Chapter 276 Chapter 276
Gia stood off to the side, along with Asher and Webb, this part of the planning didn’t involve them. When the rest of the team went in, they were a block away and out of sight. Shaelan would be waiting with them in case anyone needed medical attention.
Her heart was beating fast and had been since she realized this first breach, as they’d called it, did not involve rescuing anyone. This first group effort was to stop someone that had been involved with the Tomas organization for years. They were shifters. She was having trouble wrapping her head around the fact that others like herself would willingly help imprison others and destroy so many lines.
“No.” Blair’s tone cut through her internal chatter, “I don’t care what you do with the rest, but he’s not being taken into custody.”
The room was silent now, all eyes on him.
“Blair,” Devin spoke with a soft tone.
“No. Look, I know you want more information, but not from him.” Blair paced to the other side of the room, shaking his head, “there’s only one way he’s coming out of there and he won’t have a pulse when he does.”
Devin looked over at Calum. The look that passed between them wasn’t filled with serious objections.
“He killed my father,” Blair looked from Devin to Calum, “and most of Kobie’s clan.” Shaking his head Blair put his hands on his hips, “he doesn’t deserve to breathe another day.” Crossing his arms over his chest he stood across the room and glared at the two leaders. “I don’t care what you do with the rest of them, but my brother, he dies—” he looked around at a few of the others, “by my hand.”
Gia was sure she wasn’t the only one that sucked in a breath and forgot to release it. His brother?
Jesse cleared his throat and stood up from where he’d been perched on the edge of the table. “Lindon Eldon unlawfully killed the Alpha and assumed control of the clan twenty-one years ago and the clan has since then been assisting the Tomas family to abduct our kind.”
The silence in the room was quick. No one moved or spoke. All eyes were on Blair now, even as Kobie went over and stood in front of him. She didn’t touch him, wasn’t trying to soothe him.
“The only thing he deserves is death,” she finally said in a low tone.
Gia was trying to fit together the pieces inside her head, Blair and Kobie were both from Alpha families, she’d heard that from Webb and Asher, so had this Lindon killed both Alphas? She knew clan politics, she should, it had been preached to her for her entire life. “The penalty for unlawfully killing an Alpha without a challenge is death.” She said loud enough so others would hear her. She didn’t care if she was supposed to be part of this conversation or not. Fact was fact. They had rules they lived by and no one was above them.
Devin and Calum both turned to look at her. She could feel their eyes on her, she knew the others were looking at her too. Taking off her hat, she wanted to be respectful to the prince and maintain eye contact if he spoke to her.
“She’s right.” Calum finally broke the silence with those two words. “If he challenges Lindon and wins,” he glanced at Blair, his mouth shifting like he was suppressing a smirk, “when he wins, the fate of those with Lindon becomes Blair’s decision.”
“You think that group is going to follow clan law?” Devin took a deep breath and studied Blair for a moment. He exhaled then slowly looked around at the rest of the group. “Okay.” He looked back at Blair. “Lindon is all yours, but we need as many of the others as possible.”
Blair nodded his head once. “I don’t care what you do with them. Shoot them for all I care.” He moved with brisk movement and went out the back door. His mate watched him leave and then turned to follow him.
Gia blew out a breath and gripped her hat tight in two hands. Many of the others kept looking back at her. Nox gave her a look that told her she should have kept her mouth shut, that it wasn’t her place to speak up. She looked away from him and her gaze connected with Deacon. He wasn’t judging her as her brother was, he inclined his head to her in a silent acknowledgment that she’d done the right thing. That was twice now in the short time that he’d been on her side. She needed to know more about this large, silent man.
“That brings me to the other thing,” Devin turned back to the map, “this area is populated, we can’t go in there with guns blazing,” he glanced at Illias, “everyone will be carrying a tranq gun.” Turning he looked directly at Gia, “even the transport. If anyone comes out of that building that isn’t one of us, you knock them out.”
“I’ll be outside by the fence.” Evanna stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. Jesse turned around and looked at her. “I’m not sitting in a van, Jesse, that’s not what I signed up to do.”
Jesse stood there, looking at his mate like they were silently communicating without a word. Gia even held her breath.
“Leah will be safe,” Evanna said, still holding his look.
Kobie stood in the door now, Blair right behind her.
Jesse turned to look at Illias, “give her a tranq gun and a real one.”
Illias nodded, “I brought enough toys for everyone.”
“Let’s take a break, grab a coffee or drink while I check in with the teams watching these places,” Devin said as he got up and headed for the stairs. Rayne gave everyone a compassionate glance and followed him.
Gia let out a slow breath, that happened, she thought. She looked around, not sure where she could hide to escape the lecture she knew was coming from her brother. Before she could decide on a direction, he blocked her path from going any direction.
“What are you doing?” He hissed. “You are trans-port,” he waved his hand at the map, “none of this is for you to decide.”
Gia glared up at him, “I was just stating the facts. The laws that all of us live by.” She stepped closer and lifted her chin so he would be sure to see the look in her eyes, “if we don’t follow them, then we’re no better than those taking our kind.”
He gripped her elbow and jerked her arm, so they moved into the hallway and out of sight from the others. “It’s still not your place, Giana, you keep your head down, and follow instructions, nothing...”
“I know you’d like to whip it out and spray your sister’s boots to mark your territory, but we don’t have time for this shit.”
Nox released her elbow and turned to look at Deacon.
“What did you just say to me?” He stepped away from her and stood a few inches from Deacon, his jaw set, shoulders back. He emitted a low growl.
“She was right to speak up. None of us were thinking clearly right then.” Deacon growled low.
Nox bared his teeth, “It’s none...”
There was a third growl, “is there a problem here?” Devin’s tone sent a chill up her back.
York came over and pushed Nox back.
Gia backed up, looking for a place to escape as Rayne and Devin came down the stairs, “Gia, I could use you up here.” Rayne motioned for the stairs. Nodding, she looked at Deacon, not her brother as she turned, his eyes were focused solely on her and not wavering despite whatever Calum was quietly saying to him.
Rolling his head to the side, Deacon spun on his heel and headed for the back door.