South Mountain Pack Ch. 15

"This time use the blindfold." Ant walked around offering encouragement and when each had successfully picked the locks he smiled. "Now, your partner is going to put the cuffs on you in front, you'll use the key and the other items and then we'll do the same thing but with the blindfolds. The last part of the exercise, the cuffs'll be behind you, and we'll add some variations." The girls quickly mastered picking the locks with the cuffs in front, with and without the blindfolds. The boys put the cuffs behind them, handing them the keys and other items, this proved a little more difficult but they quickly mastered it again.

"Here is where we're adding variety," Anthony said with a smile. "You'll be cuffed from behind and you'll unlock your twins cuffs." The girls nodded and moved close to their twins and the boys put the cuffs on, within a minute all the girls were free. "Good job, now we'll use the other tools... but with blindfolds on."

The boys scented the adults coming downstairs and when they were in the kitchen waved to them to come outside. "There'd better be a good fuckin reason why my daughters are blindfolded and handcuffed," Todd said in a snarl.

"Oh Daddy, we're really good at escaping...watch me," Kelly said excitedly as she used a fork prong to open Aislin's cuffs and then hers before taking her blindfold off in under twenty seconds much to her fathers astonishment.

"She's a natural," Anthony said with a smile. "They're all really good, but Kelly has an aptitude for picking locks."

"Have you tried door locks yet?" asked Frank with a smile.

"We haven't gotten that far. We worked on offensive and defense strategies earlier. I'd say the girls were ready for the second age group now," Vin said as he looked at his intended and grinned. "And we haven't gotten to Striker yet."

"Who or what is a Striker?" Brianna asked with a frown.

Anthony walked over to the mannequin and said, "This is Striker. We use him for more uhmm 'personal' training."

"The Italians are sleeping, and breakfast is in the oven," Dom said with a smile. "While you're eating, we'll take a break." Seeing the grins on the boys faces, the girls laughed and took off running, jumping into the pool with the boys diving in immediately afterwards.

Their hollering woke Maria and Joe sat down next to her, "How are you feeling Sweetie? Is the swelling down?"

"It's okay, using the sling really helped," she said as she snuggled into his chest. "I took my pain pill and its making me sleepy." Joe put his arm around her as she snuggled even deeper as she struggled to stay awake.

"Do you have any idea how much noise you make?" Dante asked as he walked out of the carriage house, followed by Ric, Rocco and Luc, all of them with scowls on their faces. "We have been awake for hours listening to you. I need a pot of coffee. And I mean a pot, not a cup; just give me the whole carafe."

"Sorry old man, we forgot how you old fogies need your sleep, and get cranky when you don't get it," Anthony said with a smirk. "I guess old man isn't the right name anymore... it'll be Gramps soon." A slow smile spread across his face as Dante frowned and Luc paled.

"Stop tormenting your cousin," Carlo said with a laugh. "Sorry about that, you know Anthony was only teasing."

"I know, but I am still getting used to the fact my daughter has a mate...," he turned and stared at Luc with narrowed eyes. "And it is him."

"Papa, are we going to go through this again? You said were fine, now you are not. You are giving me the whiplash," Luc said with a scowl.

"Papa?" Carlo questioned with a smile as Dante rolled his eyes.

"Congratulations Luc," squealed Rose and Annie as they came running outside and hugged him. "Frank said you told everyone you and Cat were mates, but he wouldn't tell us how it happened."

Frank and Joe began to squirm and a malicious smile crossed Luc's face, "That is easy, they listened in on my private conversation with Catarina, and then they tricked me into revealing it when I had no intention in doing so."

Rose and Annie gasped as they turned to their mates who gave sheepish grins before bolting to the tree line. "You'd better run, because when we catch you..." Annie stopped as she turned to her guests and continued, "If you would excuse us, we need to teach some grown men some manners."

Maria said excitedly, "Kick his ass Mommy." Rose and Annie smiled before running towards the tree line as the youngsters watched with wide eyes.

"I told them Mom and Aunt Rose would have a fit," Paulo said with a laugh as he explained what happened.

Gina walked out on the patio, "Yes, it's wonderful... I wish we could be there... send lots of pictures... give the youngsters our love." She hung up her phone and smiled at Dante and Luc. "Calinda is planning an engagement party on Friday to celebrate. She said she's keeping it small... a thousand people, plus the Pack." Dante choked on his coffee and Carlo slapped him on the back as he began to laugh.

