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be careful. I wasn’t…
    Don’t even go there. This is not your fault. Hang on, honey.
Again he turned to his packmate. “Tink? Can you go any faster?”
    Tinker grunted. “Not unless you want the cops involved. I’m thinking that’s the last thing we need.”
    Luc nodded. Tink was right, but it felt like they were crawling up the 101. He dialed Ulrich Mason’s number in Colorado. Ulrich’s mate answered. “Millie? I’ve made contact with Tia. Tinker and I are on our way to Corte Madera right now. We should be there in a couple of minutes. Let Ulrich know she’s alive. She’s been injured, but it doesn’t sound too serious. We’ll call as soon as we reach her.”
    Millie’s soft prayer of relief was drowned out by Ulrich’s rough curse. Luc filled him in and then ended the call. He didn’t even want to think what Ulrich was going through right now. Tia was his only child and he loved her desperately. Luc tried to imagine what it would be like, knowing one of his daughters was in danger.
    No.
He couldn’t go there. Not and continue to function.
    Tinker pulled into the parking lot behind Nordstrom.
    Luc was out of the vehicle before it even stopped rolling. Tia? We’re at the mall. Talk to me, sweetheart. Tink’s with me. Talk to both of us so we can find you.
    Okay. I’ve got to be somewhere near Nordstrom. Idon’t think they could have taken us too far without attracting attention. We were in the area right in front of the store. It hadn’t opened yet when we got here.
    I hear you, sweetheart. Your voice is stronger. Keep talking.
He glanced at Tinker as the two of them jogged across the parking lot. The urge to shift, to race as a wolf to his mate’s side was overpowering. He fought it, concentrated on Tia. “What do you think? That way?”
    Tink nodded. He headed through the open pavilion between the stores, moving quickly for all his size. Luc noticed that people automatically got out of the man’s way. There was something feral about Tink, a sense of danger radiating from his powerful frame.
    Suddenly Tinker changed course. He walked across the open area toward one of the public restrooms. Tia’s mental signature worked like a beacon, drawing both men. Luc stopped in front of the door to the women’s restroom. “Shit. That’s got to be her.”
    There was a hastily scribbled OUT OF ORDER sign taped to the door. Luc tried the handle. It was locked. Tink didn’t say a word. He merely elbowed Luc out of the way, put his big shoulder to the door, and shoved.
    It took a moment before the lock gave. The door popped open. Rubbing his shoulder, Tinker held the door and let Luc through. Immediately, he spotted the pool of blood beneath the stall at the far end. “Tia! Honey, are you …?”
    “I’m here, Luc. I’m here.” The door jiggled and swung free.
    Luc carefully pulled it open. Tia leaned against the wall, holding herself up with both hands braced on the tissue dispenser, but her usual bronzed complexion was an unhealthy shade of pale. “Goddess, sweetheart. What the fuck did those bastards do to you?” Luc swung her into his arms and carefully carried her out of the bathroom.
    Tinker waited by the open door. He slipped his jacketoff his shoulders and draped it over Tia, hiding her blood-soaked clothing. “Let’s get her to the car. We really don’t need security finding us here. Keep your head down. They’ve got cameras everywhere.”
    Luc nodded. He walked quickly. Tia’d wrapped her arms around his neck and had her lips buried against his throat. He felt her warmth through the layers of clothing, and in spite of her injury, he wanted to shout to the rooftops that he loved her, that she was alive. Then he glanced toward Tinker.
    Worry radiated from the man. Lisa and Tala were still out there, somewhere. More vulnerable than Tia with both of them in the late stages of pregnancy. They were possibly hurt, probably terrified. Guilt washed through him. Guilt that he should be rejoicing