Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Griff: What did the surfer say when he was asked if he could ride the wave?
Shae: Do we even want to know?
Griff: “Of course, I’m a shore thing!”
Ruby: The puns just keep on punning. This is why Em still refuses to join this group text.
Griff: *sad face emoji*
Shae: Are you getting these off the Internet?
Griff: Maybe…
Dallas: Cat jokes are much better! What do you call a cat prom?
Harper: Is prom that formal dance high school teenagers attend?
Dallas: It’s a fur ball! Get it?
Ruby: Cue sad clown noise.
Shae: I never got to go to prom.
Griff: We’ll plan out our very own MEOW Squad prom just for you! Right, friends?
Dallas: Sounds like fun. Let’s do it.
Harper: I’m a very good dancer. I can’t wait to show off some of my moves.
Cal: What have I just woken up to?
—MEOW Squad Group Text Thread
Griffin
We’re all stunned for a moment when we finally see Shae’s mother, but we quickly spring into action the instant she collapses in his arms.
She’s in far rougher shape than any of the others we’ve freed already, and once out of the water, her sad-looking siren tail morphs into stick-thin human legs covered in what looks like a skin infection of some kind. Her body is emaciated and has a disturbing gray pallor to it.
And just like all the others, she’s wearing one of those wretched collars.
The conditions she’s been living in are beyond inhumane, and I fear the effects all of this may have had on her mind. If she’s been held captive in such horrific squalor for the last fifteen years, then she might not even be sane anymore.
I immediately pull out my phone and shoot Grandma Coral a quick text to let her know we found her daughter and that she’s alive. I can only hope that, if and when we can get her there soon, the healing power of Silverstorm Island can help her like it did Shae. For now, though, I just start pumping out the SCSS so my special pheromones can give Tempest and the other survivors some relief and a little bit of peace.
I know the human authorities and the Otherkind Council are going to want to talk to Tempest and the others we rescued about everything that’s happened. Tempest’s testimony will be vital to bringing down Shae’s father and stepmother, the ringleaders of this whole operation.
My mate is stronger than he looks. He carries his mother in his arms and hurries her out of the horrible room she’s been trapped in for far too long. As we exit, I see Ruby and Emma are already treating the others we’ve freed. Cal uses his magic hacker skills to deactivate and remove Tempest’s collar, revealing a similar raw and painful scar to the one Shae had when we freed him from a similar kind of device. Cal squeezes my mate’s shoulder and then quickly heads over to free everyone else from their collars. Dallas and Harper join him to offer their assistance as well.
Once she’s got everyone stabilized, Ruby races to our side and immediately uses her powers to assess Shae’s mother’s state.
The frown on her face isn’t encouraging.
“She’s severely malnourished.” Ruby gestures to her legs before covering her with a thermal trauma blanket that Emma, who now joins us, hands her. “I need to treat this skin infection fast.”
“The tank of water she was confined in hadn’t been cleaned for a very long time. If ever,” I reply softly.
Rage flashes in her eyes and her mouth sets in a grim line. “Give me a moment.” She places her hands on Tempest’s body, which is then bathed in the warm glow of Ruby’s magic at work.
After several long minutes, Ruby finally removes her hands and leans into Emma’s waiting arms. “I’ve managed to heal the infection and rehydrate her, for a start, but we’ll need some of Emma’s potions to work on her vitamin and electrolyte deficiencies.”
“I’m on it. I’ve got some stabilizing potions on me for emergencies that can be a bit of a stopgap treatment until we get her to a hospital.” Emma roots around in her backpack and pulls out two vials.
Tempest moans as she starts to regain consciousness.
Emma tilts her head back and gently coaxes her to swallow the liquid. It takes some time, but after she’s had both vials, Tempest’s eyes flutter open.
“You’re safe now,” she assures her.
Seeing her patient now out of danger, Ruby quickly returns to check on the other folks we rescued.
Anemone kneels down at her sister’s head and gently strokes her matted hair, tears streaming down her face. “We found you, Tempe. I’m so sorry it’s taken this long.”
“Mo?” Tempest manages to whisper. Her eyes are dull and unfocused.
“Yes, sister, it’s me,” Anemone chokes out.
“It’s okay, Mom,” Shae says, his voice hoarse with feeling. “We’ve got you now. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner.”
His mother’s eyes seem to clear a bit and she reaches up a trembling hand to trace the scar on Shae’s throat and then her own. “Oh, my baby boy,” she whispers.
Shae takes hold of her hand and gently kisses her fingers. “You’re safe now. We’re going to get you to a hospital soon.”
“Shae… so… tired,” she mumbles.
“Drink this,” Emma says, bringing another potion to her lips.
Weakly, Tempest takes several small sips. Then her eyes close and her body goes slack.
