Battle Scars (17 page)

“And what happens to Angie?” Lisa whispered. “What happens to her if we run?”

I shook my head. “I don’t honestly know. The Board’s getting involved along with the Grand Council but that’ll take time and I don’t think it’s on our side. They might just dump her at the side of the road and tell her to forget it ever happened.”

“Or beat her,” Bran interrupted. “As payment for helping you escape. Or claw her up, maim or mutilate her.” His hand ran over my back. “I don’t know what your mother is capable of. You do.”

Evan chewed on his lower lip. “I knew she’d be pissed but this is beyond anything I thought.” He looked at me. “Did you see Dale?”

“If Dale’s your older brother, yes.” I resisted the urge to gloat. “Tried to challenge me to get the information on where you were.”

“And?” Lisa prompted.

“He’s probably still walking bow-legged,” Bran answered. “His nose might heal straight, if he’s careful.” He jabbed his thumb at me. “That’s why I let her lead.”

Lisa coughed back a laugh.

Evan grinned. “Dale’s such an ass. He talks smack but never does well in challenges.” He held up one arm and flexed. “I’ve beaten him enough times that he should know better.”

“He picked the wrong woman this time,” I said. “But that’s neither here or there right now.” I leaned in. “What do you want to do?”

“We can’t let an innocent suffer for our decision.” Evan looked at Red. “What do you think?”

The older Felis scratched his chin. “Give me a minute.”

We all watched the small campfire, the scraps of wood turning dark and falling away as the flames devoured them.

Red slapped his hands together. “Okay, I’m ready.”

We waited.

I felt Bran chuckle beside me, the stifled emotion shaking his body.

“I think you’re too pretty to be here.” Red addressed Lisa. “You don’t like being here much, do you?”

Lisa shook her head, her face flushed.

“This isn’t a soft life. You walk this path you’ll eat out of Dumpsters and wear rags, worry ’bout freezing overnight and roasting during the day.” Red tugged at his own well-worn jacket. “Charities are good but they can’t do everything.”

“We can get work,” Lisa said in a small voice.

“You finished high school?” He continued, seeing her shake her head. “You can’t get a job flipping fries without that much. What you going to do to make money?”

“Evan plays guitar. I figured I’d get a sketch book and do caricatures, get money that way.”

“No one’s going to come near you if you stink.” Red sniffed the air. “So you gotta be clean and look good. And that’s all fine when you’re young and healthy—what about when you’re my age?”

Lisa’s blank pale face said it all.

“I’m not going to throw you out of here,” Red said. “But at some point you’re going to be alone.” He pointed at Evan. “One day he ain’t going to be here, whether by choice or by the good Lord calling him home.” A weariness came over his face, the deep crow’s feet around his eyes darkening even more. “You don’t know how much you appreciate family until you ain’t got it.” He scratched his chin, short stubby nails tearing through the salt-and-pepper beard. “I’m old enough to remember that.”

Lisa’s grip tightened on Evan.

Evan touched her cheek with one finger, turning her toward him. “I’m not going anywhere for a long, long time. But I can’t let Angie suffer because of this damned feud. This crap has to stop and stop now. We’ve never dragged humans into this before. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“You can’t go back.” Lisa grabbed his arm again. “They’ll kill you. They’ll kill me.” Her voice rose, verging on hysteria.

“No they won’t,” I said, as gently as I could. “They’re not out for revenge. Felis don’t kill Felis.”

“They killed my grandmother,” Lisa said quietly.

I resisted the urge to reach over and slap her. This wasn’t helping the situation.

“They they they,” Red repeated in a loud voice, startling all of us. “Your grandmother was your grandmother. She chose her own road.” He leaned in, the light from the campfire giving him an eerie appearance. “What if she hadn’t challenged Laura Chandler for that spot on the Board? What if she had just given up, let her have the position and gone home?”

Lisa sniffled. “She would have lived.”

“And been miserable for the rest of her days wondering if she had the stuff in her to make good.” Red scowled. “Don’t go thinking you know what she felt, what she wanted. People do things and you never know what’s behind it until you wear their skin, walk their tracks.”

He turned and looked at Evan. “And your grandma Laura. She never walked good again. Lots of pain. You think she would have traded it all to have taken that day back, have Maureen alive again?”

“Maybe,” Evan answered. He looked into the flames for a minute. “I don’t know. I don’t know if she would have.” He gave Lisa a sideways glance. “We don’t know. We can’t know.”

“Exactly. You don’t. Neither do your mothers or your fathers, they don’t know what really happened there in that field.” He reached out and tapped Evan on the nose. “You gotta be yourself. Not Chandler, not Middleton. Be Felis. Be yourself.”

