KnightForce Tres (La Patron KnightForce Book 3) (24 page)

Chapter 40

“Try again, Hawke,” Asia said. An hour past, Mistress sent word the necklace was broken. They pulled over on the side of the road to focus on the blood bond between Hawke and Sarita.

He nodded and tried again. A few seconds later, he exhaled. “Nothing yet. Maybe it takes a few minutes.”

From the side of the highway the plains and hills of the rugged Canadian landscape appeared vast and their hope to find Sarita dimmed. “Goddess protect my baby,” Asia prayed as she sought a signal or anything that would point them in the right direction.

“
Asia. I have the coordinates
.”

“
Coordinates to where?”

“A home Elyria and Mélange owns in Canada
.”

Her heart raced as she typed the numbers into her phone. It beeped on the location. “
Thank you again, Mistress, we are headed there now
.”

Hawke slid into the driver’s seat, Damian returned to the back, and she buckled her seat belt as the voice on the phone gave directions to the location. When they were a few blocks away, Hawke straightened, looked at Asia and grinned.

“I feel her. She’s alive!” His words banished their dark, unspoken fear.

Tears pooled in Asia’s eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall. Moments later they turned onto a dirt path and drove a few miles up into the hills. Nestled at the end of an overgrown path was a small cottage that blended so well with the environment Asia would’ve missed it if they didn’t have the coordinates.

Silent, they approached the house, tried to open the door. Locked. Hawke kicked it open. The cottage consisted of four rooms. A kitchen, living room combo, bathroom, and two bedrooms. Ants marched in a straight line from a plate with half-eaten breakfast foods down to the hardwood floor and out a crack in the lower wall. Cool air seeped in through the windows and cracks. The refrigerator hummed and the heating unit sputtered from time to time. Sturdy wood furniture filled the bedrooms and small living area.

Splitting up, they searched every room for Sarita and found nothing. “She’s here somewhere,” Hawke insisted.

“Maybe there’s a basement,” Damian said, looking around.

“I’ll check outside,” Hawke said, leaving them.

“She’s got to be here somewhere,” Damian said, pressing the wall.

“Out here,” Hawke yelled.

Asia and Damian ran to meet him. A cellar door lay open; all she could see was the top of Hawke’s head as he moved down. She took the stairs and followed. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cellar, her heart leapt. Sarita lay on a pile of dirty rags in the corner, shivering. Tears ran down her face as she watched them. Hawke removed the fabric from her mouth and untied her hands.

“Daddy,” she said in a hoarse voice.

“Yes, I’m…I’m here, sweetie.” He picked her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight.

“Mama,” Sarita cried, seeing Asia. “Mama.” She reached for Asia, who took her and held her tight. Tears fell hot and fast down Asia’s face, she didn’t bother to stop them.

“My baby, thank you Goddess. Thank you Mistress.” She rocked Sarita from side to side, holding her tight. Damian moved closer and placed a kiss on Sarita’s cheek.

“Damian!” Sarita kissed his puckered lips, but didn’t release Asia.

“Yeah, squirt.” He wrapped his arms around Asia and Sarita. Hawke stepped closer and wrapped his arms around them all.

Chapter 41

KnightForce Graduation day…

“Thank all of you for your service. Not only did you beat the clock, but you saved my daughter,” Asia said to thunderous applause. “Once again, congratulations to Paul Lewis for winning the award for the most helpful to his fellow team members. Well done, Paul.” He stood, raising his trophy in the air.

“Also to Damian Farkas, who won the physical competition.”  Damian stood and took a bow while holding his trophy. With metal in his arms and legs, as well as his practice sessions with Hawke, the twins, Angus, and Froggy he had won every physical challenge presented.

Jasmine smiled at his antics.

“Now for the final award, the Frogs Memorial Award, our highest honor for that special person who embodies the spirit of pack in everything they do. As you know La Patron and Angus left three days ago on an urgent matter and blessed all of you at the luncheon. Today, we’re honored that our La Patroness will present the Frogs Memorial award. Now I know most of you look at her in this beautiful demure gray and white dotted dress and light pink coat
[viii]
and think she’s soft. But I assure you she’s the strongest person I know.”

The applause started slowly and then rose to a loud crescendo as the trainees stood clapping. Jasmine couldn’t speak around the knot in her throat. Being without Silas hurt. But he needed closure, and had returned to his homeland for answers. He’d been angry and hurt over the deception by the Goddess to the point he doubted his ability to serve faithfully. The past three days had been brutal, but today they honored their graduates.

