Ella’s POV
God, what kind of dump was this place? My father promised me he’d found the perfect hideout, swore that working with Linda would get us what we wanted. Take Liam, he said, and we could use him to make Draven give me everything I deserved.
But Dad disappeared just hours after we grabbed the kid. Now I was stuck with this crazy woman and a screaming brat.
Daniel and Dennis, the brothers who helped us kidnap Liam, were like obedient bodyguards. Daniel looked so proper,you’d never guess he’d betray his pack. Dennis seemed more reckless, casual about everything.
When we lost contact with my father, Daniel immediately confronted Linda. "I don’t need millions. Just two hundred thousand for me and my brother. I’m risking Alpha Draven’s wrath to help you."
Dennis nodded, frowning."Alpha Draven isn’t someone you mess with. We need some payment upfront."
Linda laughed it off."We have his only child.Don’t you think you’re selling yourselves short? Once we reach Howard, we can squeeze millions out of Alpha Draven." She smiled sweetly. "I’m family, your benefactor. Without me, would you ever have gotten into a company as prestigious as Thorne Enterprises?"
Daniel hesitated, uncertainty crossing his face.
Linda pressed her advantage. "Especially you, Daniel. With my help, you became head of security at Thorne Enterprises. Two hundred thousand is nothing,barely a few years’ salary there."
Dennis saw his brother wavering and pulled at his arm. "Daniel, if you don’t want yours, I’ll take my share."
Daniel remained silent. Dennis tilted his head, equally quiet. I suspected they were communicating through their mind-link.
Linda must have realized she couldn’t overpower them because she quickly gave in. "Fine, I’ll transfer the money now. When this is over, you’ll get much more. We’re family, after all."
But soon after I made my threatening call to Alpha Draven, the brothers vanished. At least they hadn’t taken Liam with them.
Now I was stuck with this crying brat. His howls were ear-splitting.
The door to our hideout creaked open. Linda and Marcus walked in, wrapped around each other, his hands wandering all over her body.
I rolled my eyes. "Get a room."
Linda pulled away from kissing Marcus. "Ella, shut that snot-nosed kid up. You can hear him crying from outside."
"That kid never stops crying. When I first met him, he was much quieter," Marcus commented.
"Oh, just give him some Xanax. I have some in my purse if you want," I suggested.
"Are you insane?" Linda snapped. "Alpha Draven hasn’t done what we want yet. We can’t kill the brat. Better let him cry himself to exhaustion."
"Well, Linda, I don’t think motherhood suits you," I laughed, seeing her disgusted expression.
Linda shot back, "Your father was supposed to find us somewhere better. This place is a complete dump."
"That’s what I thought, but he said we wouldn’t attract attention here. I’m dying of boredom though..."
Marcus brought over a big bag of food. At least he was useful for something,bringing supplies.
Though I had to admit, most of the credit for getting into Blood Moon Pack territory without alerting their patrols went to Marcus and his connections.
I really didn’t know how Linda had gotten involved with this guy.
Linda pulled Marcus into the bedroom. I knew exactly what that bitch was doing. It wasn’t long before she started moaning like a dog in heat.
Half an hour later, Marcus left, and Linda remained silent in the bedroom. When I called for her to deal with the brat, she told me to handle it myself. I nearly slapped her. The nerve!
I gave the little monster some cookies, and he threw them in my face. I was furious! I wanted to tie him to the kitchen table leg and go to sleep, ignoring his cries completely.
Back in my room, I put on headphones to block out the crying and covered my eyes with a sleep mask.
"Ow! Linda, stop shaking me, you cow!" I shouted when I felt someone disturbing me.
A large hand ripped the mask from my face. My room was filled with hulking men.
"Aaaaah! Help! Linda, help me! I’m being raped!" I screamed, fearing for my life.
"Shut up, you brat!" one of them growled. "This is law enforcement! Get up,you’re going to the dungeon for trial. Kidnapping an Alpha’s child? You’ve got some nerve!"
I froze. What were they talking about? I saw Linda standing by the bedroom door with her hands behind her back, and I started crying.
"Linda, what kind of joke is this?"
"You think this is a joke, you idiot? We’ve been caught, you fool!"
"Don’t talk to me like that! It’s your fault for sneaking off with your lover. Couldn’t you control yourselves? Linda! Ow... what’s that?" I felt something cold against my wrists.
"Silver bracelets, princess!" one of the brutes laughed.
"What?" I didn’t understand.
"Handcuffs, you moron! We’re being arrested, you clown!" Linda shouted.
"Now you get to sit in a cage," another guard said, shoving me forward.
They pushed us outside and into actual cages in the back of a vehicle. Before being forced inside, I caught sight of the little brat being held by a handsome man. Interestingly, the kid had stopped crying.
My wolf whimpered inside me, sensing the danger we were in. Wolves caught betraying an Alpha rarely survived the punishment. My father had promised we’d be untouchable,where was he now when I needed him most?
The silver handcuffs burned against my skin as the reality of our situation sank in. We had kidnapped an Alpha’s son, his heir, his blood. Even my status as Howard’s daughter wouldn’t protect me from what was coming.
As the vehicle started moving, I caught Linda’s terrified eyes across from me. For the first time since this plan began, I saw raw fear there.