A movement caught his attention and he froze. The long grass and young saplings that grew on the small plateau whipped back and forth in the wind but between them he could just make out… Yes! Victor was crouched near the entrance of the mine. He’d shifted to human form and seemed to be pulling away rocks from the entrance.
Reno frowned. Had the mine entrance collapsed again since he and Brandi had used it earlier in the day? He winced at the memory of his shoulders scraping against the sides of the passage, bits of dirt and rock peppering down on him. Yeah, it had been a tight fit and given all the rain, it wouldn’t be surprising if the tunnel had given way. The ground was waterlogged and likely growing more unstable by the hour. Not that it mattered. If Victor thought to escape through the mines, he had another thing coming. The ACS wouldn’t let the man avoid facing justice.
Keeping as low as his injured leg would allow, Reno crept forward with practised stealth, covering the distance as quickly as possible. Victor was intent on his job seemingly unaware that he was being stalked. Perhaps the clatter of stones being moved and the patter of the rain were blocking out all other sounds. Or perhaps he was just so intent on saving his own skin that he was being careless.
Within striking distance, Reno stopped. He could attack while the man was unaware, it would be a fair turnabout. No, he wouldn’t stoop to that level. Wolf to wolf or man to man, that was how his honour demanded he fight.
Shifting forms, Reno winced, the usual euphoric pleasure of shifting blocked out by the protests of his injured leg. Under some circumstances, shifting was a recommended medical treatment to aid in healing. This, he was sure, wasn’t one of those times.
“Victor.” He called out the man’s name.
Surprisingly the Purist gave no sign of being startled. Instead, he simply paused then slowly set down the rock he was holding.
“Smith.” Victor spoke without inflection, not even turning around. “I was wondering if you’d find me before I made my escape.”
Reno quirked a brow. “Are you happy or pissed off?”
Victor shrugged, straightened, and turned around. “It doesn’t matter. We’re destined to have our day, whether it’s now or later. The fates have decreed it.”
“Really?”
“Ever since Langstaff.”
Reno stiffened. Langstaff. Was the damned place going to haunt him all his life? He searched his mind, wondering how Victor was connected to that debacle.
His puzzlement must have shown for Victor snorted in disdain. “You don’t know? And here I thought you were supposed to be so clever. You continually disappoint me, Smith.” He mockingly shook his head.
Keeping his face expressionless, Reno didn’t respond. Victor was trying to rile him and he refused to give the man the satisfaction. Instead he sorted through all the facts of the Langstaff case, trying to figure out what the annoying bastard was referring to.
Victor wasn’t pleased by the silence. He compressed his lips and clenched his fists before continuing. “The Alpha you killed was my half-brother, but I suppose it’s too much to expect you to recall the names of all of your victims.”
Before he could stop himself, Reno felt his eyes widen. He hadn’t been expecting that. Studying Victor, he could see a resemblance though. “Scum runs in your family, I guess.”
Victor curled his lip, hatred flashing in his eyes before he smoothed his features and continued on coolly. “When you came to Kolding’s Pass, I couldn’t believe my luck but with the conclave meeting today, I didn’t have time to deal with you properly. My plan was for you to leave this morning in front of a number of witnesses. Then Walt and his crew were going to run you off the road near the base of the mountain, bring you back here and hold you until I could deal with you at my leisure. A long, slow and painful death seemed appropriate.”
“Sorry to have messed up your plans.” Reno tried to keep his face blank as he adjusted his stance. His leg felt like someone was stabbing hot needles into it and he wished he was back in wolf form. Three good legs were preferable to one.
“It happens.” Victor gave a thin lipped smile. “I see your leg still hasn’t healed.”
Reno realized his movements had given him away. Damn, he hated tipping off his opponent. He flicked his gaze up and down Victor then frowned when he noticed the man’s pant leg was soaked with fresh blood. Red droplets were slowly dripping down the side of his shoe as well. Surely, he hadn’t inflicted any wounds that serious. And even if he had, they should have been at least partially healed by now and well beyond bleeding.
