Vengeance in Blood (Book 2): Tribulations (19 page)

“At least the wind isn’t hitting my face,” Tiffany smiled. “I swear it took me a week to pick the bugs out of my teeth.”

“I kept my mouth closed,” Besseta grinned.

Sniffing the air and looking around, Tiffany leaned over, whispering, “Do many of our kind travel like this?”

“I’ve met, or should say noticed, a few over the years.”

Still leaning over, Tiffany waited till the stewardess walked past. “What about wolves?”

“I’ve only met ones that weren’t changed in small towns and run into one that had changed in a forest. Don’t know much about him except I could run much faster,” Besseta said.

Sitting back and putting her seatbelt on like the stewardess was demonstrating, Tiffany was lost in thought. “I’ve never met a wolf in a large city. Only in far-off places like the places our kind make hideaways,” Tiffany mumbled. “I know there are a lot of them, so why aren’t they in the cities?”

“They’ve been hunting us,” Besseta told her. “And yes, there are a lot of them. Wolves outnumber us two to one and have for the last few hundred years.”

Like a light going off, Tiffany said, “Of course, none like exposing their hideaway. It would always be one. You pick that out of a thought?”

Staring ahead, Besseta didn’t respond at first then slowly nodded. “Yes,” she finally said. “The cubari have been slowly taking over the wolves for the last century and a few of our kind. They positioned the wolves in those areas like you thought, picking us off one at a time slowly to not arouse suspicion.”

“See, that is the cubari I’ve read about: calculated and working through others,” Tiffany said.

With the barest nod, Besseta said, “Yes, they want the most powerful of our kind like they had for the wolves. It’s someone in China.”

Tiffany laughed. “That could only be Wu. If they try him, they will lose many.”

Shocked, Besseta asked, “You know him?”

“Yes, he’s on the Asian League and has been since it was founded five centuries ago.”

“What’s his ability?”

“More than one, but the only one I observed was he can make himself invisible,” Tiffany said, and Besseta gasped. “Not like for real; he uses telepathy and convinces everything that can see him that he’s not there. Let me tell you; that alone is very unnerving. It’s rumored he has more telepathic abilities and is very strong.”

“Now that would be cool,” Besseta admitted.

“To have, not to fight,” Tiffany clarified. “It’s rumored he does it in when he sleeps so others can’t find him.”

Besseta laughed. “Well, it’s worked because the cubari haven’t got close to him even though they have tried for a very long time.”

As the plane taxied away from the terminal, Tiffany’s body became stiff, and she gripped the armrest so hard they cracked. “Tiffany,” Besseta said, putting her hand on Tiffany’s forearm. “Not so hard. You’re breaking it.”

Letting go of the armrest, Tiffany felt vulnerable. “This thing is too big to fly,” she announced, making several passengers look over at them.

Grabbing Tiffany’s hand, Besseta gave it a squeeze, and Tiffany’s hand locked, making Besseta jump. “Tiffany, just breathe. I’ve done this thousands of times. You’re going to be fine,” Besseta told her, making the passengers that were looking over grin. Besseta had a very good reason to calm Tiffany down; she didn’t want Tiffany to knock stuff off the plane with her mind.

Tiffany panted as the plane turned onto the runway. “Oh my, oh my, ohmy, ohmy…” Tiffany almost chanted, getting faster.

“Hey,” Besseta barked as she snapped her fingers in Tiffany’s face. Shocked, Tiffany stopped chanting. “You’ve been through worse than this. Stop being a sissy.”

Actually looking at Besseta now, Tiffany forced a smile. “Yes I have. I’m sorry.”

“We have to get home; the babies miss us,” Besseta reminded her.

Closing her eyes, Tiffany took a deep breath as the plane started rolling down the runway. Letting out the breath slowly, she told herself, “Yes, I can do anything for the babies,” and grunted as the nose of the plane lifted off.

Swearing the bones in her hand were about to break, Besseta said, “Tiffany relax,” as the plane continued to rise.

“Shit, how high are we going?” Tiffany groaned.

Not wanting to answer that question, Besseta reached over with her other hand and patted Tiffany. “Just breathe. See, we are fine.”

