“Oh, Tara.” Talia’s eyes filled with tears, and I knew it was at the thought of Tara having the same gift as her aunt. One that foretold the future, no matter how much pain might be in it.

  “Can we go home now, Daddy? I promise to be good and not bite anymore.”

  A low rumble started in my chest, a deep purr, as I nuzzled her head with mine. Daddy. I would never get tired of hearing her call me that. As for biting, she could bite any fucking person she wanted if they were trying to hurt her. I was going to teach her how to defend herself, so she would be tough like her mama and Aunt Rian.

  Glancing over at Demon again, I let out a small growl, knowing he would understand what I needed again.

  A wide smile crossed his face, and he nodded. “You got it man. You take your family back to the apartment. We’ll clean up this mess and be there soon.”

  5

  TALIA

  I sat in the middle seat of the SUV holding Tara next to me, her head on my shoulder. I couldn’t seem to let her go. I was so damn scared when I saw her in that alley, that big brute of a man clutching her tiny arm. She looked so tiny next to him, terrified and filthy from hiding for hours before she finally left the small, vacant room she was in to try and find help. She knew she wasn’t supposed to leave until her aunt or I came for her, but I couldn’t be mad at her. Yes, she disobeyed, but she was just a child.

  We’d taken just enough time to pack some things for both Tara and my sister, and then left to head back home, wanting to put as much distance as possible between us and whoever might still be hanging around Dallas to try and kidnap my daughter. Riordan was driving, Rian sitting next to him in the passenger seat. She had insisted on coming with us instead of riding on the back of Demon’s Harley, wanting to be close in case we needed her to help protect Tara.

  We were close to home, but I wasn’t sure what the plan was when we got there. Right now, all I could think about was Tara and what could have happened to her if we hadn’t gotten to her in time. For once, I was putting my trust in someone else. I would let my mate make the decisions for a while. Until it was time to rejoin the world and go after the bastards who had my sister. I had no idea how I was to leave my child to do that, but Tiana needed me. Closing my eyes, I swore silently. My daughter needed me.

  Rian glanced back, a gentle smile on her face. “She’s so precious, Talia.”

  I swallowed hard, running a hand softly over Tara’s dark hair before leaning down to place a kiss on the top of her head. “She’s my world. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

  “You’ll never have to find out,” Riordan said gruffly, glancing back at me, a promise in his eyes. “We’ll keep her safe.”

  I nodded, emotion swamping me at the thought of finally having someone to share the responsibility of Tara and Tiana’s protection with. “Yes, we will.”

  “Where are we going, Riordan?” Rian asked, voicing the question I’d just been wondering.

  “To the one place I know Tara will be safe,” Riordan replied, as he took the exit to head toward Nacogdoches. “I made some calls while you were packing things up at the apartment. Wraith and some of my other brothers are going to meet us there. They’ll make sure nothing happens to my family while I go with Night Star to get Tiana.”

  I wasn’t sure if that meant he was planning on me staying with Tara or going with him, and I honestly didn’t know which one I preferred. Both my daughter and my sister needed me. How was I supposed to choose between them?

  “When is the team heading out?”

  “Roarke and Bastian are already at the site, waiting for them to arrive with Tiana. It’s dark still. No signs of anyone.”

  “Do you think we got the place wrong?” Rian asked, her full attention on Riordan now.

  My heart sped up at the thought. What if we had the wrong location? Shit. That wouldn’t be good.

  “No. I’m positive it’s the right one.”

  “Then why isn’t she there yet?”

  Riordan hesitated, glancing back at me again, before saying, “I think it’s a possibility that they stopped somewhere else first. Somewhere to instill fear into her before taking her to the mansion she mentioned.”

  I stiffened, knowing what he wasn’t saying out loud. They took her somewhere to hurt her, which was exactly what she said they would do. There was a man who was going to hurt her, but not kill her. Anger welled up inside me, a low growl escaping from deep in my chest. My tigress wanted out. Now that she had her cub back, she was ready to hunt down Tiana.

