Chapter 710 Chapter 710
Deva sipped her coffee and closed her eyes. She didn’t think she needed it this much because she’d never been in a situation before that she couldn’t have one. Not being allowed to have a fire was an eye-opener for her. She was sitting in Devin’s office with Taggart and Hadleigh so far. They were going to bring them up to date about the Christmas ball.
Calum and Shaelan sat on the small couch in the corner. Deva looked around, wondering how many trucks it had taken to bring everything to this location. It had to have been done over many months because not one person on the teams that she’d talked to had even heard about the factory until the day people were being told to come here.
Devin, Wynter, and Kenzo walked in. “Sorry.” Devin waved some papers. “This is never-ending.”
“Are we waiting on Rayne?” Shaelan asked.
He shook his head. “No, she’s busy with Noah and Griffin. The three of them are trying to piece together a complete layout of Aiden’s building.” He sat on the edge of his desk. “Each one remembers general areas, but none of them the entire thing.”
“It will be good to have when we go in.” Kenzo leaned against the wall beside the door.
“Yeah. I hope that happens.” Devin took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. “If we can’t get a complete layout of the inside and have a rough timeline of the events that night, we may not be able to go in.”
“I didn’t know this.” Shaelan sat on the edge of the couch. “I was busy with the researcher’s results during the meeting.”
Deva looked at Taggart and then back to Devin. “What do we need to do to have all this?”
Devin glanced at Calum for a moment before he answered. “We need someone on the inside. Griffin and Rayne were able to tell us bits about that night, but it wasn’t like either of them had ever been invited.”
Wynter cursed softly. “How do we get one of our kind on the inside? Tomas has shifters working for him, and they’ll know.”
“That’s the problem.” Devin looked at Kenzo and then Taggart. “There’s no one on any of the teams that Tomas probably doesn’t have a picture from some point.”
“So, we need someone to be inside the building before the ball?” Shaelan stood up and came around until she was standing in front of Devin.
“Yeah. Even if it’s just the day of, it will at least get us in the door.”
“They don’t have to have any training in fighting or,” she waved her hand around, “what all of you do?”
Devin grinned. “No. They just need to give us a better idea of the layout and how many security guards Aiden has and where, if possible.”
Shaelan spun around and looked at Calum. “I know who can do this.”
Calum stood up and then shrugged. “Who?” He gave her a worried look. “Don’t say Mari.”
Shaelan laughed. “No. That would be a disaster.” She went around the desk and got her phone out of her jacket. She dialed it and then tapped the screen, and set it on the desk.
Someone answered it.
“Brock, I need you.”
“Oh, honey, if only you were six feet tall with tight buns and peen–us, I would be swooning right now.” He laughed.
Shaelan smiled at Calum. His expression wasn’t negative, but it wasn’t a positive reaction either.
“What can I do for you? I have been losing my mind from boredom since Mari left me…”
“Do you mind traveling?”
The man squealed. “Oh my gawd, I can be packed in ten minutes—no, an hour. Do I need light clothes or wintery ones? Say light because this bod is so tired of the cold—and I think I’m getting fat, Shae. Not quivering in fear all the time doesn’t burn calories the same as oh-this-is-what-a-normal-life is.” He sighed loudly into the phone.
“Do you think you could infiltrate a catering company and play the part of waiter or bartender?” She bit her lip and stared at the phone.
“Do we want happy and chipper or stoic and serious?”
Shaelan smiled. “Whatever you want to be.”
“Okay. Oh my gosh, this is fun. Just give me a second.” Brock cleared his throat. “What can I get you, darlin?” He giggled. “How’s that?”
Deva looked at Shaelan and then at the phone. It sounded like a completely different man on the other end.
“That was great.” She looked at Devin. “We’ll send someone to get you.”
“Is this dangerous?” His voice went up a few octaves. “Because you know I don’t do that he-man stuff.”
“Nonsense, you had the whole village believing you were a big mean jerk.”
He giggled. “I did. Didn’t I.?
“Yes.” Shaelan watched Devin go over to the wall and look at a map.
“How is that hot broody mate of yours, girl?”
Calum shook his head. “Hello, Brock.”
“Oh. Hi. Naughty Shae, you have me on speaker and didn’t share.” He laughed.
“Amari and Tripp are in that area; I’ll have them swing over and pick him up,” Devin said.
“Oh, my princeness, you’re there too.” He cleared his throat. “How big of an audience do I have, Shae? I would have tried harder with my drawl.”
“I’ll let you know when they’ll be there to get you, Brock.”
“Do we have time to shop? I need to dress the part.” He sighed.
“We’ll buy whatever you need, Brock.” Devin looked unamused.
“Oh, my princeness, thank you.”
“Talk soon.” Shaelan held her hand over the phone.
“We sure will, darlin,” He said in a deep twanging voice.
Shelan tapped the screen and then looked around.
“I don’t know what just happened,” Kenzo said quietly.
Calum laughed. “If anyone can do it, Brock will pull it off.” He looked at Shaelan, “We have to warn Jake. I think he’s on auto detail here.”
Shaelan grinned. “I’m sure Brock’s forgotten all about him.”
Deva and Taggart exchanged a look. Both were equally confused.
“Okay.” Devin exhaled slowly. “I’ve sent many home to see family before we meet back up again to prepare.” He glanced at his desk. “We have a few small ops before then, but I want everyone rested and ready when we do this.”
Wynter nodded. “I’m going to go check in on some of mine.” She got up and left the room.
Deva got up. “Is there any word on Zain?”
Devin looked at Calum, who gave him a look she didn’t understand. “Nothing yet. We’ll let Jesse know if we hear anything.”
She nodded and blew out a breath. “Okay. Thank you.” Taggart got up and put his arm around her.
“We go see friends here, and then I call my Nika. Maybe we go see her?” He gave her a steady look.
Deva nodded. “I’d like to meet her.”
“Yes.” He nodded his head abruptly. “First, I see if Efem translate book.”
“Let us know if he has, Taggart.” Devin went around the desk and sat down.
“I will.” Taggart went over to the door, opened it, and then turned around and looked at her.
Deva smiled at those left in the room and then went over to him. He put his arm around her, and they walked out into the hall.
“Zain is okay,” Taggart said quietly. “We no let him not be. Is reason for this to be.”
She looked up at him and sighed. “Find the beauty?” She whispered, needing to believe there was a reason for this to happen.
“Yes. I did—for always.”