The Pearls

by Michelle Farrell

  “Thank you. I am not going to do anything to get myself killed now. Basically staying with you guys I stay alive.” A nervous laugh escaped his lips and they all went in the diner. Across the street from the diner was a car lot and the perfect SUV was right out front. They ate their breakfast and when they were done Kaiden and Gabe left them to go to the car lot.

  Chapter 22

  Aldrich sat back in his chair, triumph coursing through his veins. He knew Blake had Zoe and was playing nice. Those were their orders after all. One of them needed to get caught.

  Aldrich got the call that the girl had come back to her mother’s home. He also found out she was not alone and had a man and a woman with her. His sons had also told him of another man that kept attacking them whenever they got close to the house. Aldrich knew there was another Dragon watching over the girl.

  When he got the call that his son was attacked after he was to deliver some pizzas to the girl, he hatched a plan. His sons were to track the girl and her friends wherever they went. When night fell the three sons were to break in the house and kill the friends and take the girl. But if anything went wrong and they took a hostage, that son was to plead for his life and make promises he would not keep. Blake was to give enough information to the group, just enough information to get them to trust him a little bit, and then lead them to Aldrich.

  It turned out to be Blake. Blake was his silent favorite son. Blake was much like his mother and looked after Marcus for him. He got Marcus to talk and then reported back to Aldrich. He knew Blake would not fail him in his mission. He would find out where the Ireland Sect hid and bring his backstabbing sister home to be dealt with.

  Aldrich called out for his other favorite child Deidra, she was a ruthless bitch.

  “DEIRDRA!!!” He shouted into the room

  She came running in and stood at attention waiting for him to acknowledge her.

  “Good Girl, call everyone in. Blake has been caught and he will lead them here soon. We must make arrangements and have everyone ready. Send the pregnant women to the backup location with any young ones. I will not have my innocents slaughtered.”

  “Yes sir” and she turned and quickly backed out of the door again.

  Now to wait, the game will soon begin, and he will finally be the King he was meant to be. Blake will be awarded accordingly and take his place next to his father when this is finally finished. Aldrich has waited the last twenty four years to get his revenge. He has wanted them all slaughtered since the day his soul mate betrayed him.

  The SUV was purchased and they were all on their way to Mr. Steinman’s office. Blake was in the third row and his feet were tied down to the floor anchors. They will need to get some cuffs soon because this rope won’t last long.

  When they pull up to the office Gabe decides to stay in the car with Blake while the others go up. Once they were done here they would be going to the hardware store to get some zip ties and chain. Then they will be on their way to Wyoming.

  Mr. Steinman greets them at the door and after greetings and handshakes ushers them to his office. They all take the same seats they did the first time they were in his office. Mr. Steinman and Kaiden on the couch facing the window while Zoe and Justine are in the window seat facing the men.

  “It is very nice to see you all again.” Mr. Steinman states.

  “It is good to see you too Mr. Steinman, I understand you have something for me?” Justine replies excitement rippling through her.

  “Yes Ma’am I have it right here. I have not opened it at all so everything he sent you will be the first to see.” Mr. Steinman replies handing Justine her package. She greedily accepts it and hugs it tight to her chest.

  “Thank you very much sir. I really appreciate all that you have done for us.” Justine had tears in her eyes holding the package.

  “Sir I also wanted to thank you for everything that you have done. You have brought Zoe into my life and given a dear friend of hers some peace of mind. You have changed these two girls lives and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If there is ever anything that you need, call me or that number that you did to get a hold of my mother. I will do anything in my power to help you.” Kaiden told him shaking Mr. Steinman’s hand.

  “I am only doing what I would want done for one of my children any father would.” Mr. Steinman said. He didn’t know how to take this kind of compliment.

  “Sir, can I ask you a favor?” Zoe asked

  “Yes Ma’am anything”

  “Well my house, I would like to sign it over to you, and have you sell it. I would then like you to take the money and put it in a college fund for your children or a savings account. I insist you do this for me. I don’t quite think you understand the way you have changed my life Sir. I thought I was put out like garbage. I thought my parents didn’t want me at all. If it was not for you remodeling this place and finding that safe, I would have never known. You have given me a life, hope beyond anything I ever thought possible.” Zoe was now openly crying trying to get Mr. Steinman to do this for her.

  Mr. Steinman sat there in total amazement. He did not know what to do with this. He was never going to cash the check that Kaiden made him keep. But this was an honest gift, one he could take and it was not for him it was for his children, for their future.

  “Ma’am as much as I don’t want to, I will do this for you. Can you give me a couple minutes to get a document written up? Then you all can be on your way and we can handle the rest through email and what not. I know Justine there looks itching to go.”

  “Yes we can wait. Justine if you want we can meet you at the car. I know you want to have a look at what is inside of that box.” Zoe told Justine giving her the option to go if she wanted.

  “I am good. I can wait a few more minutes with you guys.” Justine said

  Ten minutes later they were all back in the car headed to the highway. Zoe signed what was just a blank sale form with the address of the house and a legal form stating that she was giving the house to Mr. Steinman. She felt good about this decision. It felt right to her and she was very happy with herself.

