KnightForce Damian (La Patron's KnightForce Book 4) (8 page)

Chapter 13

Generals Miller and Cralls sat at the long table along with another highly decorated officer. Hawke nodded his greeting and took a seat. Asia suggested he accept Alpha Bartholomew’s explanation for allowing Damian’s exposure to the itching virus, but it still bothered him that the man thought his son was indestructible.

No one was.

In this instance Hawke believed Damian’s eagerness to prove worthy worked against him. He should have asked the Alpha questions before stepping into a dangerous situation. Asia agreed but felt they needed to coach the boy rather than give him answers all the time so he could develop a sense of what’s important in his new job.

Hawke promised not to interfere. La Patron understood his frustration and sent him to snatch the Knight program from the jaws of the Joint Chiefs to keep his mind off his pup’s situation. Since he couldn’t ask questions about the itching debacle, he’d settle for taking them down a notch.

After a general discussion between the others of items that held zero interest for him, Hawke heard his name called and straightened in his chair.

"La Patron asked we grant you an audience, there are some questions?" General Cralls said.

"Yes. Regarding the training of the Knights, La Patron is concerned over the program. It's five times more intense than anything you're currently doing. What's the reason for that?" These three were the only personnel with complete information on the Knights program and the ones Silas wanted to answer the complaints he'd received.

Cralls leaned back in his chair and stared across the table. "General Nate? You're in charge of that component."

Nate, an average height human with a severely receding hairline, cleared his throat. "The types of missions require harsher training."

"Who handled these missions prior to the Knights?" Hawke asked in a low voice.

"Seals, Rangers, it just depended on the job," Nate said.

"Were they ever successful?" Hawke asked.

"Yes, yes, of course." Nate paused. "Not all the time, though."

Hawke's brow rose. "Do you expect a 100% success rate from the Knights?"

"Well, er, yes." He looked at the other men at the table. "I thought that was the purpose of this special group, to get more and better results than our current teams."

"Does everyone here think the Knights will have that type of success rate?" Hawke allowed the incredulity of the question to flow in his voice.

No one answered, at first. "I believe it will be higher but not 100%, that's god-like and doesn't take into account the other side could have Knights of their own," Cralls said, looking at Nate.

Nate's mouth pursed and then he nodded. "Hadn't thought about that, having their own Knights. Makes sense though. We'd need a team to handle them specifically." He looked at Cralls. "Do we have enough?"

"Yes," Hawke said. "La Patron will not authorize more recruits until these are trained, in the field, and we're able to monitor the success or failure of this program."

Cralls and Miller nodded.

Nate frowned and looked at Hawke. "What if the other side has several teams of Knights? How will we counter?"

"With wisdom," Hawke said, dismissing the man. "The current training for the Knights is biased and discriminatory. I don't understand why you're in charge of their training, General Nate. You may have successfully trained SEAL’s and Rangers, but Knights require a different mindset."

"This is a top secret military program for which I was recruited as a personal favor by one of the Joint Chiefs. They thought it important to have someone with training experience on board, but you're right, I don't fully understand how it all works. Is there someone you could recommend to assist me?" He looked at Hawke.

"Yes. La Patron has sent for two men, brothers actually, who will take over training at the compound. He wants them cleared to train the Knights as well."

"
Cain and Abel
?" General Miller asked, smiling.

Hawke nodded and wondered how the General knew those two. They'd arrived this morning after leaving Damian's area in the hands of Russell, another KnightForce agent, yesterday.

Miller's smile widened.
"Look out. Those two are wild and the best trackers in the country. Goddess, it's been a long time since I've seen them. Can't wait to hear some of their tales. Now I can relax. With those two in charge of training, our team will be unbeatable or damn near close."

"When do they arrive?" Nate asked, sounding resigned. "They aren't former military, are they by chance?"

"No," Hawke said, appreciating the man's flexibility.

"Didn't think I'd get that lucky," Nate said and then smiled. "What do you want me to do? My role is to assist General Cralls to prepare these men for duty. I pulled the short stick for training and will gladly pass that over to someone more qualified as long as we fulfill the mission."

Hawke looked at Cralls to answer that question. Hawke had given La Patron's instructions regarding training and that was the limit of his involvement on that matter. While Cralls, Miller and Nate discussed protocols and job descriptions, Hawke made a report.

"Sir?"

A few moments later, Silas responded. "
How did it go?"

