by Sydney Addae
"Now? Before you complete your end of the bargain?" Ivona's tone said it was a ridiculous request.
"Yes," Gem said, stepping closer to Ivona with her finger pointed. "So far we've shown good faith, and paid for everything, I might add. You haven't done one damn thing to prove you're willing to do the same. Now you want us to add another person on this save-my-mom trip without giving up anything. Not going to happen. Tell me what ingredients went into that potion and how it was administered or this is over right now."
"You aren't in charge here," Ivona said in a hard tone. "I didn't make a deal with you." She looked at Damian. "I'm ready to go and my aunt's coming with us." She tried to walk around Gem, but the feisty half-breed blocked her path.
"Either do as she says or we leave without you," Damian said, glad to back the doctor. He'd never wanted to give in to Ivona's demands in the first place.
"Are you sure about that? Don't you think you should check with your Alpha first? He might not agree." Her condescending tone rubbed his beast the wrong way. She may have knowledge of his kind, but she didn't know them.
Damian smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. "In this place, this country, I am Alpha and if you don't do as the doctor said, you're on your own."
"I don't believe you," Ivona said, her gaze flew from Damian to Raoul.
Damian shrugged. "What's it going to be?"
"I don't trust you to keep your word," she said.
"That makes it unanimous, we don't trust you either," Damian said. "Time is not your friend, you claimed there's a deadline?"
Ivona gritted her teeth and glared at the old woman, who shrugged. After a few moments she dug into her bag, pulled out an index card and handed it to Gem.
"No, read it first. Tell me what's on the card and then read the ingredients," Gem said, pulling out her cell phone.
"Why waste time when you can read it yourself?" Ivona snapped.
Damian understood Gem needed to listen for lies. "Read it, stop being difficult."
Ivona glared at him and read the information.
When she finished, Gem simply stared at her with disdain. "Now that you've read that bullshit, you have ten seconds to tell us the truth or you die."
"Ivona, child," Saffi said in that scratchy voice of hers. "They can smell and hear a lie."
Ivona's eyes widened as she looked at Damian and Gem. She swallowed hard before closing her eyes. With stilted sentences she gave the formula from memory and answered all of Gem's medicinal questions.
When the doctor was satisfied she had all the information she needed, Damian turned to the old woman. "Who are you?"
"Saffi, a close friend of the family. Tara sent word to me that she's been moved and asked I get word to her daughter. If Ivona had contacted me earlier I would've made other arrangements, but there isn't time if we plan to reach her before the execution."
"Execution? I thought she was being held by a jealous lover," Damian said, looking at Ivona.
"That all changed," Saffi said, drawing his attention, "when she stabbed him trying to escape."
"Ouch," Raoul said, placing a hand on his side as they headed toward Quentin and the large SUV.
"There's no need for you to accompany us, give the directions to Quentin and he'll find it," Damian said to the old woman, impressed by her ability to keep up with them.
"We will see," she said in a non-committal tone.
Chapter 13
Generals Miller and Cralls sat at the long table along with another highly decorated officer. Hawke nodded his greeting and took a seat. Asia suggested he accept Alpha Bartholomew’s explanation for allowing Damian’s exposure to the itching virus, but it still bothered him that the man thought his son was indestructible.
No one was.
In this instance Hawke believed Damian’s eagerness to prove worthy worked against him. He should have asked the Alpha questions before stepping into a dangerous situation. Asia agreed but felt they needed to coach the boy rather than give him answers all the time so he could develop a sense of what’s important in his new job.
Hawke promised not to interfere. La Patron understood his frustration and sent him to snatch the Knight program from the jaws of the Joint Chiefs to keep his mind off his pup’s situation. Since he couldn’t ask questions about the itching debacle, he’d settle for taking them down a notch.
After a general discussion between the others of items that held zero interest for him, Hawke heard his name called and straightened in his chair.
"La Patron asked we grant you an audience, there are some questions?" General Cralls said.
"Yes. Regarding the training of the Knights, La Patron is concerned over the program. It's five times more intense than anything you're currently doing. What's the reason for that?" These three were the only personnel with complete information on the Knights program and the ones Silas wanted to answer the complaints he'd received.
Cralls leaned back in his chair and stared across the table. "General Nate? You're in charge of that component."
Nate, an average height human with a severely receding hairline, cleared his throat. "The types of missions require harsher training."
"Who handled these missions prior to the Knights?" Hawke asked in a low voice.
"Seals, Rangers, it just depended on the job," Nate said.
"Were they ever successful?" Hawke asked.
"Yes, yes, of course." Nate paused. "Not all the time, though."
Hawke's brow rose. "Do you expect a 100% success rate from the Knights?"
"Well, er, yes." He looked at the other men at the table. "I thought that was the purpose of this special group, to get more and better results than our current teams."
"Does everyone here think the Knights will have that type of success rate?" Hawke allowed the incredulity of the question to flow in his voice.
No one answered, at first. "I believe it will be higher but not 100%, that's god-like and doesn't take into account the other side could have Knights of their own," Cralls said, looking at Nate.
