KnightForce Tres (La Patron KnightForce Book 3) Page 17

  Lilly escaped the grubby hands of her three youngest and sat next to her twin, Rose. Ryan and Ryder watched the older kids from the safety of their playpen. Every now and then they’d place their faces against the net and yell like cheerleaders at the others, who ignored them.

  “Whew, they are restless, but should sleep well tonight,” Lilly said as she plopped into the chair next to her sister.

  Jasmine nodded. Her thoughts divided. Renee hadn’t contacted her again, which could be good or bad. Butterflies filled her stomach at the thought of her sister’s reaction over the Wolf Nation. With vivid accuracy, Jasmine recalled the feeling of betrayal and anger she’d experienced when she learned her sons and ex-husband had kept that knowledge from her. At that moment, reasonable excuses didn’t matter. Renee would be hurt, there was no way to get around that.

  How to keep her sister safe and make sure she kept their secrets? That question had plagued her from the moment she learned Renee carried the same seed as she and their mom. If not for her hysterectomy, Renee would be capable of birthing half-breeds.

  According to Matt, Victoria held the key for their unique DNA. Who knew how many generations had the same ability? Jasmine never knew her grandparents, and her mom had little recollection of them either.

  She released a sigh. So much going on…Her heart wept for Sarita, she missed her little tyke.

  Rose rubbed her arm, drawing her attention. “It’ll work out, you’ll see.”

  Her daughter-in-law couldn’t possibly know that. Jasmine tried to smile but wasn’t successful.

  “Where’s Aunt Renee?” Rose asked.

  Jasmine hesitated. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Lilly and Rose, she did to a point. But this was her sister and they always kept each other’s confidences. “She’s talking with a friend.”

  Rose’s brow lifted but she didn’t say anything more.

  “The kids are happy to have the long weekend,” Lilly said, and then leaned forward. “Any more news?”

  Jasmine looked at the kids, who’d stopped playing and watched them. She wanted to shake Lilly but remained polite. “No, we’re still searching.” Instead of looking at Lilly, Jasmine stared at the children until they returned to their pursuits.

  “Sorry, should’ve waited,” Lilly said, picking up Ryan and playing with him. Ryder scooted over to investigate and Rose picked him up.

  Jasmine’s tacit agreement lay in her silence.

  “How’s Victoria?” Lilly asked.

  “If you have a chance to see the babies, you should,” Rose said with the proper amount of awe guaranteed to take over the conversation.

  “Sarita will be alright,” Higley whispered to David. “Anyone who survived what she did can survive anything.”

  “What’d you mean?” Jackie asked Higley, walking closer to him.

  Lilly and Rose looked at Jasmine. She wasn’t sure where the conversation with the children would lead, but let them be.

  Higley shrugged and turned away.

  “She was in the labs,” Brendell said, her longer arm on the table as she colored a picture with Renee. “We all were. Mom says we’re strong. We survived.”

  “Survived what?” Adam asked, holding the ball and looking from Brendell to Theo and then Mason.

  “The Liege, silly. Don’t you know anything?” Pierre said, and then returned to his three-dimensional puzzle.

  David looked at Pierre. “He’s not silly. He doesn’t know anything about that.”

  Pierre shrugged and continued with his puzzle.

  Nionis cleared her throat. “It’s not something we talk about.” She glanced at Jackie and then Lilly.

  “Why?” Jackie turned to Nionis. “Was it bad?”

  Adam and Renee looked at Nionis. She pushed her glasses up her nose and nodded. “Very bad, worse for some.” She looked at Pierre, who’d been operated on by the Liege and couldn’t always walk in a straight line, or read and write.

  “Sarita was there too?” Renee asked.

  “Yes, not at the same place as we were, at a different place, but she said it was bad,” Nionis said softly.

  “My Daddy won’t let them hurt Sarita,” Adam said, bouncing the ball. “He’s looking for her right now. Right, Mama?” He looked at Jasmine.

  Her heart swelled with pride at the certainty in his voice. Silas had an extra-strong supporter in his pack. “Yes he is.”

  “I’m sorry you were hurt,” Jackie said, her gaze lighting on each of Lilly’s pups.

