Chapter Eighteen -Interrogation and Intimidation
Sunday dawned early. Andrea was quiet and thoughtful. Rafe stepped into the shower and wrapped his arms around her…and whispered “talk to me” She said “ I’m just concerned. We still don’t know what Armand’s plan is. I don’t want any of our people to get hurt” He holds her tight a few minutes then said “Let’s finish up and grab some breakfast. We will go to the cells and get some answers!” And she perked right up!
As they sat down at the table, everyone was linking her good morning and she smiled, even though she was getting a headache. She mumbled I have got to work harder on this block thing and everyone apologized. She looked up at them all and said “No..this is not your fault. This is on me and never apologize to me for wishing me good morning. I value each one I get” and she allowed her love to spread around the table as everyone eased. Rafe leaned down and said…you’re amazing! As they were walking to the cells a little girl with bouncing brown curls barreled into her legs crying and yelling “Yuna! Yuna! My brudder is stuck in a tree..can you fly him down?”
She looked at Rafe and he shrugged taking off after the little girl to find her brother. They reached the tree and sure enough, there was a boy high up in a tree and bawling his eyes out. Andrea didn’t hesitate. She stepped behind a tree and stripped down, calling Starla forward. As soon as her wings extruded, she stretched them out and shot into the air..She landed on the branch beside the boy but he wouldn’t turn loose of the tree. She talked calmly to him trying to coax him into her arms. She looked down at Rafe and saw a crowd was gathering..a woman with tears streaking her face must be his mother.
She pointed her out to the little boy and finally made him realize he wasn’t the only scared one. He leaped at Andrea and wrapped his little legs and arms around her so hard they tumbled off the branch. He screamed louder thinking he had caused her to fall..but she just held him tight as she somersaulted in the air and landed them both on the ground.. the mother was simultaneously scolding the boy and thanking the Luna. Starla just released her tinkling laugh and pulled a flower from her hair to hand to the distraught mom.
Once that was all settled, they headed to the cells. Rafe asked her about the flowers.. and Andrea laughed “ they don’t grow out of my head. They are just there. And they make me happy. My grandmother didn’t know why either, but she used to pluck them from my hair and make us both crowns.” Rafe said she sounds like such a great Grandmother. And he felt the air change with sadness. She whispered “I don’t know where she is. Or if she is okay” and he promised they would find her. They entered the cells and were met by Jax and Gavin.
Andrea looked at Jax and said “since you are my brother, then Madi is my sister, right?” He said ummm…sure? She smiled a devious little smile and said good..turning to march straight down to Cassandra’s cell. She stood at the door..just looking at her. Cassandra said go away. I have nothing to say to you. And Andrea just smiled. Finally she spoke. “You look like hell. And you stink! Dear Goddess you smell bad! Tell me Chloe..has all this…(waving her arms) been worth it? You chose your traitorous father over a loving mother and sister because of a man who was never yours to begin with.” She said “he was mine. You stole him!” Andrea tsk’d “ I can’t steal what is mine for the taking. You are a selfish little girl, Christina and still I am grateful. Because of your selfishness, I have been blessed with a sister. A best friend..while you sit in a cold, empty cell all alone” she screams “My name is Cassandra!!” And Andrea said “ and I still DO NOT care. Now, tell us about Liam.” She looked up at them and started laughing…”You don’t know? You really don’t know he sits down there somewhere..I watched him being brought in yesterday. Oh! That’s too good!”
Andrea looked at Rafe and took off down the corridor. He caught up with her and pulled her to him..”I didn’t know baby. We didn’t ask for names. And two of them were unconscious when they were brought down here.” She said “I don’t care about that. I just want to fuck him up!” He roared with laughter and said “Please hang back a little bit and let me ask him a few questions, my little bloodthirsty savage” She nodded and said “but I will extract my pound of flesh” He replied of course. Now show me which one he is…she glanced into the cells and pointed to the middle one.
He linked Jax to bring Liam to interrogation room 3 and then told Gavin to take Luna to the observation booth. Once everyone was seated, Jax and Rafe began their intimidation tactics.. Jax slammed his chair around backwards beside Liam and straddled it. Rafe leaned against the wall beside the door with his legs crossed and arms folded. They both just watched Liam for a bit.
Liam wasn’t much to look at. Just barely 6’ tall with dirty blonde hair shaved close on the sides. Beady brown eyes set too far apart. A nose too big for his face with thin narrow lips that gave the appearance of a slit in his chin. Not much at all.
