Page 4 of Verses and Blooms
“If you offer me protection from him once this is said and done, I’ll be more than happy to assist in taking his ass down, too,” Ledger said, voice serious.
They stared at each other for several minutes before Chief nodded, then looked at Caspian and Rydell. “And you?”
“I have the dominant gene, my body is my weapon, but I can use knives,” he said. “Not a gun type of guy, but I’d say you have that covered.”
“Noted. And you?” Chief said, turning his gaze to Caspian.
“No formal training, but I’ll do anything to get my omega back,” Caspian said.
“Mr. Mafia can have a weapon, the rest protective gear only. Get your men outfitted. We have the armor truck out front,” he said, now looking at me.
“Just like that?” I asked, too stunned to move. I was prepared for a fight to get them a single bit of equipment. Hell, even to let them come along.
“There’s no one better suited to track an omega than her pack. I’ve read my reports, Aeron. I know they’ll be fine. Get them armored up, and meet me back here. We have omegas to find.”
“Thank you, sir,” Ledger said, giving him a nod.
“Find my little girl, boys, and I’ll give you whatever you fucking want,” he said. “I’ve spent years trying to take this godforsaken place down. From the moment they reported Abby as missing, I’ve been trying to find her. You do that for me, you’ll live like fucking kings.”
“We’ll do our best,” Caspian said.
“We want to help,” Ansel said. His voice was strong despite being nearly comatose before this. Kane was right behind him, a grin on his face.
“You can help track, but you can’t fight out there. I’ve got alphas who would be distracted trying to protect you,” he said to Ansel. It wasn’t said with anything other than honesty and Ansel nodded.
“I’m not a fighter, but I can feel her. She’s here,” he said.
“Wait, I thought you weren’t bonded?” the chief demanded, looking at me now with narrowed eyes.
“They aren’t,” I said. “But they’re about as close as you can be to bonded without a bite, though.”
He sighed, and shook his head. “Get them outfitted, but leave the weapons to the ones who have training, alright?”
Ansel nodded. The chief swore and stalked away, calling over another soldier.
“I’m not leaving him unprotected,” Ledger warned me before turning back to Ansel, eyes fierce. “You take a knife or something, you hear me. Fight back no matter what.”
Ansel didn’t protest, he nodded. “I’ll fight. She needs me.”
“Head out front, Ansel and Kane in the middle. The staff is out there,” I said as I led the way. Rydell took his usual place at the end of our line.
The lobby was full of angry and confused staff. Most were compliant or controlled by cuffs and guns. Malik was slumped in a chair near Cross’s office. He was cuffed to the chair he was sitting in, bruises forming on his face already, and I could only hope more followed.
My men didn’t play around.
“Special Agent Murphy,” Brady greeted at the door.
“Cheif wants me to get them outfitted,” I said, giving him a salute. “They’ve got my omega.”
Brady’s eyes narrowed at the news. “How are you all keeping it together?"
“We aren’t. I’m about to tear this fucking building apart,” Rydell growled. The venom in it had Brady stumbling back, but he just waved us on. I had a feeling word of Rydell’s dominance would be spreading around fast. That would work in our favor. It meant less questions and interruptions.
“Go, get your weapons,” he said. “We’ve got the place secured. You’ll find her.”
“We better,” Ledger bit out as he stalked past.
Soldiers moved out of our way. Maybe it was the wild look in our eyes or the way we moved with precision, a single group unified in our fury, that had them moving.
