Chapter 39 Kole
thirty-nine
Kole
“Why would they make a secret door look like a vending machine?” Illya complains as we come to the lower levels of the underground lab.
The one I haven’t been inside since we rescued Jo.
“They are mad scientists,” I mutter, stalking down the hallway. It’s eerily quiet down here. “They do weird shit.”
“Yes,” Luka chuckles, following behind his twin, “but you are not the one who was thinking he would get a Twinkie and then was sorely disappointed.”
“Where is everyone?” Alexei mutters, following behind us.
“We did a pretty good amount of damage the last time we were here.” I check around another corner. Nothing. “It is possible they did not rebuild.”
“If you took their scientist and destroyed their research, I do not think they would have a reason to keep the lab open.”
I frown. If Xavier pulled his funding, we are clearing this building for nothing, and I could be with Jo right now.
The thought stays in the back of my mind as we go through each floor. We get off at floor “C,” and just when I am pissed about the fact I have wasted so much time, a noise catches my attention.
“Did you hear that?” Illya mutters, and I nod silently. Motioning with my hands, we converge on the door. When I kick it open, we’re met with a scream of terror.
“Well, well, well.” Alexei grins as he eyes the man cowering in the corner. “It looks like we have found the missing Senator Kinsley.”
Alexei carries the grown man who passed out from pure terror over his shoulder, hands bound, as we exit the lab. Taking out my phone, I see a text from my omega, telling us they are ready. Good.
I am not sure what I am expecting when we round the corner leading to the courtyard, but it is not multiple bonfires, orderlies tied up like pigs, and the doors of the Cathedral wide open as catatonic patients wander in the courtyard like zombies.
“Where are the doctors?” Luka whispers, looking around the scene with awe.
“Tucked away in staff housing, remember?” I answer. “They need to stay out of the way, and we need to make sure they can’t run before the authorities get here.”
When I see my omega, I make a beeline straight for her.
She’s standing on top of a picnic table, directing patients who are carrying the orderlies into the Cathedral.
When she turns to me, I note that she has glitter on one cheek and blood on the other.
“Sugar Bear!” she exclaims when she sees me.
“Is everythin’ okay? Xavier should be here any minute. ”
It is amusing, seeing as she looks like she is planning a party rather than orchestrating the downfall of an evil organization.
“I brought you a present.” I wrap my arms around her waist and tuck my chin against her stomach. Since she is standing on the table, she is a great deal taller than me.
Her eyes dart over my shoulder at Illya, Luka, and Alexei. “Who in high hell is Alexei carryin’?”
“The missing Senator Kinsley.” I grin up at her, and her eyes light up.
“Hey! We got Whitmore!” She points to the center of the courtyard. There is the old bastard, tied up with the rest of the orderlies.
“They are all complying?”
“Yep,” she grins, before scowling at the group of tied-up people. “Well, besides Paige and Lars. But we just tied ‘em too.” My omega shrugs. I feel a vibration as I hold her, and she frowns, pulling her phone out of her pocket. “Shit. Xavier is parkin’ his car.”
He will have no choice but to follow the path we laid out for him, complete with a large sign that says “Welcome!” and a roped-off path leading straight to us.
“Everyone!” she calls out. “Please make your way to the Cathedral and shut the doors. I’ll open them when it’s time.”
Surprisingly, everyone listens, and in three minutes, the courtyard is clear of everyone besides our pack, Whitmore, and Kinsley.
Illya and Luka have done their part and need to get the hell out of dodge before the FBI shows up.
“You ready, Fireball?” Hayden asks, flicking his lighter open. I have no doubt he’s responsible for the bonfires lighting up the courtyard.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She nods, putting a serious face on.
“It’s all coming down,” West assures her.
“Even if we have to literally burn it ourselves.” Sam smirks.
“You sound like Hayden.” I chuckle.
Jo smiles, sending a wave of love to all of us through the bond before turning to face the doorway of the dorms.
Two shadowy figures appear between the Cathedral and the dorms. My blood boils when they become illuminated by the light of the fire, revealing Xavier Bowen holding a gun to the head of a sobbing and whimpering Adela as he forces her into the courtyard.
It’s finally time to let it all burn down.