BK 4 - Chapter 44 - First Dirtbag
Trey reconfigured the groups, knowing that Lisa wasn't going to agree to stay behind when they were going to go hunting. Dustin, Breanne, Alex, and Kiersten would continue working on the laws with their Native American guests and Joe. Trey wanted Jayce to stay behind, but he refused to leave Lisa. The hunting team would include Trey, Cat, Thatcher, Janel, Saxon, Melanie, Lisa, and Jayce.
"I'm going to," Jade said, crossing her arms over her chest. Bill was standing beside her, unsure what to do or say. He didn't want her to go, but there was no way he would say that out loud. He had learned quickly that you don't speak against the women in this family.
"I don't know if that's a good idea; you're still young," Trey said honestly. Jade glared at him.
"Uncle Trey, I am not some weak little cheerleader afraid of breaking my nails. I'm a vampire and can take care of myself. Don't think I didn't notice how many vampires you have hunting with you. I know why you want our kind; it's because we're faster and can hide from humans." Trey groaned. Why did he even bother arguing when he knew it would do no good? Besides, Jade was right.
"Alright, fine." He said, turning away. The women started laughing. Jade turned to Bill and saw how worried he was. She hadn't marked him yet, but the bond was already there. They'd had a long talk about becoming mates, and Bill was ready for her to mark him now. Jade said she wanted to wait until her eighteenth birthday so they could spend a couple days getting to know each other.
"Are you sure you need to go?" Bill asked quietly. Jade took his hand and smiled.
"Do you want to come with us?" She asked. Looking into her beautiful dark green eyes, he saw she was serious.
"I'm not a vampire, so I'm afraid I'll be in the way." He replied.
"Don't worry about that. I'll protect you." Jade said with a smirk. Bill smiled back at her.
"That's the best protection I could ask for," He responded. Jade wanted to kiss him, but there were too many people around.
Lisa looked at Jade and Bill with a smile. She was glad she had found her mate. However, she felt sorry for Bill. He had no idea what was in store for him.
Trey had made some calls to get the addresses of the men Dexter had given them. Once they had a list, the hunting group got ready to head out. Travis and the other hunters decided to approach Trey.
"We were wondering if you'd let some of us come with you. We feel like we owe you, and this may be a way for us to help." Trey considered what Travis said. He was still on the fence about trusting them, even though they seemed to have had a change of heart. Trey looked at Cat to see what she thought. She gave him a slight nod.
"Okay, you can come. If you give us any indication that you're returning to your old ways, you won't make it back home." Trey warned. They all nodded.
"Alright, everyone, let's head out. Most of these idiots live in and around Sacramento. We should be able to fit in three vehicles. Remember, we need to be discreet. Let me know if anyone decides they don't want to participate." Trey said, and everyone looked toward the hunters.
The hunters were intrigued by the lion family now they'd been around them for a while. They felt they had no right to say anything about Trey and the others hunting those threatening the family after they had killed shifters. Travis was happy for Bill; he was the only one of them who never killed anyone until today with Dexter.
They all headed out to the first address in the small town of Orangevale, just outside Sacramento. Trey wanted to save Neal for last. Not only did Dexter reveal he's been abusing teenagers for years, but he set this all in motion. He believed Neal and Mick together sent the emails to the hunters. His punishment would be worse than the rest.
Trey stopped a block down the road from the first house. He didn't know this man, but the fact he was coming after their family was enough. The house they parked in front of looked empty and had a for sale sign in the yard. They hoped no one would pay them much attention, thinking they were looking at the house.
"These guys know who we are but may not know the humans with us. Travis, you and your men go to the front door and make up some reason you're there. I don't care what. We're going to go through the back. Thatcher and Janel go to the roof and be the lookout until we get inside." Trey wanted to keep Lisa, Jade, and their mates with him and Cat. The two young women were tough, but he didn't want them to attack before everyone was ready.
Once the hunters went to the front door and Thatcher and Janel were on the roof, the rest went to the back. Janel could hear the hunters talking and nodded to Thatcher so he could let those in the back know it was clear.
Trey tried the back door, and it was locked. He shoved it hard, and it opened with barely any sound. The first thing that hit them was the smell of human filth. They also heard someone crying. The man inside was still talking with the hunters, so the group walked silently through the house and split up so they could see who else was there.
Melanie and Saxon opened a door that led to a bathroom, and no one was there. They kept moving to the kitchen, which was also empty. Trey and Cat went into the primary bedroom and saw a woman sleeping in the bed. When they got closer, they saw her face was covered in fresh bruises. Cat could tell she was breathing, but she needed medical attention. They would call for an ambulance once they took care of the man, who they presumed was her husband.
