Chapter 4

4

A fter Fisher's brother gave him something to ease the pain from the gunshot wound, Fisher was so out of it. He'd woken once when he had felt Kira's warm hand on his forehead, but then was out again after that. She had left him to walk with the boy, so that when he opened his eyes again, he asked Heath, "Is Kira alright? The boy? Is he okay?"

"Yes, they both are fine," Heath said again, or at least Fisher thought he had because his brother sounded a little more vocal about it, like he was annoyed that he had to repeat himself. Maybe his brother had repeated it more than once. "Close your eyes, go to sleep, and enjoy the ride."

Fisher realized he was being carried on a litter, was wrapped in a blanket, and being jostled around. He was glad he had some pain medication, though he didn't like feeling so out of it. "Can I see Kira?"

"She's with the boy way up ahead with Devlyn and some others. We don't want Billy to see you and then he will be asking about the injured dog."

Fisher sighed. He'd forgotten all about the wolf scenario. "What about the kidnappers?"

Heath was talking to Shawn about having Fisher's head checked out. Shawn agreed.

Fisher frowned. "What about the kidnappers?"

Heath shook his head. "Brother, we really need to table any conversation with you until you remember what we're telling you."

"What?" His brother wasn't making any sense.

"You asked us about the kidnappers already. Are you awake enough to hear again what we already had told you?" Heath asked.

Fisher rolled his eyes. His head was splitting in two, his shoulder and ribs were killing him, the pain medication was taking the edge off, but not all the way. Why couldn't he just answer his questions without giving him grief over it?

"Okay, the kidnappers got away as far as we know," Heath said.

"Why didn't you just say that in the first place?" Fisher asked, annoyed.

"I did!" Heath said.

Shawn laughed.

Then Fisher must have fallen asleep again because the next thing he knew, they were securing him in the ambulance.

An ambulance was also parked at the trailhead where the other men's cars were, and Kira learned it was the Greystoke's ambulance and that they had their own wolf shifter clinic, which she thought was great. Then Fisher was loaded into it while the FBI agents talked to Billy. It appeared Fisher was sound asleep again.

The FBI agents also wanted to question Fisher. Being his doctor, Heath told them, "I've got to get him to the clinic and take care of the bullet wound. You'll have to interview him after he's out of recovery."

Then Tanner and Heath went with Fisher in the ambulance, and they left the area.

Before Billy left with a couple of officers so that he could be returned to his family, he gave Kira a hug. "Thanks for coming to save me."

She hugged him back. "I'm glad I was able to find you and get us help." Because without the others, who knew how this would have ended. But Billy was the reason why she loved her job—helping victims while taking down the perpetrators of a crime. Then Billy left with the officers and the agents started to question her.

"What were you doing out here?" one of the agents asked her.

Normally, she would avoid human law enforcement agencies while doing her missions, but sometimes they ended up having to work with them. Human law enforcement agencies didn't know that the USF was a shifter organization. The USF agents had badges that were official looking, but they told other law enforcement agencies they were an undercover organization that took down perps. Most law enforcement officials had never heard of them, and many shifters didn't know about the organization, which had been started by jaguars because of the need to incarcerate their own kind who had been involved in criminal activities. Murderers got a death sentence, normally carried out when they were trying to take them into custody and knowing they wouldn't be getting out of the charges against them and would fight them to the death. For lesser offenses, they incarcerated them in a facility for shifters only.

"I'm with the USF and was searching for the three men who had kidnapped Billy," Kira told the agent as he took notes. "I found their vehicle at the trailhead and started searching for them. I finally heard Billy crying, pleading with them to let him go home to his mother and dad. I heard shooting and it was in the vicinity where the men and the boy were. I hurried to reach the location where the shooting was occurring and saw one of the men shoot Fisher Greystoke. I didn't know him or his name at the time. He was just hiking through the woods."

"So one of the men was trying to kill you and Fisher," the agent said.

She explained just what had happened. "Yes."

Once the FBI agents finished questioning her, four of the men in Devlyn's pack took the investigators with them to show them the site of the shootings and where Fisher had fallen off the cliff. The wolves would have to help the FBI agents climb down to the ledge so they could gather any other evidence.

Devlyn said to Kira, "I know you want to continue to search for these men before they take another child, but it's late. They're in the wind now. If you don't have any other leads, come and stay with Bella and me at our house for the time being."

"Alright." She normally wouldn't want to impose on anyone, but Devlyn would have his men continue to help her, so she agreed to follow Devlyn home and stay with him and his mate.

Shawn said, "Do you mind if I ride with you? I came with some of the other guys, but they went back with the agents to check out the crime scene."

He could have gone with Devlyn, she was thinking, amused.

"In case you lose sight of Devlyn, I can make sure you get to his place. It's out in the country," Shawn tacked on.

"Yeah, sure. We'll follow you, Devlyn, and thanks for all your help," Kira said.

