A Fragile Family

by J. J. Massa

  “Myles, you won’t leave me alone, will you?” Ashley voice startled him out of his reverie. They’d been driving for almost three hours.

  This time he did reach over and touch her face, stroking her soft cheek with two fingers. “My precious Princess,” he murmured. “I’ll be with you every possible chance I can be. I won’t leave you alone ever, if that’s how you want it.”

  “I--I know you won’t let…You’ll take care of me, right? Everyone is safe with you.” Not expecting an answer, Ashley adjusted her seat so that she was sitting up and then turned to look out the window.

  Myles didn’t know how to address her statement and didn’t know if it was even something he should acknowledge. In fact, it made him a little nervous.

  “Do you—we should talk about what happened in the Philippines, Princess,” Myles suggested tentatively.

  “No,” Ashley answered bluntly. “I don’t want to.”

  Myles considered that for a moment. “Well, okay,” he agreed finally. “Then how about we stop and eat? Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she whipped around to look at him, her eyes desperate. “Please, yes, I am.”

  “Right then,” he started, when the sound of a siren caught his attention. He’d been exceeding the speed limit by at least fifteen miles an hour.

  Flipping the right turn signal on, Myles began to edge onto the shoulder of the road.

  “What is it? Myles? Are…is there a storm?” Ashley’s voice was high and frantic as she clutched at his hand.

  “It’s a traffic stop, Princess, nothing serious, okay?”

  She continued to grip his hand as Myles lowered the window and waited for the officer to approach.

  “License and registration please,” the officer barked as he walked up.

  Saying nothing, Myles held his documentation out the window, noting before the patrolman arrived that he was a Montgomery pack member.

  “Oh, Mr. Montgomery sir,” the man stuttered, glancing briefly at Myles license.

  “I’m sorry for bothering you, sir,” he mumbled nervously.

  “No bother, Officer Montgomery,” Myles answered. “After all, I was speeding. Could you direct us to a restaurant? Fancy a spot of nosh, Princess?” They’d already covered this, he knew she was starving. He just wanted to draw her out, to wipe that frightened, threatened look off of her face.

  Ashley didn’t respond, her worried eyes fastened on the officer at the car window.

  “Uh, there’s a Denny’s up another mile at exit three ninety-nine. It’s right there by the Quality Inn,” the officer explained, his eyes trained on Myles’ elbow.

  “Perfect,” Myles smiled. “Thanks ever so,” he murmured, closing his window, anxious to be away from whatever was upsetting Ashley. “All right, Princess?” he asked, squeezing her hand.

  “Um, the PNP,” she muttered. “Philippine National Police. Uh, it’s okay, they were okay.”

  She didn’t say anything else, and Myles let it drop in favor of breakfast.

  Chapter Nine

  Home of Tracey and Tavist Darke

  Darke Woods Road

  Talking Rock, GA

  Tracey watched Myles’ expensive sports car pull up in the yard and rushed to the door. Christopher stepped in front of it and Jacob intercepted her, steering her to the large window that overlooked the porch.

  “Watch Mom,” he instructed her, and she did. She wanted to growl, kick and scream, but she managed to restrain herself, instead watching Myles walk around the car and open Ashley’s door.

  When her daughter shook her head adamantly at Myles and tried to close the car door, Tracey was stunned. Jacob lifted the window a little and Tracey strained to hear what was said as Myles dropped to a squat in front of Ashley.

  “No, Myles, I don’t want to go in there, because I’ll just have to go out again and then, what if…what if…”

  “Princess, your mum’s in there. I know you want to see her, don’t you?” Myles asked gently. Tracey was confused and a little frightened. What was wrong with Ashley?

  “I do, Myles, but anything could happen,” she countered.

  Myles reached up and cupped Ashley’s cheek, taking one of her hands in his.

  “Your mum has always kept good care of you, now hasn’t she? And Tav, Jacob, and Christopher are there as well. Even your Gandad, Mik. Nothing could be safer than that, hmm?” He rose to his feet. “If it wasn’t safe in there, they’d come out, now wouldn’t they?”

