Scintilla

by Elizabeth Noble

  Brandon bit his lip and nodded.

  “Wait here for a few minutes.” Janey stepped out of the room, returning very quickly. “They’ve been returned to their cells. Let’s get that paperwork signed, get your belongings so you can leave.”

  Relief flooded Brandon when he was finally next to Janey’s desk. She pulled a large, clear plastic bag filled with the clothes and belongings Brandon had when he was grabbed. The simple return of the mundane outfit he wore to work and his cell phone was a piece of his normal life reinstated. It was a start.

  He signed the typed statement identifying Bill and Tom as two of his captors. The police had already learned Bill was actually Norman Gomez and Tom was Darnell Cox.

  “Where is all the computer equipment that was in the warehouse?” Brandon asked.

  “And could we spend some time with that equipment?” Raul added.

  “As much as I’d like your help on this, that’s not going to be possible. All the equipment has been transferred to the US Marshals, their forensic labs will be mining any digital information,” Janey said.

  Raul heaved a sigh. “Crap.”

  “I think I can find the information again. I’ll need a server,” Brandon said.

  “Oh, there’s one at the hacienda.”

  “You have a server there?” Brandon asked. “Isn’t that a bit much for crop records?”

  Raul winked. “I told you, plenty of security, plenty of tech.” He turned to Janey. “Anything else?”

  “Not right now. Brandon, I hope you feel better.” Janey put Brandon’s statement in a file and stood up. “The enchiladas Raul’s grandmother makes are the best in the world.” She leaned closer to Brandon and when she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper. “Everyone involved knows you’re a scintilla, of course. There was no hiding that, and no reason to. Raul told me the extent of your abilities and I haven’t told anyone else. Not even my superiors. Everything you and Raul say to me is confidential—always.”

  “Understood,” Brandon said.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Janey said.

  “No need, you’re busy. I know the way. Thanks.” Raul put one hand on Brandon’s back, steering him toward the door.

  Chapter 6

  Brandon had never been to a hacienda and he wasn’t sure what to expect. He was sure the reality wasn’t going to be anything like he’d imagined. Surrounded by chain link fencing that seemed to go on for miles was a small group of buildings clustered around a large, Spanish style house. There were two other houses maybe a third of the size of the main house, two barns—one had a pasture beside it with a few horses milling around. There were three different types of fencing, a water storage facility and what looked like a garage. Beyond all that, Brandon saw fields with crops, but he didn’t know what sorts.

  Raul pulled his truck up to a wide gate topped with barbed wire and what Brandon took to be electrified lines. “Any part of the fence with access to public roads is electrified but doing that around all our land is impractical. The barbed-wire is all along the fence,” Raul explained. He pointed up to a camera high up on a pole. “There are similar security cameras spread out along the fence.”

  There was a keypad set lower on the pole, so it could be reached from a car window. After checking the side and rear-view mirror, Raul rolled down his window, reached out and entered a code on the keypad. There was a hum that accompanied the gate sliding to the side. When Raul drove through he didn’t do anything to close the gate, it did so on its own. Brandon presumed there was a sensor of some sort to automatically close the gate after all vehicles were inside.

  “See that lever near the ground on the fencing over there?” Raul pointed to a lever with a green rubber handle.

  “Uh huh.” Brandon nodded.

  “That’s the manual override for the sensor that closes the gate.” Raul guided the pickup down the long drive and parked in front of the garage. He pointed back to the largest house. “That is the main house. My grandmother, Aunt Elena and my oldest sister, Leya live there. My other sisters live nearby with their families.”

  “No brothers?”

  Raul shook his head. “No, just sisters. That’s a joy I say a blessing for every day.”

  Brandon snorted. “Sarcasm much?”

  “Noooo… not at all.” He gave Brandon a sly grin.

  “Siblings can be like that,” Brandon said.