Emma gives a small smile and a bit of tension eases from her shoulders. “She’s asleep and stabilized, but we need to get her and the others to the Otherkind hospital downtown.”
Harper rejoins us. “Emma, Ruby needs your help. We’ve got multiple ambulances en route. They should be here soon.”
Emma gets to her feet and squeezes Shae’s shoulder.
Scrubbing the wetness from his cheeks, Shae swallows thickly. “Thanks, Em.”
She nods and hurries to where Ruby’s busily working on the others in need of treatment.
The little my powers were able to sense from Tempest for the short time she was conscious was enough to make me queasy. While I’m thrilled we were able to rescue her, she has a long and difficult road ahead. I also anticipate that my mate will probably feel guilty and responsible for not realizing she was still alive and trying to help her sooner even though he was a victim being held captive, as well.
The LAPD connect with us before long and medics arrive to help move the rescued Otherkind to waiting ambulances outside.
Ruby takes charge, directing the medics. “All of them need to be taken to Otherkind Memorial. Do not take them to a human hospital.”
She has them rushing to do her bidding real damn fast.
When she’s in her element, Ruby is a no-nonsense force to be reckoned with.
As Harper had predicted, the human law enforcement officers from the LAPD don’t give us any overt trouble. Most of them do keep a wary distance, but the leader of the unit is friendly and respectful. She spends some time talking with Dallas, exchanging information on what her team found under the parameters of the search warrant.
Once the medics have Tempest on a gurney and ready to go, we leave the building and get her loaded into an ambulance. Anemone decides to ride along with her since she’s stable, and Shae volunteers to follow along with us since only one family member can ride in the medical transport.
“Are you sure you’re okay with that?” I ask him.
“Yeah. Anemone’s known her sister was still alive all these years and has never stopped looking for her. I think she’s earned the right to ride with Mom to the hospital.” He winces. “Besides, although Mom recognized me, the last time she saw me I was a kid. The familiarity of her sister is better for her right now.”
Just as the final ambulance pulls away, a flashy and expensive-looking black convertible speeds into the lot and screeches to a halt where the LAPD officers have congregated. A slim blonde woman and a middle-aged man with dark hair flecked with gray get out of the vehicle and storm toward the group.
“Who’s in charge here?” the woman shouts. “I demand to speak with the lead officer!”
The leader of the human team steps forward. “I’m Detective Monroe and this is an official police investigation. You need to stand back, ma’am.”
“I’m the owner of this building,” the blonde woman screeches, and I notice Shae shudder in response.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” the man demands in a haughty voice. “This is private property.”
Detective Monroe thrusts a piece of paper at them. “Earlier this evening, we were granted permission to serve a search warrant on this property.”
The man scowls. “I’m calling my lawyer.” He pulls out his phone and steps aside.
“That’s them,” Shae murmurs, his voice trembling.
Thinking his response might be out of fear, I turn to offer comfort but then realize he’s shaking with rage.
“So that’s your sorry excuse for a dad and your stepmonster?” I’m beginning to see where that nickname comes from. It suits her well.
“Are you Margaret Divine?” Detective Monroe asks.
Shae’s stepmother narrows her eyes. “I am, and you’re going to be sorry for messing with me.”
Detective Monroe doesn’t even bat an eyelash at the threat. “Ms. Divine, I’m taking you and your husband into custody right now. We’ve found evidence of illegal activities on the premises of your building here and need to ask you both some questions downtown.”
Margaret backs up. “I don’t know anything about any illegal activities. We have nothing to do with?—”
At that moment, she finally notices Shae, and her eyes blaze with fury as she stalks toward us. “You!” she shrieks. “This is your doing, isn’t it?”
Several officers grab her by the arms before she can get close enough to us, but she’s hissing with rage. “I knew I should have killed you as a child!”
Shae stands his ground and stares her down. “I guess karma’s a bitch, isn’t it? Your greed’s finally coming back to bite you in the ass.” He turns to Detective Monroe. “I’d like to press charges against this woman and my father for false imprisonment and child abuse. I was held captive by them from the age of ten years old until I escaped at twenty-five.” He gestures toward the scar on his neck. “I was forced to wear the same collar as those they held captive in this building. It limited my ability to access my magic and was also used as a punishment device.”
Margaret sneers. “All lies. This vindictive little liar is trying to blackmail his father and me for our money. We have nothing to do with him.”
Shae’s father finishes his call and pockets his cell, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “My son is nothing but a disappointment. A pathetic loser who likes to make up sad stories for attention.”
I growl a warning. Right now, I’m barely restraining myself from hurting these awful people the way they hurt my mate. My claws erupt on my hands and I shake with the effort of holding back from ripping these two to shreds.
I’ve never felt a burning desire for violence like this before. But when it comes to my mate, I won’t let anyone hurt him ever again.
But I don’t need to worry, because this turns out to be Shae’s lucky and long deserved moment.
