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“Getting there, dude,” Calamity agreed.
There was an enormous difference in his attitude now. Calamity and Rosie were pregnant and overjoyed. The only blight on their future was Rosie refusing to speak to Texas, which had hurt her. I knew Calamity had spoken to Rage once. I didn’t know who, but no one from Rage had contacted me. When Rage cut you off, they completely cut you dead. So be it. That was their loss because not only had they lost Calamity and me, but they were also in the process of losing the rest of the exiles and the women. Drake needed to shake some sense into those stubborn assholes before everything they worked for disappeared.
Layla gave a whine and pushed against Calamity. She was Rosie’s Great Pyrenees but had taken to Calamity. There was no doubt Layla loved Calamity. Skippy came close and stopped, looking up at Layla, who cocked her head in confusion. Every time the poor dog saw Skippy, she looked confused, which made us laugh. Layla and Henrik, by default, could not understand what Skippy was and if he posed a threat.
“How’s Rosie doing with the clinic?” I asked. I’d not been over for a few days as I had been studying for a test which I’d aced. Being back at college, even part-time, was strange, but my medical knowledge was helping.
“Fine, she says it’s ready for the equipment to be installed. Rosie’s now eyeing up the sanctuary for animals that can’t be re-homed, and plans are on the way for the re-homing centre.”
“And you? Still thinking of a children’s home?” I pried. It was entirely out of character for Calamity, and I was intrigued.
“Yeah, I’ve spoken, just in conversation, to a few people, and they’d been willing to take an apprentice on. Give these kids a second chance. Phoe said she and HQ can help with a lot of the legal side. And Fanatic wants to open the school for disadvantaged children and is working with me.”
I nodded as I remembered overhearing the chat that Fanatic planned on something similar. Fanatic had asked his brother Tye to set up an ice hockey academy aimed at kids who had talent but were from poor families or off the street. They’d arranged to send the children to Ellen’s school, but part of their day would be spent on the ice. Fanatic organised to sponsor scholarships designed to bring in those with a talent for car design and mechanics. A mechanic shop was currently being built on a piece of land near the school.
Not to be left out, Carmine already had several retired baseball players on board to set up a scholarship, and Harley had been planning the same for future blacksmiths. Jodie had planned an acting scholarship and Serenity a modelling one. With them wanting this, a new school dormitory was also being built to house the scholarship kids. Fanatic’s plan had been to accommodate them in converted attics at Reading Hall, but when they realised how many scholarships they could fund between them, that was scraped. The dormitory was being split into a boy’s and girl’s wing, with the middle being common ground with study rooms and a huge lounge.
Two extra wings were being erected onto the academy for the additional students, and this was all being funded by Phoe’s children. They’d not asked their mother or father for a penny. I knew Phoe was dead proud of them. Penny had chipped in, and I knew a big kitchen was being built to train new cooks. Meanwhile, Artemis had thrown in cash for a dojo on behalf of Nova, who would run it one day. Other old ladies had offered, but Fanatic had politely declined. This was something they needed to build. And I could understand that.
Calamity wanted to do something similar. But he’d be taking in street kids and abused children and sending them to school in the morning and then working apprenticeships in the afternoon. They would have room, lodging, and free meals, but they’d have to work for it. Like Tye and Carmine, Calamity understood what life was like on the streets, even though he had only lived them a short time. But Calamity was an abandoned kid until he turned eleven when his angel, Mrs Travis, came along and saved his ass.
“Hey, if any of those kids, either yours or Fanatic’s, want to work with animals, I’m sure Rosie would let me and Aurora sponsor a couple. Hell, Rosie might even sponsor some herself!” I said, thinking of Calamity’s girl. Rosie was loving and generous. I believed she would be geared up for this.
“Rosie’s already suggested it.” Calamity chuckled.
“Great minds think alike,” I teased, and Calamity threw his wet towel at me. Nasty fucker!
