Chapter Fourteen
Vince: The Lead
Thankfully, Frank arrived with the critical information we needed. His expression when we stepped into Jared’s club was a mix of urgency and frustration. I’m sure Jared felt that I would have created an indent in his floor from my pacing had Frank not shown up when he did.
Frank pulled Jared and me aside, his voice low and tense, “I’ve got the location, and we’re doing a bust.” He handed Jared a hastily drawn map. “It’s a barn, not far from here. It seems like they’ve been using it as a temporary holding site.”
“This is Vince,” Jared said to Frank. “We’re coming along. Vince can help and is completely vetted by me.”
“As long as you let me and my team enter first. I cannot have any added paperwork because something happened on my watch.”
Before Frank arrived, Jared and I had already discussed that we would help out because of our background: Jared was a former police officer, and I was an Army combat veteran. I had assumed that he had already discussed this with Frank, but from the conversation that just transpired, he hadn’t.
Jared studied the map, and his brow furrowed in concentration as he analyzed the details, mentally preparing for what lay ahead. I stared at it, calculating the best approach and the quickest way to get in and out without losing any more time or hurting anyone.
“We’ll need to move fast,” Jared said, his voice clipped. “If they’re planning on moving the captives, we have to catch them before they disappear.”
Frank nodded, his face set with a grim determination. “I have a couple of my guys going in. You’ve got the experience on the ground, and we can’t afford any mistakes.”
“You’ve got our word,” Jared added. “No mistakes.”
We made our way to the barn under the cover of night, our steps silent and measured. The structure that loomed ahead was old and worn, with peeling paint and creaking boards. It was the kind of place you’d pass by without a second glance, but tonight, it held something far more sinister.
We infiltrated the barn with practiced ease, moving like shadows through the dilapidated building. My heightened senses were on high alert, picking up the faintest sounds and the smallest movements. Mine and Jared’s eyes scanned the area, looking for anything that told us we were in the correct location.
As we moved deeper into the barn, we found a lone straggler, a human who looked as though he had been left behind to deliver a message. The man’s face was gaunt, his eyes hollow with fear and resignation. He was slumped against a wall. His hands and feet were bound, a trickle of blood running down his forehead.
Frank approached him to question him, his tone neutral but firm. Jared and I stood by the side, listening in as we surveyed the barn.
“You’re going to tell us everything you know. Where are they taking them?”
The man peered up, his lips curling into a sneer. “You’re too late,” he spat. “They’ve already moved out. By the time you figure out where they’re going, they’ll be long gone. You’re chasing ghosts.”
Frank exchanged a look with me and Jared, then gestured for the man to be brought into a small room at the back of the barn. Jared and I followed, our presence imposing as we flanked Frank, ready to intervene if necessary.
Frank leaned in close, his voice a low growl. “Listen, we don’t have time for games. Do you have any humanity left in you? Enough to tell us where they’re taking those people?”
The man’s sneer deepened. “Humanity? Do you think I care about that? I hope every single one of those freaks rots in hell.”
My jaw tightened, my hands curling into fists at my sides. The man’s callous disregard for the lives at stake only fueled my anger, but I knew better than to act on it. This wasn’t the time for violence, and it was time for answers.
Just then, an officer burst into the room, interrupting us, his face pale with urgency. “Frank, you need to see this. We found another guy, and he’s more forthcoming with his information.”
Frank turned back to the man, his voice cold. “Looks like you’re no longer useful. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
We followed the officer to a separate area of the barn where another human was being held. This one looked different—his eyes were wide with fear as if he had seemed to realize the gravity of the situation.
Frank didn’t waste any time. “What do you know?”
The man swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he spoke. “They’re taking them to New York City. I overheard them talking about an auction, something big. It’s happening up there. That’s where they’re headed.”
A sense of relief and urgency washed over us. This was the break we needed, the piece of information that could save lives.
“Thank you,” Frank said, his tone softening slightly. He turned to Jared and me, his expression resolute. “You’re not too late. If you leave now, you can still catch them.”
Jared nodded, his mind already working on the next steps. “We’ll need to meet with Mason first. He’s the alpha in that area. I know someone inside his hoard that might help us.”
I clenched my jaw, determination coursing through me. We’ll find them. No matter what.
Frank looked at the two of us, knowing he couldn’t leave his jurisdiction. But he wasn’t about to let us go in blind. “I’ll inform an agent in New York about what is happening. You won’t be alone up there. Things must be done by the book. We’ll put a stop to this organization.”
With a final nod, we parted ways, each man focused on the task ahead. Time was running out, but we were far from defeated. The hunt was on.