“You’ve figured it out right?” Safiya said, watching his face. “Yes you are right. He’s coming with the Blood River pack. He’s not fighting alone,”
Caesar stood there, staring at Safiya, shocked into silence. Somehow, he found his voice and later went to tell Safiya about the cabin in the woods, and how his sister had betrayed him because of Victor .
“With everything he has done, how he had hurt me, took the women in my life and used them how he wanted, you are telling me now he’s gonna bring the whole pack to attack this town because of Selena?” his voice sparked with astonishment. “I don’t think so! This is a fight between me and him! Not him and this town!”
“I know Victor and I’m betting it with you, he’s gonna come here with the pack! The Alpha and him are not on good terms but I’m sure Victor will figure out a way to sway him to his side. He’s that smart!” Safiya snapped. “Unlike you, he’s ready to do what it takes to do what is right.” She paused and went on. “I know you are an intelligent man, Caesar but you see this whole thing with you and Victor, you really goofed! You fumbled this big time. Victor has been screwing you over for a long time now, and you did not thing. You kept waiting for the right moment, when you should have taking your boys to that cabin and raze it down when the fucker is on his bed snoozing!” She said fiercely.
“Aw, shut up,” Caesar snarled. “I’ll fix this. It’s never too late. I’ll make them all suffer! Even Selena will pay! I’ll make her pay!”
“You?” Her eyes laughed at him, but her face was quite serious as she shook her head. “That girl in that cell has gotten you wrapped around her little finger. You can’t do shit! You are still in love with her but you aren’t ready to come clean with yourself on that, you big sucker!”
“I think I still need to give you a little spanking one of these days! You need to watch the way you talk to me,” he said roughly. The cellphone in his pocket rang. He took out his phone and saw Hatton’s name. He picked the call.
“What?” He growled.
“You won’t believe this, Caesar! I swear to God you wouldn’t,” Hatton bobbled.
“What is it? Talk damned you!” Caesar said., hating the urgency in the Sheriff’s voice.
“Sam’s here! He’s bitching about you holding his daughter! He’s threatening to come over to your place! You’ve got to come here! It’s all going crazy,”
“I told you not to let that old fool get a whiff of what is going on? How the hell did he know I’m with his daughter?” He exploded.
“I……don’t know, Caesar. I swear to God, I don’t. The whole thing was contained. Not a word got out about Lionel or Selena. We took Lionel’s body to a morgue outside the town. Selena was bright discreetly to you. All this to keep the whole thing under the lid. I just don’t know how the hell that old sucker found out”
Caesar drew in a long, a slow breath.
“Alright. Where is he now?”
“He’s right here, in the office. Dean’s handling him.”
“I’m coming over now. Don’t let him go anywhere. I repeat, don’t let him leave!” And he ended the call, cursing under his breath.
“What is it?” Safiya said, noting the rage on his face.
Caesar licked his lips.
“The girl in the cell, Selena! Her father is asking about her. It seems she knows she’s with me or something,”
She gave him a sly smile.
“You seems to be making a lot of mistakes, Hunter”
“I’ll fix this! It’s an easy fix!” He stared at her with a painful intensity.
“Well, go right ahead and fix it, Mr fixer!” She gave a malicious, little laugh.
Caesar ignored her. He rushed to his closet and hastily dressed up. Then he went to the cabinet, fixed a drink of whiskey and downed it. He shuddered as the drink hit his nerves. He felt better. He moved towards the door.
“I would need some clothes, Caesar . I don't have anything to wear. I will need some makeup kits for my face,” Safiya said from the bed.
“I got you some essentials on my way back from the sheriff's office,” Caesar said stiffly. “Anything else, Miss Wolf?”
Safiya laughed and came over to where he stood. They were standing so close now. They looked at eachother. She lifted her chin. Her eyes invited him.
“Caesar!” She said, her throat suddenly dried. She fought the urge to grab him and crushed her mouth against his. He must have realized the way she was feeling, for he stepped away from her, his face hardening.
“I will soon be back. Keep your claws crossed and don’t go looking for trouble,” and he quickly stepped out of the room, and slammed the door in her face before she could say anything.
