Erin's Awakening (18 page)

"Why don't we start with why you are here today?"
he prompted.

Keni sat forward and handed him a picture of a very beautiful woman.  She had long brown hair with blonde highlights, curvy figure, and the most captivating green eyes he had ever seen.  He was intrigued with her and didn't even know who she was.  He snapped out of his perusal of the unknown woman when Olivia spoke.

"That is our friend, Jasmine.  Jasmine Dupree.  She went missing two weeks ago and the police aren't really doing anything to find her,” Olivia explained. "Mr. Raine, we know something very bad has happened to her.  She wouldn't just disappear without telling one of us where she was going."

"Does she have any family?  Have you contacted them?"
he asked.

"No, she has no family.  She was a foster child.  We are her family
," Keni said.  "She was with us at the Luxor letting off some steam.  She went out to get some air and never came back."

"We called the police and they searched but they concluded pretty quickly that she had left with a guy.  Mr. Raine, she wouldn't do that, it's not her
,” Olivia had filled in.

Phoenix nodded, he himself had been to the Luxor on many occasion.  It wa
s one of the most popular nightclubs in San Diego.  "The police didn't have any leads for the most part," he concluded and they nodded their heads.  "Okay.  What about her apartment?  Does she have roommates?"

"She lives by herself in Santee in a small apartment.  We have a key
," Keni said, pulling out said key and handing it to Phoenix.

"Does she have a boyfriend?  Ex with a grudge?" Phoenix asked.

Olivia answered this time.  "No, none of the above.  No one that would want to hurt her.  She is a good person," she said vehemently.

Phoenix smiled and held up his hands.  "Ladies, I am just trying to get a feel for her.  I am going to have to pry into her life, know everything about her down to what type underwear she likes if Champion takes the case."

Keni put her hand over Olivia's as if to calm her.  "We're sorry, Mr. Raine.  It's just that we have answered these questions over and over for the police.  We are just anxious for someone to understand that Jasmine would not just take off.  Someone has her or something terrible has happened and we are desperate for her to be found."

Phoenix nodded.  "I completely understand that it's difficult for you both.  You are both obviously good friends and worried about her.  I am going to call a contact of mine in the force and get a copy of the investigation."

"Does this mean you will take the case?" Keni asked.

"Wait...we, um, also need to talk about payment
," Olivia said unsure, looking over at Keni.

Phoenix knew they were worried about his fees.  He had investigated them before they came in and found they made decent, if not
, meager salaries and it would be difficult for them to pay his fees.  Looking at the picture of Jasmine Dupree again, he made a decision.

"Ladies, we here at Champion are able to have some leeway with some cases.  Why don't I see what I can find out and then we can discuss this then.  For now, let's wait
," Phoenix said smoothly.

Olivia narrowed her eyes
, but Keni answered for them both.  "Thank you so much, Mr. Raine.  Please, find her."

The two women exchanged a look that said Olivia would be holding her comments for now as the need to find Jasmine overrode all else.  He smiled and shook their hands again as he pressed a button on the side table.  It signaled Gladys to come in and escort guests back out to the lobby.  Once she had done that, she informed him that his last meeting of the day had called to cancel due to an emergency.  He took that time to call his contact and get everything faxed over.

As he was packing up when Gabe sauntered in dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with cowboy boots.  Phoenix grinned at him.

"Eager, are we?" Phoenix teased his brother.

"No more than you are," Gabe replied, casually leaning against the wall just inside the office.

"Looks like we caught a case
," Phoenix informed him as he handed Gabe the picture of Jasmine Dupree.  He filled him in on what information her friends provided as they headed for the ranch.  He watched the look on his brother's face as he kept looking back at Jasmine's picture, he knew Gabe was thinking the same thing. 
Was she the one
?

Taming of Team TEN Book Two

by Jana Leigh

“See you later, darlin',” the woman said, leaned over, and kissed him quickly before leaving.

“
Later,” Gage said and leaned back and sighed.  Sleep is what he needed now, tomorrow was going to be a full day, he had training in the morning, and then he had to ride the fence to fix it tomorrow. 

Just when he was ready to fall asleep, Gage heard his teammates
’ voices.  “
Dude, get the fuck up, this is important.  We have been waiting forever for you to quit fucking around
.”

“
Huh?” Gage said and looked up—his dead teammates were in his room.  “Holy Hell!”

“
You could say that, man, you have got to get a clue and stop thinking with your dick.  We have a huge problem.  It is time for you to get the letter and read it
,” one of his teammate’s stepped forward.  “
Someone's life depends on it
.”

“
Shit,” Gage groaned and looked around desperately.  “Why me?”

“
Because I trust you, man, I explained that
,” Raider standing before him said.

“
Fuck a duck, what do I need to do?” Gage sighed.  He had seen Marie a few times since they arrived back, but it had been painful and a reminder to her having him around.  He sent money every month, but so far, none of the checks had been cashed.

“
You have lost contact
,” Raider said slowly.

“
I know, I am a bastard, man, but I was fucked up, and she had a new baby.  Our grief was drowning both of us,” Gage whispered.

“
I know, but things change
,” Raider said.

“
Like what?” Gage asked confused.

“
Read the letter
,” Raider said and then faded.

Gage stood and screamed loudly.  He heard feet pounding on the stairs and the floor, then his door was flung open.

“What?” Thane roared as he came in the door with a weapon drawn, sweeping the room.

