Chapter 885 Chapter 885
“We’ll pull in once they give us the all-clear.”
Ena looked over at Madison in the driver’s seat and nodded. She touched her ear. It was strange having something in it.
“I have binoculars if you want to watch.” She turned the van off. “I prefer not to watch.”
Ena looked out the window beside her. “I don’t know if we’ll see much with this fog.”
“That’s our ace, according to Leyton.”
She couldn’t see the house or barn. “It will be easier for them to get closer.”
“Also easier to not see someone outside,” Madison said quietly.
Ena touched her ear. “Am I supposed to be hearing something?”
“Andi will make it live when the guys are all here.” She leaned closer to the dash and looked up at the sky. “I don’t know how Creed will see in this.”
“Is he big? I mean, so nothing else flying tries to eat him.”
Madison looked at her, her brows high in the air. “Eagle of some sort, so I think that makes him the predator in the sky.”
Ena nodded. “Oh, okay.”
Madison grinned. “Too bad the mics weren’t on. I would have loved to hear his thoughts on getting eaten by something up there flying.”
“Does he have an earpiece when he’s flying?” She didn’t know how that would work.
“No. They have a collar type thing on that Andi can send a sound to.” She looked at the sky again. “I don’t know the system, but it’s enough to let him know if he needs to clear out.”
Something moved beside the window, and Ena jumped.
A cheetah walked to the front of the van and sat down.
“That’s Kevan, a last-minute change because the fog is a little thicker than they anticipated. He’s going to lurk about and keep watch for anyone hiding up there.”
Ena nodded and looked at the large animal sitting in front of the van. She’d never seen one up close, wild or otherwise.
“Everyone in place?”
Andi’s voice was in her ear now.
“Kevan and Creed are just waiting for the signal.” She recognized Deacon’s voice.
A large bird landed on the front of the van and turned to look in through the windshield. It was dark in color, with whites and browns mixed in. She’d watched eagles flying before but had no idea their eyes were yellow. He opened his wings and then pulled them back in, and turned to look at the animal sitting there. His wings had been almost as wide as the van. She couldn’t look away.
“Creed is here.”
Ena looked at Madison. She’d spoken in her ear, as well as beside her.
“Walker, are you and Gia in place?”
“Gia couldn’t see anything in the tree. We’ve moved to a new location. We’re out of sight and can see the yard.”
There was a sound of annoyance in her ear. She figured Deacon wasn’t happy with his mate being so close to the farm.
“I’ve got them.” The gruff voice made her think it was Nox.
“Copy, Nox.” A man said. “Give Creed the package, Madison, and let Kevan know it’s go-time.”
“Okay, Leyton.” Madison reached down beside her seat and picked up a small plastic case. She looked at her. “I wasn’t traveling with it unless it was secure.”
Ena realized it was whatever Creed was to drop that was supposed to explode.
“We’re killing power one minute after he’s in the air, so tell Creed to fly fast and count to sixty.” Some chuckled.
Madison got out and set the case on the hood. “I’ll tell you when he’s in the air.”
Ena leaned forward and watched as Madison took what looked like a small ball with a cord on it out of the case and said something to Creed. Creed lifted one leg and that’s when Ena saw his talons. She understood why he would be the predator in the sky. She held her breath when he took a hold of the ball. Madison said something to him and then he extended his wings and after a few motions was above the hood.
“He’s in the air.” Madison came around and got back in.
“Back door of house in sight.” Someone whispered in her ear.
“Copy, Kash. Luka, you in place?”
“Outside the fence. Call out when power is done. This fence is loaded.”
“I’m in the ditch nearest the house. Leyton, are you in place?” Deacon was now talking softly.
“Copy,” Leyton whispered. “Sentry is about to have a nap.”
“Ten seconds,” Cy said. Ena didn’t know where he was, but he had left when the others did. The only one not here was Andi. She was doing her part from the safe house.
Ena was holding her breath. She glanced in the mirror and saw the lights come on in Foster’s vehicle behind them.
Madison started the van. She leaned forward and looked in the direction that Creed was supposed to cause the distraction. “Hope he can gauge twenty feet in this.” She whispered.
Ena nodded and watched that way, hoping to know when it happened. She was just about to ask if she was looking in the right direction when a loud noise echoed.
“Power down. We have sixty seconds to breech.” Deacon said.
