Chapter 29 #2
Stashing the vehicles once we get there, we all go silent. Comms are in everyone’s ears, and as if we choreographed this with all of our previous conversations. Something that’s impossible typically with people who are civilians.
Omegas follow close behind, their masks on over pulled up hair, and a firearm in their hand by their sides with the safety on. There’s no chance of friendly fire here.
Sloane comes up on a guard turning beside a tree as we approach.
The guard’s eyes grow large and his mouth opens to scream, but Sloane slams the side of his hand against his trachea so he chokes instead.
Moving quickly, he places his large hands on either side of his head and twists hard. No noise, no mess. Simply death.
Emmett moves to pick up the guard’s legs, and together, they dump him in a ditch. The woods here aren’t well maintained, and there are downed trees, rotting wood, and sagging ground. The snow blanketed forest also helps to hide bodies well.
There’s no moon tonight, and the world is dark as we continue going. Thankfully, our eyes have adjusted so we all just watch where we place our feet. The only concern I might have are footprints, but it’s supposed to start snowing again.
Thank goodness nature seems to have our backs yet again.
By the time we split up and enter the mansion at different entrances, we’ve killed eight men effortlessly and hidden their bodies. So far, so good.
Aiden and I decided earlier that we couldn’t all enter at the same point. We don’t want the doors open for too long so as not to alert anyone, especially since they’re not typically high traffic areas.
Kyren gives the nod once we’re all inside, and I look around.
Fuck. Where is my omega?
“Keep going,” I growl. “Stick to the plan.”
As everyone scatters, I blow out a breath as I begin to clear hallways with Kyren.
“Any thoughts on where our girl is?” I grumble. “Should I pull up the tracking on my phone?”
“Nah. She’s doing what she does best,” he sighs. “Syrus was with the other team. Chances are high that she’s with them. As you said, stick to the fucking plan.”
He’s right. Since I’m already annoyed, let the good heads roll, or whatever it is they say in New Orleans.
Be safe, baby.
Silva
I’m crawling in the air duct, somewhere I’ve always been comfortable when I needed to get shit done.
“Lark, behind you,” I say casually into my comm as I crawl above her.
Turning quickly, she shoves a knife deep into Rita’s jugular as I keep crawling through the ducts. She’s one of the betas who rule over omegas with an iron fist. She was probably looping back around to make sure that everyone was where they needed to be.
Fucking cunt. At least she won’t be alive to sound the alarm anymore.
Syrus rolls his eyes, his firearm already pointed at Rita. Sure, he could have killed her before she screamed too, but this is more fun. One down, a few more to go.
I have no doubts that Syrus will get rid of the body for her.
I’m looking for Gideon. I don’t mind alerting someone else to come take him down once I’m there, but I need to find him.
Everyone has their own mission, and Lark is currently in one of the younger omega wings to get the Dolls there out.
Each group is organized by age. The plan is to get them to run as quickly as possible into the woods on the right side of the property.
For some reason, it doesn’t appear as if anyone patrols there.
They’ll be able to slink their way along that side to safety. Everyone is fucking getting out. We just have to play this smart.
Continuing my path through the ducts, I scowl at what I see in another part of the mansion. Handlers are scurrying through the halls to bring omegas back to their rooms, which means that the party is ending. Six women in beautiful dresses are reminded of what’s to come.
Their lives are about to change, but not the way that their handlers think they will.
The other three wings will have their omegas already locked up, and that’s where Lexi and some of my best friends will be focusing their efforts. Those rooms will only need a simple picking of the lock, or they can force Beth or Viv to open the door.
It doesn’t mean those bitches will live for very long after they do. God, I fucking hate them so much.
Closing my eyes, I force myself to breathe.
I remember the speech word for word. They’ll have an hour or two before they’ll be collected.
It all depends on how quickly the deals are finalized and the money sent over.
Every omega in the group will be sold, the alphas that were in that ballroom will make sure of it.
Fuck me.
You’re not them. You’re you, and you’re free!
Pushing back my past as it collides into my present, I shake my head and keep moving. I need to go to Gideon’s office. It’s on the other side of this area. The omegas being led to their rooms are going to be helped by everyone else.
They have the tools to be successful, and have done this before.
“You’re in deep trouble, Silva. Want to tell me where you are?” Isidro asks over the comm. “A little birdie named Harlan told me he’s not with you.”
The guys have the ability to switch channels, which we can’t. It’s why I’m only speaking when necessary. No one needs me yapping in their ears.
Instead, I keep moving. It’s going to take some time for me to get to the other side of the house. It’s such a heavily trafficked area, this is the only way to ensure I keep the element of surprise.
Everyone needs as much time as possible to get people out.
“Air duct,” Syrus says unhappily. “I realized she was above us when she helped give Lark eyes in the back of her head.”
I’m getting closer to busier areas of the mansion, which means I can’t reply to either of them. Instead, I try to send reassuring feelings down our bond. The best way to stay safe is to remain silent.
I’ve been in the ducts for about forty minutes. It’s hot, and I can feel sweat dripping down my face from the mask. Still, I keep moving. I need to finish this, and the only way to do that is to keep going.
Nothing else matters.
I can hear the girls whisper into their comms as they get each pod of omegas out of the mansion, and I feel a pang of excitement. They’re going to be free.
So far, there are no guards inside the house, just at main entry points, the front yard, and the woods behind the house.
I don’t want to get too excited, Gideon may have his personal guards with him.
“I’m going to get them to the vans, guys,” Emmett says. “Activity is gearing up for some reason. I think they’re realizing that they’re light on a few guards. Be careful.”
