by C. D. Hersh
The door opened and a single eyed looked out from beneath the two inches of heavy chain lock.
Grasping the door between the chain, he said, “Open up, LJ. It’s me.” He barely got his fingers out in time before she shut the door on them. “Holy crap, LJ. Are you trying to break my hand?” Then he remembered. “Pretty boy,” he called through the door. “Pretty boy.”
The door flew open, and she yanked him inside.
He hugged her so hard she started coughing. “Thank God, you’re all right.”
“Where’s my cheeseburger?” she asked when she stopped coughing.
“Forget the cheeseburger. Has anyone tried to get in?”
“Easy for you to say. You probably had one already.”
Grasping her by the shoulders, he shook her gently. “Has anyone else rung your bell tonight?”
A small seductive smile eased across her face. “Geez, Hugh, if that’s what you wanted why didn’t you just say so?”
“Arrggh! Woman you’re going to drive me nuts. He’s on his way and all you can think about is food and sex.”
She jerked backward at his exclamation. “Who’s on his way?”
“The shifter.”
LJ paled at the news. Looping his arm around her, he led her to the living room then swept the window curtain closed. “Sit,” he ordered. Then he dialed Rhys. “I’m here, and she’s safe. Where is he?”
“I lost him in traffic. Going to park the car and track him from the air. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“Okay. Let me know when you arrive.” Hugh turned toward LJ. “Get inside the hall bathroom and lock it.”
She nodded, her eyes as round as ping pong balls.
“Don’t come out no matter what you hear. Promise?”
“You’re scaring me, Hugh.”
“Don’t be afraid. I’m going to take care of you.” And him if he makes one move to get into this house. Drawing her to him, he kissed her, then spun her around and gave her a boost toward the hall bathroom.
When he heard the door shut and the lock click, Hugh turned on the living room lamps and snapped off the foyer lights. Then he unlocked the front door handle and sat on the darkened foyer stairs. Drawing his gun, he leveled it at the door and waited. If the SOB opened the door even an inch, he’d shoot him right through his black heart.
He didn’t have to wait long. A soft knock sounded at the door.
“LJ, honey. Are you home? It’s me. Hugh.”
Hugh’s insides shook with rage. He took a deep breath to steady his hands. Come on. Open the door. I’m itching to shoot an intruder.
The handle turned ever so slightly, then stopped and eased back into position. Hugh slipped to the window and peered through the crack in the drapes. His double stood on the stoop, eyes narrowed, head swiveling side-to-side. Searching. Sniffing the air. Suddenly, his head jerked skyward and his human form melted into a coyote.
Bounding to the door, Hugh threw it open and took aim, but the animal leapt away before he could get off a shot. A howl sounded on the night air as the creature made its escape.
Hugh put the safety back on his gun and pounded his hand on the doorjamb. As he turned to go back inside, he heard the rustle of wings. Rotating toward the sound, he saw Rhys land as a hawk and then shift to a human. He motioned Rhys inside and went to get LJ.
Holding a shivering, frightened LJ in his arms, Hugh tried to comfort her. “He knows we’re on to him now,” he said. “Maybe he’ll leave you alone.”
She buried her face against his chest. “Don’t leave, Hugh. Please.”
“I won’t, honey. You go on upstairs. I’ll let Rhys out and be there in a minute.”
As she climbed the stairs, Hugh stepped closer to Rhys and lowered his voice so she couldn’t hear. “Did you get a look at him?”
“Yeah. Falhman. I’m sure of that.”
“As soon as the marriage license comes through we’re getting married. In the meantime, I want protection for her whenever I’m not around. Can you arrange something with Eli’s people?”
“Move up the timetable. We’re going to be busy busting mobile labs and catching terrorists. Owen just rolled over on Falhman.”
“Anything we can make stick?”
“Probably not in the real world. Falhman owns a whole wardrobe of Teflon suits.”
Alexi sat at the kitchen table with the files Owen had given her and her research spread across the surface. Nothing led back to Falhman. Dummy corporations. Hidden networks. Items paid with untraceable bit coins. Even if they made arrests they wouldn’t be Falhman or his shifter associates.
Yawning, she stretched her stiff muscles then rose. A bleary eyed Eli shuffled into the room.
“Have ye nae been tae bed, lassie?” he asked.
“Couldn’t sleep. After Rhys’ story of Falhman at LJ’s door, I couldn’t stop thinking about him and his nefarious organization.”
Moving a few papers aside, Eli took a seat at the table. “Did ye find anything new?”
“No.”
“’Tis nae surprise tae me. I’ve chased the man fer years and canna prove anything. He always has someone who’s willing tae accept money or power or whatever tae take the fall fer him.”
“The power of persuasion?”
“The power o’ Tynan. Fear ’tis a terrible motivator. Just look at Owen. He’s afeared fer those he loves and ’tis willing tae sacrifice himself fer them.”
“Sacrificial fear is a good kind of fear, isn’t it?”
“Fear ’tis fear, and it can be twisted tae suit needs, bad or guid.”
“How’d you get so smart?”
