Chapter 763 Chapter 763
Griffin got off the elevator behind Rayne.
“If you hear sirens, it’s fine.” Someone said through the comms. “Some guy tried to rip off a Santa taking collections for a children’s charity.”
“Did you mess him up, Foster?” He recognized Asher’s voice.
“Uh. No. Calla got out of the van and schooled that guy in a matter of seconds.”
Someone chuckled.
“He’s tied to a street post with a busted-up face.” Foster sounded amused.
“Good for her.” He knew Amari’s voice well enough now.
Noah looked down the hall one way and then the other. “I’ve only been up here once.”
“Lucky you,” Griffin mumbled. He stared at the door at the end. “We should wait for them to clear the floors.” They didn’t need anyone coming up from another floor. He didn’t know how this was going to go, but any outside interference would make it worse. Griffin knew what he wanted to do, and it was taking all the restraint he could muster to keep the animal part of him on lockdown.
“We’re on the top floor,” Noah announced into the comms.
“Hold there,” Devin answered.
According to his tone, there wasn’t a lot of wiggle room with that order. Griffin still didn’t believe that Devin wasn’t right beside Rayne. If it were Blaise, he would be. He put his head down so he wouldn’t grin. He’d be an ornament with Blaise, not required at all. He looked at Noah, and his expression confirmed his own thoughts. Nothing could happen to Rayne, and they’d do whatever it took to make it so.
“I never thought I’d be back here,” Rayne said quietly. “I was so blind. How did I not know anything?”
“Everyone had orders to not let you know.” Griffin shrugged when she looked at him. “I didn’t think I’d be back. Although, this place didn’t represent the same things for us.”
“No.” She looked at the end of the hall at Aiden’s office door. “It didn’t.”
“Coming to you, Griffin.”
It was Blaise. He felt better knowing she was going to be with him when he saw his brother again. He felt nothing toward him in a familial way. Not a single twinge of what he understood family should feel.
“We’re through the magical door.” One of them in the basement said.
Rayne’s breath hitched. Griffin hoped Shepard was there and well. If not—that changed the plan for this completely.
“A few enjoying some intimate relations on four—we sent them downstairs.”
There were a few chuckles over the comms.
“Two and three are clear,” Konner announced.
“Four is now,” Blair reported.
Rayne turned and looked at the stairwell door.
“Fraser is on route to the basement. I’m coming up to the top floor with Oaklyn and Zain. I’ll disable the elevator when we reach it.” Boone informed everyone.
Griffin still couldn’t believe they had a US Marshall here helping them. Or the fact that even though he was a one-form, like Boone, his wife was a shifter. That alone would have his father rise from his grave and, he hoped, Aiden have a complete meltdown.
“You’re smiling.”
He looked at Noah. “Yes. I was thinking about Boone with Raquel and Fraser and his mate. My father would die—if he weren’t already dead.”
Rayne smiled. “I never liked the man. He gave me the creeps.”
“Just reaching the cells now.” Raymond’s voice was low and quiet. “We ran into some resistance. We need a medic down here.”
Rayne sucked in a breath and grabbed Griffin’s arm and squeezed it.
“I’m bringing Christian down.” York, he thought, was the voice. There were so many to remember.
“What’s the situation?” Devin’s tone was not quiet. Griffin wondered if he was reconsidering Rayne being up here.
“Tripp got sliced. It’s deep. He’ll be fine after a shift, but there’s no time for that right now.” Kenzo informed them.
“Tripp says to tell Amari he’s fine. He dealt with the situation.” Jett sounded amused.
“Are they breathing?” There was no mistaking Amari’s voice or mood.
“Yes,” Kenzo answered.
“I’ll deal with that after I’m done up here.” Her voice was icy cold.
“Just focus on Rayne and Devin.” Tripp sounded out of breath, making Griffin wonder how badly he was hurt.
“I know my job, Tripp. Sit your ass down and stop bleeding everywhere.” Amari replied.
Tripp chuckled in response. He was a brave man, having a mate like Amari.
The stairwell door opened, and all three of them jumped and looked down the hall. Blaise, Asher, and Jesse were walking toward them. Before the door had a chance to close, Bear and Konner hurried through.
