Chapter 53
We pull up a few hundred yards away from a large rusted gate, dense greenery packed in on either side. Mason hopped out of the driver’s seat, and we all followed along with him. He went to the trunk and pulled out a large metal case.
When he opened it, a drone sat in the middle, with a controller in the compartment next to it.
The thing looked military, not one of the cheap ones you bought a hobbyist for Christmas.
He pulled it out and set it on the ground, away from us, before opening the controller, which had so many buttons and dials I wouldn’t even begin to know how to use it. Software was way more my speed.
“What’s that?” Joon asked. This younger brother side came out of him quickly around Mason, and I couldn’t help but find it endearing.
“My recon team,” he said.
“Won’t the compound see that?” Marcus asked.
“If they looked up, probably,” Mason said. “But why would they?”
A fair answer, I suppose.
With a few more clicks, the blades started humming, creating a loud noise I worried others would hear.
“Aren’t they gonna hear that thing?” Joon asked, as if reading my thoughts.
“Can’t you have a little faith in your brother?” Mason asked. It was obvious he was getting frustrated by Joon, but he still spoke to him in a kind tone. That feeling was one I could relate to quite a bit. You wanted to yell at him, but at the same time, he was just too damn endearing.
It pissed me off.
And made me love him even more.
Hm. Love. I guess I did love him, all of them really.
I should probably tell them that.
But that had to wait until after. A few moments later, the device shot up, turning into a speck in the sky, and almost silent with the wind.
Everyone tried to crowd around Mason to see the screen, myself included. Indi brushed his arm, and he stepped away, pulling the controller with him.
“I’ll tell you if I see anything,” he assured.
Indi, Marcus, and I stayed put, though the waiting made my skin itch. I wanted to just go in there and tear the place apart until I found the son of a bitch. But it was obvious Mason had some kind of experience we lacked, so if following his lead got us the results we wanted, I would play along.
Joon was the only one who ignored his brother's warning, sidling up next to him without a care. He didn’t seem to mind as they both stared.
“Is that the main compound?” Joon asked, pointing to something.
“I think so,” Mason agreed, eyes still glued.
They stood like that for several minutes, each one feeling more excruciating than the previous.
Indi shifted so many times I was on the verge of telling him to fuck off.
The amount of mud on the ground squishing into my shoes made me want to chuck them into the ocean.
They would at least meet the bottom of the trash can when I got home.
“There,” Mason said, pointing to the screen. “That concrete building is most likely the holding cell of sorts.”
He turned the controller around. “The main house is here,” he said, dragging it back east. “It’s only about a quarter mile west, so getting there on foot will be easiest. It looks like there’s one person standing watch outside, but he might be drawn back by the…
commotion about to happen at the base. It’s still good to be cautious.
Bunkers like that only have one way in, and one way out. ”
“Got it,” Marcus said. “Do you think Jason’s in there?”
“It’s a possibility. I can’t tell, so you’ll need to be cautious.”
I nodded. “We can handle it.”
“Good. As I said, I can’t babysit you.” Mason called the drone back. It came whipping through the sky and landed gracefully a few feet away. “And if something happens to my brother, you’re all dead.”
“Will you stop?” Joon huffed. “Don’t threaten my pack.”
“It’s not a threat,” he said, putting the drone back in his car. “Just a fact.”
Joon looked like he wanted to argue, but Marcus stepped in. “He’ll be fine,” he promised. “What’s going to happen to the base?”
“Leave that to me,” he said, checking his phone briefly. “We should go. My men are in position.”
As he left the back of the car, he held a handgun in his hand. “Who’s taking it?”
“Me,” Joon said quickly, reaching for it.
Mason was quick to pull the weapon away.
“Try again.”
Joon pouted, but Mason reached for the gun easily, looking it over. We used to go shooting at the range when we were younger, so he knew what he was doing.
We strode up to the gate in a group. It was strange that no one was standing watch. Just a giant bolted lock with some chains.
“So much for security,” Indi huffed.
“It’s because they’d see anyone coming,” Mason said. “And they’re too cocky for their own good.” He sighed. “Fuck, forgot the bolt cutters in the car.”
He started to turn back, but I stopped him. “Let me.”
I pulled the small lock-picking kit out of my pocket, about the size of a tin of mints. Though it was always easier to break in when the door was digital, sometimes analog was the way.
Mason’s brows rose, but that was the only reaction he gave. Was he maybe mildly impressed? Confused? He was impossible to read. Almost like Marcus, but with him, it’d been so long I was able to decipher most things.
I squatted a bit, careful not to let my knees touch the disgusting, muddy ground as I examined the lock. It looked like a simple padlock. I got out my tension tool and shoved it in the bottom, holding the inner cylinder in place.
Then I took one of the actual picks and started pressing around, trying to get all the inner pins lifted into place.
It took about thirty seconds before I felt the tension in the cylinder release, allowing me to pull open the lock.
It released the chains, letting them clatter to the ground.
The gate doors swung without anything holding them, a loud creaking sound.
“Seems at least you found yourself a resourceful pack,” Mason said to Joon. “Let’s move.”
We made our way in. The dirt road led to a path straight down the hill, presumably towards the base. There were large tire marks in the ground, looking to be from motorcycles.
“I’m going to go to the base,” Mason said. “But just head that way, and you won’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” I said with a nod.
Mason broke off and started down the path. He looked so out of place, his clean suit against the mudded road and trees was jarring.
We started across the open field. There was a ton of space here, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was used for. It didn’t take long to start hearing gunshots ring out from the direction Mason went. Joon turned, his candy-apple scent turning rotten with worry.
I put my arm around him, kissing the top of his head. “Don’t worry, Gattino, your brother is fine.”
“I know,” he shot back with irritation, but he still leaned into my comforting touch.
The same prickly cat he’s always been.
In the distance, the cement room he pointed out came into view. Everyone’s footsteps picked up speed, knowing we were so close now.
As we walked, something caught the corner of my eye. Movement closer to the treeline. It was two men, walking back towards the base, if I had to take a guess.
One of them had to be that fuckhead Jason, I just felt it in my bones. When I stopped, it didn’t take long for everyone else to as well.
It seemed Indi followed my eyes. “You think it’s him?”
I nodded. “I’m gonna go get him. You guys get our girl back.”
Joon’s grip on my hand tightened. “You shouldn’t go by yourself.”
I gave him a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll be okay,” I promised. “You just worry about getting our omega back.”
He looked unsure, but I pulled him in for a kiss, trying to make him feel better.
“Want this?” Marcus asked, gesturing to the gun.
I shook my head. “You know I prefer my knife.”
He nodded before turning towards the direction of Eva, and I started stalking off towards my prey.
There was no way Jason was getting away alive. My knife flicked out from my side, and I opened the blade.
I stalked after him. There was one other guy who made me slightly nervous, but Jason trailed behind him, so I’d be able to snatch him into the trees and take care of him.
I kept my feet light and my mind off any potential things I could be stepping in. Neither seemed wise to where I was, which was ideal.
Eventually, not far from the house, Jason fell behind, seeming uninterested in going somewhere with so many gunshots. Soon, he was far enough back that I was able to snatch him out of line with his friend, who didn’t even turn around.
Jason looked shocked. Good. My knife was pressed to his throat, a little bead of blood already dripping from it.
“Hey, coglione, let’s have a little chat, hm?”