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

Chapter 4

Mélange sat at the dining room table tapping her fingers. Who would’ve thought? After all these years roaming the globe, spending time in over 30 countries, learning and working for various organizations. Not once had she sensed a connection like now. Not even with her lover.

She ran her finger over the thin metal collar around her neck, the dampener helped hide her wolf and kept La Patron from taking control. She’d worn it for two years after she’d finally broken free from the Liege. Elyria taught her how to go human deep, so that no one could tell the difference. It had taken years of practice until it became second nature. Many nights she had lain awake stroking her wolf, keeping her quiet so the Liege didn’t detect her true hatred. For 20 years she served those bastards, only to have them turn her into some type of freak. It had been a waste of time rising through their ranks, believing their lies. She never should have returned to do that last job. In the end, they hadn’t cared whether she lived or died, and she’d been seconds away from dying. But Elyria saved her.

Ten years.

She met Elyria in Egypt, and it had been love at first sight, on Mélange’s part anyway. When she saw the tall Amazonian goddess walk through the market, she followed as if pulled by an unbreakable string.

Elyria wore her thick sable hair braided and wrapped around her head like a crown, or so Mélange thought. At six feet, she looked like a giant to Mélange, a beautiful dusky complexioned goddess with startling blue-green eyes she kept covered with dark glasses. Smitten immediately, Mélange abandoned her vacation plans and left with Elyria that day.

Over time their relationship encountered a number of bumps. Elyria had a temper and frequently changed directions midstream. It was if her thoughts took off and landed at random airports. Often her elaborate ideas made no sense. The more explanations Mélange required, the more stubborn Elyria became. Mélange left several times and returned to a repentant lover.

And now this.

Heart heavy, she stood and walked to the large abstract black and white monstrosity on the wall and flicked the switch beneath it. The frame swung open. She removed the disk from the camera and re-snapped the picture to the wall. Inhaling deeply, she moved to the back room where she kept her computer, inserted the disk, and replayed the video of Renee.

Zooming in on her features, she traced Renee’s face with her fingertip and stared into her eyes. Her gaze moved to her nose and finally her mouth. Without listening to the conversation still fresh in her mind, she made a copy and sent it to the cloud. Next she sent Elyria a text informing her of the new file.

“
Got it, thanks love. See you at midnight
.”

Mélange read the text, over and over. The letters grew larger with each read until they crowded the screen and become illegible. Unable to deal with her jumbled thoughts, she headed to the kitchen and made a drink. Returning to the computer, she opened a file she used when she needed a whipping boy or some variation.

The first pictures were of her biological father and his children, three daughters from his wife, no sons. Served the bastard right. All wolves were to be loved, cherished, but in some parts of the country, especially large states like California, 100 years past, the Alpha couldn’t oversee everyone and a few slipped through the cracks.

Labeled a whore, shunned by her family, Mélange’s mother lost her job and roamed the streets begging for scraps as she grew larger with child. She died in a back alley giving birth. From what she’d been told, a pack member heard her mewling cries in the alley, recognized her mother and then took Mélange to her mother’s family. He threatened to turn them in to the Alpha if they didn’t do right by her.

The first 10 years of her life, she lived worse than Cinderella. Always hungry, she ate the scraps left for the animals. She never saw the inside of a school until she was in her late teens. Her kin kept a tight rein on her until another pack member reported the abuse and gained permission to take her in. Hunger was no longer an issue, but school was torture.

By some miracle she passed the test and joined the military where she excelled and met other wolves. But the tight structure and close proximity to humans didn’t work well for her, and after five years she left with an honorable discharge.

When she left the military she served as mercenary, taking odd jobs all over the world, and wound up working for the Liege. When Griff learned of how her family had treated her, he set a series of events in motion to drain her biological father’s wealth. It made that awful night she spent in Griff’s bed almost worth it to see the old man ask his Alpha for assistance.

She smiled at the pictures of his closed businesses and the
For Sale
sign on his mansion. Her mom’s people fared slightly better, but not by much. After she closed her purse strings and reported their laziness to the Alpha’s local rep, they had to repay her for her years of service, and find jobs.

But that was before the forced surgeries that changed her into a metal freak. She looked at her arms and legs and wanted to scream to the heavens at the unfairness of it all. “Bastards.”

