The Faerie Master (Aaron's Kiss Series) (18 page)

“You take her back and I’ll work this last job.
Otherwise you’ll have to deal with me.
I’m not the same kid I was when you made me start this.
I make the rules now.” Cade concentrated on her breathing as she spoke.
She also tried to keep her heart from pounding out of her chest.
She tightened the hold on her mind and reinforced her walls.
Keeping Shawn safe was more important than anything.

“You’ll regret this, you fucking cunt.
When this is over, you’ll pay.
You’ll pay in ways you never dreamed of.”

Ten minutes later Duncan let her know that she had a phone call.
She had just hung up from talking with the alpha of the wolf pack.
Picking up the extension she was relieved to hear Paul’s voice.
Daisy was home.

“Paul, there’s a man coming to you.
His name is Bradley Wolff.
Go with him.
The man who took Daisy might come back and I need to make sure you’re safe.
Bradley will make sure that you are safe for me.”

Cade hoped so anyway.
She had taken a chance calling the alpha.
When the person who’d answered the phone had asked who she was she’d told him she was the mate of Shawn MacFarland and that she needed to leave a message for the alpha.
He’d come on the phone almost immediately.

“Hello, Cade.
My mate and I were just talking about you.
Congratulations on your being newly mated.
I’ve met Shawn.
He’s a good man.
What can I do for you?”

It took her five minutes to give him a very brief idea of what was going on.
He had asked only one question and that had been where her mate was.

“He’s asleep.
I can’t cause him harm and I can’t...please do this for me. I promise I’ll explain as soon as I can.
He has a hold over me that Shawn may...I’m not a good person, Mr. Wolff.”

“I’ll do this for you.
But you will explain.
And in great detail.
I understand the urgency for now.
Tell Paul that I’ll come for him now.
I should be there in ten minutes.
I have a crew that I’ve already sent to the home.
As soon as I get him and his family safe I’ll call you back.
I mean what I say, Cade.
I have a good relationship with your master and I won’t have that hurt because I’m doing something behind his back.”

“I understand, Mr. Wolff.
As soon as I can I’ll let all of them know.
I don’t have...I don’t have a lot of money, but I’ll pay you for this.
I need to make sure that Paul and his family are safe.”

He assured her they would be and they hung up after he told her that she would only owe him an explanation.
Paul called her back almost two minutes later. While she was on the phone with him Bradley showed up.
When she hung up Cade sat there for several minutes wondering how her life had gotten so bad.
Picking up the phone again she called Gabe.
He wasn’t happy.

“I’m sending you the file we want moved.
As soon as it’s moved and I have confirmation that it’s done you’d better watch your back.
I’m going to enjoy killing you.
I’m going to kill you slowly and with relish.”

“You know, you shouldn’t threaten someone you need something from, you moronic jackass.
I’m moving this, but you know this, I—”

“No, you know this.
I’m not threatening you.
I’m making you a promise.
You are a dead woman.”

Cade asked Duncan if he’d take her to the Post Office.
She could have taken a car she was sure, but to be honest, she wasn’t sure she could drive.
She was shaking so hard that she knew that she’d have an accident if she tried.

“Miss, if you don’t mind my saying, you look as though you are in trouble.
The master is a good man.
He would help you with whatever is happening.
He and her ladyship are very good people.”

Cade knew that he was right.
What scared her the most was what Shawn would say when he found out what she was.
A thief.
And she was sure that no matter what Gabriel had done to make her do it she was still the one who had done it.
The one who had been moving millions and millions of dollars for this man for years.
Sighing heavily, she went in to pick up the package.
When she got back to the mansion she went into the dining room and opened it up.

“Mother fuck.
I’m so screwed.”

At sunset Cade was still sitting in the dining room.
She’d only gotten up once and that was to go to the bathroom.
She knew that Duncan had come in several times and checked on her, but she didn’t answer him.
She knew that he was worried, but she couldn’t help him.
When he came in again she asked him to please let the master know that she needed to speak to him in private.

“Miss?
His lordship said that Master Shawn will need to be present as well.
I have sent for him.
My master said for me to take you to the study while we wait.
Is there anything that I may get for you?
You have not taken any foods or liquids today and you are now the mate to a vampire and will need to keep your health up.”

