13. Finley
Finley
When I was closer to the hotel, I reached out to Zander privately, “Hey, can you meet me somewhere with Clarence? I have a stray cat who needs a home unless you don’t think he would help.”
“Oh, he’ll help all right. He hates the Dark Ring as much as any of us do. Would it be too risky to meet in Ayla’s room?” he answered right away.
“Give me a chance to loop the cameras for ten minutes and that should be fine. Last thing we need is for people to think you’re cheating on me with him,” I pointed out.
I’d already had this setup in case there was a situation.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best, as the saying goes, and I was all about backup plans.
Sneaking my way into the janitor’s area of the hotel, I’d tapped into the feed since they had backup security footage being routed there.
I ensured there was nothing that would cause suspicion and set the loop to run for thirty minutes and reset to normal.
“All clear, Zander. I’m gonna find the kid now and I’ll bring him up.” I stepped back into the lobby to find Ben sitting in one of the armchairs reading a magazine. It seemed this kid had some survival skills after all.
“Ben, follow me,” I whispered as I passed by.
After a moment, he closed the magazine, looked at his watch, then got up and headed to the elevator. He joined me, and I tried to do the trick that Rath did, but instead of frosting over the camera, I shattered it. Guess it does the same thing in the end, just not as smooth as Rath made it seem.
“What were you before the Dark Ring took you?” I asked in a low voice so the mic wouldn’t pick up if it were still active. “You move far too easily like you’ve been trained.”
“I was nothing before the Dark Ring, and I’m still nothing. You watch one too many James Bond movies, and you pick up a few things that might actually work, I guess,” he commented, not moving his head to look at me.
“Why are you lying?” I demanded, my voice just slightly too loud.
Ben didn’t answer right away. Then he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “Ever wonder what might happen to the kids in training who don’t make the cut? When they do those tests every year, pushing you to the max, forcing every trick you learned to be used, or you die?”
He was talking about the Organization!
I sucked in a sharp breath as the realization hit me. I hadn’t ever wondered what happened to them because it just meant fewer people I was competing against.
“Depending on how far along they are in training, they die, get removed from the program and returned to a foster home, or end up unknowingly in the hands of the Dark Ring. What better way to make the perfect pet than to groom them from the beginning?” Ben bit out his words, filled with disgust. “I didn’t have what it took to be you, so I ended up being a useless victim of the system. ”
Guilt I’d never felt before churned in my stomach.
How had I never wondered what happened to those who got cut from the program?
They pushed us to the point of breaking, and if you snapped, you were done, gone, erased like you had never been.
It seemed I would need to have that meeting with my father because I’d love to know his answer on a situation like Ben’s that I’m sure happened far too often.
I put a pin in that to deal with once this night was over. First, I needed to ensure that Ben was safe and secure someplace that the Dark Ring couldn’t snatch him up again. I owed him that, whether he knew it or not, it was the least I could do for a system my family created.
When we reached the room, I knocked. When there wasn’t an answer, I pulled the keycard out of my catsuit and inserted it.
One of the guys had a card, too, I’m not sure who they decided on, but we wanted to make sure they had access if needed.
Just as the door closed, there was a knock, then the sound of a keycard being used.
I grabbed Ben and pulled him behind me needing to get him out of the way if I had to move into action.
Zander entered the room first, with Clarence behind him along with all my other mates and Ayla bringing up the rear. The room was a good size, but with all of us in here together, it felt a little snug for my liking. I caught Ayla’s gaze first, cocking a questioning brow.
“Everything went as planned, four less rotten bastards for the world to fear. Seems you, on the other hand, had a surprise tag along,” she commented as her illusion dropped. “Are we adopting cats now?”
“No,” I answered, turning to Clarence. “I was hoping you might be able to find a place for him. He’s been with the dark ring long enough. I think it’s time for him to have a real home, don’t you?”
He looked at me, crossing his arms. “What makes you think I’d help?”
