Chapter 84 Bounty

*Diana*

Once we arrived at the suite, I sat down at the dining table and faced the beautiful skyline of New York City. I felt bad. I had forgotten how it was to be human and forgive one's faults.

Onyx and I had a discussion while Alpha Connor was doing CPR on Rose. She argued if it weren't for her, One would have been successful in his plan. He had ordered his rogues to kill everyone except for me and my grandmother.

"Onyx, you're right. But you have to look at it in another perspective. Rose is just a victim of circumstances. She had a son and wanted to provide for him, so she kept more money for him but her Alpha didn't see it that way so she was banished from the pack. Then she thought the easiest way for her to become wealthy was to betray Nana. She hasn't seen her son for a long time. Her son is now a construction worker living off the pittance of a salary their former Alpha is allowing them to receive," I told Onyx. "We should give her another chance to at least see her son before the Moon Goddess takes her. Don't you think?"

"Very well, Diana. I will give her a second chance, but this is because Josephine Lockwood has no malcontent in her heart. She is already praying to the Moon Goddess to take her instead. There are only a few wolves left who are willing to to ask for forgiveness and give it when asked."

My Nana was sobbing mournfully on Aunt Athena's shoulder when Rose went into cardiac arrest. I used to feel that way when I needed my mother. However, in only a few days, my heart has become stone-cold.

I looked down at my hands. These hands had killed nine wolves in a matter of minutes. It would have been ten if it weren't for Uncle Mike and Alpha Connor. But as my dad said 'it's either them or us'.

"Miss Diana, some tea to calm your nerves," Otis said quietly. He placed a small teapot and some cups he had on a tray. Then he took a seat beside me.

"Why aren't you asleep yet, Otis?" I asked him after he finished pouring tea in my cup.

"I have to keep an eye on things,Miss Diana. There is a rogue in this suite," he answered  "I did take a nap while all of you were downstairs at the ball. Then I took the liberty of babysitting Harley so, Beta Colt can get some sleep." He poured himself a cup and sat down beside me. We both sat quietly sipping our tea.

My dad, Uncle Mike and Alpha Connor were all quietly seated in the living room area, sifting through all the stuff we took from the rogues. All of sudden a song of a known rapper broke the silence.

"Connor, it's coming from you," my dad said. Alpha Connor patted himself down to find whatever was making the noise.

"I like The Weeknd myself," said Otis chuckling.

"I like rap too, just not on me," Alpha Connor said, finally pulling out a smartphone from his coat pocket. He glanced at the screen and laughed. "And look who's calling... One. My most favorite person in the world. Good thing I swiped the phone off that rogue from across the street. What a coward." He then raised his finger to silence the group. "Everyone quiet. I'm putting this on speakerphone." He clicked on the screen of the smartphone.

"Ten, what is your status?" One asked. His voice sounded anxious.

"Ten's status is dead," Alpha Connor answered. We heard him growl in frustration. He must be pissed his team of rogues failed.

"Connor, you are constant pain in the ass!" One yelled. "How is this possible?! Oh I get it. That rogue named Rose double-crossed me or the meeting of Diana and her grandmother was a set-up."

Alpha Connor laughed. One by one, we were taking down his trusted ten. Soon he wouldn't have anyone left.

"One, let's just say whatever you have planned, we are two steps ahead of you. It doesn't matter where you hide. We will find you and I will have my revenge," Alpha Connor said. "That includes your protector, Elder Eric Lockwood." One chuckled at Alpha Connor's response which he took as a joke. However, when he spoke, I heard his fear even if he spoke with such anger.

"Let's get one thing straight, Connor, before you think yourself invincible. THIS IS MY CITY! MINE! You are all in my territory. I will tell you now, none of you won't get out of the city alive. I am putting a bounty on your head and that includes everyone else listening in on this conversation. That's right, Lucas and Diana Lockwood. My rogues are coming to get you." Alpha Connor, my dad and Uncle Mike laughed so loud at the empty threat. I glanced at Otis who was looking at me with concern. I smiled meekly at him. He heaved a sigh and nodded his head in understanding.

