For the Good of All (Law of the Lycans Book 7) (39 page)

“To an orphanage run by the Sisters of Santa Merici.”

“Fuck!”

“You know the place?”

Stone explained his connection.

“That complicates matters.” Dante rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“How so? What’s going on?”

“I’m using the orphanage as part of this.”

“Why?”

“When Deirdre shut down Virtus, she moved her operation here, somehow became involved with Mendoza and began helping him traffic humans. She saw the orphanage as an untapped source.”

“And you?”

“I got wind of it and wormed my way in.”

“Why not just shut her down?”

“There’s a network that extends beyond her, beyond Saul, that I haven’t been able to crack.”

“Some might argue a human problem should have a human solution.”

“A few Lycans have been caught in the web, like the pups you rescued. Besides, we’re all a form of humanoid. Some crimes are so heinous that it becomes everyone’s responsibility regardless of species, don’t you think?”

Stone nodded. Universal laws existed, boundaries that should never be crossed. This was one of them.

“It’s been almost eight years that I’ve been trying to break the human trafficking ring. I‘ve established a background as a ruthless bastard with no morals, no ethics. I’ll do anything for money, from shaking down old men to stealing from the dead, whatever it takes.”

“You were one of Deirdre’s assassins.”

Dante didn’t reply right away. “Ever hear of a clause in the Book of the Law that states ‘for the good of all’? It sounds great on paper. You can use it to justify a lot of crap.” His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I’ve done stuff I’m ashamed to admit to, stuff part of me regrets; the tiny decent part of me that remains, that is.” He gave a twisted smile. “I keep reminding myself that there’s a greater good I’m working for. Unfortunately, sometimes innocent people get hurt in the process.”

Stone turned his head away. Some of what Dante was saying hit too close to home and he didn’t like it. He thought of Adisa and the others he hadn’t managed to save. As a Shomer, he tried to help the poor, the voiceless, to ensure justice was done. Sometimes though, justice for one could negatively impact others.

For the good of all. In its purist form, it sounded noble yet who was the judge of the end result? Was this what the ancient ones had envisioned when they’d added the clause to the Book of the Law?

Maybe Dante sensed his feelings or maybe the man just liked to talk; for whatever reason, he gave a bit more of his background. “I saw you in Chicago a little over a year ago. You were tailing me and I was just finishing up a lead. Damned inconvenient of you to appear then.”

Stone didn’t apologize. Saying ‘sorry’ to Dante would choke him even if the man was legit, a fact he was still trying to process. “What was the lead?”

“I was wondering if the Chicago pack was somehow involved, even peripherally, in trafficking. They were supposedly short of money yet sums of cash seemed to appear out of nowhere. Years ago, the old Alpha had put a lot of money into medical research, plus he was a member of the Purist cause.” He shrugged. “I was getting desperate, my leads were drying up so I began rattling some old chains.”

“And all you found was rust?”

“Pretty much, but in this business you check every possible angle no matter how unlikely.”

“And what was going on yesterday? The guy in the back of the van?”

“I paid him well to join in the ruse.”

“And what if I hadn’t come along?”

“Saul and I would have completed the transaction. I’d then have tailed him to the docks, and Saul would have been followed through international waters. Wherever he heads, it can’t be far from here as he’s never gone that long. Once he pulled into a port, the boat would have been seized and the potential donor freed.”

“There are so many ways that could have gone sour that I can’t even begin to count them.”

“There’s always risk involved.”

“Risk? It could have turned into a suicide mission.”

“I don’t always like what I do, what I
have
to do.” Dante tightened his lips, his face looking old and drawn. “For the good of all isn’t necessarily pretty. I’ll likely rot in Hell when I die.”

Stone grunted not denying Dante’s supposition. At times he felt that way himself. What he’d just learned was starting to make sense. Sort of. “How long have you been doing this?”

“Working undercover as professional scum?” He shrugged. “For so long that I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

Tina eased the thin sheet off her body and sat up. She was feeling markedly better and a short walk seemed like a good idea. Anna had insisted she continue to rest but the girl had left the infirmary to get more water. As a general rule, Tina tried to avoid having witnesses around when she attempted something potentially foolish. Humiliation was so much easier to take when no one knew about it.

She slid her legs over the edge of the bed and wiggled her toes. So far so good. All parts were functioning. Next step was standing up. That too was successfully executed; no pain or numbness coming from her leg. The wooden floor was rough under her bare feet but she saw no shoes in the vicinity. If she were a competent witch like Gwyneth she’d be able to conjure some up. Since that wasn’t likely to work she’d assume the planks were old enough that loose slivers had worn off years ago and wouldn’t be an issue.

Gwyneth. Had anyone contacted her? And what about her fellow vacationers? They must be frantic and assuming the worst. She frowned and hoped Gwyneth hadn’t cancelled the lease on her apartment and given her things away. The older witch could be very pragmatic at times. And what if her position at Club Mystique been filled already? It was only a part time job but she needed that money.

Tina made a mental note to talk to Stone as soon as he returned. She needed to place a phone call to let everyone know she was okay and there was no need for a funeral just yet. Darn it, being considered dead when you weren’t could seriously mess up your life.

Ever so carefully, she took a step, hands extended in case her legs gave out on her. One step, two steps. Hey, she was walking! A grin spread over her face. The shifter blood she’d ingested seemed to be speeding up her healing. There must be some residual effect; tiny bits absorbed into her body, perhaps strengthening her immune system on a more permanent basis. It couldn’t be normal to walk with this much ease after being sick for a week and having surgery to remove a bullet.

Sunlight streamed in through a nearby window and she made her way to it, wondering what this place she found herself in looked like.

