Nocturnal Interlude: Nocturnal Lives, #3

By Amanda S. Green

Lt. Mackenzie Santos swears she will never take another vacation again as long as she lives. The moment she steps off the plane, federal agents take her into custody. Then she finds out her partner, Sgt. Patricia Collins, as well as several others are missing. Some of the missing have connections to law enforcement. All are connected to Mac through one important and very secret fact — they are all shapechangers. Has someone finally discovered that shapeshifters aren't merely the creations of myths and bad Hollywood movies or is there something else, something more insidious at work?

 

Mac finds herself in a race against time not only to save her partner and the others but to discover who is behind their disappearances. To top it off, she finds herself dealing with Internal Affairs, dirty cops, the Feds, and a conspiracy within the shapeshifter community that could not only bring their existence to light but cause a civil war between shifters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Green
• Release date: Jun 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781949901139

Amanda S. Green

I’m older than twenty and younger than death and that’s all you’ll get from me about my age. After all, it’s not polite to ask a woman her age. I’m a mother, a daughter and was a wife. I’ve spent most of my life in the South and love to travel. The only problem with that is my dog always thinks I’ve abandoned him and it takes weeks to reassure the poor thing. Then there’s the cat who resents the fact I came back before he could figure out a way to kill the dog and hide the body. My house is haunted – it really is. I swear it. What else explains the table that plays music and the light that comes on by itself? – but it’s mine and I love it. Okay, I’m a little strange. But that makes life interesting.

Book preview

1

S omeone had better tell me what the hell is going on!

Mackenzie Santos slammed her fist down on the table with a satisfying thud. The only thing that kept her from flipping it over was the fact it was bolted to the floor. Angry as she was, even that might not be enough to hold it into place if she didn’t start getting some answers soon. At least the two men sitting opposite her looked no happier about the situation than was she. Well, too freaking bad. They were the ones who had taken her into custody and then refused to tell her why.

Breathing deeply, Mac leaned back and struggled for calm. This wasn’t the first time she’d been in an interrogation room. Far from it, in fact. But it was the first time she’d been in this position. Each time before, she’d been the one reading a suspect his rights and starting the questioning aimed at eventually getting a conviction. Now she sat on the other side of the table, so to speak, from two dark suited men with regulation haircuts that simply screamed Fed.

Not that they’d asked her anything. In fact, from the moment she and Jackson Caine had stepped off the jet way into the terminal at DFW Airport, they’d spoken probably fewer than a dozen words. They’d asked if she was Lt. Mackenzie Santos and then told her she needed to come with them. Before she could react, she’d been cuffed, searched and escorted outside to a waiting black SUV, another indication that they were feds. A moment later, they were speeding out of the airport and toward downtown Dallas and the federal building.

When she had demanded an explanation for her arrest, they’d said nothing. They hadn’t even looked at her. If she hadn’t used exactly the same tactic on who knew how many suspects over the last eleven years, she might have been worried. Instead, her temper began a slow boil. It was obvious something had happened and she was in the middle of it – whatever it might be.

Damn it, this was why she never took vacations. Things always happened while she was gone and, apparently, this time the world had taken a sharp left turn into a nightmare she didn’t understand yet.

At least she was no longer cuffed.

A quick glance around the room provided no clues either. It was a standard interrogation room with white walls, battered table, equally battered chairs and a scuffed floor. The overhead light was recessed into the ceiling so a suspect wouldn’t be able to get to it easily to use either as a weapon or as a means to harm himself. The plastic bubble in the far corner housed one of the two cameras monitoring the room. The second camera was located directly opposite the door so it could capture images of anyone coming or going. What was different about the room was that there was no observation window for witnesses or other investigators to use to monitor an interrogation. Maybe the feds had gone to video monitoring now. Either that or they didn’t want a record of what happened and that was not something Mac wanted to think about.

Mac closed her eyes and counted slowly to ten. As she did, she let her senses expand. She didn’t dare shift, not in the middle of the federal building, but she could ease her control on her jaguar enough to enhance her hearing. Mutt and Jeff, the two men sitting across from her, were obviously nothing more than babysitters. They’d been tasked with bringing her in. She wouldn’t be surprised at all to discover they didn’t know why they’d brought her there.

