KnightForce Tres (La Patron KnightForce Book 3) (12 page)

Chapter 22

Countdown clock: 47 hours remaining

“The car belonged to Velris Fresm,” Mope reported as he tapped the screen on his tablet. “We’ve alerted pack to search for the vehicle and Fresm.”

Asia nodded as she walked into the main section of KnightForce center. “What else we got people? The clock’s ticking,” she said, raising her voice over the buzz of noise.

Tyrese waved her over to where he sat. “Take a look at the people interviewed at the hotel so far. Nothing stands out to me, you may see something.”

Asia stood behind him and looked at the faces of those interviewed. When he finished scrolling, he looked at her.

“Nothing. I don’t recognize anyone.” She sat in the chair next to him, closed her eyes and rubbed her neck. “
I’m tired but I can’t sleep
,” she said to Hawke.

“
Same here. Mistress thinks it’s someone from one of the old lines, Black, White or Red clans manipulating energy. I’m running searches.”

“Makes more sense than anything we’ve come up with so far. But how would they get her out the school, make her invisible? Can that be done?”

“
Not really invisible, but a trick of the eye is possible.”

“After the energy La Patroness released during her search? That would be some trick.”

“Remember, she was certain Sarita was in that building, but we didn’t see her.”

“True. I’m going to grab a bite to eat and get back on it.”
She told him what happened at Ms. Trant’s.

“A body’s been found in the mountain,” Tyrese said, and looked around. “Yellow team, go check it out.” He gave them the address. “Send back a live feed.”

Men in yellow jackets stood and left.

Asia went into her office, grabbed a cold drink, and put her head down on the desk. Her heart hurt. Her arms were empty. She missed her daughter’s sweet smile. “Goddess please keep her safe,” she prayed. “Please keep her safe.”

A few moments or an hour later, she wasn’t sure, Tyrese tapped on her door. “Everybody from the hotel’s been interviewed. I need you and Angus to look at the pictures before I release the trainees to return to base.”

Wiping her eyes, she sat and looked for a tissue. Of course there weren’t any, she never used them. The back of her hand would do. She left the dimness of her office and walked into the main conference area. The heels of her boots produced a loud clicking sound on the hard cement floor. Tyrese offered a kind smile and squeezed her shoulder when she sat in front of the monitor. The pictures and their names scrolled across the screen.

“Stop.” Asia pressed the key and went back two pictures and looked at the petite Asian who hid half of her face behind her long hair. “She looks familiar, what’s her name?”

“L.M. Williamson is what she registered under.” Tyrese clicked her name and nothing came up. “Why isn’t there any information on this hotel guest?” He looked over his shoulder at several trainees wearing red, purple and yellow uniforms.

“Some of the guests are taking longer, Sir. We’re working on it.”

Asia continued to stare at the picture, the longer she stared, the more certain she became that she had met the woman at some point, maybe on a mission. She stood. “Tell them to hold her. I want to interview her.”

Tyrese nodded.

Fifteen minutes later Asia pulled in front of the hotel and strode inside. Her wolf panted, and then strained for release against her chest the moment she exited her vehicle. Most of the purple team had returned to base to rest, but there were three remaining when she arrived.

“She’s in the conference room, Ma’am,” one of them said, she couldn’t recall his name.

“Did she give you any trouble?”

“No, Ma’am. We didn’t mention what happened at the school to anyone, just that we were conducting a search for someone. She never seemed concerned,” he said.

Asia’s certainty that she knew the full-blood grew. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her credit card. “Give this to the manager.”

He looked at the card and then at her. “The breakfast buffet’s already been taken care of, Ma’am.”

“It’s not for the food, it’s for the damage that’s about to occur.” She walked toward the conference room, opened the door and stared across the room at the woman dressed in black leggings and a sleeveless, fitted tank. At some point, she’d secured her long hair into a plaited ball on the back of her head. Seeing her face clearly, images of the last time she’d seen the assassin scrolled across her mind. It had been when she killed the Liege Lord Griff. This one had kidnapped her for the ransom.

“L.M. Williamson. I don’t recall that being your name.”

The woman smiled but it never reached her eyes.

“So you survived the explosion,” Asia said, moving slowly into the room. Eager to release her wolf, her body hummed in excitement of finding a worthy opponent.

The petite Asian’s brow rose. “So you remember shooting me and leaving me to die?”

“At the time you said it was business and not personal. You waited all this time to make it personal?” Asia said, recalling the conversation clearly.

“No, you wanted to see me. I assume this time its personal?”