Fuck. They’re all out. I can barely breathe with the intense happiness I feel with that knowledge. No omegas will be bought tonight, or at least, none will be delivered.
People who aren’t buying tonight are chatting in the smoking room, and I wrinkle my nose as I pass it quickly from above. I don’t mind cigar smoke, but this is like a giant fucking cloud.
This is the time that people will build connections and make business deals. It’s fucking disgusting, but it makes sense to do business when they all share the same proclivities. Some people would say it’s no different than having a business meeting at a sex club, but I’d beg to differ.
Hopefully, the people at a sex club are there because they want to be. I’m not naive enough to think this is true of all clubs, but the hope and sentiment is there.
Moving past the stinky room, I pause at a library filled with men. I had thought originally that Gideon would meet in his office, but I can see that I’m wrong.
“A million dollars is asking an awful lot for Valentina,” a businessman grumbles, shifting in his seat.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” Gideon says with a shrug. “Let’s double it. I’ve fed, clothed, and ensured she sucks cock like a dream. The omegas at my estate are well trained, and know their place. Would you like to insult me again?”
I curl my nails into my palms to stay silent. Our courses at Henderson mansion did talk about this at length, though we were never forced to practice it. There were many demeaning and embarrassing parts to the training here.
Gideon’s Dolls had to be perfect in every way.
I have a small vent to look down at the room, and my eyes widen as I see a guard step forward to push the barrel of his machine gun against the businessman’s head.
It appears as if I was right about Gideon keeping private security with him.
I can see from here that the alpha in the chair is sweating profusely, and my heart slams within the confines of my chest.
From time to time, I’ve wondered how Gideon is able to extort these exorbitant amounts of money from the alphas who come here to buy from him.
How does he assert dominance over them? And why does everyone simply agree to send him so much money without rioting?
The answers to my question are his guards, however many may be in this room with him. I can’t see from my current hiding place, but I expect that the threat of being killed is a heady weapon.
“I’m sorry, Gideon,” he whispers. “You’re right. Two million isn’t even enough. How about three?”
“That sounds better,” Gideon coos, walking over to pull out his gun before hitting him with it.
My hand presses against my mouth to suppress any sounds I could possibly make, my eyes wide as saucers. It’s one thing to know he’s an awful human, and quite another to witness it.
My interactions with Gideon in person have been few and far between, but the man is a legend within these walls. Everyone whispers his name, and no one wants to piss him off.
“Transfer the money, Michael,” Gideon says. “Maybe I’ll let you live to fuck your prize.”
With trembling hands, the alpha picks up his phone and begins to do as Gideon says. Beside him, a man with a computer open watches the interaction, his lips curled in a callous smile.
Some people get off on the association to power, and I can tell this man is one of them.
“Phillip, let me know when the money is through,” Gideon barks out. The power in his voice makes my blood run cold. There’s no humanity inside of this man.
“It’s done, Boss.”
The sound of the gunshot is loud and I can’t help the yelp of surprise that escapes me as the alpha in the chair in front of Gideon slumps down. It would almost seem as if he’s sleeping, if it wasn’t for the hole in his fucking face.
“I changed my mind,” Gideon says simply, shrugging as if the loss of life means nothing to him. I suppose it doesn’t when he still got his money.
Time feels as if it’s spiraling before the grate beneath my body shakes and is yanked down. Screaming as gravity takes over and I feel myself fall, I hit the ground hard.
Fuck!
A man stands over me with a hook in his hand, and the space my body was previously in is now empty. The vent is hanging open, and I’m officially fucked.
Pushing myself up to sit, I swallow hard.
“Silva!” Kyren hisses in my ear. I pretend not to hear him as my mask is yanked off my head, and have to hope that my hair is covering my ears even though it’s up.
“I’m coming. This is going to sound odd, but under no circumstances should you take your shoes off.
I’m putting the tracker in your ass next time, Princess. You’re in so much fucking trouble.”
“We have an interloper,” Gideon snarls, coming over to pinch my chin and shove my head up.
My hand is already on my firearm behind my hip. At the angle I fell, it appears as if I’m hurt. I’m biding my time instead. There’s one guard in this room with a gun. I can see better now that I’m on the ground, and there are currently five alphas sitting around as if this is business as usual.
Since only six omegas are sold at a time, this means that Gideon will either allow them to also buy Valentina, or he’ll open the floor to one of the alphas that were closest in their bid for her.
Maybe that’s why so many people are chilling and smoking cigars. This could be his standard way of doing business for all I know.
However, none of that matters, not right now.
I’m not paying attention to any of the alphas in the room that are pandering to Gideon. I’m not worried about the possibility of missing guards, or if there are more people waiting to speak to Gideon in another room.
His time is not my concern either.
The guard is the person I’m focused on. He has the machine gun, and I’m less likely to live if he pumps my body full of bullets. It’s also obvious that it’s normal for gunshots to be fired in this room, which gives me a chance to fight back before my pack can find me.
Our guns aren’t fancy, and we don’t have silencers. I’ll need to complain to management about this. I’m thoroughly disassociating at this point, and it’s the only thing keeping me oddly calm.
Gideon will want to hurt me before he kills me. It’s just a feeling I have. He’s a predator who enjoys playing with his food, and I’m unfortunately well acquainted with those types of men.
I won’t ever be prey again. I’m not the Doll I was the last time I was inside this mansion, and he’s going to realize his mistake now. Pulling my gun, I lift my arm and take my shot.
Find me!