Chapter 105
NICO
The townspeople hadn’t stayed gone for long.
I sat, watching the camera feed from the gate.
More cars were pulling in on the side of the road every minute.
There had to be close to a hundred people outside the gate.
The camera had no audio, but I could see the mouths and lips of the townsfolk moving as they yelled and cursed at the guards.
No doubt telling us to get out or go away.
I’d even called the sheriff’s department to complain about them.
I’d reminded them that the Lorenzo pack was one of the biggest donors every year to the department’s fundraising project.
All that got me was a disinterested promise to look into the problem.
I tossed my phone onto the bed in frustration.
Since I’d spoken to Donatello, I kept checking the news every hour or so, waiting on the surprise he’d promised.
So far, I’d seen even more celebrities coming out in support of the shifter cause, as well as a few politicians.
It was surprising but not exactly what I’d been hoping for.
I wanted a bombshell, something that would really push the royals back on their heels.
I was in the living room with Luis, watching a live feed of an entire pack of bear shifters getting loaded onto a big transport bus.
They were only allowing them one backpack or small bag each.
Another shot looked like a big convoy of cars lined up outside one of the FEMA holding facilities.
My chest ached with anger as I watched thousands of shifters being rounded up.
I clicked the remote to turn the TV off. “I can’t take any more of this,” I said. “It’s almost the cut-off day for us to turn ourselves in. I’m worried it’s gonna get really bad by that point.”
Luis mulled over my words. He looked up at the ceiling, bouncing his knee nervously. It was strange enough that I stopped and watched him.
After what felt like an eternity, Luis looked back at me. “I have an idea. You probably aren’t gonna like it though.”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed yet, but I’ve kinda become the spokesperson for bad and dangerous ideas. Out with it.”
“So, you know that hacking into government programs is bad, right?”
I sighed. “Yeah, usually the kind of bad that gets you ten to fifteen years in prison.”
Luis winced. “Right, but only if you get caught.”
He wouldn’t have brought this up unless he already had a fully formed plan. This was always how he worked. “What’s the deal?” I asked. “Spit it out. I can tell you’re dying to run it by me.”
He smiled and leaned forward like a conspirator about to reveal the secrets of the world. “Here’s the thing. The software that pack gave us—the one that broke in and got the video of the royals’ tests?”
“I do remember that. What about it?”
“Well, I think I can use that to access these FEMA camps. It’s powerful stuff, and I think I can break through to the local utilities.
We shut off the water and electricity to the camps.
If they can’t provide sanitary locations or heat and air, they’d have to let them go back to their homes, at least until they figured out the problem.
I think we could keep them chasing their tails for at least two or three days. ”
It was dangerous. Right now, we’d toed the line when it came to abiding by the law.
Sure, we’d traveled with fake IDs, but for the most part, we’d been good little boys and girls when it came to the police and government.
If we attacked these facilities all over the country, we’d be committing a federal crime.
In Luis’s defense, though, it would probably cause them to release most of those they’d already taken in.
“I’m not sure,” I said.
Luis held up his phone. “Can you imagine what kind of outcry there will be when all these celebrities, musicians, and athletes find out we’re being held in camps that have no running water? No heat or air? How much hell will they raise then?” He winked at me, a shit-eating grin on his face.
I let the idea bounce around for a few seconds.
The political elite was already on their heels with the protests that were starting online.
There were several massive in-person protests planned, led by the actress Reese Lloyd.
If there was one thing politicians were more scared of than a disease, it was pissing off their constituents.
I winked back at Luis. “You know, you can be a genius sometimes.’
Luis shrugged. “I try. Not everyone can be born like this, you know.” Changing the subject, he said, “Have you heard anything from Donatello?”
My smile died on my lips. “No. He said to be ready for something big, but so far, I haven’t seen anything. I’m gonna call him now. Maybe he’ll like our plan as much as we do.”
I dialed our billionaire guardian angel, but the phone went to voicemail. A minute later, I received a text.
I’m in an important meeting. Can’t answer. My apologies. What can I do for you?
“Who says ‘my apologies’ in a text?” I asked, looking at Luis.
He shrugged. “When you have more money than most one-percenters, I guess you can say whatever the hell you want.”