Victor must have noticed the direction of his stare for he stiffened and raised his chin. “Yes, I bear the sign of a pure-blood—slow clotting. Some might say it’s a genetic defect, but we wear it as a badge of honour that our ancestors have held true to the way of the wolf.”
Reno snorted. “Too much inbreeding, that’s what it’s a sign of—another thing you Purists don’t take into account when you spout off about blood purity.” Something one of the leaders had said came to mind and Reno realized the clotting problem was probably why Victor seldom fought; the man couldn’t heal quickly enough from his wounds. No wonder he fought dirty. Getting in an early, lethal blow was the only way he’d likely win a fight.
The knowledge gave Reno an edge. Victor wouldn’t want to engage in an altercation again this soon. Now if he could only distract the bastard long enough until the ACS arrived. He wiped away an irritating raindrop that was trickling down his face and considered his opponent.
Moving forward in a seemingly casual way, he picked a topic that was sure to grab the man’s attention, even if it was like twisting a knife in his own gut to mention it. “That’s why you were considering mating Brandi, wasn’t it? You needed some fresh blood in your lineage.”
“I’ve researched the pack and with the exception of this current group of halves, the blood line is clear of contamination. Brandi should breed well, but if she proves too difficult, there are other females in the pack who would serve my purpose once they reach the proper age. She’s merely convenient for my purposes at the moment though not irreplaceable in my overall plan.”
As he spoke Victor side-stepped away from the tunnel and towards the coal conveyor.
“Hmm… I see.” Reno nodded his head as if the man’s logic was perfectly reasonable. “But now you’re running? Did the arrival of the ACS change your plans?”
Victor looked at the tunnel entrance he’d been trying to clear, then shrugged. “I wasn’t running, merely making a strategic retreat. You’ll note I didn’t attempt to hide my trail.”
“Or you didn’t think you had time.”
Victor narrowed his gaze. “I’m starting to seriously dislike you, Smith.”
“I’m way ahead of you on that. I already despise you.”
Throughout the conversation, Reno had been advancing and Victor retreating, moving ever closer the ledge where the conveyor was situated. Reno had no real strategy in mind. His own ability to fight was impaired. His only thought was to keep Victor here long enough to give the ACS time to arrive. It meant he’d be arrested himself, but capturing Victor was more important at the moment. If the man got into the tunnels, would they ever find him? Klaus might, but Reno didn’t know where the old Alpha was at the moment. And the fact that Victor was trying to get into the tunnels through this entrance meant he must know the mines better than expected.
By now Victor was standing inside the actual conveyor. The structure creaked under his weight and Reno eyed the rusting metal and weathered wood wondering how much it would withstand. Victor backed up even more and Reno took another limping step forward. It brought him onto a short expanse rather like a loading dock that connected the conveyor to the mountain side. The wood sagged a bit under his feet but then stabilized.
He eyed the interior of the conveyor noting that a belt made of some rubber-like substance ran down the middle of the floor space. It was showing signs of decay and in places there were actual holes allowing glimpses of the cylindrica
l rollers it lay upon. The rollers were supported by a frame along each side and it was on to this narrow walkway that Reno stepped.
The sound of metal shifting and groaning filled the air. Reno froze in place unsure if the trembling beneath his feet was caused by the buffeting of the wind, or if the metal monstrosity was giving notice of its imminent collapse.
His concerns must have shown on his face for Victor gave an evil chuckle. “Not so keen on heights, are you?”
“The height doesn’t bother me.” He shrugged and took a quick downward glance. At one time the conveyor had been encased by a metal shell but a number of panels had since fallen off leaving only metal struts to interrupt the ample view in all directions. The land dropped away abruptly beneath the conveyor and the ground underneath was covered with a variety of sharp edged stones that had been dumped there when the mining tunnel was originally excavated. If someone fell from this height and landed on them, the chance of survival was minimal.
“Really? You’re not afraid? Let’s test that theory.” Victor moved deeper into the conveyor.
