Repercussion: The Clandestine Saga Book 3 (12 page)

"Is that what you want?" Eliza asked, surprised.

              "Yes," Laura answered. "Sam, Flynn, and Camilla have technically done nothing wrong except for carrying a big stick. I'm the only one who swung it. They all want to re-Transform, go back to being human. I want them to be able to do that. I want to be released into my sister's custody."

              "It sounds like you've talked this over," Eliza pried, hoping she could get Laura to admit this was part of the plan.

              "We've talked about the possibilities of working with LIGHTS to get this done. Eliza, I'm tired. I feel like I've been homeless for twelve years. I just want this to be over. However, I'm not going home until Giovani is brought in. And Cowboy and his team want revenge on Giovani for killing his niece more than they do for any of the transgressions they have claimed against Cadence or anyone else."

              Eliza pondered the response for a long moment before answering. "All right, let me think it over, talk to Daniel, my Hunter Leader, and we'll get back to you. Bottom line is, I can't authorize a hunt of that size without Aaron catching on. He's gonna want details. I can only fool him for so long, and I know he's hearing some outside chatter as well. So, be prepared for me to have to fill him in. You can decide what you want to do from there."

              "Do you think you can get us our demands, Eliza? If not, we have some other options, other people who may be willing to help, and get the credit."

"You've got to be bluffing. If he's in my territory, there's no one who can..."

              "Oh sure there is. Look at a map. You have borders, sweetheart, and those neighbors have leaders. I've been on here way to long. I'll call you tomorrow. Work it out, Eliza. You're more like me than you think you are. You'd have shot her, too."

              Eliza pondered the remark for a second. Pushing it out of her mind, she returned to the IAC.
"How did I do?"
Eliza asked Aaron as soon as she had disconnected the call.

As much as Aaron didn't want to compliment her, she had surprised him.
"Nice work, Eliza,"
he said as enthusiastically as he could under the circumstances.

"Yeah?"
she asked, giggling with glee.
"Thanks! Do you believe what she said about those bullets?"

             
"I don't believe much of what she said at all, quite frankly,"
he replied.
"Let me think about this for a while, talk to some people, and then I'll let you know what to say before she calls you back, all right?"

             
"Okay,"
Eliza agreed.
"See, I totally deserve this job."

             
"I'm the one who gave it to you, Eliza. You don't have to convince me,"
he replied. Technically, that wasn't true. He was still thinking there was a pretty good chance he would regret giving her such a large assignment, even though San Fran was probably the easiest region. So far, however, she was holding her own.

             
"I know. I just want to show that I've earned it,"
she replied, confidently.

             
"Keep it up, and no one will doubt it."

***

              "Do you think she bought it?" Cowboy Sam asked in his husky voice, eyeing Laura across the table they were all sitting around.

              "Yes," Laura replied sharply. The pain in her eye had begun to subside at last, but it was still very watery and irritated. Resisting the urge to rub it, she continued, "But, we all know, it really doesn't matter what I convince that twit of. If we can't get Aaron to buy in, we're done before we begin. And I'm sure he was listening."

              "How do you know?" Flynn asked.

              Laura looked at him like he had two heads. "I think I know Aaron well enough to know when he is directing a conversation," she replied territorially.

              "We wanted him listening though, right?" Camilla chimed in. "To convince him right along with her?"

              "That would be the easiest way. But I think it's going to take more than a plea for sanctuary to get him to take this kind of risk," Laura reminded them.

              "Oh, I don't know," Sam shrugged. "This is his chance to get all of us at once, end a lot of problems all at the same time. I think he'll do it. The problem is going to be making sure he doesn't just rely on Eliza's team. How do we get him to bring his key players?"

"Leave that part to me," Laura replied. "I can get them there."

              "Well, it's unfortunate that those titanium bullets got held up in customs, but I think we've got just enough to get the job done," Cowboy Sam smirked.

              Flynn leaned in, elbows on the table. "If we can pull this off...it'll be epic."

Sam and Laura nodded in agreement. Camilla reminded them, "If we pull this off, forget about any type of sanctuary. Ever."

              That sobered the mood a bit but not for long. "It'll be worth it," Laura replied after carefully consideration. "Completely worth it."

Chapter Five

             
Aurora and Meaghan were just as excited as Cadence was for Thursday night to finally arrive. Even though Cadence wasn't quite sure if this was an actual date--since Cale had invited all three of them and several members of his team were going as well--she was still nervous as she climbed inside the Buick Enclave he had driven to pick them up. Archie and Nick were in the way-back, and for a moment Cadence wondered if this were set up to be a triple-date, until she remembered some mention that Archie had a boyfriend.

Cale had insisted on coming up to get them, even though his friends wanted to stay in the vehicle, and so Cadence had let him. Now, sitting next to him in a strappy pink dress that accentuated her skin tone, she was partially glad her friends were there to keep it casual, and partially wishing she had him alone. He looked great in a pair of khakis and a light gray shirt, and she had told him so at the hotel room door. She contemplated saying it again....