  “Yeah, well, I love them with all my heart but other than my grandmother and Tad, they annoy the ever-living crap out of me. I’m more of a love your family from a distance guy. Don’t tell them that, they’ll make my life a living hell, insisting on more interaction and probably hurt me.” Raul twisted in the seat and motioned to the other houses. “You can stay in one of the spare rooms in the main house. That one, farthest from the main house, is the caretaker’s house. Tad and I bunk there. The other one is a guest house. One barn is for livestock, the other has tractors, general farm equipment and there’s a bunkhouse attached to the back where the ranch hands live.”

  Brandon climbed down from the truck and turned in a circle, looking all around. “What do you grow here?” He pulled the duffel from the truck bed.

  “Avocados and cucumbers mostly.” Raul left the truck and locked it. He waved at the water storage. “One of those is filled with salad dressing.” Brandon burst out laughing and Raul raised his eyebrows. “I wasn’t kidding.”

  Giving Raul’s shoulder a gentle shove, Brandon said, “Yes, you are.”

  Raul chuckled, shook his head and put one arm around Brandon’s shoulders as they walked toward the main house. Raul’s arm slid away and he ran his fingertips down Brandon’s spine when they stopped at the door. Raul pushed it open and motioned Brandon in ahead of him.

  “Abuela, we’re here,” Raul called.

  They’d walked into a small room and Brandon saw the kitchen through an archway. A bouquet of aromas hit him, making his mouth water and his stomach rumble.

  “Wow, that smells awesome.”

  Raul patted Brandon’s stomach and grinned. “That’s the general consensus when anyone walks in there.” Using two fingers he tugged on Brandon’s shirt sleeve and ushered him to a large cast iron stove with eight burners, four sported pots and pans with something simmering or frying over them. Raul took a potholder and lifted the lid of one pot. With his free hand he picked up a big spoon and scooped something out.

  “Try this.”

  “Oh, oh, wow, that’s…” Brandon wrapped his fingers around Raul’s, holding him still for a few seconds so he could get another taste. “I didn’t realize how damn hungry I am.”

  Raul lowered his hand, setting the spoon down and reversing their grip then pulled Brandon a little closer, whispering in his ear, “Me too.”

  Breath catching in his chest, Brandon glanced up into Raul’s eyes then away, smiling softly when Raul licked a bit of sauce off Brandon’s lip.

  “Ah, you’re here so soon! Stay out of my sauce!” A small, round woman hustled into the kitchen, moving fast in the way only a werewolf could. In the next second, she took another spoon and swatted Raul’s backside. “And you finally have brought the young man you talk about so much.”

  Raul flushed red and sputtered, “Abuela!”

  Holding out one hand to Brandon, Raul’s grandmother said, “My grandson has forgotten the manners I raised him to have. I am Natalia Antonia Pilar Varela Fierro, and the head of this family.” She patted Brandon’s cheek. “You call me Natty.”

  “Um, Yaya—Grandma—this is Brandon Lynch,” Raul groused.

  Brandon laughed and gave Raul a playful jab in his side. “You told your grandmother about me?”

  “Told me about you? Ha, that’s understating it. He’s done nothing but talk about you since last autumn.”

  “Yaya!” This time Raul’s voice cracked.

  Natty stood on her toes and kissed Raul’s cheek. “It’s my privilege as matriarch of this family and your grandmother to tell your secrets when it benefits you.
”

  Raul growled, but Brandon could tell it was a good-natured growl and probably something they did in jest all the time. As if to emphasize Brandon’s thoughts, Natty growled in return then they both laughed.

  “I should’ve known better than to tell you,” Raul muttered.

  “Ah, but you did.” Natty leaned closer to Brandon and pretended to whisper in his ear. “And he’d do it again.”

  “Ma’am thank you for letting me stay here,” Brandon said softly.

  “Call me ma’am again and you’ll see my wolf and it won’t be pretty!” Natty pointed at Brandon. “Oh, young man don’t you grin at me that way, I’m completely serious.” Her demeanor changed to a more somber one. “You’ll be safe here and anyone important to my nieto is always welcome.” She turned to Raul. “Our meal won’t be ready for another half hour. I changed the sheets and put fresh towels in the guest room at the end of the hall, across from Elena’s room.”

