Chapter 923 Chapter 923
Marie sat at the table that was out of the way. She didn’t know the routine here for mornings, but didn’t want to be in the way or take someone’s seat. She hadn’t slept well, if at all. The number of times she woke up to check her surroundings was too numerous to count. When she was awake, she knew she was safe here, but in a relaxed, sleepy state, the panic was very real.
The man, Blair, came through the double doors. He was on the phone and waving his hand around. He looked young to be an alpha, but Nichelle explained some of how he came to be hers. Marie didn’t know why, but the struggles of Nichelle’s clan made her feel better about her own life. It wasn’t just people without official clans who had to struggle and live through hard situations.
With a cup in his hand, Blair went over to a table and sat down. He set his phone down and rubbed his hands over his short, pale hair. She couldn’t imagine how stressful it was to be in charge of so many. Marie knew she couldn’t have done it. She had a hard enough time keeping track of their small group.
The double doors opened again, and a man and woman walked in. He had a beard and looked like he was a very serious man. The woman with him had very pretty red hair and was smiling.
Blair slapped a hand on the table. “You guys must have flown to get here already.”
“It was a fast drive.” The woman sat down at the table with Blair.
The man didn’t sit. He stood very stiffly and looked around the room. Marie understood the look in his eyes, the constant checking of everything around you.
The door at the other end opened, and Webb walked in. He smiled at the woman, “Gia, " and then started walking toward them. He paused and looked at Marie, holding her gaze for a moment before nodding.
She felt better seeing him and realized she was up this early, sitting here because she needed to see him. Working with him yesterday was nice. It was hard being near him and not blurting out an explanation about the bite on her neck. That’s all she wanted to do the whole time. It wasn’t something she wanted to talk about, ever, but there was something inside her that made her need to tell him. Just him. She watched him go over to the window and lean in to speak to the woman in the kitchen.
Another couple walked in. The man had weapons attached to his body, just like the man with the beard. It gave her a brief feeling of relief to know they were prepared. If Pike and his men found her, they were going to need those.
“Amari.” Gia waved her hand.
The blonde woman went over and sat down. She looked over at Marie. “You’re one of those women we need to keep safe?”
Marie realized she was talking to her. She nodded.
Amari motioned with her hand. “Come sit over here so we can get some deets.”
Marie picked up her bottle of water and went over to the table. “I’m Rhogue.” If she said it often enough, she hoped she’d start to feel more like Rhogue and less like Marie. She tried to offer a friendly smile but wasn’t feeling it.
Gia pointed to the man she came with. “This is Deacon, my mate.” She aimed the finger at the other two. “Amari and Tripp. I’m Gia. Please sit down.”
“You are so smooth and polite.” Amari chuckled as she grinned at Gia.
Blair looked at the bottle of water in Marie’s hand. “You wake up and drink water? How does that even work?” He smiled at her.
She looked at the bottle. “Bane says the same thing.” She laughed. “I’m not used to having other options.”
“Bane?” Tripp focused solely on her. “One of the men in your group is Bane?”
She nodded.
He held his hand up level with his own head. “This tall, cougar shifter?”
Marie nodded.
“Holy shit.” He looked at Amari. “He left with me when I was bringing my family up here, we got separated and never connected again.”
“You think it’s the same guy?”
Tripp shrugged. “I hope so. If we’re in for a fight, Bane would be a good one to have on our side.”
She couldn’t remember how long Bane had been with them. “He has a mate and a little girl.”
“No shit.” He grinned and then went over toward the kitchen.
Blair looked at Deacon. “So, you’re going to go get this Grifter guy and bring him here?”
Deacon nodded but didn’t offer any comment.
Gia leaned forward and looked at Marie. “Grifter wasn’t with the others when your people had problems with them?”
Marie’s heart started beating fast. “No. There were just three of them.”
“Good.” Deacon nodded once and turned. “I’m going to go find Blaise.”
Everyone watched him leave the room.
“He’s been worried about that,” Gia said quietly.
Webb came toward the table with a plate of food.
Amari smiled. “The three men, what are we looking at?” She shrugged. “Asshat level or deserves to die, douchebags?”
Marie didn’t know what that meant. “Two of them are large and mean—in a cruel way.” She picked at the label on the bottle of water, trying her best to speak without her voice shaking. “The-the other one is worse.” It was the only way she could think to warn them without breaking down as she did.
Webb sat down at the far end of the table and then looked at her. “Did anyone get hurt?”
