Partners, to the end.

[whrrenah]

It was going on a month and Wren was done.  Done with waiting, done with worrying, just done.  And they knew she was done when she came to the compound with the two children in tow, her eyes sharp silver as she glared at every security guard who bowed before her, unable to meet her scrutiny.  They all failed her.  Again.  And now she was going to take things into her own hands and show them all how a Starfyr handled it.


She didn't bother waiting to be announced and simply walked into the office, ignoring the way Porsche and Kinn flew away from each other and quickly adjusted attire.  "Mama, they were kissing!" Anu announced loudly in that typical, oblivious manner young children had.

"I know, Anu.  People who like each other kiss."  She didn't care if they were fucking on the couch.  More than likely, they had at one point, but never been caught.

"Wren," Kinn greeted, clearing his throat a bit.  "I didn't realize I should be expecting you."

"I like Ken but I don't wanna kiss him," Anu continued, speaking about his classmate and scrunching his face.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, love,"  her tone was soft and kind for Anu as she balanced Achara on her hip.  Said tone went hard as she addressed Kinn.  "And if you had found my husband by now, you wouldn't have to worry about being interrupted, wouldn't you?"

Porsche knew a fight was coming on and he got to his feet, looking at the children.  "Hey, do you two want to see a new card trick I just learned?"  Kids properly distracted, Wren let Achara slip from her arms as she listened to Kinn's response.

"These things take time, Wren.  We just found out where he was being held and we're buying time with pretend negotiations--"

"Beautiful.  You're buying time.  Tell me where he is and I'll go fetch him."

That shocked the two men.  As far as they knew, she had little to no experience with the underworld save for that one time.  "I can't have you risk your life to--"

"Oh, I'm not asking for your permission, Kinn.  I didn't think you were that dense."  Barely controlled fury was in her voice and Porsche turned to look at Kinn, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck lift.  It was a weird sensation, like the moment before lightning was going to strike.  "My husband.  He's mine.  I agreed to follow the protocol and trust the process.  I'm done with trusting the process.  You're now going to trust my process.  So tell me where he is and I can go get him."

"I'm not going to let yourself put you at risk."

"Oh?  Now you're not going to put me at risk?  I married into the risk.  I'm done waiting and I want my husband back.  End of story.  He sacrificed too much to be made into fertilizer--"

"Fertilizer's poop!"  Anu announced proudly.  

To which Achara chorused, "Poop!"

"You don't seem to understand.  Kimhan is going to live a very long and fulfilling life and pass on in his sleep a very old man.  Anyone who thinks they're going to take him out to undermine you is sorely mistaken.  They don't fear the name Theerapanyakul enough to leave him alone.  Khun isn't even a threat to them because he made certain it would be like that.  But they don't know Starfyr.  And they will fear that name more than yours when I'm done with them, should I let them live long enough to comprehend that."

"Which are all admirable qualities."  Kinn could feel how quickly the situation was getting out of hand.  "But Kim will kill me if I let you get into a fight like this."

"Kim won't care if he dies now.  But I will.  So you tell me where he is." 

"I'm not going to have my niece and nephew lose their mother, too!"

That declaration stalled Wren's anger and she looked at Kinn and the grief and worry on his face.   It cooled her temper and she stepped up to him, her expression quiet and contemplative as she reached up to cup his cheek.  "I will bring both of us back.  Safe.  And I will have my brother with me."  Him and Roo were waiting back at the estate for information.  "We're not dying on your watch."

Helpless, Kinn looked to Porsche who glanced back, looked at Wren, set his jaw, then nodded slowly.  Sighing through his nose, Kinn looked back to Wren.  "You've taken the Theerapanyakul name well, you know."

Wren smiled in a way that seemed comforting but it chilled Kinn's blood.  She patted his cheek gently.  "Oh, Anakinn.  I'm not doing this for the name.  I'm doing this for my husband.  My loyalty is with him and only him."  She missed Porsche grinning behind her.

"Fine.  Give me your phone.  I'll put the current known location in and try and buy you some time."

Feeling victorious, Wren did just that.  "And I'll need a gun."

Kinn's brows went up but he didn't look away from the phone's screen.  "You know how to shoot?"

"Daddy taught me. I keep up with the practice from time to time.  I didn't bring one from the house.  And a car.  I don't want to use the family vehicle."

"You're leaving now?"

"Once I pick up my brother, yes."  And Roo.  They would go stake out the location and wait for nightfall.  Wren took her phone back and looked at the location.  It was a part of Thailand she wasn't familiar with.  Thank gods for GPS.   And tucking her phone back in her pocket, she turned to look at her children, playing with Porsche and running toy cars all over his arms, making vroom vroom noises.  "Okay, you two, come give me a hug and a kiss.  Mama has to go get your Pa."

Anu immediately perked up.  "I wanna help too!  Pew pew bad guys!"

With that, Wren knelt down, smoothing her son's hair.  "We talked about this, Anu.  If we both go, who's going to protect your sister?"

"All the uncles," Anu answered smartly, nodding his head.

"And who is going to protect your uncles from your sister?"

Anu brightened even more.  "Me!"  

"Good boy.  And what else did we talk about?"

"You said if Hawke comes to get us, we go with him and Roo."

"Good job.  I love you, my little monsters.  Ooh'ah ha."  She gave them both big hugs, saying things in the language neither of the other men knew, but the children understood completely.  When Wren stood up, she didn't hide the tears in her eyes.  

"Who's Roo?"  Kinn asked, a contemplative look on his face.

"Family friend."

"Wren."  This time it was Porsche.  "You'll be back.  Both of you."

Wren's smile was brief.  "Of course, Porsche.  One way or another.  Take care of my babies until we return."  With that she left, on a mission to save her husband and praying she wasn't too late.  If she was, Kinn was going to pay.