Second Chances (The Extinct Race Series)

by Michelle Farrell

  Kaiden went the couch and dialed Mr. Steinman’s number at his office.

  “This is Mr. Steinman how can I help you?”

  “Mr. Steinman good to hear your voice, this is Kaiden.”

  “Oh it’s good to hear your voice as well, how are you and the girls?”

  “We are all very well thank you, when I have the time I will fill you in on all the good details that have come to the surface. For now though I need your help. From now on I will pay you for all your troubles and everything.”

  “Well Kaiden I suppose I can’t refuse your payment anymore now can I?”

  “No sir, I would think it unfair especially for the work I am about to give you.”

  “Alright then I will have my office send you a bill for all the hours you are about to have me work.” Mr. Steinman said with a chuckle

  “Mr. Steinman do you remember our eyes and the uniqueness about them?”

  “Yes I do you all have flecks in them. You and Zoe have the white flecks and Justine had almost black flecks.”

  “Very good, now the job I have for you is to find a small girl. I need you to pull your resources and look worldwide. I don’t know the age of this girl, but she will be no younger than five and no older than ten years old. Pictures would help you a lot in this case. As her eyes will tell you she is the one we are looking for. She will have flecks exactly like Justine. I need to know if she was adopted or in foster care or if she was abandoned and any missing child posters. There will be a huge reward in this for you Mr. Steinman. This girl belongs with us and could be in grave danger.”

  “Alright I can do that. Can I ask what it is about the eyes?” Mr. Steinman was curious

  “Our eyes, well it is a hereditary gene passed down from our families. Also while you are looking at all those pictures, any pictures you find of children with eyes like ours, any color flecks, please copy the picture and text it to me or email it. This little girl is not the only one we are looking for.” Kaiden said

  “I will get right on this and I will start with the US and then work out from there.”

  “Thank you Mr. Steinman and when this is all said and done with and we find everyone we are looking for, how would you feel about a vacation to Ireland with your children? All expenses paid of course.” Kaiden asked

  “I think we would all love that. Maybe then you could fill me in on some questions I have.” Mr. Steinman was very curious and wanted some answers.

  “I would only fly you out here if I was ready to give you those answers sir. Now please, if anyone with eyes like ours, but with red flecks shows up, you don’t know us and you never helped us. If you hint that you know us, your life could be in danger. If that happens you need to call me as soon as you can.” Kaiden warned

  “Right, I figured for every good there is a bad. I know you are doing something good, I feel that inside of my gut. I don’t want to do anything to put my life or my kids in jeopardy, so if I call you from any number but this one or my cell, then you know I am in trouble and I would appreciate it if you get me help or take my kids somewhere safe.”

  “I will do everything in my power to help you and your children. You do not understand the debt that I owe you for locating my Zoe.”

  “Good now let me get to work and I will email you any pictures. I will call if I find any solid leads.”

  “Talk to you soon then, I look forward to hearing from you.”

  “Talk to you then Kaiden be safe and give my love to the girls.”

  Kaiden hung up the phone and plugged it into the charger on his side of the bed. He got undressed and climbed into bed beside Zoe. She was more in the middle of the bed than the edge where he had left her. So he slid close to her and pulled her into his side. Kaiden loved being wrapped around Zoe. Zoe sighed once they got into the right position and threw her leg over his side.

  Marcus was sitting on the floor in his closet going through his old journals. All his books and stuff were on the shelves in the bedroom as he remembered them. The boxes with the journals were on the top shelf of the closet where he and Elizabeth kept them. He liked sitting in the closet and reading them rather than the bed, because in here he could smell her perfume on her clothing. It made him feel like Elizabeth was here with him. He finished thumbing through his journal s and moved to the box he knew Elizabeth kept hers in. The one on top was new to him and he knew that this one must be the one she wrote in during her pregnancy. He thumbed through the parts that were the same as in his journals and went straight to the back. What he read had him in tears.

  He knew that she had probably suffered once he had been taken, and he remembered feeling a flicker of her mind right before he was taken into the truck. What he didn’t realize though, was that she was so close that she saw everything. That once he was inside she lost all feeling of him. He read the capture from her point of view and the fear she felt afterwards. According to this journal, six days after his capture she gave birth to Zoe. That everything went well with the birth. She had left the hospital that night and brought Zoe home. For four days she suffered the pain of denying her Dragon. For four days she fought not to turn and not to take flight. He guessed her Dragon won in the end as Elizabeth had described who and where she was leaving Zoe. From Zoe’s words she never came back.

  Marcus cried and mourned his wife and soul mate. It tore him to shreds and he felt wide open and raw. All he could do was curl up with her favorite shirt on the floor in the closet and weep for her. Several hours must have passed and the crying stopped. He heard Kaiden and Zoe come in and pause at his door. They must have thought him asleep and went on to their own room. Marcus picked himself up off the floor and went to the bathroom to wash his face off. He decided it was time he actually got a good night of sleep. He lay down in bed and pulled the covers over himself. But all he could do was think of everything while staring at the shelves. His eyes were getting heavy with sleep when he noticed a book that was not his. He assumed it must be something Elizabeth bought and he just didn’t notice it before. Or maybe it was Zoe’s and she just forgot it at the house. Whatever it is could wait until the morning. Marcus shifted onto his side and was soon fast asleep.

