Finding Cameo : Zodiac Shifters--Aquarius Read online

  Creighton, Laird of the Matheson clan and head of the bear sleuth, pointed to a spot. “Wouldn’t that be Red Rock Road? It has several turns on it. Woods run to the edge. And there’s a boulder like she mentioned.” He tapped the map. “We still have a problem. Are they staying in that area? Because there are no small roads or lanes leading off in either direction of Red Rock Road. Not one a van could navigate, anyway.”

  Bowie opened desk drawers that were crammed here and there until he found a magnifying glass. Why had she left the house after he’d told her to stay? To get the ingredients for the bubbles and squeak. She wanted to please him that badly, she’d put her life in danger—for him. He’d do anything to find her. Time was important.

  He ran the magnifying glass over that area. “Look! Twisted Pine Road has a lane leading in the direction of Red Rock Road. It stops at a small loch.” He passed the eye piece to Kendric.

  Creighton crossed his arms. “There’s a dilapidated house near that loch. Nae one’s lived there fer years.”

  “I saw smoke coming from that direction one afternoon last week when my son and I were going to buy a pup he wanted,” One of the detectives said, “I thought maybe someone was fixing it up and as excited as Axel was, there was nae way I could take the time to go back ta investigate. Bowie, I’m sorry.”

  “Ye had nae way of kenning. There’s nae room fer blame. All that matters is finding Cameo.” Although ye could have mentioned it at our meeting the other night. Would it have done any good, I wonder?. All I can think of is finding me mate.

  The next few minutes were spent designating who would drive with who. What weapons to take. What forms of communication to use. What would be their plan B if plan A dinna work? They organized with exceptional speed, gathered their equipment, and silently snuck out the back door already shifted into bears.

  Bowie had talked to Earnan about the best way he could help. The man who loved a good charade was all for it. The press were gathered in the front and the well-respected, retired doctor told them their following would only ruin their chances and perhaps risk the life of a prisoner. He gave them the name and employer of the person abducted. While he answered their questions, holding an AR-47 with ammo strapped across his chest, he filled them in on this gang from Glasgow that was slowly moving to Matheville.

  As he issued lots of bluster about HSS, the search team quietly took off from the back of the station. Earnan finally thanked them for their cooperation and hurried to his car so he could join the chase team. The press, ignoring his requests, ran for their cars and took off in hot pursuit. Just as he and Bowie had planned, he led them on a hell of a merry chase in the opposite direction.

  Chapter 11

  The only reason Cameo wanted her purse back was it had been a gift from her mother. But at this point, she had more important things to worry about—like where were they going, would Hamish rape her, and would she live?

  The drive seemed to take hours. Her bottom sore from all the sex last night did not handle the hard steel very well. She slouched against the side of the vehicle to put the pressure on different parts of her body. They stopped once for petrol. Hamish passed the girls some money for beer, snacks, and sandwiches to hold them overnight.

  “Arabel, don’t drawl attention to yerself,” Hamish warned. “No flirting and, dammit, no five-finger fun.” Even if she didn’t shoplift, there was no way half a head of hair and a face of tattoos wouldn’t drawl a person’s eye. The whole gang was nuts. Maybe it was the drugs they sold; maybe they’d been sampling too much of their inventory.

  Arabel stuck her tongue out at him reminding Cameo of the times she’d stuck her tongue out at Bowie. The chase he’d given. The way he’d kissed her. Oh, Bowie love, stay safe.

  She loved him. The awareness slammed into her like a bolt of lightning. Yes, they argued from time-to-time, but it was almost fun. Why was that? Because there were deep feelings growing between them and they were both a little scared by it all. But that was before last night. Before the mating as Bowie called it. Now it seemed as if they’d always belonged together. He acted as if he’d been searching for her all his life—and maybe she was doing the same thing.

  Back on the road again, it soon became twisty and those in the back bumped into each other as they were tossed about on a dirt road full of potholes.

