by Sydney Addae
“Ready?” he asked her, tugging on her energy.
She took a deep breath and then relaxed. “Wake him up, baby.” A strong tingling sensation ran up and down her body as Silas used Chase as a conduit to grab Angus’ wolf.
Her legs shook.
“Almost there.”
She didn’t know how much longer she could continue. Every nerve ending in her body vibrated.
“Got him.”
The sensations stopped abruptly, causing her to hold on to him to catch her breath. They rarely combined their energies and only in dire emergencies because of the after-burn. Sleep and then lots of food and water, were next.
“Angus attacked Chase but didn’t hurt him, not really. I’m talking to him now that he’s returned into human, he doesn’t remember anything, but he’s weak. He wants Hawke to check him out. They’re on the way to the plane.”
Jasmine yawned. “Good, I should be awake by the time he gets here.”
Chapter 9
“Glad we got the pictures of the bombs before the police took them away. No doubt the Feds will step in and take them for research purposes,” Tyrese said while searching the basement of Ruth’s house.
“Danielle is finishing in the barn,” Asia said holding a scanner and moving it slowly across the walls. After they discovered the case of bombs buried beneath the barn floor and contacted Chief Williams, things moved quickly. Ruth’s body lay covered for the next few hours while the bomb squad removed the explosives and left the premises. Danielle arrived during that time and alternatively took pictures and videoed the process for further review.
Karney entered the basement. “Nothing in the bedroom. Solis and the techs are working on the computers. Your guys still working on the laptop?” He asked standing at the bottom of the stairs and wrinkling his nose against the musky odor.
“Yes, we should hear something from them soon,” Tyrese said without explaining Jacques and Hawke had hacked into the computer and were going through the files along with La Patron. So far they hadn’t found anything about the group, members or their next target.
“Okay. This guy you talked to, Herbert Green, he was related to the deceased?”
“Yes, he was her stepbrother, seems they were close,” Asia said stopping in front of a section of wall.
“Should we pick him up? Question him about the bombs? He may know something,” Karney said, chewing a toothpick.
“Probably wouldn’t hurt, but I didn’t get the impression he knew a whole lot about what was going on. He just did a favor for Ruth and watched out for the guy going into the store,” Tyrese said coming to stand near her. “You got something there?” He pointed to the wall.
“Maybe, the reading is a little different here. Move those wood boards and blocks out the way so I can get a better reading.”
Tyrese and Karney shoved the building materials to the side. Asia moved closer and placed the scanner on the wall. “See, it’s different.” She held it so Tyrese and Karney could see.
“Let’s open it up,” Karney said bending to pick up a long board. He ram it into the wall, splitting open the sheetrock. Asia and Tyrese pulled off the tattered pieces. At the bottom, tucked away on the floor, was a medium sized metal box.
“Now that’s interesting,” Karney said as Asia scanned the box for explosive devices.
“It’s clean,” she said in anticipation.
Tyrese pulled the box out and looked at the padlock. If Karney wasn’t there, she would have yanked it off. “We need some type of saw to get this off, or a crowbar,” Tyrese said glancing at Karney.
“There may be one in the barn. I’ll go check.” He turned and left Asia and Tyrese alone.
“Wonder what’s in here?” Tyrese asked, shaking the box. “It’s not heavy, I doubt its money. What could be so important they hid it in a wall?”
“We’ll know soon enough,” Asia said, continuing her scan of the wall.
“I could open this,” he said.
“How would you explain it?” she asked without looking at him.
“That’s why I didn’t open it yet.” He paused. “Dani’s on the way.”
Asia looked over her shoulder at him. “Don’t call her Dani, she hates that name.”
He laughed. “I know.”
Asia shook her head. Classic Tyrese, always pushing the envelope. When she reached the end of the wall she doubled back to be sure she hadn’t missed anything. Danielle and Karney arrived together, he held a tire iron.
“Couldn’t find a crowbar, but this should work.”
Asia agreed and stepped aside to allow him room. Using the iron bar, Karney popped the lock and opened the box.
“Some kind of papers,” Karney muttered looking inside. He pulled out a few pages and then stopped. “Holy shit.”
Asia stared at the Department of State insignia and Top Secret stamp and agreed with him. He dropped the page as if it were on fire. She picked up some of the files in disbelief. Xavier’s ops were in the box, one specifically, she recalled because she had exterminated a high ranking official on holiday during that assignment. Xavier had been her contact person. Fortunately, her name wasn’t in the file.
“What’s going on?” Hawke asked.
“You won’t believe what we found,” Asia said staring at file after file of hits the CIA authorized over a ten year span. Someone had compiled information against the government that could cause a serious ripple effect across the globe.
“What?”
She told him what she was reading.
“I’ll tell Silas.”
“La Patron,” she corrected automatically.
“Yeah,” he said.
The room had gone silent. She noticed no one else read the files, which was smart. Not knowing certain things kept you safe. Karney left the room. Tyrese and Danielle moved to the other side of the basement.