Red sat back with a wide grin, obviously pleased with himself.

Evan let out a huff and stared at the ground.

Lisa said nothing, keeping her death grip on Evan’s arm.

Bran reached for my hand and squeezed it.

The firewood crackled and popped, sending sparks into the air.

“What would you do?” This was from Evan to Bran.

Bran shifted on the log, not letting me go. “Why ask me?”

“I’m doing a survey,” Evan said. The dry tone had me smiling despite the circumstances.

“Do you love her?” Bran asked.

Evan looked at Lisa and smiled. “Yes.”

“Then you fight for her.” Bran let go of my hand and pulled up his T-shirt. Carson’s claw marks were faded but still visible.

I winced. I’d seen them numerous times since Penscotta and every time it scared me, remembering how close I’d come to losing him.

“I got these fighting for her,” he said with a nod in my direction. “I almost died making sure she was safe and out of danger.” Bran locked eyes with the young man. “How far would you go for your woman?”

“Far enough,” Evan replied.

“No.” Bran shook his head. “You have to go farther. Go where you’re afraid to go, go the distance. Go all the way, not for you but for her.”

We sat quietly for a minute.

Evan stood up.

We all followed, including Lisa, who released his arm.

“I’m going back.” Evan turned to Red. “Will you come along and stand as my second?”

I almost fell backwards over the log in shock at his phrasing. Bran grabbed my arm and steadied me as Red rubbed his chin again, his thick fingers brushing over the thin beard.

“Been a while since I was with family.” He looked at Lisa. “If you’ll have me along for this I’d be honored.”

Lisa nodded, giving him a weak but honest smile.

Evan looked at me. “Now we go home.”

* * *

The first cab sped by us without slowing down, spooked by Red’s appearance. The Felis had taken a few minutes to clean himself up, using a bottle of water to wash his face and a dingy yellowing towel to dry. His salt-and-pepper beard became whiter, accentuating his dark shaggy hair. He pulled on a clean red T-shirt and smiled when we asked if he needed to bring anything along. He still looked pretty ragged, which is why the first driver didn’t give us a chance.

The second took his foot off the gas long enough to study our little group and slowed to a stop, primarily due to Bran stepping out in front of the vehicle and waving a twenty-dollar bill.

Red jammed himself in the back with the two kids while Bran and I crushed ourselves into the front seat. Something was jabbing me in the ass but I said nothing, afraid of what I’d find if I started digging under me.

As we crept toward Parkdale Bran leaned in. “So what’s this ‘second’ business all about?”

I glanced behind me at the trio. Lisa sat on Evan’s lap and Red was chortling at some joke Evan must have just told.

“A second is a ceremonial position used when you issue a challenge, much like in dueling.”

Bran frowned. “Never heard you mention it. Never seen it, obviously.”

“Never seen it myself.” I shifted from side to side with no relief. “It was part of our history class. I’d guess it evolved at the same time as formal dueling, the idea of having a second.”

“Ah.”

“It dropped out of favor decades ago because there’s usually plenty of people around for a challenge. The goal is to have someone stand by to take care of you or your affairs if things go wrong, same as if you were using pistols in a duel.” I frowned. “There were seconds at the fight with Middleston and Chandler out in the field. Each supported their faction’s story, as if that’s a big surprise. So it’s still used but I have no idea how often.”

He grunted. “So how does Red fit in here?”

“I think he wants Red to take care of Lisa, or in other words if something goes badly with his challenge, to take her away.”

“I don’t know if he can take Jake Middleton,” Bran said.

I gasped as we hit a particularly nasty bump. “I’m not sure if he’s going to get to try. Jake’ll probably get Eddie to fight for him if it comes down to a challenge.” I wrinkled my nose. “I’d put money on it.”

“I don’t know if he can take Eddie,” Bran said as the cab turned down our street. “He’s a big fellow. Not to mention he’s sort of on our side helping out, right?”

“Can’t think about that right now.” I shook my head. “It’s been a long time since I worried about this sort of stuff. If Evan beats Middleton or his proxy that doesn’t mean anything if his mother keeps Angie as a hostage. She wants him to come home, period. This business with Lisa is secondary to her.”

“Not to him.” Bran jabbed a thumb at the back seat.

My phone vibrated against my hip. Bran chuckled as I maneuvered my hand between us to extract the phone.

“A little more to the left,” he murmured.

I answered him with a light elbow to the ribs. “Oh, sorry.”

He sighed as I looked at the small screen. “Tease.”

“It’s Eddie.” I put the phone up to my ear. “Yes?”

