Chapter 785 Chapter 785
“You take acting classes?” Luka grinned at Eaton.
She shook her head. “No. I just tried to seem paranoid.”
“It was very believable.” Luka grabbed his pack. “I’ll go let Beck get out of this weather for a few.” He opened the door and stepped outside.
Bear watched the wind blow the snow around. They were parked far enough away that they could have had the van running to stay warm, but Eaton didn’t want to have to fill it again, so they were conserving fuel.
A phone pinged.
“She sent a message,” Eaton said.
Bear turned to see her looking at the phone with her brows furrowed.
“What’s it say?” Quinn asked and then wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders.
Eaton turned the phone so they could see the screen.
Don’t bring the women here. Missy.
“Why would she send that?” Quinn sat forward.
“I don’t think she sent it.” Gideon leaned over the back seat and tapped the screen. “She signed it, Missy.”
Eaton turned the phone around and looked at it. “You think someone else sent it for her?”
“The question we should be asking is why would anyone tell you not to bring women there?” Dane set his laptop on his lap and opened it. “What number did it come from?”
Eaton handed him the phone.
Bear shoved the blanket off his shoulders. “What if she’s in trouble?” His animal was on full alert again.
“I think she’d send something else if it were her,” Quinn said.
Eaton got her other phone out and tapped the screen. “Beck, is there any movement?”
“Nothing from my perspective. Why?”
“A message was sent from Calla that said not to bring any women here. It was signed Missy.”
“Is the number still active? Is it a trap to get a response?”
“Number isn’t active. It’s one of those online companies where you can rent a number and buy long-distance minutes.” Dane said.
“Want to bet Leon has been keeping his ass safe by trafficking the female shifters?” Gideon’s voice was dripping with hatred.
“We should get Calla out of there.” Bear reached for the door handle.
“Hang on, Bear. She knows the plan. If anything happens, she’ll let us know.”
Bear glanced at her. “What if she can’t?”
“Someone sent this, and I don’t think it was her,” Dane said in a calm voice. “I think she has an ally in there.”
“We’d know if someone from the Alliance had been working with Leon, Dane.” Gideon shook his head.
“Would we? What if it’s someone that’s tracked him down for vengeance?” Dane set the phone down and started typing.
Bear looked at Dane. He had to hope he was right.
“Better call the king, Eaton, and see if he knows of any plants that have been working undercover,” Beck said. “Luka just got here; I’ll be there in a few. I’m going to circle out front and check what’s happening.”
“Be careful.” Eaton hung up. “I’m going to go call Raymond before I disturb Shepard.” She looked at Bear. “Just a few more hours.”
He wasn’t sure if she was trying to assure him or herself.
“Gideon, get Kaid on the phone and fill him in. Tell him to bring their ride here. We’ll start getting set up.” Gideon nodded.
“I’ll be right back.” Eaton turned in her seat and opened the door.
When she got out, Bear looked at Quinn. They’d known each other for a long time. Everyone knew everyone in their clan. She raised a brow, asking what was up with him, which confirmed for Bear that he wasn’t keeping his emotions under control as he thought he was. He wanted to tell her about Calla, but not while they were sitting in the van with the others. He gave his head a quick shake. “Just want her the hell out of there.” He said and then looked out the window and watched Eaton pace as she talked to Raymond.
Eaton nodded and started walking back toward the van. She got in and set the phone on the dash. “Raymond is on his way here with Pasha, Slater, and Devin.”
Bear eyes widened. “How are they getting here in this storm?”
Eaton brushed the snow off the arms of her coat. “Flying.”
“Raymond has some crazy pilots working for Alliance security.” Gideon grinned.
“Are they coming here or nearby?”
“They’re going to wait for us at the closest town.” Eaton pulled a map out of her run pack and opened it.
Gideon leaned over the seat. “Kaid will be here in thirty.”
Dane moved the laptop aside and leaned so he could see where Eaton was pointing to on the map. “I wouldn’t want to be Leon when our prince gets his hands on him.”
Eaton smiled at Dane. “Go online and book some rooms anywhere close to there. Raymond said we’re going to have to wait out the storm.”
Quinn pulled the blanket up around her face. “We’re going to have to take their vehicles to get everyone there.” She rolled her head to look at Bear. “I’m signing up for some warm climate ops.”
Eaton nodded. “I already thought of the vehicles.”
“We could just strap them down on the roof.” Gideon shrugged and sat back.
Bear opened the door. “I just need some air.” He got out and closed it. Going over to the edge of the trees that lined the embankment where they’d parked, he looked in the direction Beck should be coming from. He’d never been a clock watcher, but time felt like it was moving in slow motion right now. His animal wanted to go for a run. “Soon.” He said out loud. They didn’t need anyone calling and reporting a lion running around in a snowstorm in Manitoba.
When they got Calla out of there and Leon in custody, then he’d find a few minutes to go for a run.
He stood still when he thought he saw someone running in his direction. He stared at the spot when he saw movement again. It was Beck. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Beck slowed when he saw him. “I could have run right up to the window of the house, and no one would have seen me. This snow is heavy.”
“That should make it easier to get close without anyone seeing us.” Bear yanked the zipper up on his coat.
“Yeah, it also makes it harder to see if anyone is waiting for us.”
Bear hadn’t thought of that. “If something happens, Calla will warn us.” He had to believe that right now.
“If she can.” Beck slapped him on the shoulder and turned to go to the van.
Bear blew out a breath and looked back into the white. “Don’t try to be a hero, Calla.” He whispered and then spun on his heel to get out of the wind.