Chapter 636 Chapter 636
“Okay, I think we can both agree that neither of us is cut out for the teams,” Kelsey made quote marks in the air, “but what if we look after the Alliance vehicles? They’re still not sure who they can trust…”
Gage leaned down and kissed her, then wrapped his arm around her and turned them to head in the other direction. “that’s a great idea, honey. Let’s go find Dev and tell him.”
She smiled up at him, and his heart, still after all these months, stuttered inside his chest, “We could do some here or the shop at home.” Kelsey nodded. “Jake and Gary could take turns coming here once Weston and Arlo are trained more.” She gave him a bigger smile, “and Penny, she’s decided to train as well.”
Gage chuckled. “That’s what we need another woman making us look bad in the shop.” He watched Illias run down the hall. “I agree though, with all the traveling the teams do, their vehicles should be well maintained.” He pulled her out of the way when Raymond Hardy came jogging out of the cafeteria.
“…tell no one at Headquarters…”
“He is a very large man,” Kelsey whispered.
Gage nodded. “Something’s wrong.”
“What do you mean?” She looked at the doors. “Oh, I can hear the commotion.”
“Let’s go see what’s happening.” He put his hand against her back so she’d go into the room. His animal was on immediate guard the second they cleared the door. There were at least thirty people in the room, and all of them were in motion and talking.
“This isn’t good.” Kelsey squeezed his hand. “My cat feels choked or something, Gage.”
“I know, honey,” he motioned to Rayne, “she looks upset. Go see if you can help her.”
“Okay.” She gave his hand another squeeze and then went over.
Jesse came toward him, talking on the phone, his hand waving around in jerky motions. “Zain, tell no one.” He went out the door.
Gage took a deep breath and tried to decide who he was going to ask what the hell was going on. Calum and Devin were in a deeply serious discussion, Gage started walking that way. Calum was doing the talking, and Devin, as always, was nodding, but he had that look that said it wasn’t sinking in. He turned and saw Blair standing still, his hands on top of his head, and it looked like he was taking slow deep breaths. He veered in his direction.
When he got there, Blair turned and saw him and then dropped his hands away from his head.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s Shepard Addison,” Blair spoke barely louder than a whisper.
“What about him?” Gage’s cat was getting edgier.
“He’s missing.”
Gage quirked an eyebrow at him. “How? He’s never alone—” He looked around the room. “Are they sure?”
Blair nodded and then jerked his head around. “I need to find Kobie.” He walked in the other direction.
“Shit.” Gage started for Devin and Calum again when Noah came into the room with Griffin, he didn’t need to ask if they knew. He could see by their expressions that they did. Noah had that look that almost made Blair screech like a frightened child, and his large buddy, Griffin, didn’t look much better.
He skirted around a few of the men and got to the front table where Calum and Devin were. “I just heard.” Both turned and looked at him. “How is this possible?”
Devin’s expression darkened. “I don’t know.” He watched Noah and Griffin come over, Kenzo and Wynter were right behind them. “I need to get Mom out of there…”
Noah shook his head. “No, they’re probably watching her to see where she’s relocated to.”
Griffin nodded. “He’s right. This could all be just to locate important people in the community.”
“Or find here,” Calum added.
“Shit.” Devin looked down at the floor. “I should…”
“Stay right here.” Gage finished before he got his head full of stupid ideas of going out and looking for his father.
“He’s right.” Kenzo looked at Noah and then Griffin. “They all are. Your mother needs to stay there, and you and Rayne need to stay here.”
“But I need…”
Calum placed his hand on his shoulder. “Dev, as of right now, you are our acting King.”
Devin frowned at him, “No, I…”
“You are.” Gage looked around the room. “I just saw the head of Alliance Security running out of here. Look around. This is what those bastards are after, to create chaos.”
Wynter nodded. “He’s not wrong, sir. The community is going to need to know that their leadership is intact.”
Devin sucked in deep breaths for a few minutes, then put his hands on his hips and looked around the room. “No one outside the teams are to know.” He looked at Calum. “The community as a whole can’t know yet.”
Calum nodded. “That’s going to be a hard secret to keep.”
“But it needs to be kept,” Griffin stated in a hushed tone. “Those that were rescued can’t know. Right now, the Alliance and the King are their lifelines. The stability they’ve never had.”
Devin looked at him for a moment and then nodded slowly. “Okay.” He glanced around the room. “Find Nate and tell him calls are restricted for now. Nothing in or out unless it’s screened. We need to make an announcement, so no one shares this.”
“I’ll go find him.” Noah turned and walked away quickly.
“Should I call Aiden?” Griffin looked from Noah to Devin.
Noah turned to look at Devin as well. Devin shook his head. “No. Right now, he’s going to relax, thinking he tossed a wrench into the Alliance machine, so let him relax, and we do not let him know that this has hit us this way.”
Gage looked around to see all of them nodding.
Konner came in the door and over quickly. “Taggart is sending the twins out to check into things.” He paused and huffed out a breath like he’d been running, “No one knows of their existence, so no one will know they are.”
“Okay. I don’t know who the twins are, but if they’re working with Taggart, I trust his judgement.” Devin nodded and slowly looked at each of them. “Griffin, track down Blaise and tell her she needs to get the rogues on full alert.”
Griffin turned and walked away without comment.
Devin watched him go and then glanced around, “this,” he pinned Gage with a hard look, “being acting king is temporary.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “We’re going to find him.”
“I’ll go get everyone in here.” Calum turned on his heel and left the room with long, determined strides.
Wynter glanced around. “I’ll go check the rooms.”
“Alpha’s need to be set on alert.” Noah mused.
“Without being told about the King.” Gage nodded.
Devin blew out a breath after she walked away. He turned to Gage. “This is bullshit.”
Gage nodded, not knowing how he was keeping it together as much as he was. If it were his father, he would have already bolted out the door to go find him. “You’ve got this.”
“I don’t feel like I’ve got anything,” Devin mumbled. He cursed under his breath and waved his hand at the door.
Gage turned to see Asher and Journee coming in. The look on the man’s face was hard, but the girl, just looked scared.
“All ops continue. Dad would want it that way. They have to get on the road and get as far away from this province as they can,” Devin said quietly. “We need to find that island and stop anymore from being placed on it.”
“Tomas is going to have all of his traitors watching in every direction.” Gage rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re going to have to stagger the teams going out now.”
“I agree.” Konner turned and looked over at Rayne and Kelsey. “Better prioritize who needs to go the furthest and get them out.” He turned back to Devin. “I need to get to the chopper and get home.”
Devin nodded. “Go now. We’ll be in touch when we know more.”
Konner nodded to the others and headed for the door.
Gage looked around the room. The initial shock of it was wearing off, and he knew from the looks of determination, anger, and revenge on some of the faces that they would get through this. “First thing, tell no one to share information.” He glanced at Kelsey; she wouldn’t like it, but it had to be done. “Tell your people the story is…”
“Big things are coming, and they need to protect the royal family,” Calum said in a low tone.
Gage knew that tone well. His friend was pissed. If Aiden Tomas had any idea of the mistake he’d just made, he would give up or find a corner and quietly die. All he’d done was just fanned the flames of determination of the Alliance teams.