The Pack and The Ruffian

Second Visit

The first thing Mya saw when she walked into the conference room was Hunter. The vampire was pacing the length of the room, her hands buried deep in her pockets and her head down. Mya reached out and took Taylor’s hand. She knew what Hunter was going through. The only difference was that they would bring Gem back. If she had to burn Amber City to the ground, she’d find Gem! Taylor squeezed her hand and smiled reassuringly at Mya. Then she let go of her hand and walked to where Amber stood talking with Michelle. Mya walked to Hunter.

“Hunt.” Mya said quietly, she reached out and touched Hunter’s shoulder. “We’ll find her.”

“Yes,” Hunter said. She stared down at Mya. Mya was only an inch or so shorter, but Hunter always had a way of standing taller. “She’s tough and she’s been through so much in her life, she can handle this.” Hunter rubbed her hands over her face and then smiled at Ash who came walking in and held out a cup to her. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Ash said.

Mya smelled the blood and grimaced. “I’ll leave you to it.”

“Sorry.” Hunter said with a shrug. “I need to dull the aching need before I hurt someone.”

“I get it.” Mya smiled but held her breath. She hated the smell of blood, couldn’t stand it since… Jane. “I’m going to go find out what the plan is.”

“Okay,” Hunter said and turned to the huge window as she lifted the cup to her lips. She wondered where Gem was, and if she was okay. Did that b***h just kill her or is she keeping her and torturing her? Hunter hated the fact that she hoped for torture. At least that way there was a chance she'd get Gem back.

“Okay, gather around people.” Sam said as she walked in with her dad on her heels.

“Mya, take Luke, find out what the witch knows. I want to know everything. If she sneezes more than once, if she has a f*****g freckle under her foot, I want to know it all.” Sam said. “And before you argue and say you want to stay here. You’re my best, Luke needs to learn from you. Please do this for me.”

“Okay. And I wasn’t going to argue. I’m going to trust that when the time comes, you’ll give me what I need.” Mya nodded as she stood. Then, bent and kissed Taylor’s head, “I’ll see you later.”

Taylor nodded and smiled up at her. She looked back toward where Sam sat down but her eye caught that of Amber’s. Amber smiled at her and inclined her head, she touched her tummy with a questioning look in her eyes. Taylor nodded and Amber’s grin widened. Then dimmed. Taylor shook her head, knowing that Amber had thought about Jane.

“What are you two doing?” Sam asked. Her voice held a note of irritation, but her eyes softened when they met Amber’s.

“Tay?” Amber asked. “We could use a bit of good news.”

“I don’t want to take away from what’s going on here.”

“You won’t.” Amber assured her. “It might actually motivate all of us more.”

“Okay, well, you see, we’re having a baby.” Taylor blurted. Silence met her announcement.

Sam laughed. “Oh, this is going to be something to watch Mya do!” Amber shook her head and slapped Sam’s shoulder. “Sorry. Congratulations Tay. It’s great news.”

“Thank you, Sam.” Taylor said and bent her head to hide her tears. After everyone said their congratulations, everyone settled down again. Sam pointed to Hunter.

“Tell us what happened, from the beginning.” The note of irritation was in her voice again as she spoke to Hunter. She’d been pissed off to learn that they’d gone in after Paine. But she also had to admit that she’d have done the same. She listened to Hunter tell them what happened, from the witch helping them to gain entrance, to the explosion.

“After the blast, things were a bit chaotic. I dragged the witch out. We, Michelle, and I looked everywhere before we left that room. Gem was nowhere and that woman was gone too. We lost the witch's brother as well.”

“I want to rip you to pieces for going there, for moving on her without backup. But I also understand why you did.” Sam pulled at her hair and shook her head as she glared at Hunter and Michelle. “How do we find her now?”

“I have an idea.” Every face spun toward the doorway. Sam stood slowly, subtly putting her body between Amber and the door. “I’m not here to cause trouble.” Ava smiled innocently at Sam and Amber. Gina walked in behind her. She glared at everyone in the room, clearly expecting a fight. “When you left, I thought about how we could pinpoint her location, more accurately. So, I did some research. Turns out, we can use the person she used to communicate with you. I can help Taylor see her. See through her. The only problem is that if she’s looking for it, she’ll know we’re doing it. And could probably see right back to here, to what you’re planning.”

“How did you get in?” Sam asked.

“The guard at the gate was kind enough to let us in, after I explained that we were here to help find the bad woman.” Ava shook her head. "It was kind of easy after that.” She turned her head, and her smile froze. “Mark.”

“Ava, I…”

“Don’t, it’s in the past now. Our daughter turned out quite the woman.”

“Yes.” Mark said, his eyes flicked between Ava and Taylor. “She’s something.”

“Mm. Anyway, Sam, we’re here to help,” Ava said, and sat down next to Taylor. Gina stood behind her chair. “That’s all. I have no intention of fighting with you or your pack.”

“If that’s the case, we can use your help,” Hunter said before Sam could speak.