What were these files doing here? If this group had a problem with La Patron, why accumulate old CIA assassination cases? It made no sense. Many of these deaths were highly classified.
Asia stared at a file on the death of a Russian operative. Her stomach clenched in dread. There was no reason to open the folder, not when she could see it so clearly in her mind. The face of Olga Egorov stared at her. Young, beautiful and arrogant enough to believe she was invincible behind the badge of diplomatic immunity. That night when Asia entered her bedroom, the Olga had just taken the life of an American soldier who worked at the embassy. She’d looked at Asia with disdain, as if she were beneath her notice and turned her back.
Asia smelled the metal of the small pistol and leapt out of the way as the bullet whizzed near her shoulder. She and Olga fought for a few minutes but there was never any question to the outcome. Moments later, completely disarmed, Asia smelled Olga’s fear as she begged for her life. A life cut short that night.
Exhaling, she returned all the files to the box and closed the lid. Although her name didn’t appear in any of the records, many held her signature, reminding her of her bloody past.
“Silas said for you to keep the box. No one else is to look in it,” Tyrese said.
“La Patron,” she corrected and then shook her head. Tyrese was La Patron’s son, he could call him what he liked. “Let’s go upstairs, I want to sit down.”
They walked up in silence. Karney looked at her and then the box under her arm and tipped his head in the direction of his partner.
“Solis said there’s nothing about the group on the computer. Probably in a cloud somewhere or a flash drive. Hope your guys have better luck.” He paused. “Do we pick up Green or not?”
“Pick him up, see if he knows who the other four are,” Tyrese said. He and Danielle sat on the sofa.
Asia sat in the chair, her thoughts flying all over the place. “Asia?” Jasmine said.
“Yes Mistress?”
“Silas called a pack member in the State Department about the box. They’re concerned and don’t want anyone to read the files.”
&nbs
p; “Too late, I read them. Although many of them I already knew.”
Silence, and then. “Oh, Asia, I’m so sorry. How are you feeling?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Part of me accepts my past as the Liege’s executioner, another part cringes in shame at the blood on my hands. How do I hold my daughter at night and teach her to be a woman of honor, when –”
“Stop. Don’t you dare say you have no honor. I swear I will hurt you if you do.”
Asia’s mouth dropped open. “Ma’am?”
“Well, I wouldn’t hurt you, per se, but it would make me angry. You were a weapon created in the labs of vile, evil men. They operated on you, gave you a metal arm and both legs, even turned your eye into a camera and if that wasn’t the worst, those bastards controlled you with a computer chip in your brain.”
“True, but I still pulled the trigger, or threw the blade, or used the—”
“Why did you do those things?”
“Why?” Asia asked.
“Yes, why? Did you wake up and say, I think I’ll fly to Kalamazoo and shoot so and so?”
Now Mistress was being silly. “No, Ma’am, it didn’t work like that. These were assignments, jobs –”
“Like the assignment you’re on now?”
“No!” She hadn’t meant to yell but there was no comparison between the two.
“That’s what I mean, Asia. You had no choice before, given a choice, you’d fight on the side of right. That’s what makes you honorable, that’s what you’ll teach your daughter.”
Asia closed her eyes to process Jasmine’s words. Every now and then her past snuck in at the weirdest times but she was learning to handle the fall-out better. “Thank you for that. What you’re saying is true, sometimes I just need to be reminded.” Her heart overflowed with gratitude that she had such a smart, compassionate woman in her life.
“No need for thanks, just don’t be so hard on yourself. I love you and it bothers me to hear anyone say bad things about you, even you,” Jasmine said.
“Same here, Mistress.” Her eyes watered and she squeezed her lids tight.
Jasmine cleared her throat. “Good, now that we’re straight on that, Silas said someone from the State department will be arriving soon to take the box. It might be a good idea not to tell them you opened the box.”
“We broke the lock, they’ll know. But if it helps, I’m the only one who looked inside and many of these are my old cases. So if they have beef about it, they can shove it up their asses.”
Jasmine laughed. “I’ll um… pass that along to Silas so he can explain the situation. If you need me, call me.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Could you have La Patron tell Tyrese what’s about to happen so he can explain it to the others?”
“He talked to the Police Chief, he’s on his way.”
“That’s even better, thank you.” Solis entered the room and stared at her.
“What’s up?” she asked, looking at Karney and then back at Solis.
“Chief’s on the way, he wants you to hang on to that box, no one else is allowed to touch it,” he said.
“No problem.” She leaned back in the chair and glanced at Tyrese and Danielle.
“We’re going to pick up Green for questioning,” Karney said heading to the door.
“Hold up on that,” Solis said shaking his head. “Chief wants us to stay here until he arrives.”
“Really?” Karney sounded surprised. “What’s up? He say?”
Solis shook his head and returned to the den where the techs had been working on the computer.
“Hold up,” Karney said following him.
Asia talked to Hawke about the laptop and he said the same thing as Solis regarding a flash drive. The device hadn’t been wiped clean either. He found nothing about the bombs or CorrinaGriggs.
