Page 18 of A Hunter Turned
Getting down to business, Kane leaned forward over his basket of chicken. “I need you to make me a list of anyone under Rodolfo’s reign that were so loyal to him they would openly and aggressively challenge new management.”
Edward nodded, his look contemplative. “I can compile a list, of course, but five names, in particular, come immediately to mind.”
“Oh? Do tell?”
Edward ticked off the names on his fingers. “They were Rodolfo’s main guard so to speak, and they enjoyed certain benefits in that position.”
“Benefits such as?”
Edward looked around the restaurant and then leaned in closer, his voice low. “They were the ones that punished transgressions, and quite thoroughly enjoyed the exercise I might add. They also were in charge of any new Turned, ensuring fear of Rodolfo was learned early and learned well.”
“I see,” Kane said slowly. “How do they know I wouldn’t have utilized them in the same capacity?” he asked, more to himself than as a question to Edward.
In the same low voice, the clerk provided the answer. “The means in which they were rewarded for their services is frowned upon by The Court of Elders.”
“Tell me.”
“Rodolfo allowed them to take women, kidnap them, abuse them,” at this, the man grimaced in distaste. “Sometimes, those women would be let loose far from the city so that they could be hunted, others, should his men desire it, Rodolfo Turned without a contract.”
Yes, that was a very good reason why these rogues were unwilling to accept a new regime. He’d call Archer, see if he could get some of the pack that had scented the bodies to assist, but he had a starting point. A damn good one and he was eager to see how these rogues reacted to becoming the prey for once.
∞∞∞
“Look,” Jamie told Cady, meeting the child and her father outside for their planned boat trip. “My fingers have sleeves.”
Wiggling her fingers, she showed off the stretchy new fashion accessory the pack healer had brought by earlier that were intended to assist in the final stages of healing. Much slimmer than bandage wrappings, they hugged her fingers and allowed her more freedom of movement. Marguerite had also brought a tub of putty that Jamie was to work with her fingers as an exercise to regain strength that might have been lost due to her injury and recent lack of use while healing. “I also get to play with Play-Doh.”
“I love Play-Doh,” was Cady’s excited reply. “I have all the colors. We can play together.”
Archer chuckled. “Not tonight, though. Tonight, we’re going out on the water,” he reminded them.
“I packed a snack,” Jamie told them, reaching for the large plastic bag to pick it up but Archer was quicker. Motioning toward it, she said apologetically, “Travis didn’t have a picnic basket, but I put some cardboard in the bottom so the drinks shouldn’t roll around and squish the sandwiches.”
Archer sniffed and then grinned down at Cady. “Peanut butter and grape jelly. Your favorite.”
With a whoop of excitement, the little girl took her father’s hand in one of hers and then reached for Jamie’s with the other before pulling back with a scrunched brow of concern. “Can I hold your hand?”
“You sure can.”
They only made it about half-way to the little pier before Archer pulled them to a stop with a sigh and turned to look at Jamie. “I think the juveniles would like to meet you.”
As if they’d been waiting for their cue, five teenagers melted away from the tree line, their approach cautious except for one lanky, sandy-haired boy who came forward with a noticeable swagger. Jamie eyed him with a sudden knowing she wouldn’t have been able to explain had someone asked. Grinning, she said, “I think I met you the other night.”
The boy’s answering grin was huge and overly cocky.
“Jamie, meet Efrem Deeds,” Archer said before extending a hand in the general direction of each of the other young pack members that were still hanging slightly back, and introducing them by name as well, before he finished with, “They’re curious about you.”
It seemed Efrem, however, was their chosen spokesperson, the group remaining quiet despite the eagerness in their eyes as the boy asked, “Can we see your fangs?”
“I got to see her fangs,” Cady proudly announced, edging closer to Jamie as if the little girl intended to protect her new friend from the teenagers.
Grinning, Jamie let her fangs distend to the low sounds of awe coming from her audience.
“Is it true you can turn into a bat?”
“You can turn into a bat?” Cady gasped, tipping her head up to look at Jamie with wide eyes filled with wonder.
“I can’t,” she told them with a shake of her head to the disappointment of the assembled juveniles. “But the Born can. You’d have to ask my friend Morgan about that,” she added without the least bit of sympathy that she was siccing this pack of curious teens on her boss. Mostly because she was pretty sure Morgan would love it, and both she and Travis needed something other than Travis’s sister to focus on, if even for a short time.