“One, because Zander said you shared a mutual hate for the Dark Ring, and secondly, let’s call it elven intuition.
I can tell you’re a good person and you have well-meaning intentions.
If you can help someone, you try,” I shared, stepping aside so he could see Ben.
“For him, I know you’re going to try. The man who claimed to own Ben is not going to be an issue.
I know for a fact no one in his family will try to look for him either, so there is no fear of backlash.
There isn’t another reason I can think of unless you have something against lynxes, but I’m guessing that’s not the case. ”
Clarence looked at me with a shocked expression, then glanced at Zander, who tossed up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t tell her anything other than there was no love lost between you and the Dark Ring.”
Clarence took a deep breath. “I’ll help the boy.
I know a pride out in Connecticut that is a safe haven for those fleeing from bad situations.
They will look after him as they try and find a more permanent pride to settle him into where his skills will be useful.
I was getting tired of the party anyway, so I’ll take him with me tonight and get out of the city while the gettin’s good. ”
“Thank you, Clarence. I know you didn’t have to do this, but I’m glad there are people like you in the world willing to step up.
When I’m done with the mission I’ve been sent on, we’ll need lots more like you to help as the world changes,” I shared, reaching out a hand to him.
“I’m assuming you know how to reach Zander. You need anything, just ask.”
Clarence shook my hand and motioned for Ben to follow him before placing a hand on Zander’s chest. “You got yourself one hell of a woman right there. Don’t let your family or your past fuck this up for you. It’s time you stood on your own and I know you can with her right beside you.”
The two men looked at each other for a moment as they came to an understanding, then Clarence wrapped an arm around Ben’s shoulders. “Come on, kid, let’s get you the hell out of here and someplace you can really thrive.”
Ben glanced back at me with a sad smile and a wave before the door closed behind them. I truly wished him the best and hoped that he could start over. He might not have been good enough for the Organization, but that didn’t make him worthless like he believed.
Noah walked over to me and pulled me into a hug, tucking my head under his chin as he just held me. “You did the right thing, Finley, bringing him here and saving him. I know it goes against everything you were taught, but maybe it’s time the rules were rewritten?”
“He was at Delilah’s ranch,” I whispered.
“All I kept thinking is how I couldn’t help save Cory, but I had a chance to save him.
They are even about the same age. Then just before we came up here, I found out he was recruited by the Organization, but he didn’t make the cut.
Never once have I wondered what happens to those people.
Now it’s all I can think about,” I admitted.
“So, what does that mean for you?” Noah inquired as he rested his cheek on the top of my head, nuzzling me.
I took a deep breath pulling in his chocolaty scent mixed with hazelnuts.
Everything about it was warm and inviting, making you think of cocoa by the fire snuggled up in a blanket.
My wolf let out her own heavy sigh as our Companion soothed our emotions.
“It means I need to meet my father. I have too many questions and not enough answers that make sense, so the only way to fix that is to make him explain himself.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Noah agreed, pulling me back from him to cup my face. He kissed me, letting me know just how much he loved me in the simple gesture. “Now here’s the real question… Do we need to go back to the party, or can we go back to the penthouse instead?”
“That depends on how you left it when you came down here?” I asked, stepping away from him to see the others.
Mason shrugged. “I just walked away from the dude who was trying to get Noah and me to start a magic act or something equally ridiculous. He thought the whole idea of us being identical had to be put to good use.”
“Then I think it would be best if all of us head back up and say our goodbyes. Then there is no question about seeing me at the party after these events have occurred,” I reasoned. “It doesn’t have to be long, thirty minutes tops, then we can head back to the penthouse and call it a night.”
“So are you saying call it a night like you’re too tired and want to snuggle and go to bed, or like, maybe willing to be talked into some extracurricular activities?
” Mason asked as he followed me into the bathroom where my dress was hanging.
“Because I’m not gonna lie, hearing Zander getting lucky in the dressing room has had me all kinds of rock solid since. ”