Donovan rose from the chair at the desk, taking out his own phone and walking through to his room. Josef knew he would be organizing the detail that would, once again, be watching over his mate.
He sat down in the chair vacated by his guard, opening his laptop and waking it up from sleep mode. As soon as it was ready he opened his mail, checking and finding a reply from Ronan. Opening the mail, he sat back and read. The news was not what he had hoped for.
‘Sent a team to site, rounded up several dozen folks, most of whom were glad we had arrived! Seemingly terrified of their new leader and glad to be ‘rescued’ ...their words not mine. Some young women were taken immediately to the emergency room to be treated for rape and beatings, the abuse was, apparently, pretty severe. This new guy wasn’t there. He had seemingly become very agitated earlier in the day and left, taking a large suitcase and two of his closest men with him. Nobody knew where he was going, or if he would be back. Sorry, Josef, looks like he escaped. I will, of course, keep the search open for him, and if I get any new information or my men catch him, I will let you know. Take care of Peri.’
Josef snarled, his fangs descending quickly in his anger. He fought for control and only just managed it, his fear for his mate once more great.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts before turning his head slightly. “Donovan.”
His guard appeared almost instantly at his back.
“Ronan sent a team to apprehend this new threat. His men failed. The Witch is loose with two of his own men and we don’t know where. We can assume he is coming after Peri...we, of course, will make sure he fails. We should be relatively safe here for the moment, however, we all should be alert. I’ll advise Gabe as soon as I can without worrying Peri.”
“Understood,” was the only response from Donovan who held his body erect, alert, his eyes already roaming around, even though they were in their own rooms with nobody nearby.
“We’ll be leaving early tomorrow, I’ve got some work to do, then I’ll rest, I suggest you do so, also. I need you at the top of your game tomorrow, Donovan. We can’t take chances, and we can’t afford for any of us to let our guards down.”
“Of course,” Donovan replied. He moved to check the door was securely locked, then the large bay windows before heading back into his own bedroom, leaving the door open as he entered.
Josef got back to work, emailing Ronan to let him know he was aware the man got away and thanking him for his help. He also advised that if he got the chance, he would be ‘dealing with’ the Witch himself, without even trying to capture the man. He then sent an email informing Liam he wanted shielding spells around the penthouse, together with alerts in case anyone with any kind of magic came anywhere near. The wording of the email made sure Liam knew the seriousness of the situation, especially now that Peri appeared to have lost her ability to cast spells.
When he was finished he got up, went to the bar and poured himself a large measure of a rather rare whisky. He drank it down, not even savoring the taste, then raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. Once more their mate was in danger, and he was feeling more than a little tense. Not a feeling he had much experience of.
He just had to make sure the Witch got nowhere near Peri, that was all, surely he could do that? He had to do that.
Placing the crystal glass down onto the counter of the bar, he moved towards the bedroom, his thoughts still swirling around madly in his brain. Never before had his mind been so tortured. Sighing, he opened the door and entered their room.
Gabe lay with his arms wrapped around a sound asleep Peri, raising a finger to his lips to shush Josef. He moved further inside, closing the door behind him, and started to undress. Once down to his underwear, he went to the bed, lifting the cover and sliding his underwear down before getting in naked.
He used to wear silk pajamas before Peri...now he much preferred feeling her skin on his, even as she slept. Gabe moved his eyes, looking over Peri’s head and raising an eyebrow in question.
Josef spoke very quietly, not wanting to disturb or waken Peri. “Ronan’s mission was a bust, the witch had already left with two of his men, taking a large suitcase with him. We can only assume he is headed our way.”
“Okay, so we do what we do best, my friend, we stay together and protect what is ours.” Gabe’s answer was also low, barely more than a whisper.
“Exactly, Wolf, that’s exactly what we need to do. I also called the doctor again – he says she probably won’t be able to practice magic for a while. I’ll explain further in the morning, when I’m telling our little Witch. It’s not a conversation I’m looking forward to.” He sighed as he settled down, laying his body the length of his mate, placing one arm around her waist and closing his eyes.
“Okay,” was all Gabe said as he too closed his eyes and tried to rest.
Peri slept soundly as her two men dozed fitfully, neither being able to push the thoughts of her being in danger from their minds.
When Peri opened her eyes, she saw Gabe’s staring down at her, worry clear in his face.
“Hey, big guy, what’s up?” she asked gently, hearing the shower on in the bath. Josef must be in there, she thought.
“Nothing, we’ve got an early start and I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful, and you’ve been tired, but we need to get up now. Josef’s placed an order for room service, breakfast will be here in a bit. So, missy, up you get and get showered and dressed.”
Gabe got out of the bed, pulling the cover from over her – she squealed at the loss of the heat the quilt gave her. She moved over and got out on the same side that Gabe stood, just as Josef came out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist.
“Morning,” she smiled, and he bent down and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.
“Good morning to you, now, go get ready, we’ve things to discuss before we leave.”
She frowned at him before moving into the bathroom, Gabe at her back, wondering what Josef wanted to talk about? Maybe he wanted her to try the locator spell again?