That meant someone was watching, sizing her up before they came in to talk to her. While that didn’t give them an advantage, the fact she had absolutely no idea why she was there did. So did the fact Mutt – or maybe it had been Jeff – had taken her cellphone and tablet PC when they’d taken her into custody, leaving her no way to check in with her captain or even to scan the latest headlines for some clue about what was going on.

The only saving grace was they hadn’t pulled Jackson in. At least she didn’t think they had. That meant he’d been on the phone just as soon as they were out of earshot, calling first her captain – and their pride leader – and then anyone else he could think of. Hopefully, that also included an attorney because she sure as hell wasn’t going to talk without having someone there looking out for her best interests.

She heard the steps outside the door before her companions did. They weren’t the sounds of dress shoes like Mutt and Jeff wore. She’d have expected that. No, the sounds she heard were definitely made by boots, combat boots unless she missed her guess. And that most definitely wasn’t what she’d expected.

Mac’s heart beat faster as her mind leapt to the one conclusion she’d done her best to ignore. Had her secret been discovered? Why else would she have been taken into custody and yet not been read her rights or given her phone call? Fear spiked and only years of training kept her expression from betraying her.

Even as her fear spiked, she told herself she had to be wrong. They hadn’t taken Jackson into custody. If they knew about her, they’d have known about him. So she was overreacting. That’s all. There was another explanation for what was going on. She just had to keep her head and be patient.

Of course, that was much easier said than done.

Forcing herself to relax, Mac waited. The sounds of boots against slapping against the tile floor came ever nearer and yet her escorts gave no indication they heard. That was fine with her. She wanted to see their reactions to the newcomers. That would tell her a great deal about what was going on. But it was hard to just sit there. Her jaguar, already nervous and angry at being detained like a common criminal, pushed against her control. It wanted to fight, to make the men pay for chaining them and separating them from their mate. Cameras and technology didn’t matter to the jaguar and, if Mac were honest with herself, if she didn’t find out why she’d been detained and soon, they wouldn’t matter much to her either.

Damn it, what was going on?

Through half-closed eyes, Mac watched as the doorknob turned. A split second later, the door flew open with a bang. Chairs slid across the floor as Mutt and Jeff shoved away from the table and surged to their feet, their hands reaching for the guns they’d locked away before entering the room. Then Mutt lifted his right arm to his mouth, urgently speaking into the mic located at his cuff. From the almost panicked look on his face and the way he reached up with his left hand to tap at earbud in his left ear, Mac guessed he either wasn’t getting any response or at least not getting the one he wanted.

Well too freaking bad.

Slowly, almost casually, Mac sat up. As she did, her eyes never left the figure that seemed to almost fill the doorway. The newcomer most definitely was not a Fed, at least not the same flavor of Fed her babysitters were. He wore the woodland patterned Marine Corps’ combat utility uniform. His pants legs were expertly bloused over the tops of his tan combat boots. If looks could have killed, Mutt and Jeff would have been nothing more than two piles of smoldering ash.

Instead, they were reacting, and badly, to a situation they obviously didn’t understand. While Mutt continued to try to contact someone, anyone, for orders, Jeff quickly moved around the table to stand behind Mac’s chair. His hands rested on her shoulders, his fingers digging painfully into the skin as he exerted pressure he didn’t need to in order to keep her seated. But it also put him in position to use her as a shield if necessary – and if she let him.

Mac considered her options. For the moment, until she knew what was going on, she’d sit there. She’d let the Fed she’d dubbed Jeff think he held the upper hand. But as soon as she saw a chance to get out of there, she’d show him just how foolish he’d been to put himself between her and the wall. It was a rookie mistake and she looked forward to teaching him the error of his ways.

Hopefully, the lesson would be a painful one – for him.

Who the hell are you? Mutt demanded as he drew himself up to his full height.

