Althena Book 2

40. Deal

I open my eyes, and it's pitch black outside. I'm in bed again. Drogon is sleeping with me. I snuggle with him then climb out. I roam the house after I pee. I don't know what the hell's happening. I'm still at Akley's house. I peek into his office, and he's sitting at his desk. "You really work too much."

He leans back in his chair. "What happened?"

"A woman came into your office. Sofia had shoved me and Jake into the thing, there." I point at the shelves. "We were quiet. The woman asked where she was. Sofia said who. The woman shot her. Carl fell. He was crying. They said I was already moved. The woman was mad. She shot Carl. When they left, I tried to heal him. Did it work?"

"Yes. Carl is fine. You saved him."

"Who was she?"

"I believe it was Evelina Dahlquist. But I can't verify that. They cut the power. I have no video. She'll deny it. Probably send condolences for my son."

"Jake?"

"He was awake but barely. He slept for a long time too. I think it may have taken both of you to save Carl."

"What do we say now?"

"Do we have a deal?"

I nod. "Yes."

"I moved the timeline a little. I went after you and sent help to get you some things. I got you back here and hidden. The attack happened once you got here. You saw a woman shoot him. We ran them off. You saved him. You went to sleep and scared me. I had to call them and verify you were sleeping. You would not wake up."

"Who is here?"

"The king. Another king. A prince. 2 pissed alphas. And about 30 guards."

"What do I do?"

"The lawyers have some stuff for you to sign. They're ready for you now. The boys are going to yank you out of here when they find out you're awake. We have to do this now."

"Will I see you again?"

"You can come back whenever you want. You're always welcome. That and you'll probably want to talk to the lawyers every now and then."

"Yea, I need to get their phone numbers."

"I'll give you mine as well. Never know when you'll have questions." He hands me his card and I go to the lawyers' office.

"Edwardo Nordin. We speak again." The lawyers get some papers out. "We need your seal here. We'll use this to make the labels for ships and containers. And sign here. Edwardo is so very sorry about your father. You'll receive his condolences in the mail soon. We'll work on moving cash to you. We would like to see you in 3 months, if you can make it work. We understand it may be tricky with you being so young. Please give it your best shot. And these are our cards. Contact us about any issues."

"Thank you. I'll save the numbers in my phone assuming I can find it."

"Our pleasure. Enjoy the trip home."

I swing by Akley's office again. "How did you find me?"

"They were keeping you drugged. A little groggy and sleepy but unharmed. I shot them. They're dead now."

"Thank you for that. They probably put me in the trunk too."

He laughs. "Take your time getting better. No one expects you to talk for a long time."

"Of course."

I snuggle back in bed with Drogon, and he wraps his arms around me. Then he opens his eyes. "You're ok."

"I'm ok." I throw my arms around him and kiss him. We make the most passionate love. So much touching and holding. Then we fall asleep wrapped around each other.

The next day for breakfast, Cyrus, Mike, Conner, me, Drogon, and Jax sit down for dinner with Akley. Jake is nowhere to be seen. I'm not surprised. That kid talks a lot.

Conner sits me on his lap. "What happened, baby?"

"I was at school. Somebody put something on my face. Then I was in a trunk. Then a plane. I talked to a man on the plane. Then I was in another car. Then a house. I was sleeping. I couldn't wake up. He showed up." I point at Akley. "People died. Then I was in a car. Then here. I was coloring... With Jake. Then we heard guns. Sofia ran in with the baby. She pushed me and Jake into a cupboard. It was dark. It had a peek hole. A woman shot them. Then they were gone. I heard cars leaving. I had to try to heal the baby. What day is it?"

Akley nods. "I got her back here. I was trying to make sure everything was secure. Jake wanted to color. I let them color while I checked with the guards. Then all hell broke loose. I hadn't even had a chance to call you yet. As soon as they ran, I checked the kids. She was asleep in a puddle of blood. Jake was trying to stay awake. There were no injuries to either of them. The baby was screaming. Sofia was dead. I didn't know what the hell to think."

