There was a long, tense few minutes, until Euan muttered, "We're out."
The van started, Silas getting the message from Chester, and he pulled away, heading towards a prearranged meeting point. One that was deliberately chosen so as it wasn't too far away from the exit point in case of any injuries, but far enough away that they wouldn't be seen.
They pulled up next to another van, and Jensen jumped out, opening the backdoors, ready for the team.
They came out of the woods, silently approaching and Tank glanced over at them all, seeing that they had managed to rescue all the former slaves. He sighed in relief and immediately reached out to Niles.
We got them all.
Injuries?
Unknown. We need to load them up into vans and change locations and then will be able to assess them.
If necessary, bring them here and I will treat them. The last thing we need is the vampires to know that they are back in hospital and attempt to take them again.
I’ll pass the message on. Speak later.
"Niles said if necessary we can go back to his place so he can treat any injuries there."
Ale nodded. "We might need to do that. We can't have any records showing that they went to a local hospital."
"That's what Niles thought too."
Chester approached, a grim look on his face. "They've been used again."
"Best contact Niles and get him to check them out."
"Got somewhere for them to go after?" Tank asked.
"Yes, we’ll put them up in the cabins. Troy suggested it, and I believe Jacques is going to be there as well."
Chester nodded again. "That’s a good idea. They’ll recognize Jacques and his presence should help to get them settled."
"Let’s load them up and head over to the cabin then." Chester turned to Tank and said, "Can you get Niles to meet us there, instead of going to his place? It would be better if we just moved them once rather than getting them treated in one place then moving them again. There’ll be less chance of them being seen."
“I’ll ask him now.”
Niles. Can you come over to Ale and Troy’s cabin? That's where we’re going to take them. Chester doesn't want to risk them being seen if we have to move them twice.
That's a good idea. I’ll pack my equipment and drive over there now. I’ve got Jeremy’s car.
I love you.
Love you too, Targon.
"Niles is going to pack his medical equipment and anything else he might need and meet us there."
"Right, let's get going."
Everyone got loaded up into the two vans and they left the area, heading towards the cabin, and hopefully, a better future.
Chapter Sixteen
By the time they reached the cabin, Jeremy's car was already there. The door stood open, light spilling out into the darkness where Niles stood waiting along with Troy.
The van stopped and everyone got out, helping the former blood slaves into the cabin. Tank caught a glimpse of Ale and Troy hugging before the two walked in and closed the door behind them. Then everyone got to work.
Tank watched in amazement as Niles assessed and treated every slave, taking minutes to treat each one before moving onto the next.
Troy had food and drink prepared and after being treated by Niles, he made sure all of them had something to eat and drink.
Jacques appeared minutes after they had and was sitting quietly talking to some of them, holding their hands and whispering words of encouragement. Miguel stood nearby a tense look on his face and Tank approached him and reached out, hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
"Jacques is struggling but he won’t leave them. They thought they were free, and when each one of them left the hospital, they were there to pick them up. They know exactly what they were. Poor bastards had no chance of escape."
"Well, we’ve got them now. The vampires won’t get hold of them again."
Miguel nodded as he looked down at his feet. "I wish we could have done more sooner."
"So do I, but we’ve got them now. At least they’re out of that ring and can hopefully one day move forward with their lives."
Niles walked over to them and Tank hugged him, kissing him on the cheek. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he looked up at the deepening bruise on his forehead.
"I'll be all right. Better than them anyway. I think if we can keep them here for a day or two to give them chance to recover and then look to move them, that would be the best thing. They need at least that long just to regain some strength and put on a bit of weight. Some of their injuries need time to heal."
Chester walked over and reached out a hand to Niles, who shook it. "Thanks for being here, Niles. How much time do they need before we can move them to a safer location? A couple of days or longer?”
"I was just saying you’re probably looking at a couple days at least and then we can look at moving them. They need that long just to recover. They’re underweight, malnourished, and have been fed on as well. Plenty of good food, drink, and rest and hopefully in a couple days they’ll be ready. Have you got somewhere lined up for them?"
Chester nodded. "Several locations actually. We don't want to have them to move all together in case they are found, so they’re going to be separated into groups of two and then we’ll spread them out over the State."
“Good plan," Miguel commented.
"How’s Jacques handling this?" Chester asked, his gaze on Jacques as he sat with the former blood slaves.
Miguel shrugged, watching Jacques as well. "He wants to be here to help them, and whatever comes after that, we’ll deal with."
"Don't forget we’re all here for him if you need some support."
Michael nodded again. "I know, and thanks, guys."
Miguel walked over to Jacques and when Jacques saw him, he stood and hugged him, burying his face in Miguel’s neck.
"Right, they’ve been treated, they’ve had food, water, and medication. Let's get them all to bed and give them a few hours of rest and then we can start again in the morning."
The next hour was spent ensuring the location was safe and secure before they settled down to get some sleep. It was agreed that Ale and Troy would stay and would contact Miguel and Jacques if needed. They planned to meet up the following day to finalize the details.
Tank left, walking Niles over to his car, and when they reached it, Niles turned, and asked, "You coming back to mine?"
Tank nodded, leaning his hip against the car. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"We can talk more when we get there."
Tank pushed away from the car and watched Niles get in and drive off. He got in his truck, and with a last glance at the cabin, he too pulled away.
Niles threw his keys on the kitchen table and opened the refrigerator, grabbing two bottles of beer. He heard the front door close, and Tank’s footsteps as he walked along the hallway. When he reached the kitchen, he paused at the door and they looked at each other across the room.
