by Selina Woods
Those went into my leather coat and my hip pockets, and I set out more rifles and magazines and discovered several hand grenades I had no idea were there. “These’ll come in handy,” I muttered, pulling them out and setting them on a table.
Brand, Kincaid, and Pierce joined me, picking up the rifles and adding the extra ammunition to their pockets. “We’re ready if they come, Griffin,” Brand told me, his voice low.
As Pierce and Kincaid took their weapons out onto the balcony and were out of earshot, I looked him in the eyes. “You know who they are. What that tattoo means.”
Brand cut his eyes from mine. He swallowed, then nodded. “They’re a brotherhood of lions,” he said, his voice low. “Sworn to place the royal bloodline back on the throne of our ancestors.”
I staggered and caught myself on the closet door. “They’re what?”
Brand shot a glance toward them, then back at me. “If they’re sworn to protect you, Griffin, you have to be of the royal blood.”
“I can’t be,” I whispered, stunned. “I’m an orphan.”
“That doesn’t mean your family, before you became an orphan, weren’t of that bloodline,” he hissed, angry. “They’ll give their lives to protect you. They only, only, protect the royal blood.”
I leaned against the closet, unable to believe what he just told me. “Shit,” I muttered thickly. “Shit.” I covered my face with my hands. “I never heard there was a royal bloodline,” I said.
“I don’t know a whole lot,” Brand admitted, “but I knew there were surviving descendants of Manat’tara.”
“Of who?”
“The last King of the Lions,” he said as I dragged my fingers down my face. “Rumors among our kind spoke of his royal line going into hiding, to flee the massacres of our people. They survived in secret, and the Faithful, the dudes with the tattoos, are sworn to protect the members of that royal family.”
“And those two are of this—Faithful?”
“Yep.” His pale eyes gleamed as he grinned. “That means you, young lion, are a member of the royal descendants of Manat’tara.”
I wanted to slide down to the floor and cover my head with my arms. “Like I don’t have enough problems.”
He clapped me on my arm. “I’ll protect your secret, Griffin. Just as I’ll protect you with my life.”
I eyed him sidelong. “Are you one of them?”
“Not yet.” He continued to grin. “But I’ll see if they’ll have me.”
Shaking my head, my legs were numb as I walked across the penthouse to where Iliana busily sewed her father back together. “How’s it going?” I asked in a low voice so as not to startle her.
Hyde, it appeared, had passed out and lay with his head against the back of the sofa. For a moment, I worried she sewed up a corpse, but his chest rose and fell, and he snorted occasionally.
“What happened?” Iliana asked, not looking up from her work.
“The enforcers joined together with the stalkers,” I said. “They trapped us, and your old man fought a tiger.”
“Who are those guys? The ones with the tattoos?”
I would have told her, but at that moment, the three of them had left the balcony and walked toward us. “Tell you later.”
“All right.” She paused in her stitching to send me a quick glance. “When Dad wakes up, he’ll need some painkillers. He’s been hurt pretty bad.”
“Yeah, I have some.” I straightened as Brand, Pierce, and Kincaid halted.
“All is quiet so far,” Brand told me. “We haven’t seen anything moving at all.”
“That doesn’t mean they’re not organizing out of our sight,” Kincaid added. “We may have a few hours to collect our breath and make some plans.”
“How is he?” Pierce asked Iliana.
“Lucky to still have his intestines inside him,” she replied, snipping off the surgical thread, then glanced up. “He’s going to be very weak for a while.”
“We’ll help you look after him,” Pierce promised.
“You know your town, Griffin,” Kincaid remarked, his gray eyes on me. “We need a place we can defend more easily.”
“They can trap us up here.” Brand gazed around at the penthouse. “A nice fire will take us out quickly.”
I stared blankly into space as I pondered. “What about that old warehouse in the industrial complex?” I suggested. “It’s all concrete and steel. Hard to set fire to it, the neighborhood fairly open so we can see them coming.”
Brand nodded thoughtfully. “Plenty of room for all of us, too. Good idea.”
“We’ll head there right after dawn.”
By the way they watched me, I knew Kincaid and Pierce had something to say. “Griffin,” Pierce asked, “can we talk to you for a minute?”
Expecting not to like what they had to tell me, I merely walked away from Iliana and Brand, the pair of them following me. When we stood out of earshot, I said, “All right.”
“We’re not just here to protect you,” Pierce said, his cheerful face not quite so cheerful. “We also came to escort you out of Detroit.”
“Why?” I studied them, wondering if they’d break down and inform me of my heritage and where I’d come from.
“We’ve sworn to not reveal anything,” Kincaid told me, his eyes narrowed. “We’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t ask.”
“But you want me to simply trust you,” I replied, growing pissed. “Without any explanation, I’m to just toddle along and go where you direct. Not gonna happen, boys.”
“What do you have to lose?” Pierce asked. “Your enforcers have turned on you; they won’t stop until you’re dead. You can’t stay in Detroit anymore; they’ll hunt both you and your girl down.”
I gazed at Iliana, realizing they were right. How long could we survive running from shelter to shelter, my guard’s loyalty waning day by day? I hadn’t the firepower or strength in numbers to win this war and turn the city into a free zone as I had hoped. “Where would you have me go?”
