Bantamweight

by Tricia Andersen

  “Yes, sir. That describes her.”

  Abraham looked up to see Eve fish a glass from the bag she set on the ground beside her. She took a photo of it with her phone and waited. She shook her head and put it into the bag and retrieved another. She repeated the steps with the second glass. This time she nodded and started typing.

  “Her name is Kai,” Abraham answered.

  “Kai who?” Agent Carlson pried. “Where is she from?”

  Abraham tapped the mute button and looked at his family. “He wants her last name.”

  “So make one up,” Josiah answered.

  “Or give her yours,” Micah added.

  “Whatever you do, you need to let me know,” Eve told him. “I have what I assumed is her fingerprint. It’s not yours. I was able to make her an identification photo from a picture I took of us while we were baking. I need her last name and marital status and Homeland Security will have their ID.”

  Abraham mulled over what they’d said. Carlson’s voice echoed through the phone. “Mister Hallow.”

  Abraham took the phone off mute. “Sorry. The nurse came in. I don’t know if my brother told you, but I’m in the hospital. Her full name is Kai Evelyn Hallow. She is my wife. She was born in Seattle, Washington, and moved here when her parents died in a car crash. Need anything more? Need to know how often we fuck?”

  “Sir, I don’t appreciate the vulgarity.”

  “I don’t appreciate my wife being held hostage. Run her fingerprint again and prove who she is.”

  “We will need someone to bring her information to us.”

  “I’m sorry. Did you miss the part where I said I’m in the hospital?”

  “Until we have physical identification stating who she is, we cannot release her. She will be held here in New Jersey for three more days and then she will be transported to another facility.”

  “Three days. Are you serious?”

  “Completely, sir.”

  Abraham shook his head. “Fine. Can I call you back at this number?”

  “Of course, Mister Hallow.”

  “Great. Talk to you later.” Abraham tapped the screen to end the call and handed the phone to Micah. “They have Kai. But we have three days to produce identification documents to prove who she is.”

  “Way ahead of you, little bro.” Eve’s fingertips were a blur as she tapped the keyboard. “For the record, the fingerprint was a match. They just ran it again.”

  Sarah frowned at her from her seat across the room. “How can you possibly know that?”

  Eve pivoted the laptop on her belly toward her sister-in-law. “I hacked Homeland Security.”

  Sarah rolled her eyes and laughed. “Of course you did.”

  Abraham huffed. “Great. Can we get back to the documents we need? The ones that don’t exist?”

  Eve grinned at him. “But they do exist, Abe. They are currently being produced in New York City, a quick drive from where they are holding Kai.”

  Micah looked at her. “So we’re buying ID’s on the black market.”

  “Yeah. And I used our checking account. Thanks, baby.”

  Micah turned to Abraham. “You owe me.”

  “Great,” Abraham answered. “Can you get Noah to clear me? I have to catch a flight.”

  “The allergy testing results haven’t come back yet,” Josiah informed him. “You’re here until they do. We can’t have another relapse on a plane like the one you had back home.”

  “Joe, he said three days. And she’ll start to dry out in three days. They’ll know what she is by then.”

  “I’ll get on a plane and go get them myself. Then I’ll deliver them and bring Kai home.”

  “Or sweetheart,” Sarah replied. “You could call Sam, Henry, or Delilah. They’re going to land at LaGuardia in a couple of hours. We could have Kai back by the end of the day.”

  “Try tomorrow morning,” Eve announced. “But definitely before she needs water.”

  “I’ll call each of their phones and leave a message,” Josiah volunteered. “Be right back.”

  Abraham watched as Josiah excused himself and slipped out into the hall. He slumped back against the pillows propping him up in his bed. Relief flooded him knowing that Kai was alive. But his heart still twisted. They may have found her, but it didn’t explain why she ran away from him.

  »»•««

  Kai sat on the cold cement floor as she stared at the concrete block wall in front of her. It was far better than looking at the steel bars beside her. They were just a stark reminder that she was caged like an animal. The pumpkin-orange jumpsuit the humans gave her to wear itched her skin. She sighed. She forgot. She was now human too so she should probably refrain from referring to those around her in that manner.

