Chapter 44
Slithering into the room like a hungry boa constrictor, Brenda stopped in front of the love seat and, in a provocative voice, crooned, “Mr. Valentin, I’ve arranged for your assistant to have a tour of the convent. While he’s doing that, I hope you and I can get to know each other better.”
Babe, do something! Slate pleaded through their mind link.
“I’m afraid I can’t go,” Dakota said.
“Of course you can go,” snapped Brenda.
“No, really, I can’t. You see, I’m the representative from the Blackwood Pack. The Alpha is my brother, so I must be present for any discussions pertaining to your demand letter. Mr. Valentin is my Fated Mate and therefore I asked him to help me negotiate with you.”
Brenda opened and shut her mouth several times before narrowing her eyes and sitting.
“I see. Well then, let’s proceed. What exactly are you offering for our High Priest?
The convent has invested quite a large sum in his education, maintenance and training and he is very rare and impossible to replace. ”
“I do agree with your assessment,” Slate agreed. “However, David is one of a kind and the Fates…for their own reasons…decided to give him a mate and that must be taken into consideration.”
“Obviously, the Fates made a mistake. Our religion doesn’t allow mates of any kind for our Priests and Priestesses; they must remain virgins,” responded Brenda.
“If I understand you correctly, then David can no longer be your High Priest since he’s not a virgin anymore, is that right?” asked Slate.
Flustered, Brenda rose. “Wrong! Due to the investment the convent made in David and since he was raped by a member of the Blackwood Pack, the Church will perform a cleansing ceremony.”
“Rape? Bullshit! My brother never raped anyone, especially not his Fated Mate!” Dakota shouted, rising and scowling at Brenda.
Slate pulled his mate back down next to him. “David will not attest to that in court, so unless you retract it, the Blackwood Pack will be forced to sue you for defamation,” he said calmly.
A flash of fury crossed Brenda’s face before she regained control. “It doesn’t matter. The law is clear about who David belongs with and it isn’t the Blackwood Pack.”
“Maybe and maybe not, but until it gets heard in court, David will remain with his Fated Mate and the Blackwood Pack,” Slate said.
“Excuse me for a moment,” said Brenda.
“Certainly,” Slate said, watching her leave the room.
What is she doing, babe? Steel asked through their mind link.
Calling her brother and telling him to get David.
Pulling out his phone, he sent a message to Groose, then read the message from Logan about their successful extraction of Mrs. Rossi.
David’s mother is with Ian and Colton.
Great, let’s get out of here.
In a few minutes. Slate sent another message, then tucked his phone back into his pocket.
She’s coming back.
After reclaiming her seat across from them, Brenda said, “Long court battles are never good for anyone so I’m prepared to sell David to the Blackwood Pack for five million euros.”
“What about Mrs. Rossi?” asked Slate.
“I’ll throw her in for a total of seven million euros. You’ll find she’s a decent housekeeper,” Brenda said.
“Has she agreed to this offer of yours?” asked Slate.
“Certainly,” Brenda said. “Her wish is to be with her son.” A series of knocks echoed through the room but Brenda ignored them. “Well, do we have a deal?”
Slate’s head swiveled at the sound of splintering wood followed by a young woman’s voice shouting, “Stop! You can’t do that.”
Babe, the cavalry has arrived!
What? Dakota’s eyes grew big as he watched a dozen High Council enforcers swarm into the room, stopping near Brenda.
“High Priestess?” the head enforcer asked.
Standing, Brenda looked down her nose at the man. “How dare you break into my private quarters! The High Council will hear of this and you will pay for that door!”
“Are you the one who calls herself the High Priestess of the Convent of the Sisters of the Four Gods?” the man asked.
“I am, and by what right do you have to…”
“Take her,” the head enforcer ordered.
His men rushed forward, placing shift-proof cuffs on Brenda’s wrists and ankles as she struggled with them.
“You can’t do this,” cried Brenda, trying to get out of her restraints.
“You are under arrest by orders of the High Council,” the head enforcer said.
“For what?” Brenda shrieked.
“The charges include fraud, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and murder. Men, take her out,” the head enforcer ordered.
“Thanks for getting here so quickly,” Slate said, smirking at Brenda as she was marched out of the room.