Luc paled and a panicked look came over his face as he began to hyperventilate, "I... I... don't have... a ring... If it's... an official... announcement, I... I... must get her an... engagement ring. What...what... am I going to do?"

"You're leaving Wednesday, there's plenty of time to buy a ring," Gina said in a gentle voice as she patted his hand and Carlo started to growl. She shot him an annoyed look and continued to talk in a soothing voice, "Call your Pack's jewelers and tell them what you want and they'll have a selection ready."

Dante sighed, "She likes sapphires. Last year, we went to select a necklace for Calinda and Cat was looking at the engagement rings. There was one in particular; a 5-carat round diamond with alternating sapphires and diamonds on the band. It was actually quite beautiful. If I remember, it was around 220,000 Euro." Seeing the look on Gina's face he said, "About $300,000 American."

Luc pulled out his phone before walking into the house. Two feminine howls were heard and Carlo said, "Sounds like Rose and Annie caught them." They continued to talk about Luc and Cat while they ate and five minutes later two male howls were heard, "And that I believe is Frank and Joe catching them."

Damian fell to his knees on the pool deck and said in a tortured voice as he grabbed his hair, "Why? Why must they torture me? I think they want me to go to therapy, as if growing up in this family isn't dysfunctional enough."

"Could you tone it down Drama Queen? The auditions for the spring play are months away," Vin said with a laugh.

Damian dove into the pool and surfaced behind Caitlin startling her; as he stood he scented her hair and began to frown. Wrinkling his nose he whispered, "I don't like that the water dilutes your scent Zucca. I don't like it... don't like it at all." When she turned to respond, he was on the other side of the pool and she wondered if she had imagined it, but he was staring at her with a possessive glint in his eyes. "Hey Vin, what are we doing this year? It doesn't matter, because I am so getting the lead this year," he said as he began to smile.

"How the fuck am I supposed to know?" Vin said as he lifted Brianna onto the deck and then sat next to her. "You know Ant?"

"No clue, Mom hasn't said anything yet. I wonder if we'll even have it," Ant said as he watched the Carlucci parents walk out of the woods holding hands. "We'd better get out, so we can find out what's going on." The boys headed into the pool house, while Sophia led the girls into the house.

She stopped in the laundry room and got t-shirts before going to Maria's room, "Get undressed, I'll put our clothes in the washer and they'll be ready in no time." When she returned she handed out towels, shampoo and Ivory Soap from the linen closet. "Brianna and Morgan, you'll shower here, Vin and Dom would have a fit if you were in another males bedroom. Shannon and Fallon, you'll use Paulo and Michael's; Kelly and Aislin, Aunt Annie's and Uncle Joe's; Fiona and Maeve, the guest room; Erin and Caitlin, Lorenzo and Damian's. Gabby and I'll use Victors."

When the boys joined the adults on the patio, Carlo looked at Paulo and said, "You've been with the youngsters all morning?"

"Yes Sir. Did you want me working instead?" Paulo asked with concern.

"No, I meant to tell you last night to take a break," Carlo said in a reassuring tone as Paulo began to relax. "I often forget how young you are because of your abilities, but I want you to remind me if we are putting too much pressure on you."

Paulo blushed knowing everyone was looking at him, "Yes Sir, I'll let you know. Did you remember I'll be starting college this week?"

"Yes, and I wanted to talk to you and your parents. Last year, your mom and Aunt Rose drove because you were underage, this year you were supposed to drive by yourself. I want to have somebody with you so you aren't alone. I'm not sure who knows of your special ability and I fear some may try to use that to their advantage by gaining control of you," Carlo said as he sat up. "Or worse."

The Carlucci's began to growl and Joe said in an angry voice, "You're being polite Carlo, and that's not like you. What you're trying to say is you think somebody would kidnap or kill my son."

Carlo nodded, "Yes, he's one of our greatest assets, and if somebody is trying to weaken us, he's one of the ways to do it. Like we are protecting the girls, we must protect him. I'm surprised we didn't think of this before."

"I know I'm quiet and all, but I can fight as well as anybody," Paulo said with anger. "And I don't want anybody to take away my protection detail either; I'm perfectly capable of protecting Shannon."

