by Daphne Snow
Minutes passed before she finally stopped crying.
"Miss Bianchi, please get in." Carl held a hand out to her helping her up. She obeyed there was no point in fighting them. They would force her in if she didn't go willingly. Raymond was on his side on the cold ground blood spilling from his mouth. She looked despondent at him and then climbed into the back of the large car.
Edgar closed the door behind her. It was warmer in here somehow but silent. So very fucking silent it hurt. It was only her and her thoughts. And fey too of course.
The three men talked outside in muffled voices and then Matteo left. Edgar stood there, his dark silhouette unmoving. Carl climbed back into the driver's seat.
They are okay. They still live. They are strong and we will see them again. Just rest. Fey spoke in a hushed tone. She wondered though if that was just Fey’s wishful thinking.
Frannie nodded too tired to speak and too mentally drained to try to seek out Alexander's aura in her mind. She would figure everything out once she slept. The only thing she knew for sure is that she would never leave Alexander Bensons side again.
“Carl?”
“Yes miss Bianchi?” He responded fiddling with the temperature in the car.
“Do think he’ll die?” The words hurt as she said them but she had to know. But Carl didn’t say anything. Just looked at her, his normally animated mustache downturned and sad. He shifted in his seat looking forward again.
Frannie laid down on the back seat and cried quietly as the car warmed further lulling her into the void of sleep.
❅❅❅
The inky blackness of the sky just started to show hues of orange when the fighting slowed. Dozens of bodies lie in heaps. Alex hated to see it. Things never should have been this way. Several of the council team that Blackwell had called were dragging away their comrades both dead and injured. Zelik was taken away a long time ago, his injuries so bad they were unsure if he would make the trip to Dr.Gorkys clinic.
It was only Blackwell, him and a few of the council ops and his personal guards left to deal with the remainder.
Axl swung his head to look around. There are only a few left excluding Costas. He had been tied up and pushed off to one side with one of Alex's men standing guard. The man had been knocked out so many times Alexander wondered how after all this he still had the energy to snap and snarl. But he did, the only thing that calmed him was when the blood was cold and dried but as soon as someone else started to bleed anew he was trying to get free again.
The monsters never tired; it was insane. Since he had shifted he had lost the earpiece to communicate to Dominik. But he knew the both of them were trying to observe every detail of the creatures. It was difficult though when they were trying to eat you.
Alexander pushed Axl to keep fighting. Encouraging him this would be over soon and then they could see their mate. Her safety, as well as the safety of their unborn child, was the only thing that ignited their energy to keep going.
Axl was faltering though Alexander knew that. The bear had never fought for this long. Never took out his own kind no matter how crazed. It was getting to them. Though he was considered a member of unsavory business no one ever bothered him. His existence had been peacefully boring for a long time. Right until Francesca walked into his life.
He wouldn't change that for the world. It didn't matter how much chaos happened. She was his and would be till the day he died.
One of the last few creatures stepped forward the fresh blood from a recent deep cut seeped from Axl's side. The scent of it made the man wild as he lunged forward grabbing at Axls bloodied maw without fear. Axl thrashed his head to and fro swinging the half tiger around. It flung off of him but got up just as quickly as it landed. Axl lept and landed on him gnawing at its face and throat.
When it finally stopped struggling he got off. The man was now wholly unrecognizable. The big bear tripped over his own steps and fell to the side. The exhausted pants almost coming out in a wheeze.
Though technically this was Axl's body, being out of human form was taking its toll on them both. They had never gone this long without shifting back. And Alexander could feel every bite every cut. Even the broken rib he could feel. The bear struggled to get up. He couldn't bear his own weight any longer.
Alexander tried to force a change to compel the huge grizzly that he needed to rest. But the stubborn thing refused. There are still more. I can do this. He gave a little roar before trying to get up again. And again he flopped to his side kicking up dust in his wake.
The more he spoke of numbered less than ten. And by the looks of it, The council ops and his private guards had it under control. He summoned his control and attempted to force the painful change again. This time Axl couldn't fight him. He was just too exhausted.
Axl receded within Alexander. The bear was gone and now a man stood bruised and bloodied all the same. His face felt stiff and swollen and what he thought was one rib on Axl translated to two on him that were broken.
He stepped forward taking a sharp inhale of breath but everything hurt. He held a large hand to his side feeling the bone protrude out. His sight was blurry and it hurt to focus. The only thing on his mind was Francesca.
"Blackwell!" Someone shouted but it wasn't him. No, it couldn't be him his throat felt too dry to even say anything. He raised his head from the dust and blood-covered ground. Again his head spun. This time he couldn't stay standing.
He dropped to his knees and then slumped to his side. A sharp pain emanated from the side of his head and he heard snarling come from behind him. Then he felt his body sink into black silence.