The sight wasn’t that inspiring. A high, sturdy wall topped with barbed wire surrounded the area and armed guards were stationed at the gate. Not exactly a friendly looking welcoming committee for anyone who approached but she supposed it was necessary. Inside the wall there were a few old buildings badly in need of painting, a small garden area and a fenced-in pasture with a cow and chickens. A clothesline with well-worn shirts and pants of all sizes was strung between two of the buildings and a dilapidated jeep covered in dust and rust was parked to one side.

There was no grass. No playground equipment. A lone soccer ball, lopsided with a ripped leather covering sat near rickety looking wooden steps. Even the curtains that framed the window, by which she was standing, were threadbare. It was a shame they had to live like this.

From one of the buildings she could hear the sound of children chanting their lessons, an occasional bout of laughter punctuating whatever they were saying. The clucking of the chickens drifted on the air and somewhere a woman was singing, the tune accompanied by the sloshing of water as if she were washing clothing in a basin. There was a peaceful happiness to the place despite the obvious paucity of funds. It was quiet in contrast to the busyness of Chicago where horns honked, trains rattled by and a multitude of people jostled each other on the sidewalks.

A vehicle approached and she wondered who might be arriving. The person’s identity must have been known for there was barely a pause before the gates swung open and a Hummer pulled in. It stopped in front of one of the buildings and a nun stepped out. She was covered almost entirely from head to toe in black, only her face showing, yet when she walked there was something decidedly un-nun-like about her. Maybe it was the set of her shoulders or the sway of her hips but Tina immediately frowned, a feeling of distrust filling her.

“What are you doing?” Anna’s voice sounded behind her and she turned quickly only to gasp as her leg protested the sudden movement. She grasped the edge of a nearby table and Anna came hurrying towards her.

“You shouldn’t be up! You could have pulled out your stitches. If you are hurt Sister will not be happy that her hard work has been ruined!”

“Sorry. I was just seeing what I could do.” Tina gave an apologetic smile and allowed Anna to help her back to bed.

“If you need to get up, ask for help. I can steady you or get you a cane.” Anna fussed with the blankets and pillows.

“Who just arrived?” Tina looked towards the window.

Anna glanced outside. “Oh, that’s Sister Denise from the Brotherhood of Virtue. She comes every now and then to see if we need anything like medicine or food. She’s very concerned with our health.”

“Wow, that’s really great.”

“Yes, she’s even talking about finding some of the children homes in America.” Anna smiled. “It will be a great opportunity for whoever is lucky enough to be chosen.

Sister Bernita had agreed to meet Sister Denise in the dining hall. For some reason, she was loath to let the other woman into any of the areas where the children were gathered. There was something about the woman that put her on edge, a certain look or a tone of voice. Nothing she could exactly put a finger on, just a general feeling.

It was uncharitable of her, of course. Sister Denise and Brother Dan had been nothing but kind since they’d begun sponsoring the orphanage, offering food and medicine, clothing and even the possibility of adoption. The children had never been healthier, either. Maybe it was jealousy. After all, those two had provided more than she had ever been able to.

She resolved to hide her unworthy feelings and greeted the woman with as much warmth as she could muster.

“Sister Denise, it’s good to see you again.” They shook hands and Bernita couldn’t help but notice how manicured the other nun’s hands were in comparison to her own work-worn ones.

“I apologize for my long absence. Other orphanages that we sponsor have kept me busy.”

“The work that you do for these children is truly wonderful.” Sister Bernita led the way to one of the tables.

“Thank you. I hope you and the children have been well. Is everyone healthy?”

“Yes. Only a few of the children from the village have a nasty cold.”

Sister Denise frowned. “I hope you’ve kept them well away from our group. We wouldn’t want any of them to become ill.”

“If anyone was contagious they’d be kept isolated.”

“Excellent.” Sister Denise nodded in approval. “I have exciting news for you. There are several prospective families who wish to adopt some of the children.”

“Really?” Sister Bernita wasn’t sure what to say. She should be thrilled. In poor countries such as this, the chances of an orphan being adopted were slim. However, the idea created a knot in her stomach.

“Yes. We’ll need to fill out paperwork, of course. Make the transfer of custody completely legal.”

Legal. That should have made her feel better but the knot in her stomach grew. Perhaps it was because she was so attached to the youngsters. They were, after all, like her own. “And when would this happen?”

“As soon as possible. As I said, there are several families waiting.”

“I’d want to meet the families first, of course. Give the children time to get to know them.” Sister Bernita leaned back in her seat, her voice firm. She wouldn’t budge on that point.

“Hmm…” Sister Denise made a moue. “I’m not sure if that can be arranged. We usually take the children with us. Given that there are several families interested, the chances of a child being completely rejected are slim. And the cost of flying the families here would mean we have less money for food and medicine.”

“Surely the prospective families would pay their own way?”

“Adoption is an expensive process. We try to cut corners so that those who really want a child can access one regardless of economic status.”

It seemed reasonable and yet she found herself shaking her head. “I’ll need to think about this.”

Sister Denise arched a brow. “When we agreed to sponsor you, we told you adoption was one of our goals. To give these children a new life, a chance to make a difference in the world.”

“You did and I agreed. I’m not saying no, just requesting a little extra time.”

The other nun tightened her mouth but slowly nodded. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I hope you make the right decision. One that is in the best interest of the children, not one that stems from your affection for them.”

Sister Bernita stood up. “I will pray for guidance.” She gestured towards the door. “Can I see you out?” If her own tone was less than pleasant she didn’t care. The other woman’s insinuation that she was acting selfishly rankled.