Puma Pride, page 16
“Change the password,” Bryan said. “We’ll leave everything there but we’ll change the password. Something random so it will take a lot to figure it out.”
“Which may keep them out unless they have a hacker,” Jolyn said. “Yes. Let’s change the password.”
“Also, it puts a deterrent on it when they come next time,” Mia said.
“If she thinks we’re getting nowhere,” Bryan smirked. “Maybe she won’t rush to take action.”
“Do you want to be the one to tell Willie what we know,” Mia asked.
“Fuck, no,” Bryan shook his head and held up his hands.
“Where do we start with these files,” Jolyn changed the subject.
“We need to read them,” Mia said. “This is all yours, Jolyn. You tell us.”
“Would the shifters want the mythologies published? I think my mother would like the information to become part of the general knowledge we have,” Jolyn said.
“I can read the cat one to see how accurate it is,” Mia offered. “The other animals, we might have to check with them.”
“Which is why the council Daryl wants to start would be useful,” Brady said. “Maybe we should ask him.”
“If we ask him, will he immediately go to Willie,” Bryan asked.
“Good question,” Brady asked.
“How many are there,” Mia asked.
“Looks like one for each of the animals in the area,” Brady scrolled through the list.
“We read them first,” Mia suggested. “We figure out our next steps and then we decide who gets access to what.”
“Yes,” Jolyn said. “Bryan, pick a number greater than a hundred.”
“Nine zero seven,” Bryan frowned as he considered what she asked.
“Brady a word but not my name,” she grinned at him.
“Eternity,” Brady raised an eyebrow.
“Later,” she promised him.
“What do you want from me,” Mia asked.
“A word or phrase,” Jolyn asked not taking her eyes off Brady.
“Raspberry tart,” Mia smiled.
“Make the password 907Raspberrytart0628Eternity,” Jolyn said.
“What’s the 0628,” Bryan asked.
“It’s the day we mated,” Brady murmured.
“Like 907 is the day we mated,” Mia grinned.
“Let’s split up the files and get started,” Brady suggested.
7
“Your mother has a wicked sense of humor,” Brady chuckled as he lay in bed with her and read the mythology of the elephants.
“She seems to capture the essence of each of the animals,” Jolyn read about coyote lore. “I’m charmed and when I read these, I don’t see a woman who wanted to wipe out the shifters.”
“Are you sure she did,” Brady wrapped his arm around her as she snuggled against him. He lowered his tablet where he read the foundation myths.
“I don’t know. I’m trying really hard not to think about any of it,” Jolyn sighed. “I have my memories which didn’t include meetings with strange men. I remember learning a lot about everything. Animals, mythology, science, math, and so much more. I remember people who were careful of the environment and of each other. They didn’t set out to hurt anyone.”
“But now you’re not sure,” Brady set his tablet on the end table. “Have you gone through their things?”
“Thoroughly, no,” Jolyn closed her eyes. She rested her tablet on his chest. “They died and then the pack was killed. Willie came to the house and we talked about a joint funeral. Then someone tried to break into the house. I called him. There were a lot of hushed conversations.”
“Who had these hushed conversations,” Brady asked.
“Willie had them,” she tipped her head back. “I think a few were with Selene but I couldn’t swear to it.”
“We could bring all the stuff here,” Brady offered again. “You could go through it, decide what to keep, store and get rid of.”
“It would be easier to go there,” Jolyn said. “It’s dishes and what not. Probably most of them can just be donated.”
“You don’t want a place of our own,” Brady asked.
“Not really,” Jolyn admitted. “I like the crazy breakfasts and the grumbling of cats in the halls and clothes found all over the place.”
“Chet was quite embarrassed when he walked back in human form after taking a run in tiger form,” Brady chuckled.
“I mean with his physique, he shouldn’t be embarrassed,” Jolyn teased and then yelped when Brady pushed her back and pressed her into the mattress.
“Would you like a sample of my physique,” Brady chuckled as he slid his hand down between her legs.
