Filed To Story: Secret Shifters Next Door Series PDF Free
Miles already had his cell phone out. “I’m gonna get hold of the guys we had watching Ryland. I need to find out if he somehow gave them the slip. I’ll get on the horn to all the other security tech we’ve got, get them out combing the streets, combing the neighborhoods. All hands on deck.”
Still numb and barely able to comprehend what was going on, I let Tate lead me to the truck. I was able to pull my mind back under control and hop into the passenger seat. Tate took the trip at damn near seventy. The truck almost went up on two wheels during one sharp turn. We arrived at Kellan’s house before the police got there.
I jumped out of the truck and saw Kellan was on his knees in the driveway. Tears poured down his face as he stared down the road, like he hoped Aiden would come running up at any moment. I heard the sirens approaching in the distance. April stood next to him, arms crossed and a steady stream of tears sliding down her cheeks. She, at least, looked a little less out of it than Kellan.
The second she saw me, she sprinted over to me, slinging her arms across my shoulders and almost collapsing into my arms. She was shaking so hard, she was almost vibrating. I could smell her fear and her terror. I glanced over at Tate, and he nodded. The smell of fear in that spot was overwhelming.
“It’s going to be okay,” I murmured.
April pulled back and looked at me. “Aiden’s a smart kid. There’s no way he would willingly go with a stranger.”
Tate looked from April to Kellan. “If that’s true, Aiden might know whoever took him. It would have to be a familiar face for him to go with someone.”
“Whoever it is,” Kellan hissed at us as he finally stood, “they’re gonna die. They are going to fucking die.”
In all the years I’d known Kellan, I’d never seen so much rage on his face. He’d gone from heartbroken loss straight to murderous rage. At that moment, looking into a father’s eyes, I was terrified for whatever son of a bitch had taken Aiden. If Kellan found them before anyone else, the guy stood zero chance of getting out of a painful and excruciating death.
The first police cruiser came screeching to a halt at the curb. The police started questioning Kellan first. April fell back with Tate and me. We were waiting for our turn to speak to the cops when my phone rang.
I checked the screen and looked at Tate. “It’s Miles.” I answered the phone. “What have you got?”
“Gone,” Miles roared. It sounded like he was talking through fangs. “Ryland is gone.”
“The fuck? How is that possible?” I asked.
“Body double. Some fucker who looked like him and walked around his house to screw with the guys watching. Once I gave them the go ahead, they moved in and got all the way to the front door before they realized it was the wrong guy. The asshole went outside and flipped them off. I think he knew they were there the
entire time. He slipped out at some point. It’s gotta be him. He’s the one who took Aiden.”
I stiffened. Ryland, that fucking asshole. He had been out here, unwatched, and had taken Aiden. What would he do with him? Aiden was just a kid, for fuck’s sake! April’s phone rang, grabbing my attention.
She looked at her screen. “It’s a blocked number.”
I was still on the phone with Miles, and I heard Blayne yelling in the background. “I’m tracing an unknown number coming to April’s phone. It’s local, coming from a tower right here in town. Answer it. I’ll route the audio to your phone, Steff.”
We moved further away from the cops. We didn’t know what Ryland might say and didn’t want even more questions. I put my phone on speaker and nodded for April to answer. “Hello?”
“I was beginning to worry you weren’t going to answer, April.” Ryland’s voice set off an explosion of rage within me. My bear was ready to leap out of my skin and through the phone.
“Where’s Aiden? Please, Ryland, don’t hurt him. He’s just a little boy.” April’s voice trembled as she spoke, but she managed to keep her tears at bay. I’m sure the last thing she wanted was to give Ryland the satisfaction of hearing her cry.
Ignoring her, Ryland said, “Hello, Steff. I’m sure you and the other…
things are listening. I’m glad you’re there. It means I won’t have to repeat myself.”
“We’re here,” I growled.
“Good. April, I’m a lot of things, but a child murderer is not one of them. I assure you that your nephew is safe. However, I do know some people who don’t share my views on violence. Sadly, they may actually take pleasure in injuring a child.”
April’s strength broke, and she started sobbing. I watched as her knees went weak, and she slowly lowered herself to the ground. I knelt beside her, wrapping an arm around her.
“Please,” she whimpered. “Please don’t let anyone hurt him.”
Ryland clicked his tongue in disappointment. “April, you know I’d never hurt you. I’ve loved you for years. I only wanted you to think I didn’t know who you were when we met. I’ve watched out for you and done what was necessary. Like that disgusting leech who’d been bothering you? I hoped you would enjoy the gift I left for you. He screamed so loud. I bathed in his cries, and knew they were all for you.”
This guy was a fucking nutjob. Listening to him sent chills down my spine. I glanced up at Tate. A worried frown creased his face, and his brows were knitted in concentration. He shook his head at me. Not good.
“Now,” Ryland said, “your nephew is safe and sound. You’ll find him at a park. I’ll text the exact location once I get off here. I want all of you to remember that this was a warning. You think you hold all the power. I did this to remind you that you have no power. As easily as we took that boy, we can take whatever we want.”
The threat was obvious. He wanted April. He was telling us he could take her whenever he wanted. He’d been playing games this whole time. Biding his time. I growled, sending a threat right back to him.
Ryland chuckled at the sound. “Don’t forget what I told you before. If I die? All the evidence I have forged will come out. It will point the cops right back at you. You all had better be mindful of your next move. I’ll see you soon, April.”
He hung up before any of us could say another word. A few seconds later, April received a text. It had an address and a picture of a shrub beneath a street lamp. Tate patted my shoulder. “Take her and Kellan. I’ll take care of the cops.”
April and I stood and waved Kellan over. Tate went to the police, telling them he needed to give his statement. He was so massive and intimidating that the two officers didn’t question it and looked a little scared to turn him away.
Kellan came toward us, his hands clenched into fists. “What is it?”