"Of course. They were committing a crime in our territory. Even if they hadn't been wolves, since they had injured one of our kind and tried to kill the both of you, we would have gotten involved. Also, learning a child had been kidnapped, because of our keen sense of smell, we would have helped out." Then he got on his phone. "Bella, we've got company." He climbed into his Suburban and shut the door.

"I hope that the boy doesn't mention the dog/wolf to any news reporters," Kira said as she got into her vehicle along with Shawn. Then she followed behind Devlyn's vehicle.

"I know," Shawn said. "It's too bad he saw Fisher as a wolf in the first place."

"I agree. Then you guys are all mentioning being brothers or cousins to Fisher—the dog, which didn't help the situation. Luckily the agents didn't ask us about the dog either."

Shawn smiled at her. "I know. Major mistake on our part, but we were rescuing Fisher, the man, so it was a tough situation to deal with." He looked at his phone and said, "Well, it's already all over the news about a woman named Kira who had saved Billy's life and a dog and his owner being shot that she had to rescue."

She sighed. "I figured the news would be all over it. I just hope they don't locate Fisher and me to question us." Then she got a call on Bluetooth, and she realized she had cell reception again. The call was from Martin Sullivan, her boss in charge of the USF.

"How are things going so far? I hadn't heard from you, and I thought I'd better call since I saw something about it in the news." Her boss was good about keeping in touch with his agents to ensure no one went missing, and especially probably with her because she was a new agent with the USF, and she didn't have a partner this time.

But hearing about it on the news first? Martin might not like that she hadn't already called him to let him know what had happened. She explained the whole situation and her boss swore. He rarely did, so she wasn't sure if he felt she had done wrong by not catching the three wolf kidnappers or had been concerned about everyone's safety—Fisher's, the boy's, hers, and other potential kidnap victims since the kidnappers were still on the loose. Not to mention the trouble it could cause if regular law enforcement picked the men up before they could.

"Everett and Demetria just finished up a case and they're available. Yours is a priority, given what these men are capable of, so the Andersons will be headed your way pronto," Martin said.

"Great." She loved working with the jaguar couple. "I'm staying at Devlyn and Bella's place and some of his pack members are helping us with this." She had kind of figured Fisher's cousin, Vaughn, would have wanted to be here after Fisher had been shot, but the case he and Jillian were on might be just as dangerous and as important as the one she was on. She hadn't had time to learn about it before she went on this one.

"Do you have any idea where these men have gone or who they are?" Martin asked.

"They never said their names since they leave their kidnapped victims alive. They wouldn't be foolish enough to say their real names in front of their victims," she told her boss.

"Right."

"Fisher's brother is with me, Shawn Greystoke. He's Vaughn's cousin." She figured she should tell her boss that she wasn't alone while speaking with him on Bluetooth in case he said anything that was for USF agents' consumption only.

"Okay, I'll let you go. If you get any leads let me know and Demetria and Everett will join you as soon as they can."

"Thanks, sir."

"Just stay safe."

"I will."

Then they ended the call. She thought she might get more of a lecture from her boss for not catching the kidnappers once she was alone.

"Will your boss and your fellow USF agents still want us to help out if the jaguars are coming to assist you?" Shawn asked.

"Yes, because of the seriousness of the case and we don't have a clue where they've gone to next. Plus, they've shot one of your own, so we know it's a pack territorial situation also now. If they go beyond your territory, it will be up to Devlyn and Bella." She really wanted to take a detour and check on Fisher at the clinic before she went to Devlyn and Bella's house for dinner and to sleep. "As far as we know, these men haven't tried to kill anyone before, so this shows they're getting more dangerous and more out of control."

As if Shawn knew what she was contemplating, or he was considering the same thing, he said, "Devlyn will be stopping at the clinic first so if you want to go there, just follow him. Bella will probably head over there too just to check on Fisher."

"Yes, that's just what I was thinking." Wolf families were often close to each other so she couldn't imagine them not seeing how Fisher was faring after he got out of surgery.

Devlyn called Kira to tell her he was stopping at the clinic first to check on Fisher.

"I want to see Fisher too, if I can." With wolf shifters, their rules were often different than humans. Kira hoped she didn't have to be a family member to see an injured wolf in the wolf clinic.

A half hour later, they arrived at the Greystoke Clinic. They all got out of their cars, and she saw a woman walking straight toward them. She looked like she was about six months pregnant and she practically glowed. Bella? She was a redhead too. And a red wolf. Kira smiled at her, thrilled to see another red wolf among the gray wolves. She didn't see them that often.

"Hi, I'm Bella Wilder Greystoke," Bella said to Kira, giving her a hug. "Devlyn filled me in on everything that has happened. I'm so glad you and the boy weren't hurt also."

"Thank you. Me too. It could have been so much worse. I appreciate all your pack's help. I don't know what I would have done without it."