  Ashley moved to stand, looking from the house, to Myles, and back to the house again. “I guess so,” she agreed reluctantly. “You won’t go, will you? You’ll be there, right?”

  “Of course,” Myles agreed, standing with her and stepping away. “I’ll be right there with you.”

  “Shit,” Jacob hissed. “I wish he hadn’t said that.”

  Tracey looked over at Jacob and back at the two in the yard, talking quietly as they moved slowly toward the door. “What?” she asked Jacob, even though she was angry with him.

  “Myles has to do something. He’ll have to leave Ashley here for a little bit,” Jacob explained. “But, Mom, you can see how much she needs him, can’t you?” he changed the subject, directing her back to the two who were climbing the porch steps now.

  Tracey ignored him, moving to the door and giving Christopher a little shove.

  Christopher stepped away, giving his mother room to fling open the door. She rushed out onto the porch and pulled Ashley to her, her hands running up to the top of her daughter’s head, down her shoulders and enfolding her tightly in her arms.

  “Baby, my baby,” she babbled, not able to form a coherent thought outside of acknowledging that Ashley was whole and alive and standing in front of her.

  “Mom? Mama?” Ashley wrapped both arms around her mother and began to cry, quietly at first and then sobbing uncontrollably. “I was so scared I wouldn’t see you again. See anybody. Mama…”

  Tracey had no idea how she got back inside. All she knew was that she and Ashley were seated on the couch, surrounded by Tav, Christopher and Jacob, when suddenly Ashley was frantic once again.

  “Myles!” she yelped. “Myles!” she shouted a second time, louder, looking left and right for him.

  “Right here, Princess, I’m here,” he reassured her, reaching between Tav and Jacob to squeeze her shoulder.

  That seemed to be enough and Ashley turned back to her mother, and scooted close to her, snuggling in. In seconds, she was asleep.

  ****

  “You have to go and get Sherman,” Jacob informed Myles succinctly.

  “What? I think not,” Myles opposed immediately. “I need to stay here so that Ashley can see me when she wakes up!”

  “Shh, or you will wake her up,” Jacob hissed back at him in a loud whisper.

  Jacob and Myles both looked over at Ashley, who was stretched out on the couch, her head on her mother’s lap. Tracey was lovingly stroking Ashley’s hair, every now and then glancing up to glare at Myles.

  When Myles looked away, Jacob noted that while at first his face registered hurt, it was clear that Myles felt he deserved Tracey’s scorn. Perhaps that was something Myles needed to give plenty of thought to.

  It was certainly something both Tracey and Myles needed to discuss. Jacob knew that things would come to a head between them before much more time went by. He only hoped that there was a positive outcome at the end.

  “Why do I have to do it?” Myles all but whined.

  “All you have to do is get in your cute little car, go to Peachtree Street, where Landon International is, and pick him up. If you go now, you’ll get there before he finds a cab. The way you drive, you won’t even be gone two hours,” Jacob informed him smugly. “He’s got things to tell you that you need to know. Besides, you’ll rack up lots of points with Ashley for getting him and taking care of him, too. He’s in trouble—he just doesn’t know it yet.”

  Myles glared at Jacob for long seconds. “You have a good
argument there, mate,” he conceded grudgingly.

  “You need to be back by two-thirty, Myles. She’s really going to need you then,” Jacob murmured.

  He hated being so elusive, but some things really did have to unfold at their own pace. Too much interference from him would change the shape of the pack’s history.

  That would render himself, Christopher, perhaps all of them useless.

  “I’ll say one thing for you, pet,” Myles growled. “You have cryptic down to a science.”

  “Everybody’s gotta be good at something,” Jacob smiled thinly.

  “Oh, and my bloody car’s not bloody cute!” he added, apparently for good measure, heading for Ashley. “I’m not going to leave and not tell her,” Myles told Jacob as he kneeled down beside his mate. Jacob shrugged, privately agreeing with Myles’ decision.

  “He’s grown into a good man,” Mik murmured to Tav.

  “He has,” Tav granted, his eyes soft on Myles who was stroking Ashley’s cheek.