Mac couldn’t quite hold back her smile then. The Fed might be taller than the newcomer but she had no doubts who would prevail if push should come to shove. Things might just be getting interesting after all.

ID! the newcomer snapped.

As he did, another man, similarly dressed, entered the room. Standing next to the first man, he extended a hand and waited.

Halsey? Jeff’s fingers dug even more painfully into Mac’s shoulders as he looked to his partner.

I don’t have to identify myself to you, but you sure as hell better tell me who you are and what you’re doing in our interrogation room! The blond tried to stare down the two men only to have them look past him to where Mac sat.

Lieutenant, are you all right?

Yes, sir. She didn’t know what game they were playing – yet – but she had a feeling she needed to play along. "Or I will be as soon as this gentleman quits trying to dig holes in my shoulders." A jerk of her head in Jeff’s direction.

I would have thought you could deal with that, LT.

There was a glint in Captain Mateo Santos’ eyes as he spoke. Mac grinned slightly and dug her heels in against the battered tile. A moment later, her chair slid back, forcing Jeff against the wall. As the chair came to a halt, she pushed up with all her strength, angling her head at the last moment so her shoulder instead of the crown of her skull, connected with the Fed’s chin. He gave a cry of pain and she felt a satisfying jar as his jaw snapped shut. If he bit down on his tongue, too bad. Then she was on her feet and away from the table, her back to the side wall and her eyes watching everyone as she waited for the next act to play out.

She saw Mutt’s muscles tense as he prepared to rush her cousin. At the same time, Jeff pushed to his feet. With a bellow, he leapt in her direction. Before she could react, the man who’d entered just after Mateo was there. He caught the Fed mid-air and body slammed him to the floor. Shaking her head, wonder and disbelief filling her, Mac watched as he then flipped the agent over and secured his wrists behind him with a pair of flex cuffs. Then her attention snapped back to Mateo who had one hand around Mutt’s – no, Halsey’s – throat and was lifting him so his toes barely touched the floor.

I asked for your identification. Mateo’s voice was calm but anger flashed in his dark eyes as the man’s hands dropped from where they’d been clawing at Mateo’s wrist to pat his pockets in search of his ID. A moment later, Mateo released him. Even as Halsey dropped to his knees, gasping for breath, Mateo’s companion was there to secure him just as he had the other agent.

Captain, don’t get me wrong. It’s very good to see you, but would you mind telling me what’s going on?

And if we’re going to have to fight our way out of here?

In a moment, LT. If he was trying to reassure her, he was doing a damned poor job of it. His expression was hard and his eyes dark with anger as he tossed the Agent Halsey’s ID onto the table. Then he nodded to his companion to lift the agent to his feet. All right, Halsey. I’m going to say this only once, so you’d better pay close attention. Nod if you understand.

Halsey nodded but he wasn’t happy about it. Not that Mac really blamed him. He had to be scared to death. At least he ought to be if he had a grain of common sense. Two armed men in combat utility uniforms had just made their way into a secure federal building, through several checkpoints and had just taken him and his partner down. Now they were the ones cuffed like common criminals and none of their fellow agents had come to even see what the disturbance was. If she happened to be in their shoes, she’d have been doing everything she could to get free and then to see what had been done to her fellow cops.

My name is Captain Mateo Santos, USMC on detached duty to the Department of Homeland Security. Now he produced his own ID and shoved it in Halsey’s face. You and your partner violated orders when you took the lieutenant into custody. You were to simply meet her and her companion at the airport and escort them back here where we were to meet them. Before Halsey could protest, Mateo held up a hand, effectively silencing him. Don’t bother trying to deny it. I’ve seen your orders. Now, if you want to have a chance at all of saving your jobs, you will tell me why you took the lieutenant into custody, confiscated her cellphone and tablet PC and denied her right to call an attorney.

They also confiscated my off-duty piece, sir. And that had been the most insulting of all. No cop ever willingly gave up her weapon. The fact that she’d been arrested, cuffed and disarmed rankled more than she wanted to admit.

LT, did they say anything about why they took you into custody?

No, sir. Not a word.

He nodded, frowning. Halsey, I’m waiting.

