Chapter 9: Warning

As they drove over Beth called Valerie to let check on Kayla. She confirmed Kayla was fine. Both worried parents breathed a sigh of relief. They then instructed that no one was to pick Kayla up accept them or a select list of others. Beth gave them the list of Kayla's Aunts and Uncles. After she disconnected Mick used his phone and called Devon knowing he was filling in for David while he was away. He asked if he'd send one of the men over to keep an eye on her. He agreed without question.

"I don't know what's going on but I don't want to take any chances where she's concerned." Mick reached over and took Beth's hand in his knowing that Coraline was a sore subject for her.

"I won't let that witch hurt my family," Beth squeezed his hand as she tried to calm her nerves.

They arrived at Candice's quickly. Once off the elevator they saw the door was open and Mick pressed Beth behind him as he entered. "Mick, Beth, come in."

Beth shut the door behind herself and walked over to Candice giving her a hug, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. You guys remember Ryan?" Candice gestures towards Ryan sitting on the couch.

Mick vamped out and had Ryan by the throat in a second. "Where is she?"

Ryan didn't fight Mick. He had been expecting this type of response. "I…don't…know…" He managed to squeeze out around Mick's hand.

"Put him down Mick. He can't tell you anything if you crush his windpipe." Candice was still standing next to Beth.

"He helped her escape. Now she's lose again." Mick clenched tighter. Thoughts of Coraline kidnapping Beth when she was a child, almost the same age as Kayla is now, flashed before his eyes.

Beth could see the pain and fear on Mick's face and moved to his back. Rubbing her hand up and down his back she tried to sooth him, "Candice is right Mick. He's not fighting. Let's hear him out first okay." She could see he was losing his grip, "Set him down baby. We have to get all the facts first."

Mick let him go and let the vampire return back inside. Beth took his hand into hers and guided him a few steps away so he could calm down. After a moment Mick turned back to Ryan, "Talk."

Ryan nodded. "Coraline and I were in Chicago. We moved around a bit at first but we'd stayed there for almost a year. Everything seemed to be normal. She really seemed to like photography so she started doing that and I did some work as a bouncer. Easy money and no one really looks for you."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. Everything was the same then I woke up one morning and she was gone. I wouldn't have thought anything about it but she'd taken a bag with her things and left her phone behind. I found a note in the bottom of my bag when I started to through things together. It just said 'don't bother looking for me.' I followed her trail all over. I couldn't make sense of it. I even lost her but then I caught wind that she was headed to California. That's when I knew where she would be headed."

Mick was listening and trying hard not to lose control again. Beth was holding his hand, stroking it with her thumb keeping him calm. "Why did you come here?"

"To warn you."

"Coraline never had a problem with Candice. Why warn her? You know if she comes for anyone it will me us," Beth couldn't help but ask the obvious.

Ryan lowered his head in shame. "What I did was wrong. I betrayed everyone but I betrayed David most of all. He was not only my boss but my closest friend. I know what Josef does to traitors, I'm not hiding from it but I thought David deserved a shot at me first."

Mick softened a bit. He understood the reasoning. "We'll be on the look out for her."

Ryan nodded, "I hope to help. I'm sure she's gotten new ID's made since then but last time I saw her she was using the name Scarlet Wolfe."

Beth snorted, "That's low profile."

"She had a flair for the dramatic. She wanted a name that made her feel powerful," Ryan explained. "Something fresh, at least that's what she said. I was starting to believe things were normal."

"That was your mistake. Coraline uses men. She always has an angle to play and she'll do whatever it takes."

Beth turned her attention to Mick, "Do you think we're in danger?"

"I won't let her hurt you Beth. Or our little girl okay." Beth nodded as she leaned into him. "We need to bring Josef in on this. He has the man power and the resources to help track her down."

"I know you have no reason to trust me but I would like to help find her. I'm the reason she's free."

Mick pulled out his phone and dialed Josef, "I could use the help. Know what she's been up to since she left but that's up to Josef."

"I understand," Ryan stayed in his seat.

Candice walks over to the window on the far side of the room wanting some space. Her mind hadn't stopped spinning since she saw Ryan outside her door. While Mick was on the phone Beth walks over to her friend.

"Hey," she says gently.

Candice gives her a small grin. She looks back over and Mick is grilling Ryan again. "This isn't how I expected my night to turn out."

Beth nods. "How did David take the news?"

Biting her lip Candice looks up at Beth, "I haven't told him yet."

Beth raises an eyebrow. "I thought you and Mick needed to know first. If she comes after anyone it will be you. I did call while you guys were on your way over but it went to voicemail."

"What did you say?"

Candice snorted, "I told him to call me back as soon as he could. I wasn't about to leave this in a voicemail."

"He'll call back soon."

As if proving her write Candice's cell began to chime. She pulled it from her pocket and looked at the display seeing a photo of her and David. She pointed upstairs where she'd have more privacy. Taking a deep steadying breath she clicked answer. "Hi."

To Be Continued…

Evilous