“Hunt…”

“We don’t have time to worry about stupid old fights. I need to find Gem. That’s my priority.”

“Gem?” Gina asked. “What do you mean you have to find Gem?”

“Paine took her,” Hunter said.

“What?” Gina snapped.

“Don’t pretend to care now.” Hunter said.

“She’s my sister!” Gina growled. “Of course, I care.” She looked around the room. “Where’s Tori?”

“Our daughter is with her grandparents,” Hunter snapped. “She’s safe.”

“My daughter.” Gina said. “She’s my daughter.”

Ava lifted a hand and touched Gina’s arm. “We’re not here to fight.” She squeezed Gina’s arm. “And it seems we’ve come at the right time.”

“We can’t use Taylor.” Amber said, she stood and pushed Sam out of her way. “Stop doing that.” She added to Sam, but she smiled. “We’ll have to find another way.”

“Why not?” Taylor and Ava asked at the same time.

“Taylor, you know why not.” Amber shook her head lightly.

“Would it be a risk to them…” Hunter began.

“We don’t know, and that’s why we won’t do that!” Amber said.

“Would it be a risk to what?” Ava asked.

“I’m having a baby.” Taylor answered when everyone looked at her for an answer. “I’m sure we’ll be okay. It’s not like she could hurt me, right?”

“She could. It’s too much of a risk,” Amber said.

“A baby?” Ava sounded awed. “That’s amazing. And Amber is right, it’s a risk.”

“So that’s it, we just leave Gem there to be tortured and killed just like…” Hunter stopped her words. Taylor had gone pale in her seat. “I’m sorry.” Hunter stood. “I’m sorry.”

Tris walked in the door and a stunned silence filled the room again. She walked to a vacant chair and plopped down, then sat and grinned at them, her eyes tracking the room, they landed on Taylor.

“What the f**k is going on? Is this office free for all today?” Sam growled and threw her body down in her chair.

Taylor stood slowly and moved a few feet away. “Hello Paine.” All eyes snapped at Taylor, then they landed on Tris.

“You made me so quickly,” Tris said. Or Paine said. “I’m so happy to hear your news. It’s exciting to bring new life into our precious world.” She laughed. “So sorry though, that Jane isn’t here to witness it.”

Taylor snarled but held her ground. “What do you want?”

“Well, actually, I wanted to come and congratulate you, and tell you how impressed I am that you found me so quickly. I-am assuming you had help from a certain bar-owning wolf. But that’s okay.” She waved her hand and then her head snapped to Sam. “Tell me, how does it feel to lose one of your own, again?”

“I haven’t lost anyone,” Sam said. “We’ll find you, and Gem.”

“That’s such a sweet thought. But no, that’s not going to happen. See where I am now, I’m safe. And Gem, well, I had to get a replacement for my pet that you stole.”

“If you hurt her…”

“What? What will you do, Hunter?” She asked, a pure evil grin on her lips. Tris’s body was shaking. “This body is fighting me. She has rage. So much love for her dead sister.” Paine laughed. “Well, I’m here, not in the flesh, to tell you, that whatever I do to Gem, is on you.” She stood and Tris’s body wavered. Taylor lunched to steady her, but Ash grabbed her first. “I was going to leave everyone out of this, except Taylor and Mya, but now, everyone is fair game. And I’ll just start with Gem.” She looked around the room and a flash of disappointment passed over her face. “Tell Mya I send my love.” And she was gone. Tris sagged in Ash’s arms, Ash lowered her to the ground and Taylor knelt by her side.

“Tris?” Taylor asked. She touched Tris’s cheek lightly.

“I’m sorry, so sorry. I tried to fight her, but she’s strong.”

“How did she latch onto you?” Sam asked suspiciously.

“Anyone close to Mya is fair game.” Ava said. “She’s linked herself to Mya, anyone close to Mya is going to be at risk of this.”

“I’m so sorry.” Tris said again, her eyes pained. “I wanted to fight her. I did fight her. But it was like I could see and hear everything but couldn’t control my body.”

“I know, it sucks.” Taylor said and ran a hand up and down Tris’s thigh. “Come on, help me get her up.” Taylor said and looked up to see Mya watching her from the door. “Mya.”

“What happened?” Mya asked. She watched Ash help Taylor to get Tris to a chair. Taylor’s hand had been intimately stroking Tris. Mya shook her head, tried to dispel the anger in her gut. Taylor was a compassionate person, she showed affection for everyone. It didn’t mean anything. When no one answered, Mya repeated, “What happened?”

“Paine, she used Tris to talk to us.” Amber said.

“And why are Ava and Gina here?”

“Good question,” Sam asked. “It seems security is going to shit.”

Mya looked at Sam. “They just walked in?”

“Yes. Into the compound, into the building. Apparently, our safety is not high on anyone’s list anymore.” Sam snapped.

“I’ll deal with that,” Mya said. “Or I’ll help Luke sort it out. But first.” She turned to the door and reached for a hand. Isis stepped into the room and Sam threw her hands up in the air.

“To s**t, to absolute s**t,” Sam mumbled.