  “Where are we, Mommy?”

  Tara’s softly spoken question pulled me back from the rage I was feeling, and I had to force my claws to recede. I took a deep breath, focusing on pushing my animal back down before glancing into Tara’s eyes — pools of deep brown mixed with a dark golden color. Eyes just like my baby brother’s used to be. “Daddy is taking us some place safe, sweetheart.”

  “Where?”

  Before I could respond, the loud growl of several Harleys filled the air, and suddenly we were surrounded by motorcycles. They were in front of us, behind us, alongside us. I’d never seen anything like it. I caught a glimpse of a patch on the cut of one riding next to my window, and grateful tears filled my eyes when I saw it was the Dark Leopards. My mate’s MC brothers had arrived and were shielding us until we got to wherever Riordan thought was safe enough for my daughter. Our daughter.

  Tara giggled, then waved at someone outside her window. I looked over to see Rory there, making faces at her. For the first time in weeks, I felt a chuckle slip free. Riordan’s brother was a character, always joking around and trying to make people laugh with his shenanigans. Until it was time to take care of business, then the carefree persona was replaced by a badass one.

  Riordan turned off onto a side road, taking us further out into the country, and suddenly I knew exactly where we were headed.

  “Riordan, I don’t want to bring more danger to your family.”

  “You are my family, Talia.”

  When I would have opened my mouth to argue, Rian shook her head. “Nothing you say will change this, Talia. You are family now. You, Tara, and your sister. Don’t fight it. Embrace it and accept our help.”

  Slowly, I nodded as Riordan brought the SUV to a stop in front of a large white house. The Harleys parked in a line just a few yards away. Opening the door, I stepped out and watched as the front door opened and a man and a woman came out onto the front porch, followed by an older version of my mate. He was broader in the shoulders, thicker in the chest, and his hair a lighter shade of brown. Where my mate had visible tattoos on his arms, and one peaking out at the top of his T-shirt, his oldest brother had none that I could see. It was funny, but Riordan and Ronan resembled each other more than Riordan and Rory did, and they were twins.

  Taking a deep breath, I gathered my daughter into my arms, and then shut the door before turning around to face Riordan’s family. My chin trembled when I saw the compassion in Patrick and Moira Kilkenny’s eyes. I missed my parents so damn much. I wanted to run up the porch stairs to Riordan’s. I wanted them to hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay, because from where I was standing, nothing was okay except for the fact that I was holding Tara close.

  I felt a hand at my back and glanced up into my mate’s eyes. “You ready?”

  I bit my lip, my breath hitching in my throat, before I whispered, “Yes.”

  “Papa!” Tara cried out suddenly, struggling against me until I put her down. She flew across the yard and up the porch stairs, launching herself into a surprised Patrick’s arms.

  Scooping her up, he held her close, pulling softly on one of her curls. “Why, hello there, Sprite.”

  Tara giggled, wrapping her little arms around his neck tightly. “Hi Papa! I’ve waited forever to meet you!”

  When Patrick glanced over at me in confusion, I sighed, raking a hand through my hair. I’d suspected for some time now that my daughter had the same ability as my sister, but I didn’t know the extent of it. It was just little things so far. She knew when the neighbor was going to knock on the door before we did, that a song was going to be on the radio a couple of minutes before it aired. One time she told me about a past event in my life that I was sure I hadn’t shared with her, and I knew Tiana wouldn’t have. But she’d never mentioned anything like the pictures she saw in her head, the way she had earlier. I had no idea she was having visions of the man she considered her daddy and his family. It wasn’t a gift I wanted for her, not after the way I’d seen my sister struggle through life with it.

  “This is my daughter Tara,” I said, as I made my way toward the confused couple. “Apparently, she shares a gift with my sister. Visions of the past, present, and future. She knew who Riordan was before she met him, and it would seem she knows you, too.”

  “Of course, I do, silly,” Tara said, a dimple winking in her left cheek as she smiled at me before looking over at Riordan’s mother. “Can we have waffles, Grammy? I’m hungry.”

