KnightForce Damian (La Patron's KnightForce Book 4) (20 page)

Lamia's face morphed from the child to an old woman with bony arms and thin white hair. When Lamia's teeth elongated, Gem shifted, pushing the woman backward.

Growling deep in her chest, Gem moved down the hall, stopped midway and looked back. At some point Lamia stood and stared at the portrait, weeping. Gem morphed into her human form but remained close to the door.

"
Get out of there
," Damian said.

Gem looked at the hunched over woman with pity, and keyed the code and left. Damian wrapped an arm around her and walked to the monitor to watch. "She's here because she wants to be," Gem told him. She explained the locks and could see his angry frustration over her keeping that information from him.

"Seal the room," Damian told security. A series of clicks and a whirring sound followed before Damian took her hand and led her from the room. "What happened?"

She stopped and told him everything.

"That was either brilliant or crazy," he said, taking her hand and leading her upstairs.

"I'm not sure which," Gem said as her steps faltered. "My balance is off."

"I've got you," he said as they entered the main floor.

"He's my brother," Randi said in the distance.

"Meant to tell you, we found Raoul," Damian said.

Chapter 29

When Damian and Gem stepped into the living area, four women with bandages sat on the floor around an older woman who half-lay on the sofa with her eyes closed. "
That's Agatha, kind of like an Elder in the coven. The other four are witches, too,
" Damian said.

"
What happened? Why are they here?"
Gem moved forward and inspected the bandage on the woman's leg before moving to the next, and finally to the older woman.

"
Ivona shot them.
" Damian couldn't contain his smile when Gem's wide-eyed gaze met his.

"She what? Why?"

"According to Agatha, it was because she cursed Raoul and would've let him die. Ivona denies she did anything to save Raoul and shot them in self-defense."

"Well, it is five of them,
" Gem said looking around. "
What's wrong with Randi? She looks like she ate a rotten egg."

"Nope. I mentioned Raoul's mated status and she's a little disappointed her new sister is human."

"She's also a damn good shot, none of these wounds are life threatening, she could've killed them or done a lot more damage,
" Gem said, searching the room for Ivona and spotted her sitting in the corner on her phone.
"How's Raoul? Still asleep?
" She walked toward the other sofa where he lay on his back.

"Once Agatha did her thing he woke but was in a lot of pain. Ivona gave him something to rest so he could heal."

"After her mix up with the itching serum, I don't trust her to give our people anything,
" Gem said, placing her hand on his forehead. "
Get my bag
." She paused and looked at him over her shoulder.
"Please."

Damian snorted and went to the room across from his where she’d stored her things. He grabbed her bag, returned to the living area, and handed it to her.

"
Thank you.
" She opened it and pulled out her tablet. Taking a deep breath, she checked his vitals and did a thorough exam. When she finished, Ivona and Randi stared at her.

"What did you give him?" Gem asked Agatha.

"He inhaled a mixture of herbs I created."

"What herbs?" Certain foliage and herbs didn't agree with their canine ancestors.

Agatha rattled off a list and when she stumbled over one, Gem frowned.

Ivona yelled at the older woman and came close to grabbing her. The four women surrounding Agatha intervened. "You have no idea what you're doing, we never give that to anyone."

"She asked, I answered. Now if you're done with us, we'd like to leave while we still have some dignity," the older woman said, trying to stand.

"Not yet," Damian said, standing behind Gem. "Lord Barticus is deciding what he wants done with you."

"What do you mean?" Agatha said, standing and tilting sideways before the women assisted her.

"Just what I said, you attacked and kidnapped his son. He's not letting that go."

"You stole Lamia from us," Agatha said, looking at Gem. "I saw you take her into that building."

"If you saw that, how did we steal her?" Gem said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"She didn't belong to you, she's ours."

Gem snorted. "She's not yours."

"We paid for her," Agatha said looking around. "Where is she?"

"Believe me, if she wanted to be with you, she would be. We can't hold Lamia, she's a free spirit," Gem said, and Damian knew she meant it literally.

