Dangerous Mating (A.L.F.A., #3)(47)

Bryon picked her up and carried her to a car. He sat with her in the backseat as Sheldon drove. After a few more gagging fits, her lungs and throat started to feel better. She collapsed against her mate, exhausted for the sudden exertion and drain of adrenaline.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Sheldon is taking us to the airport. By plane, we can be at the U.S. military base in Liechtenstein in thirty minutes. They have equipment and medicine to take care of our dehydration and make sure your lungs are clear. I don’t like the sound coming from your chest.”

“I’m feeling much better. We don’t need to go to the base. That’s way too much hassle.”

Bryon’s face scowled. He was angry. “Don’t think for one minute I don’t know how to take care of my mate, missy. You’re going to a military hospital I can trust not to try to kill you while you sleep.”

She laid her head back on the seat and sighed, which started another short bout of hacking. “Fine.” But she really was feeling better. All she wanted was toxin-free water to drink or a glass of refreshing lemonade would be awesome.

She noted he wasn’t naked. “Where did you get the clothes?”

“Sheldon has your suitcases in the trunk. These are his.”

She nodded and coughed. “Did you tell him about the warehouse?”

“Some,” Bryon said. “Enough to get his men on the move.”

Kari sprang forward on the seat. Saving the women being tortured by the traffic ring was more important than her dang cough. “Sheldon, how many men do you have here?” she asked.

“Half of the base I’m sending you both to,” he replied. Another cough crept forward. She motioned for Bryon to tell Sheldon whatever else that needed to be relayed. If Sheldon’s men would surround the facility, they could take care of the criminals and free the women. Sheldon pulled his phone from his pocket and made a call. She hoped it was to get more men there. There could never be enough men. She almost laughed at that. But it was no longer true for her. One man would be more than enough for her.

Her heart ached for those who’d already left the warehouse before she could help them. She remembered one of the girls shoved into the van as she was escorted to theirs in the warehouse. The woman with beautiful dark flowing hair and big eyes. There was something about her that drew Kari’s attention. She could see any man wanting a female like that.

Meanwhile Bryon debriefed Sheldon on what had happened the past twenty or so hours. Was that it? It felt like days. But she did have one question that couldn’t wait. “Sheldon, how did you find us in the castle?”

“Your tracker beacon suddenly popped up on the radar. We just followed it,” he said.

She looked at her wrist. Some of the costume jewelry she donned with her earlier disguise remained. “Then why didn’t you find us earlier?”

“We were underground,” Bryon said. “Unfortunately, the bracelet’s GPS doesn’t work in places like that. As soon as we came out, they received the signal.”

Not that it mattered, but she would’ve liked to have known that from the get-go. She slapped a hand on her forehead. God, she wanted to go home. Wanted to be in a deep Jacuzzi with bubbling water floating around her. And Bryon on the other side of the tub in all his naked glory. Hmm. The things she wanted to do to that man.

“Hey,” Sheldon said from the driver’s seat, “keep that smell to yourself. We’ll have none of those thoughts in a car with a guy who is still mate-less.” He smiled at her with sad eyes in the rearview mirror. Her heart broke for him. She remembered how much he wanted a mate and family. He would make a great dad and husband to the right woman. She prayed he would find her soon.

She glanced at her mate. The past day had been incredible. She’d gone from being lonely to the happiest person in the world with a wonderful man. And his eyes shined with exactly what she was feeling: wanton desire.

The car slowed. “Saved by the airport,” Sheldon mumbled. “Thank god we’re here. I was going to step out if things got any smellier back there.”

Bryon laughed. “Just you wait till you find yours. You’ll see.”





Chapter Thirty-three




Bryon was glad when they pulled into the private airfield’s driveway and parked around back in the passenger drop-off area. His mate needed medical attention and he’d make sure she got it.

As they got out of the car, a plane sat on the tarmac not too far away with its engines running. An attendant was in the process of closing the plane’s door. He’d be on their own plane with his mate hopefully very soon. He was as tired as she was.

They went inside the small office building and heard a very angry person yelling at the man standing behind the counter. When the door closed behind their group of three, the screaming man turned to look at them. He snatched papers on the counter and marched out.

Sheldon shook hands with the man on the other side of the front desk. They seemed to know each other. That would make sense seeing that half of the closest military base had just flown in under Sheldon’s authority. Bryon looked around for his mate not by his side.

She stared out the window, watching the attendant roll away the mobile stair unit that was attached to the leaving plane’s door. In the driveway outside, a white van with a business logo drove past. Seeing she was safe, he turned back to the conversation between Sheldon and the company’s employee.