Puma Pride, page 35
Jolyn swung with all her strength at the hand coming up. She heard the gun clatter to the floor. She dragged the heavy candlestick back and aimed for his face. She felt hands touch her as the candlestick slammed into his head. He fell with a thud. She turned to find Keyne on the floor. “Come on,” she urged him into the panic room. Cordele opened the door again and they rushed inside. Safe. For now.
It took a little more than an hour. They sat in the panic room while the security people helped Captain Okwaho and her people arrest the invaders. The children went back to sleep while the women and Keyne sat and waited to learn what damage had been done.
Mia checked on each woman to make sure no one felt any ill effects. She sat down next to Jolyn. “If Brady has a fit over you stalling, I’m locking him in here until he apologizes.”
“He won’t,” Jolyn leaned on Mia. “How are the babies?”
“Sleeping finally,” Mia shook her head. “When I need them to, they’re active and when it doesn’t matter, they’re quiet.”
“Pay attention, that’s probably how they’ll be when they come out,” Molly said. “I want to take the training you’ve had, Jolyn. If you’d stuck with us here in the attic, we wouldn’t have made it to the panic room.”
“I just did what I thought best,” Jolyn said.
“At least it wasn’t kitchen stuff,” Mia teased.
“Disinfectant spray and an old candlestick,” Molly said. “Whatever works.”
“One thing our men didn’t take into account,” Jolyn said watching the women in the room.
“Pregnant women can’t run or do stairs much,” Mia said. “Maybe we should overhaul all the levels.”
“Change up the layout and put in panic rooms on each floor,” Molly said.
“We’ve got police and our people in the attic,” Cordele said.
“Maybe we should sleep in here tonight,” Mia said even as she pushed up.
“I’m pretty sure Brady would tear the doors off, he looks furious,” Cordele said before she released the door.
Brady scooped her up. “Nice work,” he murmured as he held her close. “I’ve got news.”
“How many injured,” Mia asked immediately.
“Dad and Bryan have injuries,” Brady growled. “Nothing major. Verity will get to them. We have three gunshot wounds.”
“Fuckers,” Mia said. “Where’s the captain?”
“In the front room directing emergency people,” Brady said. “They got smart enough to send their people in through the front gate. Pulled a bus right up to the front gate.”
“I’m using the elevator,” Mia said.
“You better and Bryan would like to see you pronto,” Brady said. “Minnie?”
“Can I go back to bed,” Minnie yawned.
“We’re doing a slumber party in the dining room,” Brady said. “Damage has been done in several rooms.”
“I’ll take her to her room and get whatever she needs,” Cordele offered as she carried Holly.
“Thank you,” Mia said.
“People are taking spare cribs to the dining room.” Brady put his arm around Jolyn and didn’t let her go. “It will be a long night.”
“We’ll take things in shifts,” Molly said. “Some will sleep now and then we’ll switch off.”
The attic emptied out with some taking the stairs and many taking the elevator. Keyne slipped in with Cordele and stuck by her side.
“What’s the bad news,” Jolyn asked.
“Willie and Selene were hit hard,” he walked her back into the panic room.
“Are they dead,” Jolyn braced herself for the news.
“No. They took Willie down, sort of. They thought him drugged but Selene got Brent talking. He beat her. She still got him talking. He’s claiming to be her father. He groomed a fourteen year old prostitute.” Brady shook his head. “How is that even a thing?”
“Tell me all of it,” Jolyn cupped his cheeks.
“He groomed this child and when he imprisoned her, he let his scientists experiment on her and then he bred her,” Brady felt bile in the back of his mouth.
“So, he’s my grandfather,” Jolyn said.
“We think so,” Brady saw it wash over her. “You aren’t him.”
“No but what he put that girl through,” Jolyn said. “He’s a monster.”
“But you aren’t,” Brady leaned in to offer her comfort.
She accepted it. She wasn’t all right with it but she had no way to change it. “What else?”
“He planned to kill your father and Selene. He didn’t want any evidence of his participation. He told his crew to kill you and bring Mia and Minnie. It’s why they brought so many.”
“Our bodies would still be evidence,” Jolyn said.
“He didn’t plan to leave bodies,” Brady said. “He thought your mother barren. He planned to take her back and experiment on her. He didn’t realize your parents weren’t lovers.”
“What condition is the Pride in,” Jolyn asked stunned by this information.
“We’ve got a lot of damage to clean up,” Brady said. “We have video of it all but we’re also taking photos before we start on a room. They hadn’t found Bryan and Mia’s rooms.”
“Thank goodness,” Jolyn stood. “Come on. We have work to do.”
“Jo,” Brady held her to him.
“What?”
“Disinfectant spray and a candlestick?”
“They were handy.” She smiled as he started to laugh.
“I swear we just need random stuff all around the house and let you take out all the invaders,” Brady laughed as they moved to the stairs.
16
The governor has called this press conference to address the issue of the District Attorney Dermot Romley and the recent nearly deadly attack on the Puma Pride.
Mia sat with her feet up and a pillow behind her lower back. “You’re pampering me,” she kissed Bryan who hadn’t stopped fussing about her since the attack three days ago.
