The Pearls (18 page)

“
Great” Blake said with dread

Zoe grabbed a chair and placed it in front of Blake
. She then grabbed two small towels and placed them under his hands as best she could. She sat down and faced him grabbing a warm wash cloth that she had in a basin, she rubbed some soap on the wash cloth.

“This is going to burn almost as much as that poker did. The good thing is that the poker cauterized the wound so you should be safe from an infection, but because it was left untreated all night I need to do this.” Zoe explained what she was about to do.

Blake grit his teeth down and nodded at her to go ahead. Justine was at his side in a second ready to cover his mouth if he was going to scream. Gabe noticed and threw her a pillow for him to bite down and scream into. Once the pillow was between his teeth Zoe washed his left and then his right as quick as she could. She rinsed his hands off and let them dry and then spread a good amount of Aloe Vera over the wounds. She finished it off with some gauze wrap and then was done. Zoe didn’t really know what she was doing but she saw the cook do this with grease burns and other wounds he got.

Sweat was dripping off Blake and he was shaking as they led him to Gabe’s car. Justine hopped in the driver’s seat and Gabe sat in the back with Blake. Kaiden got in his car and Zoe hopped in next to him. She was all smiles that they were alone now. Justine took off and Kaiden followed. He had only paid for one night so they didn’t have to check out or anything. As they neared the highway Kaiden’s cell phone rang.

“Hello?” Kaiden answered

“Kaiden, its Mr. Steinman I just wanted to let you know th
at Justine’s package is here and ready. But I have a meeting in an hour and I should be done about two if you could come by now or after would be great.” he said

“We will be there after two
. We actually drove up the coast last night and we are about 4 hours away which puts us there around noon and I need to take care of some things myself. So we will see you after two.”

“Sounds good I will see you then.” Mr. Steinman said

They said their goodbyes and hung up, Kaiden looked over to Zoe, and said “Things are working out in our favor it seems.”

“Good we definitely need to get out of here as quick as possible.” Zoe replied

“How are you holding up?” Kaiden asked her

“I am ok I guess, it’s just well
, there is a lot that is about to happen. My father is still alive and that’s huge, but there are a whole lot of half-bloods we are going to have to kill to get to my dad. I am just a little scared.” She replied. Zoe was just trying to live moment to moment she did not want to get her hopes up about anything.

Kaiden took her hand and placed a kiss on it. “We won’t be doing anything until you are all safe and everyone is turned
. We will need all of us at our strongest to meet that many face to face. And Blake may not like it but I will not be turning him until his father is dead. He will be going into this human.”

They drove in silence for a long while. The California border was coming into view and Kaiden knew they were going to stop in Redding first and take care of the car situation. Once i
n Redding they stopped at a small diner.

“I am going to untie you and feed you if you act right. You decide to run just remember we are faster and we will catch you.” Gabe told him as he stood in the door on Blake’s side of the car. Blake nodded in agreement and was untied.

“Thank you. I am not going to do anything to get myself killed now. Basically staying with you guys I stay alive.” A nervous laugh escaped his lips and they all went in the diner. Across the street from the diner was a car lot and the perfect SUV was right out front. They ate their breakfast and when they were done Kaiden and Gabe left them to go to the car lot.

Aldrich sat back in his chair
, triumph coursing through his veins. He knew Blake had Zoe and was playing nice. Those were their orders after all. One of them needed to get caught.

Aldrich got the call that the girl had come back to her mother’s home. He also found out she was not alone and had a man and a woman with her. His sons had also told him of another man that kept attacking them whenever they got close to the house. Aldrich knew there was another Dragon watching over the girl.

When he got the call that his son was attacked after he was to deliver some pizzas to the girl, he hatched a plan. His sons were to track the girl and her friends wherever they went. When night fell the three sons were to break in the house and kill the friends and take the girl. But if anything went wrong and they took a hostage, that son was to plead for his life and make promises he would not keep. Blake was to give enough information to the group, just enough information to get them to trust him a little bit, and then lead them to Aldrich.

It turned out to be Blake. Blake was his silent favorite son. Blake was much like his mother and looked after Marcus for him. He got Marcus to talk and then reported back to Aldrich. He knew Blake would not fail him in his mission. He would find out where the Ireland Sect hid and bring his backstabbing sister home to be dealt with.

Aldrich called out for his other favorite child Deidra, she was a ruthless bitch.

“DEIRDRA!!!” He shouted into the room

She came running in and stood at attention waiting for him to acknowledge her.

“Good Girl, call everyone in. Blake has been caught and he will lead them here soon. We must make arrangements and have everyone ready. Send the pregnant women to the backup location with any young ones. I will not have my innocents slaughtered.”

