Scowling briefly and, not to be outmaneuvered, Brenda placed a chair about a foot from Slate’s knees and sat down. Leaning forward, she placed her hand on his leg and gave a light squeeze.
Babe, this is just too much!Dakota said through their mind link.
Fuck her!
I think that’s what she wants, babe.
Ha ha! Keep it up, mate and I might have to…
“Is this better, Mr. Valentin? So cozy, you and me, here we are. Chit-chatting like old friends. Isn’t itgrand?”
“Uhm, yes.”
“Oh, I forgot something,” Brenda cooed, rising and walking behind the love seat. Then, bending down and blowing into Slate’s ear, she ran her hand down his chest.Squeezing his bicep before backing away, she said, “I’ll berightback.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Slate saw Dakota grinning at Brenda’s antics.Don’t you dare say a word of this to my brother, my mother, my father, your brothers, our children, or anyone in the universe.
Awww, c’mon babe, this is too good a story to keep to ourselves. Oh, shit, Brenda is calling someone to take me on a tour. She wants to be alone with you.
No fucking way!
~/~/~/~/~
Landing behind the church, Logan quickly shifted after his passengers slid off. Taking his phone from Kieran, he sent a text message to Zane at the plane, before saying, “Ian, Colton…find a place to hide in those bushes over there. I don’t know what shape David’s mother will be in, so make sure you can stabilize her quickly before we head back to the villa.”
“You think someone might come after them?” asked Ian.
“Don’t know, so my plan is to get out of here as fast as possible,” Logan replied. “Kieran and I will use the woods lining the path to the convent as cover. I’ll let you know as soon as we see Zane and David.”
“Fine. C’mon Ian, I think I see the perfect spot for us,” said Colton.
Logan waited until his brother and Ian entered the woods, making a mental note of their position before taking hold of Kieran’s hand, saying, “C’mon, let’s go. I want to get as close as possible.”
~/~/~/~/~
Reading the message his brother sent, Zane said, “Babe, Logan gave us the all clear to bop into your old room. This time, you lead, otherwise we might end up in Brenda’s boudoir if I do it.”
Picturing the High Priestess’ face at their sudden appearance in her bedroom, David gave a short laugh. “Yeah, you’re right.” Holding Zane’s hand tightly, David thought of his room and disappeared from the plane with his mate.
Emerging from the black hole he’d been sucked into, Zane saw a very pale, still woman on a slab of wood. Then he heard David cry, “Mama,” as his mate rushed toward her. Shaking his head to clear it, Zane followed him and knelt next to the bed. Lifting Mrs. Rossi’s limp wrist, he felt for her pulse and, finding it, was relieved. “Babe, your mother is still alive, but barely. She needs Ian. I’m going to carry her so you have to hold on to me. Check the door and see if they locked it, will you?”
David nodded and, kissing his mother’s forehead first, went to the door and tried to turn the knob but was unable to. “It’s locked,” he whispered.
“Good. If they hear your mother, they won’t be able to get in quickly.”
“My mother won’t say anything…she’s unconscious.”
“I hope so. But if she comes to when I lift her, her injuries might make her cry out. Let me have a look at that map again, will you?”
David pulled it from his pocket, giving it to Zane. Then sitting down next to his mother, he held her hand, softly stroking it.
“According to this, that’s the wall we need to go through and it will take us to a hallway leading to a room with an outside wall. Ready?”
“Yes,” David said, firmly.
With one arm under Mrs. Rossi’s back and the other behind her knees, Zane slowly lifted her up, holding her close to his chest. Then, walking over to the wall, he said, “Babe, I know you can do this alone, but I’d rather we ghost walk together, so please grab my belt and say the words with me.”
David nodded. Tucking his fingers around his mate’s leather belt, then looking up at Zane, he said, “Okay, on the count of three, one…two…three…ghost walker.”