“Damn straight. This time I won’t make the same mistake of allowing you to walk out alive,” Asia growled. Her child was missing and this bitch had something to do with it.

Her adversary shrugged. “You didn’t do that the last time.”

Asia’s beast roared as she leapt forward, her intention to break the bitch in half. They’d both been altered and trained by the Liege. Did the woman have similar arms? Legs? She’d find out soon enough.

Her opponent rolled to the side and landed on her feet. Asia hit the floor, jumped up spinning to avoid attack but was nicked by a claw. Clouded by rage over Sarita, she allowed her beast to move with lightning speed without thought.

Asia leapt forward to grab the woman by the neck, but with blurring speed the woman moved, jumped, and landed behind her.

The push in Asia’s back sent her stumbling forward. Asia spun, swung, and missed her target. She received a blow to her chin and stomach before the woman flipped backward. Asia shook her head from the force of the hit, realizing they both had metal arms.

Circling each other, Asia looked for an opening. Her head throbbed, visions of this bitch stealing her daughter flipped a switch in her mind as she lunged forward with her claws outstretched. The woman jumped and landed on Asia’s back, knocking her to the ground. Her long claws pierced Asia’s back and then ripped it like a ribbon.

Asia screamed.

The female leapt to the other side of the room as the KnightForce team broke into the room. Breathing hard, Asia stood slowly with her hand up to stop them from joining the fray. This was her battle and she’d see it through.

“Out,” she gritted as her skin knitted.

“Yes, Ma’am.” She heard rather than saw them leave the room and close the door behind them.

Asia wondered why the woman didn’t press her advantage and allowed her time to stand. “Lucy, why’d you take my daughter?”

The woman frowned. “Lucy? What?”

“That’s your name.”

She snorted. “Mélange, and I didn’t take your daughter. But you’re not interested in the truth, I see that in your eyes.”

Asia shook her head. “That’s why you’re here.”

“No it’s not. Believe what you want, but I don’t know anything about your daughter, other than you have one.”

“Why are you here then?”

Mélange crossed her arms and met Asia’s gaze. “None of your business.”

“Anything to do with my daughter is my business.” She leapt across the room and shifted mid-air into her hybrid.

Mélange did the same. They bounced off each other, creating a loud booming sound. Although petite in human form, Mélange’s hybrid matched Asia’s in every way and they exchanged blows that shook the walls. Loud sounds echoed through the room as their hits made contact.

Asia tried to hold onto Mélange. The flexible woman slid through her arms, turned and punched her in the stomach, sending her through the double doors of the conference center. Asia slid across the floor until the front desk broke her fall.

Several KnightForce trainees stood nearby, watching. Asia stood, and ran back inside to finish the battle. They continued exchanging ferocious blows, neither fell nor stopped. Mélange countered every move Asia made and showed a few Asia had never seen.

An excellent battle.

“Asia,” Tyrese said from behind her. She couldn’t be sure with the ringing in her ear. “Asia, stop.”

Still not satisfied, she swung again and missed. The next blow to her stomach knocked the wind out of her as she flew backward into the wall.

Tyrese stepped in front of her and looked at the other hybrid. He held up his hand. “I don’t know who you are, but Asia just lost her daughter and is not fighting normally, so I’m stopping this right now. If you want to continue this with her, you’ll need to wait until her mind isn’t on her child and she’s properly rested. I promise things will be different.”

Asia stood slowly and morphed to human. Her head spun as she heard Hawke calling her from a distance. “
I’m fine, shouldn’t have done that, but I needed the release
.”

“
That’s what I’ll tell Mistress
,” Hawke said.

She grimaced and watched Mélange. Not once had Asia seriously questioned the woman, her only thoughts had been to exorcise the rage and pain inside. Mélange pulled the short straw and had been surprisingly good, more than adequate according to the lingering pains from those powerful hits. Besides, she
had
shot the woman six times, or was it eight? Damned if she remembered. And then left her to die in the explosion, still Mélange hadn’t tried to kill her.

Mélange morphed to human. “I’ve seen her in assassin mode, but know nothing of her daughter. I’ve been here at the hotel the entire time.”

Tyrese nodded. “The hotel has confirmed you were here and received no visitors or calls. Do you mind me asking why you’re here?”

She straightened. “Yes, I do mind.”

Tyrese tilted his head to the side. “I’m sorry, but I have to insist. La Patron is concerned he cannot access your wolf and that is a violation of the law.” KnightForce trainees filled the conference room.