A text from Renee beeped and appeared. “Made it home, miss you.”

The simple words tugged on Mélange’s heart. Conflicted, she rejected the feeling. Renee thought their first meeting in the airport had been coincidental. Nothing Elyria planned was coincidental. From the first meeting to the dinner invitation tonight, Elyria had orchestrated this elaborate scheme with pre-calculated precision. Through the years, they’d embarked on several adventures, relieving men of their fortunes and building their own. Elyria had a sadistic streak when it came to Alpha men that bordered on hatred, but she’d never seen her lover this hyped before.

Elyria called this the big one, their last major coup. The one that would fix all the wrongs if they did it right. She spent hours working out details to make sure everything went perfect. After this, they would retire to a private island they owned in South America off the coast of Brazil.

If only it were that simple. How long she sat staring at pictures of people who no longer mattered, she wasn’t sure. When the security alarm beeped, telling her someone had entered, she shut down the computer and went to greet Elyria.

Dressed in black leather skin-tight pants and a figure-hugging black short-sleeve shirt, Elyria looked like rock star or runway model. Whenever she entered a room, especially if her hair hung natural and loose down her back, people stared. Tonight, her eyes looked bluer as they sparkled with warmth and affection. That could change in a heartbeat, depending on the situation, and Mélange suspected they would become ice chips tonight.

“Hi, babe. I got that last transmission, Renee became hesitant at the end, and you need to convince her you’re serious. I saw how that last question bothered you, but don’t let our relationship trip you up. We’re so close to finding the chameleon bracelet, I can taste it.” Elyria grabbed her in a loose hug and took her hand, leading her to the sofa.

When they were seated, Elyria massaged Mélange’s hands. “She hasn’t mentioned Asia yet. How do we find out more information on that bitch? I want to personally kick her ass for shooting you in Griff’s lab and leaving you to die in the explosion. Stupid ass bitch.”

Mélange cringed from the memories of that day. On her last assignment for the Liege, she stole Asia from an underground laboratory and took her to Griff’s hideaway for a huge bounty. Elyria had heard Griff secured a chameleon bracelet from someone in her old clan and wanted her to steal it so she could alter it for her needs. But Asia killed Griff, and refused to give Mélange the bracelet.

She squeezed Elyria’s hand. “You were there and got us both out in time.”

“But she didn’t know that.”

Mélange didn’t belabor the point, they had other matters she dreaded to discuss. “What’s the timeline?”

“The kids just started school, so we give them time to relax into the routine a bit. See if you can go with her to see her mom.”

“That’s pushing it. She’s mentioned it twice and never invited me.”

Elyria’s eyes narrowed. “Are you giving her the magic treatment? I’ve seen you smile and flirt with both men and women better than you’re doing with this trick. By now she should be handing over her debit and credit cards.” She leaned forward. Black eyes clashed with blue. “Get her to take you to fucking West Virginia, that’s the reason you’re sucking up to this bitch.”

She’s human, not a bitch
. “I’ll try.”

Elyria patted her hand and sat back. “As long as you’re successful, all I ask is that you try.”

Mélange eyed Elyria. Something was off. Normally during a job they discussed details, how to make the job work better, but this time Elyria kept things separate, treating her more as an employee than partner. Uncomfortable with her lover’s comment, Mélange stood.

“You’re pouting. Goddess, please,” Elyria said, rolling her eyes. “Look…you know what I mean. Do your best and if it doesn’t work, we’ll figure out something. Is that better?”

“I’m not a child,” Mélange said, preparing for the storm.

Elyria stood and wrapped her arms around Mélange. “No baby, you’re not. I’m sorry if I made you feel unappreciated. Forgive me.”

Mélange closed her eyes at the frequent request. Goddess, she grew tired of Elyria discounting her and then wiping over it with an apology, as if words spoken could be reclaimed. They couldn’t. Like bullets ripping through flesh, the damage is never forgotten.

“Why?”

“Because we’re partners for life.”

Mélange shook her head. “No, I mean why are we doing this? We have more than enough money to live two lifetimes. Why do this now?”

Elyria stared at her for a moment and then looked away. “I’ve been working on my own chameleon bracelet, it’s something that originated in my clan, but I can’t get it right. There’s no transference of knowledge, just a full body exchange, and the change only lasts for 24 hours. But the one Griff had, created by my clansman, has limitless power that can only be harnessed by a black wolf.”

