Chapter 9
Gia sat on the window ledge and looked down over the new neighborhood being constructed. There were so many houses, most in the final stages of construction. She hadn’t expected this to be part of what she was to do, but the surveillance team had been pulled to go monitor other places. She knew too many people affected by the organization that had wreaked havoc and heartache in their world for years—she’d do whatever was required of her to help.
She didn’t know why her new partner had chosen the building location instead of being closer and observing from the van, but now that she’d sat here for three hours, she was glad he had, she would have gone stir crazy sitting in the confines of a vehicle doing nothing.
The building they were watching from was a partially constructed apartment building. According to Illias, construction was currently on hold, so it was abandoned and a perfect site to see the comings and goings from a house a few blocks over, in the house was one of the team’s brothers and remaining traitorous clan members. She no longer questioned why they would do something like that, it didn’t matter now. This Lindon person was responsible for the captures, or worse of Kobie’s clan members. The fact that Blair was going to kill his brother for his crimes against their people was sitting better than she had ever thought something like that would. She just hoped she did her part without issue, she refused to be the weak link with the team.
Looking at Deacon, he hadn’t moved more than an inch since the last time she’d glanced in his direction. He was at the far end of the empty room, standing by a dirty window, his eyes trained on the building they were to watch. Was it part of their training to withstand long hours of no movement, or was it just a part of him that allowed him to not have to fidget and move around? Sitting still had never been something she was good at.
The radio he’d set on the ledge squawked. “Delivery truck pulling in.” He tilted his head, keeping his eyes trained on the location.
Their eyesight allowed them to see further, but Gia still felt the need to pick up the small binoculars and look at the house’s driveway. “That’s the third one if you count the takeout order and pharmacy.” She didn’t look away, “why would shifters need a pharmacy?” She hadn’t expected a reply, so his voice breaking the silence startled her.
“They shouldn’t unless someone is seriously injured.”
Lowering the cool metal from her face, she looked over at him. “According to the other team, they haven’t gone anywhere in several days, how would someone get injured?”
“Their timeline has seven of them going out last week and only six returning, one was limping when they helped him back into the house.”
“It would have to be serious enough that they couldn’t shift.” She’d only experienced that once in her clan, a broken bone being the cause.
“One less to worry about.”
His tone wasn’t cold exactly, and he was just stating the facts, but it still bothered her to think that parts of this new team were going to potentially be hurt taking this clan into custody.
“Truck is leaving. Four mid-sized boxes were left outside the garage door. No contact with anyone inside.” York’s steady tone reported.
“Get pictures of whoever brings them in.” That was Jesse. She hadn’t realized the others back at the house were listening in.
“Webb’s ready with the camera to send it back to you, Jesse.”
Deacon moved and picked up his binoculars and lifted them.
Gia turned back to the window and found where the boxes were sitting. She held her breath when the garage door opened slowly. As the man appeared in the opening, she sucked in a breath, he looked almost the same as Blair, older, but there was no mistaking they were related.
“It’s Lindon, himself carrying them in,” York told everyone listening.
“Bingo.” Illias’ voice came over the radio.
“There you are.” Deacon said in a soft tone.
Lowering the binoculars, she looked over at him. “They’ve been waiting to confirm he was there, haven’t they?”
“Yeah. He hasn’t been seen since they returned.” He looked over at her for the first time since they’d been here.”
“York, you and Webb stay put. Deacon and Gia, head back now.” Devin’s voice cut into the silence.
Deacon moved back from the window and went over and picked up the radio. “We’re on the way.”
Gia looked out the window again quickly, then back to him. “I want to drive the neighborhood and get a feel for it.”
Deacon’s look assessed her for a moment. She couldn’t be sure, but it looked like approval on his face. “We’re going to do a run through the area and check alternate routes on the way.” He reported.
“Sounds good.” Calum’s even tone replied.
Clipping the radio to the front of his vest, he motioned to the door, then stood there unmoving waiting for her to go.
“We’ll be going in soon now, won’t we?” She thought she’d feel dread of what was to come, but it wasn’t hitting her as hard as she thought it would.
He nodded, “They were just waiting to confirm Lindon was there, so yeah it will go fast now before they have a chance to leave.”
An anxious feeling ran through her. “I’m nervous,” she admitted.
The tense lines on his face eased, “that’s good, it’s better than being cocky. Nervous keeps you aware and ready.”
Gia blew out a breath, then gave him a small smile. “Thanks for that.”
He nodded, then motioned to the door, “let’s go, by the time we get back, they’ll have a plan.”
She turned the corner and glanced over at him. He had the window down all the way again, uncaring of the cool air. “You don’t like feeling confined, do you?”
He looked over at her for a second before answering. “No. I grew up mostly outdoors,” he shrugged, “except the odd time we found somewhere to crash.”
“Your clan moved around a lot?” She turned her attention back to the road, noting the side streets along the way.
“This street is too bogged.” He said in a flat tone.
Nodding, she’d just been thinking the same thing. Checking the mirror, she switched lanes and turned at the next intersection. She looked over to see him take off his hat and rest it on his knee.
“I wasn’t part of a clan.” He said finally.
Gia had to work hard to not look at him with her mouth hanging open. “You’re,” how was that possible? He worked for the Alliance. “You’re not?”
His steel-colored eyes locked with hers before she forced them to look back to the road. “No. Surprised? I’m sure all Alpha families talk about the rogue wanderers out there.”