“Denver.”
Chapter Eleven
I froze. The name surged in my blood, called to me, provoked that strange calling from deep in my soul. Throughout my life, something pulled me in that direction, and while I never understood it, I had been able to resist it. Until this moment. Now I felt as though I were a puppet on strings being yanked where I didn’t want to go.
Or did I?
Pierce and Kincaid were right. I had to get Iliana and Hyde out of there. Detroit would never be safe for us. Once the gang selected a new leader, the hunt would be on. Nor did I have the resources to take on the hundreds, plus the stalkers, that would be coming after us.
“Think of your girl,” Pierce said softly as I fought the weird calling from my blood.
“Who is in Denver?”
At their silence, I finally looked back at them. They stubbornly kept their mouths shut; Kincaid clearly angry that I had asked the question. “Tell me, or I won’t go anywhere with you.”
The pair glanced at one another, then Pierce finally gave a quick nod. “Your mother.”
I almost reeled backward from shock. I stared at them, unable to believe what I had just heard. “My—mother?”
“That’s more than we should have told you,” Kincaid snapped. “Your mother is an important person, and she needs you in Denver.”
It occurred to me to tell them what Brand had told me, that I came from the old royal line of Manat’tara, then decided against it. If they wanted to keep secrets, then I would as well. “All right,” I agreed, conceding. “But I’m taking all these guys who want to come. They deserve a chance at a decent life. Denver is a free city, am I right?”
“You’re right,” Pierce replied with a relieved grin. “I have no quarrel with them, do you, Kincaid?”
I thought for a moment he’d demand I leave them behind, but Kincaid shut his teeth and said, “No. If we have enough cars, then I don’t see it as a problem.”
“If we have to,” I s
aid, “we’ll steal as many as we need.”
“We’ll have to load up on food for the trip,” Pierce added. “There aren’t many places to get it between here and there except small towns. For a few, sure, but not for this many mouths to feed.”
“We’ll still leave this building tomorrow as planned,” I told them. “Stay in the warehouse while we get organized. It may take a day or two.”
As I watched, Iliana stood up and stretched her back, glancing at me. Hyde appeared unconscious still, and I hoped that wasn’t a bad sign. Heading over to her, I glanced down at him. “Is he okay?”
Before answering, Iliana wrapped her arms around my waist, her cheek against my chest. “I hope so, Griffin,” she whispered. “He’s in bad shape.”
I held her close, staring at Hyde’s silent form on the couch, his clothes torn and bloody from the fight with the tiger. His face held deep lacerations that Iliana had sewn shut, more on his chest, belly, arms, and legs. “He’ll make it,” I said. “He’s a tough bastard.”
“Yeah.”
Drawing back a little, she smiled up at me. “Will you help me to get him into a lying down position?”
“Sure.”
As Brand, Pierce, and Kincaid watched, I helped her lay Hyde on his back, and then cover him with a light blanket. “He’ll need antibiotics, too,” Iliana said, smoothing his hair back from his face. “We have some at the restaurant.”
“I have some here,” I told her. “Not much, so we may need to get more for him then.”
Iliana glanced at the three shifters gazing at us, and frowned, her eyes narrowed. Taking my hand, she led me to the balcony and closed the sliding door behind us. The night air felt chilly; I still had my leather jacket, but Iliana didn’t have a coat. Taking it off, I put it around her shoulders.
“What is going on?” she asked, glancing through the glass at the three shifters. “Who are those guys?”
I leaned against the railing, the light wind ruffling through my hair as I gazed out over the darkened city. The moon rose high over Detroit, the inky sky filled with stars like glittering diamonds. “I hope you’ll still love me after what I have to tell you,” I said without turning around.
Iliana stepped up beside me. “What can you possibly say that will make me stop loving you?” she asked.
“Well, for one,” I said with a small smile, looking at her, “I’m not an orphan.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the shifters again. “Those two—are they your brothers or something?”
I chuckled. “Nope. But I have a mother. She’s in Denver.”
“Griffin,” she exclaimed, grinning widely. “That’s awesome.”
“Maybe,” I replied, staring out over the city again. “Pierce and Kincaid refuse to tell me anything as they swore an oath, but Brand said those tattoos indicate they are part of a group called the Faithful. They are sworn to protect the last scions of Manat’tara.”
“Who the hell is Manat’tara?”
“The last king of our species, the lions.”
She stared blankly out over the city. “I never heard that our people ever had a king.”
“Nor did I.”
“So, what do they have to do with you?”
“They came to protect me with their lives.” I turned my head to look at her fully.
Iliana’s mouth slowly opened, her eyes widening. “No.”
“Yeah. I’m royalty, Iliana.”
Suddenly laughing, she threw her arms around me again. “I knew you were special right from the start.”
“I don’t know about that, baby,” I told her, my arm over her shoulder. “But if it’s true, and my mother really is alive and in Denver, then I’m guessing she sent those two to find me. They said they have to take me there.”
“Of course, I’m coming with you.”
I grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“But we can’t leave my dad behind,” she stated, her voice near panic. “He can’t travel for a while.”