              There was some chatter from the back as the rest of the party discussed the band they were going to see, The Kursk, a relatively new band to make it big on the music scene coming out of Springfield, Missouri, and various other artists they both liked and disliked. But Cadence's attention was focused on the driver. "So, the girls didn't want to come?" she asked, referring to Phoebe and the "pixie" Nora.

              He had to lean a bit closer to her in order to hear, but he deciphered what she was saying beyond the din of opinions behind them. "Oh, they're meeting us there. Phoebe's boyfriend and his brother are riding along with them."

"Oh, cool," Cadence smiled, inwardly wishing they weren't coming. She didn't get a good vibe from any of his teammates, but Nora in particular seemed obnoxiously rude.

              As if he were reading her mind, he said, "I've made them all swear to make nice."

              She laughed, nodding her understanding. "I'm sure it will be fine."

Cadence had spoken to Cale a few times over the IAC in the days since their lunch at the diner, and she felt that she was getting to know him fairly well. However, seeing him in person was another matter entirely, and she suddenly found herself feeling very shy, which was not like her at all.

              He picked up on that as well and reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze before placing his back on the steering wheel to enter the freeway. "We'll be in Tahoe in no time," he said, that friendly smile crinkling his eyes.

              He was actually driving a lot slower than any other Guardian she had ever ridden with, but she felt it was nice to go slow--sometimes rushing just made a mess of everything.

              The venue at Harvey's in Lake Tahoe wasn't huge, but it housed about 7,000 people. Cale had been able to get them very good seats, though they weren't all exactly together, and Cadence absently wondered if he had a secretary who handled that sort of thing like Aaron did or if he had to do it himself. She was sitting next to him, but Meaghan and Aurora were a few rows behind them. Archie and Nick had insisted on taking the only other available seats with their leader, and the girls had politely agreed. Cadence felt a little awkward now, like she really was on an actual date. With a guy. One she kind of liked.

              The opening band was not so fantastic, but with the opening notes of "Fade Out," the crowd went crazy, and everyone immediately jumped to their feet. Cadence was right there with them, clapping and singing along. She noticed that Cale was standing, but his hands were in his pockets. Though he was smiling, he didn't appear to be singing.

              "Pretty good seats, huh?" he asked a few lines into the song, leaning over to whisper in her ear.

              The fact that he could have easily sent her an IAC instead didn’t slip her notice, and the feel of his breath against her neck sent shivers down her spine. It took her a second to reply. "Yes, they're great," she finally answered. She glanced across him and saw Archie dancing wildly and Nick clapping while giving his neighbor an incredulous look. She couldn't help but laugh. A moment later, she touched Cale lightly on the arm to get his attention and said, "I can practically see Skyler Smith's eye color from here!"

              The lead singer began to croon the slower, "Waking," but the crowd didn't sit down or stop singing along. Cadence looked at Cale and smiled. She hadn't been this happy or care free in a while.

              It was difficult to carry on a conversation, and he seemed reluctant to use the IAC so they spent a lot of time whispering to each other. Finally, she got up the nerve to ask him, "Are you having fun?"

"Yes, I'm having a great time. Why?" he asked, surprise.

              "Well, you just... need to loosen up a little bit," she explained, shrugging.

"You mean like Archie?" he asked, gesturing towards his friend who hadn't slowed down.

              "No," she laughed. "Not at all."

              He put his hand gently on the bare skin of her shoulder blades. "So what do you want me to do?" he asked in her ear.

              She glanced around and noticed that lots of couples were slow dancing to the ballad, "Are You Lonely?" Slipping her arm beneath his and around him, she said, "Dance with me."

              He raised his eyebrows, but only for a moment before complying. The row was narrow, but they could make it work. He turned to her, wrapped his arms around her, and began the slow, rocking movements one might see at a middle school dance. "This is all I've got in this confined space," he said next to her ear. "But you put me on an actual dance floor, I make Archie look like... Elaine Benez."

              Cadence laughed, momentarily burying her head in his chest. "He already looks like Elaine Benez."

              She was perfectly content just to have his arms around her and sway to the music. As they danced, she began to carefully listen to the lyrics.

             
Are you lonely?

              Do you wish you could be with someone?

              Does it seem that lately

              All the dreams you had have come undone?

She began to think Skyler was talking directly to her. Everything he was singing about seemed to hit home. As Timothy Labrie led them into the chorus on the drums, she thought about the situation that had led here in the first place.

             
Can you hear their lies?

              Can't you see the truth is

              Right before your eyes?

              It had been lies that had caused her to run away from home, ones others had told about her, and the lie of omission that had caused Aaron to break up with her.

