22. Hail
Hail
T ark’s false-bottom wagon creaked beneath us as one of the sorhoxes pulled it through the pre-dawn darkness toward town. I was hyperaware of every sound that might signal discovery. Allie and I lay hidden but exposure might be too easy.
“You alright?” I whispered.
“I’m enjoying my luxury accommodations.” Her voice sounded muffled.
Despite everything, her dry humor made me smile. Only Allie would joke while hiding from armed criminals determined to capture her. The courage it took to maintain that lightness in the face of danger made my chest swell with pride and terror in equal measure.
Tressa shifted on Allie’s other side, remaining as quiet as us. Every few minutes she’d glance up at me, her amber eyes reflecting the same tension that coiled through my muscles like wound wire.
Two of my brothers were out there somewhere, watching, though they were doing such a great job, I hadn’t seen or heard any sign of their presence. They’d join us once we were inside.
I’d tried to talk Allie into remaining hidden at Dungar’s with protection, but she was right to point out that this was her battle too. Any plan would include her participation.
Tark guided his sorhox toward the alley behind Sel’s bakery where warm light already spilled from the windows, peeking through the cracks in the boards above us.
The scent of fresh bread and cinnamon rolls drifted on the cool air.
As planned, Tark brought the wagon to a stop beside the bakery’s back door, and I was sure he was scanning the shadows one more time before climbing down. Dungar called out as he emerged from the building.
He moved to the back of the wagon to help unload the “supplies”.
Dungar grunted as he hefted me, disguised as a flour sack, over his shoulder. Tark took Tressa, also cloaked. He lowered me to the floor inside the kitchen, and I quickly climbed out of the burlap bag, tugging the fabric wrap off Tressa.
Hidden, I peered through the back window, watching as Dungar carefully shifted the false bottom to the side, revealing my mate curled up inside a wooden box labeled Spices.
Tark hefted the box onto his shoulder while Dungar took the second with the same label, and they carried them inside the bakery kitchen.
They’d already closed the blinds, blocking anyone from seeing inside.
As Tark lowered the box holding Allie onto the floor, Greel and Ostor joined us from the front room.
“Nothing,” Greel said. “If they’re out there, they’re too well hidden.”
That should give us the time we needed to put this plan in place.
I released the latches and lifted the lid on the box, revealing my pretty mate inside.
Smiling, she emerged from the compartment with typical grace, stretching muscles that had to be cramped from the awkward position. No complaints, no dramatics, just an acceptance that made my heart constrict with love.
Tressa bounded over and licked her face.
“That was actually more comfortable than some hotel rooms I’ve stayed in,” she said.
“You have terrible taste in hotels.” I wrapped my arms around her.
“Or excellent survival instincts.” She melted into my embrace before pulling back and peering around, nodding to my brothers and Holly.
“Everyone else is here now,” Sel said softly as he locked the back door and gestured to the front room.
Like before, the dining area in the front of the building had been transformed into a command center.
My brothers and their mates sat around the tables they’d grouped together.
Holly moved between them with a tea kettle, pouring water and adding sachets of herbs.
They’d already placed platters of pastries and thick slices of bread slathered with butter in the middle of the tables, plus smaller plates for us to serve ourselves.
The stranger sitting beside Ostor caught my attention, a human male in plain clothes. Everything about his posture shouted law enforcement, from the way he observed our entrance, cataloguing details, to his careful positioning that kept his back to the wall and eyes on all exits.
“Everyone, this is Detective Raymond Fernandez,” Dungar said, nodding toward the stranger. “He’s coordinating with federal authorities on the Will Carmichael investigation.”
Detective Fernandez rose to shake our hands, his grip firm and his eyes kind despite the seriousness of the situation. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Hail and Allie. Thank you for agreeing to help us bring this guy down.”
“Will’s caused enough damage.” Allie settled into the chair I pulled out for her. “It’s time he faced consequences.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Fernandez pulled out a tablet, swiping into a document.
“We’ve been tracking him for months, but he’s always stayed ahead of us.
He’s careful and well-connected. This is our best chance to catch him, and we appreciate you reaching out.
He’s slick. I’ll give him that.” His smile rose. “But we’re slicker.”
