Page 36 of Thor
He didn’t beat around the bush.“Someone’s targeting Thor.We don’t know who, and we don’t know why, but we’re going to find out.You all know about the ambush behind the bar where he got knifed.Well, today a sniper took a couple of shots at him.They set up on a roof overlooking the flower shop his old lady is leasing from us and waited.That’s not random.We need to get the assholes behind this before they try again.Any ideas?”
It was a tough one.Hard to make a plan when you didn’t know who you were targeting or why.Ideas were thrown out, considered, and then discarded.Beast, always a fan of immediate action, wanted to put up a reward on the dark web for info.Shadow pointed out that would just bring out every crackpot looking to make a buck and cloud the issue.
We debated ideas for almost an hour without any results when the door burst open and Sophia stumbled in.
Her eyes wild, she screamed at the top of her voice.“She’s gone!They have her.They took Janet!”
Chapter Ten
Janet
When Thor headed over to church, I figured this was my chance to call Maxwell, the senator’s son that my parents wanted to marry me off to.For my own peace of mind, I needed to hear from him directly that he wasn’t behind these attacks in some twisted way.I knew he was gay and had been in a committed, although secret, relationship with his driver for the past few years.Surely he didn’t want to marry me.The fact that I was the one refusing the match was convenient from his point of view, and even explained his lack of interest in dating.Having me dating someone else would only reinforce his position as the patient suitor waiting for me to come to my senses.
I sauntered up to the gun range as if I planned to stay there, keeping tabs on Thor out of the corner of my eye.I had no doubt that if he saw me veer off, he’d be right there to see why.I reached Sophia just as Thor disappeared inside the little cabin they used for church, and the doors closed.Two of the prospects were standing outside guarding the doors.
The twins were busy taking shots at a target attached to a stack of hay bales.Jasmine turned to wave at me before turning back to take another shot at the outline of a man holding a chicken by its neck.I’d have to ask her what the heck that was supposed to mean after I dealt with Maxwell.
“What’s going on?”Sophia stepped up to greet me with a quick hug.“Deuce just said things with Thor were getting serious and Ace called church.”
I nodded.“There was a sniper set up on a roof overlooking the flower shop.He took a few shots at Thor, but he missed.”I glanced over at the twins to make sure they were out of hearing range.Both of them had on those big headsets to muffle the noise of the guns.“I need to call Maxwell to make sure he isn’t behind this.Can you cover for me for a few minutes?”
She frowned.“I thought you said Maxwell was gay.”
“He is.But maybe he thinks me hanging with Thor will make people think he should move on.It’s better for him if it looks like there’s a chance I’ll change my mind and agree to marry him.”
She just looked confused, and I sighed.“I just want to make sure this whole mess isn’t because of me.Montgomery said it wasn’t my parents, so that leaves Maxwell.”
Sophia pursed her lips.“I can just stand here while you call him, if that’s okay.From a distance it’s going to look like we’re catching up.Unless you don’t want me to hear what you say?”
“Good idea, and it’s not private so you’re fine.”I pulled out my phone and dialed up Maxwell’s number.He answered on the second ring, and I motioned Sophia to be quiet.I might be okay with her hearing the conversation, but Maxwell would freak out at the idea of anyone else finding out he wasn’t straight.
It didn’t take long for Maxwell to confirm he had nothing to do with the attacks on Thor.He seemed genuinely happy to hear I’d found someone and confided that he was almost ready to come out and consequences be damned.He and his partner were tired of pretending they didn’t care about each other.I congratulated him and wished him well before I disconnected the call.That lifted a weight off my shoulders, although I still needed to talk to Thor about my family.
Given the current crisis though, it seemed like a good idea to wait until things calmed down.
“You want to watch the twins?”Sophia pivoted and headed toward the twins.
“Sure.”I didn’t have anything better to do while Thor was at church.“Just give me a minute to go use the washroom.”
“You want me to come with you?”Sophia looked back at me over her shoulder.
I shook my head.“No, it’s not like I’m leaving the compound.I’ll be right back.”I headed back toward the clubhouse.
I was partway there when I saw a flash of brown off to my right.I stopped and stared at the spot where it had been and heard a muffled whine from the bushes.Had Willow gotten herself tangled up in something?She had a habit of chasing rabbits and rodents.It wouldn’t surprise me if the silly thing had gotten herself stuck in a thicket.I glanced back at Sophia, but she was already back at the range, talking to the twins.
“What have you got yourself into, you furry little menace?”I stepped toward the bushes, looking for the little mutt.
A man jumped from behind a tree and grabbed me around the waist.I opened my mouth to scream, and he slapped a moist cloth over it.
I started to struggle as the world faded to black.
* * *
My mouth felt like it was full of cotton as I slowly became aware of my surroundings.I was lying on the floor in a small room.I could hear the muffled sound of conversation from beyond the door in front of me but couldn’t make out what was being said.
Realization hit me.I’d been kidnapped.Again.
Unlike the first time, I didn’t panic.The brothers at Riptide had made a point of teaching the old ladies and any other female interested in learning what to do if they found themselves in a situation like this.Beast had been particularly diligent in making sure we understood our options.He had two daughters, and he wanted to make sure they were able to defend themselves.
