Love's Taming(92)

“Oh my God. They threatened you by using us?” her voice shook.

Nodding, he looked sadder than she thought she had ever seen anyone look.

“Yeah. That kept me doing their dirty work while still trying to do the best I could for the animals.”

Seeing her look of understanding, he quickly replied, “Oh Annie. I’m no hero. I’m probably just a huge coward, but I knew I was already damned. I might as well keep being damned to keep them away from you all.”

Looking around, she began to wiggle seeing how tightly she was tied. “Can you move your arms at all?” Annie asked.

Eyebrows raised in question, he shook his head as he attempted to move. “Why?”

“I can feel the rough wood where my hands are tied to the beam. Maybe I can break through the ropes,” she answered, as she began moving her arms in an awkward jerk, wincing as the pain in her shoulder increased.

The activity in the yard had increased as wooden crates were being taken from the barn and loaded into the back of the vans. They heard a shout, “Get this in the vans first and then we’ll have a truck in to load the dogs in a couple of hours.”

Looking at each other, the unspoken threat hung between them. Would they still be alive in a couple of hours?





Chapter 28





Matt watched Shane stand in front of the map projected onto the screen, his eyes staring, roving over the area. Silent. Steely. And Matt knew, in agony.

Walking over he placed his hand on Shane’s shoulder. “The intel’s comin’ in man. Just a little bit longer.”

“I keep thinkin’ this fuckin’ map is suddenly gonna have a huge star on it that’ll just scream out and tell me where she is.”

“I know, but Shane, you gotta keep your shit pulled together.”

Shane swung his narrowed eyes around to Matt’s, but before he could speak Matt jumped in.

“I know, man. I don’t have what you and Annie have, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get this. What I’m telling you is that you’ve got to hold it together so that when we head out you don’t go wild and make it worse for her.”

At that, Shane dropped his head as he stared at his boots for a moment. “Lived that shit. Know that shit. She can’t handle that. No fuckin’ way.”

Matt, quiet, let his friend get it out.

Lifting his gaze back to Matt’s, Shane continued, “I saw men killed for doin’ something the wrong way. I saw women slapped just for lookin’ at someone. And that was nothing.” Pulling in a shaky breath, he said, “I saw women taken, mostly with their own will, gettin’ fucked in some corner. But then after one had her, the others would join in, and it was obvious that wasn’t what any woman wanted. Those animals didn’t care. They took what they wanted and if you wanted to stay alive, you let them take.”

His eyes went back to the map. “Jesus, fuck. I can’t believe they’ve got her.” This time his voice cracked and Matt put his hand on the back of Shane’s neck and squeezed.

“Stay strong for her. We’re gonna get her and she’s gonna need you.”

Matt and Shane turned around as the doors behind them opened and two men walked in. Shane felt his breath leave his body in a rush. Tom Rivers and Jake Campbell, old friends from his academy days and now detectives with a neighboring city’s police force, came stalking in and straight to Shane. Tall and well-built, both men made an imposing sight – one that Shane was glad to see.

Tom stopped directly in front of Shane and wrapped his hand around his friend’s neck keeping his eyes on Shane’s agony-filled expression. “Tony called. Jake and I dropped everything and we’re here. Unofficial. Just two friends visiting some old academy friends. But. We. Are. Here.” Leaning in closely, he got right in Shane’s face and said, “I know, man. I know.”

Shane greeted his Fairfield friends, staggered that they had come. He battled back the emotions that threatened to choke him as he held onto Tom before grabbing Jake in a bear hug as well.

Suddenly the room around them began to erupt in activity once again. Gabe shouted out, “The county sheriff’s office just raided two of the puppy-mills in the area and came up with nothing on Doctor Donavan. The third one looks like it may be it. The sheriff is gatherin’ his men and will wait for us.”

Tony came in speaking, “Just got off the phone with your chief. Since it is in the county and not the city he has no jurisdiction, but DEA is heading out that way as well as FBI. Tom, Jake. Good to see you. You two are here visiting old friends and just helping out. Shane, you and Matt have no legal authority in this case now, which your chief wants to make sure you remember.”