Page 56 of A Wolf's Treasure
The burner phone in his glovebox rang just as he gripped the gear shift. Leaving the Jeep in park, he pulled it out. It was Cedric. Icy cold fingers spread through his gut. The only reason he’d be calling on this phone was when something really bad had happened and he didn’t want the call seen or traced.
Duncan threw the Jeep into drive as he answered. “Aye, Cedric, I’m on my way…what?” He stomped on the break before he managed to go anywhere and glanced out of the corner of his eye. Ryanne still stood where he had left her. Not that he needed to look to confirm it. He could feel her eyes on him. Feel the chaos of her emotions, as muddled as his own. “Aye, I do ken where she is. She’s right here.”
His heart stopped as he listed to his alpha, only to start back up again twice as fast. His voice was little more than a growl when he answered, “Aye. I’ve got her. He will no’ find her. Aye, I’ll check in when we get somewhere. Aye. I will.” Ending the call, he laid the phone on the dash and smashed his fist down on it. Scooping it into his hand, he dropped it in the cup holder then rolled down his window. “Get in,” he told Ryanne.
She didn’t hesitate. Jogging around the front of the vehicle to the passenger side, she jumped in and buckled her seatbelt. “What’s happened?” she asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.
“Yer father,” was the only answer he gave her. And, apparently, that was the only response she needed, for she let out a breath and leaned back in the seat. Turning her head, she stared out the window.
Duncan headed south. The pack had a safe house on the northern tip of Bainbridge Island, but it was too late to take the ferry. He would go south through Tacoma and take the bridge across, then north to Poulsbo and back south to the tip of the island. It was the long way, but it would have to do. He needed to get her away from the pack.
They drove in silence until they got across the bridge. Once on the other side, Duncan pulled off the highway.
Ryanne sat up, looking out the windows. “Why are we stopping?”
“I need tae get gas and a few supplies.” Duncan heard the way he clipped off his words, but he couldn’t help it. He was angry. He just didn’t know if it was at her, or at himself for being taken for such a fool.
“Oh.” Settling back in her seat, she went back to staring out the window.
His conscience pricked at him, but there was no time to get into some heartfelt discussion. Pulling into a grocery store, he stopped at the pumps and filled up the Jeep, then pulled up into the parking lot. “Stay in the vehicle,” he ordered. Reaching across her lap, he pulled another burner phone out of the glovebox, ignoring the heat that speared through him when he accidentally brushed her thigh. “If anything happens, dial the number one on the speed dial. Ye ken how tae do that?”
She took the phone, pressed the home button, checked out the screen. She nodded.
“Good. Th’ keys are in th’ ignition. If anything happens, anyone gets too close, ye leave. Do ye hear me? Ye leave, and ye call me on that phone.”
“What about you?”
“I will find ye,” he told her. Opening his door, he jumped out. “Keep th’ doors locked,” he told her, then he pushed the button to do just that and shut the door.
Walking into the store, he felt the weight of her gaze as she watched him.
Duncan steeled his spine, ignoring the howls of his wolf for leaving her alone and unprotected. He ground his teeth together.
She was not his to protect. Not now. Not ever.
Chapter 19
The silence was becoming oppressive by the time they pulled off the one lane road they’d been driving on for the last eight or so miles.
Ryanne had never been so happy to get out of a vehicle.
She looked around. It was still dark, but she could smell the fishy, salty air of the Puget Sound. And by the sound of water lapping against the shoreline, this was a waterfront property. Trees towered around the property on the remaining three sides, hiding them from anyone who might be passing by.
Surveying the little, brown, one-story house, she was surprised to spot cameras on each corner of the roof. And as she watched, they moved slowly in an arc, scanning the area.
Duncan walked past her, his arms full of paper bags. Ryanne followed him across the long porch to the front door, where a panel with numbered buttons kept anyone from getting in. She tried to watch as he punched in a code, but he stepped to the side to block her view before opening the door and walking inside. Ever the gentleman, even when he was upset with her, he held the door open with his foot, waiting for her to pass him before he let it swing shut.
He nodded to her right, and she headed that way.
Setting the bags on the small, round table just off the rustic kitchen, he flicked on a light. Pausing on his way back out to the Jeep, he said, “There’s a couple o’ bedrooms down th’ hall there.” He pointed behind her. “Pick whichever one ye like. If ye’d like tae shower or anything, there’s clean towels and such in th’ hall closet. Spare clothes are in th’ closet in the bedroom. Either one. They’re no’ yer size, but ye may be able tae find something ye can wear until we can get ye something.”
After he left, she pulled her hoodie off and draped it over a chair, looking around. The kitchen was done in different shades of natural woods—the floor, the cabinets, the counters, even the table. Large, square windows lined the wall behind the table—a theme throughout the house she soon found out—and she would bet the views during the daylight hours were stunning. The appliances were stainless steel and probably on the higher end of the price range, if she were to take a guess.
Peeking in one of the bags, she found canned soups, peanut butter, jelly, and a thick loaf of some kind of grainy bread on top.
In the other bag there was some apples and oranges and pre-packaged salads. She started pulling them out and putting them in the fridge, noticing it was already stocked with just about every condiment one could want. She wondered whose house this was, and how often someone was here.
If this were her house, with the trees and the water and complete lack of neighbors—human or otherwise—she didn’t think she would ever want to leave.
