Morpheus Read online

  The cab made its way across town with Cutter’s man behind it. They followed him as far back as they could without risking losing him. It would almost be funny, a line of cars following each other all over town, if the matter at hand wasn’t so serious and life threatening. The cab pulled in at a park of some sort. Cutter’s man pulled in after it. Hades pulled past and stopped. Hercules and Eres got out to check things out on foot. They would let him know when he and Lu were needed.

  “Isn’t it just the damnedest thing?” Lu asked.

  “What?” Hades asked wondering what the hell Lu was talking about.

  “We escaped Origin only to have them come after our mates. They still hold our fate in the palm of their filthy hands. Will it ever end?” Lu turned angry eyes to Hades.

  “I don’t know, but we’re damn sure going to try to finish it.”

  The phone rang, it was Hercules. “They didn’t bring the mate with them. She told Morpheus he’ll have to come with her or take the risk of trying to leave. Lying fucking bitch set him up.”

  “Tell me when to follow them,” Hades replied.

  “They seem to be on foot. I remember they like to set up near parks, government offices, public lands, and such. Eres and I are following at a distance. She’s got two of her goons with her.”

  “Are there any buildings nearby?” Hades asked.

  “There are buildings all around. The back side of this park connects to some kind of small business area or mall. I’ll let you know when they enter one.”

  With nothing to do now but think, Hades wondered how Doc and the kids were doing.

  Chapter 9

  Little Angels

  Morpheus had just left and she had these two sweet little kids left in her charge. All she really knew about them was that they were Morpheus’s mate’s children and their names. “So what do you two usually do when you stay at a hotel like this?”

  “Mom takes us on vacations and we get to do all kindsa fun stuff. Are you going to take us to eat? We haven’t had a thing all day long. Mom went to buy us food, but she’s not back yet and Morpheus went to get her,” Cassie said.

  “I’m afraid we’ll have to stay here, but maybe we can have delivery. What do you guys want?”

  The two of them started to fight about what they should order. Donnie wanted pizza while Cassie wanted anything Chinese. The fight started to get ugly. “Okay, I’m going to write down a number between one and ten. The one who guesses closest to the number, picks what we eat,” Doc suggested.

  “What if we both pick numbers the same distance from your number?” Cassie asked.

  “We’ll do it until there’s a clear winner. I’m writing the number down. Okay, Cassie what’s your number?”

  “That’s not fair, she gets to go first,” Donnie complained.

  “You might as well learn to be a gentleman. Morpheus would let your mom go first,” Doc pointed out.

  “That’s because he kisses her. She’s his girl friend. Cassie is just my sister,” he complained.

  “Big strong men let women go first in things like this,” Doc said with a smile.

  “Alright,” Donnie said drawing the word out and acting like he was very put upon.

  “I pick five,” Cassie said.

  “Okay, what’s your number Donnie?” Doc asked.

  “I pick eight,” he said.

  Doc turned the paper over. The number was nine. Donnie jumped up and down shouting with happiness.

  “Brother,” Cassie said with a big smile. “Maybe we can make a deal.”

  Donnie couldn’t have looked at her with more suspicion. “What kind of deal?”

  “Maybe we can make a trade. You go with Chinese food now and when we get home, you can cook two times in a row,” Cassie said. Tuesday and Thursday nights, Mom let them cook supper. She helped them as needed but they had a book they were allowed to pick anything they wanted from and they shopped for groceries on Sunday so they would have what they needed for the meals.

  Donnie looked at her with interest. “Really? You’re not tryin’ to trick me?” Doc tried to remember back to a time when she would have wanted to cook for the family that much. No, wasn’t happening. She had enjoyed cooking more when she was younger, but it had still been a chore and time away from other things she loved more. She would bet Cherish would see the lure though.

  “Okay, we’ll have Chinese,” he gave in. Doc was looking for the the takeout menus that every hotel usually had when there was a knock on the door. She wasn’t expecting anyone so she put her finger in front of her mouth in the universal sign for quiet. The knock came again before the person tried the door which was locked. She was sure they would move on and she started to relax.

  It was a big mistake as a loud explosion sounded. She got the kids behind her in a second and looked at the broken hinges on the door and the torn up frame. The door itself was metal so it was dented but otherwise fine. A big hairy apeman, okay, she was just being descriptive, stood on the other side of the door looking in. He was probably one of Cutter’s muscle bound stooges. It looked like she was going for broke and breaking every part of the deal she had made with Morpheus. They really should have expected her to come after the kids too. Doc figured she could take this guy, he wouldn’t know she had combat training. Surprise was a good equalizer.

  That was before the other guy stepped up behind him. They walked in the room and she didn’t know what to do. One she could take, two, only with weapons. “Looky what we have here, J man. She’s a hotty totty. Maybe Cutter will let us play with her and the other one while she plays with Morpheus,” the smaller guy said. He wasn’t little, but closer to average at a little less than six foot tall and lean. He might weigh one eighty tops. They both moved closer and the smaller guy moved to the kids. Surprisingly, they didn’t look scared, they looked pissed off.