  Moira gasped, her hand going to her chest as she stared at my daughter. “Grammy?”

  “I want the blueberry ones you make Daddy, please.”

  When Tara looked at Moira with her large eyes full of hope, the woman smiled, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “Blueberry waffles, coming up, precious child.”

  “Don’t forget the whipped cream,” Riordan put in, chuckling at the look on his mom’s face.

  “Of course not,” Moira said, shaking her head. “That’s what makes the waffle so good.”

  “No blueberries for Uncle Ronan,” Tara whispered loudly, leaning closer to Moira as if sharing a secret with her. “He really likes chocolate chip best.”

  “He does?” Moira tore her gaze from Tara to look over at her oldest son.

  Ronan shrugged, leaning over to chuck Tara gently under the chin with a knuckle. “Stop telling my secrets, Peanut.”

  Tara giggled again before looking over at Riordan solemnly. “It’s okay, Daddy. You can go now. Papa, Uncle Rory, and Uncle Ronan will keep us safe.”

  Riordan crossed over to them, placing a gentle hand on Tara’s head before leaning down to rub his cheek against hers. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “With Aunt Tiana,” Tara said matter-of-factly, as if it were a done deal. Maybe it was. Maybe she’d had a vision. I wanted to ask but didn’t think it would be right to press her for answers.

  Riordan gave his mother a hug, squeezed his father’s shoulder, then nodded at Ronan. It was as if something unsaid was shared between them. After running a gentle hand over Tara’s hair, he turned and came back to stand beside me.

  “Tara…” I wasn’t sure what to say. She was six years old. She needed me, but Tiana needed me to. What was the right thing to do?

  Tara reached out a hand to me, one arm still locked tightly around her papa’s neck, and I knew there was no way I could leave her.

  “Stay with our daughter and keep her safe. I promise, I will bring Tiana home. Tara needs you now.”

  He was right, but dark guilt weighed heavily on me. My sister was out there, alone, afraid, and I couldn’t be there for her.

  “Sometimes, you need to let go and let others help you,” Wraith said, crossing the lawn to them. “My brothers and I will stay here with you. We’ll set up a perimeter around the house. Nothing gets in. Let Taz, Shadow, and Shyla go with your team and get your sister.”

  “Rian?” I whispered, my gaze flying around the yard until I found her standing next to her mate. Would she go with our team, too? I felt so damn weak, but I wanted her with me. I needed my friend near.

  “We are staying here with you,” Demon said. “No one will get to you or your daughter.”

  “Hell,” Rian scoffed, laughing at them, “Talia will gut anyone who tries. She doesn’t need us for that. But I’m staying for breakfast.”

  “Blueberry waffles it is!”

  “She likes waffles with strawberries on them,” Tara whispered loudly.

  Rian burst into laughter, shaking her head. “You need to teach my niece about boundaries, Talia.”

  I didn’t know what to say. This was a side of my daughter I’d never seen before. Her gift seemed to be a powerful one. How had I missed that?

  “Come inside, Talia. My granddaughter wants waffles. You can help me make them.”

  I looked up at Riordan, knowing my heart was in my eyes, as I whispered, “Stay safe.”

  “Always.”

  My eyes went to his lips, lips I’d fantasized so many times about kissing but hadn’t yet. I wanted to kiss him goodbye, but there were too many people around. “Come home to me, Riordan.”

  It was the best I could do. Now wasn’t the time to talk about our feelings, even though we had a lot we needed to discuss.

  Riordan’s eyes darkened, and he slid a hand into my hair, cradling the back of my head. Leaning forward, he placed those sexy-as-sin lips against mine. It was a gentle kiss. A promise of the future, one I held close to my heart as he stepped back and I watched him walk away from me. He climbed into the front of the SUV, Shadow in the passenger seat and Shyla right behind him. With a smile and a wave to Tara, and one last look at me, he left.