Five minutes later, Caesar walked into the sheriff's office building. Hatton, dressed immaculately in his uniform came to him.
“Is he still here?” Caesar asked harshly.
“Yeah, Dean’s got him tied down,”
Caesar scowled at him.
“You really messed this up, sheriff. How could this have happened?”
Hatton spread out his hands exasperatedly.
“Caesar, for Pete’s sake! We curtail this whole thing, you’ve got to believe me. Right now, Sam is the only one beefing about the girl. No one knows what’s happening. If we can shut the old man up, then we’ll get a break,”
Caesar scowling, drew in a long, slow breath.
“Alright, let me go see him,” he said and he moved past Hatton and went into the main office, then into Dean Andrew’s small, shabby office. Hatton was right behind him.
Sam who was talking angrily to Dean, heard heavy footfalls in the little passage. His head snapped around His steel gray eyes lit up in rage when he saw Caesar come into the office. Sam got to his feet. The two men, completely still, regarded each other. Sam’s leathery face was set and cold, and he looked like a fat cobra coiled up in a bush, dangerous and ready to strike.
“You bastard!” Sam hissed through his teeth.
“Howdy, old man! It’s been a while. How’s the bar? Customers are trickling I presume?”
Sam's eyes glittered at his wet pebbles.
“Where’s Selena?” Where did you keep her?”
Caesar narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean? I don’t understand what you are talking about,”
Sam's face turned red and he began to move menacingly towards Caesar . Dean swiftly sidestepped him and planted himself in his front, blocking him off from reaching Caesar.
“Easy, easy, Mr Wesley! Take it easy, you don’t wanna start something stupid, right?” he said, biting in his voice.
“If you don’t get the hell outta my way, young man, you won’t like what I will do to you,” Sam snarled.
Hatton, despite his hatred for Sam, stood there gaping, thinking how merciless the old bartender looked. Caesar looked on, unbothered.
“I told you right before Mr Davenport got here. The sheriff office will handle this. We’ll find Selena, that’s for sure. Just let us do our job, okay?” Dean seethed out.
“Let you do your job?” Sam spat out. “You thought I would let you spineless, corrupt, lots handle things for me. I’ll damn well handle this myself.” He raised his hand and pointed at Caesar . “That man has my daughter. I know what he’s capable of. Tell him to give me back my daughter or I swear to God you guys will have a lot in your hands,”
Caesar, who was fed up with all these talks and threats, pushed Dean aside, and planted himself before Sam Wesley.
“I don’t take accusations lightly,” he said in a calm voice. “Stop accusing me of keeping Selena. Alright, let’s play the devil's advocate. Why would I keep Selena? give me what goddamn reason why I would do that?”
“Don’t ask me questions, boy,” Sam snarled, and he stuck his hands in his pockets and began to rock back and forth on the balls of his feet, just the way most old folks do when they want to let out some steam, “Selena has always been at home. I’ve never known her not to be in the house. I got to her house this morning and she’s not there. She has no friends in this town.” His voice took on a savage tone. “enemies, enemies like you!
Caesar gave a hard, barking laugh.
“Do you see how stupid you sound? You visited your daughter and she’s not home and your first thought was that I, Caesar, took her.” He was laughing now, a jerring, infuriating one. “I’ll be damned! You sound so stupid and sick.” He dragged his eyes to Hatton and Dean. “Y’all heard this fool?”
“I heard him alright,” Hatton said solemnly, getting abreast of the situation. “Sam, you’ve got no right to accuse Caesar of taking your daughter,”
Sam knew they were right. He had no evidence that Selena was with Caesar . But the urgency and worry he had heard in Victor’s voice propelled him.
“Then where the hell is she?” he barked.
“Maybe she moved to another town or something,” Dean offered. “Maybe she took off?”
“Took off?” Sam said blandly. “Why should we do that? What for?”
“She’s in the best position to handle that!” Hatton retorted. “And unfortunately, she ain’t around. So you go back to that bar of yours and tend to it, and let the law handle this or else……” he left the words unsaid.
“Or else what?” Sam stared dagger at him