BestTace Page 16

  Chapter 13

  Quin and his mates arrived back at the compound and shifted. The battle had been won and they were cleaning up now. Quin strode toward the B&B naked and yelling at the top of his lungs for his Enforcers to gather.

  “Where are the Council members?” He said brusquely when he saw Trip in the doorway waiting.

  Trip cleared his throat. “Uh, everyone but Ruby and Cloe are in the meeting room.”

  “What’s wrong?” He asked sharply when he saw the Enforcer’s hesitation.

  “Ruby gave birth and Cloe is checking her out. We thought for a while Cloe was in labor but she says the contractions have stopped. So they are upstairs being monitored. Oh and Lagon. Cloe said something about him hunting. I did not even know he was a wolf.”

  Quin stopped and nodded. They would celebrate later, he thought, when Hope was returned to them. Lagon had left to hunt their child. That was his job, to take care of them, and like an idiot he had told him come to the challenge.

  Cami and Jaden followed him silently into the conference room. All of the Council members were standing waiting. Quin paused and nodded to Levi and Reggie.

  “Congratulations.”

  Both men nodded and smiled a little. At least one good thing had happened here. Quin looked around at the table. “Any word from Lagon?” He said directly to Blaze and Trinity who shifted back on her feet, “Not yet.” She whispered and looked at Blaze who shook his head too. Quin sighed and put his head in his hand. Cami cried behind him softly as Jaden tried to comfort her. Jo stepped forward to help with her friend. And soon they were all hugging one another. The men standing back as the women cried and clung to each other.

  Just then, there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” Quin said.

  Two Enforcers and two young human women stood in the doorway. “We know what’s happened, Alpha, and we may have good news for you,” said Jean Paul. He turned to Sarah. “You have to explain.”

  “Come in all of you,” said Cami “I want to hear this news.” Jean Paul spoke again. “Alphas, as you know, Surya the seer of the Old Council was rescued last night by these two women. She also had a vision last night that spoke of hope. And Sarah says she also mumbled some in her sleep. This is my mate, Sarah, her friend, Judith, and Judy’s mate and my best friend, Charlie.” Cami tried to smile at the girls but she was too tense. Sarah walked over and said, “I didn’t understand it at first when Jean Paul told me what she said. But after we went to see Jordan and then spending part of the night looking after Surya, I think I understand now.” She stopped to take a breath, everyone was watching her, and it was a little unnerving. “Okay, first she said that the Alpha would die if Jordan didn’t remember the three, that was the tri-mate thing right? And well, then she said Hope would be gone and we all thought that meant the result if she didn’t remember. But I think she saw Hope get taken.” And Cami moaned because she remembered now and hadn’t made the connection.

  Sarah saw her slump and quickly went on. “But then she said a bunch of stuff about a high place and a treasure bringing back hope. And well …” and she trailed off and looked at Judy.

  Then Judy spoke up, “Well I thought of names because in the night Surya had mumbled something about Bama saving her and a high place. So I looked it up on my phone and Bama means a high place. And there are names that mean treasure too. . .” at this point, Jean Paul took up the story.

  “We decided that Grandmeré was in such bad shape and blinded also, so someone must have helped her escape. There is someone on our side in Denver named Bama and Bama is going to rescue Hope and bring her home,” he finished.

  Cami clutched at the hands of her mates and prayed they were right.

  Quin cleared his throat a couple of times and said, “Thank you for coming in and telling us this news. We will hold it in our hearts. We still have some planning to do though so you can go back to your grandmother, I hope she recovers quickly. Maybe after they wake up, Jo and Tey’s twins can pay her a visit.”

  “Thank you, Alpha,” Jean Paul said and they all left the room.

  Quin said after a few minutes, “We have to make a plan.” They nodded grimly, and began to plan.

  ***

  Braden slammed his office door and howled into the air. How could this all have gone so wrong? Now he would have to think of another plan.

