Authors: Sheryl Nantus
I went to the old wooden chair reserved for clients, placed in front of my desk. It took a second to turn it around and sit down but it gave my back some support and allowed me to view the two men with the wall behind me. I wasn’t going to give them a chance to get behind me if possible.
Eddie positioned himself in the cushioned chair opposite Nathan on the couch—both of them between me and the front door.
As if I was going to be chased out of my own house.
“I assume you both drink tea?” The strength in my voice surprised me.
It was my first full view of Nathan McCallister, other than the shadow that smashed into me. He was thin and tall, a man who probably used a safety line in the shower to avoid slipping down the drain. His dark hair was neatly pulled back in a ponytail and his eyes darted everywhere, constantly updating himself on what was around him. He wore a black T-shirt and black jeans, muscles taut and tight. A large bruise on the left side of his face showed he hadn’t walked away from the park unscathed.
He smelled of trouble. This was a man you did not bring home to mother, unless your mother was a major-league badass biker mama.
Eddie was wearing the same outfit from the hospital. I guessed he hadn’t slept much either.
He crossed his legs as I poured tea out into the three mugs. “You’re being very polite, given the circumstances.”
“My mom raised me properly.” I passed him a cup. “And it’s been a long night.”
“Got that right,” Nathan growled. He didn’t take the mug.
I put it on the table facing him.
Eddie sat back in his chair, cradling his mug in both hands without fearing the heat. “Let me spell this out. You know where the kids are. We know where you are. Just tell us where the kids are or bring them in and we’re all done here.”
I waggled my hand at the two men. “Since when do you two play with each other?” I allowed myself a smirk. “And do you let others watch?”
Nathan crossed his arms and glared at Eddie. “I want Evan. He wants Lisa. You’ve got them both. Simple enough. Double the trouble.”
Eddie gave a half-hearted shrug. “It’s the nature of the business. Enemy of my enemy and all that.”
“I’m not your enemy.” The left side of my body started to ache, the fresh skin from the scar on my arm burning. “We’re all family here.”
Nathan let out something between a snort and a cough.
“We is and we aren’t,” Eddie said. He leaned forward. “Look, this is something beyond what you signed on for. This is why I came to you in the hospital, trying to let you know this wasn’t going to work out. We want to take it off your hands before it becomes something you can’t handle.”
I sipped tea before responding. “Seems I’m handling it quite well, considering where we stand right now. Or do you not want to go back to your bosses with your tails between your legs?”
The two hunters exchanged glances and Nathan’s lips curled away from his teeth. He wasn’t used to verbally jousting with anyone.
Eddie put his mug down on the table. “Look, just hand over the kids and no one needs to get hurt.” He glanced at Nathan, a smile tugging at the edges of his mouth. “Well, any more hurt.”
Nathan snorted. “I’m not apologizing for doing my job.”
“Well maybe if you hadn’t slammed her into the wall we wouldn’t be sitting here,” Eddie responded.
Nathan uncrossed his arms. “At least I’m not playing nice guy waiting to screw her over if given the chance.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t be putting the moves on her if she weren’t outcast. Get into her bed and get what you want without throwing a punch.” He leered at me. “Unless that’s how she likes it.”
Someone cleared his throat.
It wasn’t either of the enforcers.
Bran stood in the doorway. He looked more tired and pissed-off than I’d ever seen him, his flushed face almost matching his hair. His right hand was tucked behind him, hiding something.
“Oh look—it’s the boy toy.” Nathan snorted. “About time you got here.”
Bran’s hand appeared. The baseball bat was worn and stained in places.
I had no idea where it’d come from.
“Get. Out,” Bran rasped.
“We’re not finished talking to your girlfriend. When we’re done we’ll leave.” Nathan turned back to me, ignoring Bran. “We were talking about you handing the kids over to us.” He smiled. “Before anyone gets hurt again.”
Eddie shifted in his chair. He studied Bran for a minute then looked away, speaking to me. “Look, the kids are going to turn eighteen in a few days. Best thing for them is to go home and figure out what they want with family. Let us take them back and we’ll all be done.”
Bran began to walk over, his lips pressed into a tight, thin line. Neither Felis paid much attention to him, focusing on forcing me to give up the two runaways.
That was about to be a big, big mistake.
