Chapter 761 Chapter 761
Zain rolled his shoulders and blew out a quick breath.
“You’re working yourself up. Relax.”
He gave Asher a wide-eyed look. “How did I get selected for this?”
“Because you haven’t been seen on the road or at safe houses and ops.” Jesse smiled at him. “All you have to do is get inside and make contact with Brock so he can get us inside from the back.”
Zain nodded and then tugged at the collar of his shirt.
“You look good in a tux.” Webb smiled at him. He patted his own gut. “I have too much body to wear one of those cummerbund things.”
Foster paced by him. “I’m just happy I’m in a transport vehicle along with Calla and Gia.”
Webb nodded. “Yeah. I’m quite happy to be driving the bad ones.”
“Gia is in the transport with Shaelan for those we recover from the lower basement,” Asher informed them. “We have no idea how many, but Griffin said it could be as high as thirty.” He looked at the ramp leading outside. “I didn’t even know we had a bus.”
“Just as long as Shepard is one of them.” Zain nodded and then froze on the spot. Walking toward them were Amari, Evanna, and Kobie. With them was Oaklyn. She was wearing a deep blue colored dress, it was tight, leaving nothing to the imagination. The slit up the side went almost to her hip.
“Earth to Zain.” Foster waved a hand in front of his face.
Zain blinked and looked at him.
“I said, you need to go see Nate and get your earbuds.”
Zain nodded and then looked back at the women. Or one in particular. His wolf wanted to howl, or that might have been him.
“Hey.” Oaklyn smiled at him. “Don’t you look like a million bucks dressed all snazzy.”
He cleared his throat, trying to remember how to speak. “You look amazing.”
She looked down at herself. “A little tight for my taste, but we’re supposed to blend and distract, I was told.”
He nodded so fast that he probably looked like a bobblehead.
She looked around. “The Alliance army is impressive.” She patted her little purse. “I brought a knife or two. Amari had purse-size ones.” She giggled.
Amari grinned at him. “The taser didn’t fit, and she says she’s a good shot with a blade.” She shrugged.
Zain shook his head, trying to get his head back on the task. “That she is.”
Oaklyn chuckled. “I told you, if I wanted to hit you, I would have.”
“I like her.” Amari nodded. “I’ll go get the earbuds.”
“You guys look great.” Bear came over. He looked Zain up and down. “I’m your backup, I’m told.” He opened his suit jacket to show that he had a handgun on one side and a tranq gun on the other. “Say the word, and I’ll clear a path.” Bear grinned, “I can also break doorknobs to gain entry anywhere.”
“Handy.” Oaklyn smiled.
Zain looked at Jesse.
“Most in there have a bodyguard with them, so Bear is yours.”
Zain breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll have to stick to the outskirts of the main room. Brock said all the guests were informed their guards weren’t to mingle.” He laughed. “Good thing I don’t mingle.”
Zain nodded. “Okay.”
“Alrighty.” Oaklyn stepped closer and hooked her arm through his. “Let’s go, sweetie. We don’t want to be late.”
Zain looked over to see Amari coming back with Tripp beside her. “We need our earbuds.”
“Anything you say will be heard by all.” Jesse glanced at Oaklyn and then back to Zain. “Just so you know.”
“Alrighty. No sweet talking. Got it.” She laughed.
He couldn’t believe they were going in among the one-forms that liked their kind for pets. He missed his desk.
They needed to get Shepard. Once he talked to him, he hoped the constant need to look over his shoulder went away.
Oaklyn squeezed his arm and smiled at him. “This is supposed to be fun. We’re supposed to look like we’re having a good time. You could at least pretend you’re having a good time and not have that worry look on your face.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “As long as everyone gets out of there without injury, and we have Shepard at the end. I will pretend to be anyway necessary.”
“That’s the ticket. Let’s go get some bad guys.”