by KD Jones
“Is that one hundred percent accurate?” Trig asked with heat in his voice.
Torch glared back at him. “For us, human…it is.”
Trig really was starting to hate this guy. “Well, if you all are done sniffing each other, how about we concentrate on finding your daughter.”
Torch looked at Zara in surprise. “Your daughter?”
Zara nodded. “Mine and Tiger’s. She was taken from me when she was two and shortly after, the IDJ raided the building and one of the guards had snuck her out. We just found a possible location for her.”
“Tiger’s daughter? I will go with you.”
“Oh no. We have enough people going. We don’t need you too.” Trig shook his head.
“This is my brother’s child, my niece. She is the only living link I have to my brother. There isn’t anyone on this world or any other that can keep me from her.”
Zara looked between the two males. They looked ready to tear each other apart. “Trig, let’s not waste time arguing. We need to find Angel.”
Trig nodded at her and stood to go out of the room. He requested a shuttle to take them to the nearest ship. The ship would then take them to the northeastern part of the region. When he returned he paused outside the room to listen to Zara and Torch talk.
“Her name is Angel. This is the first real picture I have had of her.” She handed him the color picture of her daughter they had gotten from the orphanage.
“She is beautiful. She looks just like you.”
“Really? I always thought she looked like Tiger. She has his warm brown eyes.”
Torch smiled. “You are right. Those are definitely Tiger’s eyes.”
“A shuttle will be here in twenty minutes to take us to the nearest ship docking pad,” Trig told them leaning against the doorframe.
Torch stood. “Let me make a few phone calls before we leave.”
Zara watched him walk away. He reminded her so much of Tiger. The proud way he carried himself, his kind eyes and sexy smile. If she wasn’t falling hard for Trig, she could see herself falling easily for Torch. She shook her head. She couldn’t think about falling for anyone right now. She had to find her daughter first.
*****
“This can’t be right,” Torch said as he helped Zara out of the shuttle. He smirked at the human male who glared daggers at him the whole way. It had been a very long, one hour flight.
Zara had sat between them. Torch knew the two were involved, he could smell them on one another. But the two were trying to act as if they weren’t a couple. Torch wasn’t sure if that was a human thing. Personally, he felt Zara could do better. She deserved a male that understood what hell she had to endure. She needed someone who could protect her, not a weak human. She should be with someone more like…him.
“This is the address listed for the foster parents,” Trig answered. They all looked at the dilapidated building that sat in ruins.
Zara felt like someone threw a bucket of cold water on her. All her hopes nearly crashed to the ground. She feared she was never going to find her daughter.
“Wait, do you smell that?” Torch asked Zara. He began to walk closer to the run down building.
“Smell what? The urine in the streets or the backed up sewage?” Trig snorted.
Zara followed Torch as he approached the building. Then the scent hit her. It was light, very light. But it was Angel. A combination of Zara and Tiger mixed together that created the unique scent.
“I smell her.”
Torch nodded his head. Excitement gleamed in his eyes.
“Smell what?” Trig asked with frustration. He hated that he had limited senses.
“Angel. I scent Angel. But it's very faint here,” Zara said.
“It’s getting stronger.” Torch turned to the right instead of going straight into the building. He tracked the scent around the building to the back. It took him straight to a smaller building in the back that had no windows but about dozen cameras on the outside of it. Torch stopped and made everyone else halt before they were in range of the cameras.
“Can your people tap into those camera feeds?” Torch asked Trig.
Trig nodded. “Give us a few minutes.” He then turned back to the two officers. “Get our hacker expert on the phone. We need to get those cameras shut off and possibly have the power shut off for the entire building.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ten minutes later they were given the go-ahead. The entire building’s power was shut off, including what fed into the cameras. About ten more IDJ officers arrived as well to help sweep the area. They would use thermo scanning this time to make sure nothing was missed.
“We have heat signatures. Two on the bottom level, two on the second level and the top level has a grouping of five heat signatures.”
Torched turned to Zara. “This may be too dangerous. You should wait here and I will go in and bring Angel out to you.”
Zara growled. Her Beastial side made her much stronger. She gripped Torch by the throat and lifted him straight up in the air, which was quite something to see since he was almost a foot taller than her. “I am not weak! I will go in for my daughter.” She released him and pushed around him.
Trig snorted. “Guess she told you, huh, Firewood.”
“It’s Torch!”
“Whatever, Matchstick.” Trig knew he shouldn’t take so much pleasure out of seeing the halfsie put in his place, but he did. He was also turned on by Zara’s demonstration. She was definitely his kind of woman.
The IDJ officers entered first taking down the two completely confused human guards. They made their way up the stairs unable to use the elevator since the power was out.
On the second level, the IDJ officers ran into some gunfire. Zara, Torch, and Trig continued up the stairs allowing the IDJ agents to handle the situation. They reached the top level and found the door locked.
