Yvonne glared as they laughed at her brother. Their mocking words bringing her wolf to the surface. The sound of a car pulling in front sent one to the window.
"It's just Vinny."
"About damn time."
Vinny walked in carrying six full grocery bags in one hand and a case of beer in the other. His eyebrows rose at the sight of them all in the dusty room and he handed the bags to Timmy. "More in the car." Timmy hurried away.
He walked into the room and opening the box of beer handed them out to the two remaining men. Matt opened his and took a long swig.
Rip glared. "You go to town for beer and chips and bring back the whole store?'
Vinny shrugged, taking a sip of his beer. "Don't see why we should be hungry."
Rip laughed and popping his can open. took a deep drink. "You're an odd one. No surprise, you being Timmy's brother. Hey look at this, the Male Belcourt thought he could get his chair unstuck." He pulled a long draw off the beer. "Only an Alpha's blood would be so arrogant."
Vinney looked at the chair, shrugged, and took another sip of his beer."
Rip growled. "You're no fun, Vinny. I'm getting damn tired of those shrugs. Matt, you idiot, are you really that drunk already?" He took another sip. "Light weight." He mumbled and crumpled into a heap much like Matt had. Vinny slowly lowered himself down and closing his eyes joined them in oblivion.
Yvonne and Luc stared at them with shocked eyes before glancing at each other. Luc shrugged.
"Well, that worked better than I could have hoped it would," Phoenix announced, walking into the room like she owned it. "Hello, Yvonne. I've missed you, too, but this is a little drastic, don't you think?"
Yvonne gave a gurgle of laughter and relaxed back against her chair. "You know I'd do anything to see you."
Phoenix smiled back before nodding at the sleeping Vinny. "You both owe him a ring. My charm worked! So pleased. Hello, you must be Luc. I have heard so much about you."
Luc narrowed his eyes at her, then his sister. "That's funny, I've heard nothing about you."
"Oh, that can't be true. You helped us kill that law two years ago." She smiled at his widening eyes. "Let's get you both untied. I called your brother and he's on his way."
"You actually talked to him?"
"Yes, I did. But he still doesn't know my name. Sorry about that."
"You know I don't like keeping secrets from him." Yvonne straightened and began to stretch. And pulling off her belt, popped a ring from a secret compartment. "You already have diamonds and sapphires, right?" Phoenix nodded with laughing eyes. "Well, then, now you'll have rubies as well!" Phoenix took the ring very solemnly and placed it on her finger before being pulled into a tight hug. "I adore you! Thank you for coming to rescue me and Luc."
"Do I get to be untied?" Luc asked grumpily.
The girls both laughed and quickly freed him. "That feels so much better." He turned to find Phoenix staring at the chair legs. He flushed in embarrassment until she looked up at him in admiration.
"Wow! I've never seen one of these chairs that loose before. How'd you do it?" She kicked it and it rocked. "I mean, it wiggles. You Belcourts are an impressive lot." She smiled at his proud grin.
He began to pull off his belt to. "Diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. That means I get to give you emeralds." He held out a ring with a grin that faded at her serious look.
"I will gladly take your ring. But only if you tell no one about me or that I have it, until I use it to claim help from your pack or I tell you you can. Sorry. I can't take it otherwise. Why do you think Yvonne's never talked about me? She adores me, I'm all she wants to talk about." She sent her a wink and got an amused eyeroll in return. "But she gave me her word of honor not too. So I'll take your ring if you do the same. But do give me Vinny's rings, I'll make sure he gets them when he wakes up in three days, and explain the significance." They both handed over a plain platinum ring. Luc still played with the emerald and platinum one.
"Vinny." Timmy stricken voice caused the siblings to jump as he rushed by them.
Phoenix gave a slight laugh. "You told me you've been working on your situational awareness."
Luc straightened with a jerk. "You took that video?"
She gave him a slight smile. He swooped down and, grasping her by the waist, lifted her above his head and spun. "I adore you!"