"What? Why'd you let her do that?" Agatha demanded. "Without her, we'll lose everything. They'll kill us." She dropped back to the sofa and placed her face in her hands. "The money we gave Tara we borrowed from, well from someone who expects certain things to happen in two days or..." She shook her head. "It took everything I had to get the right vessel. Lamia was so damn particular."

Damian glanced at Gem.

"What did you buy from Tara?" Ivona asked in a low voice.

"You. You and your mother are nothing but thieving American whores who make promises with no intention of keeping them. Tara said you refused to take less than $500,000, and Lamia refused every other vessel. I had no choice."

"What vessel?" Ivona said, frowning. "What did Tara give you?"

"Give me? Nothing. She sold her daughter to the coven as a vessel for the Lamia," Agatha spat. "But now that the Lamia's free, we wasted that money."

"What?" Ivona screeched, running toward Agatha. "You bitch. That's my child she stole. I'll kill you for this." Damian grabbed Ivona just as she grabbed Agatha's hair. "She's just a baby, my baby, I will kill you for this," Ivona screamed as Damian backed her away.

Randi stood between Ivona and Raoul glaring at Agatha. She turned and wrapped her arm around Ivona, whose shoulders shook as she cried.

"We didn't know. Tara claimed the child was hers and the child called her mama. How were we to know the child was stolen?" Agatha asked, looking at the four women for support and received it.

"Would it have mattered?" Gem asked, sounding disgusted.

Damian hoped she'd hold it together and not attack the witches. La Patron promised to get back in touch soon with instructions.

Gem walked closer and stared down at the old woman. "Let's be honest, would it have mattered if you knew the child was stolen? Really? You took out a loan for a half damn million dollars because Lamia chose the child, and you sit here saying you aren't guilty because you didn't know?"

"That is what I'm saying, yes," Agatha said, meeting Gem's gaze.

"You're lying. We smell lies and fear and you stink of both," Gem said. "I'm glad Lamia wants nothing to do with you anymore, she's tired of being lied to all the time."

"What do you mean? Have you talked to her? What did she say?" Agatha pushed one of her ladies away and sat forward, greedy for details.

"We should let her in with Lamia
," Gem told him.

"Not unless La Patron approves i
t," he told her.

"
She'll be coming up here soon. Believe me she knows everyone's here and we can't stop her. Best tell security if she opens the doors, not to try anything, just let her go. So far she hasn't killed anyone, let's not tempt things."

"You think she can escape that room?
" Damian asked, uncertain.

"
Yes
." Gem paused. "
She already has and will be here in a few minutes."

"Come over here with me
," Damian said.

"
I can take care of myself."

"I know. I want you to protect me.
" He fought to keep his face straight as she walked over. "
La Patron, the Lamia has escaped the secure room below and is coming upstairs. Raoul is still healing. Quentin and the others are patrolling outside. Inside it's me, Randi, and Gem."

"Thanks, Damian. I'll stand by in case we need to merge."

"Yes, Sir.
"

"I asked you a question," Agatha said, raising her voice. "Did you talk to the Lamia?"

The door from the basement opened. Randi's head snapped up, and then she looked at Damian and Gem with a question in her eyes. Damian didn't bother responding, instead his gaze flicked over the room for possible vantage points in the large space to launch an attack if necessary.

"Yes, she talked to me." Lamia said, walking calmly into the room.

Ivona's hand flew to her mouth stifling a scream as she watched Lamia’s entrance. A few seconds later she ran across the room and tried to hug the child, but Lamia held out her hand, keeping her at a distance.

Agatha stood slowly and stared. "We've been looking for you."

"I know," Lamia said, her gaze flitting to each person in the room.

"We had a deal," Agatha said, her voice getting stronger. "I gave you everything you wanted." She glanced at Ivona and then back at Lamia.

"Yes, I know." She looked at Ivona for a few seconds and then sighed. "She knows you. But you're not her mother, she calls Tara mother, and that one's not good."

Ivona wiped her face with the back of her hand as she stood with her hand outstretched. "What? How's that possible?" She rubbed her forehead. "My baby, I have a daughter. Daphne's my daughter."