Go to hell. He tugged ineffectually against the flex cuffs securing his wrists behind his back. We don’t have to explain anything to you. In fact, I’ll have your ass as well as hers up on charges just as soon as we’re out of here.

Mateo actually laughed. Then he reached down and grabbed Halsey by the collar, hoisting him to his feet. You can try it. With his left foot, he hooked the chair Halsey had occupied earlier, turning it around so he could shove the agent onto it. Ask yourself why no one has come to help you and your partner. Or why no one answered your call requesting backup. They know you screwed up and that screw up may cost hundreds, maybe thousands, of people their lives. If that happens, I promise this will be one of the last days of freedom you and your partner will ever enjoy.

Mac stared at her cousin in disbelief. Surely that was all just some sort of cover story. She was a cop. None of her cases were such that they involved more than a few people. What he was talking about was on the magnitude of a terrorist attack or –

God, the or scared the hell out of her. Was it possible their kind had finally been discovered? No, that couldn’t be the case. If it was, Mateo wouldn’t be there. He’d be doing everything he could to protect the others. Her life, one single life, wouldn’t be worth risking so many others. So it had to be something else. But what?

Captain? If her voice shook a little, she didn’t care. She needed to know what was going on.

"Let’s get you out of here, LT. Unless you’d like a few minutes alone with these two gentlemen."

As tempting as it was to take him up on his offer, she shook her head. She wanted as far from there as possible, as quickly as possible. Then she wanted to know exactly why the feds were supposed to meet her at the airport and why these two had disobeyed orders.

Sir, we do need to know why they detained Lt. Santos, the other man said softly.

I believe you can get that information from them, Sergeant Lee. Once you have, turn them over to their supervisor for appropriate disciplinary action. Then report in.

Understood, sir. The look he gave Halsey and his partner sent chills down Mac’s spine. Don’t worry, ma’am, I’ll find out what went wrong.

Mac nodded, not trusting herself to speak. As she turned back to Mateo, a man with greying hair appeared in the doorway. Without a word, he handed Mateo Mac’s cellphone, tablet PC and off-duty weapon. Then he looked at the two agents, both now sitting before the table. His expression hardened and he stepped inside.

"Halsey, Ferrer, you will answer their questions and tell them anything and everything they want to know. I’ve already authorized them to go through your electronics as well as your desks and lockers. When they are done with you, we’re going to have a chat of our own."

Thank you, Special Agent Ramirez. My sergeant is going to stay and ask them a few questions.

I’ll make sure the office knows to give him any information he needs, Captain. He turned to look at Mac and she smiled slightly. She’d worked with Ramirez on several cases before and knew him to be one of the few feds who worked well with local law enforcement. Lieutenant, my apologies for the actions of my agents. I assure you, they will be disciplined.

She nodded. Much as she didn’t like it, this wasn’t her game to play. All she hoped was that someone filled her in on the rules soon, before it was too late.

Let’s roll, LT. There’s a lot to do and not much time to do it in, Mateo said as he handed her first her gun and then the rest of her things.

He waited as she slid the gun into her waistband at the small of her back and then he left the interrogation room. With one last look at the two agents, she nodded to the sergeant and then to Ramirez before hurrying after her cousin.

Thank God, you’re all right.

Jackson’s arms went about Mac the moment she climbed into the rear of the black van. For a moment, she let herself just enjoy the comfort of her mate’s embrace. She’d never forget the worry she’d seen in his eyes as she’d been led off by the feds or the anger. She knew without asking that it had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done not to go after them and force the men to release her. If their roles had been reversed, she wasn’t sure she’d have been able to exercise as much self-control as had he.

Are you okay?

She lightly touched his cheek, her eyes searching his. Even though Halsey and his partner hadn’t done anything to him, she’d been afraid another team of agents had taken Jackson away. The thought of anything happening to him, especially if it was because of her, made her blood run cold.

I’m fine now that we’ve got you back. He kissed her and then helped her into the seat directly behind the driver’s seat. A moment later, he was seated next to her.

Mateo, what’s going on?

