Chapter 9: The Man in the Black Suit

   

“Sorry about the conversation at breakfast. About Miriam. I could tell you were uncomfortable,” Sera says as they pull out onto the road. “I don’t know her well but I’m sure she’s a great girl. I know that you have feelings for her and-“

          

Mathew’s laughter interrupts Sera. “A great girl? Hardly. She’s horrible. We grew up together. I know exactly the type of person she is.”

          

“But there must be something good about her? Damion’s head over heels for her,” Sera suggests. How could Damion, sweet, kind Damion, love an awful person?

          

Mathew shakes his head. “Damion isn’t seeing clearly. He’s like a brother to me, so of course I want him to be happy. But Miriam is not the right wolf for him. She was with me at one point, when we were younger. But when Damion was named Alpha, she ditched me for him. Didn’t even feel bad about it. Not an ounce of remorse. And get this. After Damion’s accident, when he was all messed up and vulnerable, she wasn’t even here. She was running around with the heir of another pack! I called her and told her that Damion needs her but do you know what she said? I don’t want to be with a cripple! Can you believe that? Honestly, Sera, she only loves herself. She’s a real bitch, that one.”

          

Sera listens to Mathew’s words. She hears what he’s saying, but there’s something in his voice that makes her think he isn’t quite over Miriam.

          

“Mathew,” Sera says softly. “I think you should talk to Damion. He told me that she’s the reason you left the pack and went to take care of Stephen and June. Perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding?”

          

Mathew clutches the steering wheel a little tighter and shakes his head. Sera doesn’t want to push the issue, so she says nothing more. They drive in silence.

          

A half hour later, they arrive at the hospital. Sera quickly thanks Mathew for the ride and then rushes into the hospital. She doesn’t see an urgent patient in the waiting room, though.

That’s odd.

So she scurries over to reception. Before she gets there, though, a man in a black suit steps out in front of her. He’s tall and his suit reeks of wealth. He has a fedora set low over his forehead almost covering his dark, very dark, eyes. His voice is low when he speaks.

          

“The patient is with me,” he tells Sera. “Follow me, please.”

          

Sera is a bit confused, but she obliges and follows the man as he leads her outside to the gate. They stop in front of a black Maserati. The windows are tinted so she can’t see in.

          

I don’t like this, Sera says to herself. She looks back to the man in the black suit. He has sunglasses on now. Why isn’t the patient in the hospital? Who is this man?

          

As much as Sera wants to help someone who’s injured, her wolf senses are screaming at her to leave.

          

“I’m very sorry,” Sera says. “But my contract with the hospital prevents me from helping patients outside of the hospital. It’s a liability thing.”

          

It’s a feeble excuse, and she knows it, but it’s all she could come up with on the spot. Sera turns to leave, but the man grabs her arm. Before she knows what’s happening, he has both her arms locked behind her and he’s forcing her into the car.

          

The door slams shut before she even has a chance to scream for help.  

          

Stay calm, she tells herself. She frantically tries the door handle but of course it’s locked. The man slides into the car from the other side. Sera’s stomach sinks and her hands begin to shake.

          

“Don’t even think about screaming for help,” the first man says, as though reading her thoughts. “No one will hear you.” Then he wraps a blindfold around her eyes. Her heart races. “Just keep your mouth shut, little chick, and stay quiet. We only need a small favor. We’ve heard you’re very skilled with war injuries. Just help us out and everything will be fine.”

          

“I can’t just disappear,” Sera says, trying to reason with him. “Damion. He’ll wonder where I am. He’ll look for me.” But she has a feeling it won’t matter. Clearly, this man is powerful. He’s staged an entire kidnapping for crying out loud! He swipes her purse and fishes out her phone. He clicks away and then tosses it back while Sera watches, horrified.

          

“Problem solved,” he states dryly. “Damion,” he says in a mock girl’s voice. “Needed to clear my head. Went to see my mom. I’ll be staying there with my pack for the next week.” The man chuckles as he slides out of the back seat.

          

Shit. She tries the door handle again. Think, Sera. There has to be a way out of this.

          

Mom? She tries to mindlink to her mom, but she can’t get a connection in the car.

          

Suddenly, the car jerks forward and they’re moving. She can’t see anything, but she can feel how fast they’re going.

This is far from the pack boundary. It’s hopeless. Even if they do think I’m missing, they’ll never find me out here.   

          

After what feels like an eternity, the car comes to a stop.

He pulls her out of the car and removes her blindfold.

She’s standing in front of a small, wooden house, surrounded by thick forest.

And even from where she’s standing, outside the house, the thick scent of blood fills her nose.