“Not possible,” Bryan placed a glass of juice next to her along with a plate of fruit and cheese. “We’re watching this and then I will tempt you back to bed.”
“For other reasons than me being pregnant,” Mia lifted an eyebrow.
“For whatever reason you want,” Bryan kissed her long and slow.
“We’re here,” Brady coughed on entering the lounge. “Mom and Dad aren’t far behind us.”
“I’m sure they know we have sex,” Mia said. “How else would I get this way?”
“When do your parents arrive,” Jolyn asked.
“Day after tomorrow,” Mia wrinkled her nose. “More people to fuss.”
“We’re watching this and going back to work,” Brady said. “The rooms on the second floor are back together.”
“Good,” Mia said as Bryan sat on the floor by her feet. She sunk her fingers into his thick hair and he rubbed his head against her thigh.
“Why so much destruction,” Bryan asked, not for the first time.
“Daddy,” Minnie peeked around the corner of the lounge. “Can I come watch too?”
“Yes,” Bryan patted his lap. Minnie stopped to kiss her mom before she slid onto her dad’s lap.
“How are you doing,” Mia asked.
“I’m glad to know Brent Ladika is behind bars and is not my grandfather,” Jolyn said. “Willie creatively acquired a sample of his DNA.”
“The video of the attack,” Mia shook her head. The violence of it was shocking. “How is Selene doing?”
“She’s resting comfortably,” Jolyn said. “Though I think while she’s still bruised, she plans to make a statement.”
“Captain Okwaho sent a female photographer over to take pictures of the damage he did,” Brady said.
“Are we too late,” Molly preceded Brooks into the room.
“Just on time,” Mia said.
“Sshh,” Bryan hushed everyone. “Here’s the governor.”
“I come before you tonight a humble man.” Governor Kramer Landow stood behind a podium and without looking at notes spoke to the camera.
“I was asked by the Puma Pride to take action,” he said. “They showed evidence a man and his group did horrific things to humans. This group kidnapped underage human girls who were vulnerable. I thought they were overreacting and preferred to leave this in the hands of the local district attorney. He assured me the Pride were out of line.”
Landow stared at the back of the room and shook his head. “I was wrong. I don’t say this lightly or easily. One of the witnesses visited me and my wife today. I was appalled by her condition. Her face was deeply bruised and she could not take a full breath because this man… Brent Ladika beat her. If it weren’t for her shifter mate, she would be dead.”
“This afternoon I instructed DA Dermot Romley to come to my office with all the evidence and explain to me why he didn’t bring the man in,” Kramer Landow gripped the podium. “I am ashamed I left this in the hands of DA Romley. He showed up in my office with no evidence and words which chilled me. I’ve removed him from office. I’ve found him to be neglectful and prejudicial towards a specific group in our community. He didn’t prosecute this man simply because a group of shifters brought him the evidence. I know relations between humans and shifters are not always smooth but this was egregious. I’ll be appointing a special attorney to oversee the cases not just the ones from the past but the most recent ones.”
He took a moment to shuffle his cards on the podium. “To the Puma Pride, I offer my sincerest apologies for the attack you suffered at the hands of this man and his associates. I understand one occurred three nights ago at the same time as the witness I spoke with was attacked. It is my understanding the alpha female was targeted because she’s pregnant and the alphas’ eight year old daughter was targeted for kidnapping so this group could continue their heinous acts of experimentation.”
“Because I trusted a man who had an impeccable reputation for being fair, I’ve failed the Puma Pride. I’m setting up a committee to improve shifter human relations. I hope a representative from the Puma Pride will join this committee. I understand they’ve started a council of sorts in their area to improve relations between the shifter groups and with humans.”
“Because of the heinous crimes, I called the national guard to raid the group’s headquarters. They were able to go in. Over the next few weeks and as it is appropriate so as not to endanger any criminal charges, I’ll share more of what was discovered. It saddens me the way these people have twisted science and beliefs to make their actions acceptable. I’ve asked the president to appoint a special investigator to oversee all these actions and crimes. I hope as more is revealed, we’ll be able to come together as a community and grieve for those young girls who were abused and the shifters who have been equally abused and harmed.”
Kramer Landow turned away from the podium paused and turned back. “What these people did to shifters and humans alike makes me ashamed to be human. I will spend the rest of my tenure as governor working to bring our two species together to form a more peaceful relationship.”
“Wow,” Brooks said. “Makes you wonder what Selene said.”
“How did she get in to see him,” Mia asked. Jolyn and Brady shrugged.
“Well now, sometimes you have to pull strings,” Molly said. “His wife is a lovely woman and rarely puts her foot down.”
“When she does,” Brooks said. “He’s a smart man and listens.”
“Good,” Bryan said. “Brady did you check with Twanna?”
“I checked. She didn’t call it in,” Brady said. “She hadn’t talked to him in a few days.”
“Are you talking about why they came in,” Jolyn asked.
“We are,” Brady pushed hair back from her face.
“Willie told me they found a tagged crow shifter,” she said.
“Tagged,” Molly asked.