Shadows cast by the remaining bits of metal siding soon hid the man from view. Not trusting the Purist enough to let him out of sight, Reno was forced to follow.
Faint creaks and groans accompanied each of his steps. He kept one hand on the metal struts, trying to keep some of his weight off his leg. His other hand was clenched in a fist, ready to react at the first hint that Victor would attack.
Scanning the shadows of the long, narrow interior, he searched for the Alpha. A flash of movement, a glimpse of a pale face… Victor lunged forward in the attack Reno had been expecting. The Purist had found a metal rod from somewhere and was swinging it at him.
Instinctively Reno jumped away, one foot landing on the actual conveyor belt. It shifted, rolling forward, and he stumbled sideways, his bad leg unable to support him. His full weight landed heavily on the side brace of the conveyor. It screeched in protest, the base of the metal strut he grabbed at for support pulling loose in his grip. Scrambling to find something, anything, to hold on to, Reno found himself staring down at the rock strewn ground some forty feet below.
Chapter 30
Fuming at the turn of events, Brandi sat tugging at the ropes that bound her wrists and were wrapped around the trailer hitch of the van. No one seemed inclined to explain to her how she’d come to be viewed as a leak within Lycan Link. Instead, they’d only accused her, tied her up, and left her sitting on the back bumper of a van in the pouring rain. Several times she’d called out, hoping someone would have enough time to talk to her, to explain what the evidence was, but so far no one had even glanced her way.
Around her, Enforcers milled about herding the Purists they’d already captured into the vans that had pulled up moments earlier. The captain was on the far side of the site, talking into his cell phone, directing the ACS officers who were still scouring the mountains for Purists. Others were in negotiations with those who were holed up in the mine, trying to talk them out before employing force.
From what she’d overheard, the talks weren’t going well but it was the Enforcers’ own fault. If she’d been asked, her skills as a DC officer would have had the Purists at least considering the options she was presenting. However, no one had asked for her services and even if they had, after the way she’d just been treated, she wasn’t sure she’d be inclined to help.
Damn, how had this situation become such a mess? A simple visit home to her birth pack had blown up in her face and become a major incident. Al had been right. She should have gone to some tropical resort for a vacation. She gave a rueful laugh thinking of how pleased he’d be if she told him he’d been right; that was something that had seldom happened over the three year course of their partnership.
Brandi frowned, wondering what Al thought about the charges against her. Did he even know about them? Had he tried to defend her? Or was he a suspect too? And what about the ACS? Did Reno’s team really believe he was guilty of conspiring with Purists? The thought of him out there, injured and alone while being hunted down by his coworkers, made the knot in her stomach tighten. She should be with him, helping him avoid capture and finding Victor.
A frustrated growl escaped her lips and she gave another futile tug on the ropes that bound her. The ropes chafed her wrists, the skin already raw from previous struggles, and her upper arms protested being pinned back for so long. Of course, they’d put her arms behind her ensuring she couldn’t transform; a wolf’s legs just didn’t bend that way.
The sound of someone giving a shout drew her attention and she craned her neck to see what was going on. A small group of individuals was approaching. It was Klaus, followed by Peter, Aran, and Darcy as well as some of the wolves that she’d seen hiding in the woods. She gave a sigh of relief knowing Klaus would explain what was going on. In just a few minutes this whole misunderstanding would be straightened out and she’d be free to go after Reno.
Eagerly she watched the men talking, wishing she could hear the conversation but between the rain and the noise the Enforcers were making it was impossible. The captain gestured towards her and she waited expectantly for Klaus’ look of shock. She grinned, thinking of how her Alpha would rip into the captain for treating a member of his pack this way. If she weren’t so anxious to be free, she might have enjoyed watching a confrontation between the two strong personalities.
However, the longer they talked, the more confused she became. No war of words seemed to be ensuing. If anything, the men had stepped closer together. Brandi leaned forward, nibbling on her lower lip and wondering what was going on. Whatever the captain was saying, Klaus seemed to be listening intently to it, his face clouding, his hands curling into fists. Finally he turned, but it was only to shoot a condemning look her way.
