Chapter 13 #2
The Pen, formerly known as the New Atlanta State Penitentiary, was the prison owned by the Stone Society Clan.
They built it decades ago to house the Unholy, mutants created to go up against the Gargoyles.
Tabitha’s parents’ generation defeated them; therefore, they no longer needed their own prison. Or so Major thought.
“I didn’t realize it was still in operation.”
Everett leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest. “It isn’t used as a prison now.
Much. We keep it manned for situations like this.
I don’t want to risk Brad’s life, especially knowing his family is in danger.
Speaking of, I need to call Lydia and get a list of any Gargoyles in the Carolinas who could watch over his family. ”
“Lydia’s the archivist, right?”
“Yes, and one of Tabitha’s cousins.”
“While you do that, I’ll call the Trio and tell them what we now know. Maybe they can track down Cabretti for you. The sooner he finds out Craig didn’t kill his daughter, the better.”
Everett held out his hand. “I know you need to get back to Kilbrook. Thank you for the assist.”
Major grasped the detective’s hand. “You’re welcome. Glad I could help.” Major made his way outside and to his vehicle. When he was on the road, he placed a call to Mason.
“Hey, Major. How’d it go?”
Major relayed the conversation and told him that Everett was transferring Brad to the Pen for safekeeping.
“Gods, this sucks, but at least now we know why he went after Craig. Speaking of, he’s a piece of work, isn’t he?”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’m at the safehouse. Since Tabitha’s SUV was impounded, I came to get Cailín. Are you on your way back?”
“Yes. I just left the precinct.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
Major disconnected, then called Nikita.
“Hey, Cuz. What do you have for me?” Major recounted, again, the conversation with Brad, then he also told her about Tabitha getting shot at. “I’m ready for this shit to be over so Tabby and I can have some downtime.”
“Tabby, huh?”
“Yep. She’s my mate, and I’m ready to claim her.”
“Good on you. There’s nothing like having your mate in your life. Where are you going to live, though? Are you moving to Atlanta?”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk it out, but I figure we can split our time between there and New York, since we have family in both places. I know she wants to stay close to home since Anthony just found his own mate.”
Nikita snorted. “Yeah, that shit is wild. Fae and dragons? I’m a little sad Mads and I are here in South Carolina. We miss all the action. Anyway, let me get busy tracking down Cabretti. I’ll send what I have to you, Mason, and Everett.”
“Thanks, Nik.”
Major sent up a prayer to Zeus, thankful Tabitha wasn’t hurt worse than she was, then he cranked the radio and settled in for the drive.
Their jobs weren’t without risks, which they all signed on for, but the fact that his mate put her life on the line for a client was hard to swallow.
Then again, their parents had taught them all about courage and protecting others.
All the Gryphons and Gargoyles were lucky to have such amazing parents, whether biological or adopted.
He couldn’t imagine being loved by his bio mom more than he was by his Lolly.
Natalia was fierce yet fun, and she loved with her whole heart.
Major and his siblings were lucky to have her for a mother, and his daddo was lucky to have her as a mate.
Now Major had his own mate who was just as fierce.
He couldn’t wait to see what the future brought them.
It was closing in on suppertime when Major was nearly to the safehouse, so he called Tabby to see if she wanted him to pick up some food.
“Hey, Hottie. I appreciate the offer, but Mason has some burgers ready to go in the air fryer.”
“I’m about half an hour out, so don’t wait on me. I’ll fix mine when I get there.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
When Major rolled up to the safehouse, Tabitha was waiting on the porch. As soon as he parked, she met him by the vehicle and grabbed him in a hug. “Hi,” she muttered into his chest.
“You okay?” Major pressed a kiss to her temple.
“I will be.”
“Something you forgot to tell me?” Mason, who was eyeing them from the porch, smiled softly, so Major didn’t think he was mad.
Tabitha waited until they had joined him on the landing. “We’re mates. It’s new.”
“Congratulations.” Mason inclined his head to them both. “Come on. We better feed the monster,” he whispered. Tabitha rolled her eyes. Major didn’t have to ask who Mason was referring to.
“Now can we eat?” Craig groused.
Ah. The prima donna was back. Mason and Tabitha ignored Craig, so Major did as well.
He followed them to the kitchen, and Mason pulled the patties out of the fridge, then put them in the air fryer.
From the dishes on the counter, almost everything else was ready to go.