In what seemed forever to Tiffany, the plane leveled out, and her grip loosened on Besseta’s hand. Besseta looked at her hand and saw indentations from Tiffany’s fingers. “Sorry,” Tiffany whispered.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” the stewardess asked, walking over.

“Uh huh,” Tiffany replied, forcing a smile.

“Can I get you something?” the stewardess asked.

Tiffany turned her head. “Do you have something with alcohol?”

Smiling, she said, “Yes, but I will need to see your ID.”

Not releasing Besseta’s hand but releasing the armrest, Tiffany slapped her pockets until she found the card holder for her license and credit cards. Pulling it out, Tiffany just handed the whole thing over. “Here,” she said as her hand shot back down to clutch the armrest.

“Ma’am can you take the license out please?”

Breathing through pursed lips, Tiffany said, “Young lady, you have two hands. Mine are busy.”

Trying not to laugh, the stewardess pulled out Tiffany’s license. “Twenty-two. You’re old enough,” the stewardess smiled. “What would you like?”

“What has the most alcohol concentration?” Tiffany asked through pursed lips.

“Our Grey Goose Vodka,” she answered. “How would you like it?”

“In a glass will be fine,” Tiffany said, closing her eyes as her ears popped.

“Which card do you want me to use?” the stewardess asked.

“Just pick one; I don’t care!” Tiffany grunted.

Patting Tiffany’s arm, Besseta smiled. “Just relax,” she coaxed.

“That little girl better move,” Tiffany warned.

“Tiffany,” Besseta whispered, “remember how old your ID says you are. She’s not a little girl.”

Tiffany tried to keep her breathing regular. “Besseta, right now, I don’t care,” Tiffany confessed as the stewardess ran back holding a glass.

“Here you go, ma’am,” she said, holding out the glass and Tiffany’s card holder.

Hearing that, Tiffany’s eyes popped open as she snatched the glass and drained it in one swallow. “Another please, in a bigger glass. Keep that until I can let go,” Tiffany said, nodding to her card holder. “Wait, let’s make that four more.”

“We do have a limit,” the stewardess told her.

Shaking her head, Tiffany said, “Today you don’t.”

Chuckling, the stewardess walked away as Besseta leaned over. “Tiffany, you only drink wine. You can’t get drunk, or you might break the plane,” she whispered.

“Why do you think I’m drinking?” Tiffany asked. “I can’t focus that part of mind when I do.”

Besseta stood up. “Hey, little girl you need to step up on those drinks before she rips the armrest off!”

The stewardess ran back carrying four glasses, and Besseta flipped up the table area. When the stewardess put the glasses down, Tiffany snatched one up, draining it and making a face. Putting down the empty glass, Tiffany picked up another and drained it.

“You need to slow down,” the stewardess warned.

“Not yet I don’t,” Tiffany said and drained number three. Feeling the alcohol take effect, Tiffany started to relax. As the tension left her body, Tiffany set down the empty glass and drained the last one. “If man were supposed to fly, nature would have given him wings,” she said, looking over at Besseta then turned to the stewardess.

“Thank you. Can I have one glass of red wine?” Tiffany asked, feeling much better. The stewardess held out the selection, and Tiffany pointed one out then just dropped her hand in her lap.

As the stewardess left, Besseta noticed Tiffany’s body was relaxed, and her breathing was normal. “Feel better?” she asked.

“Yes, much,” Tiffany smiled, rolling her head over to look at Besseta. “Liquid courage is another one of mankind’s greatest discoveries.” 

Besseta just smiled and settled in her seat. When her glass of wine showed up, Tiffany too settled in her seat, sipping her wine. When the plane started its descent, Tiffany didn’t even freak out. She just smiled, looking ahead with glassy eyes.

After the plane pulled up to the terminal, Tiffany rolled her head over to Besseta. “Before my next flight, I’m drinking.”

“I’ll buy,” Besseta smiled, picking Tiffany’s card holder off the table and putting it in her pocket.

Taking a taxi to the motel and walking into the room, Tiffany just dropped down on one of the beds. Besseta walked over and laid down beside her. “Tiffany, since we have to hunt tonight, I want to pick up something that Kenneth needs at the house tomorrow. After we hunt, we can head home.”