"We're not questioning your abilities, you are a strong fighter. But when you attend college, you will have somebody with you. Hood College is twenty-five miles away, too far for the bond to work and if something happens and you managed to contact us, it would take us over thirty minutes to get there," Carlo said in a calm but firm voice. "I'm not willing to take any chances with your safety."

Annie asked before Joe could, "Who do you have in mind? If my son is in danger, they'd better be able to protect him."

"Austin and Boyd Sabatini," Carlo said with shrug. "They're graduates of the Police Academy and Level 1's but you know Roman's a Level 3. They're working at The School House this will be an extension of those duties."

Joe looked at Annie, Frank and Rose who nodded, before saying, "They're good strong fighters, responsible too. I'm okay with that."

"Do I get a say in this?" Paulo asked with a frown.

"No," Joe, Annie, Frank and Rose said in unison.

Paulo threw his hands in the air, "Whatever. But they better not be overbearing and obnoxious. I'm sixteen, not some young one that they can boss around."

"I'll make sure they listen to you and stay as inconspicuous as possible," Carlo said in a reassuring voice while Paulo continued to frown.

"Excuse me, I have something I need to do," Annie said after getting the request from Sophia. Putting the clothes in a basket, she brought them upstairs, and knocked on Maria's door before she entered. After the girls got dressed, she looked at Erin and Caitlin, "I can't believe how clueless my boys are. I think we should help them out a little, don't you? Follow me." The girls smiled and nodded before following her down the hall. "That bed is Lorenzo's the other's Damian's. Lie down on their beds; make sure your scent is on both sides of their pillows, and all over the sheets and comforters. What else can we do to torture those stupid boys?" She looked around the room, "Ooh, use their brushes and open the dresser drawers and run your hands through their clothes, do the closet too. Don't forget their towels in the bathroom, Lorenzo's is dark blue, Damian's is medium blue."

"Aunt Annie, that's mean," Sophia said as she began to laugh.

Annie smiled broadly, "Nothing they don't deserve. Those boys are as clueless as their father was, that's why I had to help him along too, but that's a story for another time. We'd better get downstairs, Alpha Carlo is waiting." The girls hurried up and finished and followed her downstairs.

"I've been thinking Carlo," Frank said as he took a sip of sweet tea. "You said you wanted to have a Pack meeting tonight. I think it'd be better to have it tomorrow, after you talk with Alpha Tristan and Savannah. We'd have a better grasp of what their plans are, and it'll give us more time to go over the files so we don't miss anything. We haven't even got close to figuring this thing out."

Carlo looked at Gina who nodded, "You're right. I'd like to bring in Reeder; he'd be helpful since he works with Homeland Security. Anyone else?"

"Brad and have Vinnie bring his father," added Joe. He turned to the Millers, "Brad is the Assistant Chief of Police in Hagerstown and Mr. P retired from the CIA, he teaches the Pack's Electronic Surveillance course."

"Aldo, so you can get his impression as he reads the emails and other documents," Annie said as Joe nodded. "He can use my study; Isabelle says it helps if he has a quiet environment and a Vanilla scented candle to center him." Carlo nodded and sent a message to the men from last night as well as the men they just discussed to come over at 2 PM.

"What do you want us to do Dad?" asked Vin as he moved closer to Brianna.

"Finish the girl's lessons. I'd like to relax before my brain explodes," Frank said as he looked at Carlo who nodded.

Ant had the girls put their shoes on and they moved below the patio. "This is Striker; we use him to teach the same offensive and defensive move, which is a strike to the uhmm..." He blushed as he looked at the girls and his hands moved around wildly as he searched for the right words. "Below the uhmm... waistal area."

"Waistal? What is that? What are you talking about?" Caitlin asked with a frown. Anthony blushed even more as the Carlucci's and Moretti's laughed.

"He's talking about the bits 'n pieces, the twig and berries, the bat and the balls, the frank 'n beans, the Drill and bits, the No-No spot and the Family Jewels," Damian said with a grin before throwing his head back and laughing loudly.

"Oh, you mean the gonadalls?" Erin asked as Lorenzo started to grin.

"Gonadalls? They're gonads, but yeah there... and please I'm begging, stop with the names," Ant sighed before rubbing his hands over his face. "Like I was saying, the eyes and that area are the most vulnerable places on a man. You can use your foot, knee, or fist to hit him there and combined with striking at his eyes it'll incapacitate him. Victor'll demonstrate on Striker and then you'll try."

"Why me?" Victor whined as the girls began to giggle.