  Once Mary and Mateo were done being shown the barracks and the small town they made their way back to the house. Everyone must have been asleep already and the entire house was so quiet you could hear a mouse. Mary wasn’t tired yet though and she wanted to look around the house some more. She knew the kitchen already and was quite in love with everything that was inside of it. She decided to make a cup of sleepy time tea to see if that would help her get on a schedule.

  “Mateo would you like to join me for a cup of sleepy time tea. I am not tired at all and well it is night time and I should be asleep. So would you care to join me?”

  “I would love to Mary. Actually I could use the help getting to sleep too. I am still on Wyoming time.”

  They made their way to the kitchen and Mary put a pot of water on the stove and prepped to mugs with the tea bags. Mateo sat on a stool at the oversized island in the middle of the kitchen.

  “Did you ever think life would bring you to this?” Mateo asked her

  “No I can’t say I ever thought there would be a happy ending. I knew the job they asked me to do by taking Gabriel as my own. But after not hearing from them for so long I thought them dead and so did he. We lived day to day and then one day he was old enough to go search for Justine. He never called to check in and after a year I worried that they found him. I knew you had taught him well in the fighting area, but still I worried as a mother would.”

  “Well, I tell you that boy has real talent and discipline. He never lost his temper in sparring and knew what he was doing. He was and is my best student yet. You did very well in raising him and you are a damn good secret keeper, woman.” Mateo smiled at her

  “Yes well when your life and that of a boy you love is on the line, well what more motivation do you need than that?” She smirked

  “I guess
you are right. Mary how old are you may I ask?”

  “I look older than I really am for all the worry I have done over the last four years, but I am only thirty four.”

  “You do not look old Mary. I never wanted to guess your age before because I thought you must have had Gabe in your teens. Now it makes sense. Why did you never marry?”

  “I had Gabe. I couldn’t risk his life with my selfishness. Even after he left I still held hope that the boy I raised would return to me.”

  “Mary I think you are a beautiful woman and a self-less woman. You are so very strong and you can cook a mean meal. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

  Mary blushed and the tea pot screamed at just the right time in her opinion. She grabbed the pot and poured the hot water into the two mugs she had placed on the counter. She handed one to Mateo and took the other into her hands. She blew on the top and took a sip. “Thank you Mateo, that means a lot to me coming from you.”

  “What do you mean by that?” He teased

  “Well let me be bold for a moment. I have always found you attractive, but I could never act on my school girl whims.” Mary confessed

  “School girl whims huh? Well how about we act as adults and get to know each other a bit better while we are here? I know I would love to get to know you better and spend time with you.”

  “Really? I think I would love that as well. For now though this tea is doing its magic and I am getting sleepy. Care to walk me to my room?” Mary felt bold as Mateo has never shown an interest, more so than his professional side, every time he came to the house.

  “Of course I will, after you my lady.” Mateo stood and scooted in his stool. He took the mug from her hands and his from the counter setting them in the sink. He placed his hand on her lower back and walked next to her. They took the stairs to the landing area and then took the hallway on the left to the back stairs. They made it to the second floor landing and he opened the door to the suite. There were four bedrooms in this suite with a small sitting area in the middle. The room was done in rich burgundy and browns and the drapes over the large windows were just a bit softer burgundy than the couches. Vivi and Christian’s room was to the left of the sitting area with one other bedroom and Mateo and Mary’s rooms were to the right. Their doors happened to be in exactly the same spot across from each other.

  Mateo kissed her on the cheek as he opened the door to her room. She smiled shyly at him and walked in saying good night as she closed the door on him. Mary went to her bathroom to change into her sleep wear and wash her face. She had a smile on her face she could not wipe off. She was going to have to tell Rosa about this one for sure. Mary finished her night time routine and climbed into the bed. She sighed with comfort as she placed her head on the pillow. She had never slept in a bed more comfortable than this.

  Mateo still stood in the hall as he listened until he heard her climb into bed. He so wanted to open the door and crawl in bed with that woman. He had never wanted a woman more so than he did her. Every time he went to her house to train Gabe he would notice her. She was a beautiful woman who didn’t even know she was beautiful. She was such a strong soul too. He sighed to himself knowing she shared the attraction he felt towards her. He opened the door to his own room and stepped inside. He went into the bathroom and took a cool shower. He did his night time routine of sit ups and pushups and then took another shower to rinse the sweat off. He dried off and threw some loose pants on and crawled into the bed. He laid there and just thought about the woman across the hall. Mateo fell asleep thinking of Mary and couldn’t wait to get to know her better.

  In the morning they were all slowly and sleepily making their way to the table. Mary had awoken early and she and the girls had cooked up a huge breakfast. They even made enough for the men in the barracks and Mary sent a girl to tell them. The men that lived in the barracks grabbed a plate of food and took it to the table outside. When they were done they said their thanks and went on about their day.

