Chapter 783 Chapter 783
Calla stared at the phone. They were coming in before dinner. It would be during the meeting, so they’d all be together, but that could also be a bad thing. She glanced at the window. The snow was still coming down heavily. Transport would be hard in this.
The phone lit up again. She looked at it, and her eyes rounded. She had to go down to Leon’s office and rip the wires out that left the box. How was she going to do that when everyone would be there for the meeting? What if she didn’t get to it before they came in? Then someone would hit one of the switches, and those other locations would be empty before they ever found them. Gnawing on her lip, she went over to the window and looked in the direction where she’d talked to Beck. They were counting on her to do this. She only needed sixty seconds in his office to get it done. Her animal stirred inside her. Calla nodded. They’d get it done. She quickly texted back, telling them she’d get it done. When she was about to turn off the phone, another message popped up. Text when done. She sighed in relief. That made sense. That they’d wait for confirmation before coming in. She sent back a thumbs up and turned off the phone.
Dropping down in front of the dresser, she reached to hide the phone and froze. There was no way she could pull the wires in the basement of one house and then get back here to send the message—not when all of the others would be there for the meeting.
Hissing out a breath, she put the drawer back in and stood up. Where was she going to put it so no one would see it? She grabbed her jacket and then shook her head. No, she could leave it on in the house, and then everyone would notice. Dropping the jacket, she picked up the sweatshirt she’d slept in. Setting the phone on the bed, she pulled the shirt over her head. It was baggy enough that it should work. Lifting it, she tucked the phone into the back of the waist of her jeans. Tugging the material back down, she patted the phone. It was more than long enough to hide it.
She heard a door close in the hall, picked up her jacket, and opened the door.
The woman she’d seen this morning stood beside the bathroom. Her hair was a dark red, close to brown, and she looked like she was barely awake.
“Sorry, this morning.” She yawned. “I was tired and muddy.”
Calla smiled briefly. “I get it. I’m Missy.”
“Liora. Welcome to whatever this is.” She hugged the clothes she was holding. “Coming to this country is not what I thought it would be.”
She spoke slowly, pronouncing each word carefully, but her accent was still evident. “No? Too much snow and mud?”
Liora rolled her eyes. “That too. I come to find my brother, but instead, I track through forests and mud looking for outlaw groups.”
“Rogues?”
“Yes. Rogues. My mother and the man she left with were with rogues when she fled our country, but I stayed with my uncle until she sent for me. My baby brother was born here, and now I look for him because I know she is dead or she would have brought me here to be with her.”
Calla felt bad for her. “What-uh, clan are you from?”
Liora tisked. “You don’t know my kind. They are not here.”
“Oh, maybe I came across them in my travels. I’ve been all over.”
She turned to go into the bathroom. “Maned wolf is what it is called in your language.” She went in and closed the door.
Holy crap. Maned wolf. She knew of one. A male who ran with rogues before he joined the Alliance. She touched her back and felt the phone. She had to be looking for Deacon. She was his sister. Shaking her head, she turned to go down the stairs. She’d tell them tonight, and they could get word to Deacon and sort it all out.
When she got down to the kitchen, a woman with long black hair sat at the island with Edda.
“Missy, this is Bianca,” Edda said in a quiet tone. “We’re just having a coffee, and then I will start the prep for dinner. I have to cook it over at house one tonight, so we are there for the meeting.”
Calla went around the counter and got a clean cup from the dish rack. “Hey, Bianca.” She flashed a quick smile to the woman. She barely made eye contact with her, which caused Calla’s animal to hesitate. Calla turned and got the milk from the fridge. As she readied her coffee, she checked her out.
The woman cupped the mug between her hands. Even though she wore long sleeves, the fabric had shifted enough that a marred wrist was visible. The scaring was similar to the marks on Zuri’s neck. “Did you just get back?” Calla put the milk away.
“Yes.” Her voice was so slight that Calla barely heard her.
Going back to her cup, she picked it up, turned, and leaned against the counter. Taking a small sip, she looked at her. “Were you out looking for rogue groups, too?”
Bianca nodded.
“No luck?”
“I found no trace of any.”
It surprised her that both Liora and Bianca were out here alone looking for these groups. What made them come back? She knew Liora had a purpose, but it was obvious that Bianca had been a captive before. If it were her, she would have ditched the vehicle and run as fast as she could the other way. Calla shrugged. “They’re probably hiding to stay out of the weather.”
Bianca nodded. “That’s what I told Leon.” She looked at Edda. “What is the meeting about?”
Edda looked at the liquid in her cup. “I don’t know.”
“I heard something about Panama and Louisiana when I was there this morning.” She watched both of them to see what their reactions were.
“I don’t want to go back to Panama,” Bianca said with a slight tremble in her voice.
Edda reached over and put her hand over the woman’s. “Leon hates it there. He will go to Louisiana.”
Calla took a sip. What was in Panama? “I told Leon that New Orleans was on my bucket list.” She grinned. “If we have to leave, I hope it’s there.”
Edda nodded. “It’s a very interesting place.”
Bianca knew things about Panama and Edda Louisiana. She’d have to tell Eaton that. If they could find some of the other locations, others wouldn’t have somewhere to run and hide.
Kumar walked in. “Boss wants you to come to call your friends, Missy.”
“Friends?” Edda looked at her.
Calla set the cup down and went over and got her jacket. “A group that’s been trying to find Leon with me.” She turned her back to them and put on the jacket. Other than the number, she hadn’t planned anything else with Eaton. What if Leon wanted names? She couldn’t very well give them their real names.
“Is there a lot of them?”
She went over and picked up her cup, and looked at Edda. “There were around eight of us when I left, but there will be more now. Everyone is sick of what’s happening to the clans and not being able to have the freedom to go anywhere.” That was all true; only it was because of people like Leon that all clan travel stopped.
“Oh.” Edda glanced at Kumar out of the corner of her eye. “I’ll get beds ready when you let me know how many.” When she looked back at Calla, there was something in her eyes she wasn’t expecting. Fear. Why would Edda look afraid to have others join them?
“Let’s go.” Kumar turned back to the door.
Calla went over to pick up the cup when Bianca grabbed her wrist. She shook her head and then let go and put her head down.
“I’ll—” She gave Edda a curious look. “—bring the mug back.” She said slowly.
Edda nodded. “Come back quickly. I’ll need help prepping dinner.” Her expression didn’t match her tone at all. The look was warning her about something. What the hell was going on?