Forever Is Not Enough [Council Enforcers 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

the button to answer. “Who is this and what do you want?” He couldn’t be bothered to care if he was being rude.
    “Ben?” the voice on the other line whispered.
    Ben froze. If it wasn’t for his shifter hearing, he would have never heard the voice. “Jacqi?”
    “Yes, it’s me. I need you to listen because I don’t know if I’ll get another chance to call you. He keeps me so guarded this is the first chance I’ve had in four months. Percival is keeping me prisoner at the old estate you blew up. There’s an underground bunker there about a mile behind the old mansion. I need you to hurry because he thinks I’ve been creating a new rogue serum. I’ve been putting him off, but if I don’t show Percival results today, he’ll kill me.”
    “God, little mate, I’ve missed you so much.” Ben swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Just hold on a little longer. I’ll be there to get you.”
    “I know you will. I have to go, but I wanted you to know that I love you, and I’m sorry for everything.”
    The click on the other end of the line let Ben know his mate had hung up, but that didn’t stop him from holding the phone up to his ear, desperate to hear her voice again. It had been four long months without Jacqi. Four months of not knowing where she was or if she was being taken care of. The only thing that kept him sane was his family. He considered Mitch, Tessa, Ken, Ryan, and Nico his family, and they had all helped him cope.
    Jumping up from the bed, Ben yelled for Mitch as he began to throw on clothes.
    When we find Percival, I want to be the one to tear him apart.
    Ben felt his wolf pacing in his head, anxious to get to their mate. Ever since Jacqi had disappeared, his wolf had lost his playful side. There was no more wanting to have fun, and Ben regretted the loss. He’d loved that his wolf had been so carefree because it kept Ben from being too serious. He hoped when they got their mate back safe and sound, his wolf would get his playful nature back because Ben really missed it.
    “What’s all the yelling about?” Mitch asked as he rushed into the bedroom.
    “My mate just called. We leave in ten minutes.”
    Mitch looked as though he wanted to ask questions, but he just nodded. “I’ll let Ken know. Ryan will stay here to guard Tessa and Nico.” He left the room, leaving Ben alone again.
    Ben went to Mitch’s office, where he and Ken were already there loading up on weapons. Ben grabbed a bag off the floor and began stuffing it with explosives. If he had to blow up the whole forest to find Jacqi, then that’s what he would do.
     
    * * * *
     
    “Stop stalling and show it to me,” Percival growled as he stalked into the room.
    Jacqueline knew his patience was wearing thin and there was no way she could put him off anymore. One of his guards had followed in behind him, and she knew the wary-looking man was her guinea pig. She couldn’t blame him for his reluctance.
    Over the past four months, all of the guards had made it clear how much they had despised her. They all knew what she had done and she was the reason why almost all of Percival’s rogues had died already.
    “The formula better be ready, or I’ll make sure you suffer before I kill you.”
    Jacqueline had grown used to Percival’s threats, but she knew today he meant it. Her time had run out. With shaking hands, she grabbed the two syringes with clear fluid she had already set aside and shoved them into her pocket.
    “Lie there,” she told the guard and motioned toward the gurney set up in the middle of the room. She looked over at Percival. “I have to strap him down so he doesn’t kill me when I turn him rogue. Can you help with the straps?”
    Jacqueline let out a sigh of relief when the man stormed across the room. She needed him distracted for her plan to work. “Make sure the straps are good and tight.” She needed the guard out of the way so he couldn’t stop her when she made her escape.
    When the guard was strapped down, Percival turned toward her with a look of anticipation on his face. Jacqueline pulled a tray close to her and picked up a vial containing a light brown liquid. She stuck a needle down into the top and filled a syringe with the fluid. Percival rubbed his hands together and grinned.
    “When I inject him, he will have what looks like a seizure before passing out. When he wakes, he will be everything you’ve asked for.”
    “Well, don’t just stand there like an idiot. Give it to