Page 89 of Verses and Blooms
“In route,” I said before running outside, knowing the chief would handle organizing the rest of the team.
Gearing up was second nature. It didn’t take long to suit up, guns at my side. I pressed the comm in my ear the moment it was in place.
“Vance, Cooke, bring my pack. There’s something you all need to hear.”
“On our way,” Cooke responded. The familiar rush of adrenaline hit me. This was the first real mission I’d do since finding a pack. Even more, it was a high-stakes one.
Audrey was practically running by the time the trucks pulled up. I held my arms open and she rushed into me, crushing me in a hug.
“This is it, isn’t it?” she asked.
“We think so,” I confirmed. “Sanchez and his team are pinned down. There’s gunfire. It has to be them.”
“It was supposed to only be reconnaissance,” Cooke said, cursing under his breath. “We should’ve been out there.”
“It was an ambush,” the chief said. “Gear up, boys. I’ll stay with your pack. Go.”
“Be careful,” Audrey said, voice tight.
My hopes were for saving our people and shutting the operation down. In a perfect world, this would be our chance to find the missing girls and shut this ring down for good.
The rest of my pack caught up. Ledger, Caspian, and Kane gave me handshakes. Rydell, just a nod, but one that said more than any words could say. Ansel surprised me with a quick hug. For an omega terrified of alphas, I didn’t expect him to initiate it, but I squeezed him back.
“Keep her safe,” I told them. “I’ll come back to you guys.”
“You have to,” Ledger ground out. “Promise.”
Kane clapped me on the shoulder. “I have faith in our head alpha,” he said. His confidence steadied the others, and I needed that, too.
“Move out!” Vance barked. Cooke was right there with him, rushing to the armored trucks. There was no point in subtlety now.
The drive to the city felt too long, giving us too much time to overthink.
“Talk to me,” Cooke said into his comm, probably driving Sanchez crazy. They’d been checking in every few minutes.
I couldn’t blame them. I’d be doing the same.
We heard them before we saw them. The gunfire echoed through the night, sharp and piercing. Police blockades were set up that we were quickly ushered through. Cars were lined beside our armored trucks, facing off against what looked like mercenaries.
Desperation marked the fight. The battle seemed almost erratic.
We pulled up alongside the police cars. Our team jumped out and joined the fray.
“Where were they coming from? I asked a nearby agent as I rushed into place behind the barrier. He didn’t glance my way, his focus on the gunfire.
“The church,” he confirmed. “Our guy was only supposed to ask for a bed for the night, but they saw right through him. They knew we were coming.”
A shot zipped past me so close I could feel the wind from it. I dropped to the ground, pulling the guard down with me.
“Fuck!” he cursed.
Then I was back up, using the rear of a truck as a shield now that they’d started pouring out of the balconies overhead. I popped out, took down two mercs, and jumped back to avoid the onslaught heading my way.
It was a well-practiced dance. My instincts took over when there was no time to think.
Tires screeched. Their backup had arrived again. They now had us pinned between the church and their vehicles. Vance had already jackknifed his car, creating a barricade on both sides.
This wasn’t going to end well.