"Just as Miller and Cralls said it would. Nate's not a bad guy, just a stickler for rules. They're discussing everything now and by the time they're done, everything will be set up just as you requested."
He wondered if La Patron changed his mind and would seek answers here regarding the itching epidemic.

"Good. Cain and Abel touched down in Virginia a half hour ago. Alpha Lyle picked them up and will take them to training in the morning. I've told Miller and he's anxious to meet with them tonight. I hadn't realized the three knew each other until I mentioned Miller to Cain.
"

"
Yes, he agrees with your choice, feels they're the right choice to train the Knights."

"Now that they understand my vision and how I want this team to perform, they'll get it done in a way that reinforces pack values. I'm pleased on that front, but disappointed that the itching situation hasn't been handled."

Hawke started to ask more questions, but refrained.
"Damian should be touching down any minute."

"They've arrived and Doctor Okla got the witch to give her the formula for the cure, but the quantities are all off. Matt and Passen are running variations through the computer right now, but we haven't got it right. Last night two more cases were admitted to the clinic; they weren't as bad as the others, but there aren't supposed to be any cases at all. That was the deal with the witch."

Everything Silas said was true. Hawke wouldn’t have given in to the witch’s demands but he wasn’t Alpha and not privy to everything on the table. "
What do we do?"

Silas released a long stream of air. "
For now, Damian continues the damn quest. From what he told me, the doctor's smart and was able to trap the witch already. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and she'll get more information we can use to expedite things."

"What about the new cases? Did she lie? Is she still contaminating people?"

"I don't know. She did say there was a list of people, myself included. Maybe that hasn't stopped
."

"I'll have Damian ask her about it. It's possible there's something built into the curse that won't allow it to stop until certain elements are in place
," Hawke said.

"
Is that possible?"

"Yes. I think so. Later today when I return I'll spend some time in the lab researching it. In the meantime, I'll have Damian ask the doctor about her opinion before he asks the witch in case I'm wrong and it cannot be done."

"Good idea. Keep me informed
."

"Okay," Nate said, drawing Hawke's attention. "I think this works best for everyone. General Cralls is over the entire Knights project and I'll assist him in the office, which is where my talents are better suited anyway. The new trainers start tomorrow. I will inform the trainees they have the night off and to report at 0600 tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me," Miller said, standing.

"I appreciate you working alongside me," Cralls said, standing and extending his hand across the table to Nate.

"It's a great plan, I still have a lot to learn," Nate said, shaking Cralls’ and then Miller's hand.

Smiling, Hawke stood and shook each man's hand. "
Another score for La Patron."

Chapter 14

Gem glanced at Ivona, who looked out the window of the SUV while rubbing her fingers back and forth over a tattered piece of cloth. The old woman sat hunched in the seat behind Gem next to Raoul, constantly moving the seat belt strap from across her chest to behind her back to across her chest again. Initially she'd refused to wear it. Quentin, a large, bald, full-blood with dark green eyes and a full beard, leaned close to her ear and said a few words that changed her mind. Since then she'd sat silent with her gaze on her lap. Gem didn't trust the woman. Saffi didn't smell old, or sick. Most older humans, especially those who couldn't straighten their posture, had an underlying odor of sickness. This one had none.

Tired of guessing about the human, Gem wondered if the doctors in La Patron's lab had been able to do anything with the notes she had sent with the ingredients Ivona gave her. Although the human hadn't lied when she gave out the formula, Gem didn't trust her to have deliberately left something out that may throw everything off. Her thoughts drifted to the sick she'd left behind. Had they gotten worse? If so how bad? Would Dr. Connors keep them sedated or try something new? Something she hadn't thought of? She hoped not.

The moment the thought entered her mind she banished it. If Connors could help her patients, she welcomed it. Shutting out the voices insisting if he did, then her career in the full-blood medical field would be over, she stared straight ahead with her hands clasped tight together in her lap. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Damian glanced back at her, their gazes met and then she looked away. He hadn't said anything about her behavior at the airport, not yet anyway, but she was sure he would comment on her taking over the conversation the way she did.

Goddess, what was I thinking? This whole deal with Ivona and the way she tried to jerk them around with no regard to the harm she'd done made Gem's blood boil. It had been all she could do not to snatch the witch and throw her into the wall.

"
Breathe. Calm down
."

