Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ares
I’d spent the last week looking into this trafficking ring and trying to locate the building. Thanks to Audrey’s tip, we had a lead.
Sanchez easily found the rink and we tried to look into the businesses around it. Unfortunately, nothing was standing out.
There were no abandoned buildings or sketchy businesses that it could be hiding under, which meant they were being far more careful than I’d given them credit for.
Hell, I half-expected some serial killer vans to be driving through the streets that we could hunt down. I wasn’t above kidnapping and interrogation.
The chief opened the door, his face unreadable as he ushered me in and closed it behind us. The privacy had me wondering just what this meeting was about.
“What’s this about, Chief?”
“Sanchez just directed a team to a new location,” he said as he sat down.
“A local church shut down about a year ago. They’ve been running a homeless shelter in its place.
Sanchez thinks they’re actually running a shelter, because that would mean far less red flags standing out.
One of our guys is going to check it out, posing like he needs a room. ”
“Keep me informed. I’d love to help any way I can and bring her home, too.”
“We’re closer now than we’ve ever been,” he reassured me. “I’ll let you know if they find out more.”
“If it wasn’t to send me off with them, then why call me in?” I asked, not buying it for a second.
“Actually, I want to talk to you about something else.” He sat on the edge of his desk, crossing his legs and folding his arms. The look on his face was unreadable, but calm.
His relaxed demeanor made me think whatever it was couldn’t be too bad.
“I’d like to retire when I get my daughter back, which means my job will be available. ”
“Oh, Chief,” I said, realizing where this was going. I had a feeling he’d come to this conclusion at some point. “It’s just that I’ve got my pack now. We have plans.”
He nodded in understanding. “Yes, I’ve heard about your plans to go to the coast and start fresh.
Hell, maybe we’ll join you out there. It might be nice to get my girl out of the city once I have her back.
And I knew this would be your answer. I’m not sure where you’re thinking about going, but I’ve got a few job leads for you. ”
He moved to the other side of his desk and pulled out a file. I opened it and skimmed through the postings. The listings were coastal: California, Florida, Georgia, Oregon.
Then one in a small town right on the edge of a forest. It stood out because I didn’t recognize the base for the Alliance there.
“Is this new?” I asked, pulling it out of the stack to show him.
“It is,” he confirmed. “Recently opened after an influx of abductions in the area. There’s word there’s an omega-only community out that way that keeps getting targeted."
“What’s the deal with this omega-only community?” I asked, not seeing the problem.
“There’s nothing wrong with the community itself,” he said.
“It’s the fact that others think it’s easy pickings.
They’re running a whole homestead out there, thriving, and yet omegas in the area are going missing at an alarming rate.
Alphas keep coming, thinking they’ll be the one to convince them that they’re the answer to the omegas’ prayers. ”
“That’s disgusting,” I said, shaking my head.
“Corruption is a given in our line of work,” the chief said. “This is considered low-stakes on paper. It’d be a good place to get your boys used to the job and start building a life.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I said. At least he understood where I was coming from. I’d exected some fight to it but he found us the perfect place instead.
“I’ve spent years searching for my little girl. I hate that it cost you so much to help me, but I’m grateful. Not only that your omega was strong enough to recognize her in that file, but that you tried to find her during that rescue. That means a lot.”
“Don’t get sappy on me now,” I teased, huffing a laugh.
“Just know you’ve got a glowing recommendation from me.”
“Now, we just have to get my pack out of this fucking place. I’ve never been more ready to move somewhere new.”
“I understand,” he said. “I’m doing my best. There’s pushback from the network. They’re trying to claim they had no idea how bad things were here. To me that sounds like a blinding sign of neglect.”
“Is that supposed to excuse them?” I shot back. Their ignorance didn’t absolve them of any crimes.
“They’re grasping at straws to save themselves,” he said. “But after this recent information leak, I don’t think they stand a chance.”
“I could save us all a lot of trouble and just burn it all to the ground,” I muttered.
“That’s too clean for you,” the chief said. “We both know you’d rather watch them suffer.”
“Do you actually think they’ll face consequences?”
He thought it over for a second. “I’d like to think there will be retribution, but they’ll likely use Malik as a scapegoat. If they pin this all on him, they can keep up the things that worked, clinics that saved omegas, while hiding the rest. That’s par for the course.”
He tapped the papers holding the job opportunities.
“Assignments like this are important. We will never rid this world of evil, but small ways help balance it out.”
“All I ever wanted was to build a legacy. To make an impact,” I agreed.
“You’ve made an impact,” the chief answered firmly. “But this job cost me a lot. My pack, my little girl. I’m going to reclaim what I can of it. I want you to make a choice that doesn’t steal away everything you care about. Hold on tight to your pack, Aeron. Those omegas have been through enough.”
My chest tightened. I’d never been close to my parents. The chief was the closest thing to a dad I’d ever had. This was his way of telling me he was proud.
The radio on his desk crackled. He jumped into action as I froze, listening to Sanchez on the line.