Her cousin had taken his place in the front passenger seat and, before answering, he told the driver to get them out of there. Mac, I promise I’ll answer all your questions, but let’s get well away from here first.

Damn it, Mateo! She bit down on her anger. It was reaction to everything that had happened. She knew it. But that didn’t make his refusal to explain any easier to take. I think I deserve to know what’s happening.

Mac. Jackson reached out and turned her face so she looked at him. He’s right. I only know the bare minimum and it’s enough to worry me – a lot. We’re on our way to a meeting where everything will be explained.

Jackson, I trust you. You know that. She waited until he nodded. But you’re asking too much.

Mac, I talked to Mike. He’s asked that we do as Mateo and his people say. Mike promised we’ll understand.

Mac leaned back and scrubbed her hands over her face. Maybe this was just a nightmare and she’d awaken soon. Then she’d be back in Hawaii and everything would be all right. But that wasn’t how her luck ran. No, this was all too real and she was getting a very bad feeling.

Fine. Just tell me this: is my family all right?

They are. Your grandmother and mother are waiting for you. The twins are on their way back from Austin with a couple of my men, Mateo answered. And, before you ask, Jackson’s family is safe as well. I promise.

Mac didn’t know whether to be relieved or not. On a primitive level, relief won out. She’d come to understand over the last few months just how important family really was. But then the implications of what Mateo said hit her. Why would he, or at least someone he worked with, have already taken steps to ensure that her family and her mate’s were all right? Had someone specifically targeted them or was the threat more widespread? And why had the feds taken her into custody?

Without a word, she opened the cover on her tablet PC. Before she could turn it on, Mateo reached out and snatched it from her hands. Eyes flashing, jaw clinching, she stared at him in disbelief. What in the hell was going on?

Mac, you can’t use the tablet or your cell phone or anything else with GPS capability until we scrub them, he said, his expression serious.

Okay, now she was starting to get scared. Worse, it was fueling her anger and that was making it more and more difficult to maintain control. It wouldn’t take much more for her to shift. She didn’t know about her cousin, but she didn’t particularly want an angry jaguar loose in a moving van. So someone had better start telling her something before that happened.

Mac, he’s right. Jackson’s spoke softly but she heard how worried he was. Our families are safe but not all of our friends are. Someone has been moving against them for the last few days. We don’t know who and we don’t know why. All we know for sure is that at least half a dozen of our people are missing.

For a moment, Mac stared at him, not sure she’d heard right. But one look at him was enough to convince her he spoke the truth, at least the truth as he knew it. After what happened at the airport, she wasn’t sure any of them knew the whole truth. Still, people they knew, maybe even people they loved, were missing.

Who? she asked even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

Pat’s one of them. Amy and Steve are also missing.

If they hadn’t been in the van, Mac would have been on her feet and pacing. Three members of her pride were missing. Three people she cared about. She could almost understand why Pat might have been taken. She was a cop and a damned good one. If she’d been the only one taken, Mac would have assumed one of Pat’s cases from her days in Narcotics had come back to bite her. Pat was also the pride leader’s mate. And both were very good reasons why someone might take her.

But why take Amy and Steve? They were barely adults. College students. They had no real standing in the pride except as beloved members. They certainly couldn’t be involved with anything criminal. And there were others missing as well. God, this was a nightmare.

Are they all from the pride?

No. There’s at least one lone pure missing as well as two members of the local pack, Mateo answered.

How long? How long since the first one went missing and has there been any sort of demand made? She had to think like a cop. Ask the questions, eliminate the motives and zero in on the suspects.

What she couldn’t do was think about what the suspects might be doing to the people she cared about in the meantime.

Two days and no demands, no contact of any sort. Mateo sounded as grim as she felt.

Mike? Is he all right?

The thought of her captain, her pride leader, and the anguish he must be feeling just then kicked her worry up another notch. Because he was also Pat’s commanding officer, just as he was Mac’s, he and Pat couldn’t go public with their relationship. The fact that she was missing had to be killing him and it would be made all the worse because he wouldn’t be able to let his fear show. Add in the worry he had to be feeling about the others and Mac had no doubt King was wishing he’d soon wake up from this nightmare.

