Territory (18 page)

Kya gnawed on her bottom lip, displeased with his response. She looked up to meet his gaze. “Let me re-phrase. If your son’s life depended on your ability to hit a human size target at 500 yards how accurate could you be?”

Kya dropped her head as the same thought ran through her mind. “Isaac and I should be far enough from Kyler to give you at least a few yards in any direction. If you hit me, don’t panic. If you miss and Kyler catches on, I’ll distract him while Isaac makes a run for it. You’ll need to provide your son with some covering fire.”

“Well when Isaac is safe, what about you?” Cindy looked from Kya to Briggs near hysteria. “This is fucking ridiculous. I still don’t even know how this asshole got within ten feet of our kids.”

“It’s my fault.” Mama responded wearily from her place by the kitchen sink. “When we got back I sent the kids out to play. I’ve never had to worry before about anything…man nor beast coming within miles of our home. I should have been more cautious. I should have been more….” Her words died on her lips.

Cindy crossed the room quickly to hug her mother, “It’s not your fault mom.”

A tremble passed through Kya’s body.
All the trouble I’ve brought on this poor family. Hannah’s death, now Isaac’s kidnapping. I never should have stayed…hell, I never should have come.

Kya looked up as Briggs slid his hand from her arm down to her hand, lacing her tiny fingers between his as he pulled her into the warm embrace of his large frame. He kissed the top of her head. “This isn’t your fault either.”

“Well it’s somebody’s fault.” Kya sighed.

“It’s Kyler’s fault. And when I get my hands on that sonofa…” The sound of Briggs’ teeth grinding together finished his sentence.

Kya relaxed in his arms, taking in a slow deep breath and reveling in the scent of him. She wondered if she’d ever see him again after today, but stopped the thought before it had a chance to produce tears. “We need to go.” She pushed from his arms and turned to Cindy without looking back. “I’ll ride with you.”

Kya turned to Mike, “You’ll need to find a place in range and take cover, preferably down wind.” A smile cracked her lips at her comment and she rushed on trying to avoid offending Michael or his ornery wife. “I’m sure you know we can smell humans from miles away.”

“So I’ve been told.” Michael leaned down and kissed his wife, embracing her tightly before he slapped Briggs on the back, “You with me brother?”

Briggs watched Michael race out to his Chevy. “Right behind ya’.”

Kya was following Cindy out the door, when Briggs grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the room. She didn’t look up, afraid she’d lose her composure if she saw the slightest hint of emotion in those damn honey colored eyes. Cindy stopped and turned as Briggs put strong a hand to Kya’s throat and forced her head up.

“Briggs, don’t.” She tried to pull away, she couldn’t bear to say good-bye, but he held strong and refused to relent until her mournful eyes drifted up and locked on his.

“Kya,” Briggs started clearly, speaking loudly as he peered down at her with the steely reserve.

Unable to tear her eyes from his, Kya was absently aware of the group of people in the room standing and grabbing hands to form a large circle around the two of them.

“Here before my family, I claim you as my mate. I will live for you, and I will die for

you. You are mine, as you were always meant to be.”

Kya’s mouth fell open and the tears she’d been attempting to hold back now breached the surface and spilled down her cheeks. “B-but I thought you didn’t wa…”

Her words were cut off as Briggs lowered his head and claimed her mouth. His massive arms crushed her to him, and startled, Kya returned the passion of his kiss. Trying to convey all her emotion with her lips, Kya felt a warm glow light in the pit of her stomach.

The warmth quickly spread through the rest of her body until her limbs trembled with its power. Her arms dropped from around Briggs’ neck and her knees gave out. Briggs’ strong arms clutching her tightly to him were the only thing keeping Kya from falling to the floor.

The warm power pulsed through Kya, sapping all her energy, and then replacing it slowly with a brighter stronger power. She felt a searing flash of pain in her right forearm, but just as it became unbearable the pain dissipated, replaced by a warm throbbing that encircled her forearm. The throbbing slowly dulled to a slight itching sensation.

