Chapter 944 Chapter 944
Webb’s heart was racing as they walked to the communication room. She wanted to go out and find the clanless. He had no problem with that. Helping in any sort of way had been one of the reasons he’d joined an Alliance team. It was an honorable, selfless thing she wanted to do, and he’d be proud if it didn’t mean she would be leaving and traveling around. Going back to stay at the green house was one thing. There, she was minutes away. Taking on the task of finding people who excelled at not being found was a different matter altogether.
As Webb punched in the code for the door, he noted that his bear was very tense but behaving. Hopefully, it stayed that way because the room was filled with screens, monitors, and electronics—it was not a good place for an animal to malfunction.
There were only three others in the room. Devin, Fallan, and Wynter. Devin stood behind Fallan and looked at the big screen. There was nothing on it yet. He glanced over his shoulder at Webb and then turned back to watch. Wynter stood there with her arms crossed.
“Who’s up?” Webb asked quietly.
She gave Rhogue a nod. “Tyrell is on tech. Eaton is running it. Galvan and Xia are there, and two of mine, Jett and Quinn.”
Webb grinned. “That’s a strong bunch.”
Wynter nodded. “This is some place they hold ours before shipping them out.” There was a growl to her voice. “We got the info from Leon’s books.”
Devin growled.
Rhogue moved closer. He reached and took her hand and held it tightly.
“Tyrell, adjust the signal. I still have a blank screen.” Fallan tapped some keys on the keyboard.
“I’m working on it.” He answered. “It’s windy and my signal pod keeps sliding around out there.”
Fallan sighed. “Use some of the gum you’re always popping and stick the sucker to the roof.”
“That’s actually a good idea.”
Fallan looked at Devin. “Sorry, sir. Mother nature and tech are not friends.”
“We’re in place.” Eaton’s voice came over the speaker.
Devin leaned over and pushed a button. “Hold for one minute so Tyrell can get us a picture.”
“Yes, sir. Holding.” Eaton answered. “Quinn, you and Xia move up front and cover that dock door. Once we’re in, go through that door and stop any from jumping out it.”
“Copy.” A quiet voice answered.
Webb didn’t know Xia very well, but he’d worked with Quinn before, and it wasn’t her voice.
The screen flashed, and then four separate views appeared.
“That’s perfect, Ty,” Fallan said and then nodded to Devin.
“I request a sunny, balmy area of the world next, please.” Is how Tyrell responded.
Wynter snorted.
Webb didn’t ask where they were because Devin pushed the mic button.
“We have the picture now, Eaton.”
“Copy that. Breech in five, four…”
Webb checked all four views. It was a warehouse building. A part of him didn’t want to watch. Knowing there were places that gathered and shipped out shifters was one thing. Seeing it was going both piss him off and break his heart.
Rhogue squeezed his hand tighter. She was just as anxious as he was.
It was hard to watch all the boxes at once. He was pretty sure the one he was focusing on was from the camera Eaton was wearing.
“In the back.” He recognized Jett’s voice. “Moving to the upper floor.”
Webb had enough time to check with the camera that showed stairs before another voice came over the speaker.
“These boxes are empty or filled with foam. This is staged.”
“Check the walls, Galvan. I think we’re dealing with a false wall or hidden area.” Eaton said.
“Checking now.”
“I can smell so many different clans, it’s crazy.”
“What Xia said.” Quinn’s voice was low, but there was an edge to it.
“I need a hand up here,” Jett said. “Second door.”
“On my way,” Xia responded.
Webb watched the camera that showed someone hurrying.
Blaise came into the room and moved over to stand beside Wynter.”
Rhogue clutched his forearm with her other hand. He didn’t blame her. The waiting to see what was happening was intense.
Xia’s camera focused when her movement slowed. It showed Jett standing inside a room with a few cots in it, and two men were sitting up on them with their hands in the air.
Devin leaned over. “Focus on their faces for a second, Xia.”
“Sir.” She answered and moved closer to the one. As she glanced down, there was no mistaking her gun aimed at the man.
“Hold.” Devin looked at Fallan. “Can you get that?” Devin stared at the man’s face.
“Got it.”
Devin leaned closer to the mic again. “Okay, the next one.”
The camera moved and brought the other man’s face into focus.
“Got it,” Fallan said.
Webb figured she took a screenshot to add to the ever-growing files on their enemies.
“Bingo,” Galvan said. “Holy shit. Eaton, you need to see this. Now.”
Webb looked at the other boxes on the screen.
“What the—can you switch to show just one camera?” Devin leaned closer to the screen.
“Uh-yeah.” Fallan gasped.
Webb couldn’t believe what they were looking at. Cages were lined up. They couldn’t be much bigger than a large dog crate.
Blaise moved over and pushed something on Fallan’s keyboard. “You kick those two in the head for me, Xia.”
“Blaise?”
“She’s not wrong,” Galvan said.
