“No.” He sighed long and hard. “What do you want me to do? My hands are tied. I have an extraction team in place to remove him right after the ceremony. The Prime Minister has agreed to this. Unfortunately the ceremony lasts four days.”
Silas swallowed done his anger, it tasted like bitter oil on the back of his tongue. Over the years there had been peace between him and the Pentagon. He made sure his soldiers performed and rose through the ranks. This was the first Joint Chiefs without a full-blood in years. Nevertheless, they crossed the line. A line he would make sure they never crossed again. He would remind them of a few things they had forgotten. “Do you remember what I said to you when you asked for my son?”
There was silence and then Jim spoke. “Yes Sir, I do.”
“Okay. I just needed to be sure we understand each other.”
“We will still uphold our end of the deal and not release the footage,” he said in a rush.
Silas laughed, it was a dry, mocking sound that did nothing to ease his anger. The sharp points of his teeth nicked his lips. He savored the salty taste of his blood. There would be more blood. “That worked once, but not again. I don’t care if you release every tape in your inventory to every major network and cable. Be my guest, but you aren’t the only one with interesting footage. I have answers to a lot of questions asked over the years in my possession. Get ready to clean house, Jim. And never call this number again. I refuse to talk to a deceiver and I refuse to help you clean up the mess you just stepped into.”
“Sir? Mess? Is there something I need to know?” he asked in a low voice as if they were friends sharing a confidence. Silas delivered a solid punch.
“My son is not staying in Lyrill for four days. You may not keep your promises, but I damn sure keep mine. And when the President asks why things are topsy-turvy within the next forty eight hours, make sure you tell him the deal you made with the Prime Minister and that you are not allowed to ever contact me again. None of the joint chiefs will ever contact me for assistance, you have no honor. You are on your own.”
“Sir?”
Silas hung up on the panic laden voice, glanced at his watch and turned on his computer.
“I told Rese what was going on, and to stay put, help was on the way,” Tyrone said and took a seat on the love seat.
Silas grunted and entered his security codes into his offshore accounts. First thing he would do was shake up the market. Despite what he told Jim, information proving the existence of wolves had to be muzzled. Dealing with the government required brute force of a different nature. He would mess with the money, tamper with the market and turn the tables. Living three hundred years carried tremendous benefits, including amassing large quantities of monies on every continent. He would move around just enough to cause rumbling and shaking in some markets. Those who were around long before this current administration would recognize the signs. Those who did not would scratch their heads. His fist dug deep into the world-wide economy and he pulled strings like a master musician. One of the reasons he protected his people so well was their financial stability. The wolf nation contributed heavily to the global economy, and he was a major player few knew about. No matter what anyone said in public, behind closed doors money sealed the deal, something he learned centuries ago.
“Heard anything?” Tyrone asked.
“Talked to the Pentagon, they want to retrieve him after the ceremony is over.”
“No! They’ve lost their fucking minds.” Tyrone jumped up. “Hell no. Something is wrong with people who pulled what they did. I don’t trust those fuckers.”
Silas glanced up and continued moving billions of dollars to other areas. He watched his banker, Jodello on the security monitor. The full-blood’s fingers flew over the keyboard, his attention sharp and his energy palpable as he executed complicated transactions, moving money to new places, and buying and selling stocks. The impact would be catastrophic in some areas immediately; in others it would take a little longer. He and Jordello had danced this rodeo before when Silas needed to make a point, but the amounts had never been this great.
“I promised my mate he would be home before the end of the celebration and he will be. Give me a second I need to finish this,” Silas spoke without looking up.
Muttering beneath his breath Tyrone returned to his seat.
Silas continued dealing with stocks and moving money into strategic places certain to send the ripples he wanted through the market. It took him and his banker almost an hour to complete the changes before he was satisfied. Recollection of the military’s deception pumped his adrenaline, and energized him to push forward.
“Jacques, how are we on the first leak for Admiral Stakes?” Silas planned to hit each person on the Joint Chiefs where it hurt. He would air their dirty laundry while forcing them to keep his secrets. It amazed Silas what people said when they thought no one could hear them. Admiral Stakes despised the President, he thought the man was weak and ineffectual and called him derogatory names in the company of his closest friend at home. Unfortunately for the Admiral, his gardener was a full-blood whose job included monitoring and taping conversations of that type. Silas received the transmission the very next day and had stored it for two years. In the morning it would be viral on the internet with a minimum of a thousand blogs discussing the conversation. By the time the Pentagon acted Jacques social connections would have tried and judged the Admiral in the people’s court. The Admiral was first, but each of the chiefs would be harassed, humiliated and ultimately lose their position of power. And that was just the beginning.
“I had to clean up the tape and just sent the first wave to the east coast. I am pulling up the rest of them now.” He yawned. “Did you get any sleep?”
“Two hours, but I’m awake now.”
“You hit the markets?”
“Yeah, Jordello handled the transactions, and got them moved under the radar like before. We’ll hear something today.”