“You’re the ones who are lying. Tell them what you really did to me,” Shae says softly.
Margaret opens her mouth to no doubt spout more bullshit, but that’s when I feel a crackle of energy in the air.
“ Tell. The. Truth ,” Shae commands, his voice powerful and sharp.
I jump a little. Holy crap, that was hot.
No, Griffin, this is not the time to get turned on by your mate being stupidly sexy without even realizing it.
Margaret Divine gets a panicked look on her face just as words start spilling out of her. “Everything he said is true. We held him captive for years and used the collar to control him. I didn’t want some little half-monster stepchild, but I figured out how we could make money off him and his voice. We were planning to kill him when he was of no more use. I should have just killed him as a child.” Her mouth clamps shut and her eyes seethe with rage.
Serves you right .
Shae turns his cold gaze toward his father. “Tell them what you did to my mother.”
His father starts to back away, but Shae once more uses his power. “ Tell. The. Truth. Daddy Dearest .”
The scorn dripping from his voice gives me chills and the power of his command makes me want to roll over and show him my belly.
Nope, now is not the time to be getting horny!
Shae’s father starts talking in one long, rambling narrative. “I beat her and thought I’d killed her but later discovered she was still alive and just unconscious. Then I called Margaret in a panic, trying to figure out what to do. We’d been having an affair and wanted to get rid of Tempest so we could be together. Margaret came up with the brilliant plan of using her for experiments aimed at creating special anti-aging beauty products for wealthy humans. She was the start of our product line, but that was only the beginning. We recognized the potential in acquiring others like her for our purposes. Tempest proved a lot more useful to me as a lab rat than she ever did as a lover.”
When he finishes, he pales and then keels over and vomits on the ground.
Death is too good for this man. He deserves to suffer.
“What is it they say?” Shae muses, his voice cold. “Oh, yeah. ‘The truth shall set you free.’” He laughs bitterly. “Although not so much on a real-world level for either of you. I have a feeling you’re going away for a very long time.”
Detective Monroe wastes no time in arresting the pair of them after their confessions.
After they’re taken away in separate cruisers, Detective Monroe sighs and says to Shae, “We’ll need you to come down to the station so we can interview you.”
“Can I go and check on my mother first? She was taken to Otherkind Memorial Hospital with the others.”
Detective Monroe’s face softens. “Of course. I’m glad she’s alive and you were able to get to her in time. From the sounds of it, if you’d waited much longer, you might have been too late.”
Shae shudders. “I know.” He glances around at our team, who’ve been standing by quietly. “I owe it all to my friends in MEOW Squad. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Cal throws up his arms. “Gah! Shae, what have I told you about that name? Don’t encourage Dallas.”
“I think it’s time to get official business cards,” Dallas muses happily, ignoring Cal’s complaints.
“I’ll be a proud card-carrying member of the team,” Shae replies.
I can’t hold back any longer. With a triumphant howl, I grab my mate and kiss him with the force of all the super-duper powerful love vibes I’m riding like a ten-foot wave.
When I come up for air, we’re both panting and that sure isn’t a lead pipe in my pants—although it feels about as hard as one.
“You were amazing. It was so hot to see you in action,” I say, my tail swishing from side to side.
“Get a room,” Cal gripes, but his grin tells me he’s pleased for us both.
I know he pretends to be allergic to romance and love, but it’s totally a front.
While Detective Monroe pulls Dallas to the side to wrap up a few things, Shae twines his arms around my neck.
“So the Voice of Truth does it for you?” he purrs.
I shiver. “Especially when you use it on bad guys to make them fess up. So badass,” I whisper.
“Ooh, so I’m going to get my own one-man fan club too?”
I blink at him. “What?”
He chuckles. “Don’t worry. I’ll explain it to you later.” He kisses me gently and pulls back with a sigh. “For now, I really need to go and check on my mom.”
The remaining LAPD officers depart and we all head to the SUV.
“You guys can drop me off at the hospital,” Shae says.
My heart clenches. “No way. I’m going with you.”
“It’s bound to be a long night. You should go home and get some rest.”
I take his face in my hands and cup his cheeks. “I’m your mate, love. And I’ll keep telling you as many times as you need me to. I’ll always be by your side, through thick or thin.”
Dallas puts his hands on his hips as he stops in front of the vehicle and gives Shae his patented Papa-Bear-Says-Cut-the-Bullshit look. “You’re a part of MEOW Squad now, and we stick together through thick and thin. We’re in this with you all the way, Shae.”
“You bet your ass we are!” I agree heartily.
Everyone yells their agreement and Shae chuckles as he wipes at fresh tears forming in the corners of his eyes. “Thanks, everyone.”
“No thanks needed,” I say. “That’s what family’s for.”
He squeezes my hand, a look of promise in his eyes. “You’re right. You guys are my family for life.”