Her Reluctant Bear: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves, and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 5) (24 page)

Jillian dialed Elana. When she answered, the baby was crying in the background. “Hello, Elana, this is Jillian.”

“Oh, Jillian. Is everything okay?”

That was an odd response. “I hope so. Has Anna left?”

“Anna?”

Hadn’t Jillian spoken clearly? “Anna left at noon to visit you. Oh shit. Didn’t she arrive?”

“No. Oh, my goddess. Did you try her cell?”

When Jillian and Anna had been at McKinnon’s Pub, they’d exchanged numbers, but Jillian had scribbled it on a napkin and hadn’t put it in her cell yet. She wasn’t sure what she’d done with the paper. “No. Can you give me the number?”

“It’s 459-5555. Call me back and let me know what you find out.”

“Will do.” As soon as she hung up, she dialed Anna, but her cell went to voicemail. Damn. “Anna, it’s Jillian. I hope you’re okay. Call me when you get this message.”

If she’d broken down somewhere, she would have called the shop number to let Jillian know what happened. A sinking feeling swirled in her gut. Jillian should call Kip and asked him to check on Anna’s whereabouts, but he’d say his job was to watch her, so she called the next best person—Dalton.

“Did you see him?” her brother asked as soon as he picked up his phone.

“No.” She explained that Anna was supposed to be visiting Elana but she never showed up. “I tried calling her cell, but it went to voicemail. I’m hoping she just broke down on her way to Elana’s.”

“Let’s hope. I’ll retrace her steps and call you back as soon as I can.”

“Thank you.”

Jillian’s hands shook. Was this Frank Whitlaw’s doing? If he wanted to mess with her mind, he was doing a good job.

While she waited for her brother to call back, she futzed around in the back room. Because the store would close in an hour anyway, she figured it would be okay to put the Closed sign out and lock the front door. She didn’t need anyone walking in when she was in the back—and by anyone, she meant Frank Whitlaw.

Her cell rang, jumpstarting her heart. “Hello?”

“Any news on Anna,” Elana asked.

Jillian let out a huge breath and leaned against the large table in back. “No. I couldn’t reach her so I called Dalton. He’s checking the roads now. I promise to call if I find out anything.”

“Thanks.”

No sooner had she disconnected than her cell buzzed again. Jillian checked the caller ID but all it said was Private Caller. It wasn’t Dalton.

Her underarms began to sweat.
Answer it.
Jillian swiped her cell. “Hello?”

“Jillian, it’s Camille. I wanted to see how you were.”

Once more, she sagged against the table. “I’d be lying if I said I was good. Whitlaw is here. In Silver Lake.”

“Shit. What are you going to do?”

“Wait it out. I now have a bodyguard.” She explained that a group of professionals were searching for him. Given what a sneaky bastard he was, Jillian hoped he hadn’t bugged Camille’s phone, though if he had, it might work in Jillian’s favor. If he thought he was a wanted man, he might leave her alone.

Dream on.

“Frank told his partner that his mother was ill and that he wasn’t sure when he’d be back.”

Jillian shook her head. “What a douchebag. You didn’t let on that you knew anything, did you?’

“No, but if he contacts Maria or anyone else asking for information, I’ll let you know.” Someone in the background called Camille’s name. “Hey, I gotta go. Keep in touch and be safe.”

“Will do.” Relief filled her just knowing so many people had her back.

It wasn’t until close to five that Dalton called. “Yes? Did you find Anna?”

“I found Anna’s car. It looks as if she was run off the road.”

Her chest squeezed tight. “Where’s Anna?”

“I don’t know. I called Jackson and Connor. They’re both checking the road to the hospital in case she headed that way.”

“If she were injured, she’d have called 911. Where’s her purse?” The one with the gun in it.

“Let me check if it’s inside.” A car door opened. “Got it. It was on the floor in the front seat.”

“Look inside and see if her cell phone or her gun are there.”

A moment later he answered. “No to either.”

Her heart broke. “Shit. That means Whitlaw might have her.”

‡

“J
illian?” Brian called
a second after the back door to the building clicked close.

She spun around and ran into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

He leaned back. “I saw the Closed sign on the door when I drove by. What’s happened? Did Whitlaw try to get in?”

“No.” She told him about Anna and her car wreck. “I think Whitlaw has her.”

Brian stroked her face. “You can’t be sure of that.”

Jillian sniffled. “I know, but Anna’s purse was still in the car. She’d never leave without it.”

“Will Dalton come here to follow you home?”

“Yes, but I think he’s still at the accident scene.”

Brian wrapped an arm around her waist. “How about coming upstairs then? You can call him from there and tell him where you are.”

She was happy someone with a clear head was near. “Okay.”

Jillian gathered her jacket and purse and followed him up the stairs. This time when Brian closed the door, he threw the deadbolt. “There. You’re safe.”

She fished out her cell and checked to see if by some miracle, Anna had texted her. Nothing. Jillian tried to think what she’d do if she’d been in an accident. She’d call 911 and wait.

Jillian swiped her phone and pressed Dalton’s number. He answered on the first ring.

“You okay?”

“Yes. Brian’s back, and I’m at his apartment. I was wondering if you had called the hospital to see if they’d received a 911 call from Anna.”

“Jillian. Please. Let me handle this.”
Let me handle this,
she mocked back. Anna was her friend. “It was one of the first things I did after checking the area. The hospital said they hadn’t received a call from her, but Jackson is checking her cell records now in case she called someone else.”

“Was there any blood in the car?” She wanted to know if Anna had been severely injured in the crash.