“A sample,” she tapped her finger on her lips. “No. A sample isn’t enough. I’m afraid I’m demanding more than a tease. I don’t think I will live if you don’t give me all of you.”
“I’m happy to oblige you,” his mouth covered hers for long moments. When she was thoroughly breathless, his mouth wandered lower and lower until he found her nipple. He teased her nipples with his tongue as he slowly shifted her silk nightgown down. They made love earlier in the tub but he wanted her again. He always wanted her.
“Brady,” she murmured as he slipped down her body. He lowered his mouth to her core and she gasped, moaned, and squirmed beneath his attention. “Don’t stop.”
“You’re mine,” he murmured.
“Yes,” she gasped as he drove her towards an orgasm. “Brady. Oh. Yes.”
He nibbled up her thigh, heard her heart race. He scented her arousal, felt her core tighten around his fingers. “So beautiful,” he murmured as he swiped his tongue over her. She trembled and held him to her. “More?”
“Yes, Brady,” she demanded.
The house phone jangled loudly. This was part of his job, his life as the enforcer of the pride. “Brady,” she muttered as he moved and brushed against her.
“I’m sorry,” he growled as he reached for the phone.
“Don’t apologize,” she felt his long erection against her. She almost got to climax. He didn’t even get that much pleasure.
“Brady,” he groused into the phone. He stilled for long moments as he listened. Jolyn moved to the side of the bed. She went into the bathroom, took a cold cloth, and washed. She heard him hang up. “Get dressed,” he ordered as he moved to the closet.
“Why,” she came out of the bathroom annoyed because of his demanding tone.
In the closet, he grabbed clothes for them both. “I need you to come with me,” he grimaced.
“You can go do your job,” she snapped.
“I don’t have time to argue,” he barked.
She took a deep breath, “I’m annoyed we were interrupted. I’m not annoyed you’re doing your job,” she explained.
He stepped into his pants, straining to cover his erection.
She giggled, “That looks painful.”
He stared at her. Her cheeks flushed and a sparkle in her eyes told him she wasn’t upset with him. “Please get dressed.”
“What’s going on,” she asked taking the clothes from him.
“Intruders attempting to get in,” Brady explained as he sat to put on shoes.
“We better move,” she stripped off the nightgown she wore and slipped the bra and top on. He hadn’t gotten her underwear but the sweats were loose enough. She stepped into them. Grabbing her tennis shoes, she reached for him. “I’m ready. I can put my shoes on while you figure out what’s going on.”
“I love you,” he smiled as he took her hand and headed towards the security office. “You’ll stay by my side.”
“Unless you need to shift,” she said. “Then I’ll stay where you tell me to.”
In moments they arrived in security, “What’s the problem?”
“We’ve got some suspicious movement,” Chet glanced at Jolyn. His cheeks flushed but he pointed to the monitor. “The alarm hit here and then over here.”
“Looks like they’re attempting to come in both sides,” Brady watched as one person became three and then five. “Get everyone up.”
“Security protocol three,” Chet asked.
“Yes, dark and quiet,” Brady agreed as he watched the person on the other side become more than just one.
“They learned they could breach our perimeter,” Chet said.
“Bring up the lights and scare the shit out of them,” Jolyn suggested.
“We want them on the inside,” Brady answered before he continued to issue orders. “Get group A into defensive positions.”
“So, you can question them,” Jolyn realized as she watched the men put a ladder up to the wall.
“Notify the police,” Brady glanced at her.
“Tell me what my place is,” Jolyn said.
“Pregnant women go with the kits,” Chet barked out.
“I’m not pregnant and I’m not fragile,” Jolyn said. “I’m not letting anything happen to the kits. So give me something to do and stop worrying about it.”
“You have no training and no defenses,” Brady growled
“Yet I still managed to hold off the hounds who were after Minnie,” Jolyn argued.
“Your domestic will have to wait,” Chet started stripping. “They’re inside.”