  Tracey’s lips were thin and angry, but she didn’t say anything. Jacob suspected that his mother too agreed that Myles shouldn’t leave without telling Ashley. Especially since Ashley had been so adamant that Myles stay with her.

  “Princess,” Myles uttered quietly.

  “Hmm,” Ashley responded, not really waking up, but lucid enough.

  “I’m going to get Sherman, okay? I won’t be long,” Myles said in a low voice.

  “Sherman? You’re getting Sherman?” Eyes open now, trying to focus, Ashley was obviously confused, though she sounded distinctly hopeful.

  “Yes, precious. He needs to be here with friends, don’t you think?” Myles asked quietly, calmly.

  Tears sprang to Ashley’s eyes. “Yeah, he does. Thank you, Myles,” she mumbled, shifting onto her side, her eyes drifting closed again.

  Myles looked over at Jacob and arched a brow, smiling as he rose to his feet.

  Jacob winked at him.

  “Thanks for the brownie points, seer,” Myles mumbled, clapping Jacob on the shoulder on his way to the door.

  ****

  Delta Flight 651

  Tampa to Atlanta

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Rafe asked Tayler for the fourth or fifth time.

  Tayler hid a smile and squeezed Rafe’s hand as his personal bodyguard fretted over him. Rafe worried far more about Tayler than Marc did and sometimes even more than his own mother did.

  He knew that Rafe felt bad about coming to kill him in the hospital before. Still, the older Were looked after Tayler because he cared so much—like a protective older brother, a devoted follower, a champion, and a friend. Rafe believed that Tayler was special and important and nothing mattered more than his safety and comfort. Sometimes he argued with Rafe over it—other times, it paid to let him have his way.

  “I’ll be fine, Rafe. And it’s important that we go. Especially since Jacob said so.”

  Tayler knew that Jacob was a seer. He’d known it right off, even if he hadn’t understood it. Gandad Mik told him that it was a special thing, and even more special that Tayler had recognized it. “I’m glad you’re here with me, and I’m really glad that you’re my brother now,” Tayler smiled at Rafe. “You make me feel safe.”

  It was true, he wouldn’t say it if he didn’t mean it. But it also distracted Rafe from whatever was bothering him—usually Tayler’s health, and focused him on the task at hand. Right now, the task was getting the two of them through the airport, through the flight and ultimately, getting them over to Tav’s house where Ashley was.

  “I’m really glad, too,” Rafe grinned, taking one of Tayler’s thin hands in his own.

  “I just worry about you, hermanito,” Rafe confessed, rubbing the hand he held.

  “I know, Rafe,” Tayler allowed, “But there are things I have to do, you know that.”

  Rafe opened his mouth to answer when an airline employee walked up. “Little boy, let me see your ticket, please,” she demanded brusquely.

  “Is there a problem, ma’am?” Rafe asked, his hackles rising, although Tayler was happy to note that so far he’d managed to keep his beast in check.

  “Our manifest shows no children in first class and if this was a courtesy upgrade, I’m afraid I’ll just have to…” the woman was really on a roll, but Rafe cut her off before Tayler could intervene.

  “It was not a courtesy upgrade,” Rafe growled. “Tayler Fonteneax doesn’t travel any way except first class and if you have a problem with that, you need to speak to your supervisor.”

  Tayler sat back and watched for a minute. He’d know when it was time for him to jump in. So far, Rafe wasn’t in danger of hurting anyone. It was a little funny how self-righteous Rafe became on his behalf, but a year together had taught Tayler to let Rafe do what he needed to do, only interfering when the situation became extreme.

  “Now listen here, young man, there’s no need to be rude,” the flight attendant bristled. “This little boy is in the wrong seat and chances are, you are, too,” she snapped, glaring at him.

  “You were rude right off the bat, calling mi jefe a little boy without even checking your facts,” Rafe stated firmly. “You go get someone who knows respect and we’ll talk nice without causing a big, loud scene.”

  The woman flounced off and Tayler looked indulgently at Rafe. He certainly took his position as Tayler’s protector very seriously.

  “You aren’t gonna get us in a fight are you?” Tayler teased.