She didn’t want to lie to him, but couldn’t bring herself to speak the truth out loud in front of strangers. “A few.” She forced her gaze away from him and looked at Gia instead. “We were in a little abandoned cottage waiting for word from Cassius when they found us.” She sucked in a breath. “I created a distraction so the others could get away and get the kids to safety.” That was the truth. “Mikiah knew the bus routes by heart, so we could get to Cassius when he said it was time. Most of them were able to get to the bus and were gone before the two large men, Pike and Clayton, could catch up to them.” The compassionate look on Gia’s face made her look away. She couldn’t break down in front of these people. She turned her gaze to Amari and only saw anger there. She could handle that, so it was her she looked at as she continued. “Bly was hurt, so he couldn’t move as fast as the others. When those two went after them, I tossed the water we’d boiled to do the dishes in the other one’s face.” She would never forget his face. It was covered in scars before she threw boiling water at it. “That gave Bly enough time to get out.” In her mind, she relived what happened next, but her mouth didn’t say the words. “I hit Kiloh in the,” she glanced at the men, “uh- groin with a cast iron pan and got away from him.” Amari’s eyes narrowed briefly. Did she know that she’d left something out? She lowered her gaze to the water bottle. “I caught up to Bly, we hid and then took the next bus and met back up with the others.” Her heart was beating so fast in her chest; she didn’t know how she was able to sit so still.
“The kids were with you. The babies?” Webb asked.
Marie nodded and opened the bottle, and took a drink, so she couldn’t answer anything further.
Amari turned and looked at Gia. “Well, someone is going to have to die.” She shrugged.
“I’m glad everyone’s all right now,” Gia said.
Marie touched the collar of her shirt, checking that it was covering her reminder of what had happened. When she lowered her hand, she caught Webb’s expression. He looked angry. He pushed the plate away and turned to look at Tripp, who was watching his mate, and nodded.
Tripp looked around. “We should set a trap for them. Control the narrative. I’ll talk to Wynter and Blaise.”
Blair nodded. “I’ll tell Noah to get his angry freak on. We’re going to need it.”
Marie had no idea what that meant, but the others nodded.
Amari leaned toward her. “Retribution is very therapeutic.” She smiled. “You let me know who needs therapy, and I’ll make sure they get a piece of the action.”
Before Marie could think of something to say to that, the double doors opened, and Blaise, Blair’s pretty mate, and Deacon came in. It wasn’t until she saw Shandi practically running to keep up with them that she understood something was wrong. She was on her feet when they reached the table. “Shandi?”
Her friend’s expression made Marie’s breath get stuck in her throat. “It’s Sagan.” She looked at the others briefly. “He took off. Cassius picked up his trail—he’s headed this way.”
Amari was on her feet. “Who’s Sagan?”
Marie swallowed down her fear. “He’s eight and can hide better than anyone else.” She looked at Shandi. “Why would he do this? He’s so careful.”
“Louann said his mask ripped.”
She closed her eyes. “He’s coming to find me.” It was her fault. She’d been too busy to sew it for him like she’d promised.
“Okay.” Blair was on his feet. “We have the best tracker here.” He smiled at his mate.
“Calum and Shae are here too.”
“Second-best tracker, too.” Blair smiled at Marie.
“Are we going to help?” Gia looked at Deacon.”
He shook his head. “No. If Pike is watching and is distracted by the boy, it’s the perfect time to get Grifter here.”
Blaise nodded. “Amari, you and Gia get on the roof with rifles. Tripp, you’re going with Deacon to get Grifter.” She looked at Blair. “Noah is patrolling outside the fence. You go help him.” Marie didn’t know how she was coming up with this so fast. “Calum and Kobie can head toward Cassius and track the boy.” She turned to Marie. “Most of yours are still on patrol. Cassius insisted they not give this Pike an opening to get too close.”
Marie nodded. “Keeping the babies and the house safe is important.”
“Webb, get walkies for Kobie and Calum so everyone is on the same line.”
Webb got up and hurried from the room.
Blaise looked at Marie. “You and I will wait and take a truck to go pick him up when they find him.”
Marie nodded and squeezed Shandi’s hand that she hadn’t realized she was holding.
As soon as Blaise started to leave, the others were in motion. Kobie looked at Marie and then Shandi. “We’ll find him.”
Deacon looked around at everyone there. “Go nowhere alone.” He went over and kissed Gia quickly. “You see them. You wound them and take them down.”
Gia nodded.
He stepped back and then looked at Amari. “Wound.” He said the word slowly. “Let’s not break Alliance laws here.”
Amari shrugged. “I got it. Wound.” She smiled.
Shandi looked at Marie. “Alliance laws?” She whispered.
Marie nodded. “Killing another shifter.”