  “It’s not bad now,” Amari whispered, looking at the other children. “We have each other and a den with parents who love us. But for a long time I was really scared. It was a bad place.”

  Lilly moved quickly to the floor and took Amari in her arms. Theo and Mason moved closer to the two and Lilly included them in her embrace.

  Rose sniffed and wiped the corners of her eyes. Ryan and Ryder sat quietly watching. Nionis placed her hand on top of Brendell’s and then squeezed. Eyes closed, Higley hummed a soft tune, calming everyone.

  “Are we going to play?” Adam spoke into the silence a few moments later.

  Theo and Mason pulled from Lilly and ran to Adam, breaking the solemn camaraderie. Within seconds, the children resumed their activities, leaving Jasmine to wonder over the mental resiliency and health of these young ones who’d suffered unbearable pain at the hands of the Liege. Perhaps they could receive some type of therapy, she’d discuss it with Silas.

  Jasmine’s phone vibrated against her leg. The only person who’d use the phone was her sister. “Renee?”

  “Um, I need to leave here. Right now.”

  Jasmine’s stomach dropped at the shaky sound. Standing, she walked out of the nursery and to the elevator. “Okay. No one’s holding you, leave. Jarcee will escort you to the elevator.”

  “No. I want to leave West Virginia and go home.”

  “You can do that, but say bye to mama first, we’ll both miss you.”

  “Why are you so calm? Do you know what she…what she told me? The mafia made more sense than this bullshit,” Renee snapped.

  Mafia?

  Jasmine heard the metal door close in the background. Mélange would be allowed to leave soon. Right now Jasmine needed to face her sister and repair their relationship. Her heart raced as she walked back and forth in front of the steel doors. “No, I don’t know. You can tell me when we see each other in just a minute.”

  The elevator stopped. Heart in throat, Jasmine forced down the hurt choking her as the doors opened. Renee strode forward, Mélange behind her. Surprised, Jasmine stepped back and waited to see what happened next.

  “Which way to your place?” Renee asked. “I always get turned around.”

  “True, which makes no sense, you’ve always been much better than me with directions,” Jasmine said, glancing at a red-faced Mélange.

  They entered the living room. Mélange took a seat on the edge of the sofa and clasped her hands around her crossed knees. Renee headed to the kitchen. Jasmine sat in front of Mélange.

  “What happened?”

  Mélange’s gaze slid to the kitchen where Renee pulled things from the refrigerator and cabinets. “I told her about La Patron.”

  Jasmine’s eyes narrowed. “Did you tell her about yourself?”

  “Some, but she doesn’t believe.”

  Great! Jasmine wanted to smack the woman, but she knew Silas would interfere and that would make things worse. “You don’t want to drag me into this.”

  “I didn’t. If I didn’t come with her to verify, she’d break things off. You, she will believe,” Mélange said. Jasmine heard the pain beneath her words.

  Renee had no idea how much she’d wounded her mate with her actions, something she’d need to repair in the near future. “But she didn’t leave you, maybe she can’t.”

  Mélange’s eyes lit with hope and Jasmine realized she’d need to help her sister understand the world of the wolf. Goddess help them.

  “Want some sweet tea?�
� Renee asked, offering Mélange a glass from the tray. Her hand shook a little as Mélange accepted.

  “Thank you,” Mélange said, and then took a sip. Renee sat on the same sofa, but not close to her lover. When Jasmine realized Renee had forgotten to offer her the third glass on the tray, she relaxed a bit. Her sister was scared but still wanted Mélange, half the battle was already won.

  “Thanks, I believe I’d like some tea.” Jasmine took the remaining glass.

  “Sorry, Jazz. I’m just…that place creeped me out. I couldn’t focus,” Renee said.

  “Oh, you want to go to your room?” Jasmine asked.

  “No!” Renee said, and then looked at Mélange who looked away. “This is fine, you have food, I don’t.” The look she sent Jasmine screamed, “Don’t offer to send me any food.”

  “That’s true.” She took a sip of tea, allowed the cold, sweet beverage to ease the tightness in her throat. Maybe she wouldn’t lose her sister over this. If she and Mélange worked together, this could turn out alright.

  “When did you want to leave?” Jasmine asked. “Have you checked flights?” Both Renee and Mélange frowned at her. Good, they were on the same side.