  Suddenly, the scent hit him. Rafe’s head shot up but Tayler held up a hand. The air hostess who had been giving Tayler grief was heading up the narrow isle followed by another woman and a man in pilot’s uniform.

  At first glance, the two newcomers might have been of Hispanic descent. The man’s head shot up and his gaze locked on Tayler’s for a split second before he dropped his eyes. The woman with him looked at Rafe but focused on his shoulder.

  “Sir,” the man in pilot’s uniform began. It was unusual to find werewolves working in the aviation field and Tayler was surprised.

  “You don’t even know my name, do you?” Tayler murmured kindly. The man looked miserable and Tayler couldn’t blame him. “You are a de la Rosa?” He knew that this man and the woman with him were both de la Rosas. He could smell it on them.

  “Yes, sir, I am.” The woman who’d initially caused all the trouble seemed terribly confused, and opened her mouth to speak. The man stepped in front of her, directing his words to a very smug-looking Rafe. “My apologies for this, both of you. You are Rafael Acosta?”

  “Si,” Rafe nodded. “His name is Tayler Fonteneax,” Rafe informed them, nodding at Tayler. “You won’t forget that?”

  “No,” the man replied, placing a hand on the arm of the woman who’d come with him. “None of us will, I’ll make sure of it.”

  Rafe nodded in satisfaction. The first woman could be heard complaining as she followed the other two, but Tayler tuned it out.

  “The thing of it is,” Tayler shook his head, stretching his leg carefully. “We had the right tickets and we paid for them.”

  Rafe leaned over and pulled Tayler’s thin leg toward him, rubbing at the cramping muscle. “Well, jefe, at least now we know how they’ll react. We know they know who you are.”

  Tayler grinned at Rafe, rolling his eyes. “I think you enjoy all that a little too much, you know that? And besides, you really are the one…”

  A low growl from Rafe halted his words. “You’re the rightful heir. You’re the one, you know it. Don’t say that anymore.” Rafe flicked his eyes up at Tayler, rubbing the twitching calf muscle under his palm.

  Tayler reached out and patted Rafe’s cheek in forgiveness, leaning back and closing his eyes. Some days, it didn’t seem right that he had to know all this stuff at thirteen years old. What happened to puberty? Ah well, he consoled himself, at least if he had to fly, he got to fly first class.

  Chapter Ten

  Home of Tracey and Tavist Darke

&
nbsp; Darke Woods Road

  Talking Rock, GA

  Tracey continued to stroke Ashley’s hair where her head rested in her mother’s lap. Tav had come along and covered the young woman with an afghan, handing Tracey a small pillow which she slid under Ashley’s head to make her more comfortable. With a loving kiss on the forehead, he left her alone, taking their two sons with him.

  Their younger daughters, thirteen-year-old twins Serena and Victoria, were still at school. The girls would probably stay late today, both played the violin and had lessons after class. It was someone else’s turn to handle the carpool duties, and for that, Tracey was profoundly grateful.

  She loved all of her children to distraction, but Ashley was her first. She hated to say one was somehow more special than the others, and truly, it wasn’t that at all. This was simply Ashley’s turn—her strong, sweet, independent, intelligent daughter.

  Maybe it was a little irrational to hold Myles responsible for the state Ashley was in. Of all the people in her now very extended and over-protective family, Myles would have been her strongest ally in keeping Ashley home and out of danger.

  The fact was, Myles had come in when Ashley was still so very young, and laid claim to a part of her that Tracey could never touch. And it wasn’t really like Tracey felt she had to have access to each facet of her children—that wasn’t it at all.

  The problem was, by showing up when he had and somehow being Ashley’s pre-destined mate or whatever, he’d effectively cut her off from an entire world of normal, little girl experiences. Because of Myles, Ashley hadn’t really dated, didn’t care about her prom, hadn’t had crushes. It wasn’t right.

  Worse than all of that, though—Myles’ number one, greatest offense was simple.

  He hadn’t valued Ashley enough. He hadn’t appreciated what, just by existing, he had denied her daughter.

  Upon reflection, Tracey decided that it was high time someone clued him in. As it happened, she had no qualms whatsoever about being that someone.

  ****