Mélange backed up, refusing to allow anyone get behind her. “I’m here for a friend.”

“Who’s your friend?” Tyrese asked.

Mélange opened her mouth and then snapped it shut.

Asia recognized the action and wished she’d handled this whole matter better. She approached Mélange without losing eye contact.

“May I?” She reached forward.

Mélange snorted and then nodded.

Asia pulled the collar of the top down, saw the necklace and released the fabric. Mélange wouldn’t say another word and there was nothing no one, not even La Patron, could do to make her talk.

“What I did before, it was reaction, and you knew that. Your heart wasn’t in the fight, I knew that. Thanks for allowing me to work off steam,” Asia said, knowing everyone would hear.

Mélange hesitated and then nodded.

“But we do have to take you with us, La Patron wants to see you.” They stared at each other for another long moment.

Mélange shrugged. “For the record, I had no knowledge of your daughter’s disappearance until you mentioned it and that is the last thing I’ll say on the matter.”

Chapter 23

Countdown clock: 44 hours remaining.

“What do you mean Renee’s girlfriend is in town?” Jasmine asked Silas when he returned to their rooms.

“Asia just had a fight with her and –”

“What? Why?” She stared at him.

“Asia recognized her –”

“Recognized her? From a flight or something?”

Silas placed both hands on her shoulders and shook her gently. “Let me talk.”

She pushed his hands off and took a step back. “Okay.”

He told her how Asia remembered the woman from a past battle and that when she saw her assumed she had been involved –”

“Because Asia left her to die, I remember that. She’d been after the bracelet for a client and Asia…well, it was bad. But this woman didn’t know about Sarita?”

“She didn’t know Sarita had been kidnapped,” Silas corrected. He explained how both women had been altered and trained by the Liege. “Like Asia, Mélange is a highly trained assassin, Jasmine. Her courtship of Renee has been fast and furious. I just hope it’s not a ploy to get at someone else.”

Jasmine sat down hard on the sofa, her hands clasped between her legs. Her mind raced with possibilities. “What are we going to do?” She looked up at him. “How do I explain this to my sister?”

Silas knelt in front of her. “I can make her disappear, Renee will never hear from her again.”

“Is that why you’re having her brought here? To make a decision to kill her or not?” She met his green gaze and wondered how she could ask that question without flinching or guilt. This was a person’s life and they discussed ending it as if they had that right. Her conscious faltered beneath the anger of her sister being targeted in such a cruel manner.

“Not really. I wanted you to meet her, talk to her, and if you think she deliberately used Renee... I’m not sure what we’ll do.” He stared at her.

Jasmine had the feeling he meant something more than what he said. She rehashed his sentence a few times and then gasped. “You think they’re mated?” Her heart leapt at the idea, to be able to talk, really talk to Renee would be awesome. But how would her sister feel?

“It’s the only reason I can think of, unless Renee’s shared something with you that would make that less true.”

Jasmine frowned and reviewed what Renee told her that night. Damn, her memories were fuzzy from all the wine. “Renee doesn’t know she’s here, that I do know.”

“That’s another point, if Mélange recognizes Renee as her mate, she wouldn’t be able to remain in St. Louis, especially if they haven’t bonded. Her beast would make her follow to watch over Renee, even at a distance.”

“Wow, Renee mated to a full-blood?” She looked at him.

“Yes, an older one who’s very smart, talented, and has been abused by the Liege. After you meet her, let me know if you want to tell your sister, or if Mélange disappears.” He brushed a kiss against her lips and stood. “She’s in the dungeon. No one other than those who brought her in knows her name. Asia, Angus and the twins knows she’s Renee’s lover, but no one else, not until you decide what to do with her.” He extended his hand. She accepted it and had an irrational desire to check her appearance before meeting her sister’s…never mind. Silas opened the door and they headed toward the elevator on their way to the dungeon.

Byte ran around the corner and rubbed against Jasmine. Smiling she bent at the waist and rubbed his head. “Who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy, that’s who.”

He purred beneath her hand and then ran in a tight circle as if he’d catch his short tail. “Stupid dog,” Silas muttered.

Byte stopped running and growled at him.

Jasmine laughed.

Byte started running in his tight circle again. When the elevator arrived, Byte ran back toward the nursery to stand guard.

“Brat,” Silas said, pointing at the dog and then laughed. “That’s one ugly mutt. Whoever heard of a blue speckled Rottweiler mixed with something unrecognizable?”

She pushed his shoulder. “Be nice, he’s adorable once you get to know him and he loves the kids.”