“As long as I can lay in this bed for a little while, I don’t care,” Tiffany replied. Smiling, Besseta curled up beside her and dozed off.

Chapter 12

It had taken them longer to hunt than they realized, and they didn’t leave Chicago until almost dawn the day after they landed. Keeping her word, Besseta taught Tiffany how to drive. Unlike Besseta, Tiffany didn’t have the concept down. After a morning of shopping, Besseta found an empty parking lot, and most of the afternoon, they drove around it. The concept of the brake seemed foreign to Tiffany, who kept slamming  them to the floor and nearly sending them through the windshield. After a few hours, Tiffany was actually doing well, and they left to hunt.

As the sun broke the horizon, Besseta smiled. “Almost home,” she said, pulling out her phone.

“Hello, hot stuff,” Kenneth answered.

“Hey, baby, we’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Besseta told him.

“I’m waiting out here for you.”

“See you soon,” she said with a kiss and hung up. She looked over and found Tiffany smiling. “What?”

“Nothing,” Tiffany replied. “I like driving on roads without the stoplights or stop signs.”

“Wait till Kenneth teaches you,” Besseta smiled. “He will show you how to flip the car around.”

Intrigued, Tiffany raised her eyebrows. “I can’t wait.”

Besseta took a breath. “When should I give the video and stuff to Kenneth?”

“When he asks for it,” Tiffany replied, and Besseta groaned. “Besseta, it’s not like he’s going to run in and watch it. He hasn’t seen you in five days. I’m sure your ‘shirt’ is laying out on the bed.”

Not able to help it, Besseta blushed. “It’s Kenneth’s shirt,” she pointed out.

“I know, but he can’t take his eyes off you normally, but when you wear that, he seems drawn by some mystical force and can’t be more than a few feet from you,” Tiffany laughed, making Besseta blush more.

Taking a deep breath, Besseta said to herself, “Okay, be gentle,” as she turned onto the road to her dock. “I just like seeing him happy,” Besseta said, looking over at Tiffany.

“I know, and you like wearing it as much as he likes looking at you,” Tiffany grinned. “It is normal, and yes, you need to be gentle. Besseta, you’re practically vibrating now.”

“I miss him,” she whined, speeding up. It wasn’t long until they pulled up to the gate and found Kenneth waiting outside it. “Why didn’t he open it?” Besseta asked as Kenneth held up his hand then reached back, pulling out a gray object.

Walking to the car, Kenneth turned around, and they saw he was wearing a backpack with Bonnie and Clyde’s heads sticking out the top. Kenneth pointed at the gate, and it started opening. “Seems he’s been busy,” Tiffany said and smiled.

Kenneth took off the pack and walked over to the car, letting the dogs out. He opened Besseta’s door, and she flew out, knocking Kenneth off his feet. “Not so gentle, Besseta,” Tiffany sighed as they sailed off the pavement, landing in the ditch.

Instinctively, Kenneth wrapped his arms around Besseta as the air left his body, and they sailed through the air. Bonnie and Clyde stopped wondering where they went and heard a crash behind them then saw Momma and Daddy. They bounced over, licking Besseta’s face as she kissed Kenneth.

With her arms tightening, Kenneth felt a rib pop but kissed Besseta back until Clyde stuck his tongue in between their lips. “Oh man, Clyde, that was gross,” Kenneth said, turning away.

Besseta jumped up, picked up Kenneth in her arms, and put him on his feet. “Bonnie, Clyde, what about me?” Tiffany called out from the car. The dogs turned around and bounced to the car, yapping with excitement. Leaping over the driver’s seat, they landed in Tiffany’s arms.

As she kissed them, Kenneth lifted Besseta in a hug and locked in a kiss. Besseta wrapped her legs around him, latching on. Kenneth finally had to break the kiss as the pain increased, but he kept his smile.

“I missed you,” he said, leaning his head forward to rest his forehead on Besseta’s.

Lifting her face, Besseta rubbed the tip of her nose against his. “Me too.”

“Always,” Kenneth grinned.

“Always,” Besseta said, kissing him and dropping down to look back at the gate. “Nice,” she said and noticed a box on top of one of the brick columns the gate was mounted on. “What’s that?”

