Yielding to the Wolves [Werewolf Brides 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 10

  Fucking hell! Okapi bent over, hands on his thighs, to draw deep breaths into his lungs. He was hot, sweaty, and thirsty. His head was still aching and now his knee was aching as well. He pushed up his pants leg to touch his knee. It felt warm, warmer than the surrounding leg, and he was certain it was going to swell up and hurt. At least no one seemed to care about the dog and here he was away from the road and where no one would easily see him. So, likely it had all been worthwhile.

  Around the garden he walked, looking for faucet to wash his face and hands, dunk his head, and maybe cool down his knee as well. When he found it he let the water run first to ensure it was clean, before sticking his head under the flow and hoping the cold would help his headache go away. Next he washed his hands and face, iced his knee, and finally took a drink. Delicious. Now, to find the fucking sidewalk and get out of here.

  He found the driveway and stood silently in the shadows watching, until the throbbing in his head and his knee was less painful. No one passed by. Not a person or a vehicle. Good. He’d finally lost that black Ford. He couldn’t convince himself seeing the car was a coincidence. It’d quite definitely seemed to be following him, although how it could do that when he didn’t even have his cell phone for it to trace he didn’t know.

  Suddenly he stopped dead. Had they meant him to get away? Was that what this was all about? Had they wanted him to run off, and left the door unguarded deliberately? But why? What would following him gain them? They already knew where he lived after all. Cooper. Those motherfuckers want Cooper. They expect me to lead them to him. Which meant they did have a bug on him somewhere, and it didn’t matter how many fences he climbed, they’d always find him again. Oh no they won’t! I need a store with a dumpster and no lights in the parking lot. Dammit, I liked this suit. Even though it’s filthy right now I still like it. But not enough to let them use me to capture Cooper. He’d be worth ten times what they’d get for me.

  * * * *

  The women were heading back toward the farm when Tanisha yelled out, “Stop. Stop. Look over there.”

  Keisha had no idea what she wanted, but obediently stopped the car and looked. In a strip mall of stores was one with “To Lease” in huge yellow letters on the window. She waited for a break in the traffic then turned into the area, parking right outside the vacant premises. It wasn’t a big group of stores. There were only about a dozen, but it was a neat little place with ample parking spaces.

  She followed an excited Tanisha and Shakina out of the car and they peered in the window. There was definitely a back room area and they walked along the line of stores, peeking into every one. A minimart, a dress store, a baby-goods store, a flower shop, a bakery, a book store, a small medical clinic with a pharmacy, and a café.

  “This is perfect, just perfect. There’ll be a constant stream of people coming and going to the medical clinic and the minimart,” said Shakina.

  “Besides, if they’re buying a new dress for a special occasion they’ll want their hair and nails done as well,” added Tanisha.

  “So let’s go around the back and see if it’s got plumbing,” said Keisha, following the sidewalk around back of the stores. There was a row of dumpsters and more parking, likely for the store owners. Keisha thought she saw someone moving behind one of the dumpsters and stood still, watching carefully, but there was no movement or sounds. Hoping it wasn’t a rat and that the stores weren’t bothered by unwelcome rodent visitors, she hurried after the other women. The only window at the back of the store was high up on the wall. Shakina and Keisha helped lift up Tanisha, who was the lightest one of them, so she could see inside.

  “It’s a bathroom. So that’s a yes for plumbing.”

  “Excellent. Now to get the contact details for the realtor.” Shakina moved off quickly, completing the circuit of the buildings. Keisha tossed a look over her shoulder, feeling as though someone were watching her, but she couldn’t see anything, so she walked after the others. She stopped at the end of the row where she could see Shakina tapping information into her cell phone and looked back. This time she was certain. A man—well, probably a man—was hiding behind the dumpsters.

  A homeless person. I wish I had some money to give him. She had a twinge of guilt at having eaten a nice dinner and this poor man likely had no food, but logic told her there was nothing she could do for him. But when I have money I will donate to charity. I won’t forget what being poor was like.