She found out all too soon that wasn’t what he wanted. After a very quick shower, she dressed and joined the two Vampires in the lounge area, both sitting at the table in the corner, drinking coffee. Gabe was also there, having rushed getting dressed because he was hungry. He was scoffing down a load of food as she sat down.
“Peri, I am going to tell you something, I would like if you let me finish before asking any questions. Okay?” Josef sounded serious and she began to worry, what on earth was going on?
“Of course,” she replied as she poured some OJ to drink and swallowed her medication for sickness.
“Your locator spell not working worried me, so I called Doctor Allen. He has given me some information and you need to know it...”
“Is there something wrong with our baby?” she almost shrieked.
“I said try and not interrupt, little Witch, and no there’s nothing wrong with our baby. However, a Witch and a Wolf are both magical and sometimes in such a pregnancy, for various reasons, – which Doctor Allen will explain further on our return home –a Witch carrying a Wolf baby will lose her ability to practice magic for a short while. It is nothing to be alarmed about and he assures me that your magic will return. It could be around the twenty week mark, or, in rare cases, after the birth. So that’s why the locator spell didn’t work.”
Peri was staring wide-eyed, her mind working overtime. “So how could I kill my father? I was pregnant then, even if I didn’t know it.”
“This happens around the eight to ten week mark, not before and sorts itself out later.” Josef watched her closely for any signs of real distress and was a little surprised to find none.
“Oh well, means I can rest, no more lessons or anything. I’m a little annoyed that it’s just happened right when I could do with finding the Jones' baby. Is there not something the doctor can do? Surely he can do somethi
ng so I can have my magic again...even for an hour? We need to find that baby!”
Josef sighed. “I’m afraid not, Peri. We’ll still find the child, so please don’t distress yourself.”
“Jeez, what a time to lose my magic! Just when I need it. At least my father is gone, so there are no more threats for me to worry about.”
She started to place food on her plate when she noticed the other three were deadly silent, no quips from Gabe about her ‘lighting her father up,’ and she looked between them. All three looked as if they knew something she didn’t.
“About that…apparently your father had an acolyte who has since disappeared and was having you watched. Donovan and I dealt with the man that was sent to watch you, and Ronan raided the site of the sect. It was then he found out this man has left with two of his closest men, and nobody knows where he is.”
Josef had considered not telling her this, decided against that course of action, as it could place her in more danger if she wasn’t aware there was a danger. Best to just let her know, and they could all work together to keep her safe.
Peri’s hand stopped mid-air, all thoughts of food gone, as she stared at her Vampire. Although his face showed no sign of worry, she knew different. The slight crease at the corner of his mouth, the tension at the side of his eyes...she now knew her men well, very well, and her Vampire was worried. She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, as she stared into his ice-blue eyes.
“I see, so I assume I’m in danger...again?” Her voice was oddly calm as she spoke and she wasn’t sure who that surprised more, the men sitting at the table or her.
Josef agreed. “We have to assume that, anything else would be folly, so we’ll have to make sure you’re safe. We will work together, hopefully Ronan or my own investigations will find this person and the threat will be eliminated. We will keep you safe, little Witch.”
Gabe piped up. “You’re damn right! I’ve had just about enough of this fucking sect! If I get the chance, the guy is going down...and not getting back up. Don’t you worry, baby, don’t you worry at all.” Gabe was smiling, a huge smile, but she saw the worry in his eyes.
“This is so...so...irritating!” she spat out and Gabe laughed, a full-on belly laugh. She frowned, wondering what he found so funny.
“Here, have some juice.” Josef poured her some more OJ as they both stared at Gabe.
“That’s priceless, irritating, you must be rubbing off on her, Jo! It’s irritating – not this is fucked up or I’m furious, angry, raging. Nope, she says she’s irritated. That is so one of your words.” Gabe snickered again, pointing at Josef.
Just like that the tension was broken, Peri laughing, too, throwing a punch in her Wolf’s direction.
“I’m glad to see you two are relaxed with this new situation. I think it’ll be up to us to keep our little Peri safe, Donovan.”
The words had the desired effect, the laughter immediately stopped and Gabe growled, frowning at him. “Low blow,” was all he said to Josef, who now had his own smirk on his face.
“Okay guys, I’m not feeling very hungry, funny how my appetite just left, anyway, can we go and find this missing baby? It looks like it’s going to be up to your mind-reading tricks, Josef, oh and possibly your nose, Wolf. That’s a good thought, Gabe, the baby has been gone for a couple of days, so if you scent fresh baby Jones smell on anyone, that would mean they must’ve been in recent contact with the child – I’m right, aren’t I?”
Peri was excited as she spoke, hoping this would be the case. If so, then Gabe would be a great asset in finding the child. Josef rose and moved to the package that they had received from the FBI the evening before, brought it over, and held it out to Gabe.
“It’s okay, I don’t need that, I scented it last night, it’s imprinted in my senses. If I smell that baby’s scent fresh on anyone, I’ll be sure to let you all know – and them.”
“Good, let’s go, the limo will be waiting.” Josef took the package with them, intending to return it to Agent O’Roarke.