  She’d been silently observing and evaluating everybody. They all had various numbers of tattoos; they were all killers. Sally, the woman who drove, was explosive, yet the most observant. Her partner in the passenger seat used his brains to shine his various weapons. He surely wasn’t using them to think. Arabel, the woman who’d taken Cameo’s purse, was spoiled, opinionated, and afraid of no one. But why should she be? She was Hamish’s younger sister.

  To complete the odd crew, there were men who seemed happier taking orders than thinking of anything original, themselves. The women were in love with whatever was bloody and gory. And Hamish was the obvious leader. Any misbehavior on their parts were quickly answered with a swift cut of a knife.

  Cameo figured the three she had to keep a close eye on were Hamish, Arabel, and Sally. They were the ones who thought for themselves and didn’t hesitate to speak out.

  Did Bowie know she was missing yet? Odd how they’d fallen in love so soon. Almost as if their relationship was pre-arranged by some magic—pink , tambourine-playing magic. She didn’t think she’d ever be attracted to a man so quickly, so deeply, so completely…yet she had been. Now, here she was in danger and she coldn’t keep her thoughts off him.

  The sides of the van scraped against pines and bushes. From what she could see through the windshield, they were maneuvering their way down a narrow road. Ahead was an old house with a patched roof. Most of the upstairs windows were out. A pile of chopped word sat next to the front door.

  Sally pulled into a leaning shed that appeared it was once a garage and turned off the engine. “Welcome home, darling,” Hamish oozed.

  The side door was slid open and after she crawled out, she walked out of the shed surprised to see a beautiful small loch down a small incline edged on one side in trees. A few wooden benches and two picnic tables were on the other side. She turned toward the dilapidated stone house. Is this where they’d been staying all this time?

  Hamish took her by the arm. “Don’t expect me to carry ye across the threshold. Ours willna be a loving relationship. When I’m ready fer sex, I could care less if ye are. But first, let me give ye a quick tour.” He looked over his shoulder. “One of you worthless shites build a fire. Keep the beer outside so it stays cold.”

  He led her into a kitchen that no one had cleaned since they’d moved in. Empty beer cans and wrappers were everywhere. The next room had once been a dining room by its wallpaper and size. Sleeping bags were spread out on the floor. A lantern sat on the mantle. The place must not have electricity. The sunroom, full of windows that faced the loch would be beautiful with plants and wicker furniture like in the painting that hung over her fireplace at home. Who would feed KeeKee tonight? And Tiny. He’d have to go out. Who would take care of her fur babies?

  The main room had a fire going in the huge fireplace. A sofa with two legs and blocks of wood where the missing two legs should be sat near the hearth along with two mismatched chairs. A table with three legs and a block of wood hammered to it took center stage. A piece of glass looked like it had been used for snorting coke. A rolled-up dollar bill tied to keep it in shape lay on the glass. More sleeping bags were on the floor here, too.

  “We keep the door to the upstairs closed since most of the windows are gone.” Sheets of plastic were taped around the cracks of the doorway to block the cold air.

  A helicopter flew off in the distance. No one seemed concerned by it. The noise got louder and then faded again. Hamish laughed. “Dumbasses can’t find us. They’re move onto another area and search fer our van there.”

  A can of their beer burst through a window and rolled across the floor. Everyone jumped out of t
heir seats amid much cursing. Another can hit Arabel’s bald spot. They grabbed their weapons stacked in the corner and rushed outside. Hamish grabbed Cameo, jerking her arm. “Yer coming with me. They’ve come fer ye.”

  She laughed in his face. “You stupid man. You have no idea what’s waiting for you out there.” Rapid fire weapons punctuated the air as he dragged her outside. Mr.Know-It-All came to a sudden stop. “What the bloody hell? Bears with AK-47’s?” Two of his gang were already down. More gunfire sounded as the bears ran from tree to tree.

