by Daphne Snow
What plans did Kaiser have for him? Did he come for her or for Mina?
First, it was her fault Mina was kidnapped and Ya-Ya murdered now she could be killing him as well. The thought destroyed her. She single handedly was the reason the once loving household was torn apart.
She shouted through the duct tape doing her best to open her mouth to no avail. She wanted to scream at them to leave to run away. The best she got were pained muffled moans. She was starting to get light headed, not taking the time to breathe properly through her nose.
Both their gazes flickered over to her and she tried to give them a reassuring smile. SHe wanted to tell them she was okay but that they should be cautious. She could hardly move her cheeks with the tape so it must've looked more pitiful than reassuring. Didn't seem to do much good as she saw their eyes glow anger filling them. Angry green and blue swirling with black in a way she had never seen them before. Both men were beyond furious.
"Mr.Benson, Mr.Husik it's nice of you to join us." Kaiser smiled and gestured around him. "It's beautiful tonight, isn't it? I'm thinking maybe about two more weeks till we start getting some warmer weather." He was acting so nonchalant it sent shivers up her spine. This wasn't a god damn cookout.
The two men said nothing but Zelik did toss the briefcase Frannie hadn't previously seen, in the older man's direction. Kaiser made a gesture to Raymond who scuttled over to the case falling to his knees in the dust. He opened it without further instruction and laughed ecstatically. With shaking hands and a wide grin, Raymond pulled out stacks of money.
Frannie was disgusted with how quickly he had forgotten about her mother. They had been married for a decade but she was just a means to an end for him and she couldn't have hated the man more at that moment. The pool of blood was cold now and the man monsters were silent nearby. They were hidden in the shadows of the tall boat next to them. She could only see them due to the angle she was laid at. They shifted and swung their loose limbs. The slow rattle of chains was almost inaudible.
“And the rest?” He questioned, his voice whimsical.
“In a warehouse the location is in the case.” Zelik barked.
"We've given you what you want, give me my woman, her mother and Mina Husik." Alex demanded coolly as if he hadn't just tossed Kaiser a shit ton of money. It was more money than Frannie had ever seen in her life. This whole situation was just another reminder of how different they were. At this point though she didn’t care she loved Alexander beyond their differences.
Raymond hugged and kissed the pale green stacks of cash, a look of pure devotion on his face.
She wriggled her hands in the binds. They cut into her skin and she bit back a whimper of pain. She had to be careful though if the beast smelt blood they’d attack her. Again she tried to open her mouth, the tape just barely moving in the corner. They were simply too tight for her to move anything but she kept trying. If she could just get free she could warn him.
"How about we shake on it?" Kaiser beamed at Alexander who seemed to understandably hesitate. It wasn't in any movement or twitch of a limb. She saw it in his eyes. He seemed all calm and cool on the outside but she knew he was fighting, itching to let Axl out.
Kaiser thrust out a grimy-looking hand at her mate. Who after a moment took it. Yet as his hand neared Kaisers she saw a glint of something in his hand, no not in his hand but at his wrist.
Again she tried to scream to wriggle to do something to warn him. Zelik looked at her curiously, his mouth a word of question but she had no way to respond. She just tossed her head to the side indicating he should look at Kaiser. He didn't though and it was too late.
The quick pull of his hand away from Kaiser told her he felt it. The furrow on his magnificent face. The sound of chains nearby rattled loudly as she watched a single drop of red hot blood leave Alex's finger.
❅❅❅
He felt the thick pinprick the instant it hit his finger. The knowing shifty smirk that slimed up Kaiser's face told him this man was up to something. Poison perhaps? No, there is something else. Axl responded instantly, his awareness peeked.
Alex took his unpricked hand and fisted the man's collar of his shirt. He noticed the once delicate fabric of the suit was now covered in muck and was well worn. Alex knew the council had eyes everywhere including Kaiser's home. He wouldn't have been able to go back. Then where had he been this whole time?
Alex growled at him the force of Axl behind it. He hated not knowing what was going on. Kaiser just cackled his smug face unhindered and called out. "Raymond it is time to go." The rat-faced man who had been previously worshipping the green paper promptly nodded his head. He shoved the money into the case unceremoniously and walked away into the shadows.
Zelik made a move to go in that direction when Kaiser chuckled again. "I wouldn't do that if I were you boy. I'd still like us to be friends."
Zelik ignored that getting in the man's face as Alex still held him. "Where is my sister?" Kaiser just gave an indignant snort at that.
Alex barely had a second to register and run through every option when he heard it. The loud clang to the concrete floor and rattle of chains. The sound of metal on the hard ground he had only faintly recognized before was coming toward him slowly with the slightest delay. His finger streamed blood, it wasn't healing as fast as he thought it would. Drop after drop the noises seemed to get closer and louder.
