Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Nice to meet you, too.” Emily glanced down at her arm and saw the bandage wrapped snugly around her upper arm. The memory of the gunshot returned in a rush. “I was shot.”
“Sure were. Silver bullet, too.” The doctor winced. “Nasty stuff, but I got it out. You’re lucky.”
Emily studied Gwen more closely. The doctor stood around five-eight, shorter than most in the pack, with sharp, green eyes and straight brown hair cut bluntly at her chin. Her movements were quick and confident.
“You’ll be fine,” Gwen added. “I’ve got you on antibiotics and a few herbal remedies I’ve whipped up. The herbs should help with the healing process.”
Emily exhaled slowly. Her body still ached, but the pain in her arm had dulled to a manageable throb. “How long until I’m back on my feet?”
“Give it a few days, and take it easy.” Gwen’s gaze sharpened. “And no shifting for at least seventy-two hours. Your body needs time to recover from the silver.”
Emily swallowed a retort. She didn’t have days to rest, not with everything happening, but arguing wouldn’t help. For now, she’d have to focus on getting out of there and figuring out what the hell came next. “Anything else wrong with me?”
“Besides the lump on your head and the wound in your arm?” The doctor’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Not that I know of.”
“Is she going to be okay?” a deep voice growled from the doorway.
Emily startled and turned her head, her heart stumbling behind her ribcage. Jackson leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his bare chest, faded jeans riding low on his hips. The jeans looked a little too big. His gaze locked onto her, intense and unwavering.
“You took off that guy’s head,” she muttered.
“I did,” Jackson replied, his voice gravelly. “He shot you. I didn’t have much choice. What was his name? Who hired him?”
“Whoa,” Gwen interrupted, raising her hands. “Back off, Alpha. She just woke up.”
Emily’s head swam. “Yeah.” She swallowed, trying not to gag as bile rose in her throat. The room tilted slightly, and she pressed her palms against the mattress to steady herself.
Jackson took a step forward, but Gwen held up a hand. “Let her breathe. You can interrogate her after she’s had a chance to recover.”
Emily exhaled slowly and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, Jackson’s gaze was still locked on her, unreadable and fierce.
“Tell me what happened,” he said softly, his tone leaving no room for argument. His anger swelled through the air, heating it. There was nothing in life like a pissed-off Alpha.
Emily exhaled, gathering her thoughts as the dull throb in her skull pulsed harder. “The guy said his name was Bob. He wouldn’t tell me who hired him, and also said he didn’t kidnap me last time, although he knew about the garlic bag.” She shrugged, wincing at the motion. “I think I turned him. He planned to ransom me to my father and then kill whoever hired him in the first place.”
Jackson studied her, his gaze sharp. “Remember anything else?”
Emily rolled her eyes and instantly regretted it as pain stabbed through her skull. “Bob had two partners.”
“We’re looking for them now.” Jackson’s voice darkened. “I’ve got everyone who can scout the area out in each direction, but so far, all we’ve found is the dead guy.”
Emily couldn’t concentrate. “Did you find a phone on him? Maybe in the car?”
“Yes,” Jackson said.
“Can you trace it?”
“Working on it, but the thing was a burner. I’m not holding my breath. I also don’t have anyone really skilled with computers, except Thane. He’ll do what he can.”
Emily nodded, the room spinning slightly with the motion. “Hopefully, he finds something. Otherwise, we’re blind.”
“If it’s a burner, we probably won’t find much.” Jackson’s gaze softened. “Any idea who’d want to kidnap you?”
“No. Bob was just a hired thug.” She should’ve tried harder to gain information from him. “No clue who wanted me kidnapped. Maybe they wanted to kill me themselves, or maybe even ransom me off to my dad after Bob turned me over.”
“Seems logical,” Jackson murmured. “But I’m more interested in who has an alibi right now. Maybe we should go talk to your cousin. Victor. What do you think?”
Emily just wanted to sleep for a month right now. “I spoke to him after the last kidnapping and didn’t get any hint that he was involved. He’s not exactly a genius, but yeah, I wouldn’t mind talking to him again.” She could read a liar.
“I’ll speak with him.”
Right. Sounded like Jackson would torture her cousin. She’d worry about that later. “You didn’t call my father, did you?”
“No,” Jackson replied. “Didn’t want anyone knowing you were taken.”
“Good. Let’s leave it that way.” She understood Jackson’s desire to keep things quiet. His pack didn’t need to appear vulnerable. Plus, she didn’t want to worry her father. He deserved better than that.