With her eyes still closed and Briggs soft mouth pressed firmly to hers, she heard, “
Welcome daughter
.” She recognized Mama’s voice instantly. Before she could process the words, a flood of welcoming sentiments flooded her brain. “
Welcome sister
.
Welcome Aunty
.
Welcome friend
.” She recognized Cindy’s voice and the children, but there were also several other voices that she didn’t recognize at all. It took her a moment to realize that the welcoming words weren’t actually being said, but were being conveyed to her through the pack ties that now bound her to the Blackbird pack.

Kya struggled to regain her composure and found her feet again just as Briggs pulled back. He held her by the shoulders and nodded down at her waiting for her return nod that indicated that she was fine to stand on her own.

Kya stared at him dazed, as he tried to smile at her, his smile not quite reaching eyes. He reached down and pushed up her right sleeve to expose the three familial bands that now permanently encircled her forearm. Briggs raised the bands to his lips to place a warm kiss to her brand. She was now his.

He gently dropped her arm and lifted a strong hand to run a thumb over her bottom lip. “This isn’t the end for us.”

Kya nodded swiping at her tears, “I know.” But uncertainty was too evident in her words as they bounced off the walls of the kitchen. Kya turned to find Cindy and Mama standing together in the circle, holding hands and smiling at Briggs through sad tears.

Too much. It’s too much for all of us.

Kya pulled away from Briggs without looking at him again and walked out the door.

Cindy kissed Mama’s cheek then followed. Kya’s steps faltered just outside the door when she heard Briggs whisper, “Come back to me.”

Kya turned to look over her shoulder at him. He looked helpless standing clutching the door frame, and Kya would have laughed at how out of place the expression was on him, but under the circumstances she knew it may very well be the last look he ever gave her. Instead, she smiled weakly and whispered back, “If I can, I will.”

Cindy dropped Kya off at mile marker 90 on the desolate stretch of dirt road known as Brave Dog Road, then turned Briggs’ truck around and drove until the black Dodge was just a speck on the horizon.

The area was just as Kya had expected. Flat snow covered prairie stretched out for miles in all directions. The snow-covered dirt road she stood on was the only thing that marred the crystalline blanket of snow that covered the earth.

Kya sniffed the frosty crisp air and her body tensed for a moment as she instantly recognized the scent of blood. She turned slowly, not wanting to give anything away if Kyler were watching.

Her eyes locked on the dead fox seconds before her nose confirmed it was where the scent was coming from. Kya dropped her head and smiled at Michael’s ingenuity. Kyler would never be able to decipher Michael’s human scent with a fresh kill so close, no matter how slight the dead animal.

Nervously, Kya glanced down at the watch Cindy had offered her on the trip out. It was exactly 7:00pm, time for the exchange. Kya glanced over her shoulder as fear knotted her belly. She hadn’t given Kyler the credit he’d deserved. He’d picked sunset for a reason. If any shooter were downwind from the drop zone, as they’d have to be to have any chance of going undetected by Kyler, then they’d be blinded by the setting sun.

Kya wrung her hands and listened intently for the sound of an approaching motorcycle. She could only imagine the state Kyler must be in. He and Tyler were inseparable. In fact, she’d never seen them apart in the entire four years she’d spent with Theron’s pack. He’d want revenge for the death of his brother, and it wouldn’t matter to him that Kya wasn’t the one who’d killed Tyler, he’d make her pay all the same.

Only the sound of wind blowing across the prairie was audible as Kya slowly spun in circles trying to be vigilant from all angles. When finally she heard a noise, she couldn’t quite make out what it was. Steady, rhythmic thwaps reverberated across the plains. Finally spying something on the horizon, Kya’s belly dropped.

Oh my God! Briggs will never find me!

As the helicopter approached, Kya shot a glance over her shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of Michael or Briggs. She desperately needed the reassurance that she wasn’t alone. But as the helicopter settled nearly on top of her, she jumped out of the way and ducked her head, her brown glossy hair whipped up in a frenzy of wind and snow.

