Chapter 2

He limped back to the other guy. “Police and ambulance are on their way. Hang in there, okay?”

This time it registered that the other guy was an omega. No claim scar, but he was young enough to be unclaimed, and his pheromones were weak which was hardly surprising considering his poor physical state. “So thirsty,” he croaked out.

“I think I have some water left. Be right back.”

Jake moved as fast as he could manage with his busted, throbbing knee. Sure enough, there was a little bit of water left in his plastic bottle. Why hadn’t the other guy been given water? Jake got sufficient water and three meals a day, even if the food was lousy and he had a bucket for a bathroom.

“Here,” he said, giving the other guy the water bottle. “Not much left, but I’m sure you’ll get more soon.” Besides, if the guy was dehydrated he shouldn’t be gulping down a whole bottle at once anyway, as much as he might want to. Vomiting wasn’t going to help anything.

“What is his name?” asked the 911 dispatcher.

“Nine-one-one wants to know your name.”

The other guy finished the water before answering, “David Beecham. And we were kidnapped by Roger McLaughlin. He’ll be here any time.” David looked frightened just mentioning their kidnapper’s name.

Jake wondered how exactly David knew this but speaking seemed like a lot of effort for the guy so he relayed the information to their dispatcher and reminded himself his questions could wait. Besides, he heard noise coming from down the hall which couldn’t mean anything good.

Sure enough, he heard a loud “What the hell?” and a couple seconds later they were joined by an irate man posturing in an attempt to make himself look like more of an intimidating alpha than he really was. Sure, the guy was an alpha but he wasn’t a particularly daunting specimen. Did he even bother to work out?

Besides, Jake had the Glock pointing straight at him.

“You,” growled out the wimpy alpha. Eloquence wasn’t his strong suit, evidently.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be out of your hair soon enough,” replied Jake.

“Do you really think you’ll get out of here alive?”

Jake hoped all this was making it to the 911 recording. “Yep.”

Wimpy alpha shook his head. “Not a chance.” Maybe he didn’t realize one of his goons had a cell phone. If Jake was going to kidnap people he sure wouldn’t allow cell phones around the prisoners. This whole operation was poorly devised, to his great personal benefit.

“Do I look worried?” Now he was just stalling until the police showed up.

Wimpy alpha hadn’t produced a weapon yet. This kidnapping was so badly planned Jake wouldn’t have been surprised if he was unarmed. On the other hand, he could pull out a weapon at any moment.

Their captor’s phone rang. He moved to answer but stopped when Jake said, “Uh-uh, hands where I can see them. Stand against the wall.”

Defeated, the man did as he was told. Jake had figured he was the kind who was nothing without his hired muscle. Sorry excuse for an alpha, really, though since he was a criminal, Jake wasn’t complaining.

They remained this way for a couple minutes before Jake could hear the police approaching. “In here!” he yelled.

Then it was over. Wimpy alpha was in handcuffs, one of the officers helped Jake stand, and EMTs rushed in to take care of David, who was weak enough he was carried out on a stretcher.

“Thank you,” said David as he was taken out. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” replied Jake, because what else could he say?

Another officer came in and shook Jake’s hand. “Detective Rossini. I have to say, Mr. Nelson, you’ve done most of our work for us.”

“Shoddiest kidnapping I’ve ever seen.”

The detective’s eyebrows shot up. “Have you seen a lot of kidnappings?”

“I was on a rescue team. Special forces.”

“That explains a lot. Dispatch said you were admirably calm. Let’s get you out of here so your knee can be looked at.”

“I’m guessing they took me for ransom,” he remarked as he hobbled down the hall. Another EMT arrived with crutches, making his life much easier.

Rossini nodded. “Your parents received ransom demands.”

Jake’s parents had recently won the lottery. It wasn’t a huge jackpot—after taxes they received a lump sum just over $8 million—but it had been big local news. They’d expected people would come out of the woodwork asking for money. None of them had foreseen the win would lead to kidnapping.

“They’ve been worried sick. You want to give them a call?” Rossini unlocked his phone and offered it to Jake.