He’s angry and scared, Jackson replied. But he’s coping so far. At least he says he is.

Mateo, I have a feeling there’s a lot more to this than you’ve said. She waited until he reluctantly nodded. Then you’d better accept the fact that I am in this until we find out what’s happened and we catch the ones responsible. Try to shut me out and I promise you won’t like the consequences.

Damn it all to Hell and back again. This is what she got for going on vacation.

2

He took a sip of coffee and nodded in satisfaction. So far, everything had gone according to plan. The large monitor before him was split into six segments, each showing a live feed from different rooms below him. The occupants of the rooms were quiet now, all but one still unconscious. But that would soon change.

And then the fun would begin.

He adjusted the video feed so he could focus on what was happening in one room. In the center of the room was a single chair. Its legs were bolted to the floor. The light from the single fixture above the chair showed the room’s occupant beginning to regain consciousness. He reached out and typed in a command on his keyboard. Then he waited, knowing what should happened but wanting to make sure nothing went wrong.

A few moments later, the door to the room opened and his partner entered. He moved to the chair and carefully checked the chains and straps securing the woman. A wide leather strap ran around her waist, securing her to the back of the chair. A leather collar was locked around her throat, a short chain running from the collar to a D-ring near the top of the chair. Both it and the leather strap would keep her from leaning forward.

Her arms were twisted behind the chair. Wide leather bands circled her wrists and were locked together. A second chain, heavier than the one securing her collar to the chair, ran from her wrists to her collar, lifting her arms into what would be a very painful position once she regained her senses. Similar bands wrapped around her ankles but these bands were locked to the front chair legs – right to right and left to left. The woman could move, but not much and certainly not enough to shift without seriously injuring herself.

Taking another sip of coffee, the man watched as his associate carefully untied the cord securing the prisoner’s hood in place. The hood was rolled up just enough for him to remove her gag. Then he sat back on his heels and waited. As he did, Jarod Hanks smiled slightly, glad he wasn’t in the room just then.

It didn’t take long. Just as the others of her kind had at the beginning of the last job, the woman shook her head slightly as consciousness returned. Then she moaned and, before she could even begin to ask where she was and what had happened, her stomach protested the drugs they’d pumped into her. For the next ten minutes, she wretched and fought against her bonds, her body doing its best to get rid of the toxins. When she was finally finished, the man set down the pan he’d been holding for her to vomit into and pressed a bottle of water to her lips, waiting as she took a few tentative sips.

Hanks watched as his partner slipped the ring gag into the woman’s mouth before she could react. They’d learned after the first mission when they’d lost all their targets that this bout of sickness would not be the only one. Neither he nor those he worked with wanted a repeat of that failure. So now they carefully regulated the drugs, making sure to give time between when each of the prisoners would first regain consciousness. That gave them time to make sure none were lost – at least not too soon.

By the time his partner climbed to his feet, the woman had started fighting. Grunts and groans, about the only sounds she could make with the ring gag in place, filled the room. Hanks smiled as she tried to pull free from her bonds. Then he glanced at his watch, timing it. Almost two minutes to the second from when she started struggling, she stopped. Even though she was still dressed – something that might change before long – he could see the muscles of her abdomen ripple as the next wave of nausea hit.

Without a word, his partner reached for the pan and held it as she once again began to wretch. When she finished, he set the pan in her lap. She started and the pan began to slip. Before it could fall, he reached out and steadied it.

Good. They were just about ready for the next phase to begin.

Nod if you understand me. The man’s voice was soft, harsh. He waited until she did as he instructed. I’m going to remove your hood. If your eyes are closed and stay closed, I will leave the pan in your lap for when you get sick again. However, if they aren’t closed or if you try to look at my face after I remove the hood, I will replace your gag and you can suffocate on your own vomit. Nod if you understand.

Another nod, this one quicker than the previous one.

Good. Close your eyes.

