The Altruistic Crime Lord (The First Beaufont Book 6), page 1
THE ALTRUISTIC CRIME LORD
THE FIRST BEAUFONT™
BOOK SIX
SARAH NOFFKE
MICHAEL ANDERLE
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LMBPN® Publishing
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Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 USA
Version 1.00, October 2024
eBook ISBN: 979-8-88878-753-3
Print ISBN: 979-8-89354-403-9
THE ALTRUISTIC CRIME LORD TEAM
Thanks to the JIT Readers
Veronica Stephan-Miller
Dorothy Lloyd
Christopher Gilliard
Dave Hicks
Sean Kesterson
Diane L. Smith
Jeff Goode
For Dr. Carl Jung.
We didn’t know each other, except through the social consciousness.
— Sarah
To Family, Friends and
Those Who Love
to Read.
May We All Enjoy Grace
to Live the Life We Are
Called.
— Michael
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
The Story Continues
Author’s Notes: Sarah Noffke
Author’s Notes: Michael Anderle
Books By Sarah Noffke
About Sarah
Books By Michael Anderle
Connect with The Authors
CHAPTER ONE
STRANGE FORCE
Mexican Hat, Utah, United States
Something felt really wrong about Sophia Beaufont’s current situation. She pushed down the worry, telling herself that she was overthinking things. It was only because she was alone that she was afraid, but it made sense that she had to go to this meeting without anyone—even Lunis.
As she navigated around the stone walls of the cave, Sophia tried to quiet her mind with rational thoughts. That always kept her calm when foolish fears crept into her head, trying to take over. The firelight of the torches on the wall reminded her that she was expected by the person she was meeting with. Sophia told herself that the warmth of the flames was like a gesture of their welcoming spirit. The darkness of the cave and the requirement for her to arrive alone were simply prerequisites to keep them both safe.
The meeting place was not far now. Only a few more turns. The smell of water and the cool air reminded Sophia that she was deep underground, inside the cave network under the southern Utah desert. She was just on the northern side of the San Juan River, and its waters would be what she was smelling and hearing dripping down from the cave ceiling.
This spot on the edge of a remote village known as Mexican Hat was as close to the Navajo Nation as Sophia was allowed to get. Most couldn’t cross the boundaries into the Native American reservation, which comprised ten million acres of harsh and bare stretches of the Great American Desert. And usually no outsiders could meet with the current Navajo Chief, but Sophia was about to be an exception. Yahto, the leader of the Navajo Nation, had agreed to meet with Sophia to discuss relations with the neighboring areas, however only if she came alone—completely unaided.
After this, do you want to get tacos? Lunis asked in Sophia’s head, breaking the eerie silence in the cave. Staring at this Mexican hat rock formation is making me hungry for chips and salsa, and I’ll definitely need some mariachi music. That’s a must.
An unexpected laugh popped out of Sophia’s mouth, echoing in the cavernous space.
Yeah, so it’s not just a clever name then? Sophia questioned, talking to her dragon telepathically. The village is actually named for something that looks like a sombrero?
It’s a large rock sitting on smaller ones in the middle of the desert, he replied. But yeah, I guess if you squint and have been sitting out in the sun all day, you’ll see a Mexican hat.
Well, you haven’t been sitting out there all too long, so you can’t say you’re hallucinating, Sophia countered.
I’d rather be waiting for you at the local bar with a plate of nachos in front of me, he replied.
I know, but Chief Yahto’s instructions were specific, she stated, turning the corner to find another long passageway, the cave seeming endless. He wanted my dragon in front of the Mexican Hat rock formation so that he knew that I was alone.
Yeah, I’ve scanned the area but don’t see the lookouts who are apparently keeping an eye on me, Lunis said. These Native Americans are very clever people, aren’t they?
Yes, and they are afraid too, Sophia imparted. They are confined to their reservation and protect the borders fiercely, feeling pressures from the outside world. I’m afraid that if we don’t intervene then a war is brewing against the United States and the Navajo. It’s simply a misunderstanding, and one that I can prevent if I can talk to the chief. They are fearful and only trying to protect themselves, but I want the opportunity to put his concerns at ease and create peace between the borders.
Of course you will, Lunis stated. And then tacos.
