by Unknown
Rafe pulled his grandmother into his arms. “You know I have no answer for that, Abuela. Grandfather obviously has a flaw in his makeup. It may be a fatal flaw.” He held her while she sobbed against his chest. It wasn’t like her to show a woman’s tender emotions. When he’d been growing up she’d been stern and in charge, taking over the daily running of the family when Matias had been away on one of his “missions”. Rafe had been told Grandfather had enemies and often left to settle scores with other clans. Lies told to cover up the man’s infidelities? He felt the respect he’d had for the old man disappear.
“It may be my fatal flaw that I still love him. Do you think we can save him, Rafael?” She sat back and wiped her eyes with a linen handkerchief.
“We can certainly try.” Rafe had to admire her. Her loyalty was amazing even if his grandfather didn’t deserve it.
“I know you want to leave. Who could blame you? Matias thinks you should take over the clan when he’s gone. Chauvinist bastard. What have I been doing for a millennia? I lead this clan while he follows his cock to the nearest welcoming--”
“Abuela! I think I’ve heard enough about Grandfather and his unfaithfulness.” Rafe laid his hand over hers. “Of course you should lead the clan. I have no interest in doing so. My family and home are in Texas. It’s where I’ll go once this poison business is settled. One way or another.”
“Even if Matias dies, we must bring the poisoner to justice. You know?” Grandmother’s shoulders were back, her chin up. She was tiny, always had been. But her spirit made her seem six feet tall and powerful. Rafe never wanted to tangle with her and knew why his grandfather had done his best to hide his affairs.
“First, I’m bringing a doctor here. There’s one in Austin but he’s busy. So I’m going to call another. He lives in Scotland. Closer to us and just as talented. In fact, he’s interested in chemistry so he may be able to come up with an antidote. Did you figure out what Grandfather ate or drank that made him ill? Do you have any of the poison left?” Rafe pulled out his phone and went through the contact list. He couldn’t call Jeremy Blade on his honeymoon, though he would certainly have the number he needed.
For a moment he waited to see if the familiar pain of jealousy hit him. Blade with Gloriana. No. His mind was too full of Lacy, laboring to bring their children into the world. It was good to know he’d left his passion for Glory behind and his priorities were in order. He would never want to be like his grandfather, a man who didn’t know how to remain faithful to one woman. He finally found a number that would be useful and hit speed dial. His grandmother had rushed out of the room. He hoped to bring him some useful evidence.
“Hello.” The woman sounded sleepy.
Rafe had no idea where she was or what time it was there. Honestly? He didn’t care. “Caitlin? This is Rafe Valdez, Glory’s friend.” Caitlin Campbell was Jeremy Blade’s sister. Last he knew, she was having an affair with the Scottish doctor he needed to reach.
“Ah, yes. Rafe. How are you?” Caitlin was waking up fast. “I’m sorry, I’ve been on a jet. Flew back from the wedding right afterwards and jet lag caught up with me.”
“I’ve been better. But that’s not important. Do you happen to have Dr. O’Connor with you?”
“Bart? Yes, he’s right here. You may remember he was with me at the wedding.” She said something to another person in the room. “Here he is. I hope someone isn’t ill.”
“Afraid so. Thanks, Caitlin.” Rafe waited until he heard the definitely Scottish brogue of Dr. Bartholomew O’Connor on the line.
“Rafe. What’s this Caitlin’s telling me? Who’s ill?”
“My grandfather. He’s been poisoned. I seem to remember you’re quite the expert on all things to do with chemistry.”
“Well, yes. I’ve studied it for years. Any idea what he took or was given to him?” Bart sounded alert now, interested.
“No idea. I’m afraid Matias is too weak to move. Can you come to us?” Rafe told him how to get to the compound. “I could send a jet for you.”
“No need. We just got home and haven’t released the one we chartered. Cait and I were talking about taking another little trip and were giving ourselves a night or two here before we made a decision about where. Can I bring her along? Or is this a secret enclave?”
Rafe thought about it. “Bring her. And as much of your equipment as you think you’ll need. I will see what I can find out before you get here. I’m trying to run down the poisoner. If I can get them to admit what they used, I’m sure that will help.”