Chills raced down Mélange spine over Elyria’s declaration. “So you plan to go after Angus? La Patron’s litter mate?”

Elyria snorted. “No, Asia has a bracelet. Once we kill her, we’ll take it and be on our way. That’s why I want you in West Virginia with your new lady. It’s the perfect cover.” She stepped away and took Mélange’s hands, swinging them from side to side. “Once I get it, I’ll make you a bracelet, and we’ll have so much fun traveling and being whomever we want to be.”

Alarm bells rang in the corner of Mélange’s mind. “Elyria, I don’t want to work like this anymore. I told you that. No more shootings, or bombs, or kidnappings, I’m done with that life. We agreed.”

Elyria laughed and it sounded brittle. “Nonsense, you’ll grow bored. The bracelets will give us the element of surprise. Imagine being able to change your appearance to look like anyone in the world, having their memories and ideas. No one will be able to tell the difference. You could be La Patron or his mate, or Asia.” She paused. “Or the President.”

Mélange turned slowly and stared into Elyria’s eyes. “You’re serious.” She couldn’t believe it, although she should. Her lover always believed she belonged in a different era where Amazon females were worshipped and obeyed without question.

“Dead serious. Aren’t you?” Elyria’s gaze pinned her to the spot.

“Yes. But there’s a problem. One neither of us expected or predicted.”

Elyria waved her hand. “What kind of problem?”

Mélange broadened her stance, prepared for anything. “Renee, she’s my mate.”

Chapter 5

“The girls want to have a sleepover,” Jasmine said to Silas as they lay in bed exhausted from a bout of mind blowing lovemaking.

Silas pulled her closer. “A what?”

She placed her palm on his chest. “A sleepover with a few of their friends from school.” When he didn’t respond, she released a long sigh.

“Tomorrow is their what? Third day? What kind of friends have they made already?” he asked.

“The kind who’ve given them five invitations to skating and birthday parties.” She paused, realizing Silas never gave thought to the social aspects of school, he’d been focused on the children’s academics and blind to the rest.

“Five invitations to parties? That would be a security nightmare.” His tone hardened and she recognized the tone for an imminent lecture.

“True, but we never discussed how we intend to handle this with them. Remember the circus? The fallout from that?”

“Every time we have a disagreement you bring up how I changed my mind about allowing them to leave the compound to go to that damned circus. It wasn’t safe and I did what was best at the time. Sure they were angry, but they got over it.”

Stung she arched back. “No I don’t bring it up.” She took a deep breath. “These are our children, a combination of our personalities, Silas. You demanded they go to this school, opened the tunnel, installed additional security equipment and assigned full-time security staff after scanning each person who worked in the place. But you never dealt with the issue of them interacting with other children and developing friendships.”

“David made new friends?” She heard the skepticism in his voice.

“No. According to Jackie, he’s in watch-everybody-mode, which is who he is. Adam is the complete opposite and has made several friends who he sits with in class.”

Silas stiffened. “He’s not with David?”

“No. David sits with Jackie and Sarita sometimes. Jackie made a new best friend, Maggie.” She tried to remember the names Jackie and Renee told her earlier. “Renee has two best friends, Bonita and Freda.”

“What happened to Sarita? They aren’t best friends?”

Jasmine snuggled closer. “Apparently you can have several best friends. Sounds like David and Sarita are the loners in the group.”

“Hmm, I thought being around others would help, maybe it wasn’t the best idea.”

“It’s done; we need to plan how to deal with the change. You can’t isolate them after releasing them into the mainstream.” She repeated the speech she gave the school staff the other day, and repeated how the parents lined up to see her, and explained how nice it was to see Alpha’s pups in their school.

“When it comes to the safety of my pups I don’t care what they think,” he snapped. “Maybe we should hire tutors, turn the nursery into a classroom. That way –”

“What? They don’t make friends? Don’t receive invitations to social activities or play sports?”

“They can still have friends, Cameron has a house full, and there are children who live in the compound –”

“And all attend the school.” Jasmine wanted to smack him for opening this door, but he’d refused to listen to her objections and now refused to deal with the fallout.

