BK 2 - Chapter 40 - New Plans
Kitty and Sandie stared at each other in disbelief. Neither could believe that the other was not human. Kitty leaned into Aiden, who had walked over and put his arm around her.
"You're a werewolf?" She whispered.
"Yes. I was a human, but when I met Max, he claimed I was his mate. He explained everything about being a werewolf, and the rest is history. I'm assuming your fiance is the one who changed you into a werelion?" Sandie asked, glancing toward Aiden.
"Yes, ma'am. I'm a werelion, and this is my brother Trey and his mate Cat." He indicated the other two who were still standing near the door.
"Nice to meet you all. How about we sit down so we can eat and talk?" Max indicated the large round table in the middle of the room with eight seats. Gracie took Kitty's hand and sat down next to her with a smile.
"You're really a werelion? Can I meet your lion sometime?" The little girl asked excitedly. She had never met another shifter other than a werewolf.
"Of course, you can. Her name is Zola, but I can't shift into her yet because I'm still a new werelion. I won't be able to shift for another couple of weeks." Kitty smiled at the little girl next to her.
"I don't have a wolf yet. Mommy and daddy said I should get her when I turn five. I want her to be big and beautiful. Have you ever seen a werewolf?" Gracie asked.
"No, I've only seen werelions. I can't wait to meet your wolf. Maybe I can come to your birthday party. Would that be okay?" Kitty asked as Gracie stared at her with big brown eyes.
"You will come to my birthday party? Then I can show you all around the pack house and pack lands. That will be so much fun." She clapped her hands in excitement.
They all stopped talking as a waiter came in to give everyone water and bread before taking their orders. Kitty helped Gracie with ordering from the kid's menu while Sandie watched. She loved seeing her two daughters bonding. She also noticed Wesley was a little jealous that he wasn't getting alone time with Kitty. She turned toward Cat, who was sitting next to her.
"Cat, were you already a werelion, or were you human?" Sandie didn't understand why, but the black-haired beauty seemed to radiate calmness in the room when it could have been tense and uncomfortable.
"I was human. I've only been a werelion for a couple of months. Trey and I are expecting our first cub." Cat glanced toward Trey as she rubbed the barely noticeable bump. She wasn't ready to tell anyone about being a caladrius while she was still coming to terms with it.
"Congratulations. It was a huge difference in giving birth as a werewolf compared to a human. When I had Kitty, I was in labor for hours, but it was over before I knew it with Gracie and Wesley. Forgive me for saying this, but is it just me, or do you and Kitty favor each other?" Sandie noticed some similarities between the two women. She saw Cat and Kitty glance at each other before looking toward their mates.
"You're right. Kitty and I are related. Leo Edwards was her father, but he was also my uncle or half-brother, depending on how you look at it." Sandie's eyes widened in surprise. She saw Kitty distracting the children while she spoke to Cat softly.
"How is that possible?" Sandie asked her quietly.
"Leo's father raped my mother when she was eighteen. She became pregnant with me. My mom died when I was six, and Leo became my legal guardian. What he did to you, he did to me starting when I was six until I was twelve." Sandie put her hand over her mouth as she stared at the young woman next to her. She thought what Leo had done to her was terrible, but Cat had it a thousand times worse.
"I'm so sorry. He's a bastard, and I will tear him to pieces if I ever see him again." Cat gave her a slight grin.
"There's no need. Leo has already been served werelion justice." Cat winked at her, and she couldn't help laughing.
"I'm glad you got justice for all those he hurt, including yourself. I'm so happy Kitty has a friend like you." Sandie patted her hand and gasped. She couldn't help but put her hand on Cats again. Touching her made her feel warm all over and gave her a sense of peace. She looked at Cat in shock.
"I think there's more to you than you let on." Cat laughed lightly.
"Maybe so." The other werelions at the table were amused by Sandie and Cat's interaction. They were used to Cat's abilities, but seeing how she affected outsiders was new.
The rest of the lunch went well as everyone got to know each other. Gracie and Wesley competed for Kitty's attention throughout the entire meal. Sandie and Max laughed at how well the kids were getting along for Kitty's benefit. Once they were finished eating, they made plans for dinner the next day at the pool house. Cat and Kitty were going to cook.
Sandie and Max decided to take the kids for a walk downtown before going back to their hotel room. Kitty watched them leave the hotel parking lot with a smile. Her heart was full of love.
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Across the street, Vasco, Raul, and Eddie watched the two groups with confusion. They couldn't believe there was another woman who looked exactly like the one they had been following. When she walked past them with a man and two kids, they realized she was older than they initially thought.
"I'm calling Ricky. She must be a sister." Vasco called Ricky as they followed the black truck toward Granite Bay.
"What's going on, Vasco?" Ricky answered quickly.
"We followed the girl and her family. They met with another family, and I think the woman could be the girl's older sister. They look exactly alike." Ricky smiled into the phone.
"Change of plans. Follow the sister. I want you to kidnap her, and if there's anyone with her, take them as well. Let's see how the thief feels when something important of hers is taken. I'll be there in a few days. Keep them alive until I get there."
Ricky hung up the phone and laughed. This was perfect. He would let the little bitch watch while he killed everyone she loved and then kill her. He started whistling as he headed to his car. He would finally have his revenge.
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Vasco turned the car around and went to the car rental office. He exchanged the car for a van. They needed something big in order to kidnap a family.
They parked across the street from the hotel to watch. Taking a family of four from a hotel was too risky, but they could catch them when they went out. He didn't know where they had walked to but assumed they would be back.
After sitting in the car for about an hour, they saw the family return to the hotel and go inside. Eddie and Raul were arguing about the change of assignment, and Vasco was ready to behead both of them.
"Shut up. We're doing what Ricky said. We are to take the family and hold them. We're not going to kill anyone until Ricky gets here. He wants to bait the girl." Vasco sent Eddie out of the car to get some sandwiches from the deli down the block.
"We should have left the kid in San Francisco. He's annoying the hell out of me." Raul said after Eddie left.
"I know, but he's Ricky's cousin, so we don't have a choice. Let's just finish this assignment, and then we'll be rid of him." Raul nodded, and a few minutes later, Eddie returned with their sandwiches.
They watched the hotel for hours, and finally, late that evening, they saw the woman and two children walk out. The man wasn't with them, so they thought this would be their best shot. It would be easier to control a woman and kids.
They were walking to the deli where Eddie had gotten the sandwiches earlier. Vasco drove down the block and parked. It was dark out, and the area wasn't crowded, so it would be perfect for them to take the three of them.
The men waited for the woman and kids to go in and get their food. As they came out, Vasco pulled up in front of them. Eddie and Raul jumped out of the van. Raul grabbed the woman, and Eddie grabbed the two kids. They threw them all into the back of the van, and Vasco pulled away. The entire kidnapping lasted less than thirty seconds.