“Yeah that’s the only reason I put up with his blatant disrespect, you heard him growl at me.”  He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

“Yes, but only after you called him stupid, which proves he’s not.” The elevator stopped. In much better spirits, she walked down the corridor listening to Silas complain about Byte.

Asia and Angus met them. Jasmine noticed Asia hadn’t healed completely, and for some reason that made her feel a little better about Mélange. If she was Renee’s mate, knowing the woman could protect her sister meant a lot.

“She knows you’re coming to talk with her,” Angus said. “She hasn’t spoken since she left the hotel. Neither Asia nor I can scan her thoughts. This necklace is an upgrade from anything the Liege made.”

“She worked for them a while and would have contacts,” Asia said.

Jasmine stepped around him and walked forward. When Asia followed, she stopped. “I want to talk to her in private.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Asia stepped back.

Jasmine retraced her steps and looked at Angus, Silas and Asia. “I want a private conversation with her,” she stressed, looking at each of them.

“You want us to leave you alone with her?” Angus asked.

“Yes.”

Angus looked at Silas and then Asia. “Yes, Ma’am.” He left.

Asia followed.

Silas leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “
Don’t tear the building down. You’re holding the ace card.”

“What?”

“Renee. Full-bloods lose all sense of self-preservation when it comes to our mates. Believe me, I know.”

“That rocks both ways, Wolfie. Now scoot, I need to find out what her intentions are with my sister.”
Turning, she waved him away, and then jumped when he smacked her bottom.

“
See you soon, Sweet Bitch
.”

Jasmine typed in her code, pressed her palm on the security panel and the door opened. Inside, there were three separate cells, all empty, except one. The last time she’d visited the dungeon, she’d talked to Julie and Siseria, two human breeders sworn to destroy Silas and who wanted her to join their cause.

She took the chair in front of Mélange’s cell and blinked. Renee’s pictures of the stunning woman didn’t do her justice. Either she healed a lot faster or she’d gotten the best of Asia, there were no visible marks on her.

“My sister’s mentioned you.”

Mélange spun around. She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut.

Jasmine fixed the skirt of her navy and white polka dotted dress,
[v]
crossed her legs and placed both of her hands on her lap. “Renee doesn’t know about our world. It’s been really hard keeping this secret. She’ll be angry when she discovers everyone in our family knows about the Wolf Nation except her.” Jasmine paused at that understatement. “You know how she goes on and on about new cultures. It’s been too dangerous to share, afraid she’d slip and say something in her excitement.”

Mélange smiled and then erased it.

“Renee has no idea you’re in town. The other night when she talked about you, her eyes lit with excitement and her smile brightened the room. Finally, I thought. Finally, my sister’s found love, someone who won’t try to change her, who accepts her for the quirky, wonderful woman she is. I’m happy for her.”

Mélange’s eyes flared but she didn’t speak.

“I don’t know how she’ll take seeing you in a cage or how you’ll explain all of this to her, but that’s not my job. It may take her a while for her to forgive me for not sharing a secret that wasn’t mine to share, but you don’t have that excuse.” Jasmine stood. “Security will bring her down in five minutes.”

Mélange’s skin whitened as she moved to the bars. “No! Please, not like this. She won’t understand why I followed her. I’ll have to tell her everything, she’s not ready.”

“Don’t you mean you’re not ready?” Jasmine said, noting Mélange’s now red cheeks and hand wringing.

“No, you’re right, I’m not ready to see her. I can’t see her hate or despise me.” She held her hands in front of her, they shook. Mélange balled them into a fist. “Goddess, I hate this.”

“Why would Renee hate you?”

Mélange’s eyes widened and then narrowed. “Because I’m a damn machine with metal legs and arms, and a wolf. Only a very small part of me is human. Why would she want someone as damaged as me?”

“Do you plan to release her for another woman?”

“No!” Mélange yelled. Her wolf flashed in her eyes. “I can’t do that either.”

“You can’t love her from a distance but are afraid to love her up close?” When Mélange turned her back, Jasmine sighed.

“Sorry, what you want means nothing to me, I’m here to make sure you’re Renee’s mate. I’m willing to deal with the fallout of her knowing about Silas, La Patron, and everything, but you’re going to tell her. As her mate, that falls on you. Prepare yourself for the most important conversation of your life. If memory serves me correctly, full-bloods cannot survive without their mates, but humans can walk away. Silas hates that part of the deal.” Jasmine turned and walked out, ignoring Mélange’ pleading her to change her mind.