"Where were they?"

"In my office. All I could do was call you."

"Yea, the sleeping thing gets most people." Conner rubs my hair. "It's Friday, babygirl."

"Can I go to the party tomorrow?"

"Hell no." Drogon shakes his head.

Akley chuckles. "Typical teenager."

Mike nods. "Very much. We need to get her home now."

"I understand that. I have to put this place back together. Your plane is still at my airport. I'll have my people drive you over."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure. Walter, can you send for the cars?"

"Yes, sir."

"I NEED MY PEANUTS."

Akley watches me run. "She's been holding onto those things since I picked her up."

"I LIKE PEANUTS."

"FINE."

I grab the peanuts and the business cards. Then it's time to go. I step outside and 4 black suvs are parked.

Jake comes around the corner. "Thank you."

"Glad I could help. You saved him too."

He runs and hugs me. "I'll see you again someday."

I rub his head. "Someday."

Mike takes my hand and leads me to a car. I sit in the backseat with him. I cuddle against his side till we get to the airport. Then we climb into the plane. A bunch of guards come in with us.

Drogon rubs his face. "That was f*****g stressful."

Conner nods. "Yea, I need laid."

I give him a dirty look. "Really?"

"Woman, I'm stressed. I'm so stressed, I can't even tie shoes without trying to strangle someone with the laces. How are you fine?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I don't even know what happened. I slept a lot. Then there were guns. I saved a baby. Then I went back to sleep. I woke up with Drogon."

He laughs. "Yea, that's not so bad."

Cyrus nods. "You weren't even kidnapped by nuns this time."

"Exactly, nothing happened to me. What happened to you guys?"

Conner's head hits the back of the seat. "My worst f*****g nightmare came true. You were taken by force. We found dead bodies and a car at the airport. Your nails were in it. We knew you were on a plane then. We couldn't trace it. We had no idea who had you. Fuck."

Cyrus takes over. "Someone from Crossroads sent us a recording. You were talking to them."

"I remember that vaguely. I slept for so long. I kind of remember being awake. Talking. I can't even picture the guy. Everything is foggy."

"We contacted Akley as soon as we found out about Crossroads. He didn't know anything. He said he would do a check. The next time we talked to him, he was freaking out because you wouldn't wake up. He had you though, so we jumped in the plane."

"What is Crossroads?"

"Drug producers. They produce and smuggle drugs into the cities. Then they have shell companies to clean the money."

Jax takes over. "Your father kicked them out of Darkburn 10 years ago. They come with a lot of trouble. It took him a long time to get rid of them. A girl was taken back then too. That's how he finally got rid of them. The money surfaced at one of their businesses. I think it was a casino."

"I should open a casino."

Jax shrugs his shoulders. "Maybe. I don't know anything about those. It might be worth it."

"I think you need a license for that, and I'm positive you can't be 17." Mike winks at me. "Read the laws and regulations surrounding it. Maybe someday."

I smile. "I'll put a coffee shop in the front."

Conner laughs. "I am not running it, woman."

"That's actually an amazing idea. Except it can be a food place for poor people. Because I'm not running it all the time either. But it could do community meals and ..."

"Problem." Cyrus raises his hand. "You want to put a casino in a high cash flow area. You're not going to find many people in need of food in that area. The ideas are both good. However, they are not good in the same area. See what I'm saying?"

"Yea. I'll think about it. Rich and poor areas aren't in the same spot."

Jax nods. "The entertainment district could use a casino. Your dad put a block on building them in Darkburn after he finally got rid of Crossroads. You could lift the block for yourself. I mean, if you run it yourself, you know it's not doing anything criminal."

"True." Drogon nods.

"NO. MINE. My idea. Not yours. I'll wait until I'm 18 and study for now. None of you get to take this from me."

"Ok, babygirl." Conner tickles me. "We'll just run it when you get bored."

"I won't get bored."

Mike laughs and rubs his eyes. "We'll help you. But yes, it'll be yours."

I snuggle Conner and close my eyes.