Cade wondered how long that would last.
Once they found out what she was and what she had to do they would probably feed her to the wolves.
A small laugh escaped and she hurried to cover it up.
It probably wouldn’t do if she lost it now.
Aaron was sitting behind his desk when she entered.

“I just spoke to Bradley.
He is on his way here too.
It seems you’ve been a very busy girl today.
He said to tell you that the Chrismans are safe and that it’s time for you to pay up.
I don’t like being in the dark when it comes to asking for help.
Next time you need someone helped, you ask me first.
If I can’t help you, then you go to someone else.
This is not a good way to start a relationship with me, Cade.
I don’t like surprises.”

“Then this is really going to piss you off.
If it means anything at all, I’m sorry.
Not about calling Mr. Wolff, but for bringing this to your house.
I never meant...maybe we should wait on the others.
They aren’t going to be any happier than you are.”

Shawn arrived first.
He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.
She let him.
If this was going to be the last time he held her then she wanted it to last.
When he tried to get her to tell him what was going on she simply shook her head.
He held her until the alpha arrived.
Aaron asked Shawn to close and lock the door.

“I’m going to start from the beginning if that’s okay.
You can ask me whatever you want and I’ll answer as best I can.
I want you all to know that I’m sorry.
So very sorry about all of this.” She took a deep breath and started her tale.
“When I was ten I figured out I could use the computer in ways that it was never made for.
Well, I didn’t discover it, Garrett did.
I had no idea that everyone couldn’t do the same thing.
Anyway, I could bounce.
I know that doesn’t make any sense to you, but I don’t know what else to call what I can do.
I...yes?”
Mr. MacManus raised his hand.

“If this is computer related I feel we should bring in our own expert.
I for one want to make sure that we are all on the same page.
Pete can be here in an instant if you don’t have her far away.” Aaron looked at Bradley.

“No, she’s at the pack house.
Just call her.
I’m sure whatever she’s doing she’ll be glad to come and help out.”

In less than three minutes Pete Marshall was sitting at the desk that Aaron had given up for her and the computer was humming.
She smiled at Cade.
Cade just looked away.
One more person to know of her humiliation.
She wondered if Sara or any of the others should be invited in and clamped down on that thought.
She was the one who had screwed up, not these people.
She had no rights at the moment.

Cade looked back at Pete.
The woman had the most beautiful artwork on her face and neck.
A very vivid vine of ivy went across her left eye and down around her neck.
Both her arms were also covered in the vine.
Cade wondered how far it went down her back and if it was everywhere when she noticed that Pete was smiling at her.

“It’s everywhere.
It’s also my sigil, my mark.
My mate Dominic has the same thing all over him.
When he bit me, he took my powers when I took his.
It’s my protector. Sometime I’ll show you what cool things it can do.”

“That’s all very fascinating.
Cade said she bounces.
Would you please tell us what that means so that we can better understand what’s going on?” Cade wasn’t surprised at the clipped tone in Aaron’s voice, but Pete was.

“Well, maybe if I knew more.
And drop the tone, blood sucker.
I’ve only been here five minutes and you’re already getting on my last nerve.
Cade, honey, tell me what you said.
The vamps in the room are usually so ready to bite first and ask questions...come to think of it, do you ever clarify when you yell at people, old man?”

Cade looked between the two of them.
Neither of them said a word.
She had a feeling that these two went on like this a lot.
Cade sat down in the chair and started to explain. “I can’t be traced.
When I sit down at the computer it’s like this huge map opens up and I move all over.
When this man, the one I’m going to tell you about, first found out he ran some tests.
His experts couldn’t find me.
I was either much too fast for them to track or never stayed in the same place long enough to get a good fix on my location.”

“Really?
That’s so cool. Here, come and show me.
I have my laptop with me.
Hang on a sec while I...hey, fuzz ball, do you think you can get us something to drink?
I sure could use a big glass of tea.”

“We don’t have time for social hour, Pete.
Just have her show you what’s going on and let’s get his over with.
I’m not a happy man right now,” Aaron said.

Pete winked at Cade and looked at Aaron.
“When the hell are you a happy camper?
I was trying to be nice, but I guess you can’t get that through your thick skull.
Go away.
Give us about ten and then come back.”