  “Thanks.” Raul gave his grandmother a peck on her cheek and turned to Brandon, taking his hand. “I’ll show you.” He almost ducked out of range when Natty’s spoon came at him again. “Now what?”

  “None of your hanky panky either.”

  “Yes, yaya,” Raul mumbled.

  Brandon snickered. “She foiled my plan.”

  “Don’t worry, I have a back-up plan,” Raul teased and jumped out of reach, hauling Brandon with him.

  As Brandon followed Raul through the house and up a flight of stairs he heard Natty call out, “I mean it, Raul!”

  “I like your grandmother.”

  “I think she might like you more than me,” Raul said and laughed when they reached the top of the steps. There were three doors lining the hallway. “It’s this one on the right.” He opened the door and stepped aside for Brandon to walk through. “My aunt Elena is across the hall and Leya’s room is this first one here.” As he talked Raul pointed to doors.

  “Wow.” Brandon crossed the room to the windows opposite the door and gazed out. The house was three sided, though only the section they stood in now had two stories. In the center was an elegant courtyard with plants and a large stone fountain bubbling clear water over multi-colored rocks adding a calm to the whole area. He started when Raul rested a hand on his shoulder.

  “That wing is where the offices—and most of the tech is.” Raul pointed over Brandon’s other shoulder.

  Brandon leaned back far enough to feel Raul’s solid body and the heat he radiated. He felt enveloped in a bubble of warm emotion and protection. Since his first trip to the El Corazon club he’d learned it was a natural thing that happened when near a werewolf with an emotional attachment to someone. “What’s… um… what’s over there?” Brandon turned far enough to nod at the other branch of the house.

  “The cells we lock ourselves in during a full moon are there. We can’t help what we do when we change,” Raul deadpanned.

  “Really? You actually do that? Change during the full moon and lose control?” Brandon turned to face Raul completely and found himself between Raul’s muscled arms. Every breath Brandon took his chest brushed Raul’s, turning his body to mush.

  “Nooo. We all have control over when we change, at least as adults. Puberty is sort of rough. Astronomical objects have nothing to do with it. That’s all books and movies. Makes for good drama though.” Raul inhaled deeply, an action which sent shivers through Brandon. “What we do have there is a huge media room, formal dining room and enough space for huge family gatherings even when the out-of-town relatives come for a visit.”

  “You’re kind of a brat, you know that?”

  Raul nodded. “Yes, I do.”

  “And your family is cool that you’re gay?”

  Raul chuckled, sending soft vibrations though Brandon. “You did all sorts of research and didn’t come across the fact we’re all gay. Okay, I think the term used is pansexual. I don’t really worry about labels. All werewolves, from anywhere on Earth aren’t attracted to one or the other gender. If we’re drawn to a person what sex they are doesn’t matter much to us. At various life stages —main childbearing years mostly—we’ll be attracted to the opposite sex for obvious reasons. Families are matriarchal, so children generally stay with their mother’s family if the couple chooses not to share a home, which happens about half the time.”

  “Do you… did you…?”

  “Hook up with a werewolf woman and have kids? Yes. I have two little girls, well, they’re not so little anymore. Talia is fourteen and Nicole is twelve. Their mother is with the U.S. diplomatic service, so they travel with her. I think it’s important for kids to be exposed to other cultures. Their mother and I were together for about five years, we’re friends and I have a good relationship with my girls thanks to things like video calls. They visit here a few times a year. And to answer your next few questions, other than that I’ve preferred, and have been more attracted to male partners. And no, she is not going to want to resume our relationship.”

  “I guess I didn’t realize how complicated werewolf families are. I was too busy reading about—” Brandon cleared his throat, “—other things.”

  Raul slipped one arm around Brandon’s waist. “My Yaya is only interested in her family being happy. She believes in romance and was with my grandfather for something like sixty years before he died. They were one of the few couples I’ve known about to stay together after the children came. She wants that for me and Tad and all our aunts and sisters—to love someone and be loved in return. She doesn’t care if I’m with a human, werewolf, jinn or little green men from Mars as long as it makes me happy.”

