“It’s one of my favorite spots down here.” I can’t help myself. Something has shifted between us. Everything has slowed and calmed after our run. Now we’re lying next to each other, enjoying the stillness.
“I sit, feeling closer to peace than I have in months.” She says telepathically. All I can do is stare. She’s on her back just looking up at the sky.
“The view’s good, but being here with you makes it phenomenal.”
Her lips twist into a half smile. They draw me in, begging me to take just one taste.
I stay in close proximity but slide away from her. My voice is low. “Every instinct is telling me to claim you, and I want you to know I’m working hard to keep that under control until we finish the business at hand."
She tosses me a glance, feeling powerful. “As a man or a beast?”
“Both,” I answer honestly.
“Interesting.” She leans over, putting her head on my chest, her hair spilling down my side. Stray curls push up, tickling my nose, and I use my hand to tame them.
“The sunset is perfect, like the kind on greeting cards.” She speaks to me, her mind to my mind.
The clouds dance across a cornflower powder blue sky. Our surroundings have changed and there are sections that make it seem as if all of civilization has vanished. There’s nothing but barren land for miles. I take in a deep breath, filling my lungs with the clean air. It’s happened. When shifters are mated their abilities to communicate telepathically are enhanced.
“I feel sorry for normal humans. They have to pay to get into places like this,” I admit.
“They also don’t get tranquilized if they’re found here,” she answers dryly.
I laugh. The water soaks through my fur. “This was the hottest thing I have ever done—also the scariest,” she admits. “Thank you. I really needed this. For a moment or two, I could just relax and be at peace.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Is it always like that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw things clearer. Felt so connected to everything…to you.”
“It’s because we’re fated to be together.”
I hadn’t planned on our outing up to the water’s edge to lead to us to this bonding experience of running wild together. And now it’s come to an end.
“I have to admit something else. You were right. There’s nothing else we can do for Linda by being here. They estimated she’s only been gone for approximately thirty-six hours. We need to get back so we can figure this mystery out.”
“Let’s get out of here then.”
We change forms, pull back on our clothes, then get something to eat before heading back home.
We spend the two-hour drive chatting about everything.
The more we talk, the more I forget our differences, forget I’m with an MC member. A man I should be afraid of, not feeling the way I do. I almost forget why we met in the first place.
138
Brayden
“How’s our girl doing?” Router asks out of concern.
“She’s tough and holding her own. She’s inside making arrangements for her sister’s funeral.”
“I know that’s got to be hard. My heart goes out to her. How are you doing, Brayden?”
“I’m good; holding my own too. Now I know you didn’t call to shoot the shit. What’s up?”
“I checked out the ME’s report and what happened to this girl was bad. She had a contusion on the back of her head. This girl was hit on the back of the head then strangled. Shot twice and stabbed repeatedly. God rest her poor soul.”
“Damn!”
“I don’t know who would do this. Did she have enemies?” I asked aloud.
“I asked Lizzie the same thing when we were hanging out,” Router said. “Lizzie said Linda was a doll. If you needed a dollar, she’d give you what she had in her wallet. She was always the one who was the mediator, always finding a way to keep the peace in their family.”
“And drugs”
“Yes, the tox screen came back that she had a hell of a cocktail in her system.”
“No, she wasn’t a user. Lizzie said she never did drugs. Hell, she wouldn’t take an aspirin for a headache, instead opting for something holistic.”
“Oh shit!”
“What?”
“The day Lizzie came in and I pulled the video off her phone, I set up alerts to let me know if that phone turned on, and also if anyone matching the description of the man turned up again and guess what.”
“The phone is not only on but it’s on the move.”
“Looks like we need to do some recon then. I’ll give Six a call.”
“It’s feeling more and more like they took her and she must have resisted. And then used her to set an example.”
“What do you think Lizzie is gonna do?” Router asks.
“Nothing. If we’re going to war, I don’t want her involved in this. Exposing her to that would do nothing but take her nightmares and PTSD to a whole new level,” I state.
“I get it, Brayden. You’re trying to walk her back from the big scary ledge, but sadly I think she’s already taken the leap. I’ve been there. You know some about my bad childhood. I wasted my teen years obsessing about things my mama did. I wanted to get inside of her head and understand why she was the way she was, and why she did those terrible things to me. All those unanswered questions almost drove me insane.”
“You never told me that before.”
“I’m an enigma. There’s lots of things you don’t know about me.”
“What finally made you let it go?” I ask.
“I got my power back when I realized I couldn’t change the past, but could do something about the future. Make sure I’m there to help people and right wrongs when the system let me down.” I’m left speechless. Her words are powerful beyond measure. I hadn’t thought about that before. I need to keep Lizzie in the loop, not push her out, not at a time like this.
“Take care of her, Brayden, and