“Devin and Calum are right behind us.” Blaise assessed Griffin from head to toe as she walked.
The door at the other end of the hall opened, and Amari came through it. With her were Kobie and Blair. Right on their heels were Pasha and Deacon.
Rayne smiled at her. “Tripp will be fine.”
Amari nodded. “I know. He’s going to whine about it for days.” She grinned.
The elevator door opened, and Boone got off. Oaklyn and Zain were right behind him.
Calum and Devin were moving down the hall now.
Griffin looked around. If he were Aiden, he would fall to the floor and beg to live through this. Eighteen of the Alliance’s best were about to walk into his office. Well, seventeen plus himself. Each one of them had an axe to grind with Aiden, and the possibility of it not being pretty was very real.
“Game plan?” Amari looked at Rayne and then to Devin.
“Oh. I’ve got this,” Rayne smiled and started walking down the hall.
“The guards will be in the outer office,” Griffin informed everyone. He didn’t know the plan or how Rayne’s ‘I’ve got this’ would go, but the end result was going to be a little face-to-face with his big brother.
“The police are pulling up outside,” Uri said quickly.
Everyone stopped walking. Rayne looked back at Devin. Something was silently being relayed between the two.
“Fraser.” Boone looked back at the elevator with his hand on the comm in his ear.
“I’m on it. I’ll go flash a badge and have them hold the perimeter.”
“What are you going to tell them?” Raymond asked. “So, we’re on the same page.
“Human trafficking ring,” Fraser answered.
“Understood,” Raymond replied.
“That ought to do it.” Oaklyn mused.
Devin went over to Rayne and put his hand on her back. He glanced at Calum and then touched the earpiece. “Did you find captives, Raymond?”
“Yes, sir. Sorting through keys to open the—rooms they’re in.”
“My father?” Devin looked at Boone.
“I’ll let you know the second we find him.” Raymond's tone was softer.
“The two released so far are in bad shape, Shaelan,” Christian reported.
“Have someone bring them up, Christian. You stay down there for when they find Shepard.” Shaelan responded.
“Okay.”
“This is all so intense.” Brock’s voice squeaked with excitement.
Devin tried to ignore that and looked around before he focused on Rayne.
“I’m doing this, Devin. For my parents, for your father, for myself, and every one of our kind that has suffered because of the Tomas family. Someday, I’m expected to represent and help lead our people. This is me leading our people.” Rayne held his look, unwavering resolve on her face.
Devin nodded slowly. “Okay.” He cleared his throat and then looked at Griffin. “How do we get in the outer office?”
“If everyone would stand back, out of sight, I believe Miss Rayne and I can handle getting the door opened.” Oaklyn gave Zain a soft look and then went over and stood beside Rayne.
Rayne’s smile was slow, but then she inclined her head. “I didn’t get dressed up for nothing.”
Griffin watched the vein pop in Devin’s neck, but he backed up and moved over to the side of the hall. When he turned to look at Zain, he was smiling like a besotted idiot.
“Believe me, she’s got this,” Zain said and then watched Oaklyn with a grin on his face.
“Sir, we found the king. Ah, Mister Addison.” Raymond’s voice made everyone freeze and stare, open-mouthed at someone else in the hall.
“He’s very dehydrated and groggy, but overall, I believe he’ll be fine,” Christian said.
There were voices in the background. Someone had their mic open.
“Yes. Yes, sir.” It was Raymond Hardy.
“Devin?”
Devin jumped and hit the button. “Dad?”
“Kenzo just filled me in. Go get him.” Shepard Addison sounded weak, but still, in that tone, everyone on the call knew he was still their king.
“Plan on it.”
“You bring him out, now.” Devin’s mother’s voice broke through loud and clear.
“Irene. Tell me you’re not here.” Shepard sounded tired.
“Where else would I be?”
“Sending him out with Kenzo, ‘mam, we’ll open the rest and be out soon,” Raymond reported.
“Thank you.” Devin’s mother answered.
Devin blew out a breath. Griffin looked around, and everyone seemed relieved. The expressions changed to more determined than they had been before they’d heard Shepard Addison’s voice. With him safe, this changed how this was going to happen. He couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed that he wouldn’t get to beat Shepard’s location out of his brother.