Chapter 42
Adding a few final details to his plan, Dylon was confident of its success.
Utilizing the gifts bestowed on the Blackwood pack, he was sure David’s mother would be in their hands by tomorrow.
All he was waiting for, before he shared the plan with Jackson, was one last piece of information that would remove any future threats to David.
If his father came through as Dylon expected him to…
his phone rang and Dylon snatched it up, answering it on the first ring. “Hi Dad.”
“Interesting information. Can you tell me how you got it?” asked Frank.
“No, but I can assure you it’s accurate.”
“I know. I found who was covering for Brenda. He’s been arrested and is currently in solitary confinement. Before you ask, he’s not made any calls to Brenda nor received any from her since he’s been arrested.”
“Who knows he’s been arrested?” Dylon asked, worried Brenda might have more spies at the High Council.
“Only me and my personal guards. I sent a message asking him to see me and when he arrived, my guards seized him and locked him up in a high security cell using an alias so no one knows who he is. But Dylon,” Frank continued, “you know the drill. He can only be held for 48 hours unless he’s formally charged with a crime. ”
“I know, Dad, but that’ll give me plenty of time.”
“Good. However, I’m guessing there’s more you need me to do,” Frank said.
“Yes, but first I have to handle something. Can I send it to you by email?”
“Make sure you give me enough time to accomplish whatever it is you want, okay?”
“No problem,” replied Dylon. “Oh, and thanks, Dad. I promise to fill you in later on all the details.”
“Understood. Bye, son.”
Dylon ended the call, looked at the time, then headed to see Jackson.
~/~/~/~/~
Zane sat next to David, their hands clasped together while Logan read Zane’s report.
As the minutes ticked away, with only the sound of pages being turned breaking the silence, he could feel anxiety building in his mate.
Squeezing David’s hand, he glanced at his mate and smiled, hoping to give him some comfort.
Placing the last sheet down on the dining room table, Logan schooled his features to hide his deep concern about the condition David’s mother might be in.
“Good job done, as always, bro. I spoke with Jackson earlier and he summarized your research, but reading the whole thing is chilling. He and Dylon are waiting for our call so we can go over the plan to rescue David’s mother. ”
“What about Brenda and her brother?” asked Zane.
“From what Jackson told me, the plan handles those two also. David, anything you want to ask or add before I call?” Logan asked.
Shaking his head, David said, “Uhmm, I’m fine.”
A knock sounded on the suite’s door and Logan called, “Come in.”
David’s eyes widened as Colton, Ian, Dakota and Slate entered the room. Leaning over to Zane, he whispered, “Your brothers and their mates are going to help me?”
“Yup, so it would seem,” Zane smiled.
Sitting down, Slate said, “All present and accounted for, Captain Logan.”
Chuckling, Logan replied, “Good.” Dialing his brother’s number, he grinned at Kieran as his mate slid into the seat next to him.
When Jackson answered, he asked, “Hey, Logan. Is everyone with you?”
“Yeah. I’m putting you on speakerphone. Hang on,” Logan said, then placing his phone on the table, pressed the button. “Can you hear me okay?”
“Perfectly. Before Dylon speaks to all of you, I thought you should know, Zane, that the High Council extends their thanks for ferreting out corruption in one of their divisions. That dude’s connection to Brenda has been severed. Good job, bro.”
“Thanks,” said Zane.
“Dylon, it’s all yours,” Jackson said. “I’m sure you’d rather be leading this mission to Italy yourself, but you’ve got a great team over there to carry it out.”
Dylon began his briefing. “Logan, please hand out the floor plans of the convent,” he said, pausing before continuing. “The room that’s circled is where Mrs. Rossi is being held and the ‘X’ marks Brenda’s office. Now here’s the plan…”
“Just a minute, Dylon,” Logan said, as Groose entered the room. “Do you need something, Groose?”
“Yes. Can you join me? I have something to show you,” Groose answered.
“Dylon, continue. Kieran will fill me in,” said Logan, leaving the room with his head enforcer. When they were in the hallway, he asked, “What’s the problem?”
Pulling out his phone, Groose opened an app and passed it to Logan. “We have another stalker out there.”
“I know,” Logan replied. “It’s Tyson, the brother. He’s alone.”