“A camera.” Kenneth smiled and pointed to the side of the road almost where he landed at a gray metal post in the ground with a box at the top. “That’s an intercom, so when we have deliveries, we don’t have to come out and open the gate.”

Besseta grinned. “Now that is cool because we will be using it soon. I’m having some stuff we bought delivered here.”

“I’ve already used it for deliveries.” Kenneth smiled. “Come on; let me show you,” he said, pulling her to the car. He climbed in the driver’s seat, moving it out from under the steering wheel. Once situated, he reached out and pulled Besseta in his lap.

Driving through the gate, he handed her the remote and let her close it as Bonnie and Clyde licked all over a laughing Tiffany. When they reached the parking area, Kenneth slowed as Besseta looked out and jerked.

There were cars, trucks, SUVs, and a van parked in a row next to the lake. Pallets of cinderblocks were stacked over to the side with stacks of lumber and wrapped pallets. To the other side were huge pieces of equipment that Besseta had seen, but she had no idea what they were.

“Are we building another house?” she asked, confused.

“No, remember we talked about us building a garage to store the cars in?”

She looked at the line of vehicles. “One for all of them?” she gasped.

“What, you don’t want one?” Kenneth asked, hurt.

Wrapping her arms around Kenneth’s neck, she hugged him and kissed his cheek. “Of course I do, but I thought we were going to have someone else build it, not us,” she clarified.

“What, and have sweaty workmen ogling over my woman?” Kenneth asked, thankful Besseta quit squeezing his neck.

“So we’re building it?” she asked.

“Well, you can help if you want,” he offered.

“Of course I want to help; I’ve just never done it,” Besseta confessed.

“Can I help?” Tiffany asked with excitement.

“Oh my God, Tiffany, I’m sorry!” Kenneth shouted, pulling her to him and kissing her cheek. “I missed you too.”

Tiffany laughed. “It’s fine; you had more important things to do first. So can I help?”

“Sure, but I think you guys are going to find it hot, nasty work,” Kenneth told them.

Besseta opened the door and climbed out. “Did you buy the big, yellow machines too?”

“No, I rented them,” Kenneth said, getting out.

Looking at the giant machines, Besseta just saw Kenneth getting hurt. “You know how to use those?”

“Yes, baby, I had the guys on road maintenance teach me,” he chuckled.

“So you can teach me?” she asked hopefully.

“Anything,” Kenneth smiled.

Turning around and looking at the line of vehicles, she remarked, “Some aren’t new.”

“Yes, we need some that will blend in areas that are run-down,” Kenneth told her as Tiffany climbed out holding the dogs and listening to Besseta and Kenneth.

“That is a big pickup truck,” Besseta said, looking at a massive, black truck.

“That’s the Kodiak Chevy 4500; it’s the biggest one they make. I never needed a truck, but I do now, so I figured why not the biggest and baddest?” Kenneth grinned, looking at it.

Besseta looked up at him and could see he was like a kid with new toys. “Only the best for my baby,” she said, blowing a kiss. “I don’t see the car like you left with Mickey or the one you really wanted.”

“I couldn’t find a ‘67 Mustang in the price range I was willing to pay.” He shrugged. “Let me get your stuff.”

“Kenneth,” Besseta stomped her foot. “I count fourteen vehicles, fifteen with the Jeep. If you want a ‘67 thing, get it.”

“I refuse to pay that much. I’ll find one and fix it up,” Kenneth said, stopping at the trunk. He opened it and found four men laying hog-tied inside. Impressed, he raised his eyebrows and said, “Now that is what I call trunk space.”

“I’ll get them,” Tiffany said, walking over. “They like to act like asses,” she said as the first one floated out, making Kenneth shiver.

“Then I shall let you handle them,” Kenneth said, bowing and making Tiffany giggle. He stepped back to Besseta, who was still looking at the mountain of stuff. “You aren’t mad about this, are you?” Kenneth asked.

She looked up at him. “Why would I be?”

“It is a lot.”

“I don’t care. If you think we need it, we need it, and if you want it, we need it,” she told him with a tone of finality.

Sighing with relief, he said, “Oh man I’m glad. Then you won’t be mad about the rest?”