  “Not sure,” Renee said, leaning forward. “Mélange said Silas ran a large organization of people with special skills that allow them to turn into wolves.”

  Jasmine blinked and then looked at Mélange. The small woman offered a slight shrug.

  “Is that true?” Renee whispered. “It can’t be true, can it?” Hope, excitement, and fear undergirded her voice and Jasmine understood Mélange’s dilemma. Tell Renee the truth and she might go into professor mode, wanting documented proof or worse, ask to interview Silas. Or she would run screaming around the room pulling at her hair. Damn.

  “Jasmine?” Renee said in a more serious tone. “What’s wrong?”

  “This. Everything,” Jasmine said, deciding to speak as the younger sister, which normally worked in her favor.

  “What? Tell me,” Renee said, her voice hardening.

  Jasmine sighed. “Right now, you’re supposed to be talking with Mélange, a woman who’ll always love you, never be unfaithful, she’ll cherish and do everything in her power to make you happy. That’s what I wanted for you, more than anything in the world. Me and mama want you to experience a love so intense you’ll forget what being alone ever felt like. Each day you’ll wake knowing you can be 100% you and not someone’s idea of who you should be.” She sniffed. “Instead you’re wasting time asking about things I can’t discuss and drinking tea.”

  Renee opened her mouth, and then closed it. She looked at Mélange and then back at Jasmine. “What makes you think she’s the one who’ll do all of those things?”

  “Because you’re my mate, the only person who’ll ever complete me. I can’t see anything without seeing you. I’ve told you how much I love you but…you don’t believe me,” Mélange said.

  “Wolves mate,” Renee said, her gaze swinging from Mélange to Jasmine and then back again. “What are you saying?”

  Sometimes having a Doctorate degree wasn’t worth a damn, Jasmine thought.

  “I’m a full-blood wolf with a dual-nature. I can shift into a version of a wolf at will and then back to human, as you see,” Mélange said clearly, her back and head straight as she met Renee’s wide gaze.

  “Did you hear her?” Renee looked at Jasmine. “Jazz? Did you hear her say she can shift into a wolf whenever she wanted?”

  “A version of a wolf, yes, I heard her,” Jasmine said, watching her sister intently. Their gazes clashed for a few moments as Renee dealt with the impossible.

  “You believe her? It’s true? That’s the secret you couldn’t share?” Renee snorted and shook her head. She pursed her lips and then rubbed her forehead for a few minutes. “All this time I thought he was in the Mafia or something like that, never thought of this.”

  “Mafia? Silas?” Jasmine laughed. “I can see that.”

  “In this instance I wish that was true,” Renee murmured.

  “I don’t,” Jasmine said. “That’s not the life I’d like to raise my children under.”

  “Oh, so being part wolf is better?” Renee said, her tone haughty. She covered her face with her hand. “What the hell am I saying? It’s not possible. Humanly impossible to be part wolf. Tell her, Jazz.”

  “Why should I get involved? I’m in a good relationship, no drama. Well, not much anyway.” Jasmine crossed her legs and took another sip of tea, hoping her hard-headed sister would ask her mate to prove it.

  “Because you’re my sister! We look out for each other.”

  “That’s why I told you to talk to Mélange, I want the best for you.” Jasmine pointed to the smaller woman.

  Renee glared at Jasmine before turning to Mélange. “You’re part wolf and human?”

  “Yes and no. I’m both at all times, there’s no separation of the two.”

  “What does mate mean to you?” Renee glanced at Jasmine. “My sister paints an interesting picture.”

  Mélange scooted closer to Renee and took her hand. “Your sister is right, and she has been very kind to us. You’ve seen mated couples already, you’ve mentioned how your sister’s husband would do anything for her, and their kids. You also said the same for your mother and her mate. I offer you the same love, loyalty, and protection of all that I am.”

  Renee frowned, looked at Jasmine and then at Mélange. “Mom and Jacques?” She looked at Jasmine. “Seriously? You and Silas?”

  Jasmine smiled and shrugged.

  “Everybody here? All half-wolf people?” Renee asked, her voice rising with disbelief.