Lisa, Jade, and their mates went to one of the other bedrooms. They could tell that's where the crying was coming from. Lisa turned the door handle quietly. She pushed the door open and saw two children inside. They were lying on their beds; their faces were covered, but she heard them crying. Lisa pulled the door shut so she could whisper to the others.
"There are two children in there. I can't tell if they're male or female. Jayce and Bill, you stay here while Jade and I check on them. I don't want to scare them with too many people all at once." Lisa looked at the two men, and they nodded. She and Jade opened the door and went inside. Jade went to the child in the bed on the left, and Lisa went to the one on the right.
"Hey guys, we don't want to scare you," Lisa said softly. The kids uncovered their faces and sat up. Lisa and Jade tried not to gasp. They were both little girls no older than seven. Both of their faces were so bruised and bloody they were hardly recognizable.
"Who are you?" One of the girls asked. Lisa walked over to her and sat on the floor beside her bed.
"My name is Lisa, and she's Jade. We're here to help you." Lisa said softly. The two girls looked at each other as though they were unsure if they could trust them.
"Can you help our mommy too? Daddy hit her when she tried to stop him from hitting us." The little girl next to Lisa moved closer to her. When she removed the blanket, Lisa saw her arms and legs were covered in bruises in multiple stages of healing.
"Yes, sweetheart, we'll help your mommy too," Lisa replied. The two girls jumped off the beds and into Lisa and Jade's arms.
"Are you the good people that Mommy said she hoped would save us one day?" The girl in Jade's arms asked.
"We do help kids. What are your names?" Jade asked. She was trying not to cry, looking at the girls. How could a father be so heartless?
"I'm Abbey, and she's Bella." The girl in Lisa's arms said.
"How about we take you to your mommy? There are other people in the house, so don't be scared. They're here to help you, too." Lisa said, lifting Abbey up and carrying her to the door. Jade carried Bella, who was clinging to her tightly. They opened the door and saw Jayce and Bill standing right outside. They found their mother in the primary bedroom with Melanie by her side. She was awake now and hugging Melanie while she cried. Abbey and Bella got on the bed and crawled to their mom.
"Mommy, the good people came just like you said," Abbey said.
"I know, sweetie. Stay here with me. They're going to have someone take us to the hospital, okay?" Sarah said to her daughters.
Lisa and Jade left them with Melanie. They wanted to see what was happening with the girls' sperm donor. He didn't deserve to be called a father. When they reached the living room, they saw the man sitting on the couch with the hunters, Cat, Trey, Janel, Saxon, and Thatcher, looking at him.
"I'm assuming you saw his wife's condition, Grandpa Trey?" Lisa asked as they joined them.
"Yes," Trey replied.
"Jade and I found his daughters in worse shape." She said, glaring at the man.
"You have no right to be here. What I do to my family is none of your business." The man said through clenched teeth. Lisa stood in front of him and looked down.
"I think you're forgetting something. You don't want us to have laws to protect us, so that means we don't exist. When we kill you, it will be like it never happened. Do you think using your wife and kids as punching bags makes you a man?" She asked. He didn't respond, so she moved closer.
"You don't look like much of a man, so why don't you hit me? Or are you too much of a pussy?" She asked, leaning down so she was right in his face. Lisa wanted him to take the first swing. When she saw his clenched fists, she waited. As he pulled back his hand to hit her, she ducked and came back up, kicking him in the face. He screamed in pain as the blood poured from his nose.
"You bitch. I'm calling the police." He tried to reach for his phone, but Jayce moved it out of reach.
"Don't you speak to my mate that way, you bastard." Jayce punched him in the face, making him scream again.
"Now, you almost look as bad as your daughters and wife, but not quite." Lisa looked at Jade and nodded. Jade moved so fast that they barely saw her, but they saw the damage to the man's face. Both eyes were swollen shut, and his face was covered in blood.
The hunters, Bill and Jayce, watched in amazement. They considered this justified because of the way this man had treated his family. Seeing how the family treated the real monsters made them glad they were on their side.
Saxon finished him off and said he would make the body disappear. The humans wondered what they did to make people disappear but were too scared to ask. Everyone went to the cars except for Cat, Melanie, Lisa, and Jade. They stayed behind to wait for the ambulance. Cat made sure Sarah had her phone number and said they would help them once they were released from the hospital.
The women went to the cars after Sarah and the girls were gone. Trey pulled up the next address. Lisa leaned against Jayce as they rode, hoping the rest of the houses weren't like the first. When they came to a stop a few minutes later. Lisa hopped out of the car and stretched. One down, seven to go.
