KnightForce Deuces, page 9
She rolled her eyes. “Tell your wolf my ex-lover will be with his mate and you won’t be with yours.”
He growled through their link. “I don’t need this now.”
“Then stop talking and handle your business. Between four pups, a son about to pass out from exhaustion, his mate about to give birth and my Mama suddenly incapable of doing anything without the help of her mate I assure you I’m quite busy myself.” She disconnected their link. Sometimes he made her so damn angry.
“Tyrone go lay down. Danielle and I will sit with Rose until she has the baby. We’ll wake you when it’s time,” Jasmine said, shooing him out the way.
He released Rose’s hand and placed a kiss on Jasmine’s cheek. “Love you, Mama.”
“I know, baby. Now go rest.” She took the chair still reeling from her confrontation with Silas. She imagined their next private conversation would be filled with fire and then well, they always finished their arguments with hot, mind-blowing sex. Just thinking about the latter got her excited. A few moments later, Danielle stuck her head in the room.
“Is this a private party?” She chuckled and walked inside.
“Nope, pull up a chair, I’m timing the contractions. When Matt gets here, he’ll tell us what else to do,” Jasmine said looking at her watch and then at Rose.
“Oh thank the Goddess, I wondered who would deliver the babies. I just couldn’t see any of us doing it.” She frowned. “Wait. What about the quarantine? Has it lifted?”
Jasmine’s cheeks warmed. “No but Silas is concerned and wants Matt to handle it.”
Danielle stared at her a moment longer and then nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Butterflies filled Jasmine’s stomach as the contractions came closer together. Sweat beaded on her brow as Rose’s discomfort ratcheted. Where the hell was Matt? Rose’s moans escalated to sharp shrieks.
Jasmine didn’t want the children to waken and decided to move Rose to her and Silas’ private rooms at the end of the hall. She needed Jacques to change the code for the others to enter that space.
Excusing herself from the room, she knocked on Jacques’ door and explained the situation. He stepped outside but didn’t close the door completely.
“I need Silas’ permission to do that,” he said.
“Get it then,” she said not seeing a problem. At this point Silas would give Rose and Tyrone whatever they needed for a safe delivery.
Jacques sighed. “If I bothered him for that he’d skewer me. Can’t you place a bubble over their room?”
Jasmine didn’t know how to do that. Silas had been working with her on controlling her energy but she had a long way to go.
“Jacques,” Victoria called from their room.
“I’m sorry, I have to go.” He returned inside and closed the door behind him. Shock and anger battled in Jasmine’s breast over being dismissed as if she had asked for a favor he couldn’t provide. If she didn’t accept no from Silas, she damned sure wouldn’t accept it from Jacques. Jasmine stared at the door a few more seconds and then knocked again.
Jacques stuck his head out the door again, looking perturbed.
“I don’t think you understand,” she said in a hard voice, crossing her arms over her chest. “I told you to change the panel code on the door. Not once did I ask for an alternative solution. Or your opinion of my mate’s response. No, I told you to change the damn security codes. I expect you to go and do that right now.”
His brow rose and then he nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. Will you stay with your mother while I go do your bidding?” She ignored his conciliatory tone and stepped inside.
“Jacques?” her mom called.
“He’s not here, Mama. I needed him to take care of something, he’ll be back soon.” Jasmine sat in the chair across from her mom’s lounger and stared at her. “Are you enjoying this?”
Victoria’s cheeks pinkened and then she smiled. “Yes. Yes I am. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. All the pampering and sweetness… it’s great. Was it like this with Silas when you were pregnant?”
Jasmine bit back a laugh. She couldn’t imagine her hard-headed mate doing this beck-and-call routine Jacques did. “No, he was busy running his world.”
Her mom frowned. “But you were having his pups, that means a lot to them, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, but he has a job, like Jacques has a job. Trust me it won’t be like this when the quarantine’s lifted.”
Her mom waved. “I know but it’s really nice right now.” She paused. “How’s Rose? Jacques thinks her time is near.”
“Her contractions are close; I’m moving her so she can have the baby.”
“Down here? Who’s going to deliver it?” Victoria scooted up and stared at Jasmine.
“Who do you think?”
“You?”
“No. I can’t do anything like that, she’s having twins or more. We need someone with experience,” Jasmine said watching her mom’s face tighten.
“Is that what Jacques is doing? He’s between Rose’s legs delivering her babies?” She tried to stand. “I’m sorry but I can’t handle that,” Victoria said and burst out crying.
Jasmine stood and hugged her mom. “I know, Mama. He’s working on some technical stuff for me. Matt is coming to deliver the baby.”
Victoria pushed back, sniffing and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”
Jasmine frowned. “Why would I?”
Victoria opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. “Good point. Honestly, what’s wrong with me? That’s my grandbaby, how can I get upset over Jacques helping?” She stared at Jasmine.
“Combination of hormones and this mating thing, it affects us all differently.” Jasmine thought of Silas’ jealousy over Davian and wondered if he’d ever get over that.
Jacques stepped into the room. “It’s done. Danielle and Rone are moving Rose now. Matt and Davian have arrived and are on their way up. Is there anything else I can do to help?” he asked.
