Page 44 of Knot All Is Lost: Part 2

Chapter 20

HavingtoleaveCambrieafter only having half a day with her sucked, but if this could end all the problems and give us our life back, then it was worth it. Seeing her snuggled between Oscar and Bodhi, clutching their hands, made me feel a little better knowing the others would be with her. Oscar had been awake when I came in and I silently told him I was leaving but would call the moment I knew anything. He nodded and assured me he would keep her distracted so she wouldn’t worry.

How anyone couldn’t see the benefit of a pack for everyone involved astounded me. Having a group of people to support each other made life so much more fulfilling. I knew Spencer would have Nixon to keep an eye on him today, but like Cambrie, the whole pack would care for one another. When Rick brought up going to the Care Center and taking a headcount, Cambrie didn’t realize it was a mutinous act for me to sign the approval without the rest of the CoF agreeing. If we were mistaken and there was no foul play, Yoram might finally have what he needed to not only get me removed as an Official, but he could also potentially call for my death.

As I pulled up in front of Rick's company’s base of operations, I took a moment to really think about what I was doing. Spencer, Nixon, and I got into a fight when we went up for the night, knowing this was a monumental risk. If it was true, it made me wonder if the black market problem for Omegas was tied to this as well. Knowing that was a possibility, people were more willing to give up their children to the Care Centers. It was rather brilliant in the way only someone with purely evil intentions could create.

Letting out a deep breath, I shoved out of the car and headed inside. I found Rick with a group of fifteen men dressed in black tactical gear like the night before. “Ah, Official Stone, just in time,” Rick greeted. “You didn’t get a chance to meet the crew, but these are the same men I sent to get your Omega. Three of them are also my packmates,” Rick shared.

I shook each of their hands, thanking them. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me and my family. What we’re going to do today might save those trapped in the Care Centers and protect those who might have ended up with their fate in the future. Before we go, I need to make sure you understand the risk of this mission. I am an Official, but to do something like this it needs to be approved by all its members.”

“Well, then it’s a good thing you at least have half the vote now, isn’t it?” Alton spoke as he walked over to me from an office he was waiting in. “I might not be able to go on this raid, but when Rick reached out to ask for my support it was given without question. It’s harder to fight two of us than just one, don’t you think? Especially after one of our own tried to kill me,” Alton added.

Grinning, I hugged the man, clapping him on the back. “You crazy old fool, I thought you were going to retire?”

“Bah, there’s still time but right now, what’s best for our people is for you and me to be partners in this crime,” Alton said, waving me off him. “Now, you better get going, the longer you wait the more chance someone leaks the mission. There are eyes and ears everywhere my boy, just you wait, I’ll prove it before this is all said and done.”

“You heard the Official, let’s roll out,” Rick ordered. “Not you, Marius, you have to put this on first. I’m not taking you into this without some sort of protection,” Rick stated as he handed me a bulletproof vest.

He made a valid point, so I removed my suit jacket and strapped it on then replaced my jacket, making it less noticeable. While I wanted to be safe, I also didn’t want to draw attention to what we feared might happen. “Alton, are you staying here?” I asked.

“I’ll be in the command center watching and listening. Rick, I’m told, will have an earpiece so we can communicate in case you need help with something,” Alton shared. “I know you’re wise to most of the laws, but there are a few obscure ones we haven’t had a chance to change yet. Some can help and some can hinder, depending on what they know. Though to be honest, if they truly have been selling Omegas, nothing will save them.”

I reached out and shook the man’s hand before leaving with Rick. The main Care Center wasn’t all that far from the Capitol Building. It was the newest out of them all, being only five years old and the most state of the art. Their reasoning had been it was better to have it close for security purposes, but now it made me wonder if Yoram wanted it close to control it easier. Rick motioned to the armored Humvee, with his men already in the back guns at the ready. This wasn’t going to be a subtle mission, but it was going to be one of the most important.

“You sure you want to come with us?” Rick questioned.

“If I don’t, then none of this can be used against him. It needs to be me that sees what’s going on so he can’t sweep it under the rug,” I said, bracing myself as Rick started the vehicle.

Without another word we left the fenced in back lot and were out on the road. The public knew when they saw a vehicle like this that something was going down, my hope was it wouldn’t spread to Yoram too quickly. Everything about this needed to go as by the rule book as we could.

The Care Center itself didn’t seem like anything special from the outside, but that was by design. We didn’t even put the name on the building to ensure no one knew what it was. All there was to show you were in the right place was a simplistic logo of two Cs. Rick pulled right up to the front door and even before he came to a full stop, his men were out and entering the building. Through the glass I saw a woman at the front desk screaming and leaping out of her seat.

Shoving the vehicle’s door open, I headed inside and slapped the official letter on the counter. “My name is Official Stone, and I demand that we be allowed to inspect the Care Center and its inhabitants.”

She gaped at me like a fish, her eyes so wide I was afraid they would pop out of her head.

“Ma’am,” I barked. As a Beta it didn’t have the same effect as it did on an Omega, but it typically got an immediate response.

“Yes, sir, I need to call the Head Caretaker and let him know your request before letting you into the facility,” she answered.

“No, you don’t. By law when an Official requests admittance with a signed sealed letter they are permitted access. Now, I’m asking you again nicely to allow me and my men to enter the Care Center,” I explained, trying to keep my irritation out of my voice, knowing she would be instructed incorrectly to cover Yoram’s ass.

“Sir,” she pleaded. “I could lose my job.”

“Ma’am if you don’t let me back there, you’ll lose your job anyway,” I stated. In no way did I want to be cruel but right now bigger things were at play. The woman finally nodded, entered the code and the doors swung open. “Rick, I want some of your men to go around back just in case anyone chooses to avoid meeting with us.”

“Yes sir,” Rick answered and motioned to three men. “Radio if you catch any stragglers.”

Charging forward into the center before the woman could change her mind, I found myself in a waiting room of sorts. Couches and chairs were set up in various ways for people to use as they waited… for what was still to be determined. A woman exited a door with a clipboard in hand and looked up when she heard us.

“I’m sorry, sir but we don’t have any meetings set up for today, you’ll have to reschedule with the front desk,” she said, clutching the board to her chest.

“I’m Official Stone, and we’re doing a check of the facility. I want to speak to the Head Caretaker as well as gather all the Omegas that are here so I might speak with them,” I ordered.

The woman’s face scrunched up in confusion. “We don’t have any Omegas here. They were dispatched about two hours ago to be sent to their pack in Asturg.”

“What?” I bellowed. “Why the hell would you be sending Omegas to another country when we need them right fucking here?”

---