“Uh, yeah, we’re aware they exist. I think all our kind are.” She gripped the steering wheel harder and watched where she was driving.
“Well, now you’ve met one of the rogues.” His tone was flat. “I’m a nobody, the equivalent of the runt of the litter.”
Gia snorted and looked over at him, making sure he saw her check him over. “Yeah, you’re a runt if King Kong had siblings.”
His grin was quick. “No siblings.” He finally said.
“I’m just surprised,” she had to explain her reaction, she didn’t want him to think she was judging him, “your part of one of the Alliance teams,” she glanced at him again quickly, without his hat he looked completely different. The sides of his head were shaved, but the top of his hair was quite long, now falling to the one side of his face, down to his jaw. “How did that happen?”
“Calum.” He said it like the one-word answer would explain it all.
“Calum got you in?” She shrugged, “I suppose if someone could, it’s him.”
“He found me.” Deacon looked out the side window, “in an old hunter’s shack in the middle of nowhere.” He ran his fingers over his beard, a look on his face that told her he was remembering then. “Even with his help, it was a long road to where I am now.”
“I would imagine it’s a hard task for anyone to get on the team.” She tried to recall if Nox had worked hard at it or if his status had given him a free pass. They’d never gotten along, so she couldn’t be sure.
“It was hard, I did a few years of bowing my head a lot proving myself loyal before I ever got the chance to try for anything.” His voice was quiet, which surprised her, she would have been spiteful as hell if she’d had to prove herself to anyone like that.
“Well,” she looked over and gave him a quick smile, “I guess you were found worthy, or you wouldn’t be here.”
He didn’t reply or smile, just studied her face for a moment and gave her a slight nod.
“I think this street is the one. Only two stop signs.” She had to try to bring the conversation around to something that didn’t make her chest feel tight. Why it was, she wasn’t sure. Could it be the injustice of his life or the fact she was trapped in her own? Licking her lips, she checked all the mirrors while trying to find something to break the awkward silence. “So, uh, what’s it like not having a clan and all the rules? Who leads and makes decisions?”
Deacon turned back to look at her, his eyes holding her own. “It’s a consensus thing, how decisions are made.”
Gia looked away again, “that must be nice. Not being dictated to.”
“Are you thinking of leaving your clan?” He smirked at her.
She blew out a breath, was she? “I’d consider it, maybe, if it wouldn’t break my mother’s heart.” She gave him a blank look. “Youngest of five and only female child.” She supplied so he would have the context to understand her position.
“Five kids are a lot.”
“Yes, it is,” she shrugged, “I don’t know what it’s like with sisters, maybe it’s different, but I’ve had four older brothers and a father, dictating to me for as long as I can remember,” she shrugged, “except Walker, he’s not too bad.”
“You don’t strike me as someone who likes to be told what to do.”
She looked quickly at him; he wasn’t smirking at all. “You would be right.” She cleared her throat, “I took self-defense, weapon training,” she sighed, “everything that was expected of my brothers and handed to them,” she gripped the steering wheel, “but I had to do it in secret.”
“Sometimes you just have to do what your heart tells you, and to hell with those that stand in your way.”
He said that like he’d lived it too at some point. “Exactly. So here I am.” She turned her head to look at him again, “And I don’t need the macho man routine, by the way, I can take care of myself.”
Deacon lifted his hands like he was surrendering, “you are definitely nothing like your kin,” he smirked at her finally, “and don’t worry I won’t tell Nox a thing.”
Gia looked at him twice, before answering, just to be sure he was being serious. “Thank you.” She nodded, “And I don’t care where you’re from or about your past, Deacon, that’s not who I am. I judge a person on who they are now.” She slowed down out front of the house they were staying at, then glanced at the clock. “Twenty-six minutes, if we’re coming back here,” she shrugged, “less because we won’t be circling the neighborhood.”
“We won’t be bringing anyone back here.” He motioned to the fence. “I’ll get the gate.” He opened the door and paused, “our location is only to be known to us.” He got out and jogged over to the fence.
Gia bit her lip, then blew out a slow breath. That whole conversation had been a surprise. She never would have imagined he had no clan. He was so disciplined and considerate, the sort of thing she expected from someone with a good upbringing. Her parents had gone on and on about the lawlessness of rogue wanderers, but Deacon didn’t fit the profile she’d pictured at all. Pulling the van in behind the fence, she pulled it up as far as she could, not knowing when the others would be back. Her whole life had been about family and clan ties, what had it been like for him? She couldn’t even picture it and didn’t want to bring it up again because he looked like he was in his own personal hell for a few moments during the conversation.
Getting out, she closed the door and then turned to see him watching her, his hat back on, his eyes shadowed by the bill of it. “After we find out what’s going on, would you be able to take a few minutes to explain the dart gun to me?”
He tilted his head but didn’t speak.
“It doesn’t shoot the same as normal ones and I don’t want to miss anyone if I need to use it.”
Rubbing his hand over his beard brusquely he finally nodded, “Yeah, we can go over it,” he patted the one sticking out of a holder on the front of his vest, “if we do our job, you won’t need to use it at all.”
“Better safe than sorry.” She nodded, then motioned to the house. “I need to keep moving so my nerves don’t get the better of me.” Gia didn’t know why she admitted that to him. Afraid of the reasons, she quickly walked in the direction of the house. They needed to get moving on these plans, or she wasn’t going to talk herself right out of doing the job she was chosen to do.