  “I wish I’d been born into a family like yours,” Brandon confessed.

  Raul shrugged. “I have to confess, I’m glad you weren’t. Otherwise we’d probably have never met.” As he talked, he pulled Brandon close and spoke into his ear.

  Brandon swore that the heat from Raul increased, Brandon was certainly getting warmer. His breath caught and hitched in his chest. He put one hand flat on Raul’s chest and closed his eyes for a few seconds to collect his thoughts and quiet his body.

  “Your grandma is going to be mad at us. I don’t want her mad at us.”

  Raul grinned. “Me either. She scares me.”

  “No, she doesn’t.” Brandon called Raul’s bluff.

  “Okay, got me there, but you’re right, she won’t be pleased if I break the rules.” Raul’s arm slipped away and he took a step back. “But there are plenty of other places on this ranch. I’ll show you a few. In the meantime, bathroom is through there and I’m sure it’s stocked with everything you’d want. If you need anything else, let me know. Why don’t you get settled, we’ll eat and then go over our computer equipment and see if you need anything else.” He turned and began walking toward the door, then turned back. “We’re going to get the ass wipes who kidnapped you and put a stop to whatever they’re doing. I promise.”

  “I know we will.”

  After Raul left him Brandon put away the few possessions he had with him and made a list of other things he’d need to buy. He took his second shower of the day, this one was hot and long. He scrubbed his skin until it stung and he was slightly pink everywhere. He’d spent too many days in filth, he might never be able to shower enough to feel clean again. Bill, Bob and Tom had kept him locked away for nearly two weeks and now it was a relief to be in a bright, sunny room. This house wasn’t just a building where people lived, it was a home. Brandon felt it as soon as he walked inside. Something he’d never really experienced in his own family home. Maybe his parents and siblings did, but not Brandon. The El Corazon Hacienda was a warm, loving home.

  Again, a feeling of safety washed over Brandon. Safety and belonging.

  ◆◆◆

  Raul returned to the kitchen, heading to the wood and glass cabinet that stored several dozen brightly colored dishes and bowls of assorted sizes and functions.

  “It’ll just be the three of us. Elena and Leya are at a medical convention un
til Sunday night,” Natty said. Raul’s aunt and sister were psychiatrists.

  Raul nodded and began setting the square, wooden table in the kitchen where his family often ate. When all of them were home for a meal the media room or the smaller dining room adjacent to the kitchen was used, where there was much more room.

  He took a deep breath and forged ahead. “Yaya, I have something to talk to you about.”

  His grandmother set a pitcher of wine on the counter and began slicing limes, oranges and lemons into it.

  “Go on.” She sprinkled spices into the wine and stirred, all the while watching Raul.

  “I’d like to… I think I should cut back on my duties at our club. For now, nothing…” his grandmother certainly knew what went on there, but it was still difficult for him to talk to her about certain details. “No knotting or—”

  Natty put the wooden spoon she stirred the wine with in the sink and the pitcher in the large refrigerator. “You really care for this boy Brandon.”

  She hadn’t even attempted to phrase her statement as a question, but Raul nodded anyway. “Yes, I do. And he’s not a boy.”

  His grandmother smiled, it was warm and wide and genuine. “Nieto, you know the men in this family have been the main workers at El Corazon for generations. They have also walked a fine line when they take partners between that work and expectations in their private lives. There is no reason to be ashamed or worried if you decide your duties will be less intimate. A werewolf Dom can please customers many ways without maldito!”

  Raul sputtered, “Abuela.” Hearing his grandmother say ‘fucking’ in any language always caught him off guard.

  “Ach, you children are all the same.” She waved one hand in the air and turned to put a tray into the oven. “How do you think you got here, or your parents? Many people want other types of gratification and you’re skilled at providing what they need. You save the good stuff to please your young man. Adjust what you’re scheduled for in whatever way makes you comfortable. I’m sure Tad and your other cousins will be happy to pick up the slack.” She winked, and Raul laughed.