“Of course. In the meantime, try to build up the victim. Light broth, fluids if he can keep them down. Is he still lucid?”
“Yes.” Rafe felt Grandmother’s presence next to him again. “But he’s very weak.”
“I’m leaving here in two hours. That’s how long it will take to get my things together. See you as soon as may be. Lucid is good news. Take heart, fellow.” The call ended.
“You trust this man?” Grandmother handed Rafe a bottle. “This is what Matias was drinking when he fell ill. No one else has touched it. There is still some in the bottle. Not much but maybe…”
“Yes, that will help.” Rafe pulled his grandmother close. “He said lucid is good. We should try to get Grandfather to drink liquids, sip some broth. Hydrate him. Can you see to it?”
“What are you going to do?” She patted his chest then pulled away.
“Gather a force and go see this bitch Grandfather got entangled with. If there is any chance she’s the one who did this, then I’m going to find out the truth. Even if I have to torture it out of her.” Rafe strode out of the room.
He stopped in the central courtyard and looked around the village. A force? Did one exist in this pitiful excuse for a clan? He leapt onto the low brick in the center and rang the bell they used for emergencies. It had been there as long as he could remember. Luckily it still worked and people came streaming out of their houses. When the stream became a trickle he counted heads. Less than a hundred. It was pitiful. He had thought they numbered closer to a thousand. Where had everyone gone? Were they like him? Tired of the old ways and determined to make a new life without restrictions? He wouldn’t be surprised.
“People of Clan Castillo. We have been attacked. The poisoning of Matias is as direct an assault on our clan as if an army had appeared at the gates. What are we going to do about it?” Rafe waited while there were rumblings and a few shouts. “Let me tell you what I want to do.”
“Who put you in charge?” This from a man who was one of the few Rafe recognized. A crony of his grandfather’s.
“Do you want to take over leadership, Miguel? If so, where have you been? Why are the houses in poor repair? Why is a burned out shell sitting there, a blight on the village square?” Rafe stared at the man until he bowed his head.
“I have my own problems. Too many children to feed and a nagging wife.” That earned Miguel a cuff on the head from a woman who had a mean right hook.
“Then is there anyone else who wants to lead the village? Make a decision? Besides my grandmother? I know who keeps this village together. You would do well to support her from now on.” Rafe scanned the crowd. No one wanted to make eye contact. “All right then. Here’s what I propose. We need a dozen men or women who aren’t afraid to fight to go with me across the water to see the woman who may have poisoned Matias. I want to get the truth out of her. If she is indeed the one who did this, we will try to see if there’s an antidote and bring it back here before it is too late. Of course we will make sure she is punished as well. Who’s with me?”
“I am!” Tomas hurried to stand next to Rafe on the wall. “Come on, fellows. This is a chance to shift. Show the people over there that we’re not a dying clan brought low by a jealous bitch but shifters who have the guts to fight for what’s right.”
“Well said, brother.” Rafe slapped Tomas on the back. Too bad his brother ruined it by falling off the wall and onto the nearest prickly bush. His curses mad
e the crowd laugh but got some of the other men to step forward. Soon they had ten volunteers ready to go, four of them women.
“I’m glad someone is finally doing something. It seemed like we were just waiting for Matias to die.” One of the women tied a headband around her wild blond hair. “This is what the clan needed, action. It’s been too long since we’ve done anything but sit around and watch the village wither away.”
“What do we have for weapons besides what Tomas shoved in my face when he dragged me here?” Rafe waited but no one said anything. “Are you kidding me? You think the other clan doesn’t have any?” He saw his grandmother make her way through the crowd. She had a purse with her.
“Here is my credit card. Buy whatever you need. Just remember that you’ll be shifting. If you fight against these people, send someone in to spy first. To see what you’ll be up against.” Her mouth was tight. “There’s a boat in the harbor that you can take to their headquarters. Its name is,” she swallowed. “No Reglas”
“No Rules.” Rafe nodded. “That was obviously Grandfather’s mantra. I’m sorry, Grandmother. But thank you. Is it large enough for this many of us?”