Hanks leaned forward a bit and carefully watched the monitor. At the first sign the prisoner failed to follow orders, he’d let his partner know. Part of him hoped she did. It was always so much fun breaking the first one. But they had plans for this particular prisoner. She was much more useful – and valuable – to them alive than dead.

Well, he had to give it to her. She was smart. He could see the conflicting emotions rippling across her expression as the hood was peeled back. But she kept her word. Her eyes remained closed until they were covered by the padded blindfold that would prevent her from seeing anything. That meant she wasn’t going to test them, at least not yet. It also meant she was strong enough mentally to keep her natural instinct to look and see not only who her captor was but where she was being held under control.

Very good. The man lightly ran a hand over her short blonde hair before patting her cheek. Then he laughed as she jerked her head as far away from his touch as she could. If you sit very still, the pan will stay right where it is. Move too much and, well, you can guess the rest. He stood and moved slowly toward the door, pausing before making his exit. Oh, if you want to try to scream, go ahead. Believe me, no one will hear you.

No one but the other prisoners once they regained consciousness. But she didn’t need to know that, at least not yet.

Hanks watched as his partner left the room, locking the door behind him. Then he stood. It was time to deal with the next prisoner. The next few hours wouldn’t necessarily be pleasant, for any of them, but it would give him an idea of just what he was dealing with this time.

Tell me what the hell is going on, Mateo, or I’m out of here.

Mac’s hands fisted at her side as she stood nose to nose with her cousin in the middle of what looked like an abandoned warehouse. At least that’s what it looked like at first glance. But she knew better. The concrete floor was almost pristine. No dust or grime covered it. When she sniffed the air, none of the mustiness she’d long ago learned to associate with abandoned buildings – much less other, less inviting smells – filled the air. No cobwebs glistened in the light filtering down from the windows high in the walls surrounding them, no broken windows to let in the elements.

This most definitely was not an abandoned warehouse.

Mac—

Damn it. Before she realized what she was about to do, she’d shoved him away from her. As he staggered back two steps, she watched the anger cross his expression. Well, too damned bad. She’d been arrested, cuffed and detained. Then she’d learned her partner and friend, as well as two people who reminded her of her younger siblings, had been kidnapped – or worse. And he wanted her to wait for an explanation? To hell with him. And to hell with everyone else.

That’s enough, Mackenzie!

The woman’s voice rang out from the far end of the warehouse. Mac’s head swung in her direction, her anger and frustration forgotten. Just the sight of her grandmother reassured her. She’d learned several months earlier that there was much more to her grandmother than she’d ever guessed. Ellen Santos, her beloved grandmother and the rock she’d needed when she was growing up, was actually Elena Alexandra Ramirez–Saenz Graham Santos, descendant of Arturo Ramirez and Anna Saenz. That meant the blood of two of the most powerful shapeshifter lines ran through her and Ellen possessed the power to prove it. Added to that was a wisdom Mac had come to rely on as she learned to navigate her way through this new life of hers.

Mac, I promise I’ll tell you everything I know. Mateo held his hands up in an attempt to placate her as she swung back to face him. But let’s get somewhere a bit more secure first.

For a moment, Mac considered arguing. Then she blew out a breath and nodded. She couldn’t let her emotions rule her, not until she knew exactly what was going on. Besides, even though she’d seen her grandmother, she hadn’t seen her mother yet and, until she had, she wouldn’t believe Elizabeth Santos Wheeler was safe.

Without a word, Mac turned on her heel and moved toward her grandmother. Before she had taken two steps, Jackson was at her side. She reached for his hand. Together they were stronger than apart. Besides, he’d keep her from doing anything foolish. Well, to be accurate, he’d try to keep her from doing it.

Mateo trotted ahead of them. He paused at a door near the far end of the warehouse. Mac watched as he punched a code into the keypad next to the door. Then he placed his palm against a recessed plate she hadn’t noticed. There was a hum, so soft she doubted she’d have heard it if she’d still been a normal, followed by a click. Without a word, Mateo opened the door and motioned them inside.

Mackenzie, sit down. You too, Jackson, Ellen said a short time later as they