“Yes sir” and she turned and quickly backed out of the door again.

Now to wait
, the game will soon begin, and he will finally be the King he was meant to be. Blake will be awarded accordingly and take his place next to his father when this is finally finished. Aldrich has waited the last twenty four years to get his revenge. He has wanted them all slaughtered since the day his soul mate betrayed him.

The SUV was purchased and they were all on their way to Mr. Steinman’s office. Blake was in the third row and his feet were tied down to the floor anchors. They will need to get some cuffs soon
because this rope won’t last long.

When they pull up to the office Gabe decides to stay in the car with Blake while the others go up. Once they were done here they would be going to the hardware store to get some zip ties and chain. Then they will be on their way to Wyoming.

Mr. Steinman greets them at the door and after greetings and handshakes ushers them to his office. They all take the same seats they did the first time they were in his office. Mr. Steinman and Kaiden on the couch facing the window while Zoe and Justine are in the window seat facing the men.

“It is very nice to see you all again.” Mr. Steinman states.

“It is good to see you too Mr. Steinman, I understand you have something for me?” Justine replies excitement rippling through her.

“Yes Ma’am I have it right here. I have not opened it at all so everything he sent you will be the first to see.”
Mr. Steinman replies handing Justine her package. She greedily accepts it and hugs it tight to her chest.

“Thank you very much sir. I really appreciate all that you have done for us.” Justine had tears in her eyes holding the package
.

“Sir I also wanted to thank you for everything that you have done. You have brought Zoe into my life and given a dear friend of hers some peace of mind. You have changed these two girls lives and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If there is ever anything that you need, call
me or that number that you did to get a hold of my mother. I will do anything in my power to help you.” Kaiden told him shaking Mr. Steinman’s hand.

“I am only doing what I would want done for one of my children any father would.” Mr. Steinman said. He didn’t know how to take this kind of compliment.

“Sir, can I ask you a favor?” Zoe asked

“Yes Ma’am anything”

“Well my house, I would like to sign it over to you, and have you sell it. I would then like you to take the money and put it in a college fund for your children or a savings account. I insist you do this for me. I don’t quite think you understand the way you have changed my life Sir. I thought I was put out like garbage. I thought my parents didn’t want me at all. If it was not for you remodeling this place and finding that safe, I would have never known. You have given me a life, hope beyond anything I ever thought possible.” Zoe was now openly crying trying to get Mr. Steinman to do this for her.

Mr. Steinman sat there in total amazement. He did not know what to do with this. He was never going to cash the check that Kaiden made him keep. But this was an honest gift
, one he could take and it was not for him it was for his children, for their future.

“Ma’am as much as I don’t want to
, I will do this for you. Can you give me a couple minutes to get a document written up? Then you all can be on your way and we can handle the rest through email and what not. I know Justine there looks itching to go.”

“Yes we can wait. Justine if you want we can meet you at the car. I know you want to have a look at what is inside of that box.” Zoe
told Justine giving her the option to go if she wanted.

“I am good. I can wait a few more minutes with you guys.” Justine said

Ten minutes later they were all back in the car headed to the highway. Zoe signed what was just a blank sale form with the address of the house and a legal form stating that she was giving the house to Mr. Steinman. She felt good about this decision. It felt right to her and she was very happy with herself.

Zoe and Kaiden sat in front of Blake in the second row. Zoe glanced back a lot feeling uneasy about what she said. There was something about Blake that she couldn’t let go. He made her uncomfortable and she didn’t feel she could be herself with him.

“Hey Gabe when you pass another major store can you stop please? I need to get some things” Zoe asked

“Sure thing, I am going to be stopping at a hardware store anyway and I think there is one at the next exit.”

“Great!” Zoe felt relieved. She had an idea and was going to get the things that she needed. She just hoped it worked. Kaiden gave her a quizzical look once he felt her unease lift and a small excitement fill her. Zoe noticed his stare and shook her head from side to side. She didn’t want to say her plan out loud, she was trying to plead with Kaiden to not ask.

Gabe pulled up to the hardware store about fifteen minutes later. He pulled into the lot and parked towards the back. Gabe turned off the car and turned in his seat.

“I just need to grab a few things and I will be right back. Do you guys mind just staying put?” Gabe asked all of them

“We are good baby take your time.” Justine smiled at him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Gabe’s smile could be seen from miles away it was so bright and full of love. He ran into the store and was out ten minutes later. Gabe jumped back in the car and headed over to the store that sold everything across the street.

“Thanks Gabe, you guys need anything while I am inside? Snacks or what not?”

“I will come with you if that is ok? I think we should get a cooler and fill it up with some drinks and food. We have a long trip ahead of us.” Kaiden said