Redemption (The Extinct Race Series Book 4) (4 page)

Chapter 6

Choices

When Kaiden woke in the morning he knew what he needed to do. He immediately placed a call to Hugh and told him the situation. Hugh as always knew just what to do and said the project would be done at the end of the week. Kaiden hung up the phone and looked over at Zoe. She was awake sitting up looking over at him with love and pride in her eyes. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her for a few moments. Eventually they let go of each other and got ready for the day.

The breakfast table was quiet as everyone knew something had happened. They just didn’t know what. Kaiden and Zoe sat in their normal spots and as soon as they were done eating Zoe stood and faced the waiting faces of her family.

“Last night Kaiden had a bad feeling. You all heard how the “what if” went last night and how most of us would probably feel. Well some of us went to sleep feeling that way any way. So last night we went to fix the bad feeling and when we arrived at the barracks there was a confrontation happening inside. Ada was in Levi’s room demanding that he take her to her brother. She was going to tell him everything that we have done. We listened for a bit in the hall not really sure what was happening inside.”

“When I think back on it now, I think some of us were waiting to see Levi’s response. I hate that the trust is not fully there but we all understand why. Well that trust is not an issue anymore. We can trust Levi. He was not going to betray us. But before the argument between them even began Ada had grabbed a hold of his mate Bronwyn. There was nothing any of us could have done to fix the situation. When Leon and Vivi confirmed what was done to Bronwyn we let Levi choose Ada’s fate. At first it was going to be the same as what Ada did to Bronwyn. Instead her memories were torn from her. The last eighty years have been stripped from her memory. After they were taken she did not know who we were and she was banished. The screaming you all heard was the barrier pulling her out. She knows nothing but her life before Leon. She doesn’t even know he existed. We told her to wait in the field for her brother and father. So please no one interfere with that.” Zoe explained to the table.

“What did she do to Bronwyn?” Rosa asked

“She created a bleed in her brain and now the girl is brain dead.” Vivi said as the table gasped in horror.

“Bronwyn’s heart still beats and that means she is alive. Yesterday morning she found out she was pregnant. The baby is strong and healthy and doing just fine according to Leon and Vivi. But last night before we found this out Levi wanted us to kill them both. He still has that choice but now there are three lives at stake and not just the two. We have asked him to sleep on the decision. I believe as a mother and soon to be mother that even if I was brain dead I would want Kaiden to live and raise our babies. I believe all of us women would.”

“Leon has offered to move into a home and have Levi and Bronwyn move in with them. If Levi chooses that path the home will be ready in a week by the way. I have also made a decision and have not asked anyone else. This is mine and mine alone but I will be turning Levi as soon as Aldrich is dead or healed. That way he can see to his mate’s health and the health of the baby. I know I would want to be able to do that if the roles were reversed.” Zoe looked around the table at all the faces. No one seemed to disagree with her.

When Zoe was done she sat back down and fed Lily. The table started to clear and everyone made their way to the barracks. Leon had decided that he wanted to train with everyone else and so the babies and toddlers were all brought down to the lunch area and the half-blood mothers were more than happy to help watch them. When training was over Leon and Vivi went up to Levi’s room and found him awake and sitting on the edge of the bed.

“She would really want this wouldn’t she?” Levi asked as the two walked into the room.

“I truly believe she would Levi. I know that I would want Christian to do the same for me. For a woman and child is more important to us than our own lives.” Vivi answered.

“This is the hardest decision I have ever had to face Vivi. I feel so lost.” Levi sobbed out.