  “Roarke!” he yelled and his Beta appeared in the doorway. “How many wolves do we have right now downstairs?”

  Roarke paused for a moment. He could not tell him the truth; some of them were getting ready to leave or had already left for their new headquarters. Braden was pacing and talking to himself about another kidnapping attempt. This would never be allowed.

  They had already lost too many wolves pandering to Braden’s insane plots. They were going to be under new management soon and he had to protect his interests.

  “Master,” he said and almost choked on the word. He was no longer the wolf he used to be. “We’re waiting for all the wolves to return from Milliken. I will not have a count for several hours.”

  Braden rounded on him and then screamed, “Hours? We do not have hours. We have to strike while they’re weak. Their Alpha is dead, they are in a shambles, nothing else will do. If we give them time then we will have to make bigger plans. I must have them tonight.”

  Roarke stood silently and listened as Braden yelled about needing to have his mates. He had completely lost his mind. He could end it right now, no one would ever know. But he sighed and stood straighter, he couldn’t, he had to follow his plan.

  “Master, I will let you know when they are ready to go. Until then, you should rest,” Roarke said smoothly.

  Braden turned and glared at him. “Don’t talk to me like that. I make the rules around here. Let me make a few calls and then we are going to plan another attack. Are we clear?”

  “Yes sir,” Roarke said and bowed then left the room. Like hell, he would. Roarke was going to make some calls himself and then leave this situation behind him. The children had given him a new idea, one that would be worthy of him. The children were the key.

  ***

  Lagon could hear her. This was new. He could actually communicate with the children.

  He flew and tried to pinpoint where she was but the child was sleepy. She had done so well protecting the others. He had listened to her tell her brothers that they needed to make sure that the others waited. She explained to them that she would call him. What a smart little girl, and in so much trouble. He was going to have a talk with them about not letting the adults take care of things. He would guess her parents would have something to say about that too. He foresaw months acting as interpreter until their vocal chords caught up with their brains.

  He flew toward Denver, because that is where they knew the Rogues were. He would have to wait for her to wake up, then go and get her. Lagon wished he could call his mates and tell them that he would bring her home. But that was not going to work because he would have to land, shift, snap a phone to him and then call, it would waste time. He did not want the girl to wake up alone. So he flew. And waited, and circled Denver.

  Lagon finally felt a whisper of something. She must be on the other side of town, distance must effect the connection. He made his way down south and felt the connection grow. She was laughing because a woman had white hair and was taking her. Lagon snorted and then flew faster.

  He tried to talk to her but Hope was focusing on her surroundings. She was in a car, a really big car. Well any car had to look big to a baby. Lagon frowned, what the hell was going on? Then he saw Hope laughed and said in his head, “She is a pretty eagle, silly.

  She saved me. She said we’re going home to mommy and daddy in style. I’m going to have a bottle now.”

  ***

  Bama flew out and around, she then dove down nearly to street level using her eagle’s natural maneuverability to navigate between buildings. Three blocks from the warehouse and yes, right where it should be, a long, white
, stretch limo. At the late notice, all she could get was this stretch hummer. She thought it was a little tacky and would have preferred a smaller vehicle. She hoped it had seat belts as she landed on the sidewalk next to the driver’s door.

  The driver hopped out and opened the door; she quickly shifted, grabbed the duffle, and jumped in. The driver then closed the door and got back in the driver’s seat. He turned on the intercom. “We were able to locate a Cadillac Escalade at the Airport; it’s being outfitted for your use now, as this limo has no seatbelts.”

  “Good, I’m afraid I’ve reopened my wounds, will you still be able to drive?” She said as she struggled to put on her clothes.

  “Yes, that won’t be a problem.”

  “Fine then, let’s go, drive slowly, I’ll hold the baby.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Within moments, he’d pulled away from the curb. Bama opened the duffle and peered in at the baby.

  “Hola niña, you are on your way home now, soon you will be back in the arms of your parents again.” She smiled at the infant; she seemed to want to look at everything.