"What the fuck are you playing at? Where's Mina?" Zelik hollered at him, his senses also attuned to the sounds coming out from the shadows. The younger man tried to wrench Kaiser from his grasp but he stopped him.
"Wait." He said his tone even giving nothing away. Zelik just glared at him, his eyes wide with rage. They didn't know what they were dealing with yet. It would be foolish to rush in without having at least a glimpse into the man's plans.
He continued to hold the man by the collar and he seemed to not have a care in the world. He almost looked bored.
Alex pressed a finger to the one which was still dripping blood. He noticed the sound slowed. Stilled even. The look of annoyance on Kaiser's face was also not lost on him. But he still didn't heal. Instead of clotting the blood seeped around the two fingers and continued its descent to the small pool on the ground.
Axl roared within him ready to fight at a moment's notice. Whatever was making the sounds smelled odd like rotting flesh but also a jumble of shifters none so powerful as to distinguish one from another. His eyes searched everything, but the shadows lingered in all the corners. The comingling of chains seemed to bounce off the walls.
It could be coming from anywhere.
Axl tried to aid him with his own nighttime eyesight. Contrary to popular belief bears could see well in the dark not as great as some other animals but enough that they wouldn't be stumbling around.
What they saw though was a horde-like movement near his mate. It shuffled at first gradually picking up speed as seconds passed. It didn't seem interested in Francesca though.
His mate lie there on her side struggling to no end. She looked as if she had cried a lot but presently her brow was creased and she was trying to indicate something to him as she wriggled around more. Where was her mother?
A pool of blood lay near her and she had some on her face and mouth. That still didn't deter her from trying to tell him something and he just couldn't make out what. Even in the face of danger she still tried she never gave up.
Determination flared egging him on he had to get to her to rescue her. It was the only thing thrumming in his mind. FRancesca was his worst weakness but one he would never give up.
"What is that?" He questioned him slowly dragging the man by his collar to slam him against the side of the dry dock.
Kaiser started to struggle in his grasp as the horde came closer. "I figured I'd invite some friends. You know to celebrate." Then the moving mass came to light and he was silent. What he assumed may be rabid animals or a few weak shifters was much worse. Men stumbling all half morphed into animals foam
ing from their mouths and bleeding everywhere. Their eyes were black with hate and anger and hunger.
He was stunned at a loss for words. Zelik though was not as he looked on wide eyes just as horrified as Alexander. "What the fuck?" This time Alexander didn't stop him as the younger man rushed Kaiser taking him from Alexander's grasp and pinning him firmly against the concrete wall. Kaiser just let out another cackle not concerned in the slightest.
In the earpiece neatly tucked into the shell of his ear Blackwell said something but Alexander couldn't understand, couldn't hear him as he stared into the faces of people he knew. Most of them worked as guards for people he dealt with. Others were lower-level grunts mostly street workers.
There in the back though was a man he would know like the back of his hand. A man who he trusted with his life on more than one occasion. A man he had pulled out of the poorest pit in Greece and who had sworn fealty to him for it. A man with whom he even trusted his mate's life with.
"Costas..." Zelik looked back at him confused having never actually met Alexander's right-hand man he would not have recognized him. But it seemed Blackwell had heard him.
"I can see him. I don't know what Kaiser has done to them. I've... I've never seen something like this. Grab Miss Bianchi and Kaiser and get out of there. We don't know what we are dealing with." Alexander couldn't even respond. He just watched as Costas lurked closer to him snapping his head from one side to the next, a large gouge at his neck. His arms were partially formed. A bear paw at the end of one and everything but the hand had formed on the other. He limped slightly as he walked on a furry and large bear's hind leg.
None of that took Alexander aback none of it. The only thing that seemed to have him frozen on the spot was the black in Costas's eyes. He wasn't there, no part of the man Alexander knew was in that body.
Sharp words from Kaiser drew Alex from his daze. He was shouting something at the leathery-faced Raymond. The man darted back into the shadows no longer holding onto the briefcase. Zelik shoved him again, the blow surely breaking the skin on the back of the man's head.
"Dont talk to him I asked you a fucking question old man where is my sister? What the fuck did you do?" Kaiser swung his head in a circle exposing the red blotch on the concrete behind him.
The horde of rattling creatures turned their eyes intent on Zelik and Kaiser. He saw the hunger in their gaze; there was no mistaking it.
"Its blood. They're acting like bloodlings. '' Alexander said, pressing a finger to the earpiece. Blackwell made a sound of understanding. Then a rustle of what sounded like clothing came through the piece. The man was nearby in the SUV keeping an eye out. He was there to stop Kaiser from escaping.
That was the plan but they hadn't expected Raymond to be there or this horde of monsters. It was a deliver the goods and get the girl safely plan. It should have been easy enough.