“It’s the size of your grandfather’s ego, Rafael.” She looked at their band of fighters. “Plenty large enough to hold more than this crew.” She sighed and glanced around, seeming to really see the disrepair and the sad numbers of the clan. “Your grandfather spared no expense when it came to his pleasure. That is why the village looks as it does. These past decades he cared nothing for us, but only for what he could get elsewhere. From now on things will be different. I will see to it.” She turned on her heel and marched out of the square, the eyes of the crowd following her. A few of the women cheered but were quickly hushed with reminders that Matias was surely dying.
“She is a brave woman.” Marguerite, a tall, bronzed brunette spat on the ground. “I wouldn’t blame her if she herself poisoned Matias. He has been a poor husband to her.”
“Iliana would never go so far.” Miguel glanced at Rafe and Tomas. “But put a knife to his pene? I surely expected it, especially when he boasted about this latest whore of his in the tavern late at night. He made no secret of their affair. A wife shouldn’t have dirty linen dragged home like that.”
“Aye. I would have shoved Arturo’s balls down his throat if I’d heard he was bragging about some puta to the men here.” A petite blond pulled a knife from her boot. “You think I wouldn’t? Ask him about the scar on his thigh.”
The other men laughed uneasily. Arturo himself wrapped his arm around her. “You ask if we can fight with you, Rafael? This woman is ten times the fighter that many of the men are. I can attest to that. Chiquita, I’m hot just thinking about how I got that scar. When do we leave for the boat, Rafael?”
“Provisions and weapons first. Tomas and I will get the weapons in Santa Cruz. Can any of you shoot?” Rafe was relieved to see all hands go up.
“We are not novices, Rafael. None of us is young. Buy us good guns. We have knives at home, except for Chica here. She carries one on her at all times. It keeps me on my best behavior” Arturo grinned and looked around. He got nods of agreement.
“I’ll handle provisions if you’d like, Rafael. Just tell me when you want to leave.” Marguerite stepped forward.
“We go day after tomorrow. That will give me time to consult with the doctor I sent for. I hope he can find a cure for Matias. So get ready.” They all nodded and strode away.
“Well done, brother.” Tomas had stayed on the ground and reached up to help him down off the wall. “I heard your babies are being born as we speak. I apologize for pulling you away from that.”
“Thanks.” Rafe dragged a hand through his hair. He was desperate to call Lacy and see how she was. How the babies were. He also needed a hot shower. As if they had a line to each other, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw it was her.
“Lace? How are you?”
“Alive. Ripped apart. Sewn back together. We have two boys and a girl, Rafe. Gabriel, Lucas and Daniela. Those names still okay with you?”
“Sure, I guess.” Rafe took a breath not sure he wasn’t going to pass out. Holy shit. He was a father. “Tell me about them.” He could hear them crying. “What’s the matter with them? Why are they crying?”
“Who knows? Hungry maybe. Mad at being out of their nice warm womb. I don’t know. But they’re beautiful, Rafe, even if they are a little red, from all the screaming. Ian’s been great. Gave me the shot toward the end and I didn’t feel much of anything.”
“Two sons and a daughter. We did it. Well, I guess you did it. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to hold your hand or do whatever the hell fathers do during childbirth.” Rafe felt the sting of tears and sat on the brick wall. Tomas’s hand landed on his back.
“Blessings on them.” His brother walked away, probably to spread the news.
“I’d probably have cursed you for putting me through this.” She sighed. “But it was so worth it. It’s amazing, Rafe. Three tiny human looking beings we created together. Can you believe it?”
“Not really. You sure you’re okay? That must have been hard.” Rafe realized his voice sounded thick. Yeah, like he was talking past a lump the size of an SUV.
“It was. Especially since you weren’t here. But I survived. I had my sister and Ian. My mom even calmed down enough to help. Any news there?” She sounded as if she cared. What a woman.
“We’re working on finding out what poison Matias took. I sent for Dr. O’Connor from Scotland. He’ll be here soon. But Lace. The babies. They were early. You sure they’re all right?” Damn but he needed to see them, hold them. Check them for all their toes and fingers. Look into their eyes. And Lacy. He wanted to kiss her and tell her to her face how amazing she was. Fuck.