“Give me your clothes and go,” Jolyn demanded of her mate.
He snarled but stripped. “Go to the kitchen. Mia will be there.”
“I know my way there,” Jolyn took his clothes and watched as he changed into his black panther. It delighted her as he smoothly shifted to all fours and snarled. She turned away from Chet as he took off his pants and set them on the chair. His tiger form took up more space.
“Go,” she whispered as she followed them out. “Find me when you’re done. I have your clothes.”
His tongue slid across her hand. She reached for his fur and dug her fingers in for a moment before she turned towards the kitchen. The dark halls made her pause. She tried to remember what stood in the shadows. Furniture stood in these wider halls. Her instinct was to follow the walls so no stray light caught her but she didn’t want to bump into anything. A few turns and she saw the door to the kitchen. Kits and pregnant women hid there. She needed to be there to protect them. Quietly, she walked down the hall, glancing behind her and then in front of her. She didn’t hear anyone else. Were they already in position? It took moments for her to get down the hall and then before she turned the corner, she looked both ways to double check. Another turn and she’d be in the kitchen. Would they recognize her? They had better sense of smell and hearing than she did.
She pushed open the swinging door and slipped in. The sliver of light from the clocks on the appliances showed her five women and a lot of kits, including Mia and Minnie. Mia nodded and motioned for her to come further into the room. Jolyn tried to count the shadows. She thought there were ten little ones. Sixteen of them total. Mia grabbed Jolyn’s arm.
If they went out the other door, it put them in the dining room. While they had double doors leading into the dining room and French doors leading out to the garden, they wouldn’t have any protection. Jolyn scanned the kitchen for a weapon. It reminded her of when the hounds trapped her in her apartment. She saw Louise who was due in three months. She held Holly because Cordele wasn’t pregnant and was out protecting the compound. She saw kits in varying ages from Holly’s age to Minnie’s. Any kits older than Minnie were probably out protecting. Jolyn grabbed Minnie’s hand and took her to the smallest of the kits other than Holly. She picked up the little one and handed her to Minnie and then lined Minnie up at the door. She paired them off until only one remained. She grabbed Mia and handed the little one to Mia who shook her head.
Jolyn leaned in close to whisper, “You go first into the dining room. You protect their escape and I’ll protect your back.”
Mia nodded and moved away from Jolyn. Women holding children and putting hands on their bellies readied to step through the door to the dining room. Jolyn spotted the large coffee pot on the counter and grabbed the carafe. She stood behind the door and waited for it to swing open. She saw the toaster on the counter. Once the carafe broke, she’d grab the toaster and then run like hell in the hopes the others got away or got more help.
She saw the door swing inwards. Did she wait until she saw who was coming? What if it was one of their people? Instinct forced her arm up and gripped the carafe tightly. A man in all black stepped away from the door. He turned to check behind the door and got a smashed. He didn’t go down. Jolyn grabbed the toaster and tried to smash it into him but he grabbed it. She pressed the on button and let go. He jerked as the voltage jerked through his body. A second man appeared and pushed the first out of the way. Jolyn scrambled to grab anything when she heard a snarl as a black footed cat landed on the second man. The cat sunk her teeth into the man’s shoulder. He screamed but reached back and grabbed the small cat. Jolyn grabbed the rolling pin and ran forward to slam the heavy wood utensil into his gut.
He let go the cat and grabbed for Jolyn. She raised the rolling pin again and slammed it down on his head at the same time the black footed cat sunk her teeth into his other shoulder. The man dropped to the floor.
“She’s safe,” Jolyn assured the bloody snarling cat. The cat retreated the way she came. With the rolling pin in hand, Jolyn stepped into the dining room. She didn’t see the women and kits. Her mind raced. Where did they go? A hand touched her from behind. Clustered in a corner, all the kits and women stood waiting for the next attacker.