  She was naked when she’d come to her senses. She wasn’t sure if it was by her own ability or if it was the sailors who’d found her hanging off that wreck of a boat. She’d felt her stomach churn when they’d touched her to bring her on board their vessel and gave her a blanket to cover herself with. From there everything was a blur until she’d wound up in this cell. Since then all was quiet as death, other than the occasional interruption by some uniformed official or suit-clad man.

  In the silence Kai found her seer gift had been untouched by Neptune’s curse. She found her family safe in a known neutral spot in the South Seas. She also found that Azul and Bligh were killed moments after they’d draped her over that dingy. All three scouts had sacrificed their lives for her and their deaths would weigh on her soul for eternity.

  Her head snapped to attention when she heard a high-pitched voice shouting down the hall. “I don’t think you understood me, sir. I want to see my sister-in-law now. Do you know who Doctor Michael Chadwick is? Of course you don’t. But I do. He’s the head of the archeology department at the most recognized museum in Washington DC and an exceptionally good friend of mine. He’s also golfing buddies with the man in charge of this branch of government. So unless you’d like me to step outside and call Mike, just let me see Kai Hallow please.”

  Kai frowned at the sound. Kai Hallow? Humans, and of course, her family of werewolves used last names. Mermaids certainly didn’t. Was this voice there for her or someone else named Kai?

  Her heart ticked up a notch. If that woman was there for her, was Abraham with her? She ached for his touch. She was stupid for running off without him. She’d cried herself to sleep the night before missing him.

  A redhead shuffled down the hallway toward her cell with one of the suit-clad men behind her. Both of them snarled as they made their way to her cell.

  The redhead shooed the agent away with a flick of one hand as she set her other on her rounded belly. “You don’t have to hover over us. I’m pregnant. Does it look like I could stage a break-out? If I was planning that, I would have sent my husband instead. Could we have a moment of privacy please?”

  The agent glanced from the woman to Kai and growled before he stomped back to his post.

  The redhead eased her way down to the floor on the other side of the bars. “How are you?” she whispered.

  “Where is Abe?” Kai countered.

  The woman lowered her head. “He’s in the hospital, Kai. From what Josiah told us, he stopped breathing. He said he felt like something was filling his lungs but nothing was. He seems fine now but they are still running tests to see what might be wrong. He wanted to be here to take care of this himself.”

  Kai swallowed back a sob as her eyes stung with tears. She’d wanted him to know in his heart she was there, that she was coming back to him. She never thought the bond she’d formed in that kiss was so strong. He had experienced everything she had and it almost killed him. “That was me. I am so sorry.”

  “How was that you?”

  “I kissed him before I left. I wanted him to know in his soul that I would come home to him. I guess our bond is so strong he lived my life with me.” Kai shook her head. “I’m sorry. I know you’re a Hallow. I’ve seen you wit
h two of the brothers and the other mates told me that you were gone to get married.”

  “I’m Delilah. And they’re not both brothers. Henry is Sam’s and my husband. Sam is the only Hallow.” Delilah reached through the bars and took Kai’s hand in hers. “It’s a long story that I will tell you on the drive home, but right now, we need to get you out of here. And I need to call Joe right away. What you said about the bond will clear up the confusion about what is wrong with Abe. Your lungs filled up too? With what?”

  Kai gave her a weak smirk. “They filled up with water.”

  Delilah's voice dropped so only Kai could hear her. “But how could that be? You’re a mermaid. That would be like my lungs failing because they were filled with oxygen.”

  Kai tugged on the legs of her jumpsuit. “Not anymore. Neptune spelled me when I chose Abraham over him. I’m human now.”

  Delilah’s eyes grew wide. “You are? I’m sorry, Kai. You’ve lost your whole life.”

  Kai shook her head. “I have Abe. He’s my life now.”

  Delilah squeezed Kai’s hand tight. “And us. You’re a Hallow too.”