❅❅❅
Dreams of loss and unforgiving stares plagued him. The look of disappointment on his mother's face when he refused Sonya. The look of pure hate when his father lay in his deathbed reluctant to give over the family business. But the one that had his heart beating a mile a minute was the look of absolute terror on his mate's face as Kaiser dragged her away.
Around and around these dreams spun and chased him backing his mind into a corner.
A soft near angelic tone shone a light through the figures that crept in the dark.
"Alex...Alexander Benson, I swear to the goddess. If you don't wake up. I'll kill you myself!" Alex woke with a start. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
"I figured that would wake him." An annoyed voice came from the left of him. He moved his head slowly weary of the dizzy images before him. It was Sonya, her mouth set in a thin line of displeasure and her slender arms crossed before her.
He was back in his room. A light fluttering breeze warm and comforting coming from the windows. From the waist up he was covered in pristine bandages and the smell of medical balms emanated from him. He wrinkled his nose but would not deny he was feeling much better.
"Sonya..." He snarled, he wasn't too happy to see her either in truth. He thought he heard his woman, not the wicked witch of the west.
She rolled her eyes and looked past him to the other side of the bed. "He'll be fine in a week or two. I will be working on Mr.Costas and Mr.Husik at the clinic but if you have any further issues please call me." She gave a small contrite smile and left, her large black bag in tow.
With the dizziness dissipating by the moment Alexander looked to the other side of the bed. Francesca sat there, her eyes glistening. Her small hands were wrapped tightly around his own, he didn't even notice before.
Not caring about the bandages or the slight twinge in his head when he moved too fast, he reached out for her. He grabbed her by the waist and hauled her to him squeezing her tightly until she was gently patting at his back to let her breathe.
He gave in but only a little. She hugged him back fiercely and he could feel the wetness of her tears soak into his bandages.
"I know." He said gently stroking the back of her head. She smelled clean, the morning dew scent he loved so potent. He inhaled rapturously. Long quiet minutes passed as they sat there curled into each other.
&n
bsp; She was safe in his arms and he couldn't ask for anything more. Except maybe Kaiser's head on a platter. He pulled back to see her face and figure out what exactly happened. As if she could read his thoughts she sighed a distant look in her eye.
"You were exhausted, you passed out and hit your head. You've been out for the last day." He nodded though the movement made him a little dizzy. He reached for Axl who gave him a sleepy shrug. He breathed relief at that. He looked at his beautiful mate. Her cute nose and soft brown eyes. She chewed on her lip anxious.
"I'm sorry I should have never run off. I was just worried about my mom and-" He stopped her with a light kiss on her forehead. He had her phone tracked and figured out what happened shortly after he got the letter.
The man was disgusting playing to the hope of having your mother's love. He knew all too well how very tempting that could be. And though he hadn't seen the woman when he arrived at the dry dock the large puddle of blood told a story he didn't want her to have to repeat.
“I know.” he said again. His throat was dry and Frannie reached over and grabbed a glass of water for him to sip. He placed it back and cleared his throat feeling better. Frannie smiled at him and he noticed all the little scratches that were healing along with a bit of a crook in her nose.
He should have been there sooner and he could have stopped it somehow. She wouldn't have to go through all of this misery if he was a better man.
"I'm sorry." He hung his head, something he never did.
"For what?" She asked a harsh note in her voice. He looked up and she looked absolutely pissed.
"For-"
"For protecting me. For killing those..those things out there. For sticking your neck out to help the others?" He quirked a brow.
"The only thing you should be sorry for is not letting me help."
"I won't." He said flatly. He would never apologize for having her all but dragged away from the fray.
"Well, you should. I'm your mate, I'm supposed to have your back no matter what." She looked away from him shyly. He loved Frannie said that she was ‘his mate’. Happiness blossomed in his heart and he smiled only a little because it hurt to do more.
"I was upset before honestly. I thought you saw me as being selfish or useless. Then I realized I didn't give a damn. If I'm selfish because I want to protect you then sue me." He chuckled at that, his larger wounds stinging a bit as his body moved.
"I don't think you want that my love. I have an amazing legal team on standby." She rolled her eyes at him but laughed.
"I just didn't want to see you get hurt. I love you. I could not go a single day without you on this earth Frannie."
"I love you too. " She smiled and it lit up his heart. His cock stirred a bit but he refused to acknowledge it.
"Is the baby..." He had to ask for his own sanity he had to.
"The baby is fine Alex. Sonya looked over everything, she said it's growing normally just to be careful and not get kidnapped again." Alex let out a low growl. That would never happen again.
"Stay." He was quite the emotion of his love for this woman so overwhelming it hurt.
"What?"
