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She stands up, her legs shaking, and presses her hands to the box.
“Welcome, Pack Raptore.” The voice booms into the room.
I reluctantly look away from Missy, finding the man easily as he moves to stroke the box with a fanatical possession. His face is covered with a full black and gold mask, but I recognise him straight away. He’s the man in my nightmares. I’d half expected him to be made up. Or dead. I’d hoped dead.
Strangely, I’m not as afraid as I thought I would be.
Darion surges forward and then stops dead. His eyes track upwards as the lights come on so we are no longer in the dark.
I feel ill and so enraged, I barely take notice of the room around me. I just keep seeing my omega in a box. But the sounds penetrate, and I look up and around. There are so many people here, complicit, guilty, involved. All around us, above us on a circular landing, are people in these gold masks. Men, women, and guards.
It takes me a moment to realise that the sight that stops Darion is the guns they hold in their hands aimed at us. Darion’s growl is low. I think only Seb and I can hear it.
“Now, Darion. You have been a thorn in my side. I thought we could let this go. When you three escaped, I thought, eh, no matter, but this constant heckling and snapping at my heels is…well, to be frank, it has become tedious and a bore.” The man speaks in a cultured voice, vaguely familiar.
Thirty-two people in masks, I add up quickly and look at Missy. Thirty-two people between us and her freedom. I recognise maybe twenty from their clothes and physical appearances, but I can’t place the last twelve. There’s also fifteen guards, seven with guns, four with tasers, and four are standing by what appears to be a control panel. A panel with lots of buttons, one glowing red. I keep an eye on that panel.
“Ava,” I barely breathe. “Send in-“
The man snaps his head in my direction. “Lukas, don’t make me punish you.”
I stop breathing. I’ve heard those words before. It brings up a boat full of shame and self-loathing.
“Lukas,” Missy calls. I look up, our eyes locking, and the shame eases.
“Ava, you can cease operations now.” The man croons intimately.
My stomach drops out as the realisation hits. “NO!” I scream. No backup, no team, all those people, Elise. I don’t realise I’m still shouting until Seb grips my upper arm in his hand. It’s like a vice of pain that draws me back to myself.
I look at Missy and find her pounding on the perspex, tears streaking her cheeks.
“Of course, sir. Pulling all teams out now.” Ava’s voice is broadcast around the room.
“Have the extraction team deliver the assets back into my care.”
“Yes, sir.”
I failed her. I look at Missy. She shakes her head. “Not your fault, Lukas.”
“Sir, assets should be back home in ten minutes.”
“Good girl, Ava, and thank you for the heads up and getting the boys back to me tonight, you’ve been perfect. Just like we planned.”
I’m going to kill her. If it’s the last thing I do, I will end her.
There's hesitation. “Thank you, sir.”
“Ava…” I breathe, horrified.
Missy slams her fist against the perspex. “You lying snake. Kandi trusted you!”
Seb makes a grunting noise, and I look at him. His eyes are bleak, his face pale. He looks at me apologetically.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” I shout, turning to him, as if my pleas could stop him. “It’s not over yet!” I cry in desperation.
“This is Alpha One, Raven Eyes. Code A1002 Error, home-base.”
Seb turns to Missy. They exchange some kind of knowledge silently, and I feel her resolve strengthen through the bond.