“Asia has the kids in the other room. I’ll be next door with Rose and Rone. Davian will work security in the corridor. Just check on him and Asia from time to time.” She looked at her mom and smiled. “We are in a crisis situation and everyone has to pull their weight. If you can move around, I want you to check on my children.”
Victoria’s cheeks reddened as she nodded. “Of course. We’ll help Asia inside, Damian will be in the hall and the rest of you will be where? In your private quarters?”
“Yes, thanks, mom. Jacques.” She left their room and checked on the children. Asia sat on an upholstered lounger reading a book. Jasmine explained what was happening.
“Thank you, Mistress. I will watch over them as they sleep.”
“Don’t stay up all night, get some sleep,” Jasmine said.
Asia smiled.
Jasmine shook her head and left the room. She saw Matt and Davian entering the front room.
“Glad you made such good time,” she said to Matt. “I moved Rose next door.” She pointed to the door.
“Okay.” He turned, kissed Davian and walked toward the other room. After keying in his code, Matt opened the door and Jasmine heard Rose scream.
Moving quickly, she waved Davian into the hall and closed the door behind them. “You’re on security detail out here.”
“Okay. Tell Rone, I’m here if he needs me,” Davian said.
Jasmine nodded and stepped into the room with Rose.
Chapter 13
Boris Lancaster knew his days were numbered but he hadn’t kicked the bucket, not quite yet. Gone were the times when he didn’t need much food or rest. Without eight hours of sleep, sometimes more, he did not function well. Climbing anything caused his joints to hurt and cold weather was not his friend.
After the death of Gordon, by his blade, Roderick and the others no longer trusted him. Perhaps they feared he would accidentally kill them as well. The idea had merit. Scattered, with limited resources, the Liege Lords no longer functioned as the well-oiled machine they once had been. There was a time when they ruled the world through back door deals, and had been accepted in every court or Presidential palace. Politicians and Generals sought their favor and paid millions for their products, and ideas. Like sands of time, scattered across the seashore, they were no longer seen as viable associates. His calls were no longer returned, and no one offered sanctuary.
His thoughts traveled to Asia Montgomery and the mistake they made in allowing her to go after La Patron. That had been the beginning of their downfall. He never understood how La Patron broke their control over Asia, the doctors swore death was her only recourse, yet she lived to bring them all down. That bitch! He rubbed the vial in his pocket. Before he died, he would correct that mistake as a part of his legacy.
Noise from three men who sat around the table jabbering about what they deemed a successful mission pulled him from his thoughts. They had no idea what they’d just done and since he needed them to assist him to reach his goal, he wouldn’t share.
“Someone died, or something happened inside the compound, we know that,” Crawford, the money man said.
“We can’t be sure. There’s nothing to confirm that,” Ollie another financier with shady connections said.
“It’s just a matter of time before we see something. That solution will damage the nervous system of any wolf, disabling it to the point it cannot fight the bacteria attacking the human side,” Hickle, the biochemist claimed.
Amateurs, Boris thought listening to their prattle. None of them could kill La Patron nor would they ever win against him. Silas Knight was an extremely well-connected genius who could make all of them disappear with a phone call. Human rights, be damned. When you held a significant portion of the world’s wealth at your fingertips, world leaders listened. These fools hadn’t researched their target, or if they had, they believed the extremely limited information available about the man. Which made his job of using them so much easier.
“You did an excellent job, Hickle. I’m sure someone has suffered already but since we cannot directly confirm, it makes our job more difficult.”
“What do you suggest?” Crawford asked.
“Did you use the trace elements I gave you with the solution?” He asked Hickle.
“Yes, Sir. You were right, the chemical compounds worked well together and it’s the only way to deliver the product in a stabilized manner.”
Hickle’s comment silenced everyone and gave Boris the spotlight.
“Indeed, the reason we are at a point of indecision is simple; we need two ingredients. Well, two people. Both of which have cameras embedded in their eyes and who also have the ear of La Patron.” Boris pulled out a remote control and clicked. Fortunately he backed up many files to his personal cloud before Hawke destroyed the lab and today they came in handy.
A picture opened with a view of a man and woman sitting in a room quietly talking. Boris pushed a button and the conversation between the two Brits flowed into the room. The camera moved closer. A gloved hand pulled out a pistol and shot each person at point blank range and then walked away. The camera showed every detail of the escape.
“This is what we need, someone inside so we can see and hear what’s happening through their eyes,” Boris said when the screen darkened. “Asia and Hawke, both have these cameras installed. It’s a simple matter to activate them but it must be done manually.” Photos of Hawke smiling in the now destroyed lab and Asia when she worked for the Liege, filled the screen.
“How do you propose we do that manually?” Crawford asked.
“Capture one of them, I place the device on their forehead and it will restart the camera.” Prepared to deceive them, he pressed the button and a picture of the device filled the screen. “This is what’s behind their eye. It was surgically installed and every once in a while emits a weak signal, that’s how I know the device is still lodged inside both of them.”
