Chapter 13 Luca
Luca
A group of people from Mathew’s organisation herds the teens through the hallway to the back of the building, while I stay right behind the door, listening to Vera and Riley, tears in my eyes as my breathing shudders.
When I heard the teens scream, after someone got shot trying to escape through the side window, I couldn’t stay outside any longer. I had to get in there, I had to help them.
I’ve looked after some of the kids for years and they were terrified, I couldn’t ignore that. They were terrified of what was going on around them. They probably didn’t have a clue who they could trust.
The people from Mathew’s team waiting for the teens in the hidden hallway didn’t seem to want to let me through at first, but when they realised I wasn’t going to stop, they got out of the way.
The front room was exactly the same as it always had been, a little more cluttered and with a broken window, but otherwise exactly the same as before. As soon as the teens recognised me, they seemed to be much more willing to get out of there. As I expected.
I knew that once the teens were out, and I’d closed the door behind me, there would be a bloodbath on the other side. And from the screams and shots, that’s exactly what’s happening.
Unlike when Vera rescued me, it’s over a lot quicker this time. It takes less than three minutes before everything goes quiet.
“Luca?” Vera’s voice comes through the door. “We’re coming in.”
I open the door slightly, making sure to not look inside the room, not wanting to see the carnage. “How did you know I was here?”
Vera steps inside, immediately hugging me. “Because that’s how you are. And I noticed your pheromones through the door.”
“While I’d love to join in on the cuddle. Let’s get moving. We’ve got more to do tonight.” Riley crowds us deeper into the hallway. She seems much calmer than before, surer.
“The teens are out and on their way to safety.” Jorge’s voice over the earpiece is short, to-the-point. “Luca, are you joining Vera and Riley, or are you also coming out?”
“Luca’s inside?!” That seems to surprise Mathew.
“That was not part of the plan.” I can almost imagine the pained face Derrick is pulling right now. I’m sorry, I know how much you hate it when people don’t follow your plan.
I reach up, activating my earpiece. “I’m staying here. Are the younger kids downstairs or upstairs in their rooms?”
“Downstairs.” That’s Caleb, his low tones easy to recognise. “Upstairs is empty. There might be people in the private rooms on the ground floor, but nobody up here.”
“Not anymore, anyway.” Mathew sounds amused.
“Story for another time, not now. Let’s keep moving, people.” Derrick deserves a real long break after tonight, especially since I don’t think me going inside will be the only deviation from the plans tonight. “Luca, you want to be here when the younger kids get out?”
“Yes. Let me know when they’re ready to break the downstairs doors.” There’s not much use for me waiting around in the basement before then.
“Will do.”
Vera takes my hand, rubbing her thumbs over the top of my hand. “Are you going to follow us first, or do you have other plans?”
“I’ll stay with you two for now. If my being there helps some of the kids feel less scared, then that’s what I want to do.”
“Okay. Let’s continue our route, then.” Riley reaches past us and pushes open another one of the hidden doors. We’re now in one of the hallways with ‘private’ rooms. “Check every room. We want everyone out of here.”
Dead or alive.
She doesn’t say the words, though her tone implies them.
While it’s scary and I’m still not sure me going inside was the best idea, actively doing things in here, no matter how dangerous, feels much better than waiting out there in safety.
Every time I see a familiar face, I feel relief and dread in equal measures. Relief knowing they’re still alive, dread knowing that it means they’ve been going through hell even when I wasn’t here.
“We’re about to break the doors to get the younger kids out.” Derrick’s voice comes through the earpiece.
“I’m on my way.” I look around, trying to figure out the fastest way to the basement doors.
“We’ve got trouble,” one of the lookouts speaks up. “There are multiple vans heading in our direction, west side.”
My heart races. Are the Hearts sending reinforcements?
Things did feel a little too easy, but it’s also weird that they’d wait long enough for us to basically empty out this place before they sent reinforcements. It feels off.
“I can see them on the cameras.” Timothy sounds focused. “I count eight vans. None of their plates are recognised by our systems. There might be more coming, but I can only see eight for now. Stay alert.”
“Hearts.” Riley’s voice comes out in a growl.
“Probably.” Vera starts pushing me in the direction of the hidden hallway. “Go to the basement. Get the kids out.”
“What are you going to do?” I grab her arm, not letting her go.
“I’m going to make sure that the kids get to safety. That we all get out of here alive.” She kisses my hand. Vera and Riley got rid of their masks a while ago, the flower pheromones are no longer being pumped around, so the mask was only a bother to them.
Then Vera pulls her arm loose, before she darts down the hallway, in the direction of the front room.
“Get them out as quickly as possible.” Riley gives me a tight hug, kissing my forehead. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to Vera.” And she’s after our Omega, leaving me alone in the doorway.
Fuck.
Well, it’s not like I can do anything there anyway. I don’t carry any weapons. I’d just be a sitting duck if I followed them.
