Chapter 89 Nico
NICO
After what Luis had told me about the way the other alphas were reacting to the situation, I knew I needed to set up a conference call with them all as soon as possible.
We had to get a sense of what their plans were if things really went sideways.
A quick mass text was all it took. They wanted to be on the call in thirty minutes.
As alphas, Tiago and Maddy sat in on the call with me.
Luis, Sebastian, and Felipe went to relieve the men at the guard shack.
It only took five minutes for all the alphas to jump on the call, and it took less time than that for me to realize Luis’s description was accurate.
Everyone sounded tense and worried. Some were full of false bravado, but their underlying fear was obvious if you read between the lines.
Most of them had plans for what to do in case the government really did declare a state of emergency once the forty-eight hours were up, and they came for us all.
A few packs said they’d stand and fight, but most of us tried to talk them out of it. We didn’t need martyrs—we needed to stay alive. I wasn’t willing to believe that all was lost yet, that we were at our last stand. This was not The Alamo or Thermopylae. Not yet anyway.
By the time the call was over, I was both disheartened and revitalized.
A strange combination. Hearing how beaten down everyone seemed was gut-wrenching, but that also fired me up.
I wanted us to come out on top, and I refused to believe this was the end.
If anyone could lead us out of this, Maddy could.
She was the key, and I’d do anything I could to ensure we were successful.
I glanced across the table at Tiago. “You didn’t say much during the call. What plan does your pack have?”
“We purchased some abandoned land from the National Guard a few decades ago. That’s where our pack lands are located.
The place has a ton of underground bunkers that were built back during the heyday of the Cold War.
I’ve spoken to my son. His plan is to have everyone move underground.
He’s been making preparations for over a week.
My boy is smart, and he saw the writing on the wall.
We’ve got provisions laid in that can last a year comfortably, maybe eighteen months if we ration.
If we need to hide, that’s what we’ll do. ”
I nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. Easy to defend, tucked away. I like it.”
“You and your pack are welcome to join us there if you want. My son already said he’d welcome you all in.”
The thought of hiding my pack in a secure bunker was appealing.
For an instant, I imagined the screams of children and women as they were dragged onto buses and vans to be hauled off to a quarantine facility.
I chewed at my lip for a few seconds. “I’ll give that a lot of consideration.
If nothing else, we may send the elderly and children to you, along with some of our own food and water.
We’ll see. I’d like to exhaust all other options before going that route. ”
Tiago tilted his head in acceptance. “Understood. The offer is open and standing. I’m gonna go see if there’s anything I can do to help out.”
“Sounds good. Thank you, Tiago. Seriously. Thank you.”
Tiago grinned as he headed out the door. “Don’t thank me yet.”
When he was gone, I looked at Maddy. “What do you think?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Do we want to hide underground?”
She was, of course, desperate to fight back.
So was I. The thought of hiding went against everything I stood for, and it seemed Maddy was of the same mind.
But I still had to think about the weakest of my pack.
Not everyone could fight. Some were young, others old or sick.
How could I sit here in the open? We had fencing and cameras, but if the National Guard or something showed up, they’d drive right over the chain links and pour into our lands.
The fence was more a show for the pack psyche.
“Plus,” Maddy continued, “these underground bunkers have to be in the government records. I know it sounds great, but it’ll be easy for them to find.”
I raised my eyebrows. I hadn’t thought about that. “Good point. All good points. I’m not gonna tell anyone else this, but as tucked away as we are here, this still isn’t an easy place to defend.”
Before Maddy could respond, my phone rang.
I glanced at the screen and froze. I looked up at Maddy, who’d seen the name as well.
She’d never met him but had heard enough about the guy to have the same look of surprise I had.
Donatello. I’d gotten his number from Luis and stored it on my phone.
I had no clue, however, how he’d gotten my number.
After a slight hesitation, I picked up the phone and answered. “This is Nico.”
“Good day, Mr. Lorenzo. How does life find you in these trying times?”