His cell beeped, it was the English Alpha, Frederick, he presided over London and some nearby towns. Silas waved at Tyrone to draw his attention and then answered.
“Yeah?”
“That area has several small packs and lots of territory fights in that region. Lots of rogues. I have one name, Milque, he may have the largest pack with twenty to fifty wolves. From what I heard none of the others in that area have ten.”
“How do I contact him?”
“I don’t know. No one could tell me that, just his name and that he is a nasty piece of work who will probably refuse you on general principle.”
Silas chuckled, mentally putting a team together. “That would be a mistake…for him.”
“I agree, but… they say he is an ass. Do you need any further assistance? I can add my pack to your representatives, if needed.”
“I appreciate the offer but I don’t want you involved in the possible deaths of ten to twenty wolves on European soil. We are visiting, while that is your home. Please pass the word that I took the time to seek the Alpha so that I could gain permission to cross into his territory. If it were not for my son, I would not break pack protocol.”
“Yes, Sir. I have already begun telling other Alphas in and across our borders. They are aware this is a specific emergency trip. Many send you well-wishes and offer their support.”
Silas nodded. “Thank you for the information, and if you need me, you have this number.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you, La Patron.”
Silas twisted his neck before filling Tyrone in on the conversation. “I am not very concerned about the wolves we’ll encounter, although they are a real threat. Especially if they decide to go after Tyrese themselves to use as some sort of leverage. The military is on stand-by in that area which makes me wonder if they will try to stop our team.”
Tyrone nodded slowly. “If their orders are to make the Prime Minister happy so the deal is signed, they will do everything to make sure he gets whatever he wants. That will complicate things a bit.”
“Complicate?” Silas’s brow rose.
“Yeah, for the military when Rese leaves before the ceremony is over and they have to deal with the guy. According to Rese he’s an arrogant asshole.” Tyrone snickered and then sobered. “I would really like to be on that team.”
Silas leaned back in his chair and placed his crossed-hands on his stomach to ease the rolling nausea set off by Tyrone’s request. He cleared his throat and met his son’s gaze. “I am sending Asia as lead. They are expecting her, but cannot stop her and they know that. Leon, Brix and Angus will round out the team.” He sighed. “If I send you, I have no way of communicating with Tyrese and I need that right now. I sent him. He is a hostage because of my bad judgment and decision, something I will regret forever. I can lend my strength to his if he needs it to escape, to fight or heal, but only through you. With you gone, I can’t help. I cannot imagine not helping him. Me nor my wolf can comprehend that.” He ended his sentence in a broken whisper.
Tyrone stared at him for a moment and then hung his head. Neither of them spoke. “How is Angus going in? He was Tyrese at the ceremony, who will he be in Lyrill?’
“That should be obvious. He is going as you.”
Tyrone’s head snapped up. Glassy eyed, he met Silas’ gaze and nodded slowly. “Thank you.”
Chapter 10
Hank, security chief opened the cell where five rebels sat chained to the wall. Asia looked at the prisoners. “All men?” She spat, disgusted by the sight in front of her. “I should’ve known only they’d be stupid enough to try La Patron.” She glanced at Angus and then down at the bracelet the four of them wore. “What do you need us to do?”
Angus had all three of them hold out their arms with the bracelets, he waved his over each one while murmuring low beneath his breath. The bracelets warmed and then disappeared. She ran her hand over where the bracelet had been and felt it. Somehow he had made them invisible or flesh colored, she wasn’t sure which.
“Pick one and touch him a couple of minutes, that’s all.” He nodded to Hank who left the area.
She looked the men over. None looked particularly appealing. She moved forward realizing they worked against the clock.
“They look like children playing as grown-ups,” Leon said, walking to the one nearest him.
“Fuck you,” the full-breed growled trying in vain to hit him.
Leon tsked and placed his hand on the man’s head.
Angus and Brix did the same. There were two men left for her to choose from. She stepped toward the one on her right. Fear flashed in his eyes. His gaze slid to the man beside him with a silent plea. She changed direction and touched the man who had been silent the entire time. This was her first chameleon experience, she had no idea what to expect. The sudden rush of his memories surprised her. His childhood flew by like a gazelle, followed by the rest of his life, including the names and hang-outs of rebel forces. Chances were La Patron had already tapped into these memories and pulled out this information, but she would check with him to be sure.
She met the rebel’s terrified gaze. On some level he understood what was happening. He twisted to dislodge her hand, but the power of the bracelet and the chains held him tight in her grip. Those two minutes seemed like a lifetime, in a way it was. She captured his memories and placed them in a small compartment in the back of her mind for safe-keeping.
“Done?” Angus asked from behind her.
“Yeah.” She removed her hand from his forehead and stepped back.
“Me too,” Brix said.
The four men slumped against the wall, their chains the only thing keeping them from hitting the ground. The fifth man’s head swung from one prisoner to the other. “What have you done to them? What’s wrong with them?”
Angus glanced at her. She nodded. They would take the extra two minutes and do this right. Angus stepped toward the remaining prisoner.