  Zoe and Kaiden sat in front of Blake in the second row. Zoe glanced back a lot feeling uneasy about what she said. There was something about Blake that she couldn’t let go. He made her uncomfortable and she didn’t feel she could be herself with him.

  “Hey Gabe when you pass another major store can you stop please? I need to get some things” Zoe asked

  “Sure thing, I am going to be stopping at a hardware store anyway and I think there is one at the next exit.”

  “Great!” Zoe felt relieved. She had an idea and was going to get the things that she needed. She just hoped it worked. Kaiden gave her a quizzical look once he felt her unease lift and a small excitement fill her. Zoe noticed his stare and shook her head from side to side. She didn’t want to say her plan out loud, she was trying to plead with Kaiden to not ask.

  Gabe pulled up to the hardware store about fifteen minutes later. He pulled into the lot and parked towards the back. Gabe turned off the car and turned in his seat.

  “I just need to grab a few things and I will be right back. Do you guys mind just staying put?” Gabe asked all of them

  “We are good baby take your time.” Justine smiled at him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

  Gabe’s smile could be seen from miles away it was so bright and full of love. He ran into the store and was out ten minutes later. Gabe jumped back in the car and headed over to the store that sold everything across the street.

  “Thanks Gabe, you guys need anything while I am inside? Snacks or what not?”

  “I will come with you if that is ok? I think we should get a cooler and fill it up with some drinks and food. We have a long trip ahead of us.” Kaiden said

  Zoe was bouncing in place waiting for Kaiden to get out. Impatience was running rampant through her.

  “You know what I like to eat Zoe. Just get me whatever. Baby you want anything special?” Justine
asked Gabe

  “I think when they are done we can go in and get the things we like. I need to learn what you like my love and I would really like to buy your things.” Gabe said with a smirk playing on his lips “Besides I need to readjust our fellow companion before we head out.”

  “Put him in the middle of the seat” Zoe whispered so low Blake would not be able to hear. Gabe gave her a curios look but nodded his agreement. Kaiden just continued to look at her with questions in his eyes.

  “I have a plan” she whispered to him “Hey Blake what kinds of music do you like?” She raised her voice on the last part so they all could hear her.

  “Oh uh, I like everything but country and classical.” Blake responded now confused himself

  “Great that gives me a good selection” Zoe beamed at him and turned to go in the store. Kaiden was quickly following behind her.

  Once they got in the store Kaiden could not contain his curiosity anymore.

  “Zoe what is going on? What do you have planned?

  “I can’t talk to you with him right behind me listening to everything. I know Gabe and Justine can hear even the smallest whisper, but I trust them. Blake is creeping me out. He doesn’t talk, but he listens to everything we say. So I am fixing it.” And with that she heads straight for the electronic department.

  She picks out an Mp3 player and some wrap around the ear head phones. She also goes to the CD section and randomly grabs about thirty CDs. She then goes over to the laptops and gets an employee to get the one she picked out. Finally Kaiden understands what she has planned.

  “I know what you are doing now, and you don’t need the laptop I have one of those in my bag.” he tells her

  Zoe just smiles at him and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek, ignoring the fact that he has a laptop, she has always wanted on of her own, “Food now?”

  “Yep then some pillows and blankets. I think we will just be stopping for gas. With three of us being able to drive we should make good time and be there tomorrow evening.” Kaiden grabbed Zoe around the waist and pulled her in close and placed a kiss on her cheek.

  Kaiden knew she was uneasy in the car, he could feel that she was absorbed with it. He wasn’t quite sure what to do about it though. Right now he was glad that she had come up with a plan to ease her own mind.

  They moved through the store quickly grabbing the items they wanted on the trip. Zoe knew the music was going to make Blake feel uneasy, so she grabbed a couple different things for him to include two changes of clothes.

  Once they were done with the shopping they went back out to the car and Gabe and Justine went inside. Zoe took this opportunity to load all the CDs into the laptop and then load them into the Mp3 player. Gabe and Justine came back just as she was done.

  “Blake I am sorry but I am going to put these headphones on you. I don’t trust you yet and there are some things that I don’t want you to know. I don’t feel comfortable talking freely to my friends with you in the car, so I am going to put these on you and turn it up quite loud.” Zoe explained to Blake

  “No problem Zoe. I am sorry you feel uneasy and thank you for being considerate and buying music instead of just getting ear plugs. At least now I can relax with music. May I see what you got?” Blake asked her, he was shocked she was being so nice. He would have bound and gagged her.

  She showed him the CDs she got and Blake was nodding his head. “Thank you Zoe you got some of my favorite bands” Blake told her and nodded his head for her to put the headphones in and start the music.

  “Please don’t take these off Blake. We will be able to tell if you do and the trust will just go a lot farther for me if you follow our instructions.” Zoe told him giving him a stern look.

  “I will not take them off. If you need me just take them off or gesture for me too. I will probably close my eyes a lot with the music so just tap me or something.”