"One, I vowed I wouldn't die until I killed you myself and honestly, I don't want you to die just yet so I can fulfill this purpose I have. So please promise me, don't fall asleep. I don't want you dying in your sleep before I can have my way with you. One, I hope you're ready because I'll be seeing you soon!" Alpha Connor hung up before One could say any more threats.

The door of the suite suddenly opened and in came Ethan, Harriet, Didi and Kate, Ethan's baby sister, followed by Matt who looked glad to be back in the room. Matt walked directly to where Alpha Connor was seated, with his eyebrow raised, wondering where all the stuff on the table came from. He sat down and picked up a wallet, dangling it infront of Alpha Connor. Alpha Connor placed his mouth near Matt's ear and whispered a short explanation. I saw Matt's eyes widen in surprise.

"New York City's finest is downstairs. There was a robbery in the cafe next to the hotel and they found a dead man seated in one of the benches. They also found several dead men in the dumpster downstairs. All of them seem to have the same cause of death, cervical fracture. The police are now asking that all guests remain in their rooms for questioning or until their investigation is over," Ethan said. He kissed me on the forehead and sat beside me. His mother and sister also joined us while Didi went to check on Harley with Otis quickly following her.

"Michael, was that your handiwork?" Ethan asked, grinning.

"Uhm, three from the dumpster are mine. The man seated on the bench was Alpha Connor and Diana killed every rogue in the cafe across from the hotel. So, no that wasn't all me," Uncle Mike answered Ethan while he grinned at me. I gave him a dirty look for outing me. Great, he had to go and announce it to the world.

"What do you mean Diana killed every rogue in the cafe? How?" Ethan stared at me looking for answers. I was about to answer him when my dad took over.

"It was either them or us, Ethan," my dad said, explaining. "Every customer in the cafe including the barista were rogues. Can you believe the barista even poisoned the coffee we ordered with wolfsbane?"

"How did they know you guys would be there? Did your grandmother tell them?" Ethan asked, concerned.

"No, but her friend did," Uncle Mike said, walking up to us and placing his hands on my shoulder. "And the rogues in the cafe were big men. Diana broke their necks in minutes. I'm so proud, I could cry."

"I don't know if I should say 'thank you' to you, Uncle Mike," I said, looking up at him. He smiled at me warmly, then clapped his hands. "Now we have children to rescue and there's a bounty on our heads which makes it so exciting. Lucas, I already got in touch with my former military bud for the helicopter and the cars we need and a loft if ever we need a safe house. Alpha Connor, are your men ready to escort us out of New York City?"

"Yes. My Gamma has the boundary between New York and Jersey guarded. Well, we all need to take a nap. We leave here when the wolves are still asleep, exactly 3AM. Diana, we need Onyx to place the wolves in a deep sleep. Then, all we need to do is go in and out. Quick extraction. And tell her if she can help with the wind and snow, we'll be grateful. If this weather doesn't let up, we might not be able to go via chopper," Alpha Connor said.

"That's no problem for Onyx. It will be her pleasure," I replied. My dad waved his phone in the air.

"My mother just messaged me that they're at Lenox Hill. They'll be keeping Rose overnight at the hospital. I need to go there to keep an eye on them just in case One sends someone to kidnap them or worse kill them."

"Don't worry, Dad. Onyx has it covered. We can pick them up after we rescue my cousins," I told him. He nodded his head, relieved no one could touch them.

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. "Hurry, hide the loot," my dad said. They all scrambled to put everything back inside the garbage bag. When everything on the table was inside the bag, my dad hid it inside a room.

Uncle Mike rushed and opened the door. "Captain Hathaway, good evening." He ushered Captain Hathaway inside the suite. "This is quite a surprise. How can we help you?"