After a few minutes of silence he released a long sigh. “What do you suggest?”

Realizing what it cost him to ask, she kept her responses brief and to the point. “I agree, it’s too early to accept invitations from anyone. The novelty of sitting and playing with La Patron’s kids is fresh. In time it’ll wear off and we’ll see who survives the cut. The kids are smart and won’t put up with foolishness, they didn’t in the nursery and won’t at school. When they come home, the six of us sit, have a snack and talk about their day. I’ll use that time to remind them of what’s at stake, your, I mean
our
position in the pack, and how careful we need to be in allowing strangers into the compound.”

He placed a kiss on her forehead. “Sounds good. What happens when the dust settles? I cannot agree to them sleeping somewhere overnight, maybe when they’re older, high school?”

She rubbed his chest. “Okay, I’ll tell them, it’ll give them something to grow towards. Plus, by then they’ll be shifting, right?”

“Yes, should be.” He paused and turned on his side, facing her. “Let’s make this rule, no overnights until they can shift and know how to fight with their wolf? If they’re shifting, they’ll be able to communicate mentally as well. I feel a lot more comfortable with that.”

Her fingertip traced his lips while their gazes locked. “What about parties during the day? We can have security in place.”

His eyes bled from bluish-green mix to cerulean blue. “How does that protect them against chemicals absorbed through their skin?”

“Teach them to wash their hands constantly with the special cleanser Hawke made, plus they already eat the root to build up their resistance to certain poisons, we all have.”

“What do you want from me? I cannot allow them the type of freedom you’re suggesting, if they are taken and held hostage, I would give away everything for their safe return. That puts the whole Nation at risk. Don’t you see that?”

She did, which pissed her off more. “What do you suggest then? They’re making friends, and at some point will want to do teenage things, how do you plan to keep them locked up?”

“Goddess above, Jasmine, they’re not in prison! And I need your help to develop a strategy, not your sarcasm. If you want me to say I didn’t think it through when I demanded they attend my schools, consider it said. Now, let’s think how we can fix this without putting our pups and the Nation at risk.”

Narrowing her eyes at him produced no response. “Right now I can’t think of anything. I’ll explain they can’t accept the invitations they’ve received and tell them why. Also, I’ll say they can start attending day parties when their mental links come online and if we approve the public location. No house parties. That’ll buy us some time to come up with solutions by the time they’re teens. But understand this, if they choose to go away to college, they’re going.” She wouldn’t hinder her children from learning all they could and reaching for the stars.

Silas grunted as his eyes returned to the blue-greenish mixture. “By then, they’ll be able to fully defend themselves and will only need one guard to watch their backs.”

“We’ll see.” As necessary as these discussions over the children were, they drained her. Silas looked at things from one perspective, which often clashed with hers. One of the reasons the twins were so well adjusted stemmed from the fact she’d allowed them freedom to explore, within boundaries, and communicated with them every day on the differences between right and wrong as they grew.

“Jarcee says my princesses enjoy their self-defense training, take to it as naturally as the boys. I want my girls to kick ass just like my boys.” He pulled her close, his hardness pulsed against her.

“So they said. Jackie surprised me by how much she likes that class, it’s her favorite.”

“Oh, what about Adam? Gym?”

“Yes. All he talks about is playing sports.”

“He’s a team player, which is important in the pack. Renee’s is art, what’s David’s favorite class?”

“Computers. He asked for a real one, not like the ones in the nursery. I told him I’d talk to you and get back with him. Maybe for Christmas?” She looked at him.

“That’s months away, why not get him one now?”

“Silas, a computer is expensive.”

“What?”

Seeing his frown, she patted his chest. “Hear me out. He just started school, there are computers there for him to use. If this obsession for a computer continues, then he can have one as a Christmas gift. The kids don’t get whatever they want, when they want it, just because we can afford it. I won’t have spoiled brats.”

His frown deepened. “Spoiled? Brats? Why? Because we buy him a computer? Help me understand.”

“The first day they came home from school, Renee asked for cell phone because she saw a kid with one in their class. When I asked who she planned to call, she admitted no one. One of the boys told Adam he should get a pair of sneakers like his and showed him the price tag of $100. Adam actually asked if I would buy them. And that was the first day.”

“Money’s not an issue we can afford it, Jasmine. Although I’m not sure about the kids having phones, those can be tracked.”