“The plan is straightforward,” Dungar said, spreading a map of the town and surrounding area on the table. “Allie will return to normal activities, making it look like we think he’s left for good.”
“Using me as bait,” Allie said. No accusation in her tone, only acknowledgment of reality.
“Using you as leverage ,” Detective Fernandez said. “We’ll have eyes on you every second. The moment Will makes a move, we close the trap.”
I studied the map, noting the positions marked for surveillance, the escape routes highlighted in red. Professionally planned, carefully coordinated. It should’ve been reassuring. Instead, every tactical detail felt like a blade pressed against my spine.
“What’s the ti-ti-timeline?” I asked.
“As soon as possible,” Dungar said. “We want to capture him while we have the element of surprise.”
“So now?” I ground my tusks at the thought.
“Every hour we wait gives Will more time to plan, more opportunity to bring in reinforcements.” Detective Fernandez leaned forward, his expression sympathetic but firm. “I know this is hard, but speed works in our favor here. Please know I have a full team on this. You’re not handling this alone.”
Allie covered my hand with hers. “I’m ready.”
Ready to face down the male who’d been hunting her for months and ready to risk everything for the chance at a normal life.
“We’ll go over weapons and communication systems next.” Ostor placed a duffel bag onto the table. “Everyone needs to know what they’re carrying and how to use it.”
The next hour blurred past in a haze of preparation.
“Will you arm Hail and his brothers?” Allie asked.
She shouldn’t have to think about such things. If only she could be tucked safely away in my pottery barn, creating beautiful things with her hands instead of preparing for violence.
“Would you like sidearms?” the detective asked. “Per the treaty, you’re allowed to open carry.”
I tapped the hilt of the sword riding my back. “I’m already arm-armed.”
Detective Fernandez grunted. “A sword will not work well in a gunfight.”
“You might be surprised.”
“Maybe we should all step back and let the detective and his team handle this,” Allie said.
“This is our town, orc jurisdiction,” Dungar said. “We’re involved. The treaty gives us this right.”
“I don’t want anyone hurt.”
I leaned in close. “Trust us. Please.”
Biting her lower lip, she nodded.
“Communication check,” Dungar announced, activating his radio. “Everyone confirm your channel.”
One by one, we tested the equipment that would keep us connected during the operation. Static-filled voices confirming positions, creating the network that would theoretically keep Allie safe when the trap sprung.
Theoretically. The word tasted bitter on my tongue.
“Backup plans,” Detective Fernandez said, pulling up another map on his tablet. “If the primary location becomes compromised, we have three secondary positions prepared. If the situation goes completely sideways…”
He outlined extraction procedures, emergency protocols, contingencies for every disaster scenario I could imagine and several I hadn’t thought of. Professional. Thorough. Completely inadequate to quiet the screaming in my head that demanded I grab Allie and run as far from this place as possible.
“Questions?” Dungar asked when he’d finished.
I had a thousand, but most were generated by my worry about my mate.
“I think we’re as ready as we can be,” Allie said when I remained silent.
Everyone appeared confident in this plan. They believed in Allie’s strength and our ability to protect her.
“Positions in three hours,” Dungar said, starting to pack up the maps and equipment. “Everyone check your gear one more time. If things go well, it’ll be over by this afternoon or tomorrow.”
The group began to leave, brothers and their mates to their homes, taking the passage through the side door of the kitchen that continued along the back portion of the connected buildings.
Aunt Inla would go to the general store, Greel and Jessi to the saloon.
The rest would slowly leave from various exits, then take sorhoxes to where they’d wait for this to begin.
Detective Fernandez took an éclair, biting down and moaning at how amazing it tasted. “I need to fill a box with these things, bring them back to the crew waiting to get underway.”
“I’ll make sure you have two boxes,” Sel said.
“Ready to head to your car?” I asked Allie. This was part of the plan. It had been tucked into a barn on the edge of town. She’d climb inside and drive into the downtown area, parking in full view in front of the saloon, then meander through town, acting as if she felt confident she was now safe.
I hated putting her in danger, but she had a right to be involved. Besides, this may be the only way they might finally catch Will.
She met my gaze and while I could see she was nervous, she also appeared resolute. “I am.”