  ***

  Lagon had made it to the outskirts of Denver; once again, he connected to Hope. This time he tried to send her a thought. “Hope, are you still with the pretty eagle?” After a few moments, he got his answer. “Yes, we are in a new car now. Smaller and light, not dark.”

  He sent her a picture of color. “This is white and this is black and this is blue. What color is your car?”

  “The color is white. You should come, my friend is hurt.”

  “Look out the windows and show me what you see.”

  Hope looked out the windows from the car seat she was in. Bama was re-wrapping her ankles with bandages, they had started bleeding again. She was going to have to stay off her feet for several days or a week. She looked over at Hope, “What are you looking out at, niña? Do you see a bird?” Bama leaned over to see what had Hope’s attention and she saw a, Ubrícate, what was that? “Laga!” said the baby. “Endriago.” said Bama.

  Just then, she felt a presence in her mind. “Hello.” it said. “Hello, Dragon?” She heard silly laughter in her head. She always could communicate with flying things, I guess dragons count. “Hello, Hope says you are her pretty eagle and that you rescued her and saved me the bother. Is that true?”

  “Sí, we left the warehouse a little time ago. How is there a dragon, who are you?”

  “Well, I am on the New Council, the spirits sent me to guard the children, I didn’t do a very good job today. Thank you for saving her for us. May I land and go the rest of the way home with you? Hope would like that I think.”

  Bama looked down at Hope; she was smiling and waving at the window. “Laga!”

  “Okay, Hope, driver, would you pull over, we’re going to be taking on a passenger.”

  “Ma’am?” He looked over at the side of the road up ahead. “My goodness, where did he come from,” he said as he pulled onto the shoulder.

  Lagon stood at the side of the road in boots, jeans, and a red t-shirt that matched his hair. He pulled open the passenger door, climbed in and turned to the back. “Hello, you must be the eagle, I’m Lagon.”

  “Encantada, Señor Lagon, please to call me Bama.”

  “Do you have a phone? I have some anxious parents I’d like to call.”

  “I’m sorry, but they took mine yesterday and smashed it to bits. I haven’t replaced it yet.

  I’ve been a little busy,” she said with a smile.

  Lagon burst into delighted laughter and then Hope did too. “Well then, let’s get a move on.” And the driver took off again.

  ***

  They called everyone that could help and had a plan. Quin and Jaden were leading the men to Denver to search the town. When Trip ran into the room.

  “It’s Lagon. He just showed up at the gate in a Cadillac with Hope and a woman, he’s asking for a stretcher. They are bringing them to the medical floor.” Cami screamed and ran for the door ahead of Trip who was closer. She flew up the stairs, burst into the medical room, and looked around wildly. Anyone who knew better got the hell out of her way when her gaze fell on her daughter. Sobbing she ran and scooped her up, whispering in her ear, “I love you, Hope. Thank the Gods you are safe.

  I love you.”

  “Where is the woman?” she asked a nurse. And the nurse pointed over at a curtained alcove.

  Cami walked over where she could hear what she assumed was some colorful language.

  She couldn’t understand a word because it all seemed to be in Spanish. She opened the curtain.

  “Hello, are you all right?”

  Bama looked over at the woman clutching Hope in her arms with tear tracks on her face.

  A few moments later two large men came rushing into the room to stand behind her.

  “Por favor, I apologize for my language in front of the little one. I will be fine,” she said, though she knew she wouldn’t be, she’d most likely limp the rest of her life, if she walked at all. She’d torn her Achilles tendon and even with immediate surgery, things did not look good.

  Cami gave the woman a long look. She didn’t know them, had never met the council or have any ties to them and yet she’d put it on the line and single-handedly saved the life of the Old Council Seer and her precious daughter. “Don’t kid the kidder, sweetie, I want the straight scoop.” Bama couldn’t answer her because she’d only understood one word in three.