“Jett, you and Xia secure those two—very secure and get down here. Tyrell, are you watching the area?”
“Cameras are on the corners. I’ll see if anyone is coming.”
“Good. Quinn, we need a hand in here.”
“Coming.”
Wynter growled. “Someone needs their hearts carved out.”
Webb couldn’t take his eyes off the cages. The first few Galvan’s camera had shown were empty, but scattered throughout the room were some with people in them.
Fallan did something, and the two other big screens were filled with the views of other cameras.
Rhogue gasped. “She's just a child.”
He looked to see a girl around ten. She was in a large crate, curled up, hugging her knees.”
“The men are secured,” Jett announced. “What the fuck is this?”
He must have gone into the area where the crates were.
“Sir, we’re going to need a serious cleanup here. All of this needs to be made gone.” Eaton said.
Devin depressed the switch. “I’ll make it happen.”
Fallan looked at him and nodded.
“Are you recording this?” He asked quietly.
“I am.”
“Good. Raymond and my father need to see this.”
Webb watched Quinn open the crate that the young girl was in. The camera caught her hand extending to her.
“It's okay. We’re here to take you somewhere safe now.” Quinn’s voice was gentle, but shaky. The girl sat up and took her hand. She was filthy, and her hair was matted together.
Blaise hit the key again. “Head count? Clan?” She looked at Fallan. “What’s the closest Alliance facility? Medical staff?”
“There aren’t any facilities nearby. This is just one of the places that were on a list.” Fallan answered as she looked at Devin.
“Send the address to my phone. I’ll get my father to fly someone to them.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Fallan nodded and hit a key. “Eaton, the king will send someone to you. Take them back to the safe house.”
“Copy that. Eight is the count. Two kids, four women, and two men. Xia is getting the clans.” Her camera moved to show Xia helping a woman, around the same age as Rhogue, over to sit with the girl Quinn had helped. She looked malnourished and unwell.
“Two don’t speak English,” Xia reported. “They understand we’re helping, though.”
Devin paused his texting and looked at Fallan. This was the first confirmation Webb had seen that shifters were being shipped out of other countries for collectors in North America.
Blaise hit the key. “Ball Park the language. I’ll text Nate, he has a translator program.”
“I’ll try.” There was a pause. “Appearance-wise, I’d say Southern Europe. Portugal, possibly Spain.”
Webb’s bear was tense. He glanced at Rhogue to see tears running down her cheeks. A growl came out of his mouth before he realized it.
Devin paused and looked at him, and then at Rhogue. An understanding look flashed in his eyes before he looked back at his phone. “My father wants the videos sent to him ASAP.”
“I'll do that as soon as they clear the building.”
“I didn’t bring hoods,” Jett said.
“Hold on.” Eaton's camera showed her walking over to a table. She grabbed what looked like duct tape and then walked toward Jett, where he stood pointing his gun at the two men. Their hands were bound behind their backs.
She knelt and with the camera showing her every move. She ripped off a piece of the tape and slapped it over the first man’s eyes and rubbed her hand back and forth, making sure it was sticking completely. “He doesn’t need eyebrows where he’s going.”
“I want to burn this building to the ground,” Galvan said.
Devin moved over and pushed the button. “All of the cages and evidence need to be removed first. Otherwise, we might just burn it down.” He looked at Fallan. “Who from Cleanup is there?”
“Ender and Morley.”
“Call them.”
Webb wanted to take Rhogue out of the room, but he also needed to see all of these people being taken out of the building. Rhogue hugged his arm and made no protest about staying. On the other hand, he was filled with rage and didn’t know if it was from what they were seeing or from Rhogue being upset.
“Is it time to go?” Ender’s voice came over the speaker.
Devin crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the screens. “Did Tyrell give you video access?”
“Uh-no-sir.” Ender’s light tone was gone when he realized he was talking to the prince.
“You’re walking into our worst nightmare, Ender,” Devin said calmly. “Get all the paperwork, evidence, and every single cage out of there.”
“Cages? Like animal cages?”
“Yes.”
“Shit. Okay. What are we doing with the cages, sir?”
“I’m sure Raymond can think of a use for them.”
“Yes, sir. Is everyone okay? The team? Was anyone in the cages?”
“The team is fine. The few from the cages are very neglected but seem to be well enough to move. Head there now. I want this gone from the ground up.”
“Are you saying burn it down, sir?”
“I am.”
“Understood.”
“Yes, sir.” The line clicked.
“Too bad we can’t burn those assholes with it.” Wynter went over and hit the button. “Good job, everyone. Jett, Quinn, you get those people anything they need. If you don’t have it in your supplies, you call.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Got it, Wynter.”
She scoffed and walked out of the room.
Blaise turned and looked at Webb and then Rhogue. “Webb, your bear is starting to stink up the space. I think you should take your girl and go get some air.”
Devin looked at him and raised one brow.
Webb nodded. “Okay.”