  A black car drifted silently into the parking lot and around behind the stores. Moving like that, with its engine off, meant only one thing. Trouble. She pushed the other two women back toward their car. “Let’s get the hell out of here. Maybe this isn’t a nice neighborhood after all.”

  They ran across to the car and jumped in. Shakina slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. As she did so, a half-naked man burst out from behind the stores running crazy fast right at them. Keisha didn’t know what impelled her, but she opened the door beside her, and yelled, “Get in.” Then she hit the back of Shakina’s seat. “Get the fuck out of here.”

  “Honey, you’re mad.” Tanisha undid her seatbelt and dropped into the foot well of the front passenger seat.

  The man dived into the backseat, landing half on the floor and half on top of Keisha. “Leave the window open,” he said, kicking his shoes off, and out the door she was trying to shut.

  “Okapi? What the fuck—”

  “Get on the floor in case they shoot at us.” A pair of trousers went flying out the window then he wound it up as he slid on the floor on top of her.

  “Shoot?” Shakina was driving a fraction faster than the speed limit, moving from lane to lane on the road, gradually increasing the distance between them and the row of stores.

  “Keisha, give me your cell phone.”

  She rummaged in her purse, which was on the floor under his leg, then handed it over. “You’d better tell me what’s going on though. If I get shot, I’m not going to be a happy camper. And why are you naked?”

  “So stay on the floor. Shakina, drive faster. This is not the time to worry about getting a speeding ticket. Come on, Cooper. Answer your fucking—”

  “Keisha, I can’t talk—”

  “It’s Okapi. I have no idea where the fuck we are, but Shakina is driving us toward the farm. I’ve escaped.”

  “Seven miles from the farm, just passing the intersection of Church Road and Nineteenth Street.”

  “Yaro and Rafiki guessed it was you jumping into the car. They’ve been tailing—oh, shit.”

  There was the sound of a bang, then the agonized noise metal makes when it’s being ripped off something before Cooper clicked off the call.

  Keisha pushed Okapi off her and said, “Get up and look out the window. I bet that was someone stopping the black car. Or trying to stop it.”

  “We’re not going back to look. It’s too dangerous for you women.”

  “Ya think?” teased Tanisha.

  Keisha crawled up onto the seat and looked out the back window but couldn’t see anything unusual.

  “You’ve got ten minutes before we get home. Now why are you naked and what the fucking hell is going on?”

  “There’s no need to yell at me. My head hurts. Has anyone got any Tylenol?”

  * * * *

  Teddy couldn’t see anything from his position sitting on the floor of the minivan, but he could hear every word Yaro and Rafiki reported to Cooper, who’d left his cell phone on speaker. Also Gowan, who was driving, kept up a running commentary on where he was going so Yaro and Rafiki would know where to expect him and which direction he’d appear from.

  When the black car had drifted silently into the small shopping area all the men had wondered what was going on. Okapi blasting out from behind the building like a rocket and diving into a car, which then left, made things pretty clear.

  “Take out the Ford. Ram it if you have to. It’s time to teach these criminals a lesson,” ordered Cooper.

  Teddy snatche
d his backpack off the floor, pulled off his athletic shoes, and shoved his feet into his shit-kickers, lacing the boots as fast as he could, before putting a sock full of salt into each of his pockets. If there was going to be a fight he wanted his few pathetic weapons on his person, not left behind in the van. They had no idea how many men were in the other car because it had tinted windows. But likely five or even six, he thought.

  Not counting Cooper, who was too precious to risk in a free-for-all fight, there were six of them, which should be enough. Xola was big enough for two men all by himself.

  “Sir, you need to stay in the minivan. We’re going to need a getaway driver and it’s best that you take that role,” said Xola.