“No. I did, however, find one set of footprints that were rather large next to the car that had been kicked and scuffed as if to disguise them. They could possibly belong to Whitlaw.”

Damn. “What do you need me to do?”

“Stay where you are. I should be there in a bit. I’ll call when I’m at the back door.”

“What about Kip? He doesn’t need to stay.”

“He’ll stay until you’re with me. I’ll text him where you are.”

She’d never heard such tension in Dalton’s voice before. “Okay.”

As soon as she disconnected, Brian handed her a glass of wine. “Thought you could use this.” He sat next to her with his beer. “Why would Whitlaw take Anna?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, but it has to be to lure me someplace.”

He tipped back his beer. “If he’s been following you, he has to know you’ll bring backup.”

“I’m not sure what he knows other than you’re with me and my brother is a cop. He might have a plan to take the three of us out if we show up.”

“So now what?”

“We wait.” It was one of Jillian’s worst traits. “If I didn’t think my brother would kill me himself, I’d give Kip the slip and hunt Whitlaw since I know what he smells like.”

Brian ran a comforting hand down her arm. “How close do you need to be to detect him?”

“Too close.” She slunk back against the sofa arm. “I feel so helpless.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “We’ll get him.”

She hoped so. Her cell rang and she jerked. “Hey. Are you downstairs?”

“I’m close. How about asking Brian to pack a bag and stay the night at my place? I don’t want Whitlaw to get any ideas. Rye McKinnon rounded up a few men to watch the shop in case Whitlaw tries anything.”

Hoped surged through her. “That would be great. Thank you. I’ll ask him.”

“Meet me in the back when you’re ready.”

“You’re the best brother ever.”

“Keep thinking that.” His chuckle was brief.

She swiped off the phone and faced Brian. “You’ve been invited to spend the night at Dalton’s.”

His brows rose. “In your bed?”

“It’s only a double bed, but I’m sure we can make do. If it is too cramped, I can always shift and sleep on the floor. That way, if anything happens I’ll be ready.”

“Can I pet you?”

“Only if you behave.” Jillian winked and stood. “Get packing. Dalton will be waiting out back.”

*

Dalton tossed the
keys on the kitchen counter. “Brian, you can sleep in my room.”

Jillian was thirty-two and didn’t need her brother dictating who she slept with. “You have to know we’ve already slept together.”

Dalton faced her. “This isn’t about sex. It’s about the fact that I plan to sleep on the sofa in case anyone tries to get to you. I don’t know what kind of shifter Whitlaw is, but I suspect I could take down a bear if need be. I know for a fact I can handle a wolf.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snipe at you, but I’ve been stressing out ever since Anna’s accident.”

One side of his mouth lifted up. “I understand. I’m on edge too. Don’t forget, he was my father too.”

Now she felt like a heel. “I know.”

Brian wrapped an arm around her shoulder, providing some much-needed comfort. “I’m good sleeping in Dalton’s room. It’s probably better if we’re not together. You need to keep your wits about you.”

“You’re right.” If she and Brian shared the bed, they’d be distracted in seconds.

“Now that that’s settled,” Dalton said, “I need to rustle up some food.”

“Rustle up some food?” That almost made her chuckle. “So Tennessee is the Wild West now?”

“I’m just trying to blend in with the locals.” Dalton winked then slipped into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and pulled out a dozen eggs along with a package of bacon.

She wanted to shake him. “Why are we just sitting here when Anna is out there?”

“Because Whitlaw wants you to go after her. When you do, he’ll pounce.”

“That would be hard since I don’t know where she is.”

He pulled a frying pan out of the cabinet and set it on the stove. “For your sake, that might be a good thing. I can’t be sure, but I bet he wants Anna alive to use as bait. Remember, he’s after you.”

“I haven’t forgotten. So, he’s just going to call and invite me to his place? Wherever that is?”

Dalton shrugged. “He might. He has Anna’s cell. Does she have your number programmed?”

“Most likely. I wrote it on a napkin when we were having drinks.”

“Make sure your cell is on and charged then.”

“Good thinking.” Jillian checked her purse and made sure it was turned on. “I guess all we can do is wait.”

Dalton stopped what he was doing. “I know you think no one is doing anything, but on my way over to Blooms of Hope, I called Connor. He said Rye was rounding up the wolves. Some will keep watch over the shop, while others plan to shift and scour the area for both of them.”

That was more than she thought anyone was doing. “Do you know if Kalan learned of any stolen vehicles?” Knowing the make and model of Whitlaw’s vehicle would help.

“I haven’t spoken with him, but if he learned anything, he’d tell Connor and the rest of the team. Right now, they need us to stay put. The last thing anyone needs is to have two women snatched.”

He dumped some butter in the pan and then turned on the burner. After locating a bowl, he cracked a dozen eggs into it and then added milk. Next he whipped them so hard she bet they’d become pure air.

“Will they call if they find anything?” she asked, her patience having run out a while ago.

Dalton inhaled and looked at her for a few seconds before answering. “Connor promised to keep me in the loop. If they find where Whitlaw’s keeping Anna, they might send Ainsley in to check out the place.”

“Ainsley?” Brian asked. “She’s just a slip of a woman.”

Dalton poured the egg mixture into the pan. “Ainsley has a special Wendayan talent.”

“What’s that?” Jillian asked.

Brian lifted a finger. “I remember. Ainsley can disappear and move about without notice.”

She looked at Brian and then glanced over at her brother who nodded. “I wish I could do that,” Jillian said.