I huffed out a laugh. “It finds me about three steps away from getting royally fucked. How does it find you?”
Donatello chuckled. “Many in my position dislike crass language, but I’m not one. I’m calling to see what you plan on doing to… how to put this… un-fuck yourself?”
“Well, currently, a pack of bear shifters has offered us sanctuary in an underground bunker.”
Donatello sighed. “How very… dark. I prefer the sunlight, my friend. It does wonders for the soul. Especially the Caribbean sun.”
Maddy cocked an eyebrow and mouthed the words, “What is he talking about?”
I shook my head at her, unsure myself. “Well, a vacation does sound nice, but we aren’t really in the position to turn down help. It looks like it’s either run or go underground… literally.”
“You see, my wolfish friend, that is precisely why I’m calling. I extend a branch of sanctuary for you and yours.”
“Me and mine?” I asked dumbly, not quite following what he was saying.
“Let’s put it succinctly, shall we? I am…
ugh, I hate saying this, but there is no other way.
I am, for want of a better word, very, very rich.
I don’t go out looking for publicity the way the Musks and Zuckerbergs do, but I hold my own with them when it comes to my fortune.
That amount of money allows me certain… shall I say…
extravagances that I can enjoy. One of those is a small island in international waters near the Caribbean Ocean.
I want to offer you the chance to bring your pack to the island.
It is not overseen by any country on earth.
We have an airstrip, a boat dock, a helipad, and housing for over a hundred guests. What do you say, my friend?”
My jaw dropped. Maddy had an equally shocked look on her face. The silence went on for too long, but I couldn’t even find the words to answer him. Finally, I coughed to clear my throat and said, “Donatello—”
“Call me Don, my dear man. My parents were very droll when it came to naming me. No need to be that formal.”
“Uh, okay. Don. I appreciate the offer, but I have to ask. Why are you helping us? Aren’t you worried you’ll get in trouble? Shifters aren’t really on everyone’s good side right now.”
Donatello chuckled again. “Nico, there are things the average person doesn’t usually know, and there are some that are inherent.
One of those inherent things everyone knows is that money is power.
I have money… lots of it. These royals you are at war with have money as well, but they don’t match what I have.
I have power, and the world does not touch people like me.
I do admit that sounds conceited and aloof, but…
c’est la vie. I could publicly announce that I was bringing your pack to my island, and no one would touch me. That is not a fear I have.
“Now, when you ask why I’m helping, there are a few reasons.
The simplest? I enjoyed your company when we visited New York.
Two? Your friend Luis did me a very big favor some years ago, and even though I helped you get to Europe, I don’t entirely think my debt is paid yet.
The final reason? Well, how can I say this without giving too much away?
Hmm, I guess you could say a little birdie told me to. ”
Shaking my head in disbelief, I said, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say nothing yet, my friend. My contacts tell me that the forty-eight-hour deadline is not set in stone. There is still some dissent within the governments of the world over how this must be handled. There are voices speaking out, as drowned out as they are right now. It may look like these royals have a stranglehold on the situation, but you do have some time. However, all you need to do is call. I can have cargo helicopters sent to your pack lands, and your entire clan will be liberated to a private airfield. From there, I will bring you to my island abode. I am but a call away.”
I huffed out a surprised breath. “Um… well… okay, Don. I’ll do that. I seriously will if it comes to that.”
Donatello sounded pleased. “Fantastic. I hope I don’t have to take that call, but if I do? I will be there. Have no doubts.”
I looked at Maddy as I ended the call. Wonder, confusion, and surprise must have been all over our faces. I laughed. “Well, that came out of nowhere.”
Maddy grinned back. “At least we have a fallback plan now. Maybe someone is actually watching out for us?”
“Maybe,” I said with another shake of my head. “That was kinda out of nowhere, right?”
She nodded. “Yeah. It was pretty weird.”
Sighing, I stood and walked toward the door. “Come on. We need to check in with everyone. I want to go look at what kind of supplies Luis was able to pack away while we were gone.