“She’s being held at the Stepford farm. The old man kicked off a few months ago and it’s been used for storage while up for sale by the surviving daughter.”

I racked my memory trying to pull the name. “Who are they?”

Eddie chuckled. “You wouldn’t know them. Family business is running a shuttle down to the airport, makes good money. Stepford’s daughter went to school with Mary Chandler and let her use the barn, probably without asking too many questions.”

“Of course. How far is it from the Pride’s farm?”

The cab came to a stop as he rattled off instructions.

I slid out with a new set of aches and pains. “Text them to me, Eddie. I’m not sure I got all that.”

“On the way. What do you want me to do?”

“Keep an eye on them until we get there. Don’t get caught. I figure you know how to lie low.”

He laughed. “That I can do. How long?”

“Within two hours, tops. I’ll call if we get caught up in anything. Just don’t tip your hand.”

“Roger that. Instructions on the way.” The phone went silent.

I watched the words scroll across my tiny screen as the rest of my group poured out of the taxi and onto the sidewalk.

Bran paid the driver, who made a show of cracking the wrapping on a new hanging air freshener and hanging it on the rear view mirror.

I ignored him and led the pack around to the back of my house and to the Jeep. It was another tight squeeze but we managed, Red continuing to stay in the back with the two young people and Bran riding beside me.

Chapter Thirteen

I flipped the headlights on and maneuvered down to Lakeshore before turning north on the 400 highway.

Evan was silent as we drove out of Toronto, the tension in his face evident. Lisa kept whispering to him and squeezing his hand. I didn’t hear what she was saying but it had little effect on him as he stared out the window.

I figured he was mentally running through his upcoming challenge to Middleston. The old Felis wasn’t going to be an easy fight and if he handed the job over to Eddie it’d be even tougher. It’d take all the kid’s tricks to win and claim Lisa for his own.

I didn’t even want to think about his mother. She’d get her boy back all right, just in time to issue a challenge to Middleston—something usually only a family head did. It wasn’t against the rules, just highly unorthodox.

Seemed to be the trend these days.

I ran through the probable scenario in my mind.

Arrive, trade Evan for Angie and get her out of there. After the happy family reunion Evan waits for Jake Middleston and challenges him for Lisa’s hand.

He wins, Lisa goes to the Chandlers. He loses—

I gave myself a shake, banishing the bloody images in my mind’s eye. If Mary Chandler thought her son was losing she could take McCallister off his leash and set him loose on the Middleston group, start a full-fledged brawl right there.

I just hoped it wouldn’t come to that. The last thing I needed was to be in the middle of a Felis riot with my inability to Change leaving me at my most vulnerable. I wouldn’t put it past McCallister or his friends to take some cheap shots at me in the heat of battle, even if they would have to answer to Jess later.

Red wouldn’t stop babbling to Bran about the trees, the Jeep, the other cars, anything and everything we drove by. He kept away from family topics and didn’t ask about Bran’s connection to me and to the Pride.

I was grateful for that much. I really didn’t want to get into a major discussion as to how Bran fit into my life and how he’d won the respect of two Prides along with my love and devotion.

Mostly because it was too full of awesome.

The highway ran into a smaller road and into a third one, wide enough for one car at a time. There might have been a faster way if I’d pulled out a map but I didn’t want to risk getting lost.

The sun had set by the time we pulled into the long winding driveway, the ancient metal mailbox with the mismatched lettering of StePForD signaling we were in the right place.

Eddie’s brown pickup sat on the side of the dirt road, not far beyond the mailbox. We pulled up beside it and Bran rolled down his window.

Eddie glared at Lisa. She let out a squeak and curled up into Evan’s shoulder.

Red moved up, putting himself between the enforcer and his prey. “Hey.” He waved from the back seat. “I’m Red.”

Eddie’s facial expression was priceless, something between being annoyed, curious and what I’d expect upon tripping over roadkill.

I brought Eddie’s attention back to myself by snapping my fingers. “Time for small talk later. Details now. Where are they? How many? And where is Angie being kept?”

“She’s in the old barn behind the house with McCallister and the Stepford brothers watching her. Mom Chandler’s in the farmhouse with her boy and a few more friends. No more than two or three, grand total of ten at the max.” He smiled. “Don’t know if they scented me, don’t care if they did. I figured their attention was more on the woman than on sniffing out trouble.” He eyed me. “What’s your plan and how do I fit into it?”

I rested my forearms on the steering wheel. “I’m not sure. Do they know we’re here yet?”

Eddie gave me a noncommittal shrug. “I’ve been quiet enough. But I don’t doubt that they’ve got lookouts.”

