11. CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 11
Fear was a living, breathing thing within Leandro as they made their way into the first veterinarian clinic on the east side of town. Even though getting the medical supplies was necessary, it didn’t make it easier to gather, considering they might be attacked at any moment.
Just because they hadn’t seen cameras on them didn’t mean they weren’t there. Worse, based on what the Alpha said, who they’d interrogated before he’d succumbed to his injuries, the safe room’s exits were more than one. It was the only reason they’d decided against posting someone to watch it.
It might have been a mistake, but if the Alpha had been telling the truth, it would have been wiser to use each person to load up the supplies and get the hell out of there than waste a pair of eyes on an entrance when there may be more than one.
“How are we going to get the Omegas out?” he asked Weston as they loaded box after box of medication onto the truck. It had been decided that medicine was more imperative than bandages. Once they had all the ketamine, ointments, and anything else that could have been used to heal any injuries, they would load up on stitches and bandages.
If they were really lucky, they would empty the first office and move on to the second one before the night was over. Actually, they were hoping they would get through two of the offices. They wanted to finish with all five clinics within two nights.
What they still were questionable about was how to get the Omegas out. Or, and this was a big one, how to transport them. There were about a dozen horses, once they had known where to look, but were any of them able to ride?
From what he’d seen and heard of from the Omegas they’d taken in, it wasn’t likely. It wasn’t as if those who were captured to sell were treated well. If anything, they were often beaten to keep them from trying to get away.
Weston wrapped his arms around Leandro and held him close for several moments. “I don’t know, but we will find a way to help them.”
Even though Weston couldn’t technically give him the answer he wanted, it was enough for Leandro. He knew with that promise that Weston wouldn’t stop until he freed those Omegas, which was good enough for Leandro.
Even though he had no reason for blindly trusting an Alpha with Weston, Leandro had. It made no sense to him, yet it was how Leandro felt. Then again, part of it had been because Weston never lied to him. It was possible there was no way to actually free those Omegas, but there was zero doubt if Weston could find a way, he would. That might not be a guarantee, but it was something he could depend on.
“Thank you.” It was only two words, but he meant them with his entire being.
They had just finished loading the medicines and were working on all the bandages and sutures. “We need to come up with a way to get them out of there.”
The six of them had talked about it, but the Alpha they had interrogated warned them about other outlets from the safe room. He hadn’t actually told him where those entrances were. To find them wouldn’t be easy, but Leandro was determined to free them.
What would that mean? He had no clue, yet Leandro damn well knew he would find a way. Hopefully. No. He would. No matter what it took.
“Come on, kitten, let’s get the rest of the supplies loaded so we can get to the second clinic.” Weston hugged Leandro a bit harder for a moment before heading back through the back door of the clinic.
As much as Leandro wanted to hold on to Weston as the lifeline he was becoming to be to him, he knew they needed to finish. The sooner the better. Following Weston, Leandro carried out the last of the boxes of bandages.
“Are we ready to head to the next clinic?” he asked as he put the boxes into the bed of the truck.
Weston nodded. “Yes, but because we’re heading closer to the center of town, we need to keep our eyes open.”
As if Leandro hadn’t known that from childhood. There was never a time when he wasn’t aware of all that was going on around him. If not, he would have been dead. His brothers may have loved him to cook, clean, and babysit, but he also was well aware they hated him enough to kill him if it wouldn’t inconvenience them.
“When are we going to come up with a plan for the Omegas?” Leandro hated asking, but he also knew there was no way he was going to be okay, just hoping they would help keep them safe. “Just hoping we are going to actually try to free them.”
Weston reached across the seat and took Leandro’s hand. “Promise. We are.”
Even though he trusted Weston, there were still questions. What Leandro wasn’t certain was whether they were due to not knowing Weston well enough or that he was an Alpha. He had no clue, although, admittedly, he trusted Weston far more than any other Alpha. But Leandro’s need to free any Omegas that were still being held wasn’t something he could let go of.
There had been too many who’d come to Sanctuary that had needed help, including him. Without his friends, Leandro wouldn’t have survived. Sometimes he’d wanted nothing more than to curl up and die. Thanks to Sanctuary, he had found life where he felt complete. Where he belonged.
He would not deny anyone else that opportunity. As far as he was concerned, all Omegas had the right to live free of oppression.
A large, warm hand took hold of him after they’d climbed into the truck. “I get you grew up in a family who didn’t treat you fairly and find it difficult to trust Alphas, but I swear to you I will never lie to you.”
In the past Leandro never would have believed Weston, but when Weston uttered those words, there was no doubt he trusted the Alpha completely. Even more, he knew, deep inside, that Weston would never betray Leandro.
Never once had Leandro known a kind Alpha, yet with Weston, that was exactly who he was. The thing was, Leandro still did not know when he’d trusted Weston, but somehow he had.
“How are we going to get to them?” he asked Weston. If there were several ways in and out of the safe room, how were they supposed to get to the Omegas before the Alphas escaped with them?
“Honestly?” Weston asked. “I have no idea. What I do know is we will not give up without trying to find them.”
That was something Leandro knew he could believe. Weston was a man of his word. If he claimed to find a way to free the Omegas, he would do everything in his power to do exactly that.