Peri grabbed her purse before heading to the door, Donovan having unlocked it and checked out the hallway before she even got there. All was well and the four of them made their way downstairs and out to the waiting limo, Adam standing to attention and holding the back door open.
In minutes they were on their way to the Jones’ home, hopefully to help find the grieving parents' kidnapped child.
Chapter 12
The journey to the Jones’ home was over in less than twenty minutes. They barely spoke on the way, each lost in their own thoughts. Peri found she barely gave this ‘acolyte’ person a thought, trusting her men to keep her safe. She tried to think only on the little baby they were trying to find.
The picture of the gorgeous mocha-colored baby with dark curls kept popping into her head. She was pretty darn sure she had never seen such a beautiful child, and her heart went out to the parents.
Her thoughts were broken into by Josef, and his words weren’t what she was expecting.
“So, are you going to tell us? It must be pretty close by now?”
She looked over at him, realized he was indeed addressing her, and had no clue what he was talking about. Her face must’ve told him that, so he carried on.
“Your birthday? That first night we met, you said you would be having a birthday ‘in a couple of months’ or something similar. I would think it must be drawing near, care to enlighten us?”
She giggled. “You remember? Jeez, what am I saying? Of course you do, I don’t think you forget much, do you?”
Josef only shook his head as he waited for an answer.
“Do I really need to tell you? I don’t want a fuss, I mean I really don’t want a fuss. I’m not just saying that, my birthday brings bad memories, so I kinda try to forget it.”
Gabe snarled as he wondered on the reason for her words, it could only reference her father and how he treated her. He wished it had been him that had ended that sorry excuse for a father.
“It’s okay, Gabe, really, but I just don’t do anything for my birthday, which is in three days, if you absolutely have to know. I’m telling you guys, I don’t want to acknowledge it, so let’s just forget about it.”
“Three days! Jeez, baby, you weren’t gonna tell us, were you?” Gabe was a little shocked that his mate’s birthday was almost upon them and he had no idea.
“No, like I said, it’s not a happy day for me. I try to get through it without remembering.” Peri’s voice was soft now, so low it was barely more than a whisper.
Gabe pulled her closer, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you, my mate,” he said quietly, his voice full of feeling while Josef watched, his own mind coming up with ideas on how to make her birthdays from now on ones that she would remember and cherish forever.
He would make damn sure of it.
“We’re here,” Adam said, and they looked out the windows.
There were news vans and a police cordon at a set of large gates set into a high wall. A policeman came over towards their car and Josef rolled down his window, telling him they had an appointment with FBI Agent O’Roarke. The policeman nodded, “I was told to expect you, go on through,” and he waved them on.
Adam drove slowly past the waiting media, trying to make sure he didn’t knock any of them over as they fought to see who was in the limo. The darkened windows came in handy, as the media jackals saw nothing of the three in the back. They passed through the gates and were on a long driveway heading towards a very large home in no time at all.
As they drew nearer they saw a multitude of various cars out front, including two more police cruisers and two large black SUVs. Adam parked expertly and got out, opening the rear door. Once again Josef got out first, helping her, with Gabe at her back. Donovan was already out and scoping the area before falling in behind them as they walked to the large glass door.
Flanking the
door were two men dressed in dark suits, white shirts, black ties. If anyone looked like FBI agents, it was these two. Peri and her men were obviously expected, as one opened the door for them, and they went on into the house. A large entrance hall awaited them, together with another man dressed very similar to the two outside. The only difference being this man wore glasses and had a bright red tie on.
He stuck his hand out. “Hello, I’m Kevin O’Roarke, FBI Special Agent in Charge. I’ve spoken with Ronan and he says that you can help. I hope so ‘cause I’m not sure how much more the mother can take...she’s at a breaking point.”
Josef shook the man’s hand and so did Gabe while Peri stayed further back nearer Donovan. “I think we can, where is everyone? We need them all in one room, all the staff as well.”
Josef’s tone was firm and businesslike as he spoke, and Kevin nodded his head. “Yes, Ronan said that, not sure why, but hell, we’ll do whatever we can to help return this child to where it belongs. The parents are in the large lounge down here, and the staff are waiting. I’ll get them organized and sent in.”
He led them down a hallway as he spoke, indicating a room at the end before raising his left wrist and speaking quietly. “Bring the staff,” was all he said before they arrived at the doorway.
He pushed it open and walked in, they followed. The mother, Eleanor, was sitting on a large, plush chair, her face pure white, her eyes bloodshot and red rimmed...poor lady, she's been crying for days, Peri thought. Calvin Jones was pacing back and forth in front of a large open fireplace. His face was tight, full of anger, and Peri could actually feel the anger rolling off him. Probably his way of dealing with this nightmarish situation, she thought.
Kevin ushered them forward. “These are the people I was telling you about, they’re here to help,” he said. Eleanor’s eyes raked over them, found Peri’s and stayed there.
“You can help? You can find our son?” The woman’s voice was pleading, desperate, and fresh tears escaped her eyes, running down her pale cheeks.
The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire Series Boxed Set Page 42