"I'm just here to check if everyone is accounted for. One of our assets has just informed me there's a bounty on your heads. A ten million dollar bounty," he said, placing his hands on his hips and shaking his head sadly. "The dead men in the dumpster and those found in the cafe were rogues. Unfortunately, they know all of you are here. I just spoke with High Lord Wolf and he said if you need safe passage out of the city, we'll escort you. If you decide to stay here, we will provide for your protection. Don't worry, it will only be me and my team. I have to warn you, though. The Chief of the Wolf Troops, he's been known to do business with the rogues. A ten million bounty is enough for him to retire."

"Captain Hathaway, we need all the help we can get. However, before we leave, there are three pups and a couple of grandmas we need to rescue. Can you help us?" Alpha Connor asked.

"Three children and grandmas, you say? Sure. What do you all have in mind?" Captain Hathaway asked.

I smiled. The Chief doesn't know what's coming.

______________


*One*

Another one of my men gone! After that asshole Alpha Connor hung up on me, I dialled Sixth's number so he could put up the bulletin for me.

"One, it's a busy night if you called to check up on things," Sixth said. "The entourage of most of the Wolf VIP's are here."

"Good. The more wolves, the faster the news will spread," I told him. "I need you to put up a bulletin for me. I'm awarding ten million dollars to anyone who can bring me either heads of Alpha Connor, Lucas and Diana Lockwood on a silver platter."

"Ten million dollars? For each one? That's thirty million dollars, One. Do you actually have that kind of cash on you? Because if you don't deliver on that promise, we will have a lot of angry wolves knocking on our door," he said.

"How long have you been working for me? How can you not possibly know what my empire is worth?" I asked him.

"One, I do your bookkeeping and accounting. I know how much we earn in a night. And that includes profits from drugs, sex slaves, and elixir. I also know you love to spend. If I'm not mistaken, you have a little over twenty five million cash on hand. That's a bit short from the thirty million dollar bounty you want to put up. I do have an idea though. Since Eric Lockwood is the one who wants his son and granddaughter dead, he should fork out the cash. Maybe half of it."

"Sixth, why don't you worry about making me the extra money I need...hmmm? Anyway, we shouldn't even be having this conversation. I thought you had put some money into some investments for me?" I asked him. I remember giving him a fat check so he could invest. What has he done with the money?

"One, investments need time to mature. I can't buy stocks today and sell all of it tomorrow. The market doesn't work like that," he explained. "Fine, I'll figure out where to get the money. But just a suggestion, ask Eric Lockwood for a share."

"I have him looking for the mage, Sixth. When I have a hundred percent control over elixir, I will earn the thirty million back in a snap of a finger. I just need those three off my back so I can keep running my empire without further problems. Do you understand me?"

"Sorry, One. I didn't know you already have Eric Lockwood searching for gold. Sure, I'll put up the bulletin for the bounty."

"Finally, we have come to an understanding. DO IT NOW, SIXTH!" I hung up and tore into the leather of my couch with my long wolf nails. Even my men were starting to question my authority. Damn it!

Time to call the Chief again. I dialled his number and waited for him to pick up.

"What is it this time?" The Chief asked gruffly.

"I've put up a bounty of ten million dollars for the heads of Alpha Connor Greene as well as Lucas and Diana Lockwood. I wanted you to be the first to know," I replied.

"Is this a 'first come, first serve' basis?" He asked.

"Of course. Whoever gets to bring me their heads first gets the reward."

"If you don't pay up, One, I will make sure one of those heads will be yours," he said. "Make sure none of your rogues get in my way. I will not hesitate. I will kill them if they try and take my prize."

"Well, that's going to be a problem, Chief."

"How so?" Chief asked.

"I already had one of my men send out the bulletin announcing the ten million dollar bounty," I answered. "When word gets out, even the High Lord Wolf will join in the fun."

"I highly doubt that, One. Lucas Lockwood and Connor Greene are nominees for High Councilmen. It will only be the low-life scum of the earth I'll have to deal with. Before I hang up, I want you to do something for me."

"What's that, Chief?" I asked.

"I want you to prepare my money," he said. "Cash."