“Living beyond me years.”
She scooped up the papers and slipped them into a folder. “We might not pin any of this on Falhman, but at least we’re stopping his attack on Cleveland. Owen got the RFID chip out of his arm, and the key is in our possession. Rhys and Hugh think they know which ship Falhman’s chemicals are on, and we’ve got eyes on the mobile lab. Everything is timed to go down as soon as they get the shipment. The minute the riot starts on the dock, we’re going to move in and snatch the delivery as soon as it hits the warehouse.”
“Ye done guid, lassie. I’m proud o’ ye. I’m even proud o’ yer decision tae save yer enemy when she needed ye.”
“Really? You sure fought me on it.”
“’Tis only because I needed tae know where yer hirt really ’tis. Ye and Rhys are going tae make fine Promised Ones, and even finer parents.”
“Speaking of parents. I’ve managed to figure out most of Owen’s plans, but I still don’t know what child he planned to save.”
“Since he ’twas saving and nae harming a wee one, I’d nae be worrying aboot it. Mayhap the things he’s done to help are his first steps on the road back tae who he really ’twas afore Roc persuaded him intae shifter world.”
“I need to remind him of who he used to be. Hopefully, it will help him see he’s worth saving.”
“Guid idea, lassie.” He smiled at her, his whiskers curling upward on his cheeks. “Aye, yer gonna be a bonny leader.”
Chapter 35
His papers strewn across the desktop, Hugh commandeered Alexi’s office as his headquarters the evening of the planned raids, giving orders like a drill sergeant.
“The minute the riots start, I’ll take a small contingency of men and cover the dock and warehouse. As soon as the shipment is secured, I’ll signal and the arrests of the rioters can begin.
“The raid on the mobile lab is set to start the minute we take control of the chemicals. Homeland Security will grab the persons responsible for planting the devices in Public Square. Everyone understand their assignments?”
A murmur of yeses filled the room.
“Set y
our watches. Nineteen hundred hours. We move in at twenty hundred hours.”
As the troops filed out of her office, leaving her, Rhys and Eli behind, Alexi sat back and marveled at Hugh’s military precision. Everything was wrapped in a neat package, secure and snug.
Katrina and Owen arrived as the last of the troops went off to their stations.
“Only a few hours now and we’ll have the terrorists under lock and key. Thanks to you, Owen.” She dug in her desk drawer and removed three envelopes. “Here’s your new identities.”
“Thanks,” Katrina said as she accepted them.
“Have you convinced him to stay with you once he’s sure you’re safe?”
“Not yet. He still thinks staying with us puts us in too much danger. I think he’s trying to punish himself by coming back to accept Falhman’s wrath. He thinks that will keep him from searching for us.”
“She’s got a point about punishing yourself.” When he didn’t respond, Alexi continued, “Eli said something to me the other day I think you need to hear, Owen.”
“What?”
“That what you have done to help us is your first step on getting back to the man you were prior to getting involved with Roc and rogue shifters. You were an upstanding man. You need to consider that before you lay down your life as punishment. Accepting Falhman’s wrath won’t stop him from coming after your family.”
“I have to own up to what I did.”
“Falhman is not your judge and jury.”
“I could have walked away from the rogues,” Owen said. “I had a chance. Mom tried to dissuade me, insisting it wasn’t me.”
“You should listen to Sylvia. There’s goodness in you. If there hadn’t been, you would not have reached a line in the sand you wouldn’t cross. Cut yourself some slack.”
“I’ll consider it.”
Katrina hugged her. “Good-bye. I’ll call to let you know we’re safe.”
“When are you leaving?”
“We’ve got a flight scheduled in a couple of hours. Just enough time to go home and get our bags.”
“And Mom.” Owen added. He checked his phone. “I expected a call to tell me she’s ready.” Slipping his phone back into the holder, he stepped forward and held his hand out to Alexi. “Thanks, for everything,” he said as she shook his hand.
“You’re welcome.”
“Ready to go home, sweetheart?” Rhys asked as Katrina and Owen left.
Yawning, Alexi leaned into her husband’s strong hug. Too many long nights, not enough sleep, and pregnancy were taking their toll on her. “Not a minute too soon.”
As Eli, Rhys, and Alexi walked to the car with the protection detail trailing behind, she said, “Thanksgiving’s coming soon. Shall we invite Fiona for dinner? A family get-together is in order. After all, we’ve got Mary Kate, and the entire protection detail, to feed. What’s one more person?”
“’Tis a grand idea, lassie. I’ll make haggis.”
“Haggis? Isn’t that sheep organs or some equally disgusting thing?” Her stomach rebelled at the mere thought. “Why not pumpkin scones? You make a mean scone.”
Her cell rang and she thumbed it on. “Alexi, this is Owen. Something terrible has happened.”
“Wait let me put you on speaker, Owen.” She pushed the speaker button. “Okay. What’s happened?”
“My mother has made a stupid mistake. Tell her, Mom.” Owen’s voice had a razor sharp edge.
“I told him about your baby,” Sylvia said.
“Told who?” Alexi asked.