  Teddy noted Xola spoke respectfully, but firmly. He hoped Cooper would see the sense in this plan. He was the one whose safety was paramount after all, and someone did need to remain with the van especially if the other car was going to be crashed.

  Cooper was talking to someone on his cell phone, and Teddy had only just worked out that it was Okapi, that Okapi was safe, when a huge bang followed by the screeching of metal on metal indicated that Yaro and Rafiki had crashed into the black car. The van swung wildly right, left, right again, and stopped hard. Xola opened the sliding door, Gowan jumped out of the driver’s side and then Teddy was following Katungi out of the van and looking for a target to take down. He opened a rear door of the stopped black car, but there was no one in the backseat, just a laptop, and a shopping bag that bulged with items.

  Now what? Should he take them? Technically, it was stealing but…

  He shut the door again and ran around the other side of the car. Two men had been hauled out of it and were flat on their faces on the ground.

  Someone popped the trunk and Teddy hurried around the back of the car, but the trunk was empty. So what was going on?

  He went back to his side of the car and pulled items out of the bulging bag. When he came to Okapi’s wallet and phone, he dropped them back in the bag and took it and the laptop to Cooper.

  “I found these in the car. Okapi’s wallet and phone are in here.”

  “Put it all in the minivan. We’ll look at it later. We can’t stay here for long.”

  Xola had been though the men’s pockets. “This man has two wallets and two cell phones.”

  “Now that is interesting. Use one of the phones to call the chief of police and tell them these men crashed into you. Some strangers stopped to ask if you were all right, but since you’re fine, they left without giving you their names. After you call the chief of police, call me and tell me what’s happening. I’ll send someone to bring you home and arrange a tow truck.”

  Teddy jumped back in the minivan, carrying the laptop and bag. The others piled in as well and Gowan drove away.

  “Katungi, when we get back to the farm, you can take one of the pickups and get Yaro and Rafiki. What else is in the bag, Tedros?”

  “Apart from Okapi’s cell phone and wallet there are papers and a Blackberry. The papers are about Avery’s Awesome Appetizers, whoever they are.”

  “The laptop seems to belong to Avery as well,” said Katungi, who’d powered it up.

  “Likely the Blackberry will as well. Teddy, check it.”

  “Yes, it belongs to Arthur Avery of Avery’s Awesome Appetizers, and the screensaver is a picture of a sushi roll.”

  “You’re making me hungry,” complained Xola.

  Just then Cooper’s cell phone rang. “I’m very sorry to disturb you this late at night, sir, but a car has run into Rafiki and me.” Yaro spoke deferentially.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No sir, but our vehicle is damaged. The police are here to take statements. Apparently the car that hit us was stolen.”

  “Stolen, was it? Very well. Call a tow truck and I’ll send your brother to pick you up. Make sure you get copies of the police statements for our insurance.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

  “It’s not your fault, Yaro. Since you aren’t hurt, it’s all fine. I’ll sort it out.”

  Cooper clicked off his cell phone and Gowan said, “We’ll be home in five minutes but you’ll need to move fast, Katungi.”

  “I’ll take the nearest pickup. Can you sign it out for me, please Gowan?”

  “Sure.”

  But all Teddy wanted to know was what had happened to Okapi. Was he okay, and who the hell had rescued him?

  * * * *

  When Teddy got back to the farm there were lights on and people walking around everywhere. Okapi was the center of a crowd of people and seemed to be trying hard, but unsuccessfully, to escape. He grabbed Keisha by one arm and Teddy by the other and said loudly but firmly, “Thank you, everyone. We’re going home now.” Teddy was happy to be pulled through the crowd.

  “Cooper has your wallet and cell phone,” he said.

  “He does? That’s cool. Were my credit cards still in there?”

  “Yes. Nothing appeared to be touched. It was like they just didn’t want you to have access to it, rather than that they were trying to prevent you from leaving.

