“Jackson, I’m scared. I think there’s someone outside the door.” Polly’s voice is shaking.
“What happened?”
Polly explains her dream to me.
A blond man? I don’t know if I pissed off a blond man before. Lion? I need to call Tyson. “Okay. Where are you in the apartment?” I ask.
“Your room,” she tells me, and I’m surprised by that revelation.
“Good. This is what I need you to do, inside my closet, behind the dress shirts, is a wall safe. The code to it is five-eight-nine-five.” She tells me that she got it. “Grab one of the guns. Go into the bathroom and lock the door. I’ll be home in four hours.” I hang up with her and dial Tyson.
“Mother fucker, it’s four in the morning. You better be dying,” he barks.
“Polly. She had a dream about being tortured by a rival shifter gang. They were panthers, leopards, and lions. The main guy was blond-haired.”
“Fuck. It’s Charlie. I heard he was making plans to come in and take over. How did he know about Polly?”
“He’s staking out my apartment. She’s there. I’m leaving now to get back to my place. I’ll wake the guys,” I growl as I get dressed. I grab my cut and leave my room to start banging on doors, informing the guys we’re heading home immediately. There’s an emergency.
“I’m going to head over there now. Let her know I’m coming, and that I have a key. Where is she in the apartment?”
“My bathroom. The door is locked. A key is under my mattress.” I hang up with Tyson. The guys finally meet me by our bikes and the van. I tell them about Polly.
We made it home in record time, under three and a half hours to get there. Tyson called me to let me know that Polly was gone. Once I make it to my apartment building, I take the steps two at a time.
“Tyson!” I shout when I run into my apartment.
“She was gone when we arrived. I lost her scent about two miles from here. I’m sorry.”
“Fuck!” I punch a hole into the wall. “I should’ve made her stay at the clubhouse when I knew I wasn’t going to be here. She was afraid of the beasts, and I led her straight to one.”
“It’s not your fault. We didn’t know that she’d be targeted by a mad man,” Finn tries to reassure me.
“I need to get out there and look for her. I know her scent better than anyone.”
“The sun’s coming up. You can’t go out there in panther form.” Tyson has a tight grip on my upper arm. “Take someone with you, but go on your bike.”
“Is that an order?” I snap at him.
“Yes! Either you listen to me, or I’ll lock you in a fucking basement.” Tyson stares into my eyes.
“Fine. Finn, let’s roll.” Finn and I leave the building and start riding so I can pick up her scent. I can’t understand why I can’t smell her. It’s almost like someone masked it, and it’s getting frustrating.
We stop to gas up the motorcycles and get coffee. My phone rings, and I see Polly’s name flashing on the screen. Snapping my fingers, I get Finn’s attention as I accept the call. “Polly! Where are you, baby?”
“Polly can’t come to the phone right now,” the male’s voice sings. “Now, Jackson…do you mind if I call you Jackson?” he teases. “You have something of mine, and I want it back.”
“I don’t even know who you are,” I yell into the phone. Finn’s on the phone with, I’m assuming, Tyson.
“It’s your brother, Jackson.”
I stumble. Jason? “What do I have of yours? I’ve never wanted anything to do with you.”
“Come alone, and I’ll let you know what it is. Here’s the address.” I write down the information on the gas receipt. “I’ll know if you’re not alone. Hurry because I think Polly here is getting ready to know what it’s like to be with a real man.”
“Touch her, and you’re dead. Do you hear me?” I snarl.
Finn stands in front of my bike. “You’re not going alone, are you?” he asks.
“No. I’m not stupid, but give me thirty minutes before you call Tyson. I need to do this alone. My brother is dumb.”
Finn nods and takes off in the other direction while I continue to drive down the road. I’m already almost there.
276
Polly Lawrence
My dream is coming true. I’m in this dark room, chained to the wall. I was in the bathtub, and I received a text from Tyson that he was coming over. I heard the doors opening and a couple of guys saying my name. They never called out who they were, so I never answered them. Next thing I know, two men came barreling in. I fired the gun a couple times but missed completely. One of them punched me in the head, which sent me flying back into the corner of the tub. Everything went dark for me, and I woke up in this room.
I hear men talking outside the door. I stand, but my legs are weak. The chains won’t allow me to move very far, but I hear Jackson’s voice. My heart flutters, hearing him say my name.
“Oh, look, my brother’s mate is awake. I was hoping that you’d come play with me. I’m more fun than him, but he is on his way.” Jackson has a brother?
“Go to hell, you spineless mother fucker. I don’t know what sick and twisted plans you have in mind, but Jackson knows better than to come for me.”
The man laughs. “You don’t understand how imprinting works, do you, love?” He wraps my brown hair around his finger. He pulls my hair, making me stumble toward him, scraping my toe on the floor. I think I broke my toe and cry out in pain. “He will defy the president to come and find you. You are his, and
