but I know this must be important or he wouldn’t be going to such trouble and expense to find me. I will face him. Soon. But not yet. Not until I get some answers.”

Raul sighed. “Okay. But don’t wait too long. If there’s any chance he’s telling the truth, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Tarik nodded and pushed through the bushes, heading toward the parking lot. “What’re you going to tell him if he asks what kept you so long?” he asked.

Following, Raul answered, “I don’t know. I guess I’ll say I saw something in the woods.”

Tarik fought his way through the thick brush but halted midway between two lines of thorny bushes. “Fuck.”

Standing about twenty feet away, facing Tarik, was Torborg. And worse, the man was holding Abby, hostage-style, her back snug against his front, his arm across her chest, and a pistol in his hand. The barrel was pressed to her temple and Torborg’s finger was positioned on the trigger.

The blood pumping through Tarik’s veins turned to acid. “Let. Her. Go.” Even to his own ears, his voice had taken the pitch of a growl. He glared at Torborg while considering his options. He sensed an uncertain desperation about the man, like he felt as trapped as a rat in a jar.

Tarik knew the feeling all too well.

Torborg tipped his head, lifting his chin in a show of defiance. “I can’t let her go. You have to come with me. Now. Why would I let her go when I know she’s my ticket? To you. She’s your mate. You’d die for her.”

“
You’ll
die if you hurt her.”