  One swift scan of the shifters and Cameo spotted Bowie. She looked in his eyes and patted her hand over her heart. He nodded once. She dropped and rolled. Hamish yelled as Bowie’s bear shot the sawed-off shotgun from his hand. Then the bear attacked with all the fury and rage a beast could muster. Hamish screamed, never giving thought to the pain he’d caused others as he’d murdered so many. Criminals like him never did. They were too self-centered.

  More shooting erupted as the rest of the HSS gang was wiped out.

  Bowie’s bear grabbed Cameo in a hug and huffed.

  “Thank you. I love you and Bowie with all my heart, but I gotta tell ya, you could use a bath.” The bear released her, dropped to all fours, and ran for the loch.

  The rest of the bears went inside to check for evidence, she supposed. Two carried out packaged drugs and another held the machetes. They nodded to her and silently entered the woods. Disappeared. In a few minutes, the helicopter took off and a couple vehicles started. She hoped they left her one.

  Bear returned from the loch and led her to an SUV. He shifted and opened the back. “Get in and take off yer clothes. Me heart willna beat right again until I make love ta ya. I’ve been out of me mind with worry.”

  It didn’t take long for him to be deep inside her. “Now I ken why me da suffered so after ma died. I ken how a man can love that much fer that’s how I love ye.”

  “I love you too.” Tears ran. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

  He licked her tears away as his hips slowly began to move. “Cammy. Luv of me heart, of me life.” She wrapped her legs around his hips and his thrusts grew harder. He kissed her neck, her collarbone, and licked her areola before he drew a puckered nipple into his mouth. “God, I love every part of your body.”

  She was loving everything he was doing to it. The muscles of her abdomen coiled and tightened, ready to spring into a mind-blowing climax. Then it happened. She flew apart in his arms and he in hers as they came together.

  Several minutes later, he reached on the back seat for his clothes. “Ye took fifty years off me life today. When Creighton told me ye were missing, I couldna breathe. I thought I’d lost the only woman I could ever love. By me reckoning, ye owe me a wedding. And what are ye doing wiggling that fine ass into those tiny things ye call panties?”

  He jerked them from her hands and lifted her on top of him. “We’ve got more love making ta do. More worry ta erase.” He’d grown hard again and slipped into her. She traced the edge of his tattoo over his shoulder and down his one arm. He groaned in pleasure.

  “I do have a wee question to ask ye.”

  She stopped moving. “Sure. What is it, love of mine?”

  “Are ye on the pill?” He rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger as if it were the most normal question to ask,

  “Yes, I am.” Did he think she was that dumb?

  “Well, when are ye going off them? Before or after the wedding? I’m thinking we’ll get married the first weekend of June.”

  “Y…you’re thinking. Like in deciding when I should get married? Have you ever heard of compromise? You know, where two people talk things out? What if I wanted a Christmas wedding? You want June, so it’s automatically then. I get no say in the matter?”

  His fingers forked her hair. “I want ye as me wife so badly, I’ll take any month ye chose. When ye gave out yer information at the station, ye said yer birthday was June second. I thought maybe ye’d like to get married then.”

  “Oh Bowie, that’s a very sweet sentiment.” His expression told her she’d been had. Poor man had a lot to learn about negotiations with her. “That means you only have to buy a combination gift for my birthday and our anniversary. I’ll be on the pill for two years afterward. I want to establish my career.”

  His eyebrows dipped into a V. “Think again. I’ll give ye a year. The first of next June I’m throwing away those things.” Since it was what she’d had in mind all along, she made him happy by kissing him and purring, “If that’s what you say, man of mine.”

  “Wait! Did ye just con me?” She began riding him hard and he forgot his question.

  Hell, yes, human she just conned yer bald ass. Now go buy her a ring before she changes her sweet mind.

  At the time, he was panting with his eyes rolled back in his head. He wasna sure he heard his bear correctly.

  The next afternoon, they walked along the beach, holding hands and talking. Bowie had gone down to the station to check on the progress and switch the official car for his. He’d opened up enough to tell Cameo about the condition of the place yesterday and how the town’s men had come in to redecorate the office and cells. He explained he’d been the one to find Morna and all he’d done to cover up where she’d been stuck. He didna want her husband to ever ken.