"Jealousy will make a weak woman do strange things, even take another's child, at least that's what I read about my history." She turned from Ivona and looked at Agatha. "We made a deal and I will grant your request, but I will not remain with you after." She looked at Gem. "I am a free spirit."

Agatha smiled wide and stepped aside as Lamia walked toward them.

"Wait," Ivona cried, tears running down her face. "She has my daughter." She looked at Damian. "Everything I did was to get here to find my daughter. Please help me, don't let her take my child."

Lamia looked at Ivona over her shoulder. "She is not innocent in all of this and you will have many more with that one lying down. This one I will take good care of."

"No." Ivona swallowed. "Daphne's my baby, she's just starting to live, I cannot replace her. Please, please don't take my baby."

Lamia's gaze drifted to Damian and settled. "What is La Patron's opinion on this matter?"

"He's interested in how you'll solve this problem," Damian said.

"It is an interesting circle," Lamia said. "In order to work, I need a body strong enough to handle my energy. In good faith, a body has been provided and now I must fulfill my end of the bargain, only to discover the acquired body has been stolen and one who claims to be the mother of the child wants the body refunded. Which leaves me where?" She looked at Ivona.

"Take me, release my daughter and take me instead," Ivona said, walking forward.

"No," Randi said, looking down at Raoul.

"Who will protect the child if you are with me?" Lamia asked.

"Raoul."

"Who is that?"

Ivona's gaze slid from Damian, to Gem and back to Lamia. She took a deep breath. "My mate. He'll watch her until I return."

"What makes you think you'll return? It's a life for a life," Lamia said.

"That's wrong and you know it," Gem said, moving to stand next to Ivona.

"It's okay," Ivona said, stepping aside from Gem. "As long as my daughter is safe, it's okay."

"No, it's not," Gem said, and Damian stepped behind her to make sure she didn't do something crazy and offer herself.

Lamia smiled and faced Gem. "What do you suggest I do, Doctor. How can we settle this dilemma?"

Gem cleared her throat. "How long will it take you to fulfill your contract with Agatha so she won't be killed in her sleep?"

Lamia looked at Agatha for a few minutes. "One or two days."

"When you finish, return here and we'll strategize how to make everything work." She paused. "We do this one day at a time, okay?"

"Is this acceptable to you?" Lamia asked Ivona.

"Not really. What if she gets hurt? Or is arrested? How will I know?" Ivona twisted her hands so tight she left imprints.

Lamia looked at Gem with a smile. "Shall I make a promise none of these things will happen?"

"Yes," Gem said, returning the smile.

Lamia laughed, turned and walked out the door with Agatha and the others.

Ivona ran out the door, followed them down the walk and down the road.

"Think they'll be back?" Randi asked as she watched Raoul.

"Lamia and Ivona for sure," Gem said looking up at Damian. "
Are we going home now? I'd like to see my patients.
"

Damian asked La Patron.

"Yes, he's making arrangements for us to leave. I didn't want to leave you here alone with them, but I need to check on security."

"Okay, I'll check out the kitchen, grab us something to eat."

Damian walked downstairs and stared at the security guard sitting in the same chair as before. The steel door remained locked, nothing looked as if it'd been changed. "Did she say anything to you?"

"Who?" The guard frowned as he looked at Damian.

"Did you open that door?" Damian pointed to the steel door.

"No. The way the extra security is set up, it can't be opened for another..." he looked at his watch. "Thirty minutes. It takes that long to reset."

"Can you see inside the cells?"

"Yes, you want to look at her?" Security turned and clicked a few keys. He frowned and clicked a few more. "I don't understand; she was there when the doctor left. I saw her, but she's not there or in any of the cells now." He turned and looked at Damian. "I swear she was there before. I couldn't have released her if I wanted to, nobody could."

Damian glanced at the empty cells on the monitor's split screen and tapped him on the back as he turned to leave. "That's what happens when you're dealing with a spirit, they move in ways we aren't prepared for. Leave it locked just in case our eyes are playing tricks." At least she hadn't broken her promise to not hurt anyone.