“Ian has them in some kind of incubator for now. Just to be on the safe side. But they each weighed a little over four pounds. He was thrilled. If Ian is ever thrilled about anything. You know how he is. Anyway, he’s been giving them a thorough going over and says they look perfect. Wants me to name one of them Ian. Says it’s only right.”
“Like hell. We settled on those names and I like them. You okay that they’re all a little on the Latino side?”
“Yeah, I like it. They go with the last name. Of course Mama’s not sold. Cats have their own ways of naming children. The names are important.” Lacy cleared her throat. “We can wait until you get home to talk about middle names. We can use those to help with the cat side of the family. It’ll be soon, won’t it?”
“Not sure how soon.” Rafe hated to say it. “I have to finish this, Lace. It may take a while. We’re going after the poisoner. It’s across the Atlantic. Can you deal with the delay?”
“If I have to. Don’t worry about me. Take care of your family. I know how it is. I’m dealing with mine.” She sighed. “Got to go, Ian’s bringing me one of the babies. I think it’s Gabriel. You should see him. Little legs kicking. Maybe he’ll play soccer. Wouldn’t that be cool? Anyway, I’m going to try nursing him. Sorry you can’t see this.”
“And that Ian can. Shit.” Rafe realized she’d ended the call. Ian putting one of his sons
to Lacy’s breast. The picture in his head made him crazy. He looked around at the sad little village and wanted to take a torch to it all. Why the hell was he stuck here in his past when his future was five thousand miles away?
Chapter Six
“You have a sample of the poison?” Bart sniffed the bottle and held it up to the light. “I can do an analysis. See if I can figure out what it is. Maybe we’ll get lucky and it’s something I’ve run across before.” He and Caitlin Campbell had just arrived. Cait knew enough about medicine, thanks to a background in med school, to help her lover. “Wait here and I’ll let you know what I think after I examine your grandfather.” Bart nodded.
Rafe paced the living room. Grandfather didn’t believe in doctors, most shifters didn’t, and Rafe could hear him letting them know i
t, loudly. A woman doctor? Even worse. Matias almost came unglued when he realized that the doctors were “blood suckers.” He bellowed for his grandson, reminding him that in another hour these two would be dead and useless. Rafe had forgotten that inconvenient truth.
“Just let Dr. O’Connor see if he can help, Abuelo. You called me here. I trust this man. If he can save you, let him try.” Rafe stared down at his frail grandfather who was just as stubborn as the day he’d left the clan, centuries ago. To his shock, the old man just nodded.
“Go. Step outside so you don’t have to see my humiliation, boy. I feel my spirit about to leave my body. What’s the worst they can do? Hasten its departure?” He turned his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.
Rafe nodded, more depressed than he’d ever been, and left the room. An hour later the vampires came out.
“Okay, here’s what we know.” Bart looked serious as he wiped his hands on a towel. “Your grandfather must have been in excellent physical shape when he ingested the poison to have fought it off this long. It would have killed most men instantly, even a shape-shifter.”
Caitlyn put her hand on Rafe’s arm. “He’s a fighter, isn’t he?” She was trying to comfort him.
“He’s going downhill, though. I’ve only been here a day and I’ve seen it.” Rafe rubbed his burning eyes. He needed sleep but was damned if he could keep his eyes closed even when he tried.
“I’ll get right on that sample.” Bart didn’t waste time denying the fact that Grandfather was dying. “Our best bet right now is to either find an antidote or make one. Matias said you’re on the hunt for the poisoner. I’d be willing to bet he’ll have an antidote handy. It’s only wise when you’re dealing with poisonous substances. In case of an accident.” He glanced at the window where they could see the false dawn, a sure sign that the real one wasn’t far away. “Sorry about the timing. Cait and I must rest. I’m sure that’s maddening for you shifters.”
“Yes, but we’ll deal with it. I’m just grateful you studied medicine. Shifters rarely bother. We’re usually a healthy race. Now I’m leaving with my people in an hour because I’ve got a lead on who did this. I’m trusting you with Grandfather’s life. That’s not a popular notion around here, putting faith in a vampire. But I have a history with your type and it’s taught me that we do better in this world when we work together. Am I wrong?”