“Falhman.”
“What!” Alexi’s knees buckled. Rhys caught her as she dipped toward the ground.
“By the Druid’s beard!” Eli shouted. “What the devil did ye do that fer?”
“I was trying to save Owen. Falhman found out he’d double crossed him and planned to kill him. I thought bargaining with the baby would make him spare my son. But it backfired. I had to shoot my way out of his office.” Sylvia sobbed.
Through her haze of shock, Alexi thought she heard true remorse in Sylvia’s voice. Not that it helped much at this point.
“I’m sorry, Alexi. He’s coming after you and the baby. Run. As far away as you can.”
Owen came back on the line. “I’m so sorry, Alexi. This is all my fault.”
“How? You didn’t tell Falhman.”
“No. But I told her. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Take care of Katrina. We’ll be all right. I have to go now.” Rhys eased her over to a bench and sat her down.
“Mary Kate,” Eli barked as he whirled around.
She dashed to his side, followed by the rest of the entourage.
“Get tae the airport and fire up me jet. We’re leaving fer Scotland as soon as we can get tae the airstrip.”
“Scotland? We can’t go to Scotland. I’ve got a job and a house. Rhys has a new sister. What about Thanksgiving? You have a jet?” She babbled, but she couldn’t stop.
“We canna stay here. We havetae go intae hiding until the babe ’tis ready. We havetae save the babe.”
Alexi clapped her hand over her mouth. Save the baby? “The baby Owen planned to save is mine.”
Rhys scooped her off the bench and carried her down the sidewalk with Eli rushing behind him. “If we can get away in time, he may have done just that.”
As they hurried down the street toward the car, Alexi took one last look at the city that had been her home. Her throat closed. Only God knew when she’d see it again.
Epilogue
Nine months later
Flinging her hands over her head, Alexi squeezed her eyes shut, grabbed the ancient headboard behind her, and screamed as the midwife told her to bear down.
“Dinna worry, dearie, ’twill be over afore the sun sets on the moor.” The plump Scottish midwife flashed a knowing smile as she lifted the plaid sheet over Alexi’s knees and checked on the progress of the baby. “Then all ’twill be well.”
Another tortured yell escaped as a labor pain bore down on her. “How much longer?” Alexi asked between pants.
“The babe’s coming fast fer a firstborn. Some new mithers take hours, even days, tae birth a wee bairn. The second one ’twill go faster.”
“Days?” She heard the panic in her own voice. This had taken way too long already. “If I have to have another without the benefit of a hospital and an epidural, there won’t be anymore.” They’d been hiding in the wilds of Scotland since they’d run from Falhman. As beautiful as the heather-covered hills were, she missed the comforts of Cleveland.
As the labor pain subsided, she opened her eyes and pedaled against the mattress trying to move closer to the headboard. Bears and wolves and a chimpanzee milled around the room where only seconds ago a small army of women scurried around attending to her. A tabby cat crawled onto the pillow next to her and stroked her head with its paw.
“Donaline, where are you?” she cried.
“Here,” a bear said, as it peeked up from between her legs.
Yanking her legs up as far as her swollen belly would allow, she shoved the sheet over her knees and shrieked. “Eli! Rhys! Get in here. Now!”
From their places on the porch of the old Scottish manse, where they had been banished to by the multitude of midwives attending Alexi, Eli and Rhys watched the evening fog roll across the heather. Alexi’s howl for them disturbed the calm. Rhys stopped pacing and crashed through the front door, with Eli on his heels. When he reached the birthing room he found the midwives in a state of disorder, and Alexi choking one of the younger women who lay halfway on her bed. Donaline stood on the opposite side of the bed trying desperately to disengage Alexi’s hands from the woman’s neck.
Running to his wife’s side, he grabbed her hands to pr
y them loose from the midwife’s neck. As he touched Alexi, the midwife shifted, becoming a tabby cat. Startled, he jerked away and the woman shifted back to human form.
“She’s seeing the animal egos,” he said to Eli as he reached for Alexi again. Ignoring the shifting forms around him, he disengaged her grip on the choking midwife, who scurried away from the bed as fast as her air-deprived lungs would carry her. Wrapping his arms around Alexi, he cooed soothingly, “It’s okay, sweetheart.”
“Animals. Everywhere,” she panted, and then she yelped and bore down as another labor pain came.
Her fingers bit into his arm, scratching him, and he gritted his teeth. “No animals, sweetheart. You’re seeing the women’s other egos.” He watched the pain wash over her face and wished he could take it from her. “Relax.”
Donaline approached the bed and gingerly touched Alexi’s knee, drawing her hand back quickly. Alexi raised her head from her chest and looked at the midwife.
“Do ye know me, lassie?” Donaline asked.
Nodding, Alexi replied, “Yes. I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”
“’Tis the babe,” Eli said from the other side of the room where the other midwives congregated. “The triune connection is getting stronger.”
“She can see our animals?” gasped the midwife Alexi had choked. “That canna be possible.”
A babble of protests and questions rose from the startled midwives, mingled with another wail from Alexi.