Torch tried to ram the door but it wouldn’t budge. “Move out of the way, Torture. This door is made out of at least five layers of solid steel.” Trig then bent down to his knees and inserted something that resembled a paperclip into the door lock. He twirled it around a few times until a clicking sound followed the last twirl. He then turned the handle and pushed the door open.
Torch didn’t look at him as he walked past a smug Trig. Zara gave Trig a rare smile that had his manhood paying attention big time.
“I hear voices down that way.” Zara pointed to the right of the hallway. As they got closer, they saw that gates blocked the hallway. There were about five children standing on the other side with fear in their eyes.
Trig approached with his hands raised in the air. “Easy, guys. We are here to help you all. I’m Special Agent Trig Roberts with the IDJ and these are my friends Zara and Torch.”
“You’re human,” one little girl said with doubt in her eyes.
“Yes, he is. But he is a good human who wants to help you,” Zara said, walking up and placing her hand on Trig’s shoulder.
“Oh my gosh! It’s Zara the Amazon!” the kids began to squeal with excitement.
Chapter Sixteen
Zara was glad in this instance she was easily recognizable to the kids. They seemed to open up to her right away. She kept them calm as Trig unlocked the gate.
“You do look like her,” one little boy said.
“Who?” Zara asked.
“Angel. She said she thought you were her mother. I thought she was just joking or something.”
“I am her mother. Where is she?” Zara looked around.
“At the circuit fight with the other kids.”
“What circuit fight?” Zara asked.
“The one the humans have us kids do. We’re not supposed to talk about it to anyone except for our handlers. Will I get in trouble for telling?” a little girl who had to be no older than five asked.
“No, sweetheart. You will not get in trouble.” Trig patted the little girl on the head. “Do you know where the circuit fight is held at?”
Trig looked at the boy and smiled. “What’s your name son?”
“Arrow.”
“Arrow. I need someone to step up and be responsible for all these kids. To make sure they all stay together until I come back. Do you know anyone who can help me out here?”
The boy nodded. “I can do it. I’m the oldest anyway.”
“Great. Thanks, Arrow. You will be going with these IDJ officers to a safe place. You have nothing to fear. I am going to help each of you find good homes, okay?”
The boy looked at Zara and Torch for confirmation. Both of them nodded their heads. “Yeah. I’ll do it. I hope Angel is okay. She made her handler mad by not hurting her last opponent.”
Zara put her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’m her mother and I promise you, if anyone hurts her, they will answer to me.”
*****
“Why are we waiting again?” Zara asked with frustration.
“This is a big bust. We are going to need to have clearance from this region’s chief IDJ agent.”
Zara paced away from him. Torch watched her a little too much for Trig’s liking.
The chief of the IDJ showed up with about thirty more officers. This was going to be one hell of a bust. Trig walked over to introduce himself.
“Chief Baker?” Trig stretched out his hand. The older man shook it.
“Special Agent Roberts.”
“If you could have some of your men circle the perimeter, I would appreciate it.”
“Of course.” Chief Baker looked over at Zara and Torch. “Why are there civilians present?”
“We believe one of the children being forced to fight in this illegal circuit is the daughter of Zara.”
The man’s eyes shown with surprise. He recognized the woman. “She will have to remain here until we have the place secure.”
“What if I take responsibility.”
“You know that is not IDJ protocol, Special Agent.”
“I know, sir. But…it was the IDJ that screwed up and contributed to her being separated from her daughter for eight years.”
The chief looked over at Zara again. “You will keep her and the other man by your side at all times?”
“Yes, sir.”
The chief nodded his head. Trig turned back and headed toward Zara. He pulled her to the side.
“We’re about ready to go in. You two will need to stay by my side.”
“What are you talking about?” Zara looked at him with confusion.
“I have two choices, Zara. If you want to come inside while we secure the place, then you have to stay by my side, both of you.”
“What?!” Both Zara and Torch yelled out.
“Stay by my side or the chief will have you both pulled out of the facility.”
They would have argued more but the chief was making his move with the IDJ agents in play.
“Here we go.”
*****
They entered slowly and surrounded the crowd. There was a small amphitheater style seating that circled around a cage. Though the chief was there, the officers were looking at Trig for the signal. He waited until there were enough men surrounding the arena.
Zara focused on the cage. Inside was a girl with brunette hair and a tall Plutian halfsie boy. The girl was the one that had Zara’s full attention. Even from this distance, she knew it was Angel.
“It’s her?” Torch asked.
Zara nodded. “Yes.”
Trig raised his hand. When he lowered it, a loud whistle vibrated throughout the building. All the IDJ officers shot out toward the crowd and started taking people into custody. Trig made his way down to the cage. Zara and Torch were right on his heels.
“Get those guards secure over there!” Trig yelled out to the IDJ officers.
Zara looked at the cage. Inside was her daughter who was struggling with a portly man who was trying to pull her with him.
*****
“Let me go!” Angel yelled at the man.
“Come on, little bitch! We have to get out of here. I am not going to get arrested and I certainly am not going to lose all the money I put into you!”
