Capitol Kidnap: Urban Werewolf Book 1 by Mel Corbett Page B

that works for you is because no one believes. No one believes that you human witches have any power."
    "Not for our lack of sharing it." The witch shrugged. "And listen to me. Don't you wish that you could just say, 'hey, it's werewolf stuff, go over there' and he would listen to you? Don't you wish that you didn't have to hide which you are?"
    "It wouldn't be safe," Jeff said.
    "Bryan disagrees." The witch smiled, irritating Naomi.
    "Like hell he does!" Naomi shouted. Aaron stood. Emma waved her hand at him to sit down. Naomi continued quietly, "Your people called me. They said they were going to force him to transform on the Capitol steps before they kill him. Where the hell is he being held?"
    "My people? Look, no one's been kidnapped. Well, okay a few murdering vampires maybe, but everyone else is participating of their own free will."
    "Where are you keeping my brother?" Naomi asked.
    Jeff grabbed the woman's shirt. His temper flared easily because of the moon. "Tell us. No funny business."
    Aaron left the living room chair and tried to tackle Jeff.
    "Emma!" Jeff didn't budge when the larger man hit him at full speed. He dropped the witch and turned towards Aaron, snarling. His muzzle stretched forward full of sharp teeth, just for a second.
    "What the hell are you?" Aaron asked scrambling away. "Naomi, Emma, come on! We have to get away from this freak!"
    "That's enough," Naomi said. Jeff backed away slightly, obeying her command. She bit her tongue, her eyes stinging from the insult. "Tell us where he is and we'll leave you alone. You'll never see any of us again."
    "There's no need for all of this. Bryan is doing what he wants. Mac and I approached him as he shifted back that morning. He agreed to come with us. He doesn't want to hide anymore." The witch put her hand on Naomi's shoulder. "I don't think you want to either." Jeff took a step closer to her, halfway shifted, snout protruding from his face, dark hair filling in the bare skin. The witch shook her head. "Fine. He's in Ione. One of our people – look, they have a place out there, in the country."
    "What's the address?" Naomi asked. The witch gave her an address. "Was that so hard?" Naomi asked.
    "Naomi," Emma said as they walked out the door. "You don't have to hide what you are."
    Naomi snorted. If only it were that simple.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

    "D AMMIT ! W HERE ARE WE ?" J EFF punched at his phone which had lost all hope of getting a signal. Naomi groaned. Barely out of Sacramento and they were lost.
    "What was the street name she told us?" Jeff asked again. He was trying to get some sort of the signal by holding his phone out the window and tapping at the screen. The car suddenly died. "Why are we stopping?"
    "It just died."
    ##
    Mikey aimed the flashlight while Naomi and Jeff stared hopelessly into the engine. "Could it be the battery?" Jeff asked.
    "I don't know. Mom and Dad are usually really good with the maintenance stuff. I think we should walk back to the gas station."
    "What about Bryan?" Mikey asked.
    "We aren't doing any good way the hell out here." Naomi shook her head. "It's like 2am? She just sent us out here to get us out of the way."
    "Fine," Mikey said. "Do what you want." By the time they tow came and took them to a shop it was well after 3am. Naomi groaned as she dialed Mindy's number. They had to get back to Sacramento, and she didn't know anyone else who could come out to the boondocks this late at night. Naomi drove her crowded bug back towards her house after dropping Mindy off at the club.
    "I just don't know what to do!" Frustrated, Naomi pounded the steering wheel. "I don't know where Bryan is and they're going to hurt him."
    "Unless the witch was telling the truth," Jeff said. "It looks Mac and the witch and God knows who else are willingly involved. Why not Bryan?"
    "He wouldn't risk our secret like that, not without – " Naomi said.
    "Without what? Telling you?" Jeff asked. "He knows you'd stop him or go straight to your