Sophia giggled, pausing in a large round room. There were two paths ahead through arched cave ways, but something in the space told her that she’d arrived. It didn’t appear very official, but there were artifacts sitting around on the stone floor—pitchers, bowls, strange items she didn’t recognize. There were also a few mats on the ground, their Navajo patterns illuminated by the firelight casting off the walls.
Again, Sophia got the feeling that something was off. Hiker Wallace often warned her not to base her decisions during missions on feelings. To the main leader of the Dragon Elite, emotions were intangible things that weren’t supported by facts. He wasn’t wrong, but Sophia simply knew that this didn’t feel right, although she had no clues as to why.
Maybe something had happened to Chief Yahto. Maybe he’d been spooked and wasn’t going to allow Sophia to arbitrate between his people and those on the other side to the Navajo Nation. Or maybe she was being paranoid and simply didn’t like that this meeting put her in a state of vulnerability.
Turning to look at the way that she’d come, Sophia noticed a slight rumble under her boots. She glanced down at the stone floor, noticing the dirt and pebbles vibrating under her. It felt as though the area was experiencing a slight tremor. Tensing, Sophia considered retreating. The underground cave wasn’t an ideal place if a full earthquake happened. And portal magic wasn’t allowed there.
However, she’d come all this way, and this meeting was important. She’d been trying for this for years. Deciding that she had to proceed, Sophia turned back toward the two hallways and stepped in the direction of the one to the right, per the chief’s instructions.
The cave shook raucously, nearly toppling Sophia off her feet. She covered her head from the shower of dirt and rocks that rained down from overhead. Bracing herself, she waited for the
Something isn’t right, Lunis said in her head, echoing how she’d felt since entering the cave.
What’s going on? Sophia asked. Are you feeling the earthquake too?
No, I’m sinking, Lunis said.
What? Sophia questioned, bracing herself on a nearby wall as the worst of the shaking subsided. Get out of there. Fly away. There’s a weather disturbance here, I believe.
I-I-I can’t, he stuttered, fear in her dragon’s voice.
What do you mean? Sophia asked, making the decision to retreat and stumbling for the way she’d come.
I can’t move, he replied. I’m paralyzed.
By the dirt? Sophia questioned, her breath hitching in her throat, the anxiety skyrocketing suddenly.
No, by some strange force, he answered.
Sophia was about to question what that meant when she found an invisible barrier blocking her from entering the cave via way that she’d come through. It was like there was a door there, preventing her from moving past it and it felt like pure, solid stone.
Whipping back around, Sophia considered running for the other openings, but something about them caught her eye. There was a shiny sheen over them, like they were protected by magic. She was trapped.
I think this has been a trick, Sophia dared to admit, turning back to the entrance, noticing the transparent gleam over it now, too. Someone had used a powerful spell to trap her in this cave room.
You have to get out of there, Lunis said. Get to the top and portal away.
I can’t, Sophia said, reaching out for her magic, hoping that she could do something to combat the spell. However, it was gone. Blocked. Taken from her. I don’t have my magic.
Sophia, I’m being pulled under the ground by something, Lunis said. I don’t understand what’s happening. This isn’t the magic of the Navajo. This is something dark.
Oh, Lunis, I want to help you, Sophia sobbed, drawing her sword. At least she had Inexorablis, but that wouldn’t do her any good until she knew what they were fighting.
I know, Lunis said. I’m okay though. I think it’s drawing me into a cave room.
You’re being trapped, just like me, she said, rotating in the room, looking at each of the cave openings, sensing someone approaching.
At least we have each other, Sophia imparted through a long breath.
A beam of green light shot through the cave room, momentarily blinding her. She shielded her eyes with her free hand, bracing herself for an attack. However, the light simply faded, followed by a strange ringing noise in her ears.
What was that? Sophia asked, turning in a full circle. Did something flash where you are?
There was no answer…
Lunis, did you see a green light just now?
No response followed.
Lunis!
Sophia had once been separated from her dragon, their mental connections severed. It was the worst experience. And this felt very much like it. Whatever had trapped them had also just separated their ability to telepathically communicate.
Panic gripped Sophia, making her vibrate with fear. She tensed when a figure appeared in the cave opening on the left. He stood just on the other side of the strange shiny barrier, blocking her way. The man was definitely not Chief Yahto. He was the last person that Sophia wanted to see right then—and it all suddenly hit her.
