BK 4 - Chapter 34 - An Accident and A Plan
**Albuquerque New Mexico**
"You're a witch?" Breanne asked with fascination. Atzi nodded with a smile as she walked over to the shelf and pulled out the book that looked the oldest. Lying it on one of the small tables, she waved Breanne and Dustin over.
"I practice medicine, but witchcraft has been passed down through the generations. I know of vampires and other witches but have met very few. This book is one of the oldest scrolls known to man that talks about the world that most don't know about. There is mention of shapeshifters, witches, and vampires. I think this may be of use to you." Atzi lifted the large book up and held it out to Breanne. She hesitated before taking it, afraid it would crumble if she touched it with how old it looked.
"Are you sure it's okay for us to take this?" Breanne asked, holding the book gingerly in her hands.
"Yes, my dear. It's time someone put the words in that book to use. Sitting here collecting dust isn't helpful. I ask that you return it when you have accomplished what you've set out to do." She said as she led them out of the room and back to the living room, where she sat beside her husband.
"We'll return it as soon as possible," Breanne replied. She couldn't believe she was holding a piece of history that was centuries old. She wanted to open it and read every word but knew they needed to wait until they returned to Sacramento. It would be best to compile as much as possible so the group could go through everything together.
"One more thing before you go," Xipil said. He opened a small box that sat on a table against the wall. Pulling out two necklaces, he handed one to Breanne and one to Dustin. They were made of brown leather with a piece of turquoise tied to the end.
"Thank you," Dustin said, fingering the soft leather.
"This stone is of great value to our tribe. It brings good luck and heals wounds." Xipil patted them each on the shoulder and then sat back down.
"Thank you both for everything. We'll be back to return the book." Dustin replied as they headed for the door. Johnny and Cole stopped them when they were almost at the car.
"Can you really change into a panther?" Johnny asked in disbelief.
"Yes, but I don't think it's a good idea to do it here. Listen to this." Dustin stood next to the two boys, and Nelo began purring loudly. Johnny and Cole's eyes widened in surprise.
"What's that?" Johnny whispered.
"That's my panther Nelo. He's purring." Dustin responded as Breanne carefully laid the book in the backseat of the car.
"Whoa. That's so cool," Cole said with a big smile.
"When we return, maybe we can show you our panthers if it's okay with your grandparents," Dustin said, opening the passenger door for Breanne.
"Yes, please, that would be awesome. Bye, strange panther people." Johnny said before running back to his grandparent's house, followed by Cole.
"How about we get some lunch before going to the next one?" Dustin asked as they pulled out of the long dirt road onto the main road.
"Sounds good," Breanne replied. She carefully put the necklace around her neck and then put Dustin's on him.
"Do you believe in the power of the stones?" Dustin asked, taking her hand. Breanne shrugged.
"I'd rather not leave anything to chance. With everything we've learned and what we're out here doing, why risk it?" She looked over and smiled. Dustin smiled back. Neither saw the large truck barreling toward them until it was too late. As Dustin tried to put the car in reverse, the truck smashed into the passenger side.
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**Roseville California**
"Of course, you can come in." Cat led her visitors into the kitchen, where Trey, Valerie, Thatcher, and Janel sat around the large table.
"Look who's here, everyone," Cat said happily. Tori and Ryan were two kids they rescued in their late teens about ten years ago. They were a couple back then when Ryan's dad beat him until he was almost dead before raping Tori. She had been living with them when her parents left and said she wasn't going with them. They had been fifteen at the time. Cat took them in when they crossed paths at the hospital. They only stayed with them briefly, but Tori and Ryan had discovered they were surrounded by shifters when one of the cubs from the other group homes talked to them about his wolf.
"It's nice to see you both," Valerie said as she stood up to hug them. Thatcher and Trey exchanged a look. The couple seemed to be nervous. They silently agreed to keep an eye on them.
"It's good to see you all, too," Ryan answered almost reluctantly. There was no way to take Cat now, not with everyone there. They should have known it wouldn't be that easy. They would have to come up with another plan.
"We're sorry we missed Roger's funeral. We got the dates wrong." Tori said, glancing at Ryan, who nodded in agreement.
"So, what have you been up to. I assume you no longer live in the area." Trey asked, getting up to stand behind Cat with his hand on her shoulder. Whenever there was a hint of anything that caused him concern, he had to touch her. She had been taken from him too many times, and he wouldn't let anything happen to her again.
"No, we live in, uh, Nevada now." Ryan stumbled over his words. He had forgotten how intimidating the men in the family could be. Trey may be in his sixties, but he didn't look it. He was still huge.
"What do you do there?" Thatcher asked, putting his arm around Janel. Cat and Janel exchanged glances. Why were their mates acting like they were in an interrogation room?
"We, uh, work for different people. Nothing permanent." Tori replied nervously.
*"What's going on?"* Cat mindlinked Trey.