Angel kicked him in his crotch making the man let go of her. He shoved her forward so she fell down on her butt on the mat. He grabbed hold of his throbbing balls. “You bitch!” The man went to punch Angel but his hand was stopped mid-motion. Someone held his hand from behind.
Angel sat on her butt trying to scramble out of range. She watched with curiosity as the person who had interfered with her handler slowly came into view. The person holding the handler pulled the handler’s hand back and then another hand flew up connecting with her handler’s chin.
Angel followed the hand up the arm, then to a shoulder, which led to a face. She stared in awe and shock at the face of her rescuer. She knew who it was, but why would she be here? She just couldn’t believe it. Zara the Amazon stood before her.
Zara walked over to the young girl. Angel was so beautiful. More so than the picture showed. She reached out a hand to help her stand.
“Are you okay?” Zara asked.
Angel nodded her head. It was her. Zara the Amazon. She wasn’t dreaming. The female was really here. She couldn’t believe she was meeting her in person. She stepped closer and breathed in the tall female’s scent. It was a cinnamon scent, warm and…familiar. Then she understood why the scent was familiar.
“You’re my mother?” she asked, surprised and angry all at once. She had suspected for a while. Every time she watched Zara fight on T.V., she felt something for her.
Zara squatted down so she was eye level with her daughter. All she wanted to do was take the girl in her arms and hold her. But the girl seemed hesitant with her touch.
“Yes, I am your mother.”
“Why did you give me to the orphanage? Why didn’t you want me?”
“Baby, I wanted you so much. You were taken from me while I was in a breeding facility. I have been trying to find you for eight years. Not one day has gone by where I have not tried to find you.”
Torch stepped up behind Zara. The little girl looked up at him with suspicion. He had a familiar scent too. “Is that my father?”
“No, my name is Torch and I am your uncle.”
“Then where is my father?”
“He died almost two years ago. He didn’t know about you. I didn’t know about you until recently.”
“Zara, we need to get all of you outside of this building. I have officers bringing the rest of the children.” Trig walked up to them looking around the small arena for signs of danger.
“Okay. Come on, Angel.” Zara stood and tried to reach for the girl’s hand but she pulled away from Zara.
“I can walk by myself.”
“Of course.” Zara tried to reassure her.
The little girl turned her back on Zara and Torch and walked toward the exit where the other children were being shuffled off. Zara turned back to look at Torch worriedly.
“She hates me.”
Torch hugged her awkwardly patting her on the back. “No. She just doesn’t know us yet. We have to be patient with her.” Zara nodded her head and allowed Torch to escort her out of the building.
Trig felt like someone kicked him in the gut. Seeing Zara turn to another man hurt him deeply. It was at that very moment he realized how much she meant to him. He loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. However, he didn't know where he stood with her. He followed in the direction they went.
*****
Angel looked around at the human officers. There were so many. They were scaring the little kids. “Get your hands off her!” she yelled at the human who was grabbing hold of little Taylor.
“What’s going on?” Trig asked, hearing the girl scream.
“He was scaring Taylor.”
Trig looked at the officer who was blushing from embarrassment. “Sorry, sir. I was trying to get all the
kids to load onto the shuttle. We have to take them down to headquarters for interrogation.”
Trig glared at the man. “Interrogation is for criminals. These are children! We will question them here while preparations are made to accommodate them.”
“Yes, sir.” The officer ran off to follow Trig’s orders.
Trig knelt down to address the little girl named Taylor. “Miss Taylor, I am deeply sorry my officer didn't mind his manners. Can you forgive us please?” Trig used a funny accent, which made the little girl giggle. He turned to Angel and gave her a wink, which caused her to smile.
Damn, the man can charm even little girls. She loved that about him. Zara stared in awe at the first smile she had seen Angel have. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Trig sat down on the ground and had the two girls sit across from him. “I will ask you two some questions. Then, I will take Taylor with the other kids to help them find new homes.”
“What about me?” Angel asked, not looking up at the woman who was her mother.
“You will get to go with Zara, your mother.”
“Do I get a say in that?”
Trig glanced over at Zara and saw her flinch. “For now, let’s stick to this plan okay. I need you two girls to be big girls and help us put the bad guys away. Do you guys think you can help me out?”
“We won’t have to go back to the handlers?” Angel asked.
“Never again. I promise you,” Trig told the girls and watched as Angel straightened her back and threw her chin in the air. God, she was more like her mother than she realized, Trig smiled.
“Okay. What do you want to know?” Angel asked.
Chapter Seventeen
Two hours later, the IDJ officers were done questioning all the children. All the children except for Angel would be put in temporary foster homes. Trig, Zara, Angel, and Torch checked into a local hotel for the night. They made arrangements for a ship to take them the next morning to the next region where the GCFA ship was docking.
It had been a tough night on everyone. Angel didn’t really allow herself to sleep. Zara didn’t sleep because she was watching over Angel. Torch didn’t sleep because he was pacing outside the hall of the suite that Zara and Angel were in. And Trig didn’t sleep because he was keeping an eye on Torch.