I sent Donatello a long text outlining the plan Luis and I had come up with. His response a few moments later was a whole string of laughing emojis, followed by another few lines of text.
I love it!!! Truly genius, but hold off for a bit.
The meeting I’m in should help some of our dreams come to fruition.
Wait to implement your plan until you see the news today.
Also, have Luis email me all the dirt he has on Viola.
The videos you talked about especially. It’s time to shuffle the deck.
I showed Luis what Donatello had sent. “I guess we wait?”
Luis cocked an eyebrow. “Bro, when Don gets on something, he’s like a dog on a bone. This is gonna be good. I’ll send him the stuff now.” He pulled his laptop off the end table beside him and opened it.
“You’ve still never told me how the hell you got caught up with this guy to begin with. Are you ever gonna tell me this story?’
As Luis typed, he smiled but didn’t look at me. “Some things even the great Nico Lorenzo will simply have to imagine. If you ever hear it, it’ll have to come from Donatello.”
Ten minutes after sending the file, I received another text.
Turn on the news at six.
Before I even finished reading the text, Abi walked into the room. She’d been fairly absent the last couple of days, staying away from the chaos. She basically ignored me, only having eyes for Luis. “Can I talk to you?” she said.
I stood and stared at my friend, giving him a stern look. “Luis? Remember what I said.”
He nodded. “I heard it loud and clear. That’s why I stayed away from her.”
Abi’s cheeks went red as we talked about her. “Seriously, it’ll only take a minute. In private?”
That was it. I was done. We’d treated Abi like a China doll since we’d rescued her, but I wasn’t about to let her tear my family apart.
Sebastian and Luis weren’t blood, but they sure as hell were family.
It was time to take the kid gloves off and lay down the law.
“Abi? I know you’ve been through a lot. But if you think you’re going to use my best friends against each other because of some grudge, then you can pack your bags now and get the hell out. Do you understand?”
Luis looked pained. “Nico—”
“No!” I shouted, holding my hand up for him to stop. “This is between me and Abi. Understand? This is your alpha talking right now, not your friend.”
Luis looked down at the floor, chastised, but looking like he still wanted to argue.
Abi stared at me with wide eyes, fear and shock playing over her face. I’d never spoken to her like that before. She could see that I was deadly serious. “I understand. Uh, I’m trying to fix it. That’s all. I know I fucked up. I want to fix it. All of it.”
As I glared at her, she had to lower her eyes, her fear of me making her look away. Maddy could be pissed at me if she wanted, but I really did mean it. I’d toss Abi out the moment she tried to keep pitting Luis and Sebastian against each other.
Pointing at her and Luis, I said, “That’s exactly what you all need to do. Fix it. Go on.”
“Can we use your office really quick?” Luis asked.
“Yeah. Make it fast.”
The two ducked up the stairs into my office.
There was nothing for me to do but wait for them.
I clicked the TV on to see if whatever Donatello was talking about had broken, but all I saw were the same clips and interviews I’d been seeing for days.
Giving up on the TV, I pulled out my phone and checked the video feed from the gate.
More people had joined the others. Several now held signs and posters with different versions of ‘get out’ drawn on them with markers or paint.
After a few minutes, the office door opened, and the two of them started down the stairs together.
Before they got to the bottom, the front door opened.
I closed my eyes, praying to God it wasn’t the one person I didn’t want it to be.
Though, if God had shown me anything in the last six months, it was that he loved nothing more than stirring up drama.
I turned in time to see Sebastian crossing the foyer.
His eyes grew dark as he saw Luis and Abi on the stairs.
Their shoulders were so close they were basically touching. Son of a bitch.
Moving across the room as fast as I could, I put myself between Sebastian and Luis and Abi. I held my hands up as the anger on Sebastian’s face bloomed. “Hang on now. Calm down,” I said, pointing at Sebastian.
He ignored me. Instead, he hurried around me, angling toward Luis. I could see murder in his eyes. I knew he wouldn’t seriously hurt Luis, but it was obvious he was itching to throw a few punches. Sliding over to catch him, I wrapped my arms around his chest. “Nope. No. Calm down.”