  Kai frowned. “I heard you call me Kai Hallow like I have a last name now. Why was that?”

  Delilah chuckled. “That? You need to hear that from Abe, not me. I love my little brother-in-law, but I’m not taking his bullet. He’ll explain it soon enough.”

  Kai nodded. “Okay.”

  Kai turned her attention from Delilah to the hallway when she heard footsteps. The agent who ushered Delilah to the cell now returned. “Time’s up. You’ll need to go.”

  Delilah tugged Kai toward the bars until Kai’s face was pressed against the metal. She left a soft kiss on Kai’s cheek. “I’ll bring a change of clothes for the ride home tomorrow. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Bye,” Kai replied.

  Delilah glared at the agent. “Maybe you could be a gentleman and help me to my feet?”

  Kai could hear the man grumble as he offered Delilah his hand and gently helped her to her feet. Delilah waved one last time before she followed the agent down the hall and disappeared.

  Kai closed her eyes and focused all her energy on the new connection she’d formed with Abraham. She hadn’t realized just how strong it was. She could feel the electricity flow through her heart and it warmed her like his embrace did.

  She concentrated on her words and pushed them through the firestorm to his soul. “I love you, Abraham. I always will.”

  »»•««

  Kai was startled awake from her spot on the floor by the sound of the cell door opening. There was a new suited man standing there over her who was as emotionless as the last.

  He dropped a paper bag beside her and snarled. “You’re free to go. Those clothes were brought for you. Come with me and I’ll take you somewhere to change.”

  Kai climbed to her feet and grabbed the handles of the bag. She followed the agent down the hall until he stopped in front of a small conference room. With a sweeping arm, he ushered her inside. She closed the door behind her nearly striking the man in the nose.

  She shed the jumpsuit and dug in the bag. For having rather conservative tastes, Delilah had tuned into what Kai usually wore. It took a moment or two for Kai to understand the undergarments. She had never worn anything like them before. Once they seemed like they were on correctly, she tugged on the shorts and T-shirt. She tossed the jumpsuit on top of a chair and opened the door.

  At the end of the hall, Delilah stood waiting for her. On either side of her were two men. One was muscular with tattoos and a Mohawk. The other looked like the exact opposite. He was tall with thick, perfectly combed brown hair and glasses. Both of them shuffled their feet like nervous schoolboys.

  Delilah reached her hand out to the agent. “We’ll need her documents, please. It’s not like we can leave her vital information behind with you. Besides, I’m sure it’s in your systems.”

  The agent snarled as he handed her a rolled-up stack of papers. “It wasn’t in there before.”

  “I guess you weren’t looking hard enough.” Delilah stretched her free hand out to Kai. “Come on, Kai. Let’s go home.”

  Kai stared at them and scampered to her, lacing her fingers between Delilah’s. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder. She looked up to find the bespectacled mate smiling at her. The other mate snaked an arm around Delilah’s waist. Kai studied him for a long moment. There was no doubt in her mind that he was the Hallow.

  The four of them hurried out of the building to the parking lot.

  “I’m going to have a serious talk with my sister-in-law when we get back for sending us to the fucking ghetto for those papers,” Samuel grumbled.

  Delilah glared. “You will do no such thing, Samuel Hakimi-Hallow. You will leave that poor girl and her children alone.”

  Delilah’s hand slipped from Kai’s when Samuel pulled her to him. “You are my everything. Henry is my everything. That baby you carry inside you is my breath and soul. I will not tolerate anyone putting those I love more than my own life in danger. That neighborhood was dangerous, and that storefront housed more than we picked up there.”

  Delilah rose onto her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Let’s just get in the rental car and go home.”

  Samuel took her hand with one of his. With the other he clasped one of Kai’s.

  “Doesn’t this look peculiar?” Kai asked as she skipped to keep up with his stride. “You holding both our hands? Wouldn’t that raise questions?”

  Samuel cracked a grin at her. “No more than explaining the truth, that a werewolf is escorting his brother’s mermaid girlfriend back home along with said werewolf’s husband and wife.”

