Chapter Sixteen
Vince: Closing In
We didn’t waste any time. With Deacon’s help, we began snooping around the location of another building owned by the operation, gathering as much intel as possible to hint at where we would find where the auction would be held.
The night was unusually cold, a sharp wind cutting through the trees as we moved. The atmosphere was tense; every shadow and noise made our hearts pound faster.
As we made our way through the dimly lit alleys to our destination, we suddenly heard a commotion—sounds of a struggle, muffled shouts, and a van door slamming shut. My senses went into overdrive as I signaled for the others to follow me, and I picked up my pace quickly. We crept closer, using the cover of darkness to our advantage.
We spotted two men dragging a struggling figure toward a black van, where another man stood by the van’s door. The struggling person’s scent was unfamiliar, but the fear was palpable. My eyes narrowed as I recognized the telltale signs of another kidnapping in progress.
Without hesitation, the team and I sprang into action. Jared, Deacon, and the others engaged the kidnappers, a fierce battle breaking out in the alley as the kidnappers attempted to shift into their animal form. I focused on the van, quickly dispatched the driver with a swift blow to the head, and tore open the back doors.
Inside, I found several bound and gagged supernatural beings: two female wolves, a young male Fae, and even two male vampires, their eyes wide with fear and desperation. But there was no sign of Lissa. My heart sank, but I pushed the disappointment aside and searched the van for clues.
As I rummaged through the piles of paperwork and boxes, I saw a familiar emblem—the Shadow Syndicate’s logo stamped on several documents. I grabbed the papers, my hands trembling slightly as I scanned them for any mention of Lissa or her whereabouts.
But there was nothing.
Frustrated, I stepped out of the van, clutching the papers. The fight outside had ended, and the kidnappers were either unconscious or restrained. Jared approached, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Anything?” Jared asked, his tone grim.
“No sign of Lissa, but I found this,” I replied, handing over the documents. “It’s more proof that the Shadow Syndicate is involved. But we’re running out of time.”
Phillip took the papers from me and frowned as he glanced at them. “It’s a supply list.”
“I don’t follow,” I replied.
“It’s a coded supply list, which means it’s a list of who to grab and their possible location.”
“What is their final destination? That is the main question,” I asked.
“The perps aren’t talking,” Phillip sighed.
Jared shook his head, his expression serious. “We need to act fast. We can’t let them slip through our fingers. Any way to interrogate them and see if they’ll offer anything?”
“It would take too long,” Phillip replied. “I’m afraid our window of opportunity is closing.”
I turned to the captives in the van, my voice firm but gentle. “You’re free now. You can run, or you can help us free the others.”
It didn’t dawn on me until I really looked at them. The Syndicate isn’t just taking women, but young males, too.
One of the captives, a young vampire with a determined look in my eyes, stepped forward. “They took my sister,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. “I got captured on purpose to find her and rescue her. I’ll help.”
I nodded, my heart aching with a mix of sympathy and respect. “Then let’s get her back.”
Phillip stepped forward and asked the vampire, “Do you know where they were taking you?”
The vampire nodded, “I overheard them talking about having to make it to Brooklyn before ten tonight.”
Phillip’s eyes darted to me, and I nodded. It may be a large area, but it was still a clue we didn’t have earlier.
Standing watch over the perpetrators, Deacon said, “I think I may know where it is or the general area.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, we set our sights on the next stage of the operation. Time was against us, but we would not stop until we completed this mission we embarked on.
The air was thick with tension as we crouched behind a stack of rusted crates outside a warehouse. The scent of metal and oil and the distinct stench of fear emanating from the building made my stomach churn. I clenched my fists, my wolf pacing restlessly within me, urging me to move, attack, and protect. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. This wasn’t just about me; it was about the lives of the innocent people trapped inside.
I glanced at Deacon and Jared, both of whom were equally tense. They had already scoped out the building, mapping potential entrances and noting the guards’ positions. It wouldn’t be easy, but there were eight of us, and we had a plan.
Deacon peered around the corner, his sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. “Two guards by the main entrance, another patrolling the east side. We’ll need to take them out quietly if we want to get inside without raising the alarm.”
Jared nodded, his expression grim. “We can’t afford to be sloppy. They might move the captives or worse if they get wind of us.”
My jaw tightened. The thought of the captives being moved to another location, maybe even to be sold off to the highest bidder, was unbearable. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.
“Let’s stick to the plan. We take out the guards, get inside, and rescue the captives. No mistakes.”
We moved as one, slipping through the shadows with practiced ease. My heart pounded hard in my chest, but my movements were steady and controlled. I was a predator on the hunt, and nothing would stand in my way. As we neared the main entrance, I signaled to Jared, who drew his small, silent crossbow. With a swift motion, Jared fired two arrows, each one hitting its mark with deadly precision. The guards crumpled to the ground without a sound.
Deacon gave a thumbs-up, and we moved forward, sticking close to the wall as we rounded the corner. The patrolling guard was about to turn, but before he could see us, I lunged forward, covering the man’s mouth with one hand while driving a knife into his side with the other. The guard’s eyes widened in shock before glazing over, and I gently lowered him to the ground.
“Good work,” Deacon whispered, his voice barely audible. “Let’s keep moving.”
We reached a side door, which I carefully pried open with a crowbar. The creaking of the hinges sounded deafening in the silence, but when no one came running toward the noise, I assumed no one inside seemed to notice. We slipped inside, and the smell of sweat, fear, and the underlying scent of blood immediately assaulted my senses.
The warehouse’s interior was barely lit, with cages lining the walls. The sight made my blood boil. Each cage held a woman or a young male, some unconscious, others barely clinging to consciousness. Their faces were now gaunt and hollow. But what truly enraged me was the sight of the casual demeanor of the guards as they walked past the cages, as if these individuals were nothing more than merchandise to be sold.
My protective instincts flared up, my wolf snarling in fury. I had to fight the urge to charge in recklessly. I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get the better of me, not when so many lives were at stake.
“We need to move fast,” Jared murmured, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. “We don’t know how much time we have before the auction starts.”
I nodded in agreement. My voice strained with barely contained anger. “Let’s split up. Deacon, you and Jared start unlocking the cages. I’ll keep an eye out for any more guards and Lissa.”
Deacon’s expression softened for a moment, a rare show of empathy. “We’ll find her, Vince. Just keep your head on straight.”
“My crew and I will locate the auction room,” Phillip added.
I gave a curt nod, then moved off toward the far end of the warehouse, my senses on high alert. As I crept through the shadows, I couldn’t help but think of Lissa, her strength, her courage. The thought of her being trapped in a place like this, treated like property, made my heart twist in anguish. I couldn’t lose her. Not after everything we had been through.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. I pressed myself against the wall, my body tensed and ready to strike. Two guards chatted casually as they walked past, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows. I waited until they were just a few feet away before springing into action.
I moved like a blur, my wolf enhancing my speed and strength. The first guard didn’t even have time to react before my fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. The second guard reached for his weapon, but I was faster, disarming him and delivering a swift, incapacitating blow to his temple. The guards lay unconscious at my feet, but my heart was still racing. I wasn’t done yet. I wouldn’t be done until Lissa was safe in my arms.
I continued moving through the warehouse, my anger simmering beneath the surface. In every room I passed, I saw someone in chains, and it fueled my rage. These monsters had taken everything from these people: their freedom, their dignity, and I was determined to make the offenders pay. I would make sure that these bastards would never hurt anyone again.