The chief arrived at the same time a large, dark sedan did. Three men stepped out the car and talked to Chief Williams for a few minutes. Two separated, leaving one man to talk with the Chief. Asia, and every other full-blood listened as the Chief defended his actions of removing the bombs to a safer location, no he did not contact the Feds because he didn’t have anything to report while they were still examining the devices. In the end the Chief accepted the news the case was no longer his.
While the Chief had been in discussion outside, the two others walked inside and stood near the door. They zeroed in on the box she held beneath her arm.
“I’m Special Agent Day.” He flipped out a badge to her and then returned it to his pocket. “I’ll take that.” He pointed to the box.
Feeling ornery, Asia shook her head. “Not until the Chief tells me to release it to you.”
Agent Day frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, you didn’t hear me. Not until the Chief tells me to release it to you,” she said slower and louder.
His neck pinkened but his face remained passive as he widened his stance and held his hands in front. “You’re refusing?”
Asia tilted her head to the side. “Yes. Just as you have orders, so do I.”
“He will be here in a few moments. Have you looked inside?”
“Yes.”
He frowned. “The instructions were clear, no one look inside the box.”
Asia released a breath. “Talk to your…boss, they know what happened.”
The other agent continued staring at her but never spoke.
Chief Williams and the third man entered the room. He looked at her and nodded. “Asia, please release the box to Agent Day. They are officially taking over this case.”
“What?” Karney said. “Everything?”
“Yes, everything.” The Chief stared hard at him.
Asia stood and handed Day the box. He stared at her for a few moments, respect shone in his eyes. “Nice meeting you, Ms. Montgomery.” He turned and ordered the men to secure the building.
They ushered Asia and everyone off the premises.
Chapter 10
Kyle Madison always knew he’d been born for a special purpose. The past few years he joined a group of patriots who loved this country and refused to see it destroyed. In a way they became soul mates committed to the cause of alerting the world to the atrocities happening in America by the government.
Meeting Ruth had been a bonus. He smiled, thinking of their last time together, in this life, anyway. She promised to be waiting for him on the other side. Life had been good, not with his birth family, no, with his new, chosen family. Xavier brought them all together and unified their group with a single purpose, to expose the government’s crimes. Soon the world would see the American government for the murderous entity that it was. His heart leapt in excitement to do his part.
Kyle pressed his stomach gently, impressed with how good he felt considering the small device inside. Pity his parents couldn’t see him now. They never believed he would amount to much, and until he met his brethren a few years ago they were right. Now he had a calling in life. Not seeing Ruth again in this life was his only true regret.
He itched to call her, to hear her voice one last time. But they both agreed it was too risky, and he refused to do anything that could hurt her or put the mission in jeopardy. Glancing at the clock, he pushed away from the table, dinner had been great. He cleaned the kitchen and dressed. Jeans and a tee shirt, nothing conspicuous like Jim wore the other day. Turning from side to side, he looked at his image, and thought he’d never looked better. No one would suspect an average man, with light brown hair, wearing glasses and jeans. He smiled at his ability to trick them all. At least until he delivered his message, then they would know.
Kyle locked his front door and waved at Mrs. Beeman before leaving the house for the BigMart superstore. Waving, she winked at him and smiled. When he parked, he used his phone to activate his device. With ten minutes clicking, he strolled into the store with his handmade sign rolled tightly in his hand. The older woman at the front door greeted him with a smile, he wanted to tell her to go home but didn’t.
A Latino woman with long black hair read the sign, grabbed her child and ran toward the front of the store. Kyle wondered if she made it as the bomb on his belly detonated, destroying everything in the building and his sign that read: “The President and CIA murder innocents every day. I’ve had enough.”
Chapter 11
“When are we going home?” Danielle lay with her feet in Tyrese’s lap on the sofa in their bedroom in Alpha Jayden’s guest house. The past few days had been challenging, at times Tyrese wasn’t sure if they’d catch a break. One thing for sure, Silas was spot on when he created KnightForce. If Asia didn’t have the chameleon they might not have ever tracked Ruth and the bombs. The Alphas didn’t have the resources or altered full-breeds who could tackle abnormalities. Even Tyrone couldn’t shift to the same sizes he, Asia and Angus could.
He frowned. Had Angus checked in?
Danielle pushed her foot against his leg, gaining his attention. “I asked a question.”
“Home, don’t know if we’re going home or back to the mountains to finish there.” His thoughts returned to Angus as he massaged her foot. Silas told him Angus was unable to contact anyone but that was yesterday or the day before, he couldn’t remember.
Danielle jumped up. “No… baby, look,” she said in a horrified whisper as she reached for the remote control and turned up the volume on the TV.
Tyrese stared at the black smoke rising from a popular large chain store. Dread filled the pit of his stomach. The bomber struck again, in Virginia this time.
“What the hell… people are crazy,” Danielle said listening to a Latino mother holding her son close. The little boy cried and turned from the cameras as his mom, dirty with cuts, scratches and bruises talked to the news anchor.