“Kind of odd, isn’t it—these two having birthdays so close to each other. Reaching the age of maturity within the same short period.” I threw out the small talk trying not to stare at Bran. “Sort of a cosmic coincidence.”
Nathan shrugged. “What of it?”
I shifted in my seat. “Maybe it’s a sign of some sort. Like they’re supposed to be healing the families instead of continuing this silly feud.”
Eddie’s nostrils flared. “It’s not silly.” His voice dropped an octave. “Death is never silly.”
Bran strolled behind me and stopped at my desk. He placed the bat on the cluttered surface and opened a drawer, making quite the noise as he rummaged around.
“You still got munchies stashed in here? I’m starved.”
Both men wasted a second watching and assessing him before turning their attention back to me.
“Anyone want a candy?” He unwrapped and popped a hard caramel in his mouth from my stash, making a big deal of fussing with the thin plastic wrapper.
The two men ignored him.
“A woman smacks her head during a challenge and now you’ve got people beating each other senseless for generations?” I shook my head. “Madness.”
A snarl worked its way up from Eddie’s throat. “The Chandlers chose the field. They knew Laura would have a better chance of winning ’cause she knew it was full of holes.”
Nathan shook his head and grunted. “Bullshit.”
I held up both hands. “I’m not going to debate the events. One woman died, one woman was crippled and I’m sorry for that. But this feud can’t continue.”
Bran picked up the bat and walked away from the desk.
Nathan chuckled, a low menacing sound that set the hairs on the back of my neck on edge. “What are you going to do about it?” He turned a fraction of an inch to glare at Bran, who had moved behind the couch. “And don’t think you can get the jump on me, kid.” He motioned at Eddie. “I’m a hell of a lot faster than that fat bastard.”
“Let’s see.” Bran swung the bat toward him with one hand, a surprisingly half-hearted attack given the way he’d been glaring at the enforcers.
Nathan twisted around with frightening speed, even for a Felis, and blocked it with his forearms. The bat stopped still, hanging between them.
Nathan’s hands curled around the varnished wood as he prepared to wrestle it from Bran’s grip.
“Boom,” Bran whispered.
He spat the candy into Nathan’s face, startling the Felis.
Before he could react Bran jabbed the stun gun into the side of Nathan’s exposed neck, a perfect counterattack.
I couldn’t see his face but I could imagine the look of surprise as he realized he’d been bluffed, thinking my mate was nothing to worry about.
I’d been bluffed, as well. I’d forgotten about the weapon stashed in my desk, lying dormant since our trip to Pennsylvania. Bran had taken it when he’d gone for the candy, keeping it hidden until needed.
Eddie didn’t move as the Felis enforcer shook and twitched, the electrical charge short-circuiting his body functions for a brief time. Instead of going to help Nathan he watched Bran like a predator studying his next prey, studying every move.
He was remembering Bran body checking him in the park.
There’d be a reckoning for that but this wasn’t the time or place. He’d already been surprised once by Bran—he wasn’t going to risk getting taken again.
Bran pulled the gun away after a few seconds and watched Nathan collapse against the cushions.
Bran’s left hand came up, still clutching the baseball bat, and pointed the rounded end at Eddie.
“Time for you to go. You’ve worn out your welcome.” He gestured at the still-twitching body on the couch. “Take him and get out of our house.”
Eddie got to his feet slowly. “He ain’t no kin of mine.”
I stood up as well. “Kin enough for you to drag him off my property. Dump him in the street, I don’t care. But I’m done talking about this. You tell your master I won’t be answering to his lapdogs. If he wants to talk to me he’ll have to do it in person.”
Eddie crossed to the other side of the coffee table and picked up Nathan like a rag doll, hefting the semi-conscious Felis’s body with ease. He eyed Bran who stood there, taser in one hand and baseball bat in the other.
I held my breath. If Eddie Changed, if he shifted to full Felis and attacked, I wouldn’t be able to stop him from tearing Bran apart. I doubted Bran could hold him off, having used up his one surprise attack on Nathan.
Felis weren’t supposed to kill humans.
Didn’t mean it didn’t happen.
“He misjudged you. I won’t.” Without waiting for a response Eddie turned and walked out of the house, dragging Nathan along.
Bran strode to the front door and kicked it shut.
I sat down again, slumping into the cushions in a controlled fall. The room spun for a minute before settling into place.
Bran vanished from sight and materialized on the couch beside me, his arms cradling me. The stun gun and bat were nowhere in sight.