"Because it'll be fun," Ant answered with a smile. Victor rolled his eyes and walked slowly, dragging his feet up to Striker before weakly kneeing him and turning to Ant with a pleading look in his eyes.

"For the love of Luna, move out of my way," Sophia said as she shoved Victor before pacing back and forth. "It doesn't do any good to put your captor down until the right opportunity presents itself. Be aware of what's going on around you; does the same person check on you, what time does that happen, when he comes is the door locked or unlocked, is he armed and can you hear or scent anyone else. Once you have all that information, you can make a more informed decision and remember you'll only get one chance for surprise and you can't hesitate." She stopped pacing and turned to stare at the Millers, "When you strike, you strike hard and make sure they stay down." They nodded and Sophia turned to face Striker.

"When you're within striking distance, kick as hard as you can," she said with a vengeful gleam in her eye as she kicked and Striker bounced backwards as the boys groaned. "Normally, a man won't fall over backwards, he'll bend forwards, that's where you bring your knee up and hit him in the nose or eyes and bring your hands together and hit him behind the neck, similar to the move I used on Beatrice. I held back, but if you're escaping, you hit with everything you have."

"With the knee, make sure your foot is firmly planted to get the most leverage and power. After you knee them, do the same follow through." She demonstrated and then knelt in front of Striker, "Don't think because you're on your knees that you're powerless. Hit him with your fist with all the power in your arm and shoulder, and when they're bending forward, bring your elbow up and crack him in the face or use your fist. Now line up and we'll practice on Striker."

"Will we get to practice on the boys?" Erin asked with a devious smile as she glanced at Lorenzo before hitting Striker viciously with her foot.

"Oh hell no" "Fuck no" "Are you kidding?" "NO" were heard from the boys as they reflexively leaned forward and cringed.

The adults were laughing at the disappointed looks on the girls faces and Carlo's voice was full of pride as he said, "She's a good teacher, she'll make an excellent Madame Alpha."

Frank smiled, "She helps train the young ones. Even before the declaration they looked up to her, now they hang on her every word. They're starting to call her Miss Sophia, signifying their respect for their future Madame Alpha."

Annie looked at the clock, "While you work on the files, Rose and I need to get groceries. It's our week for meals and the fridge is practically empty."

Joe nodded, "Take Gianni, Marcus, Victor and Angelo."

"We've got to go home," Holly said with a sigh. "The girls have homework, and we've got a million things to do including laundry." She looked at Todd, "I know you and Dad want to stay, so I'll ask Vin and Dom to go with us."

"Ask Lorenzo and Damian too, it'll give you extra protection at the house," Annie looked at Holly and the two women shared a knowing smile.

Todd nodded, "That'll make me feel better. Make sure the girls stay inside and the alarms on. We'll take you home, and then come back."

"We'll go with you to escort the Millers, my car's still there then we'll go home and get cleaned up," Gina said as Carlo nodded.

Frank whistled drawing the youngster's attention and they ran to the patio where he told them the plans. Ten minutes later, the Millers were on the way to their house, with Matt, Phil, Todd, Papa Mike, Dante, Carlo, Gina and the four Carlucci boys as their escorts. "I've got my list," Annie said fifteen minutes later as she stepped onto the patio and Joe and Frank walked their mates to Annie's SUV.

"Keep the bond open," Frank whispered as he scented his mate. "Do you need more than those four with you?"

"We'll be fine," Rose answered with a giggle as he bit her ear. Frank sighed as she moved out of his arms and got into the passenger seat.

Joe bumped his brother's shoulder as they watched Annie pull out of the driveway, "They'll be fine. It's only fifteen minutes away; they have four of the boys with them and more members of the Pack working at the store."

"I know, but my wolf doesn't like the fact his mate is going without us," Frank answered with a frown. "I can feel your wolf on edge too."

Joe shrugged, "He's been like that since Maria's surgery. I can feel him whimpering when we sense her pain, he doesn't like the fact she's hurt."

"When's her next appointment?" Frank asked with a frown.

"Dr. Parr said she should do follow-ups with Doc and we have one next week," he glanced around the yard. "I'm worried she's not healing like she should be. Doc said it was a freak injury and the bone hadn't fully healed, but I have this feeling like there's more, and my wolf senses it too."

"Have you talked to Doc or Annie about it? You know our wolves have better senses than we do," Frank said as he stared at the concern in his brother's eyes.