Abandoned Treasure

Nathan Storm’s POV

Kahler Grand Hotel, Rochester, Minnesota

Monday, July 27th, 2020

I felt better after seeing Mykayla in person. She could have one visitor a day while in isolation, so the three parents were rotating around and this was my first time. I’d known early on how important Tammy and Taylor were to my daughter, and I was never going to get in the way of that.I’d have to blend my family with hers.

Perhaps someday I could talk the three of them into coming to our land in Washington so we could all be together?

I followed the nurse’s instructions as I removed the surgical gown and gloves. I’d had to shower, put on fresh scrubs, then gown up before going in. Even a cold could be a major issue, since Mykayla had almost no ability to fight off infection yet. She was in good spirits, thankful the symptoms of her chemo were tailing off. Mykayla was still weak and slept almost twelve hours a day, but that was expected. The doctors were carefully monitoring her blood tests, and they’d seen low counts of non-cancerous white blood cells already. My blood marrow was working, but it would take months before there was enough of it to return her body to normal.

I looked at the clock; it was five-thirty in the afternoon. I dressed in my street clothes, then grabbed my phone from my pocket. I called Tammy, who put me on speaker. “I just left her room. Mykayla looks good, and she’s eating more. What are our plans for dinner?”

“Lord Essex Tavern?” Tammy’s suggestion was on the main floor of our hotel.

“It’s a beautiful day, I want something outside,” Taylor responded. “How about Italian at Terza? They have patio seating.”

“Works for me,” I replied. “Have our guards make the reservations and we can leave after I change.” Two SUVs full of warriors arrived this morning, and they took Vic with them. We weren’t given a reason, but everyone was nervous after the attack on Arrowhead. Oxbow Lake sent them down, which was understandable since Arrowhead was still on alert. I didn’t have a link with the new guards, so phones and group texts had to suffice.

My phone rang as I got ready to leave the changing room. I didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”

“It’s me,” the woman said. “That deal we had may come to an end tonight. I’m not happy about it, but I can’t stop it.”

It was Rori. “How much time do I have?”

“Their people are already on their way.”

Shit. “Orders?”

“Bring you back for trial.”

“No,” I told her. “I’ll turn myself in. The last thing I need is a repeat of the last time they tried that shit.” That ended in Vic running me off the road and the death of my mate. “I’ll be there by midnight.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Thanks for the call, boss. See you soon.”

Now I had to figure out how to do this. I could tell our guards and have them drive me up, but that wasn’t my style, and it would leave less protection for Mykayla and her moms. If they got a call from the Oxbow Alphas, they’d hold me until the Enforcers arrived. I didn’t want to be a prisoner; I needed to turn myself in, not let them take me.

All I had to do was get out of here without being seen. Two of the guards were in the waiting room, waiting to escort me back.

I went the other way, through the halls to a different elevator. Taking it to street level, I caught a cab to the airport. I had him stop at John Hardy’s BBQ for two rib dinners and one chicken that I left for the driver. A quick check showed there weren’t any flights scheduled, but there was a small business jet available for charter.

“It’s good to have money,” I thought as we taxied to the runway. I sent a quick text to Tammy, telling her something came up and to feel free to use the main bed until I returned. It had a better view than the second room in my suite they’d been sharing.

Flight time to Two Harbors was about an hour, so I landed well before sunset. Another Uber ride brought me to the front gate. Since I’d told Rori I’d be there around midnight, she’d assumed I was driving and hadn’t warned security. There was some confusion, and two Enforcers raced to meet me. “You’re wanted, Storm,” the first Enforcer told me.

“I reckon I’m right popular,” I replied. The second guy reached for silver cuffs. “Not here, not with humans watching,” I replied. “I’m here to visit friends and family.”

“That doesn’t matter. Surely you understand we have standard procedures,” he objected.

“I don’t care, and don’t call me Shirley.” I looked at the Arrowhead warrior. “Take me to Alpha Rori, please.”

“He’s going to the goddam cells,” the first guy protested.

“Nope,” I replied. “Show me the warrant.”

“It’s coming,” he said after linking. “We’ll have the Chair’s signature shortly.”

“Then you have no warrant, and I’m not doing anything illegal that you have observed. You can’t arrest me, Enforcers.” They looked at each other while I turned to the Pack guard. “In the meantime, we’ll go see the Alpha. This is HER land, after all.” They couldn’t stop me, so they followed behind as I walked down the road towards the Pack House. Beta Vic met me soon after that in a golf cart. “Everyone is down at the beach, including the Council Chair,” he told me. “Hop on.”

I sat next to him, and the Enforcers stayed quiet and in the back. We went past the pool and the homes, ending up parked by the big pavilion. Vic led me to the picnic table where the Alpha couple sat with her family, Colletta, and the Adirondack Alphas. “You’re early,” Rori said as she looked me over.

“I wanted to see my family before they go to bed,” I replied. “I understand a warrant is coming. I thought I was under your protection.”

“You are, but all protection has limits,” Chase replied.

“Walk with me,” Rori ordered as she got up. The guards and Enforcers started to follow as she walked towards the dock, but she waved them back. “This is a private conversation, and where is he going to go?”

They stayed on the beach as I followed her onto the dock. She sat on the bench looking out on the lake, and I took the spot next to her. “I’m sorry about this.”

“It was bound to happen,” I replied. “Things in your past don’t just go away. You know what I’ve done as well as anyone. All I can offer is my regret.”

“I think you have more to offer than apologies, Nathan. You’re smart, resourceful, a good fighter, and loyal to your family. It took a lot to come forward knowing what the reaction would be.”

“My daughter is worth it,” I replied.

“I can’t stop the arrest, and you will face trial for your actions.”

“And I will plead guilty, because I am guilty.”

She smiled. “You plan to nullify the jury when it comes to your punishment.”

I smiled back at her. “That was the idea, but I didn’t expect Adirondack to be leading the charge.”

She looked out at the lake. “They want to make an example of you. I think Pack law and the treaty will cause complications, but you need a lawyer well versed in Pack laws to represent you. Have you chosen one?”

“No. I thought I’d make the case myself, as the trial itself is a formality.” I was betting my life on being able to reach the Alphas in my statement.

“The best lawyer I know is here now. We talked about you for over an hour while the Council was deliberating. Sawyer Nygaard will represent you if you ask him.”

I thought about it. “If he does, I lose his vote in the jury of Alphas.”

“If Sawyer is right, you won’t need his vote. He thinks the best way to save you is for me to take an action I never thought I’d take.” She looked into my eyes, demanding my submission. “I want you to join the Arrowhead Pack.”