“So we create a situation, one of these two will be sent to correct it and what? We hold them long enough for you to restart the camera and then allow them to return to West Virginia?” Ollie asked, his voice full of skepticism.
Boris nodded. “It’s the only way I can think of to get the confirmation you need to gather funds to expand your project.” He didn’t bother looking at any of them, the familiar pungent odor of their greed filled the room.
These men thought to force La Patron to pay them large sums of money in exchange for a formula that only worked on some full-bloods, not all and hadn’t been tested on half-breeds. Of course they weren’t aware of this information and Boris wouldn’t share. When they contacted La Patron, they would discover dealing with a wolf as old as Silas Knight was unlike dealing with human men. They threatened his pack and the penalty for that would be their death.
“There was a bomb scare in Virginia recently; I heard Knight was somehow involved,” Crawford said slowly.
Boris hadn’t heard about that and looked at the man. “A bomb? What kind of bomb?”
“Don’t know. It filled the news for several days, some government-hating guy walked into a BigMart with a bomb strapped to his waist and killed everyone in the store. Hundreds of people died.” He looked at Boris as if he should know or care what happened in American news.
“I would like to see anything you have on that bombing,” Boris said.
“Google it,” Ollie said. “It’s in the news.” He turned to Crawford. “I’m not sure about kidnapping these people and playing with gadgets in their minds. We need to look at another way to confirm if this works the way we think.”
“Did your people take care of the delivery men?” Crawford asked.
“Yeah, that’s done,” Ollie said.
Crawford nodded and looked at the screen again where Asia and Hawke’s picture were displayed. “I’ll get back with you on what we can do,” he told Boris.
“Yes, thank you,” Boris said dismissing them as he stared at the images of the two people who cost him everything. Hawke and Asia - their deaths would be sweet and painful. Maybe he would take Damian and the little brat, what was she called? He couldn’t remember. Had Hawke bonded with those two? He doubted Asia had. He shook his head at the absurdity of it all. Mates, Hawke and Asia, who would’ve thought it could happen? He had ordered the beheading of her first mate, at least they thought he was her mate. Maybe they’d been wrong or maybe she could have more than one mate. Nevertheless, for what those two had done to him and his empire, they would die. He again patted his pocket with the vials of poison.
He smiled thinking of his latest discovery of an old lab and the caged inhabitants. They would do well. All he needed was a clear shot to bring them down. He fingered the small packet of pills in his other pocket. Excitement spread through his chest, soon he would have Asia and Hawke where he wanted them. The price would be high but he would gladly trade his life to see them dead.
Chapter 14
Silas, Hawke and Dr. Passen continued the search for answers regarding Froggy’s death. Cameron sent a message that there had been no reported losses in the state. Silas hadn’t reported the outbreak to his Alphas but had been monitoring their channels for other cases. There had been none. It seemed this deliberate attack was aimed solely at him. If his pups and mate weren’t on the grounds, he’d welcome the challenge.
Thinking of his mate, he squashed the irritation of her disconnecting their links for that brief period. He hadn’t heard from her since she threatened to leave the compound to bring help for Rose. The heat of her anger touched him through their link, he knew anyone standing near her felt warm tendrils. At least she hadn’t set the bunker on fire.
“Has Rose had the babies?” he asked testing the waters.
“Have you found out what happened to Froggy?” she countered.
“Not yet. It’s frustrating.” He opened his link and shared what had been going on since she shut him down and should have been prepared when she did the same. Silas was surprised at all she dealt with below ground.
“Why won’t the pups sleep?” he asked.
“Because they aren’t in their beds, or so they claim. I think they’re scared and their nurses aren’t here so Danielle, Asia and I are trying to get them back to sleep.”
“What about your mom? Can’t she help?”
Jasmine snorted. “No, she’s in diva mode. I don’t have time to fool with her. I might say something.”
Unsure what was going on there, he changed directions. Experience taught him Jasmine and her mom clashed often and not to make anything out of it. “There is a complication with the birth of the twins?” He ran his hand through his hair, unable to believe all of this had been happening and she had not contacted him.
“Yes, Matt is dealing with it.”
“Alone?”
“No. Davian’s helping him.”
Silas growled.
“Don’t start. I’m in no mood for you to go wolf right now. I’m trying to calm four babies down, not you.”
“I’m… sorry. This has been a long day all around. Contact me after they are asleep.”
“I’m tired and plan to get some rest with them. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“What about Rose and Tyrone?” He couldn’t believe she would sleep after making such a fuss earlier.
“Matt’s handling it. And so is Davian, they’re his grandkids too, he’ll make sure nothing happens to the babies,” she said.
His wolf flinched from her words. “I wouldn’t allow anything to happen to their babies either, Jasmine. It’s unfair for you to imply I would.”
She sighed. “I know, Silas, just like you know that’s not what I meant.”
He waited for her to explain or to apologize. Neither happened. “Jasmine?”
“Sir, come quick,” Hank said.
“Where?” Silas asked, already in motion.
“To the dorms on the lower level, we’ve lost two more.” The dismay in Hank’s voice punched Silas in the gut.
“Who?” Silas asked taking the stairs two at a time.