I tilted my head and eyed Evan. “What do you want to do?”

Evan’s face in my rear-view mirror was that of a strong, mature Felis. “I’m tired of hiding. This is supposed to be my family, my people.” His eyes met mine. “Please call my mother and tell her we’re coming up the driveway to get Angie. Straight up, straight in and we’ll get this over with.”

I couldn’t fault his approach. By initiating the meeting we’d have less chance of running into a mob scene if Chandler felt like calling in more family and friends.

It wasn’t a perfect situation but I didn’t think we could make it much better.

“Can’t we just sneak in and take her?” Lisa said in a tiny voice.

Red shook his head. “Not a chance.” There was a sudden shift in his voice, a strong seasoned warrior’s tone taking over. “This isn’t something you settle in the darkness. It’s got to be up front and done in the light.” He looked at Evan. “Something for men to do.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the chauvinistic comment.

Instead I dialed Mary Chandler’s number.

She answered on the first ring.

“I have Evan with me.” I didn’t feel obliged to mention Lisa, Red, Bran or Eddie. “Where do you want to meet?”

“Come up the road. We’re waiting for you. Go to the barn, that’s where we’re keeping your friend.” The phone went dead.

I looked at Evan again. “Are you ready for this?”

He looked over Bran’s shoulder at Eddie. “Please call Mr. Middleston and tell him to come here. We’ll be finished with family business by the time he arrives.”

Eddie arched an eyebrow in return. He glanced at me.

I didn’t say anything.

“This isn’t exactly a great place for a talk.” Eddie chose his words slowly and carefully. I could see him sizing Evan up, trying to figure out his strengths and weaknesses. You didn’t get to be an enforcer by making rash decisions. “This is Chandler territory. Enemy ground.”

“It won’t be by the time he arrives,” Evan replied. “Please ask him to come here. Thank you.” He leaned back.

“Okay.” I looked over Bran into the pickup truck. “Thanks for the help.”

Eddie nodded, still eyeing Evan. “I’m done for now.” He looked at Lisa. “Don’t think this is over. Your father loves you a whole lot and won’t hand you over without a fight.”

“I’m not his to hand over,” she shot back. “Welcome to the twenty-first century.”

“And...” I drew the single syllable out as long as I could, raising my voice to cut them both out. “You can both deal with all that after we take care of this. One crisis at a time, ‘kay?”

Eddie narrowed his eyes. “Could drag her out of your car right now.”

“Could try.” Evan Changed and showed his fangs, the bright teeth a sharp contrast to his black fur. “Won’t work.” The threatening growl echoed around the inside of the Jeep.

Eddie Changed as well, white stripes showing through his dark furred face. “Bring it, kit.” He put one hand on the car door, claws exposed.

I closed my eyes and rested my forehead on the steering wheel, exhausted.

“Shut the fuck up,” Bran snarled. I heard him bang on the dashboard.

I looked up to see him glaring at both Felis, switching his attention back and forth between the two men.

Evan and Eddie fell silent, surprised by Bran’s interruption.

“There’s an innocent woman inside there, a human who’s got nothing to do with your goddamn feud and who might die because you can’t get your shit together.” Bran pointed at Eddie. “If you want to call Middleston and tell him his daughter is here, fine. If you want to bring down a whole damned posse to beat the Chandlers into snail snot, fine. Do whatever you want but you’re not doing anything until I get Angie out of there.”

Eddie didn’t say anything for a minute, his black and white fur covering his facial features. His skin re-appeared and he returned to full human form, showing his approval.

Bran’s attention turned to Evan. “And you—” He paused, studying the young face. “I know you’re pissed at your mother and I can’t blame you. I know something about that. But the priority right now has to be saving Angie and keeping your family secret. You want to fight for Lisa and I hear that. But everything has to be done one step at a time and the first step’s got to be mine.”

The young man nodded. He didn’t Change back.

Bran continued. “Now we’re going to go in there and I’m walking out with Angie. I don’t care what you do afterward, tear each other to shreds. But I’m taking her home.”

I felt a burning at the back of my throat. I swallowed hard, keeping the foul-tasting bile at bay.

Bran grabbed my hand off the steering wheel. “Then I’m coming back to take you to our home.”

Tears pricked my eyes, daring me to blink and set them free.

“Okay.” I put the car into drive. “Let’s get this done.”

We rolled away from Eddie’s truck, past the farmhouse and up to the hay barn.

I looked in the rear view mirror. Eddie didn’t move, his truck sitting on the shoulder in silence.

The small parking lot was nothing more than trampled soil, the spots carved out of good farmland. A variety of cars were already there, empty.