  “You’re a kind man, Bowie. I’m lucky to have found you.”

  “Nae, I’m the lucky one who found ye.” He dropped to one knee and pulled a ring box from his jeans pocket. “If ye promise ta marry me on yer birthday, I’ll be the luckiest man on earth. Ye have everything I need. A sharp mind. Similar interests. A sense of humor. A hell of a sexual appetite and a heart of pure gold.”

  He snapped open the lid to reveal a round diamond set in gold. “Marry me, Cammy.”

  “Think you can learn to compromise?”

  “For you, I can learn to stop looking at other women.”

  She pursed her lips. “You better if you want to keep both your balls. They’d look strange pounded in your ears.”

  “Oh, Cammy, you are so perfect for me. I’ve searched a long time before finding ye.” He slipped the ring from the box, kissed it and slipped it on her finger.

  She was naked again.

  Flying over the warm bay waters with her hair flying behind her. She entered a house. A man was on his knees holding back the crimson hair of a woman on the floor, hugging a commode.

  She grabbed for a washcloth to wipe her mouth. “You hid my pills.”

  “Dinna be silly, luv. We promised we’d talk about such things.”

  If a cat could smile, KeeKee smiled at Tiny, who had the box of pills in the bottom of his toy box. KeeKee had knocked them off the vanity in the bathroom. Tiny had carried them and dug through all his toys to place them beneath a toy he’d had since he was a baby.

  Animals rule.

  THE END

  SCOTTISH BUBBLES AND SQUEEK PATTIES

  Bowie’s Comfort Food

  INGREDIENTS:

  One pound of potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

  2 Cups shredded raw cabbage

  1 carrot, grated

  1 onion, minced

  1 tsp. yellow mustard

  ½ Cup shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

  Salt and Pepper to taste

  DIRECTIONS:

  Place the potatoes into a saucepan and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat until tender enough to pierce with a force. About 10 minutes. Drain and mash. Set aside.

  Meanwhile, combine cabbage and carrot in another saucepan and add just enough water to barely cover the bottom of the pan. Cook over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain off liquid and stir into the mashed potatoes along with the onion, mustard and Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper

  Shape the mixture into 4 patties. Heat a greased grill pan over medium-high heat. Place the patties on the pan and grill until heated through and golden brown, about 5 minutes on each si
de. Serve right away.

  Tip--Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier..

  © allrecipes.com

  About the Author

  Vonnie Davis is a best-selling, award-winning author who likens herself to a freshly baked croissant: Warm, crusty, wrinkled, a tad flaky--and best served with strong coffee.

  Her books run the gamut of sensual to spicy to erotic.

  By day, she hunches over her laptop bringing to life the men who strut through her dreams with a self-assured swagger. They end up in passion-filled contemporary or contemporary paranormal romances with a strong spice of suspense and dollops of humor. Vonnie's heroes are always that delightful blend of alpha male with a chewy chocolate center. Her heroines? Feisty females who take life's adversities and turn them into advantages. Strong women who can bring an alpha to his knees. They feel deeply, fight strongly, and never give up.

  The settings for her stories range from the Scottish Highlands to Paris to all the beautiful spots found only in the United States.

  A PAN member of RWA, you can find out more about her books at www.vonniedavis.com

  She lives in southern Virginia with her hero husband, Calvin.

  Also by Vonnie Davis

  OTHER SHIFTER BOOKS:

  A Highlander’s Obsession

  A Highlander’s Passion

  Bearing It All

  His Midnight Star (Part of 20 Shades of Shifters)

  Finding Cameo

  CONTEMPORARY BOOKS

  How to Seduce a Fireman

  For the Love of a Fireman

  Pin-Up Fireman

  Her Survivor

  Hers to Heal

  Hellbent on Saving Her

  A Stranger’s Dare

  Mr. OH