She ground her teeth and stabbed him in the chest with her finger. “Damn it, Silas you’re missing the point, several points. It makes no sense to pay that much for shoes or clothes that they will outgrow in a month or two, I don’t care how much money we have. The parents who give cell phones to their children probably work far distances and use that as a means to stay in touch until they can pick up their children from wherever they are after school. Rese and Rone didn’t have cell phones until they started playing sports and had to remain after school so they could call me to pick them up. Phones are not toys.”

“Calm down, Jasmine, you made your point.”

“No, that’s just part of it. Only a very small percent of the kids at school have phones, wear designer clothes or $100 shoes. It’s clear to me that everything we do is under a microscope, so I want to send a clear message that we get it. We understand what it’s like to have kids and work. Sacrifices have to be made. My children are well-dressed, but not over the top, and they don’t just get everything they want or ask for. I told them we’d reward them for academic and conduct excellence. We’d only consider an expensive pair of shoes for that, or a special type of paint, or a puzzle. But to just give a child everything they ask for is begging for trouble in the long run.”

Silas crushed her against his chest and then rubbed his chin across the top of her head. “Everything you’ve said makes sense, you’re the expert on children, so I’ll follow your lead. Expensive items for birthdays and Christmas, and rewards for excellence at school. Thanks for thinking of the pack, I hadn’t realized how our wealth could impact others.”

“Right now everyone’s excited to have the kids at school, watching everything they do. Soon they’ll realize they’re just normal kids and treat them that way. At least that’s the plan.”  Leaning back she looked into his eyes. “They’re just two and a half years old and already in school. So young.”

“So are all the other pups in their class, plus that’s two and a half in human years. I’ve explained wolf pups grow faster, by our standards they’re what humans would consider six or seven years. Most pups start school right after they can walk and understand directions. Our pups are late.”

She punched his chest. “No they’re not.” She released a breath and opened her hand. “I want them to have a good, solid childhood to prepare them for the rest of their lives.”

“Sweet Bitch, you’re doing that. Don’t forget, I receive reports from Jarcee and his security team every day. At any time during the day I can, and have, watched my pups interact at school. They’re curious, smart and respectful. As I said before, you’ve done a good job with them.”

Jasmine leaned her forehead on his chest and inhaled. Nothing smelled as good as her man. Faint aromatic tendrils from their lovemaking lingered in the air. She licked his skin, tasting the salt from his sweat.

A deep rumble filled his chest as he pulled her closer.

Smiling, she flicked the tip of his nipple with the edge of her fingernail a few times. His large body shuddered.

He squeezed her ass.

She bit his nipple.

Arching his back, he pressed into her mouth. “Yesss…” With a firm grip on her ass, he rolled her on top of him and slid her over his erect cock, moaning when she matched him perfectly.

“Why do you always smell so good?” she whispered, taking another whiff. “Makes me weak whenever I’m this close.”

“I’ll remember that.” He slapped her ass and then moved her around, causing friction.

Hot flames of desire shot to her core. Throbbing, she backed up, searching for the one thing that’d scratch the itch consuming her. Silas held his penis and she slid home.

Sighing at the fullness, she pressed her forehead against his chest and enjoyed this incredible closeness with him. Theirs started as the most unlikely union, a blending of hearts and souls, and now a few years later, her memories of life before him had dulled to a dismal gray, a period in time she barely recalled except for events with her sons.

He lifted his hips while holding onto her, moving in a slow up and down rhythm, deliberately driving her insane. Hands on his chest, she pinched his nipples and sat up, taking control of the thrusts, going deeper, faster.

Watching his eyelids flutter, his face grimace and tighten, she increased the speed, taking them higher. Together, she wanted them to reach the pinnacle as one. The muscles in his neck tightened, his back arched and she closed her eyes as her body shook and exploded.

Silas growled beneath her, holding her tight as he bucked into her once, twice, and then held her in place while yelling his release.

Sweat dripped from her forehead onto his chest. Riding Silas always took a lot from her, but it was damn satisfying watching him. Sliding to the side, she kissed his chest and snuggled close.

He held her in place and brushed a kiss across her forehead. “
You’re a wild one, Sweet Bitch. Damn near wore me out. Love that about you.
”