Gem jerked at the voice in her head. She hadn't connected mentally with anyone on this trip. "
How did you get in here?
"

"
La Patron set it up,
" Damian said. "
You're throwing off a lot of heat, anger I suppose. The humans feel it and are uncomfortable.
"

Gem snorted and turned to look out the window. "
She doesn't care about the people she's hurting; why should I care about her?"

"You don't. But I want you to care about the success of this mission. And she's an important part of it, for now at least. Once we hear from Hawke that they've created... an antidote, is that the right word?"

She shrugged and fought down a smile. "
It'll work; I know what you mean."

"Once that happens, her value dwindles to zero, she has no leverage. She’s aware of all of this, so I believe there's a whole lot more going on. Something she hasn't told us, a surprise or something that will save her ass for what she's done."

Gem thought of what Damian said and nodded slowly. "
You're right. No sane person would do what she did and sit in a truck with us without fearing for their lives. She and the old woman are planning something. Plus, she smells off."

"Ivona?"

"No, the old woman. She doesn't smell old."

A few seconds later, Damian spoke.
"I don't know what old smells like, but she's not sick. Quentin says she's lived in Wales for 63 years, and is a part of a coven. Another witch."

"Wonder why she's wearing this disguise?"

"I'm not sure, Quentin's dealing with that. When we stop, stay in the car."

"Why? What's going on?"

"The information on the location Saffi gave us came back and we need to verify a few things.
" The SUV veered right off the highway to a feeder road and then turned right down an unpaved path.

"Where are we going?" Ivona asked, sounding alarmed.

"To meet with the guides," Damian said. "We need to make arrangements for the new location." He met her gaze in the rear view mirror.

"Oh, okay." Ivona paused. "Is there... is there any way to verify mom's been moved." She glanced behind her at Saffi. "I'm not saying you're lying or anything, it's just I'd like to be sure she's not there first."

Gem bit back the sarcastic comment bubbling in her throat. Who did the female think they were, Hogan's Heroes? They weren't here to flit from place to place searching for her mother.

"We're going to one location. You're free to go anywhere you'd like, but we negotiated to rescue your mother based on the information you provided. This isn't an open-ended contract," Damian said with a touch of exasperation.

"I know, I know, it just seems... too much of a coincidence being told she's been moved once I arrived and she didn't let me know. I guess that's what’s bothering me." Ivona looked at the window. "I'm not sure we should change our original plans."

"
That's unexpected
," Gem said.

"
Raoul says the old woman tensed the moment Ivona challenged her information, she's angry but has it under control. It'll be interesting to see how these two play out
," Damian said.

The vehicle stopped. Damian, Quentin and Ivona opened their doors. Gem sensed the old woman looking at her and she opened her door as well. Raoul assisted Saffi out the back and Gem's gaze collided with the older witch. Neither looked away. Raoul tugged on Saffi's arm, breaking the connection.

"
Be careful with the witch
," Gem said, taking a deep breath and leaning against the truck.

"Did something happen?"
Damian asked.

"Yes. I saw something behind her eyes and it wasn't wolf. She's a breed, but I don't know what kind."

"What? Another shifter? Why is she here as a witch? Why didn't we scent her beast?"
He paused.
"She hid it, but why?"

"Maybe she's prey? Or food? Who knows? Be careful."

"Come inside. I need you to help watch them. We need to verify her beast before we start, and I need La Patron's permission to interact with another ... breed."

Pushing away from the fender, Gem moved toward the house and stopped. Nose lifted, she scented the air and turned to the side. "
Someone's out here
." She moved in the direction of the blood trail. Raoul caught up with her and they headed into the woods. At the foot of a tree a young girl lay still, bloodied cuts and wounds covered her arms and legs. Her blue denim dress covered most of her body, offering protection from the elements.

Gem stooped and inhaled. The child was severely dehydrated. "I need my bag." While Raoul went to the truck, Gem continued evaluating the child's health.

"There's a human child on the ground?
" Damian asked.

"
Yes. She'll be okay, wounds are superficial but she's dehydrated. Is there someplace inside I can work on her?"

A few seconds later he answered. "
Yes. Have Raoul bring her inside. Have you scanned her for metals or weapons?"

Gem hadn't. When Raoul arrived with her bag, she took it and pulled out her tablet. "Can you scan her for weapons, please?"

He nodded. A few moments later he whistled.

She looked up at him. "What?"

"She's clean." He looked around the area. "Was she alone?" He met Gem's gaze. "Someone, somewhere, is probably looking for her."

