Chapter 288 Chapter 288
Picking up the radio, she checked the volume. It was turned up. Of course, she knew this, they’d been on it a few minutes earlier, but her nerves made her look to confirm that. Checking the clock, she turned in her seat and got up. Pulling the med kit out, she set it behind the seat, then looked around. What else? Grabbing two blankets, she set them with the med kit.
When Rayne had told them that the people may not be in the best of conditions, there had been an eerie silence. Opening the cooler, she looked to see it was full of drinks. She knew that also because she’d filled it before they left.
Inhaling, she went and sat back in the driver’s seat. She needed to be ready when they got the call. Looking at the vehicles spread out down the block, yep, they were all there still. Tonight, they had five vans and a larger truck. Deacon had told her the truck was the clean-up, crew. She didn’t really know what that was, but last night a body had been part of the deal. One of the vans was going to be for those helping Tomas, but according to Jesse as they chatted on the drive here, Noah had been one of those and now he was helping free others. So how did they know if they were good or bad people?
She was tired but completely wired at the same time. Her mind wouldn’t stop—at all. The last two days had been so out of her comfort zone, yet she wouldn’t change them if she could. She’d been involved in stopping a group that had been helping the Tomas family for twenty years. Twenty years. That was insane. She would have been four when they’d started. How many lives had they ruined in that time? She didn’t even want to guess an answer. She had been involved in stopping them, that’s what mattered. For the first time in her life, she felt like she had a purpose.
Then there was Deacon, he was a hard one to figure out. He was quiet most of the time but had no problem conversing when the mood struck him. The way he’d stood up for her when Nox had started made her think he was just another male that liked to give orders, but that wasn’t the case. He hadn’t yet told her to do something, not really. I’ll drive, turn here or there, didn’t really count. She thought of last night on the drive, he may be the only male she’d ever met that didn’t jump at the chance to shift and go for a quick run. She frowned and looked out the window, although he’d wanted to stand watch while she did, so maybe his job came before other things.
“Back rooms are clear.” York’s voice announced.
Snapping her head around, she looked at the radio, waiting. It had felt like an eternity since they’d gone in.
“Two for you, Nox—so far.” Calum’s tone was as it always was, quiet, calm.
Two? They had two ‘prisoners’ for Bear and Nox to transport.
“One woman and a boy, cleared,” Blair reported. “Completely mobile.”
Completely mobile? Their health must be good, or at least injury-free. That was good.
“Transporters, I need names once they reach your vehicles,” Devin told them from back at the safe house.
Gia nodded to no one. She looked in the mirror again and didn’t care what the others were doing, she was starting the van.
“I have three unconscious that will need a handout, Nox.” Deacon’s voice broke off her internal chatter.
“Copy.” Nox’s cold tone made her roll her eyes. Was a response really required to that?
“Two women, two more boys,” Jesse announced to them. “Completely mobile.”
“Perimeter secured, bring up the vans.” She was pretty sure that was Noah, but honestly hadn’t heard him say more than ten words in the days they’d all been working together.
She pulled the van out onto the street and drove quickly to the corner, checking, she saw the others right behind her, all except the big truck. She spotted Noah on the sidewalk looking around him, he motioned for her to pull right into the drive, so she did. Turning it off, she shifted around in her seat and went back and opened the side door.
“Have a blanket ready, Giana.”
At Deacon’s tone, she grabbed the blanket and jumped out of the van. She anxiously watched the door for him. Blair came out the door first, a small boy and woman with him.
Kobie went running by her, “Alena.” When she reached them, the woman almost threw herself in Kobie’s arms and hugged her. Kobie released her and bent down to pick up the boy. She said something to Blair. He nodded and turned back toward the house.
“Alena Burch and her nephew Indy, from Kobie’s clan,” Blair said in a somber tone.
She turned and looked at Creed, then to the radio clipped to his waist. She couldn’t help the rush that went through her to know they’d found people lost to Kobie.
Deacon came out the door next, he was carrying a woman. Gia rushed forward, trying to see if she was injured. She looked like she was half unconscious. Her black hair was wet and matted to her face. She was so frail her cheekbones were visible. She reached and put the blanket over her. Her clothes were soaked.
“She was in the tub, fully clothed.” He said in a hushed tone.
Gia went ahead of him and had the second blanket in her hand by the time he reached the van. He ducked down and went right in the van with her, setting her carefully into one of the seats. He stayed there, his hands out like he was afraid she was going to fall over.
Climbing in behind him, Gia squeezed by him and tucked the second blanket around her. “You’re safe now.” She said, unable to hide the emotion in her voice. The woman opened her eyes, then licked her lips like she wanted to speak, but didn’t say anything, just closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Gia looked up at Deacon, to find his eyes on her and not the rescued woman. She sucked in a breath to ask if they should call Shaelan here and froze. His scent filled her system, her fox was right there now. Oh no. Dropping her chin, she looked back at the woman. She needed to focus right now, and do her job. “What’s your name?”
“Terah.” Her voice was so weak, Gia barely heard her, “my mother called me Terah Matthews.” She licked her lips, “I need to be with water.”
Gia moved back and was going to reach for a bottle of water when the woman’s words registered in her head. “We’ll get you to water.” She touched her shoulder, hoping to convey some comfort. “What’s your clan?”
She opened her eyes a sliver and looked at her. “I don’t know.”
Gia had heard there were shifters born in the captivity of the Tomas organization, ones that had never known their own world, but until now she had thought it was an exaggeration. “Don’t worry about it, we’ll take care of everything.”