Nick took off her shoes and Milton came bounding into the room and jumped on the bed, looking at her himself to be sure she was there and okay. “Hey pooch, it’s okay, the gravy train is still kicking and ready to toss some table scraps your way,” she said playfully and Milton whimpered and lay down next to her, much to Nick’s annoyance.

“You’ve seen her, Milton. Now go and get in your bed. She’s okay and I want to be next to her.” Nick looked the dog in the eye and Milton started to growl but thought better of it. He licked her hand and face and she started to kiss him but winced at her split lip.

“Go on, sweetie. Momma will be okay.”

He gave her one last lick and went to lie in his bed, propping his head on the side of it to keep an eye on her.

“What the hell happened?” Gabe demanded as he took the cold cloth from Julie and put it on her face.

She really felt that Julie was trustworthy but couldn’t take the chance of being wrong. Too many lives were at stake. “It was one of Pellini’s people. Said that we needed to get out of town or else. We need to go.” She grabbed Gabe’s hand and he saw the scrapes on her knuckles from where she’d fought as they pulled her into the car.

“Not before I hunt him down and kill him.” Gabe’s eyes had gone amber-gold and his voice was little more than a guttural growl.

She looked at Nick and said carefully, “We need to go. Now.” She wanted very badly to tell them everything but she knew with Julie there and the way they were being watched she couldn’t.

“Julie, can you help us get the bags packed, please? And do you suppose we could fly back in the Pack plane or are we bound for commercial air travel?” Nick knew she had something to say from the looks she was throwing him. It was clear she hesitated to speak in front of anyone else and so he went along with her.

“They want us gone. I have no doubt that they’ll be willing to let us fly out on their jet. Julie, I hate to impose but can you call them first? We didn’t unpack much.”

Julie smiled down and stroked a hand over her hair. “Of course. It’s not imposing, although I hate the idea of losing Gabe and now you. You aren’t coming back are you? Something bad is happening.”

“Yes. Yes, Julie, something bad is happening and I’ve resigned to run Pacific. You and Rick are welcome to come out west to join Pacific if you want to. There’ll always be a place with me for you both.”

Julie hugged Gabe. “I don’t know. Our kids and grandkids are here.”

“You may want to avoid Pack functions for a while. And watch your back.” Tracy hated the lines of stress around Gabe’s eyes. He clearly hated thinking Jack and Templeton were in cahoots with Pellini.

“Okay, Gabe. You be careful too, all right? Now I’ll go make the call from downstairs and get everything prepared for your departure. I’ll also take care of packing this place up and shipping it all to you.”

She took one last look and left the room.

Tracy waited until she left and Nick started to demand an explanation but she put a finger over his lips and shook her head. She mimicked writing and Gabe nodded and went to the bedside table to find a pad and pen.

“I was worried sick. God, Tracy, when Derek came running back into the apartment without you I thought I’d die. Milton was barking and growling and inconsolable. I wanted to call the cops but we didn’t know quite what to do. Gabe called Templeton, who said he’d get the word out. Oh shit, I suppose we should take care of that.”

Gabe handed her a pen and paper and she began to write. She gave them the whole story on paper as the others made small talk as cover. Gabe called Templeton on his cell and said he thought Jack was involved in Tracy’s abduction. Templeton told him that meant he should get the hell out of Boston.

Thank goodness for werewolf healing. Tracy was feeling a lot better forty-five minutes later when they were all ready to get to the airport.

“I packed you two suitcases, Gabe. Your suits are in two garment bags and already loaded into the car.

If you’re going to get a job out there, you’ll need to look nice. Your everyday clothes are in the suitcases.

Oh and I’m rambling, but I’ll miss you. You’ve been like a son to me. Please take care of yourself and your mates.” Julie wrung her hands nervously.

Gabe kissed her forehead. “You too. There’s a place for you, don’t forget that. Hell, for all of you if you want. Portland doesn’t have nearly the humidity in the summer that we have here.”

“But they don’t have the Red Sox.” She smiled sadly. “I’ll think on it. I promise. Now go before I start crying.”

It was nearly dawn by the time the plane landed in Portland, they heaved a sigh of relief. No one really spoke much on the flight, not knowing what was safe to say, or if the plane was bugged. Nick had plans to check the house over carefully for listening devices but Tracy felt on edge anyway.

They went home and Tracy checked in with Nina from her cell phone in the backyard while she tossed a ball with Milton under Gabe’s watchful eye. Lex had apparently gone over the house with a fine-tooth comb before feeling satisfied that they weren’t bugged. He’d also gone out and changed and went around the property in wolf form to track for anything unusual. Much to his annoyance, there was evidence of a place where someone had sat in a tree and watched the drive to the house. The scent was cold, but enough for him to double the guard and to bring Tegan to the house to live there. Poor woman, didn’t even get three days at her new house.