“I don’t think so,” Groose said. “Down the street on the left side is a parked car with someone in it. Tyson has spoken to that person three times already, before returning to the fast food place across from the hotel.” Logan walked over to the window, keeping himself hidden behind the curtains while peering out at the car and restaurant.
“Keep an eye on them for now,” he said to Groose, “and let me know if anything changes.”
“Will do.”
~/~/~/~/~
After hoping so long for his mother’s rescue, David was astounded at how fast everything was now moving. Dylon continued to brief everyone until he was satisfied they all knew exactly what to do. Logan, who had returned to the room, assumed command, issuing the orders.
“Zane, where’s the bio-tracker Ian removed from David?” he asked.
“On top of the desk in our bedroom. Why?” asked Zane.
“Good, I just want to make sure it’s not with you or David,” Logan said.
“When you two are ready, poof yourselves to the airplane. Once you’re there, head to the rear and lock yourselves in the bedroom until I give you the all clear.
In the meantime, the rest of us will head out front, creating a show for anyone watching before we get into the limousine and head out.
I’m confident all the bases are covered but stay sharp, okay? Let’s go!”
David stood, then grabbed Zane’s hand, and whispered, “Can you bop us? I’m not sure where the airport is.”
“I got this, babe,” Zane said, disappearing with his mate.
“That’s fucking amazing,” Slate said.
“Yup, it’s an amazing gift. Let’s go,” Logan said, grasping Kieran’s hand as he led the group downstairs.
~/~/~/~/~
Tyson shrunk back against the wall as he saw the group standing on the front steps of the hotel.
Snapping a few pictures, then sending them to his sister, he chuckled at the antics of the slim, feisty shifter in pink who was giving orders to everyone.
Just my type. Thinking of all the twinks who’d be willing to do anything for him after he became wealthy he almost missed his sister’s call.
Hitting the button, Tyson said, “Hi sis, did you look at the pictures I sent you?”
“I did. They’re from the Blackwood Pack with an offer for David.”
“How much, do you think?” asked Tyson.
“Not enough. My guy will follow them to make sure they all board the plane and then he’ll come back.”
“Do you want me to do anything while he’s gone?”
“No. Just sit tight and wait for him,” Brenda said.
“Then what?”
“Then I’ll decide what I want done, Tyson. Be patient,” Brenda said angrily.
“Okay, okay. Don’t get mad at me, Brenda,” Tyson pleaded.
Sighing, Brenda pinched the bridge of her nose, frustrated at herself for losing her temper.
Her brother had always been that way through no fault of his own.
Brenda chalked it up to the asshole who was Tyson’s father.
“Ty, I’m not angry at you. I just don’t know what the next step is right now.
I’ve got to make some calls to get more info. Okay?”
“Sure sis, I understand. I’ll just wait here. Hey do you mind if I walk around a little bit? I’ll be back here, shortly.”
“Go ahead.”
“Thanks. Bye, sis.”
Hanging up, Brenda tapped her long, blood red fingernails on the desk, thinking about the coming meeting.
She smiled as she re-read an email from the Blackwood Pack’s lawyer.
The Alpha had done exactly what she’d figured—offered to buy David from her.
Making a deal for lots of money appealed to her; she knew David would never make a willing accomplice.
The only power she had over him was his mother, but she was human and wouldn’t survive very long.
After that, David would disappear and she’d have to either chase him or find someone new who had the same powers.
But that search would take a lot of money—money she didn’t have, unless she accepted an offer from the Blackwood Pack.
But how much should she demand? That depended on how wealthy the Blackwood Pack was.
Picking up her phone, she scrolled through the photos Tyson sent her, chose two, and then emailed them to her friend at the High Council asking for the identity of the shifters and the net worth of the Blackwood Pack.
~/~/~/~/~
Dylon sat at his desk, rocking back and forth, waiting to hear from Logan.
Jackson had hit the nail on the head about him wanting to lead the mission, but with his mother, Lizzie, vacationing with the pack members in Scotland, he couldn’t leave Cody to handle the twins by himself.
So here he sat, nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof, while someone else was in charge, making the decisions.
Sighing, Dylon picked up his phone for the twentieth time, checking for calls.
Finding none, he tossed the phone back on his desk, whereupon it rang. Snatching it up, he answered, “Logan?”
“No, it’s me,” said Frank.
“Oh, hi.”
Chuckling, his dad replied, “Excited to hear from me, huh?”
