garage. He charged toward the front double-doors.
One side burst open in a rush and a running figure tumbled out, crashing into Alec. If his heart could have stopped, it would have.
“What the fuck is going on?”
The voice wasn’t Eve’s.
Eve didn’t need to look up to know that the man holding her was Reed. His scent was unmistakable and relief filled her.
But she was still pissed.
Leaning into him, she kicked back with one leg, nailing the pursuing kid directly in the chest. The force of the blow traveled through Eve and was absorbed by Reed. The young wolf caught air and was thrust backward at least a yard. He slammed into the stationary side of the door, colliding with an audible crack of his head against the thick glass. Knocked unconscious, he slid down and came to rest, sprawled and harmless.
“Nice,” Reed said. He assessed her physical condition. “You’re wet again.”
“Was I ever dry?” She held out her bound wrists. Her hands were shaking terribly, but there was nothing she could do about that. “Take this off!”
“Where’s Cain?” His fingers deftly unraveled the nylon rope that restrained her.
“Fending off tengu.” At least she hoped he was still fending them off. The knot in her stomach tightened.
Reed freed her. “Let’s go save his ass, then.”
Eve kicked at the wolf’s sneakered foot. “We need to keep an eye on him. He’s your brother’s target.”
“I’ll restrain him.” He doubled up the rope in his hands and snapped it.
“There are also dogs in there . . . animals,” she said, pointing at the showroom. “They’re hurt bad. And someone else is coming. They’re on the way here. I don’t know how many. Only one guy was talking, but who knows if there were more with him. Or her. The voice was wierd.”
“We’ll need Cain,” he said grimly. He was so calm, so self-possessed. And wearing a ridiculously expensive suit that smelled of a woman.
Eve pushed the thought aside. “Right. Tie up the boy. I’ll get Cain.”
A wry smile curved his lips. “By yourself?”
“There are only two of us. What else can we do?”
“I asked for reinforcements.” He pulled out his cell phone. “Let me see where they are.”
“Okay, then. We have a plan.”
“We do?”
“Sure. I have a way with tengu. They’d rather pick on me than Cain and that should give him a break.” She caught Reed by the lapels and shook him. At least, she tried to. He didn’t budge. “Don’t get hurt. You hear me?”
Reed winked. “I’ll be sure to protect your favorite parts.”
“Jeez,” she muttered. “You’re terrible.”
“Hey.” He caught her arm before she turned away. His voice was low and grave. “Be careful.”
“Will do.” Eve took off running toward the back of the lot, skirting all the statuary and fountains that littered the patio area of the showroom.
They weren’t nearly as frightening as before.
Alec stared down at the kid he had by the shirt. It was the other boy from the convenience store. Another wolf, although Alec wasn’t certain which pack claimed him because his details were hidden beneath his clothing.
“Where’s Evangeline?”
“Who?” the kid asked. “Dude, you’re tripping. What the hell are you doing tearing down the street like the Dukes of Hazzard? You scared the crap out of me.”
“Where’s your friend Timothy? The kid you were with earlier?”
The young wolf scowled. “How the fuck should I know? He hasn’t come back from work yet.”
The Alpha’s voice rumbled through the darkness. “Do you know who you’re talking to, Sean?”
The boy’s eyes widened with fear. Not because of Alec, but because of his Alpha. He began to struggle violently. “Let me go!”
Alec looked at Charles.
“He ran away with Timothy,” the Alpha explained, his gaze never leaving the writhing teenager. “Where is he, Sean?”
There was an undertone to the Alpha’s voice that drained all the fight out of the kid. He sagged in Alec’s grip and said, “I think he’s still at work. He called a little bit ago and asked for Malachai to meet him there.”
“Malachai?” Alec asked.
“His grandfather,” Charles explained.
Still at work. Alec released the kid and exhaled harshly. Was Eve still at the masonry? Had she been right under his nose?
All this time . . . wasted.
“Back up!” he yelled, skirting Charles and the other wolves to return to the Focus. “Back the cars up!”
A female Mark attempted to run by him. He caught her arm. “Get a hold of the team we left with Mariel,” he said. “Tell them to search the premises.”
“Yes, Cain.” As she ran to the Suburban,