“This is finished,” he murmured. “We are done.”
I didn’t struggle against him. “Not over.” My arms felt heavy, my eyes closing of their own accord. “It’s not over. Not yet.”
I’d hit the wall. Between the concussion, tree-climbing and scrambling to deal with two angry enforcers I had nothing left.
“Sleep. I’ll take it from here.” Bran’s voice came from a distance. “I’ll take care of you.”
I felt him lay me down on the couch, carefully stretching my aching legs out. Jazz let out a trill from somewhere and brushed against my hand as I slipped away into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Nine
The couch was bumpy and moving and I was sitting up again, my head bouncing against a pillow. My back was twisted and bent and my feet vibrating to a steady rhythm.
This was not right.
I forced my eyes open to find myself propped up in the passenger seat of my Jeep as we roared down the highway, a pillow offering scant neck support.
Bran risked a glance over before returning his attention to the traffic around us. “There’s a soda in the cup holder. Figured you’d need the caffeine and I know you hate cold tea.”
I fumbled for the cool can and pressed it to my forehead before pulling the tab and taking a sip.
The scenery was familiar, rolling farmland spotted with housing developments every once in a while, breaking up the wilderness.
We were headed north, out of the city.
Bran kept his eyes on the road. “I called Jess and told her we were on our way.” Before I could speak he put up one hand. “Don’t even try and argue this one with me. Those bastards came into our home, invaded our space. If I hadn’t come home when I did God knows what would have happened, what those two could have done to you there, alone.”
I started to say something but didn’t get past a peep before he continued.
“You’ve got those kids someplace safe but we are not going to sit around and wait for them to attack you again. I got lucky but that’s not going to happen again.”
I couldn’t dispute his findings. He’d gotten the jump on Nathan once and that’d been a fluke. He’d slammed Eddie in the middle of a scuffle when the enforcer hadn’t been prepared to fight a human.
They wouldn’t let him do it again. They weren’t going to stop until they got the kids.
I closed my eyes and ran through my options, fighting the urge to fall asleep again. There weren’t many and none that included me being at half-strength.
“Okay. What did Jess say?” I sat up straighter and sipped the drink, feeling a bit more alive as the caffeine started to kick in.
“She asked where you were, what was going on and then berated me for taking so long to call.” Bran chuckled. “She said she’d have some brekka for us when we arrived.”
I rubbed my eyes and looked at the dashboard clock. It was approaching noon—I’d lost a few hours of straight sleep somewhere between the couch and the Jeep.
“I took a bit of a roundabout route,” Bran said, almost apologetic. The average drive to the farm took two hours and if we’d left not long after dealing with the Felis enforcers we’d have been there a good hour ago. “Ducked down along the Lakeshore and headed west to Oakville before circling back. It may not stop them from tracking us but at least they’ll have to work for it.” He tapped the dashboard. “Good gas mileage as well. They’re more likely to run out before we will.”
“Good idea.” I took another deep drink and burped a very un-feminine burp.
Bran chuckled. “How are you feeling?” He risked another glance.
“I ache all over. And not in a good way.” I patted his thigh. “You done good, partner. That was fucking amazing.”
Bran grinned. “Owed the bastard for what he did to you. It’s not even but it’s a good start in my book.” He pointed at a green and white sign on the side of the road, rapidly growing larger as we approached it. The fork and knife images signaled the possibility of hot food. “Want to stop for a rest and a bite to eat?”
“No. Keep on going.” I finished the drink and tossed the empty can in the back, ignoring the small pile of discarded candy wrappers and drink containers. “Jess’ll have kittens if we don’t show up when she expects us.”
“The kids are safe, right?” His attention flickered briefly to the rear view mirror, checking for any possible followers.
“As safe as they can be.” I told him briefly about meeting Red. “I suspect they’ll have a whole new appreciation of street living after spending some time with him. It’s a whole different thing when there’s no bathrooms and they’ll be sleeping under a tarp.”