Brandi felt the iciness of his stare cut right through her. Shocked, she shook her head in denial but Klaus turned away, rejecting the plea for help that she was sure had been on her face. What had the captain told him? And why did Klaus obviously believe the preposterous tale? Even Peter was casting glares in her direction! Surely after their long talks while jailed in the town hall, the man should know she was incapable of conspiring with the Purists.
Her shoulders slumped as the hope that had welled inside her deflated. The men had turned their backs on her in an age old gesture of rejection and she knew there’d be no rescue coming from that front. Around her, Enforcers—men she’d worked with on numerous cases—walked past as if she weren’t even there; no more deserving of notice than an annoying insect or something nasty stuck on the bottom of a shoe.
A lump formed in her throat as she contemplated how her world was falling apart around her. Her own pack, the people who’d raised her, who she’d spent the last few days trying to help, believed the worst of her. Her mate—a man who didn’t even know he was her mate—was out there, somewhere, being hunted down by his own men. And here she was tied up waiting who knew what fate, surrounded by people who seemed to hold her in contempt. Tears spilled from her eyes, mixing with the drops of rain that fell off her face. She shivered in the cold, a feeling of despair filling her.
“So, what are you in for?” A mocking voice suddenly sounded by her ear and she jerked around, stunned to see Reno’s partner, Damien, hunkered down beside her. He must have moved so stealthily that she hadn’t even heard his approach.
In a quick glance, she took in his features. His thick black hair was wet and slicked back from his face while his shirt was soaked, clinging to his torso and outlining his impressive build. If she weren’t already in love with Reno, her heart would probably be doing flip-flops right now. Instead, it was only aching with worry.
“What… ?” She clamped her lips shut and glanced around to make sure no one was looking her way before continuing. “What are you doing here?” As Reno’s partner, she wondered if he were under suspicion as well.
“I came to help.” He shrugged and gave her a crooked grin. “I called the captain, said I was s
orry I missed his summons to return but that Beth was very understanding and insisted I should go help out my squad.”
“Beth? Your latest girlfriend?” Brandi frowned trying to recall the most recent rumours about Damien’s love life.
“My mate.” A look of love and pride came into his eyes when he said those words and Brandi’s heart did a little skip. Would Reno ever look that way when speaking about her?
“Your mate? Oh. Um… Congratulations.” The revelation stunned her. She’d never thought of Damien as the kind to settle down and the concept left her tongue-tied.
“Thanks.” He grinned at her cheekily, obviously enjoying her confusion. “We’re supposedly on our honeymoon, or at least that’s what I told Lycan Link to explain my sudden absence. Reno said he needed me here and it just all sort of meshed together.”
“And the captain believed that you’d give up your honeymoon to help out?” Brandi raised her brows. “He’s not an idiot.”
“No. But he is overwhelmed right now and very busy. He thought he was dealing with the simple capture of one or two officers suspected of conspiring with the Purists. Instead he arrives at the airport here and finds an urgent anonymous tip waiting for him. Turns out that a major Purist meeting is taking place in Kolding’s Pass and the captain’s suddenly left scrambling to bring in enough manpower to deal with the situation. He’s just grateful that I checked in.”
“An anonymous tip?” Brandi cocked her head, trying to figure out how that could have happened.
“Uh-huh. My Beth is a good, upstanding Lycan. When she overheard a conversation about Purists gathering in Kolding’s Pass, she just had to report it… anonymously.” Damien gave her a wink but then sobered, studying her carefully. “So, did you do it?”
“Do what? No one’s telling me anything.” She tried to gesture with her hands to show her confusion but of course they were still bound behind her. It only increased her frustration and bitterness. “That idiot, Jackson tackled me just as I was going to help Reno. He told me I was under arrest, and dragged me over to the captain acting like he’d caught a hardened criminal. The captain just said I was conspiring with the Purists and told Jackson to tie me up and stick me over here until he had time to deal with me.” Her anger over that treatment heated up again and she was surprised the rain didn’t sizzle when it landed on her skin.