Page 5 of Homecoming

“Boss?” one of the guys with him asks.

I frown. Boss? When did Liam’s people start calling Blake Boss?

There are lots of things that aren’t making sense about this encounter, and it was supposed to be a simple job. Although, our jobs are never really simple when they are supposed to be, so really, we should have known better.

“I think the people that he has been sending the information to have arrived. Go and check over there,” Blake orders as he points in our direction.

That settles it.

Alaric raises his eyebrow and Rage, and I nod. Let’s do this. If we stay here, we are definitely going to get killed. We need to move if we don’t want to be shot.

We all jump up, and I see the look of surprise on Blake’s face before it quickly turns to anger, and he raises his gun and starts erratically shooting. We run like our lives depend on it because they do and return the fire haphazardly behind us.

I really hope that whatever is still left in this factory isn’t flammable or easily exploded because there is a lot of equipment being hit. Fortunately, we manage to find our way out of the maze of factory equipment, bullets still flying in all directions. We burst through the door and head straight for the car, climbing in haphazardly as Alaric starts the engine and drives away, wheels spinning in his haste to get away.

Once we are out on the road again, and don’t appear to be being followed, Alaric says, “And that boys is why you always make sure that the car is pointing in the direction that you can escape. We would have lost precious time turning it around otherwise, and we would have been shot and or caught.”

I raise my eyebrows, “I wondered why you did that when we arrived, but I was too distracted to ask.”

Alaric nods, “There is a reason for everything.”

“That was an absolute clusterfuck,” Rage says.

“It was,” I agree.

Alaric sighs, “It was strange how angry he got when the informant mentioned that he was loyal to Liam.”

“I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed that,” I reply.

“It was weird that they called him Boss as well,” Rage adds, a deep frown pulling down his eyebrows.

“Yeah,” Alaric agrees. “Leave it with me, and I will look into it. I need to call this in, especially since there is a body now, so you two need to stay quiet.”

“Got it,” I reply. “We will make sure that we aren’t being followed.”

Alaric nods and then presses some buttons on his steering wheel, and the sound of the dialing phone fills the car.

“Alaric,” a voice that we have come to recognize says.

“Mr R,” Alaric replies. “There was an incident at the meet. Blake was there and shot the informant. There were shots exchanged, I’m fine. I will file a proper report when I get back, but a team needs to be sent to the location to pick up the body.”

“Very well. One is on the way,” Mr R informs Alaric.

“Thank you, sir,” Alaric replies.

“Oh, before you go,” Mr R adds.

Chapter Four

Atlas

“Yes, sir?” Alaric questions when Mr R stays silent and doesn’t continue his sentence.

“Sorry, I had someone come in,” Mr R explains. “We have had another informant come forward with some information that they claim would be of interest to us. We can set up a meeting for this afternoon. The location is a couple of hours' drive from where you are now.”

Alaric glances back at us to see if we are interested, and we both nod. I don’t mind being kept away from school for longer.

“Yes, I can do that. Send the location through, and I will head there straight away.” Alaric confirms.

---