Ena turned and looked out the window. Even if she used the binoculars, she wouldn’t see anything.
“Moving to the end of the lane,” Madison said in the earpiece.
“Right behind you,” Foster said.
“I don’t like this fog,” Madison said as she pulled the van slowly down the road toward the driveway.
“Sentry taken down,” Leyton reported. “Kevan is doing a quick sweep around the buildings, so don’t shoot any cheetahs, boys.”
“Moving to the back door of the barn.” Nox sounded like he was running.
“Movement on the top floor of the house.” Ena thought it was Morley’s voice.
“In the back door,” Kash said. “Moving to the top floor.”
“Copy, I have lower,” Luka said.
“Coming in from the front, Nox,” Leyton said. “Fuck me.”
Ena sucked in a breath.
“We have actual cages here, people.” Nox sounded angry.
“Three—no, five subjects inside them,” Leyton said.
“Downstairs secured,” Luka reported. “Coming to you, Kash.”
There was no reply, and Ena had to hope that meant he didn’t want to give away to anyone he was there.
“Barn secured. Opening cages.” Leyton said.
“Tell me what I’m looking at, Leyton,” Madison said.
Ena glanced in the back of the van to see all the medical cases were open and ready, which she already knew, but she needed to do something.
“Coming upstairs.” Deacon’s voice was deep. “Walker, Gia, move to the yard. Madison, Foster, move up to the yard.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” Luka said. “Green light live round?”
“Negative. Tranq if necessary.” A scary voice said.
Ena looked at Madison.
“Raymond Hardy.” She said and shrugged.
“Copy, sir.” There was a slight pause. “One rendered unconscious.”
“I have Waylon Kamble,” Kash said. “His leg is going to need some medical attention.”
“Captives first.” A woman said.
“Yes, mam’. Princess says you wait.” Kash sounded amused.
“Back of property is clear. No structures.” Templeton said through the earpiece.
“Moving to the two sheds now.” Ena recognized Kellen’s voice. “This fog is thick, don’t shoot us.”
“Garage and vehicles clear,” Walker said.
“Deacon, this building needs to be burned to the ground.”
“Copy that,” Deacon answered.
“She’s not lying,” Walker stated.
Madison stopped the van and got out.
Ena was right behind her. She turned to see Foster getting out of his. He had something in his hand and went behind his van and then he came back without it.
“Let Creed know to come down, Andi,” Morley said.
Ena turned and saw him coming up beside the van. He was carrying a rifle and looking all around.
“I’ll cover the ladies if you want to bring them out, Leyton.” He stopped and stood there looking down the laneway.
“Foster, I’m going to need a hand in here,” Nox said.
Ena turned and looked toward the barn. She started to go that way when Madison touched her arm.
“I’m going to need extra hands here.”
Foster ran by her.
Ena nodded and went over and opened the sliding door on the side of the van.
“Two girls, late teens, coming out,” Nox said. “No visible marks.”
“I’m coming to get them,” Gia said.
“Griffin, Journee, do you recognize any of these three?” Deacon asked.
“No.” A woman said.
“The Second one might be someone who came to the building to see Aiden, but I can’t be sure in that light,” a man answered.
“One male in his thirties. Dehydrated, weak.” Leyton said. “Collared.”
Gia and Nox emerged from the fog, each supporting a girl. Their clothes were filthy, and their hair was matted. Their faces were hollowed out, making their eyes look larger.
“Grab the IV kits, Ena. I’ll put them in. You hook up the bags.”
Ena got in the van and pulled the case with those closer to her.
Lights came up the laneway. Morley turned and aimed the gun at it. When it stopped the door opened slowly and then Kevan looked between the door and body of it. He got out.
“To move the mens that we wants to stab.” He nodded and walked by Morley toward the house.
“He’s not wrong,” Madison murmured as she helped the first girl into the van to sit down.
“Male. In pretty good shape. Collared.” Walker said.
Ena kept her head down and handed Madison what she asked for. She couldn’t look at the girl’s faces or she might start crying.
Madison glanced behind her. “Just get him to sit in the front seat, Leyton.”
Ena looked out the door to see Leyton helping a man walk. The way he was moving, she figured he hadn’t been walking around in a long time. She helped the second girl into the van and then hopped out and opened the front door for Leyton.