“Sorry, I was just expecting…”
Frank chuckled. “Well, maybe I can make up for your disappointment. Brenda just sent a text to her contact asking him to identify the shifters in a photo and wanting to know the net worth of the Blackwood Pack.”
“Fuck! No shit! Send me the photo, please.”
“Do you want me to respond?”
“Probably, but I have to clear it with Jackson first.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem because Brenda won’t expect an answer right away,” said Frank, as he forwarded the message and photo to Dylon.
“Thanks Dad. Bye.” Jumping up, Dylon ran from the room, eager to see his Alpha.
~/~/~/~/~
As the plane began its descent, Logan turned to Zane and David. “Okay, back to the bedroom guys. Remember do not leave it until I give you the signal.”
“Gotcha,” Zane said. “C’mon babe, bedtime for us.”
David giggled, grasping his mate’s hand, “I don’t mind that.”
After hearing the door shut and locked, Logan instructed the enforcers to stand guard, watching as they took their places.
When the wheels hit the ground, Logan looked out the window and saw their waiting car.
After stopping, the steward lowered the stairs and they descended.
Then informing the plane crew to be ready to leave in a few hours, Logan and the others piled into the car and sped off.
Too on edge to enjoy the view of the Italian countryside, Logan closed his eyes, mentally reviewing Dylon’s plan for the umpteenth time.
Macushla, don’t worry…you’re doing great.
Yeah, well, I don’t feel great.
Of course not but trust me, you are.
What happens if something goes wrong? What happens if I make the wrong decision? What happens if David’s mother dies when we are trying to rescue her? What do I say…
Macushla, stop it. It’s not the same thing.
What are you talking about?
David’s mother is not your mother! Remember that. And what happened to your mother is not going to happen to David’s mother. Macushla, let go of the past. Look at this as a way to save someone else’s mother so they don’t have to go through what you did.
Sighing, Logan knew his mate was right about the tricks his mind was playing on him. Squeezing Kieran’s hand, he murmured, “Thanks.”
Slate announced, “We’re here.”
Astonished at the awesome villa facing him, Logan asked, “Your friend, Giovanni, lives here?”
“Yup, wait till he finds out I have a mate,” replied Slate.
“Am I going to hear stories about your youthful escapades?” asked Dakota, smirking.
“Not if I can help it,” Slate muttered.
Colton looked at Logan. “I think we’re going to have fun.”
Chuckling, Logan climbed out of the car, offering his hand to Kieran. “C’mon babe, let’s see if we can get a tour of this gorgeous place before we leave.”
“Perfecto, macushla,” Kieran said staring at the villa’s striking architecture.
Slate helped Dakota out, then walked over to his friend and introduced everyone.
“Nice to meet the man who finally made an honest man out of my friend,” Giovanni said, shaking Dakota’s hand. “Now, if you’ll be kind enough to follow me, my butler has set up some light refreshments for you in the living room.”
“Thanks, Gio,” Slate said, “we won’t be in your hair for long.”
~/~/~/~/~
Brenda prided herself on remaining calm, never letting anyone see what she thought or how she felt but that all changed when a text arrived.
A fucking billionaire…a real-to-life fucking billionaire.
How fucking lucky can I get! Excitement caused Brenda’s hand to shake as she set the phone down.
Inhaling and exhaling several times, she willed herself to relax, knowing she needed a clear mind to figure out her next step.
Fuck you Michael. See what you missed out on.
You never listened to me. Setting aside her feelings, Brenda decided to offer a package deal—David and his mother.
She’d get even more for both of them. Pulling a cord hanging next to her desk, Brenda waited until her assistant knocked.
“Come in,” Brenda called, watching as the girl entered and walked over to her. “I want Mrs. Rossi cleaned up and made presentable.”
“Shall I also remove her shackles and chains, High Priestess?”
Thinking for a moment, Brenda said, “Yes, and I want her room cleaned, also. And when you’ve finished, lock her in and post a guard outside the door.”
“As you command, High Priestess,” the assistant said, bowing.
Leaning back, Brenda smiled. I finally hit it big.
Her mind was filled with ideas of what she’d do after her big payday.
Blowing this joint would definitely be the first thing I do, then maybe move to France and buy a chateau…
or maybe sail around the world! Finally returning to earth, Brenda rose, stripping as she walked to her bathroom, intent on making herself beautiful.
Who knows, maybe I can snag my own billionaire.