Shielding her eyes with an arm, she was blindsided by Kyler as he threw her to the ground from out of nowhere.

“NO!” Kya heard Isaac scream.

Fighting against the pain, Kya scrambled to her feet and caught a glimpse of Kyler holding Isaac up by the back of his shirt as the little boy kicked and cried. Kya looked into the cabin of the helicopter and saw an unknown man behind the controls. He kept the rotor blades spinning. Apparently, Kyler wanted to be in and out.

Kyler shouted to her over the noise of the copter, “WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE WOULD HAPPEN IF I TOSSED THIS LITTLE BRAT UP INTO THE AIR?”

Kya followed Kyler’s gaze and stared petrified at the spinning blades. “KYLER NO!” Kya shouted. “IF YOU KILL HIM, I’M MAKING A RUN FOR IT.” Kya backed away as Kyler dropped his gaze back to her.

“I DIDN’T COME TO KILL HIM ANYWAY.” Kyler threw Isaac across the space between them and he hit Kya’s chest with such force that Kya fell backwards into the snow. Instantly she rolled to her side and put Isaac on his feet pointing him away from the chopper. “ISAAC, RUUUUUN!”

Without looking back, Isaac dashed off through the snow, his short legs having trouble clearing the four inches of powder that coated the ground.

Still on the ground, Kya watched Isaac run when she heard a faint pop over the sound of the chopper and saw a flash in the corner of her eye. She rolled to her back to see if Michael had hit his target, only to be drug up from the ground and pulled against Kyler’s chest.

“TIME TO GO!” Kyler kept Kya pulled tightly to his chest, using her as a shield as he peered over her shoulder several times before they reached the helicopter.

He threw Kya into the cabin of the helicopter, her body crashing against the furthest cabin door as her head smacked off the exposed metal frame. She reached up to rub the back of her throbbing head.

In the distance, Kya could just make out a gray streak racing towards the helicopter. She knew Briggs would never make it in time.

Kyler jumped in after her and pulled the door closed before giving the driver a thumbs-up.

As the helicopter lifted off the ground, Kya was swamped by an overwhelming amount of fear and anger. It took her a moment to realize they were Briggs’ emotions overriding her own.

Kya’s hands and feet were bound before the helicopter even landed, a dirty kerchief tied through her mouth. Her heart hammered in her chest. Defenseless, she watched closely for any hint or indication as to where Kyler could be taking her.

Chapter 2
4

When the helicopter finally landed, Kya heard Kyler thank the pilot and pay him for his services before she was thrown, unceremoniously, into the trunk of a car. No sounds nor scents gave her any hint as to where she was or where Kyler was taking her, but she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that pain and torture were in her very near future. She tried to swallow down her terror, but felt it rise again as she realized that Briggs had no idea where she was and even if he did she didn’t know how long it would take him to get to her.

The kerchief in her mouth made it difficult to breathe, and the small dark space she was cramped into reminded her of the four years she spent locked in Theron’s cold dark basement. Since meeting Briggs and the Blackbird pack, she had forgotten the bitter sting of loneliness and hopelessness that now trudged back into her soul with a vengeance.

Kya scanned the confines of the trunk hoping to find a weapon, but save for her bound form, the trunk was empty. She maneuvered her body so that she was nearest the passenger side with her feet at the rear of the car. She kicked at the driver’s side tail light hoping to smash it free and get Kyler pulled over or at least draw someone’s attention.

After a few kicks, the plastic tail light shattered. Kya debated on whether she should shimmy around to stick her fingers out the hole to try and draw the attention of other motorists, or if she should maneuver her body so she could peer out the hole to try to decipher her location. She opted for looking through the hole.

In the cramped confines of the trunk, it took her several minutes of wiggling and sliding to get her body in a position where she could look out the hole she’d created.

Fuck! This doesn’t help.