"Everything is cleared away," Aedan walked into the kitchen and sat at the table, smiling in amusement as Sali devoured a second hamburger. "Marcus says the final details are being worked out on our next location; the Grand Master has to clear the way with another Packmaster. We won't be in their area, just nearby, I hear," Aedan explained.
"I hope it's closer to a city," Sali said.
"You just want to drive around and impress girls," Ashe teased.
"I'm impressive already," Sali lifted his arms and flexed his muscles. Ashe's mother laughed.
The doorbell rang so Aedan rose to answer it. Marcus and Denise DeLuca walked into the kitchen. "Feel like buying a boat?" Marcus clapped Aedan on the back and grinned.
Chapter 2
"Star Cove, Texas?" Ashe was surfing on his computer as quickly as he could. Sali, leaning over Ashe's shoulder, blinked as Ashe checked the maps he'd pulled up. "Here it is." Tapping the screen, Ashe pointed out the small Texas community, just north of Corpus Christi.
"Did Winkler know we'd need a new place?" Sali asked, trying to learn more about their new home by peering at a tiny dot on the map. "Dad said Winkler had a whole development ready to go."
"I'm not sure that was his original intention; it was just convenient, with new housing already built. I think it was an investment," Ashe said. "Dang, I can't get updated information." The online map service didn't have the new addition on satellite imaging, yet.
"But it's near the water," Sali grinned.
"It'll certainly be different from dry, western Oklahoma."
"And your dad will only have to build his bunker," Sali said. "I can't wait. Mr. Winkler says he's sending Dallas wolves driving rented trucks. They'll have us out of here in one night."
"But Dad and Nathan will have to wait and leave when the sun is down. Mr. Winkler says if they hurry, they can drive it in one night. If not, he has a place set up in San Antonio for them to spend the day." Ashe's frown wrinkled his forehead. He always worried if his dad had to stay somewhere strange. Vampires were vulnerable in the daytime. Any sunlight hitting his father might kill him.
"Come on, they'll be okay," Sali nudged Ashe's shoulder. "See what else you can find out."
"Ashe?" Dori and Wynn walked into Ashe's bedroom, offered Sali a halfhearted glare and stared at the computer screen. "This is where we'll be?" Dori's voice held a hint of awe. "It's right next to the gulf."
"Should be just north of this street," Ashe pointed out Friendly Lane in Star Cove. "Looks to be a good spot to park your boat if you’re a fisherman. But the addition is too new to be on the map or satellite yet."
"Wynn and I are going to be next door to each other," Dori poked Sali in the chest.
"Nah, I'll be right in the middle," Sali teased in an effort to stir something up.
"You will not separate us," Wynn poked Sali harder in the chest.
"Help!" Sali flopped onto Ashe's bed in mock fear as two angry female shapeshifters wrestled with him. Ashe worked to hide his snicker as Sali struggled to escape both girls without hurting either.
"Salidar, if you hurt someone," Denise DeLuca warned. Sali's mother stood in Ashe's doorway, hands on her hips while she surveyed the wrestling match. Wynn and Dori stopped trying to hold Sali down and stood back. Sali pointed to himself and proclaimed his innocence, attempting to explain how he was getting the worst of the battle. Ashe worked harder to stifle the laugh.
"Girls, we'll drop you off on our way home," Denise offered, after telling Sali it was time to leave. "Sali still has packing to do."
Wynn flashed Sali a superior smile, flipped her nearly white ponytail in his face and followed Denise DeLuca up the stairs, Dori right behind her. "See ya later, dude. This is gonna be great." Sali waved and walked out of Ashe's bedroom.
"Yeah. Great," Ashe breathed a sigh. A boy had died, an alien race still hunted him and it was likely there were a few Cloud Chief residents who weren't excited about moving. Ashe got up, unfolded another box and went to work on his dresser.
Ashe's fears were brought home the following day. Saturday, June fourteenth had arrived and his mother left him at home to continue packing while she went to Cordell to open Cordell Feed and Seed. Principal Billings and Larry Garnett, the werewolf English teacher, parked in the driveway and rang the doorbell. Ashe, pulling the kitchen window curtain aside, grumbled to himself when he saw who it was. He also considered pretending not to be at home. Instead, he squared his shoulders and went to lift the garage door.
"Principal Billings, Mr. Garnett, I can make coffee if you want some," Ashe offered respectfully, leading the two men inside the house. Paul Harris, the former English teacher, had blown up the Evans and Anderson homes three years earlier. He'd led the Elemaiya to Ashe to begin with, but he’d been caught with his Elemaiya conspirators after several murders. The Pack had delivered justice. Ashe never knew exactly what that was; all he'd known was that Mr. Harris disappeared shortly after he'd been captured and the two Elemaiya had been destroyed by Nathan Anderson, Mr. Winkler and his father.
"We wanted to get the phone number for William Winkler," Principal Billings turned his best frown on Ashe after refusing coffee. Mr. Garnett looked as if he'd like coffee but followed Billings' lead.
"It's on the Internet," Ashe said as respectfully as he could. Winkler Security had a huge website.
"That's the company number. I've left three messages and he hasn't called back."
"He might be busy," Ashe suggested, thinking that if Principal Billings left a message for Winkler, the Dallas Packmaster might put off calling back as long as possible.
"I know he has a private number that will get me right to him. Marcus is away so I can't get it from him, and Lavonna Anderson said that Aedan might have it."
Ashe didn't like lying. Preferred not to do it if possible. He did it now, facing Principal Billings. "Then Dad may have it. You'll have to ask him." Ashe did have Winkler's private cell number—he'd had it for three years. "Call if there's trouble," Winkler said, handing a business card to Ashe before leaving Cloud Chief. "Don't give it to anyone else," Winkler grinned and slid into the company van he'd driven from Dallas. Ashe wasn't about to give the number to Billings now. Winkler's private cell number was a secret he'd kept for three years and he'd never had to use it.
"Then tell your father we'll be by after sundown. This is your fault, you know. I don't appreciate being forced to move. Again." Billings and Mr. Garnett stalked out of Ashe's house; Ashe followed to lower the garage door after them. Mr. Garnett gave a half-wave to Ashe while Principal Billings wasn't looking. Ashe lifted his hand in silent reply.