*"Something is off with them. I don't know what it is but watch your back,"* Trey answered. Cat decided to test them herself. She took their hands in hers and smiled as though she was happy to have them there. However, when she felt deceit, nervousness, and anger, she realized she had been so excited to see them that she missed all the signs Trey and Thatcher had picked up on. When she let go of their hands, she still had the smile plastered to her face, but now she wanted them out of her house.
"I'm sorry to rush you guys off, but we have a few things to take care of. Maybe we can get together another time." Cat saw the relief on their faces and knew they were up to no good.
"That would be great. We'll be in town for a little while. Just let us know when you're free." Ryan said as he was pulling Tori toward the door. They couldn't get out of there fast enough. Once outside and in their car, they both started to calm down.
"Do you think they suspected anything?" Tori asked, looking at the house and seeing Trey and Thatcher watching them from the porch.
"Yes, they know we're up to something, but they don't know what. We'll have to come up with something else. Let's go to the hotel." Ryan pulled out of the driveway, not realizing they were being followed.
Jade had been in the living room and saw the look on her dad and Uncle Trey's faces, so she decided to see what she could find out. She ran as fast as she could, staying out of sight while watching the car. Their hotel wasn't far. Luckily, it was a motel with doors to the rooms on the outside. She watched Ryan and Tori go up the steps to room 214. Once they were inside, she jumped up on the flat roof and lay down. Crawling toward the back, she was able to lean over and slid the bathroom window open slightly so their voices would carry outside.
"We'll probably have trouble getting near Cat now, so who else can we take? If we want to get paid, we have to stop Lisa and Alex from making laws to protect the freaks." After hearing Ryan talk about her family, Jade wanted to kick down the door and rip their heads off. They had helped them both, and this was how they repaid them?
"It has to be someone that they'll all want to rescue. It can't be an extended family member," Tori said with a sigh.
"We could take Jade. I know I'd be happy with that one." Jade's head shot up when she heard her name. Then she heard the sound of someone getting smacked.
"What is it with you and that girl? Ever since she was old enough to have breasts, she's all you think about. Why do you think I forced you to move to another state?" Tori screamed at him.
"She's beautiful, sassy, and sexy. If she gave me the time of day, I'd drop your sorry ass so fast your head would spin." Ryan said with a chuckle. Jade had an idea. Maybe she would let Ryan think she was into him, and then she could find out what they're up to.
Jade jumped from the roof and straightened her clothes. She ran her fingers through her hair, making it silky smooth. She then walked up to their door and knocked. When Tori opened the door, she glared at Jade.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked, trying to block Ryan's view of her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I was across the street and thought I recognized you two. It's been a while." Jade looked over Tori's shoulder and smiled slowly at Ryan. She felt like laughing when he practically ran to the door.
"Jade, you're here? Are you hungry? We were just getting ready to go out for something to eat," Ryan said, shoving Tori to the side.
"I'm not hungry," Tori said through clenched teeth. Ryan looked at her and shrugged.
"Oh, well, it looks like it will just be the two of us." He said, walking out and pulling the door shut before Tori could say anything. Jade gave him her best fake smile.
"Good. Who needs the extra baggage when we have so much to discuss?" She ran her hand over his arm lightly and saw him shiver.
"Where do you want to go?" Ryan asked as they walked down the steps. Jade purposely kept her hand on his arm.
"I don't care as long as I'm with you." She said, flirting her ass off. He beamed down at her, and she wanted to spit in his face. When he reached over and ran his thumb across her bottom lip, she felt like biting it off.
"I've been waiting a long time for you to come around. Let's go somewhere private," Ryan said, letting his eyes travel down her body. Jade was glad she was wearing her short jean shorts and a black crop top. Not to give him easy access, it would be easier for her to move in when she kicked his ass. She stood on her tiptoes so their faces were only an inch apart.
"That's what I was hoping for. What about Tori?" Jade asked, running her hand down his abdomen. He wasn't close to being fit, but she wasn't letting on how repulsed she was.
"Who's Tori? Right now, it's just you and me." Ryan slid his arm around her, letting his hand graze the soft skin on her side and back. He had dreamt about touching her for a long time. He didn't know if she was eighteen yet, but he didn't care. It was clear she wanted him as much as he wanted her. If Tori wasn't in their hotel room, he would take Jade up there and finally get what he wanted.
Jade smiled as she took his hand and led him down the street. Yeah, they needed somewhere private. The men in her family had taught her how to defend herself. Not that it would be hard with this idiot. She learned to use her sex appeal from Lisa. Now she was going to put them together to help her family.
When Ryan slid his hand over her butt and squeezed, she wanted to kick him in the balls. Based on the tiny tent in his pants, there wasn't much there, so she would save that for later when she was ready to crack some nuts. When they reached a park, she pulled him down a deer trail until they were by a small creek where no one else was around. Jade turned to Ryan with a smile. It was time to show him not to fuck with her family.