  Zoe and Kaiden were sitting at the table inside with Gabe and Justine. Ben was also with them and he was digging into a stack of pancakes. Monica and Brad made their way down the stairs, followed by Michael and Rosa. Camilla and Sebastian were the next ones down along with Vivi and Christian. Tia and John came down soon after and mumbled their hellos. Everyone was enjoying breakfast and waking up when Marcus came into the room. He had a book tucked under his arm and looked pretty determined. His eyes were also rimmed in red like he had fallen asleep after a good cry.

  “Good Morning.” Marcus said to everyone. Everyone mumble back and response, but no one was looking at him like Zoe was. She knew something was wrong.

  “Zoe is this book yours? Did the lawyer you mention give this to you?” Marcus held the book up to her. It appeared to be a nursery rhyme book she had never seen.

  “No I have never seen that book before. Is it even in English? I can’t pronounce those words.” Zoe confirmed his suspicion

  “No it is not in English, it appears to be Russian. Does anyone here read or understand Russian? There is a letter inside and I would very much like to know what it says, as it is addressed to Elizabeth or Myself.”

  “I do, I was the book keeper and record keeper for our Sect. I know several languages.” Rosa said

  Marcus opened the book and handed Rosa the letter. Rosa also asked for the book and looked the book over first. She then opened the letter and began to read aloud.

  “Dear Mr. or Mrs. Devonshire. Your son was brought to us and I just wanted to express my sincere thanks and appreciation. My husband and I have been trying for years to have a child and I could not thank you enough. He is such a sweet boy with a head full of blond hair and the bluest eyes you could ever think of. This is also one smart baby. He is now eight months old and is already walking and saying a few words. I just wanted to again thank you for sharing this joy with us. It is signed by Mariska and Anatoly Pavelov.” Rosa looked up at Marcus with confusion plainly written on her face. Marcus just stared into space. Rosa noticed another page. “There is another page here. Let me read it.” She glanced over it and looked up in horror. Marcus looked at her and nodded for her to continue.

  “This next page, well it is from a Nurse. Dear Mr. Devonshire. Your wife came into the hospital tonight and gave birth to twins. But I am unsure that she knows this. She knew she was having a girl and the girl was born with no complications what so ever. Once the girl was out she held her and didn’t even bother paying attention to the rest. A boy was born about fifteen minutes after the girl and then the after birth. I think your wife thought that the boy was the after birth and never knew she had twins. She told us to get rid of it. The doctor assumed she meant the boy. I think after all these years that she was confused and meant the afterbirth and not the boy. But the doctor had written up the adoption papers and your wife signed them and then was gone with the baby girl. The boy was sent to Russian and I have remained in contact with them until recently. It is 1995 and I haven’t heard from them in two years. I am worried and I am sorry you had to find out like this.” Rosa looked between Zoe’s shocked face and Marcus’s distraught one. “There is no name here of the nurse, just the names of the adoptive parents.”

  Chapter 6

  Twins

  “This is amazing!” Rosa exclaimed “There has never ever been Pearl Twins EVER! This explains so much in my eyes. Zoe can turn in a heartbeat where the rest of us have to concentrate. You guys said she heard her father right? Marcus can you hear her?”

  “Only when she talks directly to me.” Marcus stood now staring at Zoe

  “Zoe tell me, what your father is thinking.”

  “This can’t be true, can’t be, I would have known, I would have heard another heartbeat.” Zoe said aloud

  “You see? We need to find this twin and like NOW! Zoe and her twin together will be the most powerful Pearls in history. If he has found his soul mate and they are together the four of you ruling together will be remarkable.” Rosa was excited
at this news.

  “I have a brother? A twin?” Zoe looked to her father in wonder.

  “Someone has great plans for the four of you. You my baby girl are special beyond anything any of us know.” Marcus smiled, but the hurt still shown in his eyes.

  “Daddy I don’t think she knew. If she did there would have been two of everything. There would have been boy clothes along with the girl clothes. She would never have said get rid of it if she knew. Please believe that.” Zoe was now hugging her father and pleading with him.

  “Oh baby girl I believe that she didn’t know. I am just worried about her soul now. I believe they can see us and that when we die we all go to the same place and we watch over our children and their children. My heart is breaking again for the truth that we did not know.” Marcus wiped a tear away.

  “Names! What were those Names!?!” Kaiden was yelling over everyone.

  “Mariska and Anatoly Pavelov.” Rosa replied

  “Yes, yes find them like today! I will double the money and have a jet waiting. Yes, yes I will take care of everything.” Kaiden hung up on Mr. Steinman and walked over to Zoe and Marcus. “Angel you need to get going, the designer will be there shortly. There is the truck outside and a driver waiting for you all. As soon as I have information I will come get you both and we will be off.” He kissed her and scooted them both out the door. Zoe grabbed her father’s hand, refusing to let him go at that moment. The girls also followed them out.

  Kaiden sat down at the table once they were out the door and put his head in his hands. Gabe sat next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Charles walked in with a laptop in his hands and looked around the room. “What did I miss?” he asked