“No thanks are necessary,” the head enforcer said. “This is our job. The rest of my men are taking the other women here in for questioning and I’d expect the prosecutors will also want to talk to you.”
Slate handed the head enforcer his business card. “They can reach me and my mate at that number.”
“Thank you. I’ll let them know. In the meantime, you are free to go,” replied the man.
“Are you going to search the convent?” asked Dakota.
“Not tonight, but it’ll be secured to keep anyone from getting in. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. Just wondered what happens next,” said Dakota.
“Babe, let’s go. Our car is waiting to take us back to Gio’s,” Slate said.
Ushering his mate out of Brenda’s private quarters, Slate led him outside to the waiting car.
When they had left the convent grounds, he used their mind link to ask Dakota, Babe, why did you want to know if they were going to search?
I picked up thoughts from Brenda about a man locked up in the convent’s dungeon. If they aren’t going to search the place, nobody’ll find him and he’ll…
Starve to death. We need to go back and alert them about him.
No, the man has some connection with David. We have to get him out.
Slate then sent a text to Logan. When the reply came, he showed it to Dakota. “Good thing you caught that.”
~/~/~/~/~
Drawing comfort from his mate’s scent, David watched as Ian and Colton treated his mother.
Thirty minutes had passed with no change; his mother hadn’t moved, lying on the bed just as still as when they found her.
Remembering the beatings he endured made him shudder, as fear rose in his gut about his mother having received the same treatment.
As Zane scented David’s fear, he wrapped his arms around his mate, pulling him close to him. “Your mother will be all right, babe,” he murmured.
Before he could reply, Ian approached them. David’s body stiffened, bracing for the bad news he was sure he’d hear.
“David, your mother has been drugged with a sedative which is why she hasn’t awakened.
The IV will help dilute the drug in her system so it’s now a waiting game.
Other than that, she seems to be malnourished and dehydrated…
the fluids will also help that too…but she doesn’t have any broken bones or any internal injuries as far as I can determine. ”
“Do you know what drug they used on her?” asked David.
“No. There are several strong sedatives for humans and I suspect it’s one of them,” Ian said.
“Will there be any side effects?” asked Zane.
“Not that I know of, except she’ll tire easily so the best thing is for her to get plenty of rest in the next couple of days.”
“I’ll make sure she does,” David said. “We both will, right love?”
“Absolutely,” answered Zane. “Ian, can David sit next to his mom?”
“Of course,” Ian said, getting a chair and placing it near the head of the bed. “It would help if you hold her hand and talk to her. Let her know she’s safe.”
“Go ahead babe,” urged Zane, watching as his mate sat down and began to speak softly to his mother.
Logan moved closer to Zane, then murmured, “We need to go back to the convent as soon as Slate and Dakota arrive because Brenda has a prisoner in the dungeon who’s associated with your mate somehow.”
“What about Brenda?” asked Zane.
“She’s been arrested along with all the Priestesses courtesy of Dylon.”
“Fanfuckingtastic! So what do you need me for? Why doesn’t Slate get him?” asked Zane.
“The convent has been secured as a crime scene so Slate can’t access it. We need you to bop in, find the man, then ghost walk him out,” Logan answered.
“So let’s go now. Are you flying me there?”
“Yes, but I want Slate here before I leave,” Logan said. Seeing his brother’s concern, he continued, “No, there isn’t any threat, but I’d rather err on the side of caution.”
~/~/~/~/~
Once Logan landed behind the church, Zane jumped down, checked the floorplan and then disappeared, landing in the entryway.
With only his phone’s flashlight to guide him, he walked down deserted hallways, footsteps echoing off the old stone walls.
Passing by all the doors which led to rooms on the first floor, he sought the one that would be an entry to the lower floor.
After trying a few and finding only closets, Zane retraced his steps until he found another hallway.
Repeating the process without any luck, he was now back where he started from.
Spreading the floorplan out on a table, Zane studied it, running his finger along other hallways he hadn’t yet explored.
Mumbling to himself about the stupidity of the person who designed the fortress, an idea flashed into his mind.
Fuck, yes! Of course, the dungeon is in the original part of the fortress, not in the convent that was added on later.