Nate's mouth pursed and then he nodded. "Hadn't thought about that, having their own Knights. Makes sense though. We'd need a team to handle them specifically." He looked at Cralls. "Do we have enough?"
"Yes," Hawke said. "La Patron will not authorize more recruits until these are trained, in the field, and we're able to monitor the success or failure of this program."
Cralls and Miller nodded.
Nate frowned and looked at Hawke. "What if the other side has several teams of Knights? How will we counter?"
"With wisdom," Hawke said, dismissing the man. "The current training for the Knights is biased and discriminatory. I don't understand why you're in charge of their training, General Nate. You may have successfully trained SEAL’s and Rangers, but Knights require a different mindset."
"This is a top secret military program for which I was recruited as a personal favor by one of the Joint Chiefs. They thought it important to have someone with training experience on board, but you're right, I don't fully understand how it all works. Is there someone you could recommend to assist me?" He looked at Hawke.
"Yes. La Patron has sent for two men, brothers actually, who will take over training at the compound. He wants them cleared to train the Knights as well."
"Cain and Abel?" General Miller asked, smiling.
Hawke nodded and wondered how the General knew those two. They'd arrived this morning after leaving Damian's area in the hands of Russell, another KnightForce agent, yesterday.
Miller's smile widened. "Look out. Those two are wild and the best trackers in the country. Goddess, it's been a long time since I've seen them. Can't wait to hear some of their tales. Now I can relax. With those two in charge of training, our team will be unbeatable or damn near close."
"When do they arrive?" Nate asked, sounding resigned. "They aren't former military, are they by chance?"
"No," Hawke said, appreciating the man's flexibility.
"Didn't think
I'd get that lucky," Nate said and then smiled. "What do you want me to do? My role is to assist General Cralls to prepare these men for duty. I pulled the short stick for training and will gladly pass that over to someone more qualified as long as we fulfill the mission."
Hawke looked at Cralls to answer that question. Hawke had given La Patron's instructions regarding training and that was the limit of his involvement on that matter. While Cralls, Miller and Nate discussed protocols and job descriptions, Hawke made a report.
"Sir?"
A few moments later, Silas responded. "How did it go?"
"Just as Miller and Cralls said it would. Nate's not a bad guy, just a stickler for rules. They're discussing everything now and by the time they're done, everything will be set up just as you requested." He wondered if La Patron changed his mind and would seek answers here regarding the itching epidemic.
"Good. Cain and Abel touched down in Virginia a half hour ago. Alpha Lyle picked them up and will take them to training in the morning. I've told Miller and he's anxious to meet with them tonight. I hadn't realized the three knew each other until I mentioned Miller to Cain."
"Yes, he agrees with your choice, feels they're the right choice to train the Knights."
"Now that they understand my vision and how I want this team to perform, they'll get it done in a way that reinforces pack values. I'm pleased on that front, but disappointed that the itching situation hasn't been handled."
Hawke started to ask more questions, but refrained. "Damian should be touching down any minute."
"They've arrived and Doctor Okla got the witch to give her the formula for the cure, but the quantities are all off. Matt and Passen are running variations through the computer right now, but we haven't got it right. Last night two more cases were admitted to the clinic; they weren't as bad as the others, but there aren't supposed to be any cases at all. That was the deal with the witch."
Everything Silas said was true. Hawke wouldn’t have given in to the witch’s demands but he wasn’t Alpha and not privy to everything on the table. "What do we do?"
Silas released a long stream of air. "For now, Damian continues the damn quest. From what he told me, the doctor's smart and was able to trap the witch already. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and she'll get more information we can use to expedite things."
"What about the new cases? Did she lie? Is she still contaminating people?"
"I don't know. She did say there was a list of people, myself included. Maybe that hasn't stopped."
"I'll have Damian ask her about it. It's possible there's something built into the curse that won't allow it to stop until certain elements are in place," Hawke said.
"Is that possible?"
"Yes. I think so. Later today when I return I'll spend some time in the lab researching it. In the meantime, I'll have Damian ask the doctor about her opinion before he asks the witch in case I'm wrong and it cannot be done."
"Good idea. Keep me informed."
"Okay," Nate said, drawing Hawke's attention. "I think this works best for everyone. General Cralls is over the entire Knights project and I'll assist him in the office, which is where my talents are better suited anyway. The new trainers start tomorrow. I will inform the trainees they have the night off and to report at 0600 tomorrow."
"Sounds good to me," Miller said, standing.
"I appreciate you working alongside me," Cralls said, standing and extending his hand across the table to Nate.
"It's a great plan, I still have a lot to learn," Nate said, shaking Cralls’ and then Miller's hand.
Smiling, Hawke stood and shook each man's hand. "Another score for La Patron."
Chapter 14
Gem glanced at Ivona, who looked out the window of the SUV while rubbing her fingers back and forth over a tattered piece of cloth. The old woman sat hunched in the seat behind Gem next to Raoul, constantly moving the seat belt strap from across her chest to behind her back to across her chest again. Initially she'd refused to wear it. Quentin, a large, bald, full-blood with dark green eyes and a full beard, leaned close to her ear and said a few words that changed her mind. Since then she'd sat silent with her gaze on her lap. Gem didn't trust the woman. Saffi didn't smell old, or sick. Most older humans, especially those who couldn't straighten their posture, had an underlying odor of sickness. This one had none.