The French doors were a risk in this room. Should they go back into the kitchen? Jolyn saw a long shadow cross in front of the French doors. Too late to move, she motioned for everyone to get down in the darker corner. She hoped whoever approached didn’t have good eyesight in the dark. They squatted as a man passed by. He paused to stare in through the doors. Jolyn held her breath and hoped he saw only tables and chairs.
Jolyn watched over the top of a table as the man tried one handle and then another. Each time a handle rattled she wondered how to get around to stop him. She saw him step to the next door and then heard a woof as a large cat barreled into him.
Jolyn ducked down again. Mia leaned close to whisper. “We have a safe place but we can’t get to it.”
“If we stay here, we’re somewhat out of sight,” Jolyn whispered back.
“Too many…” Mia stopped talking and tipped her head as she listened. “Sirens.”
Suddenly the lights came on. Jolyn didn’t let her guard down. She heard a huff as the door from the kitchen opened. She raised her rolling pin only to stop suddenly as she saw her black panther. She grabbed him and hugged him, digging her fingers into his thick fur.
He licked her face. She scrunched her face. “I’m all right. We’re all fine. Your clothes are in the kitchen.”
He waffled and blew her hair back from her face. She kissed him between his eyes. “I love you.”
He purred and rubbed against her until several of the pride men came through the other door. Then he disappeared into the kitchen and returned to the dining room buttoning his shirt.
“The police are here and taking prisoners,” he quietly informed Mia and Jolyn. “They want to take statements.”
“It will be a long night,” Mia said. “Where’s Starry?”
“Who broke my toaster,” Starry bellowed. “Why is there glass everywhere?”
“You’re on your own,” Brady ducked away from the kitchen door just before it slammed open.
“I did,” Jolyn admitted. “I’m sorry.”
Starry started to scold but saw all the women and kits behind her. “That is my least favorite rolling pin. Did you break it?”
“I think it split down the middle when I hit that guy over the head,” Jolyn pointed to the intruder.
“You need to get this woman some actual weapons,” Starry pointed a hard finger into Brady’s chest. “I’ll break out a new coffee pot and get some started. You send me some teens to help clean up.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Brady raised his eyebrows.
“Well don’t just stand there, get a move on,” Starry grumbled as she stepped back through the door to the kitchen.
“I’ll go help her,” Jolyn offered.
“Oh. No.” Mia pushed Jolyn to the opposite door. “You and I will wait patiently for the police to round up all the intruders and then we’ll talk with whoever’s in charge.”
Mia stretched out on the sofa while Jolyn took down a different book. “How can you calmly sit there and read,” she murmured.
“What choice do we have,” Jolyn stared at the book and set it on the end table. “I want Brady. Do we have any idea where he and Bryan are?”
“With the police,” Mia sat up. “I want Bryan as well. If they don’t show up in the next few minutes, I’ll make a scene.”
“Why are there guards on the door,” Jolyn asked.
“It’s them being… male,” Mia smirked. She wiped her hands over her face and through her hair. “When their mates are in danger, they go a bit primal. This is their way of ensuring we’re safe and away from any possible danger.”
“It’s not that they…” Jolyn closed her eyes and a tear escaped.
“We’re not prisoners,” Mia realized the damage they had done to Jolyn. “I’d tell you I’m sorry we ever took you prisoner but I can’t. You’ve done a lot for us.”
“I’m over tired,” Jolyn brushed the tear from her face. “I’m glad I’ve helped.”
A sharp rap on the door made them both turn. “Come in,” Mia made no pretense of being a polite hostess.
Captain Okwaho stepped through the door. “Good morning,” she glanced at the clock. “I’m here to take your statements, if you’re amenable to this.”
“Will you be recording these as well,” Mia snapped.
“Not necessary,” Captain Okwaho said. “Brady has already provided me with all the video from the time the intruders were spotted. This is a formality.”
“Well, let’s get…” Mia stopped speaking when the door banged open and Starry pushed a cart through.
“I’ve got pastries, juice, coffee, and tea,” Starry grumbled.
