Revelations

~Justin~

I constantly check my phone throughout the day hoping to get a response from Janessa. Each time I check, there is nothing. I'm sure she read my text, but she isn't replying and I don't know how to get her to talk to me.

The end of the work day comes and I still have not heard from Janessa. As I am trying to think of something to say to her, I hear a tapping on my desk. I look up and Katie is standing in front of me. "Any plans for tonight?" She has a grin on her face that is meant to be seductive, but it isn't quite working out that way.

"Actually, beautiful, I have a full night ahead. I have a lot of things I have to take care of." I know that I need to stay in Katie's good graces so I can get the access that I need, but I really wanna focus on trying to talk to Janessa tonight. Katie gives me a pouty look. I stand up from my chair and walk around my desk to Katie. I put my hand on her waist and slowly pull her to me. Katie places her hand on my chest and looks up at me. "We will have some time together…..believe me. Just be a little patient." Katie nods and I give her a squeeze. The slamming of a door has us jump apart and I look up to see Gemma huffing and stomping towards the elevator. Katie goes back to her desk and starts to clean up. I pickup my phone and text Janessa again.

~Gemma~

I can't believe that asshole. First, he is pining over someone named Samantha and tells Janessa that, totally breaking her heart. Then he acts concerned, trying to get me to tell him where she is. Now, he seems to have moved on from this Samantha person and has his hands all over Katie! Maybe it was a good thing that Janessa didn't automatically accept him. He seems to love the ladies way too much.

On the drive back to the packhouse, I think about what I should tell Janessa. Initially, I was encouraging her to give him a chance. Justin being human wasn't a reason to reject him immediately. Now, I'm not sure that Justin is someone she should spend her time with. Janessa is a big girl and can make her own choices, but I don't want to see my best friend get hurt when it can be avoided.

When I get to the packhouse, I head straight to Janessa's office. The door is open so I head in and take a seat across from her. Janessa looks up from her paperwork and gives me a small smile. My face must reflect how I am feeling right now; conflicted. "Uh...what's up? You look like you have something to say, but you don't know how to say it." Janessa puts down her paperwork and gives me her full attention. I take a deep breath and start to tell her about the day, the conversation with Justin and seeing Justin with Katie.

" 'Nessa, you know I love you and I support you in whatever you do. I'm starting to wonder if Justin is really someone you should get involved with. He is starting to give me the player vibe and I don't want to see you get hurt." Janessa doesn't say anything, but she nods in acknowledgement. I get up from my chair. "I will give you some time alone. I love you, girl." I turn and walk out of her office. I know that she will decide to do what she thinks is best. I just hope that I'm wrong about Justin.

~Janessa~

After speaking to Gemma, I start to think about everything I know when it comes to Justin and I have to admit that it isn't a lot. I know what his background report said and everything seemed to be on the level. He is a human and is new to the area. He was also able to incapacitate a vampire and two of my best warriors. That, alone, brings a lot of questions to the mind. He mentioned a Samantha and he has been seen repeatedly flirting with Katie. I should just reject him already and leave it alone. He is clearly too much to deal with.

'You better not reject our mate!'

'Sky, look at all we know about him so far. Is that really who you want to be tied to for life?'

'You need to let him explain. You don't know what is real and what isn't.'

I throw the block up because talking to Sky these days is like talking to a brick wall. We have not been on the same page and she seems to want to ignore all that we know about Justin. I pick up my phone and reread the text he sent me earlier: 'Meet at my place at 7pm. Please.'

I never responded just as I didn't respond to his first text. The truth is I had no idea what to say. The thought of him loving another still hurts me and I don't know how to deal with that. Maybe I need to meet him and end things once and for all. I usually don't question the Moon Goddess, but maybe in this case we are just too different to work. I look at the time and realize that if I'm going to go see Justin, I need to get going. It would be best to end things now. I get up with determination and leave my office.

~Justin~

I have no idea if she plans to come here or not. Just like the text this morning, Janessa didn't respond. I know she is getting them and reading them, but she is not responding. I sigh and continue to pace my small living room. I don't know why I feel so compelled to make things right with her, but I do. I have to get her to understand some things about me. I can't stand that I hurt her and, hopefully, after talking to me she will feel better.

I hear a soft knock at the door and I stop in the middle of my path. I haven't forgotten the men I beat up from the company. It could be someone coming to rectify that, or it could Janessa. I take a deep breath and make it to the door. Looking through the peephole, I see Janessa and my heart skips a beat. I try to shake it off and open the door.

Janessa walks into the room and looks around a bit before sitting on the couch. I guess she can actually see in the room since the lights are on this time. I sit at the other end of the couch and wait. I feel extremely nervous and can't seem to figure out where to put my hands. Janessa sits quietly not saying anything, looking down at the floor. There is tension in the air as well as something else I can't identify.

"You said you wanted to talk." I nod and look up at Janessa, feeling stupid because she wasn't even looking at me. She looks up and at me. "Who are you?" I sigh and run a hand over my face.