  However, the doctor heard Cami and came over, at Quin’s request he explained.

  “Now I understand why you were cursing, that’s a tough break. Jaden, would you go get Jo for me?”

  “I’m way ahead of you, mon amour.” As he turned towards the door with a smile, in walked Lagon carrying Christian and Cassandra.

  “They insisted I bring them here, they said Hope called them to help her eagle.” Bama lay in the bed and wondered if she’d wandered into an asylum, there was that big wall and those gates outside. Then Lagon came over to the bed with the two children and then two more people came crowding in.

  Lagon put the babies on the bed near her feet. The babies started to glow.

  “Dios Mio, are they okay?”

  “They’re just fine,” the new lady said. “They’re my twins, I’m Jo, and this is my mate Tey. Give it a minute and you’ll see.” And she did, all the stress and worry seemed to flow out of her along with her pain, replaced with warmth, calm and love. Then she felt tingles flow up her feet and through her ankles. She gasped at the toddlers and stared, their parents smiled and Hope laughed and clapped her hands.

  The two babies then crawled up and touched her hands and fingers and the tingles started there and went to her wrists. Suddenly she knew she was healed, and she laughed. She looked over at the doctor, who made his way to the side of the bed as Jo and Tey took the babies and held them in their arms. After a few minutes, he looked up.

  “Good as new, those two are going to put me out of business,” he joked and they all laughed.

  Bama looked over at Cami and Hope and smiled. “Never have I been so richly rewarded for doing my job.” She looked over at the other babies. “Muchas gracias, Christian, muchas gracias, Cassandra.” She turned to their parents. “If you need anything of me, just ask, it is yours.”

  Then Lagon spoke up. “You should watch what you say with these two; you don’t know what you’re getting in to.” And they all laughed.

  Bama sat up, “Well I’m taking up space that may be needed by someone else. Would it be possible to have my suitcase brought in? I’d like to shower and change my clothes.”

  “Of course, after your shower, come down to the conference room. We’re planning to attack the rogues tonight and would appreciate your input as you’re the only one that seems to know exactly where they are.”

  Bama then gave them all a wide grin. “If you have the right equipment, you can tap into the cameras and recording devices I planted there earlier, you can find out exactly what they’ve been up to.
”

  “Damn, I knew I liked this woman,” shouted Lagon.

  Jo turned to her, “If you’ll come with me, I’ll help you get settled.”

  ***

  An hour later, Bama was showered and changed. Since she was now completely healed, she decided to dress up. So she put on a colorful, silk blouse and a white, high waisted, pencil skirt. She drew a long chain belt through the loops at the waist to accentuate her curves with the end trailing down. Then added silk, thigh high stockings and a pair of taupe, sling-back high heels. Some discreet jewelry and she was ready to meet the New Council.

  She walked into the council chamber just as Quin was answering the phone.

  Wanting the other council members to hear, he put the phone on speaker and turned up the volume. “To whom am I speaking?” He growled into the phone.

  “This is Graciela Consuela Maria Aguilar Flores, Peck of the Central and South American Parliament of Feathered Shifters. My Ambassador to the New Council has been kidnapped by Braden of the European Old Council of Shifters. We were on the phone with each other when I heard sounds of a struggle and then the line went dead. She shortly escaped the fiends because she is a beautiful and resourceful bird. However, I have not heard from her and I know she was planning to rescue two young ladies named Jordan and Lacy. You must find and rescue my Arjelia and the others, I have sent a wing of Warrior eagles, they will be arriving in Denver this evening,” she finished.

  “It won’t be necessary for you to do anything. Your Ambassador is standing right in front of me. The rescue was a complete success, though she didn’t rescue two ladies, she rescued my baby daughter,” he finished.

  At that point, Bama stepped forward and in rapid Andean dialect said, “There is nothing to worry about, mama, I will be working with the council to bring justice to Braden. We are beginning our planning now. May I call you in the morning?”