“Son, if you would accept my offer I would like you to move in with Sarah and I. We will be moving into a home at the end of the week. We will help you with everything you need. Bronwyn and the baby will have constant care and supervision. We will help you every step of the way.” Leon explained

“I would like that. I don’t think I can do this alone. But in my heart I know this is what she would have wanted. She made me a better man Vivi. Now I need to be that man for our baby. I hope and pray it is a little girl and she looks exactly like Bronwyn. I want her to know about her mother though. I only had a few weeks with her. I don’t even have a picture of us Vivi.” Levi looked at her with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Well I think we can find some. She grew up here and everyone knew her. Maybe we can have something made for you and the baby. I just need to clarify for my own ears. You are going to keep her alive until the baby can be born?” Vivi asked

“I will need help and I hate asking for it but yes. She would want this.” Levi whispered

“Levi we will handle everything we just want you to take the time that you need to get to terms with this. We will come by three times a day and check on her for you. We have gotten back to training and now we are all just kind of waiting for the big day to happen. After that day we can breathe again.” Leon told him as he sat next to him on the bed and placed and arm around Levi. Levi nodded to them and then Leon and Vivi began to leave the room.

“Wait! Ada said Aldrich was in Germany?” Levi yelled out.

“He is with all the others. Not sure what they are doing but we are watching the map for changes every day.” Vivi answered from the hall.

“He is waiting for the humans to arrive and then he will come here. But I know he doesn’t know where we are.” Levi informed them.

“Humans?” Vivi asked knowing her suspicions were true.

“He had me do the accounting once and there were three large retainers sent to specific accounts. I met a hacker once and had him locate the owners of the accounts. Anyway the owners are known and wanted hit men for hire. These men are worse than Aldrich. I mean he is evil and all that but these men kill for pleasure and money. They have teams and the means to destroy this whole mountain.” Levi warned.

“Do you remember the names of these men?” Vivi asked hoping he remembered.

“I don’t, I’m sorry. But I thought you should know that.” Levi answered

“Thank you Levi. This does help a lot.” Vivi assured him as she ran out of the barracks and right to Jaco’s room. She knocked on the door and waited in the hall.

“Hey, are you looking for me?” Jaco asked from behind her.

“Yes! Levi just told me something and I think it might help us when they come. You need to get facial recognition software and watch the cameras like a hawk. Aldrich has hired three mercenary teams. The highest bidder wins type men.” Vivi told him as it dawned on Jaco what she wanted.

“Got it, I know exactly what to do. I need to run to the city. Like now! I need Alex.” Jaco said as he ran off again.

As Jaco ran down the hall Vivi stood there for a moment and then saw Kaiden and Zoe headed to the elevator with Lily. She followed them and snuck into the elevator just as it was about to close.

“Vivi! Hi.” Zoe said a little surprised.

“Hi, I need to tell you guys something.” Vivi said a little breathless

“Ok, let us get Lily down for her nap and then we can talk.” Kaiden answered.

They entered the suite and Vivi went to the living room area and sat on a couch. Zoe and Kaiden disappeared down the hall. A few minutes later Kaiden came out alone and explained Zoe was taking a quick shower and would be out shortly. She decided to tell him that Levi had chosen to keep the baby and filled him in on that information while she waited for Zoe. As soon as Zoe came back out she told them what Levi had told her about the human men.

“So we will be facing really bad men then?” Zoe asked

“We will but there is a possibly a bright side to it. That will be all up to Jaco though.” Vivi said and she told them her plan and how it might benefit them.

That night at dinner they decided to keep the information to themselves. When the time arrived Kaiden would inform them. But tonight he wanted to let them all in on the good news about Levi. The table erupted in cheers at the news.

Chapter 7

Hidden

“The kid said to wait five days and then try to break out.” Hunter told the group.

“We all know that but what if it is a trap?” Laura asked

“Look we all want out but where the hell are we?” Max asked

“Look I just want to see my kid again ok? We left him and told him where to go if we never came home. I need to look for him. It has been seven years and we led them away from him. He could be alive and I want to go!” Marie yelled

“Well he left us enough food for a week and told us they were all leaving. So let’s try.” Claudia stated as she grabbed the bars and used all her strength to try and bend them or something. Trying to bend them with all her strength nothing happened. “Try your fire.” She told the Fire couple.