  “Don’t you worry about that son of mine,” Moira said, coming to stand next to me. Slipping an arm around my waist, she murmured, “You let that boy do what he does best, and you come inside with us. Get something to eat, a shower, and some rest. Your daughter needs you.”

  Straightening my spine, I nodded. She was right. Allowing myself to lean into her, wishing my own mother were there, I whispered, “Thank you, Mrs. Kilkenny, for everything.”

  “Enough of that nonsense,” Moira said, hugging me close. “You can call me Moira or Mom, but none of that Mrs. Kilkenny stuff.”

  I couldn’t stop the tears that slipped out, and then Moira’s arms were around me, holding me close as she crooned softly to me.

  “Everything’s going to be okay, child. You come inside and let me and Patty take care of you and that precious granddaughter of ours. Food, shower, and bed, in that order. You have to be hungry and exhausted.”

  “It’s going to be okay, Mommy.”

  I raised my head to look at Tara, unable to stop myself from asking, “It is?”

  A slight frown appeared as Tara scrunched up her forehead as if in thought, then she said, “Auntie Tiana is hurting, but she’s going to get out of there and come home. The bear is going to save her.”

  “The bear?”

  “Yep. He’s hers.”

  Her what?

  I didn’t ask, because I thought I already knew. My sister’s mate was close. And there was only one bear going on the mission to save my sister that I knew of today. My teammate, Bastian. If I was right, after what happened to his sister and her family, there wouldn’t be any way of holding the grizzly back. Anyone who had a hand in hurting Tiana would die.

  6

  TAZ

  “Head to the mansion,” Shadow said, ending the call on his cell phone. “Nitro and Jagger are almost there.”

  “Did Roarke and Bastian check in?”

  “Yeah. All is quiet still.”

  “Did Demon get anything useful from that prick who hit Tara?”

  I would kill the motherfucker all over again if I could. I’d seen the light bruise on the little girl’s cheekbone after we got to their apartment and had almost gone ballistic, wanting to go back to the alley I left him in. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that he was already dead.

  “Not really,” Shadow muttered, his eyes scanning the area around them. “He doesn’t think the bastard knew anything. He was following orders blindly from someone else because they lined his pockets with cash.”

  “I should have waited a few more minutes to kill him.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered. Demon got all there was to get.”

  I was silent for a while as I thought about what had taken place since we found out about Tiana and Tara. I really wanted to know who was behind Tiana’s kidnapping. Was it the serial killer we’d been chasing the past few months, or was it the people from Talia’s past that had been hunting them ever since she and her sister managed to escape them? Either way, they were in serious danger. I needed to free Tiana and then get home to protect my family. But, according to Roarke and Jagger, Tiana wasn’t at the place they were watching. The place I’d sent them to.

  “What if I’m wrong?” I asked, for the first time doubting myself when it came to my gift. “What if Tiana doesn’t show at that mansion? What is she’s out there somewhere else waiting for us to find her?”

  “She isn’t,” Shyla said confidently.

  “But how do you know?”

  “I have a gift too, Taz,” she said, leaning forward to place a hand on my shoulder. “I did some digging, and everything I found supports what you discovered.”

  “When the hell did you find time to do that?” I asked incredulously, sparing a glance at her in the rearview mirror. She’d been on the back of Shadow’s bike the majority of the time since Tiana’s call came in the day before.

  Shadow chuckled, shaking his head. “My woman has skills.”

  “Hell yeah, I do,” Shyla agreed, leaning back in her seat. “And everything in me is saying that you are dead on, Taz. We are going to find Tiana in that mansion. She may not be there now, but she will be.”

  I prayed she was right. If not, how the hell was I going to face Talia?

  When Talia rejected me after we first met, it nearly crushed me. I vowed to let her go, if that was what she really wanted. I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t choose me, why Fate had given me a mate who didn’t want anything to do with forming a bond with me. It went against everything I knew, everything I’d been taught over the years and had seen with my family and friends. I wanted it all with Talia, but she’d made it perfectly clear that it wasn’t going to happen.

 

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