“We won’t leave him behind, Iliana,” I said. “We’ll wait until he’s stronger. We’ll head for another place tomorrow morning while we gather enough food and cars for everyone.”
Iliana peered up at me in confusion. “Everyone?”
“If those guards downstairs want to come and escape this hell hole,” I told her, “they’re coming, too.”
Making a fist, Iliana planted it firmly on my chest, grinning. “See? You’ll find redemption yet.”
I laughed. “I think I should go discuss it with them. Will you come with me?”
“Yeah.” Iliana paused to stare. “So, you’re a prince or something?”
“I don’t know. But let’s keep that part between Brand and us.”
We went back inside and closed the sliding glass door. Brand eyed us closely as though knowing what we talked about, but asked, “These guys say we’re going to Denver, Griffin. Is that right?”
“It is. I’m going downstairs to invite the rest of them to join us. Denver is a free city, and they can make fresh starts there.”
“Mind if I come along?”
“Let’s go.”
We took the stairs down, and found Freddy, Johnny, Frankie, and the forty-odd other guards milling about in the open apartments and the hallway, their rifles in their hands. They watched out the windows on all sides of the building but had seen nothing thus far.
With Iliana and Brand flanking me, I raised my voice to be heard throughout the entire floor. “Listen up, boys,” I yelled. “Come into the hallway for a few minutes. I’d like to propose something.”
Voices rose in curious questions as the guards who had watched over me for the last year filled the hall that ran between the apartments. Silence descended as I lifted my arms over my head, and those who could see me gazed raptly.
“As you know,” I began, “we’re at war. But it’s not likely this is one we can win. I am going to leave Detroit, boys, and I’d like it if you all came with me.”
Murmurs spread from guard to guard as they talked among themselves. And one of the questions that drifted back to me was where would they go. “To Denver,” I replied. “It’s a free city, and we can all make a new start there. We’ll gather as many cars as we need, load up on extra fuel and food, and make a huge caravan. What do you say?”
Their response appeared to be unanimous as laughter, whistles, cheers, and applause greeted me. Freddy grinned, pumping his fist in the air, then turned and yelled, “I’m with Griffin!”
His yell spread as more of them bellowed, “Griffin! Griffin!”
Iliana nudged me in the ribs. “I told you, you were special.”
I waited until some of the noise died down, then lifted my arms again. “This is the plan so far. Take turns keeping watch through the night, get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we’re headed to an old warehouse we can defend more easily. Iliana’s father needs a few days to heal, and we need to steal more vehicles, obtain gas tanks, food. I’ll give you more orders in the morning as to the details.”
More yells and cheers abounded as I put my arm around Iliana’s shoulder and glanced at Brand. He grinned at me and dipped his head in a near bow. “They, too, think you’re special,” he said. “As do I.”
I shook my head. “I’m just me. Let’s go back upstairs.”
Pierce and Kincaid had sat down in armchairs when we returned to the penthouse, and Pierce grinned as we approached. “Sounded like they approve of the plan.”
“I won’t leave them behind,” I told them, glowering. “They protected me loyally for the last year.”
“And now you’re offering them a new life in a place of safety,” Kincaid commented, “so now we can perhaps count on their help in getting you out of here.”
“Yeah.” I watched as Iliana went over to check on Hyde, then came back.
“We should get some rest,” Brand suggested. “We’re gonna have a rough several days, I’m thinking.”
“We’ll take turns sleeping a
nd keeping watch,” Kincaid said, settling deeper into his chair.
I gestured toward the other bedrooms in the suite. “Help yourselves to the beds back there. If anything changes, either outside or with Iliana’s father, come get us.”
“We will,” Pierce said with a grin.
Before Iliana and I headed for my bedroom, I grabbed the urn I had set on the table earlier. I closed the door behind us, then put the thing down.
“What’s in there?” Iliana asked.
“The drug dealer’s hoard,” I replied, fetching a leather bag from the closet. “No reason why we should leave all this money to the enforcers.”
She helped me pull the tightly wadded cash from the urn and put it in the bag, then I added all my riches from the safe behind the painting. Iliana’s eyes stared. I caught her stunned look and grinned. “Hey, we might need cash to start over with. So might the guards, your dad.”
“Dad has his own emergency stash,” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Can we get it? Dad won’t want to leave without some things, and neither will I.”
I zipped it shut, set the bag down near the door. “If we can,” I replied, grabbing another and shoving some clothes into it. “But only if we can without risking our lives.”
“I understand.”
As I had few sentimental items, my packing went quickly, and I set the other bag near the first one. Then I went to stand in front of Iliana and took her hands in mine. “Think about it,” I said, my voice low, but smiling, “a new start for us. A life where we aren’t being shot at, we pay no one any tribute.”
For the first time since I’d known her, tears sparkled in those sapphire depths. “Dad spent his life building that restaurant. I hate that he has to leave it.”
“If he stays, he’s dead,” I reminded her. “As are you and I. That money over there can help him rebuild.”
“It’ll break his heart.”
I dropped to my knees in front of her. “I think you underestimate Hyde’s willingness to live in a free city, my love.”