“Your idea of shock therapy?” Bran switched lanes as we neared the exit. “Not to be nasty but I figured the Felis had that living natural thing down pat. Street living should be a breeze.” He skipped the car over again, narrowly missing a Hummer who bleated his annoyance at us. “They had the park figured out and I’m sure the other kids were giving them enough hints on how to do well.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “It’s one thing to meet their buddies for a free breakfast at the shelter, another for them to be digging in Dumpsters when the resources run out. They may have gone on a few runs on the farm and gone on a hunt but that doesn’t necessarily prepare them for full-time living on the street.” I allowed myself a chuckle. “I did read your article, you know. Right now I’m willing to bet it’s like a sleepover, a slumber party that hasn’t ended yet with lots of new friends and experiences to keep them from thinking about what they want and where they’re headed.”
“What do they want to do?”
“End the feud.”
Bran whistled. “Sure. Why not go for world peace while we’re doing the impossible?”
I squeezed his thigh, causing him to bump onto the shoulder for a brief second. “Some people would say our relationship is impossible.”
He held up a finger. “Improbable, maybe. Impossible, no.” His cheeks went red as he pried my hand free. “And keep doing that and we’ll be making a pit stop before we get to the farm.”
I looked in the back. “Sorry, not enough room.”
“Not planning to lie down.”
I cleared my throat. “Not enough time.”
He shot me a wicked grin. “I can do fast.”
“I just woke up.” At the back of my mind I wondered at the warped turn this conversation had taken.
Bran chuckled. “Calm down. I’m just kidding. You’re right about the time and I wouldn’t want Jess to get all grumpy.” He took my hand and brought it to his lips for a wet kiss. “Although I’d love to take you back to that couples tree sometime.”
“Only if you schedule the chiropractor appointment beforehand.” I reluctantly pulled my hand free. “Keep an eye out. I wouldn’t put it past the jackholes to put an ambush up here to get us before we contact Jess.”
“Roger that.” His attention returned to scanning the rear view mirror every few seconds.
I studied the road as we turned off and turned off again onto a dirt road, weaving our way out to the Pride’s farm, set far away from the main roads and providing as much privacy as possible. A sanctuary for Felis looking for a place to rest and enjoy ourselves, the farm was also the headquarters for the Board which made most major decisions for their members.
It was also considered neutral ground.
Jess’s name was still on the weather-beaten mailbox at the entrance, the barn still standing and now painted a lovely shade of bright yellow—some kit’s punishment for a rules infraction. I stifled a yawn as we pulled into the large gravel-covered parking lot beside a handful of battered SUVs and pickup trucks.
The farm was never empty. Between offering child-care and a safe place for Felis to run wild it was also an active working farm, making enough to support the Board members who called it home.
Jess stood on the porch, using one hand to shade her good eye. The angry scar on her left cheek was pale against her tanned skin and she didn’t move to meet us.
I sniffed the air. A small pack of kits hunting in the forest, chasing down squirrels and unlucky rabbits. Apple pie cooling in the kitchen and fresh coffee waiting to be drunk.
Sanctuary.
Jess watched us come up the path and onto the porch. I held onto Bran’s arm as if I were recovering from an all-night drunk, still weak in the knees and feeling like a very old, old woman.
“How is she?” This was directed to Bran, not me.
“Fine. Just needs a bit more rest.”
“I am here, you know.” I poked Bran in the ribs with my free hand. “And very much able to speak for myself.”
“I know.” Jess spun around and led us into the house, holding the door open for Bran to half-carry me through. “That’s why we’re in such a clusterfuck.”
I bit back my snappy retort. It wasn’t the time or place for it.
The inside of the farmhouse had changed since the last time I’d visited, the nursery that once occupied the main living room replaced with couches and chairs, a large ebony black circular coffee table in the center reminding me of the mythological Round Table.
With Bran’s help I sank into the burgundy-colored cushions, letting out a pained sigh. Bran headed for the kitchen where Jess was.
“Are the kids okay?” Jess called out. I heard the clink of metal on ceramic and smelled cinnamon, the spicy scent landing on my tongue and starting my mouth watering. The harsh coffee also spanked my senses, encouraging me to wake up even more.
“Yes.” I swallowed a mouthful of saliva, wanting them to hurry up.
“Are they safe?”
“Yes.”
“Are you out of your goddamn mind?”
“Probably.” I watched her exit the kitchen with two mugs of coffee. Bran followed behind with a tray containing three pieces of apple pie and his own mug.