“Ladika captured a crow shifter, put a tag on her neck, and forced her to spy on Willie and Selene,” Jolyn said.
“Tag,” Brooks didn’t understand.
“It was made of some material that if she shifted to human, it would cut through her throat,” Jolyn said. “Willie was appalled. She was trapped as a crow unless he allowed her to shift. He only allowed her to shift if she had news for him.”
“When she was human why didn’t she run away,” Molly asked.
“She’s naked, petite and not as strong as Ladika and in a confined space,” Mia guessed.
“Willie is not known to be kind to people who betray him,” Jolyn said. “He has given her a safe place to recover.”
Brooks rose from his seat and pulled Jolyn into his arms. “We’re lucky to have you,” he said as he hugged her.
“I’m lucky to have all of you,” Jolyn kissed his cheek. “I thought I’d be alone forever. Now I have an amazing mate and I’m part of a Pride.”
“Come on, Minnie,” Molly said. “Grandpa and I will tuck you in.”
“Will you tell me a story,” Minnie asked.
“Aren’t you too old for a story,” Brooks asked taking Minnie’s hand.
“Not one of your stories, Grandpa,” Minnie wheedled.
“Ahhh. I might have one or two I could tell,” Brooks laughed.
“He’ll tell her some blood curdling adventure and she’ll have nightmares for a week,” Mia grumbled.
“What happened with the guy looking for his mate,” Bryan asked.
“Geneva picked him up,” Brady shook his head. “Turns out he’s just a guy looking for his mate.”
“Tell them the rest,” Jolyn nudged him.
“He turned up here. Very boldly came to the gate and asked to speak with the alphas,” Brady growled. “Chet answered the door but there were a number of our unattached members walking through. He inhaled and got in the center of them.”
“He said one of them was his mate and begged to sniff them,” Jolyn grinned.
“Bold,” Mia noted.
“Twanna was in the group and she got upset,” Brady said. “She started to walk away but he stopped her. He stared into her eyes for a long time.”
“Twanna said she felt drawn to him,” Jolyn said. “She knew from the moment she saw him but without knowing who he was, she made herself walk away.”
“Gun shy after Ladika,” Bryan said.
“He asked her to be his mate,” Brady said. “Apparently, he held her hands and wouldn’t let her go until she agreed. When she hesitated, he offered to be patient and date.”
“Chet said he made her cry and she accepted him,” Jolyn said.
“Chet is a gossip,” Brady chuckled.
“This is why I have a request for an apartment,” Mia said. “They’re lucky. There’s one available on the same floor as her sister. One of our couples is pregnant and wants to move into a house.”
“Now they can without worrying about Ladika,” Bryan said.
“Let’s go to bed,” Mia leaned forward and held out her hand for Bryan to help her up. Their eyes met and she nodded.
“By the way, we found out the gender of our babies today,” Bryan said. “We haven’t told anyone yet.”
“What are you having,” Jolyn asked and smiled as the two hugged.
“One of each,” Mia said. “We already know their middle names.”
“Middle names,” Jolyn asked frowning.
“We think it would be awkward to have a Jolyn in two different generations so we’re giving our little girl your name as her middle name and the little boy, well he’ll be stuck with Brady’s name as a middle name.”
“Mine?”
“Well, you claimed her so we didn’t kill her,” Bryan teased.
“Stop teasing,” Mia stepped into Brady’s arms. “You’re a wonderful uncle and we want to honor that.”
Returning her hug, he bent down, “Thank you.”
“Now Jolyn, what weapons do you see in this room,” Bryan asked as he hugged her. “We need to start training our people to react like you do.”
“It’s not like I walk in a room and say gosh what will work as a weapon,” Jolyn returned his hug laughing.
“But…” Bryan prompted.
“Be careful, she might decide to demonstrate on you,” Mia pulled him back to her. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Yes, dear,” Bryan said. “Hey, you know there are kids sleeping. The third floor can wait until tomorrow.”
Jolyn held out her hand. “Do you really want to go back to work?”
“Did you have other things in mind?” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“Yes, I definitely need a bath and you promised to wash my back,” Jolyn grinned.
“I can’t break my promise,” Brady teased. “There’s too many weapons around.”
Jolyn laughed. “We should make an early night of it, I suppose. We have Shifters’ council tomorrow.”
“We can go to our room early,” Brady murmured as he pulled her close. She squealed when he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
“Brady,” she objected as he closed their bedroom door.
“What? I want a bath and my favorite bath toy,” he grinned.
“That’s the third time you’ve yawned,” Mia said. “We haven’t even started the meeting yet.”
“Brady kept me up late,” Jolyn smiled.
“You know that’s how I got this way,” Mia rubbed her growing belly.
“Not yet,” Jolyn said. “I’m having too much fun with him on my own.”
“How are you two,” Portia asked. “If half what I read in the paper is true, I’m surprised you’re doing this meeting.”
“We had a scare but managed to evade those who invaded. Our people are recovering,” Mia reported.
“I have a proposal I want to bring up,” Portia said. “I hope you won’t consider me stepping on toes.”