“Dwayne Stone,” Sophia said through clenched teeth, her sword at the ready and her blood suddenly boiling with anger. “What have you done?”
The large man grinned wickedly, malice brooding in his small, dark eyes. He was so tall that his bald, meaty head nearly touched the ceiling of the cave way above him. “I’ve done what I promised, I’ve come after the Beaufonts. I told Gen that I would punish her by taking and killing each and every one of her family members.”
“You can’t kill me, you weak traitor,” Sophia said, narrowing her eyes at the man who had replaced her as the leader of the Rogue Riders. It hadn’t made sense then that the Founders had chosen him—a lone rebel. However, there had to be something that she and the others didn’t know, and Sophia trusted they would learn it soon. Everything was about to unravel, but hopefully she lived long enough to see it.
“I can, but I won’t,” he answered, his thick, muscular arms pressed behind his back as he stood proudly. He wore all black and looked a bit weathered, probably because he’d been on the run ever since Gen Beaufont had exposed all his crimes and had him put on the most wanted list with every governing agency in the world. “For now, you’re simply the bait I need to lure Gen to my arena. There I will torture her, then make her watch you and Lunis die. Then I’ll murder her and Emperor, making me and Night the most powerful dragonriders in the world.”
“You’re sick,” Sophia hissed, shaking her head at him. “And this is never going to work. Gen won’t fall for your trick.”
“She’ll have no choice,” Dwayne Stone replied matter-of-factly. “There’s no way for her to find you and Lunis. I’ve made it clear that the only way for her to free you is that she must face me on my terms, on my turf. And if she doesn’t, well, then I’ll just keep abducting Beaufonts, until she has no choice but to fight me. That’s the thing that makes you all so weak. You care about each other. For so long, you’ve flaunted your family connections in everyone’s faces. If you really believe that phrase you spout, ‘Familia Est Sempiternum,’ then you’re about to prove it. You’re all about to die for each other—ridding the world of Beaufonts forever.”
CHAPTER TWO
FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH
Rogue Rider Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States
“This is not what I ordered,” Sully said, peering down at the plate that Amanda had slid in front of him at the dining room table.
The House Manager for the Rogue Rider Mansion pursed her lips with her hands on her hips. “No, it’s not, because you didn’t make any orders. I’m not a line cook and this isn’t a make-to-order kitchen. You get what I serve.”
Sullivan Smith, also known as Sully, grimaced at the plate loaded with breakfast foods. “But I don’t know what this is.”
“It’s an English Breakfast,” Jack Lane answered, sitting next to his friend, opposite of Gen. He looked up and grinned at her. “And I bet I know why Amanda has decided to serve it today.”
“Because Gen is English and I thought it would make her feel at home,” Amanda announced proudly. She pointed to the plates sitting in front of them. “For your traditional English breakfast, you have bacon, sausages, black pudding, a fried egg, baked beans, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, and toast.”
“That’s so thoughtful of you,” Gen replied, smiling politely at the woman with a short brown ponytail and a clever look in her eyes. “But I think that this traditional breakfast started in England after my time. I’m not familiar with this assortment.”
“I think they hadn’t invented plates this large in your time,” Jack joked, picking up his fork and knife, but looking unsure of where to start. “I’ve never seen such a huge breakfast.”
“I have,” Sully replied, glancing up at Amanda. “Can I get the traditional American breakfast? It’s just as large, but instead of beans, tomatoes and mushrooms, there’s things I actually eat.”
“It wouldn’t kill you to have a little culture and try something different,” Amanda said, rolling her eyes.
“I have loads of culture,” Sully argued. “I’ve just started watching The Crown.”
A look of surprise shot to Amanda’s face. “Really? I’m impressed. I love that show.”
Sully held up his hands. “Don’t spoil it for me. I’ve only watched one episode.”
Jack laughed loudly, cutting into his sausage. “Wow, you are thick, aren’t you, mate?”
“Why do you say that?” Sully questioned, tucking his napkin into the collar of his shirt and looking a bit hurt.
“Because The Crown is a series detailing the real life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II,” Amanda answered. “Just read the news to find out spoilers.”
Sully gawked with disgust. “The news? Why would I poison my brain with all that negativity?”
“Because you’re a Rogue Rider and it’s our job to fight for justice,” Jack countered.
