Chapter 689 Chapter 689
They watched Duane pull back out onto the road. “You go ahead. We’ll wait for a few and follow.” Amari leaned against the side of the van.
“We can sit here and see if anyone follows.” Tripp opened the door and looked inside. “I’m beginning to think the Alliance has vehicles stashed everywhere.” He grabbed his backpack and put it inside.
“I’m glad they do.” Deva went over to the other van and opened the passenger’s door. “After you being taken and them trying to get Gia…”
“Not to mention when they got Blaise and Griffin.” Amari blew out a breath. “That was a day.”
“We are to wait five and go back after Duane leave.” Taggart picked up his bag and opened the back door of the van.
“It makes sense.” Deva took her handgun out of her pack and set it between the front seats. “A convoy of transports is a very easy target.” She looked through the interior to see Taggart watching her. He winked at her, causing her face to flush. She turned and looked back at Amari. “Is it weird that I’m uncomfortable when we’re at a house between trips?”
Amari shook her head slowly as she pulled out her phone and looked at it. “No. I’m the same. I need to be in motion.” She frowned and then looked at her. “Jesse wants a conference call with all of our team.”
Deva opened her run pack and took out her phone. She had the same message. “Okay. We’ll get going, and then I’ll call.”
Amari nodded. “It better be to tell us that Zain is whole and sitting at his desk again.”
“I hope so.” She got in the van and waited for Taggart to get behind the wheel. “See you when we get back.”
Amari waved her arm in the air and walked around to the other side of the van.
Taggart got in and turned to look at her. “You are worried for this Zain?”
She nodded. “He wouldn’t just take off without a reason.”
“Running for life is good reason. “
Deva’s heart beat harder. “Do you think he is?”
Taggart started the van and put it into gear. “I no know this man. I just know what running for life is.”
She looked at him for a moment. “He’s not a traitor.” Was she telling him or herself?
“I no say he is.” He glanced at her and then back to the road. “I sure he has reason. “
He better have, she thought. With stiff movement, she messaged Illias to link her phone to the call and then waited for it to ring.
As soon as it did, she hit the speaker button. “Jesse?”
“I’m here, Deva. Just waiting on Foster now.”
“How is Leah’s family doing?” Webb asked.
Jesse sighed. “Better. We’re going to be heading back in a few days.” He made a sound that came out like a chuff. “They’re going to start painting our house. The rooms that are done.”
“That will be a good distraction for them.” Gia was on the call.
“Yeah.” Jesse didn’t sound convinced.
“Have they ever done something like that?” Asher asked.
“No. My sisters are going to help.”
“It will be a surprise when you get back.” Amari piped in.
Deva smiled when she pictured it. Jesse’s twin sisters and Leah’s mother and sister—all painting for the first time.
“I’m here.” Foster sounded out of breath. “Sorry I’m late. I was going for a run. “
“Any luck with those places you were checking?” Jesse sounded serious now.
“No. The one hasn’t been visited by anything but raccoons in a long time.” Foster’s tone was more serious than Deva ever remembered.
“Okay. I want you to head to the factory. There’s going to be a meeting with all teams about Christmas. “
Deva and Taggart exchanged a look.
“Christmas?” Webb sighed. “Why?”
Jesse cleared his throat. “We’re going to be crashing Aiden Tomas’s yearly Christmas ball.” The line was silent for a few seconds. “And I just got word that it is believed Shepard Addison is being held there. “
“All right. Rescue the king and take out Tomas. My Christmas wish list is happening this year.” That sounded more like Foster.
“Griffin says there’s a holding area in the basement. We may find others as well.”
“What about the party? Won’t it be filled of one-forms?” Foster Asked.
“Yes. Each will be vetted, and if they’re not involved in the shifter trade with Tomas, they can go on their merry way.”
“And if they are?” Webb’s tone was quiet.
“The Alliance has a few friends in law enforcement.” There was a slight pause. “What happens to them isn’t our problem. Human trafficking charges are very serious.”
Deva looked at Taggart, and he shrugged.
“I hear the island rescue went well.” Jesse didn’t sound as laid back as he usually did. Then again, did any of them? Things were going at a much faster pace lately—in a good way, but it was still tiring.
“Twenty-one, or was it Twenty?” Amari said something away from the phone. “Doesn’t matter. We got all the kids—the boy’s camp is no more, and Calum has his mother again.”
“What? Calum’s mom was on the island?” Deva could picture Foster’s expression when he said that. he was more dramatic than any of the women on the team as far as she was concerned.
“Yes,” Jesse replied. “I couldn’t believe it when they told me.”
“That’s...”
“Konner found more water clan.” Deva didn’t know why she brought that up. She missed their weekly chats. “Sea water clan.”
“I thought they couldn’t go in the salt water now?” Webb clicked his tongue too close to the phone. “Konner must be happy.”
Deva nodded. “There’s not a lot of them, but I heard him talking to Calum about them knowing the routes and companies used to transport our kind to and from other countries.”
“Damn. That trip was so worth it—I was secretly hating on all of you for being in the sun and not having to shovel snow.” Webb chuckled.
Everyone laughed quietly. This call wasn’t the way it used to be. Zain missing made it lacking, like a piece of everyone was missing.
“What’s going to happen about Zain, Jesse?” Foster was serious again. “Is security looking for him?”
“Calum has sent someone to track him down.”
“Does this someone know he comes back in one piece and breathing?” Amari’s tone was low.
“Calum said that was the plan. If the situation calls for more bodies, then he’ll let me know.”
To Deva, more bodies part meant he had been taken and needed rescuing. She looked at Taggart as he drove. She hoped his theory was the right one and Zain was on the run because there was some sort of threat to his safety. She frowned at the phone. What kind of threat could it be if he didn’t go to Raymond Hardy or anyone else about it?
“I’ll let you go.” Jesse interrupted her thoughts. “I just wanted to update you and tell you all to get to the factory.”
“I like it there.” Webb injected. “Feels like a big home.”
Only Webb would think something filled with all the teams as home. How big were the families in his clan? She’d never really asked him about his.
“I’m going to check a few more places on the way to the Factory, Jesse.” Foster sounded like he was in motion again. He always breathed heavily into the phone.
“Let me know if you find anything.” Jesse was quieter now.
“Will do. Can’t wait to see you guys. I feel like I’ve been on the road alone for years.” Foster laughed. “Maybe I’ll actually get to do more than be the errand boy on the next ops.”
Amari laughed. “I don’t know if I trust you with a gun in your hand.”
Foster snorted. “I didn’t say anything about a gun. I meant I could sit outside and drive the getaway car.”
Deva grinned. “Only you would think of the ops as a robbery, Foster.”
“I aim to entertain, Deva. Talk to you all soon.”