There were baked beans, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce next to the buns and condiments.
Cailín was mixing what looked like potato salad.
Craig looked around, then left the room, heading upstairs.
“I thought he was hungry?” Cailín asked low enough that only the shifters could hear.
Tabitha huffed. “He is, but his sparkling personality calls for a bit of drama. He is an actor, after all.”
When the air fryer beeped, Mason scooped them out onto a plate, setting them on the stove. They didn’t wait on Craig to fix their plates. Cailín grabbed everyone a drink, and they gathered at the table to eat. They were almost finished when Craig came downstairs.
“What did you find out?” Craig asked as he slapped a burger together.
Major finished chewing and took a swallow of beer. “Have you heard of Damian Cabretti?”
“Who hasn’t?”
“It appears Cabretti was Carmen’s biological father, and he sent Brad after you when he found out she named you as the father of her child. When Brad failed, Cabretti sent others to finish the job.”
Craig plopped a spoonful of potato salad on his plate. “But I didn’t get his daughter pregnant. Hell, I’d never met the girl. This fucking sucks.”
Cailín slapped her hand on the table. “You know what else fucking sucks? That we’re also being shot at. That Tabitha had to kill a man all because someone thinks you killed Carmen. So, ask yourself this, Kreegon; if you are innocent, who hates you enough to frame you?”
Craig gasped, gripping the counter, his face pale. “How do you know that name?”
Mason tossed his napkin on his empty plate. “It’s our job to know. We know that you and your brother changed your names and looks, then disappeared from your home island. Be honest with us. Could Daniel have pretended to be you, got Carmen pregnant, and—”
“He doesn’t look that much like me.”
“You told me yourself that he gets mistaken for you all the time. What if this is one of those situations?” Major reminded him.
Craig pushed his untouched food away from him. “He wouldn’t kill a woman. Get her pregnant, yes, but he’s not a murderer.”
“Would you bet your life on that?” Mason asked.
Major’s Gryphon bristled. There’s a vehicle approaching.
Major pushed back from the table. “Tabby, you and Cailín get Craig to the panic room. Mason, with me.”
No one balked at Major’s orders other than Craig. “Why? What’s going on?”
“We don’t have time for questions. Move your ass,” Cailín ordered.
Major and Mason turned out all the lights downstairs and moved to the front window. Whoever it was had their headlights off and had stopped at least a hundred yards away. “That’s not good,” Major said just as shots rang out, pinging off the glass.
“Stay down,” Mason instructed. “I’m going outside and stopping them before they get any closer.
I’ll leave them alive for you to voice.” He took off through the house and out the back door.
Major sped upstairs so he could peer out one of the upper windows.
As a Gryphon, he was stronger and faster than humans, but Mason could withstand a gunshot.
The shooter stood behind the open door of his vehicle and fired off several rounds at the front door, probably since the windows didn’t break.
Using his shifter speed, Mason ran full stop toward the man, surprising him before he could turn his rifle toward the Goyle.
The weapon was jerked from the shooter’s hand, then Mason pinned him to the ground with his foot to the man’s chest. Major waited until Mason gestured that it was safe to come outside.
Major jogged down the steps and out the front door. He joined his boss and knelt beside the assassin. “Who do you work for?” Major asked.
“Myself,” he grunted.
“Why are you here?”
“To capture Craig Kilbrook. Two hundred thousand, alive or dead.”
“How did you know where to find him?” Major asked.
“The location was given with the contract.”
“Contract? Shit. Hang on.” Major pulled out his phone and called his Uncle Kyllian.
“Major?”
“Hey, I need a favor. Actually, I need Aunt Quinn’s help. I’m on a job, and there’s a contract on my client, Craig Kilbrook.”
“The actor?”
“Yes. Can you have Quinn get with Nikita and make sure the contract is closed, then have Nik locate the owner? I’m pretty sure it’s Damian Cabretti, but I need to be certain. I have Craig at a safehouse, but a merc still found us.”
“Yeah, Buddy. I’ll get the ladies on that.”
“Thanks.” Major disconnected and pocketed his phone. “We need to talk to Craig. See if he told anyone where we are. If not, there’s a tracker in his belongings. What do you want to do with him?” Major gestured to the man on the ground.
“I’ll call the same detective I worked with at Tabitha’s crime scene. You go talk to Craig and let me know what you find.”
Major gave his boss a two-fingered salute and headed inside.