“It hasn’t worked before. Trust me we have tried.” Max stated. “We all had children around the same time and ours we left in a hospital after she was born. Don’t you think in the last nineteen years of being in this cage that we have tried?”

“Well we have only been here for about seven years and in those seven we have never been left alone this long. Were you guys left like this before we got here?” Julio asked

“No there was always an armed guard standing at the mouth of the cave sometimes three of them. We stayed quiet because they threatened our kids. They seemed to know we had them. So we stayed quiet and wouldn’t tell him where they were. Not to mention that we saw the logic in that. His father thought that we along with our children were dead. The three that caught us in the truck said they were doing this for our safety. I never liked it but I understood it. Those three kept us in cages but they also hid us from their father.” Clover told the group.

“Try again, please?” Claudia asked. “Or send it to my bars and I will see if that weakens them. Just please try something. If it works we need to contact my brother. I haven’t told you guys about him because of them but my brother is in the Ireland Sect. He will know what to do and I know how to contact him.”

“What? That is the place they can’t find and are looking for!” Max yelled

“Why do you think I have kept it quiet? Look he went with his mate and that is where she lived. I went with mine to his Sect. He probably thinks I am dead. We need to get out and find a town and then borrow a phone. He will come, I know he will.” Claudia demanded

That gave the group a surge of new hope and Laura was the one to send the fire over to Claudia’s cell. She used normal fire at first and noticed that when Claudia would kick nothing was happening. Frustration was seeping off her in waves. Not to mention that she hasn’t touched her own mate in nineteen years. They kept all the couple across from one another with no chance of touching one another. She wanted out.

“Love, try Dragon Fire.” Max told his mate as he saw how frustrated she was getting. Max was on the same row as Claudia so there was no way that he could shoot his fire to her cell. Max watched as his mate changed her stance and determination coursed through her veins showing in her face. Her fire changed from orange to purple and Claudia kicked after about five minutes and the cell door went flying into another cell.

The group yelled and some cried. Hope had blossomed in them and a new feeling came over them. Max drew his Dragon Fire is his hands and threw it at the cell door in front of him. He let it heat for a little longer as he did not possess a Fury strength and Claudia could not touch the fire without getting burned. After ten minutes he looked to Claudia who was jumping around the cave with glee radiating from her.

“Claudia a little bit of help here? You kick to door in towards me and I will hold it so that I don’t get smashed.” Max came up with a plan in his head and saw it all play out.

“Right! Sorry I am a little excited over here.” Claudia danced over to his cell. She waited for him to grab a hold of it with a firm grip and she kicked as hard as she could. The door flew into Max crashing him into the back of the cell. He didn’t care though and he ran to the side of his mate’s cell. She was already heating her cell door so she couldn’t acknowledge his touch just yet. But It did give her knew hope when he reached in and stroked her arm.

“You ready Laura?” Claudia asked

“You have no idea how ready I am.” Laura said as she smiled at her mate and held on to the door. She placed a foot to the back of the cell hoping that would help her instead of getting smashed like Max did. Laura nodded when she was ready and Claudia kicked. Laura closed her eyes at the impact that jarred up her arms but she didn’t go flying. She just stood there with the door hanging loose in her grasp. When she opened her eyes she dropped the door and ran out of her cell into her mates arms.

“How are the rest of us going to get out?” Julio asked a little worried that they would leave the rest of them.

“We will heat and hold and Claudia kicks. Just stay to the side of the cell in case one of us can’t hold on to it. She has a wicked kick even after being in here for the last eighteen years.” Max responded

The group worked together and got all the doors off. The couples ran into each other’s arms and held tight. Claudia didn’t have a mate any longer so she let them have their time a little jealous but she was anxious to get going. This was her hell for eighteen years and she had no idea if her son was alive or not. She had gotten caught when her mate had gotten away with little John and a friend of theirs. She felt her mate die about a month later though and she cried herself to sleep for years after that. Once she gathered all the food she could she looked to the hugging and kissing couples.