“Rest?” Besseta asked, and Tiffany looked over the car as the last man floated out. Grinning, Kenneth pulled Besseta around the car and pointed to the dock. Sitting in one of the slots was a long, white boat. “Whoa,” Besseta said, walking out from under Kenneth’s arm toward it. “What is it?”

“Thirty-eight-foot cigarette powerboat,” Kenneth said proudly.

Walking quickly down to the dock, Besseta jumped over as Kenneth ran to catch up.
Besseta just looked around the driver’s station. “They have these on the ocean, don’t they?” she asked.

“Yep, and this lake is really big,” Kenneth grinned, climbing over. Seeing a hatch with steps going under the nose of the boat, Besseta walked down.

“Oh wow, there’s a toilet down here!” she called out. “Oh my God, there’s a bed.” Suddenly, Besseta popped out and looked up toward Tiffany, who was playing with the dogs. “Hey, Tiffany, will you run the dogs? I’m sure Kenneth hasn’t,” she called out. It wasn’t that Tiffany couldn’t hear Besseta; Besseta just wanted to get her attention.

Looking up with a smile, Tiffany waved. “Sure,” she said and took off with the dogs behind her. Reaching up, Besseta grabbed the front of Kenneth’s shirt and yanked him off his feet like a rag doll.

Somewhat later, Kenneth drove them over to the house, and they took the four men down to the cells and left them. Before they walked inside, Kenneth jumped in front of the door. “I want both of you to walk with me through the house first, okay?” he asked, and they both nodded.

“Now, keep an open mind,” he said as he opened the door and led them into the living room. Besseta’s jaw fell open. “Now we can watch TV together,” Kenneth said.

Confused, Tiffany pointed for clarification. “That’s a TV?”

“Yep, eighty-four inch,” Kenneth smiled.

“They come that big?” Tiffany asked, moving over to look at it.

“Oh, they come bigger, but I liked this one,” Kenneth said.

Besseta moved over. “Why didn’t you get a bigger one?”

“Huh, you wouldn’t say that if you knew how much it cost,” Kenneth said with his smile disappearing.

“Okay, why didn’t you get a bigger one?” Besseta asked again. Throwing his hands up, Kenneth led them into the kitchen, and on the wall were several monitors showing areas around the property.

“We have twenty cameras around us now,” he said, pointing at the monitors. “If you’re watching TV, you can even pull them up there.”

“You did all this while we were gone? Alone?” Besseta asked.

Shrugging, he said, “They’re wireless, so all I had to do was mount them and wire them to electricity. It didn’t take long.”

“Have you slept?” Besseta asked.

“Yeah,” Kenneth answered sarcastically. “Come on,” he said, leading them upstairs. He opened the door across from Tiffany’s room. “I made Tiffany an office,” he said, showing them a desk with a computer and empty bookshelves along the wall.

Gasping, Tiffany walked in as the click of dog nails rattled behind her. “This is for me?” She asked, looking around, and Kenneth nodded.

“How the hell did you get that desk up here?” Besseta asked, looking at the massive desk.

“I had to get the delivery guy to help on that,” Kenneth confessed. He pulled her out of the room into the hall, led her to the next room, and opened the door. “This is my and your office,” he said, showing her the same setup but with two desks and computers.

A grin sprang to Besseta’s face. “You’re sharing an office with me?”

“Well, I was hoping you would that way I can stare at you.” Kenneth smiled.

“You’re asking for it,” Besseta warned as Tiffany stepped in.

“Wow,” she said and noticed the two desks. “Besseta, if you wear that shirt in here, Kenneth will never get any work done.”

Kenneth started coughing as Besseta turned around. “Oh, yes he will,” she proclaimed. “It just won’t be what others can see,” she added, shrugging and sending Tiffany into a laughing fit.

Shit, I’m ready to throw his ass down right now. Damn he looks good,
Kenneth heard from Besseta.

Jerking his head up, Kenneth quickly walked out, pulling Besseta with him and not looking at Tiffany. He led them to the basement, and they noticed a new, closed-off portion in the main area. “This is one area neither of you can go,” Kenneth told them, pointing at it.

“Why?” Besseta asked.

“I have mercury in there,” Kenneth told her, and Tiffany levitated off the floor and flew backwards across the room, slamming into the wall.