Here is chapter 8 for your enjoyment. I ask for your forgiveness for any small grammar or spelling errors it is mostly self- edited. I would like to thank my Beta reader Willieone for all of her help and advice. I hope you enjoy this chapter and ask that you take a moment to vote and let me know what you think about this chapter .
thank you,
donalde
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Charles was shocked as he watched the replay of the gun battle between Amelia and the unknown gunman. He heard the person yell vampires and open fire then a fraction of a second later there was two muzzle flashes coming from an invisible weapon. Charles watched as the man shuddered from the impact of the rounds and then saw him returning fire. He watched as a Glock became visible as it hit the ground. The man was tackled by an invisible force and he screamed go to hell and then he set off the firebomb he had strapped to his chest that caused Mitch's flaming body to become visible. There was a scream a moment later and Linda's rapidly mummifying corpses appeared on the ground. The last image that Charles managed to see was the van the woman had used leaving the parking lot. While Charles was watching, the news reports Andrew and Neil managed to get in touch with their respective mates. Andrew was upset that both Amelia and Catherine were wounded but was glad to hear that their wounds were relatively minor. Amelia had reassured him that she was ok and they were heading back to Agatha's just make sure the baby was ok.
Charles received calls from the other enforcers wanting to know who was behind exposing them to the media like this. They wanted to know how he had allowed it to happen and what he was going to do to prevent any further damage. Half of the enforcer were threatening to have Charles replaced if he didn't get this situation rectified and soon. Only a few of the other enforcer would give him a chance to explain what had happened and only three of them believed that Amsu was behind it. Vladimir Demidov was the only one to offer his full support and if necessary, he would give Charles and his family a safe haven. He also pledged any assistance that Charles needed.
Susan talked to Emma and was relieved to hear that she was uninjured. She was not happy that Amelia and Catherine were wounded but was relieved that their wounds weren't life threatening and did agree that it was a good idea to have Catherine checked out by Agatha just to be sure the baby was uninjured. She told Emma that she was going to have Andrea, Greg, Samantha, and Sarah join them to act as additional security. She also stated that they weren't allowed to leave secure areas with less than a full security detail and they are to have a detailed itinerary logged before they leave. Emma knew full well it would be useless to argue with her mother and did agree that it was a good idea for the time being.
Scott started to go feral when Catherine told him she had been wounded it was only her reassurance that both her and the baby were fine that allowed him to stay in control of his baser side. He wanted to go meet Catherine at Agatha's but Catherine and Amelia both promised to call him if anything was wrong and to stop by Biomedtronic so he could see her once they were done at the doctors, so finally he agreed to finish his meeting. Scott and Susan returned to the meeting and by the time that Catherine had arrive they had worked out a deal with the scientist his formula while not suitable for use yet was years ahead of the current research. His research also had produced several promising treatments for blood disorders. The deal was contingent on Susan's own scientist being able to reproduce the results that he claimed to have achieved.
Agatha quickly examined Catherine as soon as she arrived. She was pleased to reassure her that the baby was doing well. She said it was no need to remove the bullets from her chest they wouldn't cause Catherine any trouble. Agatha did remove the bullet from Amelia's wrist in order to allow her wrist heal properly with full range of motion and to prevent her from having discomfort. Once they were back on the road each of the mated woman called their other half to let them know what Agatha had said. Gloria called Susan then Charles.
Andrew calmed after finding Amelia was not injured seriously and started to wonder how Amsu had known where to find the woman. He used the computer to start making a list of suspects once he was done he started to try to narrow it down. He knew he could cross off Neil and Scott off his list no vampire would risk their mate. He also crossed off Charles and Susan off the list if for no other reason he knew they would not risk Emma. Amelia, Gloria and Catherine he trusted and eliminated them from the list. That left eleven people that had known that Emma and Catherine were going to the doctors and then to the mall.
It was no secret that Catherine and Emma would visit the mall after going to Catherine's appointment. Normally Dawn was their only security. Andrew was pondering a couple of things that didn't add up at first, first how Amsu found out that Emma and not Scott was taking Catherine to the doctors. Then assuming this was a planned operation how did Amsu arrange for the press to be there. How did he do it Scott had only realized a couple days ago that he had scheduled the meeting on the same day as Catherine's appointment.
He started his investigation by trying to identify the person who had attacked his family if he could find then may be it would give him a clue to the traitor's identification. He used the news stations web site to try to get clear picture of the person. Andrew started by going through Charles' database that contained not only all of Charles and Susan's people but also all of the major players in the vampire world and their known associates. Andrew also ran a check through local and federal agencies. Emma and Gloria both were sure that the kid was not a vampire but he most certainly wasn't human. That meant he was a lycan.
While that search for the attacker's identity was going on, Andrew pulled up the files on his list of suspects and started going through them. He was about half way through the second file when he felt Amelia enter the room he looked up with a smile seeing her standing there. He quickly rose and went over and cocooned her in his arms. The two of them stood there comforting each other not saying a word for several minutes. The two of them then shared a tender kiss before they separated.
"I will be back in a little bit I want to get a quick shower. Then I can help you with your search," Amelia said as she started to head to the bedroom they shared.
Andrew knew that Amelia had picked-up on his line of thinking from their bond and was thankful for it. He went back to the files he had been reading when Amelia came in. About twenty minutes later Amelia returned and quietly set down in the chair across from Andrew and started reading the next file. The two of them were soon lost in their work and the only communication was through their mental link.
Neil had been running interference for Charles since the attack had occurred. He was trying to reassure the local vampire population that they were already investigating the incident and trying to determine if it was an isolated event or some unknown group that somehow learned of the existence of vampires. When Emma walked into the office, Neil was in the middle of arguing with Erik Ferranti. "Erik I don't give a dam how much money you have Charles is not available." Neil explained through clenched teeth. He had been telling this fool the same thing for the last twenty minutes. He thought because he was one of Charles main suppliers.
"I do not think you understand my good man I have to talk to him directly I know he would want to update me directly and not have one of his underlings do it." Erik said emphasizing each word.
"Erik I am not only Charles personal assistant but his son in-law so I am more than able to assist you." Neil stated firmly.
"I know who you are but you are not Charles so I demand that you put me through to him immediately. I have to know if it still safe for me to be your distributor after all I have many people who depend on me. " Erik ordered angrily.