Spotting what he was looking for, he grabbed the floorplan and headed to an alcove partially hidden by a tapestry.
Pushing it aside, he followed the narrow hallway until he reached a steel door at the end.
Yanking it open, Zane shined his light downward and found worn stone steps descending into the dark.
Grabbing the handrail, he carefully made his way down them until he reached the bottom.
Pausing, he listened but heard nothing. He flashed his light around and found a row of doors on his right with small, barred openings.
Grabbing the handle on the first one and pushing, the door slid open easily and, after finding nothing inside, Zane closed it and moved on to the next.
The damp dusty air was tickling Zane’s nose as he opened the fifteenth door, groaning when he found that cell also empty.
As he walked inside, his eyes landed on a dusty stone slab that must have served as a bed.
No one has been in here for ages. Kicking the dirty straw on the ground in frustration, a giant cloud of dust filled the air, enveloping him.
It was too much for his nose and several loud sneezes echoed off the stone walls.
Quickly leaving the cell, Zane slammed the door shut causing the noise to reverberate through the dungeon.
Covering his ears, he waited until it grew silent again, then lowered his hands.
Was that a faint call he heard? “Hello!” Zane shouted.
“Is anyone here?” There it was! Another faint call.
“Keep talking so I can find you,” he yelled.
Moving fast, Zane used his wolf hearing to zero in on the cell from which the voice was coming.
When he reached it, Zane looked through the bars and found a man, dressed in tattered clothes, his features hidden by dirt, looking back at him.
“Who are you?” the man said, his voice cracking.
“I’m going to get you out,” replied Zane. “What’s your name?”
“Adam.”
“Adam, do you know where the key to this cell door is?” asked Zane.
“I think it’s somewhere down here but I don’t know where.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
“Promise?” asked Adam.
“Yes,” Zane said, then flashing his light on the opposite wall, he slowly walked, looking for keys.
If he couldn’t find them, he’d bop inside, and ghost walk Adam out but knew it would raise too many questions he’d rather not answer until he found out who Adam was.
About two-thirds of the way to the steps, he found a key sitting on a stone ledge.
Grabbing it, he ran back to the cell. Inserting the key, he met with resistance at first, but then the bolt drew back and the door squeaked open.
Adam tumbled out and would have fallen if Zane hadn’t caught him. Regaining his balance, Adam braced one hand against the stone wall, peering at his rescuer. “Who are you?”
“Zane. Can you walk?”
“Yes. Am I really free?”
“Once we get outta here. C’mon, lean on me.
” He kept pace as Adam slowly made his way upstairs, after which, Zane led him through the alcove into the foyer, finding a chair for him to rest on.
“Okay, this next part might be a little weird but it’s the only way we can get out of here. Do you trust me?”
Adam studied his rescuer in the dim light. Other than being the man freeing him, Adam had no reason to give him his trust, but oddly enough, he did, all the way through to his soul. “Yes, I do,” Adam said, his voice reflecting his own surprise.
“Good. When you are rested, there is a bit of a walk.”
After several minutes, Adam said, “Let’s go. I never want to see this place again.” Standing, he followed Zane down a couple of hallways until they came to a door at the end of the last one.
“I have to cover your eyes so once the blindfold is on you, I want you to hold onto my hand tightly and on the count of three, walk. Understood?”
“Yes.” Adam did as instructed, waited for the count and when Zane said three, he walked straight ahead.
When the blindfold was removed, Adam opened his eyes and found himself standing outside, caressed by a warm, silky breeze smelling faintly of hydrangeas.
Adam looked around and saw the building behind him.
“How the hell did you do that?” Then, turning to Zane, he said, “I can’t believe I’m free. Thank you, so much.”
“I was told you have some connection to my mate, David.”
“He’s your mate? Is he okay?” Adam asked.
“Yes, but why did you come here looking for him?” asked Zane.
“The gods sent me to assist him in his role as the High Priest. I know every paranormal law and can recite them instantly so the High Priest will be able to make informed decisions,” Adam said.
“Oh, man, is he going to be happy to meet you,” Zane said. “Do you think you can walk a bit more? Our ride is waiting for us nearby.”