After a couple of deep breaths, trying to overcome the panic building inside me, I dash into the hidden hallway and make my way to the basement door that they’re planning to use to get the younger kids out.
There are still sounds all around, though not that many as before, and there’s a definite bang-bang-bang sound as they’re trying to get through the thick basement door.
I reach Derrick and the others as the door starts to creak.
Derrick notices me, gives me a curt nod, and then returns to staring at the door that’s being broken down.
I knew that standing around was going to be the worst, and with the threat of reinforcements from the Hearts arriving at any moment, the sooner this is over, the better.
“More cars. North side.” A different lookout comes in over the earpiece.
“Fuck.” Derrick stares at me for a couple of moments, as he’s clearly trying to decide what to do. “Snipers are free to take out whoever they can. See if you can stop any of the vans before they get here.”
Caleb and Mathew show up behind him, looking ragged.
“Any team in hiding in their direction?” Caleb speaks through the earpiece, but looks at Derrick for confirmation.
“Team E. Warehouse next door. They’re well-equipped.” Timothy and Derrick answer him at the same time.
Caleb blinks for a moment, then nods and is out the door, joining team E.
Before Mathew can follow Caleb, Derrick stops him. “You’re not going anywhere. I need you here. You take my place. I’m joining team D on the other side.”
“Why am I staying here? You know that I’m just as good as you out there.” Mathew glares at him.
“Because this is your raid. Three of your pack members are still inside, and you know the layout of this place better than anyone. You’re of more use here right now.” And, with that, Derrick is off.
One of the backup teams barges through the back door, looking for Derrick, but finding Mathew instead.
“Front rooms. Upstairs, downstairs. Same orders as everyone else. Take them out, don’t let them come closer. When the last kids are safe, we all pull out.” Mathew straightens his back, in command, his whole body language changing. He looks scary right now.
This is Mathew ‘The Cleaner’ Page, a man feared for his ruthlessness.
And I totally understand why.
The door creaks one last time before it breaks the hinges off the frame. They used a reinforced door but didn’t use special hinges or frame, so that’s where the weakest spots were.
The guys in front of the door pull it out of the way.
The terrified pheromones from the basement flood out, making me sick to my stomach.
But I push through. I’m here to help them. I’m here because they know me, they know I’m safe.
I step into the basement, my heart hurting at what I find. Crying kids. Kids huddled in corners, trying to get away from everyone. And a couple of adults in states not much better.
As I turn to look around, Mathew steps in front of me and two shots ring through the basement, almost at the same time. The sounds keep bouncing off the walls, making it seem even louder.
Mathew’s hand lands heavily on my shoulder, he’s keeping himself up but he’s shaking.
People flood into the room, creating a living wall around us, and I try to find out what happened to Mathew.
I turn to him, looking him up and down, and even though his face is distorted in pain, I can’t seem to find where he’s hurt.
First, I touch his chest. He’s not shot there and the bullet-proof vest is still fine.
Then I touch lower, his belly, fear rushing through me. What if he got shot in his belly?
But that also doesn’t seem to be the case. Relief floods me.
Then I notice that one of his legs is getting darker and darker and I put my hand on his hip. My hand comes away covered in blood and Mathew hisses.
“We need to get you out of here. Right now.” I start pushing at him, but he won’t move.
“It’s a flesh wound. You get the kids out first. I’ll be fine.” He leans on my shoulder.
“We’re getting everyone out. We’re not leaving anyone behind.
You need medical care, you leave first.” I motion to some people from our ‘wall’ and they help Mathew out.
The others surround them until they reach the door and stand guard there, keeping an eye on everything but clearly not letting anyone through.
Some of the older kids immediately rush over to me and I wrap my arms around them.
“He protected you! Why are you back? What’s going on? What are all the sounds upstairs?” The questions from the kids keep coming.
I motion for all of them to be quiet and when I look up, everyone in the basement is staring at me.
“We’re here to get you out. There are people waiting outside to bring you to safe new places to live. From now on, you’re free. The Hearts no longer have any control over you.” I motion for the kids to leave, but the wall of guards is much too scary for them.
Luckily, that’s the moment Vera slips between them and they step aside.
“You see that lady over there? She’s my mate. If you follow her, she’ll bring you to safety.” I stand up, wishing I could be with Mathew right this moment, but we need to get the kids out first.
The kids move slowly, many of them unsure of what to do.
Finally, when Xavier and Nathan show up, things seem to get easier. The two aren’t all decked out in gear and that probably makes it much easier for the kids to believe that they’re ‘safe’.
Once all the kids, and the handful of adults, are out, Vera rushes over to me, hugging me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Mathew was shot.” Now we no longer have to be here, I can’t wait to go to him.
“I know. Riley is already with him. We should go.” She takes my hand and we follow the last kids.
But, just as we step out the back door, Caleb’s voice comes through our earpieces. “The vans have reached the front of the building. Get ready to fight.”