“
This is your fault!” Gage yelled at Alex as he walked into the room, disheveled and sleepy.

“
Huh?” Alex said, rubbing his eyes.

“
You," Gage said as he pointed his finger at Alex.  "You started the whole damn thing with all the, 'I see dead people' shit.  Now I am talking to dead people!  ALL YOUR FAULT!”  Gage barked as he shook his finger at Alex.

By Nancy Lommel

“Princess Ariyona,” he began by letting her know he was all too aware of her identity.  “My name is Captain Merrick. You are now the prisoner of My Liege Lord, His Royal Majesty, King Jareth of Ravenwood.”

Ariyona felt her stomach sink to her toes upon hearing that name and she paled visibly.

“My Lord has ordered my men and me to bring you whole and unharmed before him. My Lord is very unforgiving of failure, so it is my wish that you cooperate with us so that we may fulfill his bidding. We wish you no harm, but know that we will deliver you. It is in your best interest at this point to cause no trouble. As long as you cooperate, we will do everything possible to assure your safety and comfort on the journey to Ravenwood. Do you agree or would you like to take on the four of us?” Merrick smiled as he spoke the last.

For a moment, Ariyona did not reply.
Jareth of Ravenwood!
He was a tyrant king who ruled by fear and force. Many were the tales that had reached King Oberon’s court of the atrocities committed by Jareth upon his people. They had many refugees from his lands. He was a harsh, cruel monarch and the opposite of everything Ariyona believed in.
But why was he kidnapping her?
Ariyona could not fathom a reason. She looked at Merrick who was still awaiting her answer. She was royalty and they knew it.  She knew from his words they would respect and treat her well. Jareth wanted her delivered whole and unharmed. Ariyona preferred it that way as well. She thought of her father’s four rules of being captured. The first was to do whatever was necessary to protect herself. The second was to obey her captors as long as it did not compromise the first rule. Thirdly, she was not to do anything that would bring dishonor to her father or her kingdom. Finally, the fourth rule was to try to escape as long as it did not compromise the first or third rule. As resistance would gain her nothing and escape was not an option at this point, Ariyona forced herself to speak to her captors.

“
I agree,” she said through clenched teeth.

Merrick smiled.
“Very well.” He produced a length of rope that had been secured to his belt. “Please hold out your wrists. I have to bind them, but let me know if it is too tight. As I said, I have no wish to harm you.” Yet from looking into Merrick’s eyes, Ariyona knew he was not a man to trifle with.

Ariyona held out her wrists and Merrick quickly wound the rope around them.
As he did the other three men sheathed their swords, but Ariyona did not doubt that any transgression on her part would have them out in an instant. The rope was very tight around her wrists, but Ariyona’s pride would not allow her to speak again to Merrick to ask him to loosen her binding. Merrick tied the other end of the rope to his belt and they set off deeper into the woods, away from the castle. One of Merrick’s men led the way with Merrick second. Naturally, Ariyona was next in line, as she was tied to Merrick, and the other two soldiers took up the rear.

As they walked, Merrick explained to Ariyona how she had made their task easier.
They had been watching the castle from the woods for several days and had noticed that she fled the castle alone at least once a day. As soon as they were assured that she remained alone, and sometimes stayed in the woods for hours, all they had to do was pick a day and wait. Ariyona walked right into their hands. Merrick and his men laughed at this while Ariyona silently cursed herself for her foolishness. Her father had been right all along and she did have need of a guard. Now she knew for a fact she was wrong to disobey her father on this matter. Why did she not listen?

The Ashland Pack
Book Two

b
y Bryce Evans

Damen McDonald knocked on his Alpha
’s door.

“
Enter!”  Damen walked into Mace’s office frowning.

“
I know why I’m in a bad mood, but why are you?” Damon said as Mace turned back around to face him.  Damen was the Beta, but he was also Mace and Adrianna’s cousin.  Damen was like a brother to him and he trusted him with his life.

“
No reason.  Just woke up like that.”  Damen stared at Mace.  “What?”

Damen snorted. 
“What’s wrong?”  Mace shrugged his shoulders.  Damen arched an eyebrow at his Alpha’s childish shrug.  “Can you explain to me what’s going on with you?  You are moping around as if you have been dumped.  That can’t be the reason since you haven’t been seeing anyone lately.  Maybe you need to get laid.” 

Mace sighed and moved back to his desk, and picked up the piece of paper in front of him. 
“Nobody interests me.”

“
Never stopped you before, Mace.  Never stopped any of us.  We are just having fun and the girls understand that,” Damen responded.

Mace looked up and sighed loudly at his cousin. 
“What do you want, Damen?” 

Damen didn
’t like how his Alpha was looking.  He acted uninterested and agitated, which wasn’t Mace.  Damen looked down at the files he held in his hand.  “Well, we have five more applications to join the pack.”

“
Damn, where are these people coming from?” Mace responded.

“
Well most of them want to be near The Trinity.  Some are stagnant in other packs.  They don’t like either the Alpha or how the pack is being run.  Then you have the Rogues who are tired of being on their own.  You name it they’re coming here.  Plus they heard what a good-looking Second you have,” Damen said as he arched his eyebrows up and down.

Mace leaned back in his seat shaking his head laughing at Damen.

“Yes, buddy, I’m sure that’s it.  Okay, I know you have looked over the applications and completed background checks on everyone.  Now tell me what do you think about them?” said Mace.