Aurora
I waved to Slate, who was waiting outside the shop, motioned to the rear of the store, and motioned to the pets. Slate nodded, pointed to his eyes, the back exit and then me. I got the message. Slate would watch me until I went to the rear, and then he’d meet me in the alley.
I ensured Sailor and Mischief were firmly locked in their carry cage and whistled for Luna and Ares. Luna responded at once, but Ares sent me a cocky glance. Oh, he so needed training! I petted Luna until Ares crept over in jealousy. Attaching his leash, I made a good boy fuss and led them out the shop’s back door. I put the carrier on the floor and locked it before walking to my vehicle. Carefully, I placed the pets inside and then put Luna and Ares into their travel cage. Something pricked my skin. I staggered forward and stumbled before turning around.
A leering face peered into mine as Luna and Ares started barking wildly and attacking the cage. The man kicked my car door shut and picked me up, slinging me over his shoulder. I knew I should fight, but my limbs were heavy, and I couldn’t lift them. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realised I’d been drugged. Everything began spiralling, and I heard the kidnapper curse as if something had hurt him. Whatever it was that had attacked him, it wasn’t me, as I was away with the fairies.
???
I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and yawned. Everything felt wrong, lethargic, and sluggish. My memories were hazy, but something jerked at my ankle as I moved. Shoving myself up, I discovered I was on a dirty mattress, still fully dressed, to my relief, but around my leg was a chain and cuff. My gaze widened in horror as I stared in disbelief at the sign of my being imprisoned. Frightened, I studied the room, looking for a potential weakness, but I couldn’t see anything.
I appeared to be in a grey concrete cell in a basement. There was no window and just a bare bulb above my head. The mattress I was laid upon was filthy and made my skin crawl at its condition. Tears welled, but I shrugged them off; crying wouldn’t help me now. I shuffled to the side and tugged the chain, checking for any sign of weak links, but it seemed secure. Looking at the lock, I wondered if I could pick it. That wasn’t a skill I’d practised, but better than being chained like an animal. Casey had taken me through the process a few times.
I rolled and heaved and hit a bucket I’d not previously noticed. Shit, would this hurt the baby? I retched again until my belly was empty and rubbed my stomach, praying the drug hadn’t affected her.
A few tears leaked down my cheeks, and I wiped them angrily away. What had happened to Slate? Had someone got the drop on him?
A noise made me look towards the door, and I heard heavy footsteps. I shrank back against the wall, fear a tight ball in my belly. I couldn’t believe I’d been kidnapped again, although last time I’d been a means to an end. The first time was to capture Casey and Mac, I’d been collateral damage. This time, I sensed it was personal. A grate slid open, and a pair of dark eyes stared at me before a mirthless chuckle filtered through.
“Not so mouthy now, bitch,” a man muttered and slammed the grate shut.
“Mouthy?” I whispered, trying to think who I’d run my mouth off to. No one crossed my mind. Even so, I wouldn’t stay and be a victim to whatever this asshole planned. The last time I was kidnapped, I was useless and unprepared. Working out with Casey had given me some skills. With a wicked grin, I pulled a hairpin from my messy bun and inserted it into the lock. Nine times out of ten, I failed to pick the lock, so today meant perseverance. Minutes ticked by as I diligently worked to open it.
Frustration was building even while I tried to remain calm when the lock suddenly clicked, and the cuff slid free. I yanked it off my ankle and rubbed the skin briskly. On my check around, I’d not noticed cameras, so I headed to the door, crouched down, and settled in to pick another lock. This one was more difficult, but ten minutes later, it clicked. I stayed down, waiting for someone to yell or approach, and heard nothing.
The door opened with a creak, and I looked into a more extensive basement. Dotted around were several other doors. I noticed a set of steps to my left and guessed it was the exit. I crept past the first two, peered inside, and saw no one. The third made me gasp quietly because a woman was locked in a cuff similar to mine. She was young, about twenty-two, and clearly had been imprisoned for a while judging her paleness.
“Hey,” I hissed, and she looked up.
“Hello?” she muttered.