  Mélange met Jasmine’s gaze. They needed to ease up on the information a bit and focus on the mating aspect. “Mates are for life,” Jasmine said. “When I first met Silas, well, you remember how he was.”

  “Arrogant, asshole –”

  “Strong willed, Alpha male,” Jasmine countered. “Anyway, he’s mine, all mine.”

  “And?” Renee said in a dry tone.

  “And I have his love completely, which frees me to love him completely, the best of all worlds in my opinion.”

  “But he changes into a wolf, what? On a full moon or something?” Renee asked.

  “Whenever he wants or needs to, I suppose. I can’t.” She stared at her sister. “We don’t turn into wolves, Renee. Some things in your life will change, but you’ll still be human.”

  “Oh thank God, I wasn’t sure and too scared to ask.” Her grip tightened on Mélange’s hand and then she released a long breath. “I have a choice, right? I can do this with you or not?”

  Mélange nodded. “Of course.”

  Since Mélange didn’t share the downside of a wolf not claiming its mate, Jasmine didn’t volunteer that information. But she hoped Renee wouldn’t put off her own happiness because of fear or other concerns.

  Renee squeezed Mélange’s hand, turned and sat back on the sofa, watching Jasmine. “So you’ve been involved with this lifestyle since the hospital when you met Silas? You got pregnant and had the babies quick.” She paused and her eyes narrowed. “Is that why you won’t allow me to have the kids tested?”

  “Yes,” Jasmine said, emphatic. “No one messes with my kids. I don’t care what they’re mixed with. They will never be lab specimens or studied like oddities. Never.”

  Renee’s hand flew to her chest. “I just thought they were above average smart. Now that I know they’re special, I’d never allow them to be tested in a college like mine. I’m sure there are ways to measure their intelligence at the schools they attend, right?”

  Jasmine shook her head.

  “What? I don’t know anything about half-wolf babies, but my nieces and nephews are above par, borderline geniuses,” Renee told Mélange.

  “Their secret, of who and what they are must be protected at all costs is what your sister is saying. She fears someone may try to take one of her children for experiments, it’s happened before,” Mélange said.


  “What? No. I mean yes, I understand. I can’t imagine anything happening to Adam, David, Jackie or Renee.”

  “Or Ryder, Ryan, Sarita, Diamond, Ruby, Jewel, Victor, see the list goes on and on. None of our kids should be singled out by humans for any reason. From birth, we teach the children the importance of secrecy, it keeps us all safe,” Jasmine said, stressing the last word.

  Renee stared at her for a long moment. “This is deep. Everyone in my family…lives this lifestyle.” She looked at Mélange. “My brother, sister, nieces, nephews, mama…everyone. I don’t know what to say.”

  “We’re made from strong stock, able to handle life at its craziest. Why don’t you rest for a while, ask Mélange questions, talk. And if you need me, call. But I don’t think you will,” Jasmine said, pleased Renee hadn’t flipped out.

  “Rest? Now?” Renee looked at Mélange and then at Jasmine. “Oh…well, I suppose we could go back to Mélange’s hotel for a while.”

  Jasmine cringed at the security detail for that excursion.

  “Or we can go to your room,” Mélange said without looking at Jasmine. “After we talk, we can decide what we want to do next. There’s no rush or pressure, it’s a lot to absorb and I know you feel more comfortable here with your sister.”

  Renee leaned forward and brushed a kiss against Mélange’s lips. “Thanks for that. It’s not just Jazz, but mama, the babies, my nieces, nephews, my family is the reason I’m here, and I’d like to spend as much time with them before returning home.” She looked at Jasmine. “How long can Mélange stay?”

  “A few hours. I’m guessing her things are still at the hotel.” No matter how much she loved her sister and wanted her happy, Mélange would never have the same freedom to roam the compound as Renee. Granted, Mélange couldn’t do anything that’d directly hurt Renee, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t cause problems.

  “And then what?” Renee asked.

  “Someone will drive her home,” Jasmine said.

  Renee met Mélange’s gaze. “Well, it looks like I’ll be coming to the hotel then. Is there a place she can wait while I visit with mama and the kids? When I’m done, we’ll both leave for the night and I’ll return tomorrow. My flight leaves in a couple days, yours?” she asked Mélange.