  Kaia’s heart sank. “I’m not a mermaid anymore.”

  Samuel’s face fell also. “I know. Dee told us.”

  Kai felt her other hand taken captive. She turned to find Henry at her side, completing their chain. “It doesn’t matter what you are, Kai. You’re our family. Now, let’s get you back to your mate. It’s killing him to be apart from you.”

  As they approached the sole car in the parking lot, Samuel let go of her. Henry opened the back door of the rental and ushered her inside as Delilah slid in on the other side. Samuel climbed in behind the wheel while Henry took his place in the passenger seat.

  Delilah wrapped her arms around Kai and hugged her tight. Kai smiled. Delilah’s mothering instinct was kicking in. The wee one she was carrying was going to be a lucky babe with such wonderful parents.

  “Soon,” Delilah murmured as she rubbed Kai’s arm. “We’ll be home soon.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Abraham peppered the bag with a series of jabs and crosses. It was the only thing he could do to keep sane. Samuel had called as they drove out of New York City, telling the family they were on the way. That had been over a day ago with no word since. He knew the distance. He’d driven it himself not that long ago with his brothers when Sarah had been kidnapped by his grandfather’s pack.

  But no other calls? He didn’t know if they were fine or dead in a ditch. And it was that unknown that set him on edge.

  He fired a sharp body kick into the bag as the gym doors opened. Josiah and Micah toed off their shoes before they strode inside.

  “Are you two ever apart?” Abraham quipped as he swung another kick into the bag.

  “Get used to this, kiddo,” Josiah answered. “We’ll all be traveling in twos or more. The bloodshed in Duluth is getting worse. Rock and Cort aren’t far from forming their human army.”

  “I think we can officially say we’re at war,” Micah concluded.

  Abraham growled. Fantastic. And his mate was driving through the battlefield.

  “How do you feel?” Josiah questioned.

  “Like I’m ready for this fight with Loch. Like I need to wrap my arms around Kai so tight it hurts.” Abraham clasped his gloved hands to his hips. “I’ve tried honing in on this connection you told me she said we have.”


  “And?”

  “I feel…something. What, I can’t make out.”

  “Keep trying. It’s what laid you up in the hospital. You have a unique gift with your mate.”

  Micah chuckled. “Yeah. A huge invasion of privacy.”

  The other two laughed at him. It all went quiet when the sound of a motor tumbled into the gym.

  Micah frowned at Josiah. “Who the hell is that?”

  “I have no idea,” Josiah replied. “Littlefoot is here.”

  They sprinted from the gym and through the building. Abraham stopped short on the porch as his brothers flew down the steps.

  A car sat in the middle of the lawn, one he’d never had seen before. The doors of the vehicle opened almost at the same time. A brief glimpse of Samuel’s face set Abraham’s feet in motion.

  His family parted to let him pass. Kai barely stepped free of the car before Abraham had her in his arms. He buried his face in her hair as he held her tight to him. Her arms wrapped around his waist as she laid her face against his chest.

  “I’m sorry,” she whimpered into his shirt.

  “No need to be,” he consoled. “I know why you did it. If I’m upset about anything, it’s why you felt you needed to shoulder the responsibility to protect all of us by yourself. I’m your mate. It’s my duty and right to protect and worship you.”

  He felt her chest rise as she sucked in a breath. “He made me human.”

  “I know. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you get used to this. Just promise me one thing?”

  “Yes.”

  “Never leave me again. I can’t live without you.”

  He didn’t think she could snuggle closer to him. “Never. I promise.”

  »»•««

  Kai loved these moments the most. Granted, she lived to have sex with Abraham. Whatever power commanded them to mate made it impossible to resist and it had taken full force the past couple days since she’d returned to the Hallows’ camp. The first full day they didn’t get out of bed other than to find nourishment.

  But these quiet moments, sitting against the headboard of their bed cuddled up to him, drinking in his closeness, were the ones she cherished the most.