  “Ok I got these for you too” Zoe handed him the clothes she got. “And these” handing him a pillow and blanket this time. “And these” she handed him snacks she hoped he liked.

  “You don’t really know how to have a hostage do you?” Blake looked at her amused and thankful

  Zoe paled not expecting that question, “well what would you guys have done to me?

  “You want blunt honesty or the nice version?” Blake asked. Now he was nervous because all of them had turned to look and stare at him.

  “How about blunt honesty” Gabe said completely intrigued.

  “We would have tied you up blindfolded you and let you hear everything so you would know what we were doing and going to do. Your mind is your worst enemy. You would have thought a whole lot of things. But we would not have fed you or stopped to let you use the restroom. That would have made you humiliated and more scared at what was going to happen.” Blake said, he had his eyes closed as he talked.

  Zoe once again paled at the answer and was in shocked into silence.

  “Is that what we should be doing?” Justine asked with hate dripping off her words.

  “I appreciate that you aren’t doing those things to me. I appreciate that you allow me to see and that you have fed me and let me bathe. I do not want you to do that no, Vivi will love you guys.” And he hung his head in shame.

  “Alright I am sorry I asked that. Now we are going to treat you like a normal human being who happens to be a hostage. You will remain tied up in the car and when we stop. If we go to a restaurant we will let you come inside too. If you even once try to run I will have no problem letting Gabe here take care of you and then you will just make it that much harder for Vivi to be accepted by us.” Zoe told him. She was trying to stop the thoughts going through her head.

  Kaiden took over applying the headphones to Blake’s ears Zoe was having a difficult time with shaking hands. Once Blake was settled Kaiden turned on the Mp3 player and turned it up really loud. He then set the player on their side of the seat so Blake could not touch it.

  They all buckled up and got back on the highway. Zoe snuggled up into Kaiden and covered her legs with a blanket.

  Chapter 23

  Mary has spent the last four years alone and worried. She has made the time pass by reading and quilting. The winters are harsh in Wyoming so during the spring and summer she busies herself with gardening and canning.

  About a month ago one of Gabe’s instructors started calling for him. She has taken message after message and told Mr. Mateo that she doesn’t know when Gabe will be back. When Gabe left he did not say when he was going to be back and refused to let her get him a cell phone. They both knew the danger if anyone found out what he was. She has taken every precaution to keep the boy safe.

  She has not heard from Gabe since the day he left. He promised that he would find Justine and bring her back home. Mary knew he would, there was no way he would leave behind his heritage journals and his pictures. She also hoped he would not leave her behind.

  She misses him dearly. She watches the news and reads on the internet for strange and unusual things. She is looking for signs of him or others. She knows there are more out there in the world and is just trying to keep an eye out.

  It is summer now so she has the vegetable and fruit to keep her company. She has recently stocked up on canning jars and the pantry is full of filled jars. With only feeding herself she is able to stock quite a lot.

  Mary has a pot of strawberry jam on the stove. She has about an hour until it is done then she will be canning tonight. There is a flea market tomorrow that she is going to sell some of the over stock that she has.

  Mateo has been trying to get a hold of Gabe for a month. He has a couple that he wants Gabe to meet. Mateo thinks that Gabe will understand them more than he does. Mateo is worried about this couple John and Tia. They came to him a month ago to train. They are natural fighters just like Gabe was and they move like he does too. But this couple, they are ruthless in their fighting. Mateo does not know if he can train them much longer he is quite worried about them.
But he feels compelled to get them into contact with Gabe.

  John leaves soon to go back to the oil rig and will be out of touch for months. Tia has decided to follow him so she will also be out of touch. Mateo has three week to get a hold of Gabe before he has to play a waiting game. He hopes he will return home before they leave.

  Night has fallen as they drive into Nevada. Justine has taken over to give Gabe a break although he protested a lot.

  “Guys I am itching for a burger is it ok if I stop at a fast food place and grab me one?” Justine asked

  “I could use one too Justine my vote is Yes!” Zoe said

  Gabe shook his head and smiled. “Diner girls” he whispered

  “Hey watch it babe this girl likes her grease and junk food” Justine shot him a glare

  “My love you can have whatever you want. Besides your rich now so you’re paying.”

  Justine’s mouth dropped open in shock. Then she remembered her bank statement and grinned. “I am almost as rich as Zoe is.”

  They all laughed as she drove on. She found a restaurant she wanted and pulled in.

  “Dine in or drive through?” Justine asked

  “Dine in please I need to stretch my legs.” Zoe asked.

  They all got out and then remembered their little visitor. Gabe climbed in the back and lifted the headphone away from his ear because his eyes were closed.

  “You hungry man?” Gabe asked Blake

  “I am, have we stopped?”

  “Yep the girls want burgers”

  “Awesome love me some grease balls.” Blake said with a smirk

  “Alright, you know the drill you run I kill and you ruin Vivi’s chances.” Gabe warned

  “Got it”

  They walked in the restaurant and chose a booth in the back. Justine took everyone’s orders and went to place the order with the lady at the counter. She came back to the table with drink cups and handed them out.