“Alright guys let’s get this show on the road. We have no idea where we are.” Claudia said as she walked to the mouth of the cave. All she knew was that it was cold and icy where they were held. There was a boulder placed at the mouth of the cave and so she looked to the Earth couple for a little help. They both worked together to move the boulder. As the group walked out of the cave they were met with a barren icy landscape. Nothing was around them and she wasn’t even sure how the men got them there in the first place or how they always came with food.

The Water couple, Marie and Julio, felt the ice and then told them that the earth started to grow about three hundred miles east of where they were. They all agreed that shifting was much needed and necessary for this to work. All that was in their cells were blankets and the food that was brought out with them. The group quickly undressed and rolled their clothing into the blankets. They stood a good distance apart and shifted. Most screamed out in pain as they haven’t shifted in so long. Once they were all in Dragon form they spread their wings while grabbing the rolled blankets in their claws. They flew high in the clouds just in case there were any humans out that might see them.

When land came into view they remained in the clouds until they saw a small farm. They knew that is was an active farm because the house had smoke lifting out of the chimney and all the animals were out eating out of the troughs. They were unsure of the time or even what day of the week or even what month it was. They flew to the forest and shifted back to human, quickly putting their clothing that they had rolled into the blankets back on. They walked through the forest towards the farm. When they arrived at the farm the man of the farm stared at them like he knew something.

“Can I help you?” the man asked

“Could we use your phone sir?” Claudia asked with a prize winning smile on her face.

“The camp has been deserted for a week or so. Were you held there?” the man asked.

“What camp? What are you talking about?” Max asked the man.

“Look I am not going to harm you but it is not safe here. I was hired to keep watch on the camp. I have pieced things together and well you two have the same flecks in your eyes as the parents of the girl. Her human parents hired me to watch the camp and report in once a week. But I haven’t been able to get a hold of them since all of them came back and then just as quick they left again. I just know there is something about you all that is the same as them. The camp guys, the parents and the girl. I have a phone right here. It is a satellite phone and will reach anywhere you need to call. Please come inside and get warmed up.” The man asked them.

“Where is this camp?” Rage filled Claudia as all the pieces dropped into place for her.

“It is about three miles from here but you can’t go in. The place is one huge booby trap. There is C4 wired all over it with sensors that are armed when he is away.”

“He is away now correct?” Claudia asked

“He is.”

“Is there anyone around this camp? Like are houses with families near?” Claudia asked

“There is not for a good hundred miles. What are you going to do?” the man asked a little worried.

“A big oops!” Claudia laughed. “Please lead the way good sir? For your help and for the help you have always given you will be compensated a good amount as soon as I get a hold of my brother.”

The man led the way to the camp and then quickly returned to his farm after he pointed the camp out to the group. They said they would return and he believed them. For one they had not made their call yet.

Claudia crept through the woods towards the camp with the rest of the group close behind her. She smelled the explosives once they broke into the clearing. They all used their eyesight as the spotted all the semi hidden explosives.

“I think the only safe way for us to do this is you two. Throw fire balls in there and then we run like the wind back to the farm. Use his phone and see what Charles has to say.” Claudia said

“Alright let’s back up and we will begin.” Max said completely agreeing with Claudia.

As they went to step back into the trees they all heard the ominous click. No one moved as they all looked down at their feet. Under Clover’s foot was a hidden plate. She looked devastated and scared.

“RUN NOW!” Claudia screamed as they all took off into the forest and the concussion of the explosion sent them flying. They all quickly recovered and ran as fast as they could back to the farm. Once they reached the farm the man was standing there with his mouth hanging open.

“What time is it here?” Claudia asked

“Well it’s summer so the sun doesn’t really set. It’s four in the morning.” He replied

Claudia did the math in her head and quickly realized it would be the perfect time to call Charles. She reached her hand out and the man handed her the phone. Excitement buzzed in her ears as she dialed the one number she memorized so long ago and hoped that he hadn’t changed it.