Phoenix laughed, then noticed Timmy weeping and rocking Vinny's body in his arms. "Put me down, Luc. Timmy look at me. Hi, do you remember me?"
Timmy nodded slowly. "You're Phoenix."
Luc stiffened.
Phoenix ignored his reaction. "And you know you can trust me, right?"
"Vinny said I could."
"Vinny is just asleep, Timmy." He looked down at his brother. "See his chest moving, feel his heart. Just asleep. Why don't you go put him in the car, then go pack his and your stuff, we're going to go someplace safe."
"But Rip and Matt said I can't."
"They're not going to stop you this time. Go on." She watched as he carried his brother out of the room before slowly turning to Luc. She met his glare with calm.
"If you really are The Phoenix, you're almost as bad as The Alpha Rogue."
She pretended to be offended. "Almost? There's no reason to be insulting." She smiled. "You see why I couldn't take your ring?" She turned to Yvonne. "We never get to hang out long enough."
"I know." Yvonne glared at her brother. "And I'm sorry about Luc."
"You never did ask them about 'The Phoenix', did you?"
"No. I don't care."
"But see, he already knows the rumors."
"You'd think he'd judge by what he's seen."
"Hey, The Phoenix is a cold blooded killer."
"Really? Who did I kill?" Phoenix laughed at his confused face. "Yvonne. I've got to go again. Can you try to stop getting into trouble? You get in more scrapes then I do. And I'm a wanted rogue. You're giving me sleepless nights."
Yvonne laughed. "I'll try. Can't guarantee anything. But I'll try." She pulled Phoenix in for a hug.
Phoenix hugged her back then turned to Luc with a smile. "I had to call your brother on my cell phone. So I left it for him. With everything wiped, except that video. If your sneaky enough, maybe you can finish it. Since Yvonne told me you didn't get to see the best part. It was nice meeting you." She turned to go.
"Wait." Luc said in a strangled voice. She looked back at him. He held out the ring. "I give you my word of honor not to tell anyone about you or that you have one of my rings until your conditions are met."
She tilted her head. "You know that means your brother as well."
"Yes. But Yvonne's right, the female in front of me isn't what the rumors make you out to be. Are any of them true?"
"Bits and pieces." She smiled and took the ring. "Go eat something. Your brother should be here soon. And make sure he and his men eat also. Oh, and here, you get a charm. Flick it and it makes my name. If you're ever in trouble with rogues, say 'I believe in Phoenixes and if there are any good ones, they'll help you. Bye Belcourts. Be safe! Miss you already."
They watched the car drive away. Luc looked at Yvonne with a grin, "I am kind of hungry."
"Me too."
***
Yvonne smiled as Luc laughed at her story of when Phoenix saved the boys in platform heels. "You laugh. But they are all still in love with her to this day." She took a bite of the noodle dish she had thrown together.
"I bet. Taking down a rogue bouncer with one kick, while dressed like a club hopper? I would be in love too. Hell, I'm half in love as it..."
"Yvonne? Luc?" André's voice rang clear in their heads, meaning he was close. They both stilled.
"André."
"Thank the Goddess. We're almost to where we will park the cars. We'll make the rest of the journey by wolf."
"You don't need to." Yvonne smiled, standing up to heat up the food. "Just drive right up. Our kidnappers are out cold for three days. And we're in the kitchen eating dinner. I've made enough for everyone since she told me you were coming and that I needed to make sure you ate something."
There was a long pause before they felt him sigh. "She already long gone, isn't she?"
"I'm sorry, André." The sound of the car braking, a slamming door, and running feet had her turn in time to be caught in a tight hug. She looked up. He looked tired. "Sit down, eat." He pulled Luc into a tight hug before settling down at the table.
"Tell me everything." He rolled his neck at their tight expressions. "That you can. I'm assuming you gave her a ring. Which mean your honor bound to keep her secrets, too." He suddenly smiled. "I don't care. She saved you. That's all that matters."