Chapter Three #4
Reed blinked. He’d half thought that Moore and Rikar were mates. “I’ll be happy to meet him,” he said. “But if he’s in any way uncomfortable with me being here, I’ll leave. I’m going to have to eventually.”
“No offense, but considering how much information you have on the labs, I’d be more comfortable if you stayed in the village. You don’t have to stay with Jolyn and me if it makes you uncomfortable. I’m sure Rikar can find you your own place, but you’ll be safer here.”
He was right. That was why Reed had been able to sleep last night, and he desperately wanted to be allowed to stay, even if it was just for a few weeks. He wasn’t sure how useful he’d be to do whatever Moore and Rikar were planning, though.
He nodded as he slid into one of the chairs. “I’ll stay here for a few days at least,” he murmured.
Moore nodded. “Good. Now, Franklin and I were talking about the lab and how, when we usually raid them, we lose a lot of information and people. We’re trying to shut the entire operation down, which means we can’t afford that anymore.”
Reed nodded. “I agree. There are protocols in place now. You’ve raided enough labs that they expect you to continue doing so.”
“How do you suggest we do this?”
“Infiltration. The lab is well guarded, so the easiest way to do this would be to send someone inside. That way, we can gather even more information, and the person inside can let us know when the safest time to enter will be. They can also help us sneak in, which would mean going undetected by the guards and the cameras. That would help us avoid those protocols I was talking about.”
“I’ll do it,” Franklin announced.
Moore rolled his eyes and pointed for Franklin to sit at the table. To Reed’s surprise, Franklin obeyed. What wasn’t a surprise was to see that he sat as far away from Reed as possible. He clearly didn’t want anything to do with him.
“I’m not surprised you want to do it,” Moore said. “And you do have the experience.”
Moore turned to Reed, who was frowning. He didn’t expect an explanation, but he was glad when he got one. “Franklin has worked in a few labs in his search for his siblings. Always as a guard, right, Franklin?”
Franklin nodded curtly. “Yes, so it shouldn’t be a problem to get me hired.
I’ll just tell them that the last lab I worked at was raided, and I managed to escape.
I have experience, so they won’t have to train me, and I’m sure I can act well enough to convince them to at least give me a chance.
It’s probably going to take a few weeks after that for me to get what we need, but I’m sure I can do it. ”
Reed wanted to argue. He didn’t want anything to happen to his mate, and he knew something would if he went into the lab.
It wasn’t his place to say anything, though.
He might be Franklin’s mate, but Franklin didn’t want him.
That meant that Reed had no say in what was happening.
He could refuse to help, but he wasn’t going to do that. Franklin had to know it.
“I agree that it sounds like a good idea.”
Moore grinned. Reed didn’t think much of it until he heard Moore’s words.
“Good. I’m glad the two of you agree because you’re going to be spending a lot of time together.
Reed, I want you to tell Franklin everything there is to know about the lab and the people who work there.
He needs to know who’s who, how to behave, and where to hide if he needs to.
I won’t put anyone in danger, and if I think it’s too dangerous, I’m pulling the plug.
Franklin, that means you better be prepared to do anything you can to convince me this is the best idea. ”
Franklin looked like he wanted to argue.
Reed definitely wanted to. He didn’t want to send his mate in there.
He also knew for sure that spending time with Franklin wouldn’t be good for either of them.
Franklin already hated him enough, and Reed was sad about the fact that he’d lost the possibility of being happy before he’d even really had it.
Spending more time with Franklin would only show him everything he’d been missing, and that wouldn’t be easy.
Franklin nodded curtly and turned to Reed. “You have to tell me everything you know. If Garrett is in the lab, I’ll rescue him, even if I have to do it on my own.”
“You won’t have to,” Reed told him before he could think better of it.
He was impressed by how fiercely loyal Franklin was when it came to his brother, but maybe he shouldn’t be.
It was clear that Franklin loved his siblings and would do anything for them.
It was a bit like the way Reed felt for Franklin, even though they’d just met yesterday.
It didn’t make sense, but Reed suspected that it wasn’t supposed to.
Mate bonds and feelings didn’t have to make sense.
But he wanted to protect Franklin as much as Franklin wanted to protect Garrett. The situation was dangerous, both for Franklin and for Reed’s heart. That meant Reed would have to do everything in his power to ensure his mate came out of this in one piece, and possibly, with his brother.