"Stay, here with me. Marry me, Francesca Bianchi." It wasn’t how he wanted to ask, since he always had known from the second he met her he would. But now was a better time than any other. He would be swamped soon with everything he needed to do to fix this.
She clutched his hands tighter and kissed him fiercely. It had felt like so long since they kissed since their tongues and lips danced together. The fire that ignited within him was roaring and his cock was hard for her needed her. The obvious tent under the thin white sheet was evidence of that. Only once they were breathless did she pull away.
"Yes." He didn't know exactly what he expected but it wasn't that. Maybe some fight or reason why she simply couldn't but there was nothing just an answer.
"But not yet." Her once beaming smile was falling. He drew her to sit in his lap needing her to be closer. He caressed her sides and shoved his hand into her soft hair.
"Why?" In all honesty he suspected he already knew the answer. He tried to remain calm but it was hard he was high off of Frannie endorphins.
"Mina." She stated sadly and he knew what she meant. She would marry him but not until Mina was found. He nodded his head into the side of hair and she clutched onto him.
“After we find her.” He said aloud and she nodded. It was all the more reason to get back into action as soon as possible.
"Kaiser escaped when the fighting happened." She said solemnly. He pulled away remembering the screech of tires in his mind. At the time he had thought to go after him but Frannie was in the grip of her stepfather then. He couldn't have left her even if he wanted to.
"What about your stepfather." She sighed again and ran a small hand over her face.
"Dominik says he's dealing with it. But I haven't heard anything." He stroked her hip in a show of support. He knew it wasn't easy dealing with all of this. Even he was having a hard time racking his brain around it all.
He caressed her face then took her chin between his fingers to turn her head to look at him. "We will find her I promise." She nodded the tears pricking at the corners of her chocolate eyes again.
A knock came from the bedroom doors. He didn't bother asking who it was he knew. He pressed the hidden button on the nightstand granting him access. The doors slid open revealing Dominik. His long dark silver hair coming over his face slightly.
"We know where they are." Alex nodded and Frannie remained silent. His friend walked in in a full three-piece suit. It was dark blue, a stark contrast to his skin. His face was determined and held no trace of the laughing man he was more familiar with.
"Your stepfather had a lot to say, Francesca. Apparently, the whole thing was for show." She scrunched her face but nodded.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, clearly confused.
"What happened at Red Hook was not for money or weapons. He was testing them. The half-shifted men. Still, we don't know what he's going to do with them but I will figure it out." He paced for a moment his hand rubbing the back of his neck in a stressed gesture Alex had never seen from him before.
"More importantly Raymond gave us the girl's last known location. Claims he never saw Mina though. It's up north."
"When is the council going to send ops out." Alex asked. He had a goal now and wanted a straightforward path to get there.
"They aren't-"
"What! No, they have to save those girls. What good are they if they dont give a damn about the people." Fran near shouted. Alex didn't dare stop her. He knew how important finding Mina was to her.
"Miss Bianchi. It's an extremely sensitive mission. No ops until we have a clear fix on how to get rid of Kaiser and what his plans are. I'll be the only one going in." A glint of excitement flashed across his pale eyes.
"Whatever you need to get it done, you have." Dominik probably already knew this but Alex wanted to make it clear that they needed to get Mina back. He would not spare any expenses.
"Wait but why you? You're not a part of those ninja looking guys." Frannie wasn't wrong, Dominik held a seat in the high council. The man should be more concerned with board meetings rather than hunting criminals.
He hesitated a step and then looked at her and back before speaking. He was hiding something but not so much he didn't want them to know. "He has something that belongs to me. I won't rest until I get it back."
Alex nodded not knowing what that something was but he also wasn't in the mood to ask. Frannie looked like she had more to say but held her tongue. She would get her answers in time.
Dominik nodded to the pair and then walked out. He was a man on mission and Alex would not get in his way.
The doors slid closed behind him and Alex knew he would eventually have to get up. There was so much to deal with. The deaths of his men and handling Zelik and Sonya. As well as the matter of Costas and getting Frannie settled officially in their home.
; It could all wait just a while longer. He held her close as she ran her hands over his back. The birds chirped outside a harmonious song of peace. The sun's bright rays streamed through the window casting a warm glow onto their skin.
Everything was right with her in his arms and he would never be alone again. Frannie would have the support of her mate and soon in a little while they would have a child that they would pour all their love into.
Frannie and Alexander would have the rest of their lives together; they just had to find Mina first.
Epilogue
The screams are deafening. The constant crying unescapable in the little box.
How many weeks, how many days, how many hours have passed since I was stuck in here. There are no windows, no real light beside a flickering bulb that I just wish would go out. The constant harshness of it makes my headaches worse as the days go on.