  “Yeah. If my head hadn’t been aching so goddamn much, likely I’d have realized it was a trap when I escaped from the room so easily. At the time I thought they were stupid. Now I know they were following a plan. They wanted—likely still want—Cooper, don’t they?”

  “That seems to be what most people think. How’s your head now? Did they bash you?”

  “I’ve had some painkillers and can have more in a couple hours if I need them. No, they injected me with something. Got me in the neck before I suspected anything was wrong.”

  “Eugene made him pee in a bottle. His grandson is going to find out what the drug was,” explained Keisha.

  “Eugene? He’s what, eighty years old?”

  “Exactly. But his grandson works for a toxicology company and Eugene’s got him to agree to test my urine tomorrow to find out what the drug was.”

  Teddy pressed his body close to Keisha, but kept watching Okapi. He really hoped his friend hadn’t been hurt too much. He was limping slightly but seemed well enough. As soon as they got home, he put coffee on to percolate, while Keisha opened the refrigerator and pulled out eggs, bacon, mushrooms, a handful of spinach, and a couple of tomatoes. In no time at all an omelet was bubbling in the pan, and he made some toast as well to go with the meal. It was a bit casual, but it was food and they were all hungry.

  As they finished their meal Okapi looked at them both and said, “Will you play a dungeon scene with me? I need to be in control. I need to bring you both pleasure. I need—”

  “I understand.” And he did. He knew his friend was frustrated by having been captured, by having been used. The whole story hadn’t even come out yet and might not be known for days, if ever. But right now Okapi had to take back his control. Teddy’d been willing to be Okapi’s sub for months, but they’d waited until Keisha had joined them. There would be no better time than tonight for the three of them to play their first dungeon scene. Assuming Keisha agreed, of course.

  Teddy looked at Keisha. Her head was tipped down, her gaze looking at her fingers in her lap. But when she lifted her head to face them she was smiling. “I think tonight will be just right. I know you’re a Dom, Okapi, and I’ve been excited by the little things you’ve done to make me feel helpless and in your power. If you thought it would enhance the sex for me, and make me want to try true BDSM, then you’re right. I’m ready to join Teddy and be your sub.”

  Okapi stood up. “The dungeon is ready. I’ve had it all set up for weeks now.”

  “Where is it?” asked Keisha.

  “In the basement, of course.”

  They walked down the stairs and into the main basement area, which was just a big empty space. “We played here as kids,” said Teddy.

  “Where does that lead to?” Keisha pointed to a door.

  “Look closely at it.” Teddy waited for her to work it out.

  Keisha stepped closer
, looking at the door, and then she drew a rectangle in the air. “Oh, I see. It’s a dog door. Well, a werewolf shape-shifter door, I guess.”

  “That’s right. Many years ago it was the old coal cellar and the door opens out behind a huge untrimmed shrub. The door itself is never opened, so the shrub has just grown thicker and wilder over the years, but it makes a perfect disguise so a wolf can come out and wait until no one is around before running off to play.”

  “Very clever.”

  “This way.” Okapi led them to the other side of the basement where there was another door, this one with a modern lock. He took a key he’d brought down from the kitchen and unlocked the door, then flicked a light switch on, standing back to let them both enter. Teddy waited for Keisha to go first. He’d been inside and wanted to see her reaction.

  * * * *

  Keisha wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting. The floor was tiled and the walls brick, which didn’t surprise her, but there her imagination had run out. On one wall was a wooden rack, fitted with a lot of hooks. Each hook held a whip, or a cane, or a paddle, or a flogger. Okapi had several of each in different sizes.

  On the floor underneath them were several big plastic tubs on wheels, with tight-fitting lids. She walked across and squatted down in front of them. There were pots of oils and lubricants in one, along with dildos, and butt plugs, condoms, and a couple of pairs of gloves. Not latex gloves, bigger, heavier ones. She didn’t know what they were for. A second tub had pairs of handcuffs, and a third contained all sorts of different ropes.