“Stay away from me, you’re the devil,” he screamed. One moment it was Angus the next it was one of the prison mates. The man blinked, shook his head and pointed a shaky finger. “Mack? Mack is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” Angus said as he reached out, placed his palms on both sides of the man’s head and snapped his neck.
Asia glanced at Brix and Leon; they had already morphed into the prisoners. She looked at the man whose identity she’d just taken, tapped her bracelet and allowed the change to overtake her.
“His name was Anton.” She stopped. The deep cadence coming from her throat surprised her.
“I’m Lee,” Leon said smiling.
“Baxter,” Angus said, sounding appalled. “Who the hell has a name like that?”
“You do until we located the marines and change again,” she said smiling at his scowl.
“I’m Aaron, and I have a crush on Anton. Supposedly, everyone knows this.”
Asia groaned at the complication. “Okay, anybody else have loved ones we may run into before we clear Colorado?”
“Nope, Lee’s a hound dog, loves the ladies.” Leon laughed.
Brix, Leon’s mate growled. “Lee had better leave the ladies alone.”
Leon patted Brix’s cheek, his smile vanished. “Stay in character big guy, we are on a tight schedule. I take my mate seriously, you know that. But La Patron is entrusting us to bring his son back… that is a major honor. Stay focused.” He slapped his mate on the chest, gave him another hard look and stepped back.
Brix growled but remained silent.
Asia looked at Angus.
“Baxter is a hound dog as well,” Angus said after a long sigh.
“Good, let’s go back into town, Hank left a four wheeler for us on the other side of the gate.” Asia waved them forward and tripped. Silas’ plan sounded great in the library, exchange identities with the rebels to leave the mansion without alerting the military. He was positive the mansion was being watched to see who left to rescue Tyrese. He had already sent a set of men off as decoys, their flight left thirty minutes ago. After Asia’s team cleared the small town, he would send another set. He planned to keep the military busy chasing shadows to give them time to leave the country.
Jacques discovered a shipment of marines were headed to Lyrill, a set were in Colorado Springs. The plan was to take their identities and fly in on a military plane. Simple if they could be where they needed to be at the right time. No one took into account the awkwardness of wearing a body vastly different than your own.
“You okay?” Angus asked.
“Gotta get used to this body.”
“No…no treat it as your own, make it adapt to you. Anyone looking will see his correct movements, but you need to be comfortable in the skin, the only way to do that is to remain true to your own movements.”
“I did that and tripped.”
“Forget about the outer trappings they are an illusion. Just be you, when you speak it will sound like him, you can search his memories and use them to your advantage. But this only works when you remain true to your real self, it should be comfortable.”
“That’s what I explained to Leon,” Brix said, sounding authoritative after the chastisement from his mate. He had worn a chameleon bracelet for five years while infiltrating the Liege Lords organization and was an authority on the matter.
It made sense. Inhaling she thought of the mission, the promise she made to have Tyrese here before the last day of the celebration. A sense of calm and purpose settled on her shoulders. She strode toward the door and down the long corridor that would take them down into the lower part of the basement. From there they would access a tunnel and climb up into another building. From there they would take the truck and head toward the military base in Colorado Springs.
An hour later they reached the small, sparsely populated town fifty miles away from the mansion. The main road drove through the center of town, a drug and convenience store, two bars, a dollar store and at the very end a gas station with a garage. Angus pulled into the two-bay gas station where La Patron
secured another truck for them. Loud clicks on the concrete had them all swiveling toward the sound. A tall, buxom redhead dressed in a tight dress, which showed way more than it covered, and five inch heels grinned with her arms outstretched.
“Lee, I’m glad to see you baby.” The full-blood bitch sashayed to Leon, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him before anyone could say a word.
Brix’s hand vibrated. His clenched fist remained at his side, but Asia was not sure how much longer he would remain standing passively next to Angus. Leon pulled the woman’s arms from around his neck.
“Shirl, I got business to tend to, I don’t have time to give you what you need, ‘sides…” He sniffed twice and then grinned at her. “It smells like you done had that cat scratched already tonight. You a greedy bitch.” He slapped her on the ass.
She giggled and ran her finger down the middle of his chest. “Yeah, but I been missing you. How long you gonna be? I’ll wait.”
Leon nodded and slapped her ass again. “Coupla hours. Be back ‘fore sunrise.” He pushed away and headed towards them. “Keep it wet for me,” he said over his shoulder.
She giggled and waved at him.
Asia withheld a groan.
Angus winked at the bitch.
Brix walked stiffly behind her. Seconds later they encountered one of Silas’ security guards sitting casually on a stoop in front of a bay.
“Nice evening,” Asia said curious if he could pick up her scent.
“Yeah, it is.” He spit to the side and eyed them for a second. “Can I help you?”
Angus flashed into La Patron and then back into the rebel persona so fast the guard fell backward and then scrambled to his feet.
“Yes, Sir…it’s right here.” He stepped aside and closed the door behind them.
BirthSign (La Patron, The Alpha's Alpha) Page 10