  They stepped forward in unison and they both kicked the smaller guy in the shins. He dropped to his knees and they jumped on top of him. Unwilling to let the opportunity pass by, Doc kicked J man in the nuts as hard as she could. He bent over gagging. She grabbed his hair lifting his head slightly and slamming it on her knee. She grabbed a nearby statue and slammed it on his head with force. She didn’t want to kill him but she didn’t care if she had to so she and the kids would be safe.

  The kids had the other guy down and Donnie was beating the hell out of his head with a lamp. Again, she didn’t want him dead, but better dead than in a position to hurt any of them. She search around looking for something to tie them up with.

  “What you lookin’ for?” Cassie asked as Donnie continued his assault.

  “Something to tie them up with.” Cassie tossed her some rope. It was thick and strong enough to work well for this purpose. While she trussed up J man, they tied up the other guy.

  “So, tell me, how do two sweet kids like you learn to take down a full grown man?” Doc asked.

  As usual it was Cassie who explained. “We have to be careful so we don’t get abdicated.”

  Doc was pretty sure she meant abducted. “Who would do that?”

  “Our father. Mom calls him a donor sometimes. She thinks we don’t know what she means. He doesn’t like us. Uncle Slay said he just had us to keep mom tied to him. Uncle Slay is cool. He got us self defense classes with the best teacher. His name was Rafe Ramerz,” Cassie said totally butchering the name, but Doc recognized it anyway.

  The man was Rafe Ramirez and he was a famous self defense instructor. He tells his students how to use their smaller size to their advantage. He showed them how to use everyday objects as weapons and he emphasized never quitting until they were completely neutralized. Just because they were down, didn’t mean they couldn’t get back up. Just because they were knocked out, didn’t mean they would stay that way. The man was an ex navy seal and a police officer. He had seen many victims gain and then lose the upper hand by not fighting long enough. One of those victims was his only sister. Doc had read about the guy but never met him. He had c
ertainly taught those two kids the right way to take down a full grown man.

  “Let’s get out of here in case they send someone else.” The kids quickly grabbed their cases and trotted out the door. Doc managed to pull the door closed and it locked. Only a close examination would show the damage since the metal door held the frame in place and the frame squeezed the hinges against the door opening.

  “Would you guys like to go swimming?” Doc asked and she couldn’t think of a better place to hide out than the indoor pool/play area. There was a lifeguard and even a security guard. There was a small concession stand which had food and drink and the kids looked like they had entered heaven. As soon as she got them settled, she had calls to make.

  They sat down at a table right by the pool with enough food and drink to take care of a football team. Okay, maybe just half a team. She had allowed the kids some foods their mom might not approve of but they had been through a harrowing experience and they had handled themselves well. They had wanted hot dogs, corn dogs, hamburgers, and nachos. She had gotten herself a taco salad, something they didn’t have at Olympus very often. The kids dug in like they were starving. She was hungry, too, so she ate with them. When they were finished, there wasn’t much left.

  She let them go play water games but no swimming for an hour. Opinions on that rule varied, but she believed full stomachs and rigorous activity could lead to stomach cramps. Why take chances? She watched them running around through the water geyser and having a lovely time. Her eyes were on them the whole time as she started off by calling Zeus.

  “Doc, are you alright? I wasn’t expecting you to call,” Zeus said.

  “Hi, Sis,” Sierra yelled in the background.

  “I have a situation. We were attacked in the room, the kids and I. The guys are tied up in the room but we left in case they send someone else. I need someone to pick up those two.”

  “You took out two of them? Good job, Doc,” Zeus praised.

  “No, I took out one. Those two kids are amazing. They went for one of the guys before I’d even decided what to do. They’ve been trained by Rafe Ramirez.”

  “Really?” Sierra asked with awe in her voice.

  “Who’s that?” Zeus asked and it was obvious he didn’t have a clue.

  “Sierra can fill you in, but I think you should get him to Olympus to train the young ones and the mates without combat experience.”

  “I’ll discuss it with Sierra. You know I can’t get anyone to you for a day, maybe more. I haven’t heard from Hades yet, so I don’t know when they’ll be available.”

  “I thought that would be the case. I’m going to call El’s brother. I think he can help.”

  “I’ll let you make the call, you’re there, I’m not. Please, be careful,” Zeus said, but he spoke for all of them.

  After she hung up, she watched the kids play for a few minutes. They were playing with a mixed group of kids covering different ages and races. They all seemed to have so much fun together, it was a shame that later in life some of them wouldn’t be as accepting of others. She hoped it wouldn’t be true, but experience told her it would be. Race, sex, age, they were all reasons for some people to discriminate. She was probably especially sensitive with the little bun in the oven. Once people discovered how different the gods really were, Origin might not be their only adversary.

  The kids were ready to swim now so she waved them on. With a lifeguard, they would be safe in the shallow end of the pool. She took the time now to call Slay.

  “Hello, it’s your dime.”

  “Slay?”

  “What can I do for you little lady?” he asked in a flirtatious tone.

  “This is Doc.”

  “I’m assuming you found them?”