“We need backup. Now!” Sanchez yelled. I could hear it through the comms along with screams.
I snatched it up before Chief could respond.
“In route,” I said before running outside, knowing the chief would handle organizing the rest of the team.
Gearing up was second nature. It didn’t take long to suit up, guns at my side. I pressed the comm in my ear the moment it was in place.
“Vance, Cooke, bring my pack. There’s something you all need to hear.”
“On our way,” Cooke responded. The familiar rush of adrenaline hit me. This was the first real mission I’d do since finding a pack. Even more, it was a high-stakes one.
Audrey was practically running by the time the trucks pulled up. I held my arms open and she rushed into me, crushing me in a hug.
“This is it, isn’t it?” she asked.
“We think so,” I confirmed. “Sanchez and his team are pinned down. There’s gunfire. It has to be them.”
“It was supposed to only be reconnaissance,” Cooke said, cursing under his breath. “We should’ve been out there.”
“It was an ambush,” the chief said. “Gear up, boys. I’ll stay with your pack. Go.”
“Be careful,” Audrey said, voice tight.
My hopes were for saving our people and shutting the operation down. In a perfect world, this would be our chance to find the missing girls and shut this ring down for good.
The rest of my pack caught up. Ledger, Caspian, and Kane gave me handshakes. Rydell, just a nod, but one that said more than any words could say. Ansel surprised me with a quick hug. For an omega terrified of alphas, I didn’t expect him to initiate it, but I squeezed him back.
“Keep her safe,” I told them. “I’ll come back to you guys.”
“You have to,” Ledger ground out. “Promise.”
Kane clapped me on the shoulder. “I have faith in our head alpha,” he said. His confidence steadied the others, and I needed that, too.
“Move out!” Vance barked. Cooke was right there with him, rushing to the armored trucks. There was no point in subtlety now.
The drive to the city felt too long, giving us too much time to overthink.
“Talk to me,” Cooke said into his comm, probably driving Sanchez crazy. They’d been checking in every few minutes.
I couldn’t blame them. I’d be doing the same.
We heard them before we saw them. The gunfire echoed through the night, sharp and piercing. Police blockades were set up that we were quickly ushered through. Cars were lined beside our armored trucks, facing off against what looked like mercenaries.
Desperation marked the fight. The battle seemed almost erratic.
We pulled up alongside the police cars. Our team jumped out and joined the fray.
“Where were they coming from? I asked a nearby agent as I rushed into place behind the barrier. He didn’t glance my way, his focus on the gunfire.
“The church,” he confirmed. “Our guy was only supposed to ask for a bed for the night, but they saw right through him. They knew we were coming.”
A shot zipped past me so close I could feel the wind from it. I dropped to the ground, pulling the guard down with me.
“Fuck!” he cursed.
Then I was back up, using the rear of a truck as a shield now that they’d started pouring out of the balconies overhead. I popped out, took down two mercs, and jumped back to avoid the onslaught heading my way.
It was a well-practiced dance. My instincts took over when there was no time to think.
Tires screeched. Their backup had arrived again. They now had us pinned between the church and their vehicles. Vance had already jackknifed his car, creating a barricade on both sides.
This wasn’t going to end well.
I glanced at the guard by my side. “Let’s take these guys out so we don’t have to fight both sides at the same time!” I barked.
We fell into place, side by side. I took out two while the other guy took three. Sanchez was in my ear the entire time, reporting heat signatures.
“One on the balcony, one at the front.”
“I’ve got the balcony,” Cooke said, already shooting before I could call it.
“Make that one in front,” Sanchez corrected. I took him out this time.
“All clear on heat signatures on that side. Six more just pulled up at your backs.”
“We’ve got this,” I told Vance. “Get in that church, now. Find your pack. We’ve got this handled.”
They rushed through the entrance while we focused on clearing outside. Now, only a few more targets remained, but we were more than qualified.
“More incoming!” Sanchez yelled.
We moved as one unit, firing into their positions so they had no chance to regroup. They were confused by the speed of our assault.
They weren’t organized like us, not trained for this level of attack. I detached emotion from the fight. These were men who probably had families, but they’d chosen the wrong side. They would’ve taken our lives without a second thought.
The kid next to me screamed, blood pouring down the side of his face. I dragged him behind cover, making sure he was safely out of the line of fire before I checked the wound.
The bullet had grazed his cheek and ear, piercing his earlobe. Blood might be flowing but it wasn’t life-threatening. I quickly ripped off the sleeve of my shirt, rolled it, and pressed it against the wound.
“Hold it there, kid. You’re going to be fine,” I promised.
He was a bit green, but he held steady, nodding and doing what he was told.
For about five seconds.
Then he rolled onto his stomach and helped Sanchez watch the exits. He was a damn fine agent.
“We’ve got Colt,” Vance reported. “No casualties, but three wounded.”
“And the girls?” I pressed, fingers tightening on my comm because I needed to know.
“They’re here… hundreds of them.”