              Clinton Houseman ramped up the bass and Skyler broke into a guitar solo. Cadence could feel Cale's breath on her neck again; his strong arms made her feel more safe and secure than she had in a very long time. She raised her head up, locking eyes with him. In the dim light, he grinned at her, and she returned his smile. Before she realized what was happening, his lips were on hers, gently at first, but once he realized she was kissing him back, with more intensity. After a moment, he broke away, still smiling, and she placed her head back against his chest, eyes wide.

              When the slow song was over, the band picked up the beat with "Laundry Martyr," and Cadence pulled away. When he reached for her hand, she interlaced her fingers with his and spent the rest of the concert floating around somewhere between the spotlights and the stars.

              On the ride home, everyone was much less chatty, though it wasn't in anyone else's nature to be particularly tired. Cadence couldn't help but wonder what would happen when Cale walked her--and her two friends--to the door. Even though the girls had separate rooms, they were right next to hers. He was very quiet as they made their way back to Reno, and she thought he must have been contemplating the same thing.

              Once they reached the hotel, he parked, and opened the doors for all three of them, telling Archie and Nick he would be right back. The elevator ride was silent, but once they reached their floor and made their way down the hall, the girls thanked Cale for the invite and disappeared into their rooms rather quickly, leaving Cadence and her date alone in the hallway.

              Standing in front of her door, she looked at him and gave him a nervous smile. "Well, that was a lot of fun," she said quietly, not wanting to disturb the other guests.

              His hands were buried in his pockets, and there seemed to be something quite interesting on the carpet, but he nodded, and glanced up, giving her a quick smile. "Thanks for coming," he replied, just above a whisper.

              "Thanks for inviting me," she answered, nodding.

"When do you think you'll be heading out?" he asked, a concerned expression suddenly crossing over his face.

              She thought he must have just realized he might not see her again for a while. "I'm honestly not sure," she replied. "We've had several requests to join hunts in various parts of the country, and the world, but we haven't accepted anything yet."

              "Oh, okay," he said, seeming to calm a little bit. "I hope I can see you again before you leave," he added quietly and with much deliberation.

              Her smile broadened. "I think that can be arranged."

Apparently, he had an abrupt reappearance of courage. "Good," he replied, drawing his hands out of his pockets. "I'd like that."

              Before she could answer, he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and gently drew her in for a kiss. She welcomed the feel of his soft lips on hers, but pulled back for just a second to flash him an encouraging smile, before leaning back in and embracing his mouth with hers. When he lightly pressed her to open, she complied, feeling her knees weaken and running her hand along his strong jaw.

              Cale was certainly a gentleman. After a moment, he pulled away. He smiled at her sweetly and whispered, "Goodnight, Cadence."

              She took a step back, whispered, "Good night," while absently feeling for the door behind her as she watched him step towards the elevator. It wasn't until she was inside her room, the excitement and titillation beginning to dissipate, that she realized she had opened the door with the key card still inside her handbag.

***

              Despite her more cheerful disposition, Cadence still didn't sleep well that night. She had awoken around 8:00 to a message from Cale asking if she was free for dinner, to which she promptly replied an enthusiastic yes, and then tried to go back to sleep again. After several attempts at obtaining more than an hour and a half of consecutive sleep, she finally got up around 10:30. Even though the exhaustion was still there, she was happier than she had been in a while, and she found herself humming some of the songs from the concert as she showered and got ready for the day.

              She towel dried her hair, picked up her toothbrush, and was about to put the toothpaste on when Aaron requested access via IAC. She was the only one he couldn't force on, and she pondered ignoring him just for the fun of it, but quickly realized he would likely not go away easily, and decided to go ahead and see what he wanted.

             
"Good morning,"
he said in an obviously forced chipper voice.

             
"What do you want?"
she asked in a voice as equally fake as she could muster.

             
"It's nice to hear from you, too,"
he chided.
"How was the concert?"

"Spectacular,"
she admitted, not awfully surprised that he knew all about it. He always seemed to know everything.
"It was the best first date I've been on in a very long time,"
she added just to amuse herself. After all, he had never taken her out, so there honestly wasn't much to compare it to.

              The sting was clearly there, nonetheless, as he replied,
"Oh, it was a date then? I wasn't sure, what with the other six people along for the ride."

              Cadence wished he could see her rolling her eyes. "
Oh, it was definitely a date,"
she shot back.
"And there was definitely a good night kiss. And there will definitely be a second date, too, I might add."

             
"Hey, that's great,"
Aaron replied.
"But I'm afraid it's going to have to wait. Because I need you."

             
"You broke up with me,"
she said snidely, knowing full well that wasn't what he meant.

             
"Ha, very funny. Professionally. I need you back here."

              Cadence was not about to let him ruin her first chance at being happy in a very long time.
"Uh, I don't work for you anymore, remember?"

"Well, you're still on the payroll. And I'm financing that $120,000 bike you're riding, so I guess you kind of do,"
he replied curtly.