"My name is-" Janessa cuts me off with what sounded like a growl. It can't be a growl, I mean she isn't an animal.

"I know all of that, clearly." I just shake my head at her.

"My name is Drake Star. Justin Case is just one of the many names I have used in my life." Janessa's eyes get big and she starts to look around the room almost as if someone is going to pop out at her. "You are safe with me, I won't hurt you."

"You are telling me your name isn't your…..name. How can I be sure this isn't something very dangerous for me? What else do I think I know that is wrong?" I turn my body to face Janessa completely.

"I use false names because I am trying to stay under the radar. As far as they know, Drake Star died some time ago."

"Who the hell is 'they'?" I feel like I'm doing this all wrong and jump up off of the couch and start to pace. I can feel Janessa's eyes following my every movement.

"I…..I don't remember anything about my parents; hell I'm not even sure I have any parents. The earliest memory I have is being held in a cage with other children in the same predicament. I don't know how I got there, I just know that my life from then on was crap. I was moved around many times….no I was sold many times." I hear Janessa gasp, but I can't stop to look at her. I need to get this out. "I was sold as were other children. We were sold to various people and were basically slaves. We would be beaten and starved and the only purpose we served was to do the bidding of those who bought us. I could never go outside and be a kid. There were no holiday or birthday celebrations. There were no toys and there was no TV. My life was not my own and I didn't know why." I stop pacing and sit back on the couch. Instead of looking at Janessa, I put my elbows on my lap and look at my hands. "I got to a point where I would do anything to escape. I was sick of the abuse and I vowed that when I escaped, I would make sure this didn't happen to any other children. I got out and started to do research. I found out who was behind this entire operation and I started to target various arms of the company and dismantle them. I travel all around the world and help free innocent children from the horrible life that was forced upon them. I have people I work with that help me get the children what and who they need. I came to California because the company seems to be housed here. I came to work for you because you provide security to this company and I figured that you may have information that would help me." I look up at Janessa and see the wheels turning. I quickly added, "It wasn't me who was spying on your company or took your money. I just want to get any information that I can so I can destroy the company once and for all." I take a breath and let it out. That was everything and now all I could do was wait for Janessa's response.

~Janessa~

What the hell?! This is a lot to take in all at once and I don't know what to do about it. This is crazy right? I mean this sounds like something you would see on Lifetime or any of the other channels that used to have some kinda crazy movie plots. I look at Drake and he is looking at me with sincerity in his eyes. He must truly believe this story, because there are no lies in his eyes. I clear my throat after what seems like forever.

"What is the name of this company?" Drake looks a bit worried at this question and he gets up again and starts to pace. I decide to let him take his time.

Drake stops pacing and looks at me, "The Reese Corporation." Now I know this man must be nuts. The Reese Corporation is one of the most influential and well known companies that have come out of California. They have branches all over and do so much charity work for...children. They do seem to focus a lot on children and I remember daddy commenting on that one time saying that there was something odd about their entire set up. I get out my phone and quickly text Lana to have Leon look into Reese. If there is something to find, he will find it. "I know you think I'm crazy, but I'm telling you that compa-" I hold up my hand to stop Drake. Whether he is crazy or not, time will tell. That isn't my focus at the moment.

"Jus-, uh I mean Drake. I need to ask you…..who is Samantha?" Drake sighs and sits back on the couch.

"She is someone I was in a few homes with growing up. We went through some pretty horrific stuff. She was sold from a home I was in right before I escaped. I told her that I would get her out and I have been looking for her ever since. She was….well is my first love." Drake looked everywhere, but at me, which I didn't mind because I didn't want him to see the hurt in my eyes. He has someone and he has been searching for her.

All of a sudden glass is cracking behind us. An object whizzes past us and lands by the door. A sound comes from it and the room is filled with smoke. I can hear many footsteps outside and I can smell humans, wolves, and…..vampires? I instantly jump up and get into a fighting stance. Drake runs to the closet and turns around with a metal case in his hand. He runs towards me, takes my hand, and pulls me into the bedroom. Drake goes to the window and pushes it out. Just then we hear the door being pounded on. It sounds like they are trying to break it down. He turns to me and reaches out his hand, "Trust me."

I put my hand in his and we jump out of the window. I expected to fall to the ground and be cut with the glass at the bottom, but we seem to drop down a bit. Instead of crashing through the window in front of us, it seems to open easily. We were in the bedroom directly below the one we jumped from. How this will be explained to the occupants, I don't know. I sniffed a bit, but didn't smell anyone. "I rent both units and set this up in case I ever needed an out," Drake says, seeming to read my mind. We head into an empty living room; I mean there was no furniture anywhere. Drake goes to the front door and looks through the peephole. He quietly opens the door and looks out, both ways. "You need to go," Drake says, turning to me.

"How can I leave you to deal with all this?" Drake smiles at me.

"This is what I do. Just go and I promise I will be in touch." Before I can respond, Drake runs out of the apartment and disappears into the night. I take another look around and hurry to my car. The sooner I get back on packlands the better.