Only after Frannie was safe in his arms then they would act. They would restrain Kaiser and get him to tell them where the women were. Then they would release him to the council to face judgment. Though Alexander wanted to rip the man limb from limb it was Blackwell's idea to give him over to the council. It'd halt anyone retaliating.
They had considered a small group of men to defend him as Kaiser never played fair. But they clearly overestimated his sanity.
He finally moved then tossing his long coat from his shoulders and moving towards Frannie. As his finger continued to bleed however hot red droplets acted like crumbs. When he moved in her direction the horde moved with him. They were faster now the scent of blood all around them making them snap their jaws louder.
Kaiser's head injury would already be starting to heal and for some reason, this simple pinprick wouldn't.
"Zelik cut him! It's blood. Make him bleed and they'll come." He shouted and the man looked at him bewildered at first but obeyed. He formed a paw and sliced through the suit Kaiser wore. A harsh red line of blood appeared on his forearm and his eyes widened. He kicked and squawked but got nowhere fast. Zelik was clearly stronger as he held the man by the throat against the concrete.
The horde turned sharply, picking up speed and headed towards the two men. Alex darted past them towards his mate. Her eyes so sad were now filled with relief at the sight of him. "Raymond!" Dominik near shouted into the earpiece.
Just as he reached his woman the man appeared with a blade in hand blocking him. "Not so fast." The man stunk of alcohol but had enough momentum Alex knew he couldn't form into Axl. The bear was big and powerful but not nimble enough to dodge a small blade.
He will die. He has caused her great pain. Axl promised and Alex agreed. She had told him all of what this man had done.
He could say with such certainty he had a heavy hand in her being as closed off as she was before. Why she berated herself and didn't believe she was anything more than a mule for them to ride on. This man was no father not to her, not to anyone. He would not be missed.
He tossed the blade from one hand to the other and licked his lips. "I always wondered what kind of piece of shit this bitch would end up with." Alex just remained cold and unyielding not wanting to give way to the panic welling in his chest. He took a step further in and Raymond took a step back but then several more until he was right next to Francesca.
He bent down still keeping a bleary-eyed gaze on Alexander and cut the rope portion that bound her hands to her feet. But her hands and ankles were still tied together the skin there red and splitting.
Then he yanked her by the hair trying to get her to a standing position. She yelped behind the tape on her mouth and winced as she struggled to stand. Alex wanted to rip the man's throat out right there. To cause pain to his woman was an act he could not allow to fly.
He morphed an arm allowing Axl slight control and lunged at Raymond. He stepped back quickly dragging Frannie in front of him and holding the blade to her chest. "One slice and they come running. Do not for one fucking second think I won't cut this whore." He spit out, the pungent smell of whiskey wafting off of him.
Alex held still. He couldn't allow those monsters to kill his women but if he did nothing they would take her regardless. She was his mate and one day his wife. On top of it all she was pregnant with his child. He had to protect his family.
His family. He actually had family now. Alex no longer had to look back on photos of people who once cared for him and no longer did because of his choices. Frannie knew him, what he did and saw past the cold facade he put on every day and she still wanted him. He would die a million painful deaths before he let her go because she was his family, his mate, the only person in his life that would ever matter.
Yet right now she could be killed at the hands of a man who was supposed to protect her and he didn’t know what to do.
His father's words rang around in his head causing him to conflict with his own beast. Violence or negotiation. He was a big man, a scary man even but never violent. His own father's words fluttered into his mind making him hesitate further.
Violence is not what we do Alexander. We negotiate. Violence is for those who are unable to be a part of higher society.
He wanted to kill this man though. Axl wanted to kill this man. What did that say about him? Did it even matter?
No, it didn't. Nothing he was raised to believe or do mattered when the love of his life was in the hands of someone who could harm her.
He looked at his mate. She was angry yet determined. Her strength in the face of what could be her death was inspiring. He could not let her down. She was the one woman, the one person in this universe he could not let down. So he did what Alexander Benson did best.
Chapter 23
Frannie watched in awe as Alexander straightened his conflicted gaze now one of strength. She stilled in Raymond's grasp wondering what exactly her big bear was up to. The fighting continued behind him yet he didn't flinch at sounds.
He straightened and readjusted the cuffs of his shirt, one of them tore when he tried to attack. His jacket was gone
and he looked as if the brisk wind dealt him no damage. Frannie, of course, was chilled to the bone. Then again she was wearing mere scraps of the clothing she had this morning.
"Do you really think he's going to let you in on any of that money?" Alex started with a seemingly clear direction on where he planned to go. Frannie thought she got it.
Actually no she was vastly confused as to why this hulking and very strong man was deciding to have a conversation instead of simply saving her. She wanted to groan in frustration but the tape around her mouth prevented most of her facial movement but not the eye roll.
She looked up out of the corner of her eye she saw Raymond wrinkled his brow. Then she looked back to her man. An all consuming clam was surrounding him as he stared at them. His face giving nothing away.