“I thought this wasn’t going to be a problem. I thought all you had to do is find the kids and convince them to go on home like good little kits. I thought it was going to be a simple little job, a quick way for you to earn a few bucks.” Jess placed my coffee on the table and took her place opposite me. “Now I’ve got all hell breaking loose and the Board wants it dealt with pronto before the Grand Council gets involved. As it is, the Council’s demanding updates left and right and I’m right in their sights.” She blew a wayward strand of pale white hair out of her face. “Because I started the whole shitstorm bringing you into this, it’s my problem as well.”
I reached for the mug. Strong and creamy—none of that fake powdered milk crap here on the farm. Honest-to-goodness cream churned from the nearby herd. I resisted the urge to smack my lips. “What do you want me to say?”
Jess took an offered piece of pie from Bran. “Tell me you have some master plan to get everyone out of this without anyone getting hurt.” She paused. “Anyone else.”
There was enough anger in her voice to keep me quiet through my piece of pie. Hot, flaky apples with just enough spice to give that snap in your mouth. I hadn’t known how hungry I was until I caught myself licking the empty plate.
Jess raised an eyebrow but said nothing, daintily cutting bite-sized pieces with her fork and popping them into her mouth.
Bran grinned and finished off his own slice before taking my plate and Jess’s and stacking them on the tray.
I took another mouthful of coffee, savoring the rich caffeinated rush. We didn’t grow the coffee beans here but the farm always stocked the best.
“Now that you’ve been fed and watered,” Jess said, dabbing at her mouth with a paper napkin, “can I get some sort of briefing here?” She held up a hand before I started. “Do not tell me where they are. If I know that then I’ll have to act on that and I don’t want to go there.” Her eyes narrowed. “Pick and choose your words carefully, Reb.”
“The two families involved got pissy and sent in enforcers to grab the kids when and if I found them.” I figured it wasn’t time to mince words. “One thug clocked me when I was close to finding Evan Chandler, putting me in the hospital. I went back out and we tracked Evan and Lisa to a park. They agreed to leave with me because the two enforcers were near, waiting for the right time to make their move. We avoided the punks and I took the kids to a safe place before I went home.” I drew a deep breath. “Then the two enforcers showed up at the house to try and intimidate me into telling them where the kids were.” I couldn’t resist grinning. “Bran made them leave.”
Jess’s eyebrows rose. She looked at Bran. He shrugged.
“And then we came here.” I brushed crumbs off my lap. “How’s that?”
“Better than the rambling diatribe I got from your mate.” She crossed her legs. “Let’s cut to the chase. What do you need to make this right? Not just for you but for everyone since you look bound and determined to save the world.”
“I need everyone to leave these kids alone.” I took another sip of coffee. “They’re both turning eighteen soon enough and legal adults get to make their own mistakes.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen,” Jess replied. “You were hired to find them, not become their life coach.” She rapped the side of her mug with her knuckles. “The enforcers might have been a bit of overkill but that’s because the feud is still very much alive and well in their minds. It’s something bigger than just two kids who think they’re in love running away.” She sat back. “They can’t disappear anyway, go underground and vanish. The Board won’t let them. I assume you made that clear to them.”
I nodded, not wanting to start a discussion about how much control the family had over our lives. I had my own views but this wasn’t the time or place for it.
“Is there any wiggle room? Something between locking the kids up and letting them go?” Bran asked.
“Not from where I’m sitting. When they’re returned to their families they’ll be separated forever.” Jess took a sip. “They’ll be sent as far apart as they can, probably to family friends on opposite sides of the country until they get over each other. As long as it takes to break them up for good.”
“But when they turn eighteen they can leave,” I protested. “Walk out of wherever they’re being kept and do what they want.”
She peered at me over the edge of her mug. “Hitting a magic birthday number doesn’t give you the power to do anything you want. These are teenagers raised within the family, within their own family. It’s one thing to say you’re going to go against what you’ve been raised to believe in, another to actually act on those thoughts.” She shook her head. “I don’t know if they have the willpower to do it. True love or whatever, do they have the guts to break with tradition?”
“This isn’t tradition,” I replied. “This is cruel and inhuman.”
Jess cocked her head to one side, a sad smile on her lips. “We’re not human, Rebecca. We may play in their world, work their jobs, even love their men but we’re not human.”
She didn’t look at Bran.
I flashed back to Lisa’s confusion in Red’s camp. It all sounded very romantic until reality came to call. Despite their affirmations to me while we sat in the tree I wasn’t sure they were ready to turn their backs on their mutual families and go it alone with only each other for support.