Straightening her spine, she accepted the hug and microphone from Asia. “Congratulations Trainees!” she yelled, which started another round of applauds. “Standing here, looking at each of your faces fills me with so much pride. You’re the best of the best and will assist us in running the Nation smoothly. As you leave for your assignments in the morning, know that we support you in every way because we think of you as family. A family that went through a serious time of testing and came out on top. That’s the way Froggy operated, he always thought of pack and how to make everyone’s life better, easier. He thought outside the box, with a creative flair, but his heart, his mind, and his soul was all about pack.” She cleared her throat and paused to push back memories and tears.

“So when it came time to choose the person for this last award it was hard because all of you think of pack first, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

There was a smattering of applause. “But two men rose to the top, pushed the envelope, did more than we expected and gained our appreciation.” Tyrese and Tyrone walked next to her holding two trophies with a frog perched on a stone thinking.

“Crescent Blue and Ethan Mope, both of you are awarded the Frogs Memorial Award. Come up here please.” The two men strode forward and waited. The twins handed them their trophies, which they held high so everyone could see. Everyone clapped and whistled.

“Everyone received assignment packets yesterday and have already contacted the Alphas you’ll work under. Things are moving fast, but you must attend the luncheon in the gym before you return to your quarters to pack. The photographer is here and we want pictures of everyone. If you need to check in with Tyrone’s office, he’ll be at the luncheon along with your captains.”

Jasmine waved goodbye as they cheered and left the stage.

“Are you coming?” Asia asked.

“No, I’ve…I’ve got some things I need to take care of.” She tried to smile, but failed miserably.

“When we are done, I’ll stop by, we’ll have a margarita or two,” Asia said.

Jasmine nodded. “Okay.” She left and headed to the nursery where the kids were playing. When she entered, Sarita waved and continued running behind Adam.

Miracle of miracles, Sarita had no memory of her time with Elyria. Her memories started just before Hawke and Asia arrived at the house. She’d been cold, scared, and ready to get out of the dark, damp cellar. But after a healthy meal and a night’s rest, she was the same as before.

David’s attitude changed for the better after Sarita returned. Yesterday, Lilly’s troop visited. Pierre’s attention to Sarita bothered David to the point Jasmine had to speak to him about being rude. David refused to speak to Pierre which didn’t seem to bother the boy in the least. Jasmine suspected Pierre and David were a lot alike. Today the nursery was a happy place again.

“Mama, you look pretty,” Renee, her little fashion diva, said.

“Thank you, sweetie. Everybody having a good day?”

A chorus of yes filled the air.

“Cool beans,” Jasmine murmured. She instructed the nurses to take them outside to the courtyard, where she’d join them after she changed.

Renee called while she pulled up a pair of cream colored trousers and an oversized knit top.
[ix]
“Hey,” Jasmine said, happy her sister had healed from her recent ordeal.

“Hey, thanks for getting me into the University. Several professors around here are green with envy, the small-minded bastards. One even asked me how I pulled it off, since he’d been trying to get a position there for years,” Renee said in a snooty voice.

“Meaning why you and not him?” Jasmine said.

“Exactly. Can you believe that?”

“Yeah, some people have no filters and believe their own press. It’s not smart, but they do it anyway,” Jasmine said.

“Mélange applied and was hired to work security at the college. Not that she has to work, my mate’s very rich, thank you very much. But she says if I work, she works. So I don’t know how much longer I’ll punch a clock.”

All of the properties Elyria and Mélange owned together were for sale. She and Renee had been looking for a home together since they returned, preferring to start with a clean slate. “When do you start at the new job?”

“A position opened up at the beginning of next semester and I’m in. Amazing isn’t it?” Renee said in a dry tone.

“What’s the use of being the boss if you can’t make things happen?” Jasmine said, not bothering to deny stepping in and telling the Chancellor to hire Renee with a full benefit package. Having Renee in a place where she could study various cultures in a controlled environment made sense for everybody.

“True, very true. Just wanted to say thanks again for everything. Love you.”

“Love you too, tell Mélange I said hello.”

“Aww, thanks, Jazz. I know you guys will never be besties, but it means a lot that you’re trying.”

“Like you tried with Silas?”