"Well, we have you covered as long as you need our help," Bella said.

"I so appreciate it," Kira said.

They all went inside the clinic where several people were gathered in the lobby. The clinic was so different than anything Kira had ever seen. Warm oak floors and light stone walls, ceiling fans and oak furniture made it appear like a home instead of a sterile clinic.

Tanner introduced his mate to Kira. "This is Serena, Bella's twin sister."

Kira smiled. She was another red wolf and just as pregnant.

"We're so glad you're here and staying with us. I know Devlyn said we would put all our resources together to help you find these guys," Bella said. "That means even if the kidnapper leaves our territory. As long as you need our help, we'll be there for you."

"I sure appreciate it. Jaguar USF special agents Demetria and Everett are coming to help also," Kira told them.

Bella smiled. "I love the Andersons. They came to visit us for Christmas one year once Vaughn had joined the USF, and they were such a cute couple. Of course all of the wolves wanted to see them wearing their jaguar coats."

Kira smiled. "Yeah. I know the feeling. I wanted to see them in their fur coats too when I first joined the organization."

Then a strawberry blond-haired nurse, a gray wolf, came out to the lobby and introduced herself as Bethany Hollister. "Doc said Fisher is out of surgery and in recovery. But he's asking to see Kira." She looked at Kira. "Is that you?"

"Yes." Kira couldn't believe he would be asking to see her and not one of his close family members. She hoped they wouldn't be miffed about it.

But when she glanced at his brothers and cousins and their mates, they only smiled at her.

"Alright. If everyone's okay with it," she said, not wanting to alienate anyone.

"If it makes him feel better, sure," Tanner said, everyone else agreeing.

Then she went back with the nurse to the recovery room, but Fisher was sound asleep. Kira frowned. She was glad he was resting, but she thought Bethany said he had asked for her.

"Fisher? Fisher?" Bethany said, trying to get him to wake up again.

"Are you sure he asked for me?" Kira reached down and grasped Fisher's hand and caressed it.

He opened his eyes slowly, and he gave her kind of a loopy smile. "Hey, you're alright." He sounded really groggy.

"More importantly, are you alright?" Kira was still worried about the fall he'd had and the gunshot wound.

"I'm feeling great."

Kira laughed. "You're feeling great because of the medication they gave you, I bet."

Smiling, Bethany nodded.

Then the doctor walked into the room. "I've told the family how you're doing. Do you want me to tell Kira?"

"Yeah, and me too," Fisher said.

Heath shook his head. "I've already told you. But I'll tell you both. The bullet went clean through the shoulder, missing anything vital, thankfully. You have a couple of bruised ribs that will heal up fairly quickly. You'll need to be on bedrest for a few days for the bullet wound." Heath said to Kira, "You or the others who know his medical history can tell Fisher what I told him if he forgets what I said—again."

Fisher grunted. She smiled. She really liked the brothers. They were funny.

Then Devlyn and Bella walked into the recovery room. "Doc said you can't go with us to have dinner, Fisher. Kira's staying with us at our place. I'm sure she'll be leaving as soon as she learns where the kidnappers might have gone," Devlyn said.

Fisher looked at Kira as if she could intercede on his behalf so that he could have dinner with her, his cousin, and his mate.

"I won't leave Greystoke without seeing you first." Kira leaned over and squeezed his hand. Then she took his phone and added her number to it.

He smiled, looking like she had made his day.

Devlyn and the nurse moved Fisher out of the recovery room into a patient's room and though he appeared to be trying to stay awake, he fell asleep, and they all left. Kira really wanted to stay with him until he woke again, but she needed to eat and get some rest so if she had to run after the kidnappers, she would be ready.

It was really late for dinner, but Kira was hungry, and she enjoyed the pepperoni and cheese pizza Bella and Devlyn had made. After they ate, Bella showed Kira the guest room where she would be staying. The small room was light and airy, large pictures of scenes of forests and lakes hanging on the wall, making her feel like she was staying at a boutique guest retreat. Blue and green bedding gave the room a restful appearance for a sleepy guest. She loved how they had chargers for phones and computers, extra blankets, guest towels, and even fresh pink and white roses in a blue vase as if she truly was a special guest.

"If you need anything at all, just let us know," Bella said.

"Thanks. All I need is a shower and then to get some sleep. I love your home. It's really pretty."

"Thanks! We had fun decorating it. In the morning, we'll have breakfast as soon as you wake."

"That sounds good. Thanks for everything."

"We should be thanking you for saving Fisher's life. If you hadn't been there for him, he would have perished."

"It was my pleasure."

Then she and Bella and Devlyn all said good night and retired to their beds.

After Kira showered, she tucked herself into bed, glad that Billy would be reunited with his family, and that Fisher was going to recover from his injuries, but she still wished that she had taken down the kidnappers too. In the worst way, she wanted to know where they were.