No doubt he was right. Gem took pictures of the child from several angles before lifting her dark brown hair from the side of her face. A dark purple bruise covered her cheek. Gem gasped.

"Let's get her inside so I can help her. Be careful, I don't sense any internal injuries but bruises like the one on her cheek will hurt just as bad if you touch them."

Raoul nodded. He stooped and slid his hands beneath the child's legs and shoulders. The child didn't stir as he lifted her and walked toward the house. Gem strode ahead, opened the door, and followed them inside. Raoul veered in the opposite direction of the voices in another section of the building. Gem hadn't given the place a second glance while they were outside. Now, as Raoul lay the child on a long wooden table in the middle of a former dining room, she realized how cold and dusty it was.

Someone had wiped the table and placed a yellowed cloth on a section of the wood. Raoul gently placed the child down and then looked around. "I'll try to get more light," he said, and pulled off a section of wood from the window. Sunlight filtered into the room, dispelling shadows and revealing layers of dust, broken mirrors and furniture pieces, and a huge, inoperable chandelier hanging in the middle of the room.

Gem used an anti-bacterial gel on her hands and snapped on a pair of gloves. Taking her time, she examined the child from top to bottom. Human for sure. When she finished her examination, she sent her results, along with the photos, to La Patron's lab for the doctors to review. From the moment she became a part of this team, the chain of command had changed. All reports went to La Patron's team, Hawke, Dr. Passen, and Dr. Chism, and she wanted everything to be perfect.

"
Everything okay?
" Damian asked.

"
Just finished examining and cleaning her up. She didn't need stitches and there's no sign of infection. I'd say she's lucky."

"Are you done?"

"Almost. I'm setting up an IV to get fluids into her system."

"Why didn't you do that first if she's dehydrated?"

"Because I don't know anything about her. She's still out of it, and the fluid intake may change that."

"A human child alone in the woods is unusual."

"Yes
." She placed the needle in the child's arm, set-up the IV.

"
Think someone's searching for her?
"

"Possibly
." She added pain meds to the solution and watched the drip.
"How’s the planning going? Has the old hag confessed her beast?"

"
No. Quentin agrees with you, he senses it, too. I'm not getting anything, neither is Raoul. Ivona wants to go to the original location. She and the other one have been arguing over it. I'll give them ten more minutes to decide where we're going
."

That surprised Gem. "
Why wait?"

"La Patron's checking something and needs the time. He's really interested in the human child. I don't know if we'll leave her behind or take her to one of my grandfather's dens. He wasn't surprised about the shifter in disguise, claims there are several breeds on the continent."

"I didn't know that
." She hadn't ever left the states, but there was no need to tell him that.

"When you finish there, let me know. I've assigned two full-bloods to watch over the child. They are outside the door right now and will stand inside when you leave."

"Okay.
" Gem studied the large bruise on the child's cheek, had someone hit her or had she run into something? Lying still, she looked peaceful, as if she were taking a nap. Gem covered the child's hand with her own and said a small prayer to the Goddess for a full healthy recovery. The child's chest heaved as she took in oxygen.

The first bag of saline was almost empty. Gem moved her hand to replace the bag and stopped when it was gripped tightly.

"Who?" the child asked in a ragged whisper without opening her eyes.

"Dr. Okla." She glanced at the bag and then back at her patient. "
The child's waking
," she told Damian.

"Where?" the child asked, looking around.

"Honestly, I don't know. Somewhere in Scotland, I'm not from around here." The child seemed to relax even though she didn't release Gem's hand. "I need to change the bag so you can get more fluid, you're still dehydrated."

"Dehydrated? What?"

"Your body needs water; you couldn't drink before so I'm giving it to you another way." She tried to move again but the hand tightened, and Gem realized how strong the child was. In order to break the grip, she called on her beast, it was a short tug-of-war, which she eventually won and changed bags.

"No. No more, no," the child said, her voice gravelly as she pulled out the IV. Blood and water flowed down her arm as she tried to sit up, and finally rolled off the table onto the hard floor.

Gem turned off the IV and watched the child on the floor, wondering why she hadn't opened her eyes. "What's your name?"

The child didn't speak. Instead she crawled on the floor sniffing. Gem repacked her bag, pulled out her phone and recorded everything. "Do you know your name?"

"Lamia." Eyes closed, the child had crawled to the door and stopped.

"How old are you, Lamia?"

"Ten."

Long and lean, Lamia was no child as Gem thought, but a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. "Why were you in the woods? How did you get here?"