Jax spoke “Ugly fucker, ain’t he? Bet his mama had to tie a haunch of venison around his neck so the other wolves would play with him” and Liam snapped don’t talk about my mother..and Rafe linked Jax..Bingo! So Jax smiled at him and said “Bet that’s why he always wears that hoodie. Even his mama don’t want to see that face! Ever hear that saying ‘a face only a mama could love’? Betcha she couldn’t! Betcha she kept him stored in a locked room, ashamed of his ugly ass!” And Liam screamed “Do Not talk about my mother! She is dead!” Jax nodded..said “did you kill her?” He yelled No! She died when I was born. And Rafe spoke up…”Well, that explains a lot, Jax. He didn’t grow up with the tender ministrations a mother’s love could provide. It’s probably why he thjnks beating and stabbing a woman are signs of affection. And forced rape is actually love. Makes sense to me! Tell me Liam..what are your plans for your mate? She sits in a cell the same as you.”
Liam said “that girl is not my mate. You are holding my mate” Rafe smiles and says “No.. I hold My mate! And I will always hold My mate.” Liam sneered “I fucked her first. She belongs to me. My father paid for her and she was bought for me!” Rafe bent his full height over the table and spoke, in a deadly voice “ You did not fuck her! You forced her! You raped her! I mean, what the fuck, Liam? Can’t you get a girl to bed you without taking it from her? Even your own mate was forced. Even your own mate hates you. Not as much as my mate does but she still hates you. And whatever money your disgusting father paid for My mate is null and void when he threw her away for not having a wolf! So how is she your mate?”
Jax says “as entertaining as this is Liam…the time has come to discuss plans..As in..what does Armand Hellier have that makes him think he can kill my Alpha and take our Luna?” Liam laughed and said “You’ll have to wait and see. And my father will come for me. This Pack will burn” Jax reached out and punched him..so hard the chair fell over. Rafe leaned over the table and said “Damn! You got knocked the fuck out!” Setting the chair to rights, Jax threw a cup of water in Liam’s face. “Sorry about that. Sometimes, I don’t know my own strengths.” And Rafe laughed. Liam said “It doesn’t matter how much you beat on me..how much you torture me..I won’t tell you anything!”
Andrea looked at Gavin and said “For fuck’s sakes..in a few minutes I need you to let me out of this room and into that interrogation room. It’s time for some Pixie intimidation. Now, step outside. I will link when I’m ready” and Gavin said “I am so gonna die” but he stepped out. She linked she was ready and he opened the door. A bright lavender flash darted past him and he was stunned. It took him a second to recognize Starla. She was about four inches tall and flitting back and forth in the corridor. Her little body shimmered in the darkness and trails of glitter floated behind her enticingly. Her tiny pixie voice fluttered into Gavin’s mind saying open the door.
Rafe slammed his hands down on the table and roared.. “ You will tell..or you will begin to lose body parts” Just at that moment, the door opened and all heads swiveled to see the cause of the interruption. A blast of lavender light entered the room behind Gavin and they watched as it darted around the room several times trailing glitter everywhere.. Jax laughed and said “well hello sweetness..you come to join the party?”
And as she settled her little pixie self on Rafe’s shoulder, she nodded and stood up to kiss Rafe’s cheek. He reached his hand up and she daintily stepped onto it..crossing his arms over his chest he plopped her tiny butt on top of them and she leaned against his chest. Gavin said “ That is the cutest fucking thing I have ever seen. Gives new meaning to Damon’s name for her” They cracked up laughing and Rafe said she really is my little pocket rocket!
Liam watched the whole exchange wondering what was going on. He said “since when do wolves consort with fairies” and everyone in the room said Pixie! Rafe looked at him and said..”Oh you didn’t know? Armand didn’t share? Well, allow me. Liam I want to introduce you to My mate..Starla..” Liam looked confused. He shook his head. He said “you are mated to Ariadne” Rafe said Yes. And this is one of her true forms. Liam gasped and said a half-breed?
Jax snarled “a hybrid! Get it right! Call my sister anything but what she is and I won’t be responsible for the pain I will cause you!” Starla hopped down to the table skipping from one end to the other. Then she started to dance. She swayed and dipped and twirled until she stopped. Right in front of Liam. She smiled over her shoulder at her love and turned back.
In her little pixie voice she said “ Hello Liam. The polite thing to say would be it’s a pleasure to see you again. But it isn’t a pleasure and I can’t lie..so here we are. Now. This will go one of two ways. You will either tell my mate and my brothers what they want to know..or I will make your every nightmare come to life” With that she flitted over and sat on Gavin’s shoulder. Rafe said “we are waiting” Liam looked up and laughed saying “that’s what you go with? A 2 inch fairy threatening me?”
The air in the room became stagnant..it became difficult for Liam to breathe.. She jumped on the table and yelled Four! Four inches! And Jax said “Yeah..her height is kind of a thing with her! Every inch counts” And she smiled sweetly at him.
She glared at Liam. Asked “what’s it gonna be?” And he shrugged..daring her to do her worst. She jumped in the air and flew around the room closing her circle in until she was flying around Liam’s head at such speeds, she was a mere blur. Within seconds, Liam’s face and head were surrounded by a shimmering, glittery dust he could do nothing but breathe in. She pulled out of her flight and landed back on Rafe’s arms. And waited….