BK 4 - Chapter 41 - Gerard's Regret
"How did that get in here?" Lisa asked angrily. Who would put a dead dog in their living room? She looked around and didn't see a broken window or anything, so they didn't throw in it.
"Atzi wanted Breanne to get some fresh air, so we moved her out back. Everyone went outside to stay together. Carlita came in to use the restroom and found the dog," Janel answered, putting her arms around Thatcher.
"Janel, Saxon, and Jade searched the area and didn't see anyone. Whoever it was must have been waiting for the right opportunity. I don't like them being able to get into the house. We can't let our guard down." Aiden said, squeezing Kitty's hand.
"Let's clean this up and get everyone over to Valerie and Rogers. At least we have a little more protection there." Trey replied. Everyone nodded in agreement.
Saxon took care of getting rid of the dog but kept the letter. Cat, Valerie, and Trey packed some bags. Everyone got into their cars and followed each other from house to house. Trey didn't want anyone separated for any reason. They were able to hire a medical transport van to pick up Breanne and take her to the house.
Everyone unpacked their things in their rooms once they were at Valerie and Rogers. Alex, Kiersten, Lisa, and Jayce were still going to stay in the pool house. Kele, Tom, Atzi, Xipil, Cole, and Johnny were also given rooms. Ryan and Tori were tied up in the storage room.
Everyone settled in the large family room, eating pizza while Alex and Dustin explained what they had learned at the reservations. They were shocked to learn that the scientist didn't make Lisa and Alex as they had all thought. Kiersten and Alex also told them they were expecting a male and female cub. Everyone was happy with the good news that was needed with so much darkness around them.
Gerard was the only one who wasn't planning on staying, but Wesley wanted to find out what he could tell them about Lisa's mother before he left.
"Everyone, this is Gerard. With all the chaos, we haven't been able to introduce him. He worked with Cole Reynell, the scientist who was doing experiments on shifters. He may have some information about Lisa's mother," Wesley said, looking at the man beside him. Gerard nodded and sighed before standing up.
"Hi everyone. I'm sorry to be meeting you under these circumstances. As Wesley said, I worked for Cole Reynell at one time. I'm a physician, and he hired me to assist women with cesarean births. That's what he said, anyway. What he actually wanted me to do was cut babies from their unsuspecting mothers. I didn't know anything about shifters back then. I had just graduated from med school, and he offered me a lot of money, so I agreed. The first woman was unconscious, and I didn't suspect anything at first. I thought I was doing what she wanted. However, the second woman was different." Gerard glanced at Alex and then looked away.
"We drove to what felt like the middle of nowhere. Cole had me stay in the van and wait for him and his two men to return. When they returned, they had a young Native American woman. She was fighting them and crying as they dragged her to the van. I jumped out, and she screamed, trying to get away. When I asked Cole what was happening, he said I was paid to do a job, not ask questions. The woman passed out. I removed her son, and we left." Everyone looked at Alex, who was silently crying. Melanie held one hand while Kiersten held the other.
"What about Lisa's mother?" Alex asked. He already knew what had happened to his birth mother, but Lisa didn't know about hers. Gerard looked at Lisa sadly.
"After we left with the baby, we were on our way to the highway when we saw a woman on the side of the road hitchhiking. She happened to be pregnant. Cole got excited and told the driver to stop. I wanted to tell her to run away, but I was scared he would kill me, her, and the babies. He told the woman we would give her a ride, and as soon as she was in the van, Cole sedated her and had me remove her daughter. I sewed her up, and Cole left her on the side of the road. She was still alive when we left, but I don't know what happened to her." Lisa was furious.
"How can you live with yourself after what you did to those women? How many were there?" Lisa asked with tears streaming down her face. Jayce held onto her, and Saxon sat beside her, taking her hand. The thought of her birth mother being left on the side of the road like trash made her feel sick.
"She was the last. I couldn't do anymore after her. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Gerard broke down and started sobbing. The images of those women had haunted him for years. He couldn't imagine what Lisa and Alex were feeling about learning the truth surrounding their births.
"I don't want to hear that you're sorry. I want to know what you're going to do about it. Alex found his birth mother, but what about me and the other cub or wolf? Why don't you try redeeming yourself by finding those women so we can find out where we came from?" Lisa was trying her best not to let Ali out to tear him apart. Gerard looked at Lisa with his eyes still red from crying.
"I will do anything." He said honestly.
"We have another room. Would you be willing to stay here while we try to find the other two women?" Wesley asked.
"Of course," Gerard replied. Wesley showed him to one of the spare rooms. He figured it was best to get him away from Lisa before she did something to him before they got answers.
"Are you okay?" Cat asked, hugging her granddaughter. Lisa clung to her as she cried.
"How can someone be so cruel to cut a child from a woman's body and leave her to die? You will always be our family, but why did our mothers have to go through that?" She sobbed against Cat while appreciating her calming effect.
"I know, sweetheart. I don't know why people like that exist. Hopefully, he'll remember something about your mother so we can find her." Cat smoothed her hand over her hair. Lisa looked over at Melanie, and her heart hurt. She stood up, walked over to where she was sitting next to Alex, and hugged her.
"No matter what. You will always be my mom. That will never change." Lisa and Melanie both cried.
"I know. You deserve to know the truth, and if she's out there somewhere, it's only right you have a relationship with her. I would never come between you and your mother." Melanie said truthfully. She couldn't imagine how Alex and Lisa's mothers felt having their cubs ripped from them.
"I love you, Mom," Lisa said, hugging her tighter.
"I love you too, honey," Melanie replied.
Everyone went to their rooms and went to bed. After a long day, they all hoped tomorrow would be better. Dustin and Atzi stayed with Breanne in the family room where her hospital bed was set up. Her bruises were gone, so they were just waiting for her to wake up.
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The man in the dark sedan watched as the family's cars drove through the gates that led to the house. He could tell they were all together, and he felt like laughing. They thought they were so smart by staying together. Don't they realize that just makes them a bigger target?
He received a text from one of the men working with him on their mission. He said he was going to pay the family a visit in the morning. Those lions thought he was one of their friends. In reality, he wanted to see them all dead. They should know going around saving the world would make enemies. Some may be even closer than they thought.
