Chapter 642 Chapter 642
Journee hugged the closed laptop to her chest and looked out the window. Her stomach was still a bit wishy-washy, but she felt like she was getting used to the movement. Two days of non-stop movement. Maybe her body was just exhausted from being in motion and fighting it. She looked over to see Asher focusing on the road. She didn’t know how he sat so still and did that for so long, but he hadn’t complained about it once. He did keep looking at the clock, though, and she wondered if he was waiting for something. Then she remembered what Calum had told him.
“They should be done the—” She wasn’t sure what it was called. “Missions?”
He turned his head, looked at her briefly, and then back to the road as he went around a corner. “Yeah, they should.” He looked at the clock again. “They’ll let me know when they can.” He turned his hands back and forth while they were still holding the steering wheel. “They have to get everyone out and anything important. Medical will check everyone over, and then they’re loaded up into several vehicles and taken to the right place.” He lifted his shoulder and let them drop, making her wonder if he was getting stiff doing that for so long. “I’m not sure how many will be transported back to the factory or if there are other locations outside of headquarters they’re going to use.” He looked at her for a moment. “I wasn’t in on the planning meetings because we’re island hunting instead.”
It all sounded complicated and stressful. “I was afraid that I would find my way back and no one would believe me—” she glanced to see him watching her, “about the girls and everything that was happening.”
“Oh, everyone believes you.” He looked back at the road.
“I know. I was surprised by how much is happening.” She bit her lip and looked out the window. She was able to do that more now without feeling sick. “I knew it was happening because of those they took, but I didn’t know it was so—” she motioned her hand in the air, trying to find the word. “Everywhere.”
“Yeah. I don’t think even the team leaders knew how bad it was until we were in it.” He pointed out the window. She turned to see someone had made a house of the snow. She had no idea how they’d done that, but then they went by a few more things that were made from snow. “It’s winter festival season.”
She looked at him. “Winter festival?”
He nodded. “small towns do it to help get through the cold months, I guess.”
She watched out the window to see if there were any more.
“That first op I helped with,” he blew out a loud breath, “it was tense, but hearing the incursion team and the others on the comms,” he glanced at her and looked excited, “they know what they’re doing.” He grinned. “I think I held my breath while I waited for them to come back out.” He looked back at the road. “But when they start bringing out kids and women that have been stuck there for so long, just seeing the relief on their faces—” He looked at her briefly, “it’s worth all the tense moments.”
“Do you go in with them?” Her heart was beating fast. What would they be walking into? She’d seen the men on the island carrying guns and knew they were reasonable.
“No. I’m just a driver to transport them where they’re going.”
She felt better knowing that. “The men,” she looked back out the window, “that came to the island. They carried guns.”
“So do our teams.” He sounded proud the way he said it.
She turned in the seat so she could see him without having to keep turning her head. “I was surprised how many were at the factory, how many are on the teams.”
Asher looked amused. “That’s not all of them.”
“Yes, the prince said there were more out there.” She frowned, “should I call him king now?”
Asher nodded. “I’m sure he’d prefer Devin right now.”
“He’s a nice man. He will be a good king for our people.”
Asher rubbed his hand over his head. “His father is nice too.”
“I hope they find him.” She looked back out the window. She hadn’t even gotten to talk to him. The lady had told her to tell the king, and she hadn’t been able to. She sighed. “I told Calum I thought his mother would still be on the island. I hope she is.” She put the laptop back on her lap and opened it. “I never thanked her.”
“I’m sure she’d just be happy that you got away.”
Journee pushed the button to turn the screen back on. “She told me to tell the king. I didn’t get to, but I’m going to bring back everyone and take her home.”
“That’s going to mean a lot more than a thank you, Journee.” His voice was soft, but she couldn’t look at him right now she was too busy trying not to cry in relief that she wasn’t there anymore. She needed to stop doing that, but it was hard and caught her off guard.
“I was thinking we’d get a motel room, have a hot shower, and stretch out or move around more for the night.”
She looked at him. “That sounds nice.” She nodded.
“Okay.”
When his phone rang, they both looked at it. He touched the screen. “Yeah.”
“I never got why you don’t say hello.”
Asher grinned. “Maybe I say it to everyone but you, Zain.”
The man on the other end scoffed. “I wouldn’t doubt that.” He huffed out a breath into the phone. “How are you doing?”
“Good. Five states to go.”
“I envy that. Going somewhere.” He mumbled something that Journee didn’t understand. “Illias asked me to get in touch. He’s a whole lot of busy right now.”
Asher sat straighter. “Everything go okay?”
“So far. Mostly. There were a few hiccups, but no one explained that to me in any detail, so whatever is classified as a hiccup, that happened.”
Journee looked at Asher, hoping he knew what he was talking about.
“As long as everyone is whole…”
“Oh yeah. I didn’t hear of any injuries.” He cleared his throat. “Four at once, and the population is growing by thirty as well as—” There was a long pause. She looked at Asher again, he didn’t seem concerned about it. “A big dog has been found.”
Asher made a fist and pumped it in the air. He was smiling now. “That’s good news.”
“Yes. Illias said the next two rounds were going to be more complicated.”
“That’s bound to happen, I guess, now that their presence has been announced.”
“Mmm, exactly.”
Asher lifted his shoulders and let them drop. “Do you have names?”
“Not yet. I don’t know if I will get them because, well, all of our rodent issues. Why are you looking for someone?”
Asher looked at her briefly. “Yeah. Illias knows though, so I’m sure he’ll give a shout if they turn up.”
Journee realized he was referring to her sister and looked back at the phone.
“Any news on that other thing we’re looking for?”
She frowned, was he asking about the king?
“No.” The man sounded frustrated. “It’s hard, Ash, to sit here and smile like it’s a beautiful day outside when a raging storm of fury is in my head.”
Asher nodded. “I’m glad it’s you and not me.”
“The only reason I’m here is currently missing, and I just want to do something.”
“You’re good at doing that. I don’t know any of the rest of the team that could do it.”
“I am good at other things too.”
Asher grinned. “I’m sure you are, but until some things are resolved, you’re needed there.”
He blew out a breath into the phone again. “I know. Okay, I have to go. Do you need anything? Paperwork is good for any crossings or questions?”
Asher nodded. “We’re good.”
“Excellent. Have a good day.” The screen went blank.
Journee looked at the phone for a second, waiting to see if he spoke again or not. Then she turned to Asher. “I didn’t understand some of that.”
Asher nodded. “We had spies working at headquarters, so now we have to be careful what we say over the phone.”
“Spies?” She frowned.
“Yeah, some of our kind were helping the Tomas organization.”
Journee looked at the laptop and then pushed a button to make the pictures come back. “I don’t understand how another shifter could do that do the rest.”
“I don’t know either, but we’re onto them now, so hopefully, it will be over soon.”
She looked away from the screen. “So, what, Zain?” She looked to see him nod, “said they rescued people?” He nodded again. “What does big dog mean?”
“Someone in charge or close to those in charge.”
“From this Tomas group?” Asher nodded again. “That’s good, right?”
“Yeah.” He glanced at her, but she could see the worry in his eyes.
“You’re worried?”
Asher lifted his head and blew out a deep breath. “Yeah, the first ops would have caught them off guard, but now the other places will be expecting the teams…”
“Oh.” She bit her lip. “I hope they’ll be okay.”
“Me too.” He held her look for a few seconds and then turned back to watch the road.