Renee laughed. “No, please try harder than I did. Love you, bye.”

Smiling Jasmine headed to the kitchen and pulled out ingredients to bake cookies for the kids later. In a matter of seconds her recent arguments with Silas replayed in her mind.

“All I wanted was a chance to talk with her, you denied me that opportunity,” he said.

“The Goddess said it was dangerous for you to come in contact with her, she warned us this would happen.
Plus, you were the one who said if any of your children were held hostage, you’d give anything and place the Nation at risk, remember?”

“Yes, but—”

“
Look at us, arguing over someone who killed several members of our pack. Anita Trant is healing, but that’s because of her mate. Elyria was a murderous demon who did terrible things.”

“I know that,” he countered. “Don’t you think I entered her thoughts, saw her dark, twisted deeds? She loved inflicting pain on people, even played with the idea of taking one of our pups, but changed her mind at the last minute.”

“After the visit with the Goddess, we agreed on her termination and I would do it.” Jasmine wondered why he didn’t support her.

“I know, I know…it’s just when the DNA connection hit, everything changed. I felt her pain, sorrow, and elation that she finally had my attention.” He raked his hand through his scalp. “All I wanted was a few minutes to talk with her, you refused to give me that.”
His pain and disappointment pierced her heart. After everything they’d been through, it came down to her doing the job that he couldn’t do to save them and he was pissed. Elyria would’ve ripped their world apart if she’d been given an audience.

But the price of losing Silas, even for a few days, was high. Now he questioned everything about his past. The Goddess granted him another meeting without Jasmine. When he left the prayer room after that conversation with the Goddess, he informed her of his decision to leave for a short trip. She snorted. For the past few years she hadn’t had a vacation, and now he up and left for the continent.

The sweet aroma of butter and chocolate filled the kitchen. Jasmine made a pitcher of sweet tea and poured a glass.

“May I have one of those?” Silas asked from the entryway.

Jasmine spun around so fast tea flew out of her glass onto the table and floor. She placed her hand on her chest and mopped up the mess with a paper towel. Silas was home. Her heart raced. “When did you get here, I didn’t hear you.”

Dressed in black jeans, a green and white pinstriped short-sleeved shirt, and a black leather duster, he looked like one of those men on TV who always got the girl. His black wavy hair brushed against his shoulder and his earring gleamed in his ear. His lips quirked.

“Your mind was elsewhere. Are you thinking of going somewhere without me?” He placed a black satchel on the table and slid off his coat. His muscles rippled across his chest as he laid it across the chair before facing her.

The bell on the oven dinged. Grateful for the distraction, she removed the cookies from the oven while thinking of an appropriate response. The Bahamas sounded like a nice place to lay on the beach.

She placed the metal sheet on top of the counter. Silas pressed against her from behind. His nose rubbed against her hair as his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into him.

Jasmine’s eyes closed in pleasure from his nearness.

“Sweet Bitch, I’ve missed you.”

“Have you?” she got out as her body hummed.

“Yes. I rushed home for you, and my den. Mostly you.”

Her eyes opened as she remembered why he left.” It’s been three days.”

“Two of those were traveling.”

“Did you find your answers?” She hoped so, because she refused to suffer this way again.

“Yes, the past is buried and I’m prepared to live in the present.” He placed a kiss on her ear.

“Buried?” She didn’t know what to think of that.

“The child rests with her ancestors.”

“Okay…which means what?” She crossed her arms and met his green gaze.

“I owe you an apology for my behavior. You were the only one who could destroy her and she earned termination. I know it cost you to take a life, and instead of showing gratitude and understanding, I…well, I didn’t.”

“That night, after…you know.”

“I know.”

“Guilt and fear ate me alive. I’m not God. Who am I to take a life as payment for wrongdoing?”

“Not God, but you are the arbitrator of the law, which she’d broken. My mate is the only person who could pass judgment on my seed like that. No one else. The Goddess was right, you had to do it. If I hadn’t interfered, you wouldn’t have suffered alone.” Silas wrapped his strong arms around her. “I’m sorry, forgive me.”

Jasmine breathed in his masculine scent and thought of how he’d changed so many rules for her and her family. “How can I not forgive you when you give me so much? There will always be challenges against us, promise me we’ll fight them together.”

“I promise you all of my todays and tomorrows,” Silas said and sealed his pledge with a kiss.