The barn was like a thousand others, the basic architecture unchanged over decades. The large double doors were closed along with the smaller, regularly-sized one.

I got out of the car and sniffed the air. Rabbits, deer, fresh manure. hay. A slight breeze brought me the scent of running water.

Felis. McCallister, Mary Chandler and her older son among others.

Along with one familiar human.

“Here.” I tossed Bran the car keys. “You’ll need these.”

He pocketed them in silence.

Evan and Lisa stepped in front of us, holding hands.

“I’ll lead,” Evan said. He stood tall, his back ramrod straight and shoulders back, looking much older than when we’d first met. He flexed his fingers, claws fully extended and ready.

We trudged toward the closed door, Evan leading the way. Red was strangely silent, staying close to Lisa as Bran and I brought up the rear.

Evan pulled the door open and walked through.

It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting, the dying sunbeams coming in through various cracks and bends in the old structure. It reminded me of the classic showdown from the spy movies where the hostage is tied to a chair and sitting under a spotlight, waiting to be rescued by the gallant hero.

I wasn’t far off.

Angie Degas lay in the far corner of the first stall to our right, her hands tied behind her and blindfolded. She whimpered as she squirmed in the loose hay. Her long blond hair was all over the place, tangled in the duct tape covering her mouth. A black rag covered her eyes, tied at the back. Her hands were taped as well, tucked behind her.

“Angie.” Bran went to her, ignoring anything and anyone else.

She thrashed around at hearing his voice, kicking out with her running shoes.

I smiled inside, suspecting she’d left her mark on McCallister and his buddies when they snatched her.

“Hold on, hold on.” Bran kneeled down and put his hands on her shoulders. She stilled at his touch. “This is going to hurt.”

He ripped the duct tape off in one smooth move, wincing at the reddened skin left behind.

He didn’t remove her blindfold or untie her hands.

Angie coughed as he brought her up, unsteady on her feet. “Brandon.” She leaned against him, breathing heavily. “What’s going on? What’s happening?” Her bound hands brushed against him. “Take this off.”

“In a minute. We’re leaving.” He put one hand around her waist “Just follow my lead. I’ll explain everything later.”

Evan said nothing as Bran led Angie past him. His attention was on the shadows farther on.

He saw what I saw. A line of Felis standing there, just waiting. Some Changed, some still in human form.

Bran paused, shifting his weight to accommodate Angie’s shuffling gait. “I’ll be back for you,” he whispered. He shambled off with Angie, shushing the woman’s frantic questions.

Nobody moved until the door closed behind us, the slap of wood on wood like a rifle shot.

“Well done.” Mary Chandler advanced out of the growing darkness. She wore a dark blue blouse and jeans, long dark hair loose on her shoulders. She spread her hands with a laugh. “You see? We can be reasonable about this.”

My lips curled away from my teeth. “You risked exposing the family,” I snapped back. “Not a good move.”

She shrugged. “No harm done. Your boy gets his newest toy back and I get my son.” Her gaze went to Evan. “Welcome home.”

He let go of Lisa’s hand, nudging her to stand beside Red. The older Felis took the hint and put his arm around the young woman’s shoulders, drawing her into his protective space.

Evan moved forward. He stopped in the center of the aisle and crossed his arms. “Mother.”

She cocked her head to one side. Behind her other Felis came out of the shadows in a semi-circle. McCallister stepped into view, grinning like a hyena.

Chandler’s older son moved to stand beside her, still wheezing through his swollen nose.

At least he was able to stand straight.

Evan looked at him. His mouth twitched and I could tell he was holding back a laugh. “Dude, what happened?”

The young man jerked a thumb at me, staying silent.

Evan glanced at me before turning back to his brother. “You’re out of shape. Letting her beat your ass like that.” He laughed. “But then I’ve done that enough times, eh?”

I heard the Jeep’s engine start up. The tires ground into the dirt before getting traction and shoving the car down the road.

I let out an internal sigh of relief.

At least Angie and Bran were safe. This was no place for a human, even one like Bran.

Mary moved closer and glared over at Red and Lisa. “And I see you brought your little slut as well.” She smirked. “Might be something we can use. Call up Daddy and see what he’s willing to give us for her return.”

Mentally I slapped myself. If Chandler would hold a human hostage it wasn’t a far leap to see her holding onto Lisa and using her as leverage.

This was turning into a whole new level of bad. If Jess was furious about bringing Angie into the fight she’d blow an artery if the Chandlers held Lisa for ransom. The repercussions would shake the Pride to the core and the Grand Council would be howling for blood.

I began to move and found Red’s hand on my shoulder.