Tired of guessing about the human, Gem wondered if the doctors in La Patron's lab had been able to do anything with the notes she had sent with the ingredients Ivona gave her. Although the human hadn't lied when she gave out the formula, Gem didn't trust her to have deliberately left something out that may throw everything off. Her thoughts drifted to the sick she'd left behind. Had they gotten worse? If so how bad? Would Dr. Connors keep them sedated or try something new? Something she hadn't thought of? She hoped not.
The moment the thought entered her mind she banished it. If Connors could help her patients, she welcomed it. Shutting out the voices insisting if he did, then her career in the full-blood medical field would be over, she stared straight ahead with her hands clasped tight together in her lap. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Damian glanced back at her, their gazes met and then she looked away. He hadn't said anything about her behavior at the airport, not yet anyway, but she was sure he would comment on her taking over the conversation the way she did.
Goddess, what was I thinking? This whole deal with Ivona and the way she tried to jerk them around with no regard to the harm she'd done made Gem's blood boil. It had been all she could do not to snatch the witch and throw her into the wall.
"Breathe. Calm down."
Gem jerked at the voice in her head. She hadn't connected mentally with anyone on this trip. "How did you get in here?"
"La Patron set it up," Damian said. "You're throwing off a lot of heat, anger I suppose. The humans feel it and are uncomfortable."
Gem snorted and turned to look out the window. "She doesn't care about the people she's hurting; why should I care about her?"
"You don't. But I want you to care about the success of this mission. And she's an important part of it, for now at least. Once we hear from Hawke that they've created... an antidote, is that the right word?"
She shrugged and fought down a smile. "It'll work; I know what you mean."
"Once that happens, her value dwindles to zero, she has no leverage. She’s aware of all of this, so I believe there's a whole lot more going on. Something she hasn't told us, a surprise or something that will save her ass for what she's done."
Gem thought of what Damian said and nodded slowly. "You're right. No sane person would do what she did and sit in a truck with us without fearing for their lives. She and the old woman are planning something. Plus, she smells off."
"Ivona?"
"No, the old woman. She doesn't smell old."
A few seconds later, Damian spoke. "I don't know what old smells like, but she's not sick. Quentin says she's lived in Wales for 63 years, and is a part of a coven. Another witch."
"Wonder why she's wearing this disguise?"
"I'm not sure, Quentin's dealing with that. When we stop, stay in the car."
"Why? What's going on?"
"The information on the location Saffi gave us came back and we need to verify a few things." The SUV veered right off the highway to a feeder road and then turned right down an unpaved path.
"Where are we going?" Ivona asked, sounding alarmed.
"To meet with the guides," Damian said. "We need to make arrangements for the new location." He met her gaze in the rear view mirror.
"Oh, okay." Ivona paused. "Is there... is there any way to verify mom's been moved." She glanced behind her at Saffi. "I'm not saying you're lying or anything, it's just I'd like to be sure she's not there first."
Gem bit back the sarcastic comment bubbling in her throat. Who did the female think they were, Hogan's Heroes? They weren't here to flit from place to place searching for her mother.
"We're going
to one location. You're free to go anywhere you'd like, but we negotiated to rescue your mother based on the information you provided. This isn't an open-ended contract," Damian said with a touch of exasperation.
"I know, I know, it just seems... too much of a coincidence being told she's been moved once I arrived and she didn't let me know. I guess that's what’s bothering me." Ivona looked at the window. "I'm not sure we should change our original plans."
"That's unexpected," Gem said.
"Raoul says the old woman tensed the moment Ivona challenged her information, she's angry but has it under control. It'll be interesting to see how these two play out," Damian said.
The vehicle stopped. Damian, Quentin and Ivona opened their doors. Gem sensed the old woman looking at her and she opened her door as well. Raoul assisted Saffi out the back and Gem's gaze collided with the older witch. Neither looked away. Raoul tugged on Saffi's arm, breaking the connection.
"Be careful with the witch," Gem said, taking a deep breath and leaning against the truck.
"Did something happen?" Damian asked.
"Yes. I saw something behind her eyes and it wasn't wolf. She's a breed, but I don't know what kind."
"What? Another shifter? Why is she here as a witch? Why didn't we scent her beast?" He paused. "She hid it, but why?"
"Maybe she's prey? Or food? Who knows? Be careful."
"Come inside. I need you to help watch them. We need to verify her beast before we start, and I need La Patron's permission to interact with another ... breed."
Pushing away from the fender, Gem moved toward the house and stopped. Nose lifted, she scented the air and turned to the side. "Someone's out here." She moved in the direction of the blood trail. Raoul caught up with her and they headed into the woods. At the foot of a tree a young girl lay still, bloodied cuts and wounds covered her arms and legs. Her blue denim dress covered most of her body, offering protection from the elements.
Gem stooped and inhaled. The child was severely dehydrated. "I need my bag." While Raoul went to the truck, Gem continued evaluating the child's health.