  “The people who had Morpheus took your sister. I have the kids and everyone else went after your sister.”

  “Mother fuckers! Tell me exactly what’s going on.”

  She could hear him running around with the phone probably getting ready to come here. “Listen, it’ll be over before you make it here. Someone came to the room to attack me and the kids after everyone else left. I need someone trustworthy with connections to help me keep the two guys they sent locked up until the situation is resolved. We can pay them, but I need them to be a hundred percent trustworthy.”

  “I know someone a town over but she’s female. She’s tough as shoe leather and ex special forces. I would guess you won’t mind a woman. She does security and other stuff so she can get a team together at the drop of a hat. How many you need?”

  “A four man team should do. Less would work but we might need extra since more of the bastards keep popping up. Can you have her get here in an hour or less?”

  He agreed and she gave him the address. She told him to have them wait by the elephant. It was purple and shot water out of its trunk. It was surrounded by happy kids. She relaxed while she prepared for a long wait. Sure, she hoped they’d be there in an hour, but what were the odds they could make it there so quickly?

  About an hour later, a girl that looked sixteen stood by the elephant in a crop top and a tight pair of old jeans. Maybe she was a little older, but couldn’t be much. She was there for at least ten minutes before Doc decided to make sure she wasn’t the one she was waiting for. She walked closer and the girl did appear to be a bit older. She was pretty, dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. She was slight and had a boyish figure which was why she seemed so young.

  “Are you waiting for someone?” Doc asked angling so she could still see the kids.

  “Are you Doc?”

  “Yes, your name is?”

  “Zan short for Zandara.”

  “Hello Zan. Here’s the key card for the room the prisoners are in. We need them dealt with quickly and discretely. Right now I’m waiting to find out how my team is doing on their mission. After you get those two guys on ice, check back with me.” Doc passed Zan the key and hoped the two guys were still there.

  Zan disappeared and two men Doc hadn’t even noticed fell into step behind her. Doc noted in her own defense that she was also keeping an eye on the kids. Thankfully, they were both still swimming and playing in the pool. She would be so glad when this was all settled. It didn’t take Zan long to make it back to her.

  “Everything taken care of?” Doc asked.

  “Yes, we have them situated in our van with a guard inside and one outside. Reuben is working on your door, we like to provide those little extras that say we care,” Zan smiled. “What now?”

  “Now, we wait,” Doc and Zan settled down into their chairs by the pool with their eyes on the kids. Doc hoped it wouldn’t be long before they heard from the team. She missed Hades and the other guys, but Hades the most.

  Chapter 10

  Cutter

  Hades was practically biting his nails while Lu and he waited for Hercules or Eres to call. At least he felt secure in the knowledge that Doc and the kids were safe. Nearly twenty minutes had passed. How long could it take to get to a nearby building? Finally, the phone rings.

  “Hades.”

  “You can drive around. They are hiding out in the beauty shop that is next to the music store. It looks like it went out of business, but there’s a lot of traffic going in and out. It’s a regular hot bed of activity. I suspect we have a lab or some kind of mini facility set up here,” Hercules said.

  “Can you see any more prisoners?”

  “No, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t any.”

  “Try to find out what you can. We need some idea of how many victims might be there or some of them might get hurt.” Since he felt certain that Doc and the kids were safe, they would take the time to get more information. They might even try to slip in and get victims out quietly before trying to take down the lab. He had many regrets in life, he didn’t want to add this to the list.

  They drove a block over and turned a few times until they found the street with one small business after another. It was afternoon now and the shadows were lengthening. S
ome of the stores were closing, a few, like the beauty salon were out of business. There was a store that supplied martial arts equipment and had a gym for lessons in the back. It was a perfect cover for big guys like the gods.

  He saw Hercules as he slipped around the back of the salon. If he found a few windows, they might get some intel to make decisions from. He really wanted to get in, save those who needed saved, get the hell out, and make it back to his mate.

  Hercules slipped around the corner to the back alley that bordered the row of stores. It looked like they all had basements and they had the windows that could be lifted open. He looked through the window at the salon. Damn, it was dirty which gave everything a muted muddy appearance. It didn’t really matter because the prisoners they held, weren’t down there. That meant everything would unfold on the top floor. He moved a few stores down and called Hades.

  “Hades.”

  “I’ve looked in the basement and they’re not using it. Next, I plan to check on the back door. Maybe we’ll get lucky and it’ll be unlocked.”

  “Lu and I are going to act like we’re going to the martial arts store, then cut over so we’re closer to the salon in case you need us. What’s Eres doing?”

  “He’s at the end of the alley making sure I don’t get any surprises from that direction.”

  “Okay, let’s go.” Hades nodded to Lu. They got out and made their way toward the martial arts store going as close to the salon as they could. No one seemed to be out front but they wouldn’t attempt to enter the front door until or unless something was happening. It was likely the door would have a bell or some other indicator that a customer had entered. They wouldn’t take the chance.

  Hades and Lu stood near the door of the martial arts store and listened intently for any sounds coming from the salon. They blended in well with some other guys who were standing outside the store discussing a competition that was being held in a week.