Chapter 15 #2
“Consider them fucking mowed over,” I told her as I handed over the file.
“Several of them are already in custody with the Chinese government who do not like to be made fools of. More will be punished in the coming days and weeks, and if you contact the people listed, they will help you file the correct paperwork.”
“For what?” she asked.
“To get your damages with the government since we left a trail showing you were the victims this whole time,” I said sweetly.
“Not just you were innocent and they were pinning you with the crimes, but they were robbing and their inept officials turned a blind eye because of their own corruption. That part is true. I expect they will be gone too.”
“Councilwoman, this is—” Director Stevens cut in.
“I have diplomatic immunity, Phil, so stuff it,” I chuckled, giving him a wink to take the sting out of my words.
“They screwed them over for generations. The loss of income and more is beyond millions. I’m getting them damages awarded by how we calculated the only way that’s viable in China.
Supes can’t take things to court like we can. ”
He muttered a thank-you when one of Kyle’s guys handed over a folder to him.
“Also, I don’t know the specifics—none of us do and we don’t want to, but I learned there’s someone you’ve been looking for a long time. We found Kristin Wright and…” I trailed off as the energy of the room changed and blinked at her. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to air dirty laundry or—”
“Where. Is. She?” the woman bit out.
“Oh fuck,” some whispered, and people turned to look at one of our demons bringing the woman.
Luckily, Dylan of all people figured out what was going to happen and separated them, the demon not fighting the bear. They landed together on the hard concrete floor before the super ancient leader made her move.
Which was for Kristin Wright to become liquid.
Like liquid.
She was no more. Just splatter all over the place.
All over people.
I had a drop of something on my pants.
“I wouldn’t have killed your demon,” she told me firmly when I recovered from my shock and was about to react. She dipped her head to Dylan. “But I appreciate the quick thinking as…”
“This isn’t my fault,” I told Phil before anyone could blast me.
The woman snorted. “Arrest me.”
“I’m old enough to know the stories,” Phil mumbled. “She would have died anyways.” He met my gaze. “It’s a standing order to hand that woman over to any supe in China and never aid her unless you want death.”
“Why wasn’t that in anything we fucking found?” Kyle demanded. “We have like fifteen more! Don’t fucking touch my people!”
“Don’t,” I warned the woman when anger filled her eyes. “We’re young, and even just moving that fast, he could have lost a limb or more when you did…” I glanced around. Did she move so fast that she obliterated her? Magic? “Whatever this was.” I looked over at Elijah and couldn’t hide my reaction.
“That’s why we never involved other ancients, Jasmine,” he growled. “That’s why you were only recently introduced to any, and only Rome because we had contacts. Your power cannot give you knowledge learned over centuries.”
“Fifteen more what?” that wolf who first took a bracelet at the last meeting cut in loudly when people started talking. He caught enough from us when we didn’t say anything. “People we’ve been looking for or have scores to settle with?”
“That wasn’t all we did,” I defended when my ancients looked like they were going to throttle me. “I played some poker.” I nodded when Rita groaned. “And, well, there were a few things I interrupted.” I sighed when Kyle snorted. “Several. Like a lot. We had a lot of time and—”
“It’s been less than a week and I have been searching for that woman for a thousand years,” the woman demanded. “Centuries trying to get rid of those maggots who hurt mine and you have—how?”
“It’s what we do,” I told her honestly. “It’s how we’ve made so much progress and why you sensed from me that we’ll win and we’re the side to choose.” I decided to suck it up and deal with that wolf because he was a big deal.
Like could eat the whole wolf council easily if he wanted to.
“You have nothing to fear from me, young one,” he told me gently even as he was agitated. “I find your determination admirable. I will not act as rashly.” He cleared his throat when she was upset. “I have no one in my past as deserving as you did.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine this isn’t worse,” I worried, shooting Elijah a look. “Okay, you need to stop saying I have the worst temper you’ve ever seen.”
The wolf was already gone though and I sighed. “So ancients can scent over magic. Awesome.” I let out a full scream when he was back in front of me and grabbed me.
Instantly, I was away from him and David was in front of me with all his angel goodness on display.
“I told you guys not to come,” I sighed even as I leaned against him. “He didn’t hurt me. It’s just because—”
“We know, but we found this one,” he said quietly. “No, you and yours found her. We simply extracted her and the child so vengeance could be the wolf’s.”
Yeah, everyone needed to be filled in then.
Some time ago, the ancient Alpha had tried to push his daughter into a mating she didn’t want. Stuck in his old ways and without a son, he wanted to choose the son-in-law he wanted so the area would be secured should he be taken out. He worried more about all of them and looked at her like a pawn.
So she ran.
Unfortunately, ducking him and everyone who wanted to find her for him put her right in the path of the wrong people. From what we’d found, she’d lasted a few centuries on her own, but with the change in technology and more, she got caught about twenty years ago.
And not just held in a cell. The young girl with her was proof of who specifically raped and abused her.
All she had wanted was the safety of her father, knowing she would never have to suffer horrors again.
“I will mate whomever you want as long as none touch me and you protect my daughter so she never knows the horrors I have,” the woman said as she knelt in front of her father, head hung in shame.
“I failed you so many times more than I ever realized that you immediately think to beg for something so unreasonable after all you have suffered, my dear, precious child,” he choked out as he knelt as well.
“I am so sorry for what I did. None will ever—I was the monster who did this all to you. I immediately went after you to—”
“Because I disgraced the family. I know. Many told me.”
“No,” he growled, making both of us flinch.
“I did. I did. I realized my mistake and insanity the moment you were gone. I called it all off and searched for you constantly. I was never going to…” He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“No one will ever touch you or my granddaughter. Your foolish father has learned from his mistakes and will earn your forgiveness.”
He was on his feet in the next second in front of David.
Which was how we explained the angels and how they’d tagged in to get her and some others out.
I handed over the file to the Alpha. “She wasn’t the only one being held, but we didn’t have time to get all into it.”
“I will and alert your people if we need more aid should—”
“That’s their job and what they’re paid for,” I interrupted, nodding to Phil. “He’s beyond honorable. He’s righting the ship and believes in what ISLE was meant to be.”
The Alpha bared his teeth at me but then controlled himself when he felt my reaction. “They also like to stick their noses where they don’t belong and overreach.”
I smirked at him. “He’s smart enough to know when someone is more than he can handle. He’s shown that. My pitch wasn’t just for what we’re doing in Germany. We have what we want in Germany. I meant what I said about doing better for the future of all of us.”
He nodded and took the file. “I will trust you with this and your judgment because you granted me my fondest desire and corrected my greatest wrong. I owe you more than my life for that, Jasmine Stewart, and I never forget my debts. Ever.”
And he shot a warning glance at the wolf elders there from the council he didn’t even recognize.
Which made us one and one on the outcomes. I was hoping my luck would get better or at least hold out like that.