“That is not fair, Frank,” Oracle said softly. “If I had not accepted the assignment, another oracle would have. You know that. At least this way, I could negotiate with the Fates regarding Cain.”
“Negotiate? Ha! I’m sorry to tell you that your negotiating skills leave a lot to be desired. Cain Foster is still here and my grandpups are in danger.”
“Please, talk to Jackson,” Oracle pleaded. “I am sure he can satisfy you that steps to prevent any harm to the children have been taken.”
Frank sighed. He was being unfair to Oracle, but he found it hard to care. If his fear turned into a reality and Cain killed Jessica or Jake, it would leave a deep and lasting wound on Lizzie that would never heal. And he couldn’t even imagine what it might do to Dylon and Cody. How would any of them pick up the pieces afterward? They couldn’t.
Shaking his head, Frank slowly turned around and glanced at Oracle, before sitting wearily down in the club chair next to the window. He had been looking forward to his retirement, especially spending time with Lizzie without any of theconstraints or restrictions his job at the High Council had imposed on him. But now, all his plans had to be put on a back burner while he stayed close to his grandpups to protect them. The only other choice he had was to convince Jackson to change his mind about Cain Foster, and even though he thought it unlikely, Frank would try. Looking at Oracle, he said, “I’ll talk to Jackson…will you leave now?”
“No, Frank, not until you tell me about Denport,” Oracle replied. “I have a new assignment from the Fates and, according to them, you are the only person still living who can give me the information about the town and why it is so special.”
Frank looked sharply at Oracle before dropping his gaze. Through the years, he had wondered when and if the Fates would ever turn their attention to the small town in Maine. As time went on, he had concluded that they, and the gods, had washed their hands of their mistake.
But now, much to his surprise, it appeared that maybe they had decided to do the right thing after all. Of course, his assumption could be very wrong, and, if that were the case, he wanted no part of whatever their plan was for Denport. So before he would tell Oracle about the town, he needed more information. “Why are the Fates sending you to Denport?” asked Frank, locking his gaze with Oracle’s.
Surprised that Frank would ask her that question, Oracle said, “You know I cannot tell you.”
“Then I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
“I know you can. The Fates told me to speak to you specifically about Denport and since they do not lie, I know you possess the knowledge I need to fulfill the assignment.”
“I didn’t say I don’t,” Frank replied. “Only I won’t disclose it until I know the reason they are sending you there.”
Shaking her head in frustration, Oracle turned away from Frank and paused, trying to figure out what was behind his recalcitrant behavior. In all the years she had known him, he had refused none of her requests, but now, in a brief span of time, it had happened twice. While she could understand his reluctance regarding Cain Foster, Denport was an entirely different matter. According to the Fates, there wasn’t a threat to their world in Denport, nor to the Blackwood Pack—unless Frank felt there was. That certainly would explain his refusal to help her, but she was sure that wasn’t it. Sighing, she realized it was all a guessing game on her part, and one she didn’t enjoy playing. Turning around to face Frank, she said, “You will tell me what you know about Denport, and I will tell you what my assignment regarding Denport is…is that acceptable?”
Looking up at Oracle, Frank said, “If you tell me first, then I’ll tell you what I know about Denport.”
“All right…I will see what I can do,” Oracle said. Heading to the door, she opened it, and pausing, glanced back at Frank. “And please, speak to Jackson about Cain,” she murmured before leaving, shutting the door behind her.
Frank let out a deep breath after Oracle left and he wondered if their friendship had a chance of surviving this latest controversy. And if it didn’t, how would he ever explain to Lizzie that Oracle would no longer be welcome in their home? But he couldn’t think about that now because there was something more important that needed his attention. Cain Foster. He had thought he’d have more time to convince Jackson of the danger the man posed, but that was before Rudy’s jailbreak, resulting inFoster being taken to the Blackwood Pack while Frank was held hostage.
But now that Foster was already here, he had to come up with a new argument that would convince the Alpha of the folly of allowing him to stay. So far, he hadn’t figured out how to do that. Dammit! And to make matters even worse, he’d agreed to Lizzie’s request to stay here while looking for a house. So not only were his grandpups in danger but also his wife because once Foster knew they were related, it would only be a matter of time before all hell broke loose.
As it was, there was only one thing that kept him somewhat calm—the prisoner tracker he’d ordered implanted in Foster after Oracle had visited him in prison. Just in case Jackson decided to take Foster into his pack, he’d be able to tell 24/7 exactly where that fucker was. The tracker could also deliver an electrical charge to stun the wearer, so he could immobilize Cain if he attempted to harm Lizzie or their grandpups.
Slipping his phone out of his pocket, he opened up the hidden app and waited until the signal for Foster appeared. Satisfied the man hadn’t left his room, he closed the app. Then, getting up, he headed into the sitting room and sat down at the small desk before booting up his computer. It was time to find the home of Lizzie’s dreams.
~/~/~/~/~
Smiling, Cain picked up one of his gardening books and opened it to the last page he’d read, losing himself in the imaginary garden he’d been planning. So absorbed was he in his thoughts, he didn’t hear someone knocking on the door to his room or the opening of it.
“Hello?” David called, standing in the doorway. When no one answered, he stepped into the room and looked around. Finding it empty, he headed to the sitting room, smiling when he saw the man curled in the corner of the love seat, totally concentrating on whatever it was in the book on his lap. He disliked having to interrupt him, but his mother had been insistent that he deliver the man’s laptop. So David tried again. “Cain? My mother…I mean, Sofia sent me to give this to you,” he said, holding out the computer.
Seeing a movement out of the corner of his eye, Cain jumped up and fled to the far corner of the room. He’d learned in prison to always put your back against a wall because then you only had to worry about frontal attacks. After scanning the room for threats, he finally slowed his breathing, relieved to find only one man staring at him with understanding. When the man didn’t advance towards him, his tension slowly left his body and his brain came back online.
Sophia had promised him no one would harm him at the Blackwood Pack, and so far, she had been right. But old habits die hard, and until Cain could believe it in his heart, it would be impossible to shed his reactions to perceived threats. Swallowing his fear, he asked, “Who are you and why are you in my room?”
“I’m David…Sofia’s son. She asked me to give you this laptop,” he said softly. “My mother would have come, but Jackson wanted to see her…so here I am instead.” When Cain didn’t answer, he set the laptop down gently on the coffee table before backing up. He saw the fear in Cain’s face and knew exactly how it felt to be that frightened. He never wanted to go back to those days, and he hoped his mother could do for Cain what Zane had done for him.
Keeping his eyes locked on David, Cain watched him as he turned around and headed for the door. When he realized the man intended to leave, he suddenly blurted out, “Don’t go…please.”
Chapter 12
David stopped and turned around to search Cain’s face. It took him only a second to understand the reason behind his request. “Would you like me to stay for a little while?”
Nodding quickly, Cain walked slowly toward David, stopping in the middle of the room. “Sofia is your mother?” he asked softly.
“Yes.”