"So, how are we doing this?" Tank asked. He tugged on his hair and when he realized what he was doing, he dropped it with a grimace.
Niles chuckled. "We are going to have a drink, talk, and then, I believe, make up sex. I've heard that it's very good and I want to try it, to see if it's true."
Tank flashed a grin. "Okay, but I want you to know I told my family about you and, as I suspected, they disowned me."
Niles dropped his head. "God, I'm so sorry, Targon. If you don’t want this or you just want to talk..."
"No, it is the way they are." Tank shrugged. "But you know what, I think I’m better off without them because, with them, my future isn’t my own. It’s a future where they choose who I marry, and have my life all planned out for me, but it's not one I want. My future involves you. I meant it when I said I loved you, Niles. I'll do whatever I have to do to get you back."
"You told your family about us, and you’re here now. That's enough for me. All I’ve ever wanted was my mate. I
love you too, Targon."
Tank glanced at the bottles in Niles’ hands, and murmured, "I don't really want the beer, do you?"
Niles put the bottles on the side and slowly walked over to Tank. When he reached him, he stared into his eyes, and said, "No, I only want you."
Tank lifted his hands, his fingers running over Niles ‘cheeks and he brushed his lips over Niles’. "I've missed you." The emotion was evident in the words.
"Missed you too."
The next thing Niles knew was Tank pushing him up against the wall as he ravaged his mouth, his hands tunneling into Niles' hair and holding him tight.
Niles opened up, letting Tank's tongue in and moaned deeply. He'd missed this, his mate, his touch, his scent.
Niles broke the kiss and grabbed Tank's hand, dragging him behind him as he ran up the stairs and into the bedroom. They stopped and stared at each other before Tank closed the distance between them and took Niles' face in between his hands.
"I love you," he murmured before kissing him again.
They kissed hungrily, pulling at the other's clothes, desperately trying to strip each other naked. When they finally had nothing but bare skin between them, they tumbled onto the bed and Niles' hands touched him everywhere they could reach. He needed to feel his mate’s skin under his hands, needed to touch him and stroke his flesh.
He rolled Tank over onto his back and moved down his body. He needed too much, wanted too much, as he sucked Tank's dick into his mouth, getting it nice and wet. He couldn't wait to feel his mate in him. He needed to feel him now.
This was where he was meant to be, and who he was meant to be with.
Epilogue
"So, the slaves are doing well?" Tank asked, watching Niles walk around the bedroom as he got ready for work.
"They're recovering fine and I know both Troy and Jacques have kept in touch with them."
“I can’t tell you how relieved I was when we moved them to the safe houses. At least now they have a chance to recover and rebuild their lives.”
“Families?” Niles asked.
“None so far. Looks like they were picked up off the streets. People that wouldn’t be missed. It doesn’t help that they don’t really trust us yet.” Tank shrugged. “I’m hoping they’ll realise we’re there to help.”
“They’ve suffered, Tank. It’s going to take them time to learn to trust again.”
Tank sat up, the covers pooling in his lap, and leaned back against the headboard. “I know, and to think there’s god knows how many more out there still being held and abused. We need to do something.”
“We do, but we can’t go rushing in without having all the information. We could cause more damage that way.”
“I know, Niles, I’m frustrated by the delays. I need to be doing something.”
“And you will, when the time is right.”
Niles walked over to him and sat on the edge of the bed. Reaching out, he held Tank’s hand. “I love that you want to go in there and save them all, but do it the right way. When we get them out — and we will — they are going to need all of us and then some. Who knows how long they’ve been used for? We need to be strong for them.” Niles squeezed his hand.“We can do this.”
“We can, and we won’t fail.”
Niles stood and finished getting dressed and Tank sighed when all that glorious skin was covered up. The past month had been everything he’d heard it would be. Yes, they’d had some difficult conversations, but regardless, Tank was exactly where he was meant to be.
He missed his parents, but he had his mate and, surprisingly, his sister Bronwyn, who’d reached out to him and congratulated him on his mating. She’d even been over and met Niles, the two of them getting along well. It helped a little that he hadn’t lost everyone.
“Hey, they’ll come around.”
Tank grunted. Trust Niles to know what he was thinking about. “They won’t, but I’m okay with it now. I have you, Bronwyn, and my friends.” Niles came back over to him and bent to kiss him. Tank hummed into the kiss, smiling when Niles stepped away. “I love you.”
Niles grinned at him from over his shoulder. “Love you too. Bella Donna tonight?”
“You bet. We need a night out and you have tomorrow off.” Tank waggled his eyebrows at Niles, who laughed.
“Are we staying in bed tomorrow?”
Tank grinned. “That’s my plan.”
Niles sat next to him and grinned back at him. “My favorite thing to do.”
Niles leaned over and kissed him again and Tank held him, moaning quietly. He’d made his choice and he didn’t regret it. Not one little bit.
Hunter glanced at the motel and scanned the area. He was going to meet his contact, the one inside. The one he now knew was helping him. It had taken weeks to convince him to come here today, but he had finally agreed.
Now he had a way to save the slaves and thwart the vampires’ plan, he would do whatever was needed to get the job done, including exposing his contact, particularly if it helped save the humans. No vampire was safe, even the one giving him the information needed. He was on the inside and complicit in the vampires’ plans.
If necessary, Hunter would end him.
Acknowledgments
Thanks for reading Volume 3 in the Rescue Inc collection. I’d be grateful if you could leave a short review on Amazon. Your support really does make a difference and I read all the reviews personally so I can get your feedback and make this book even better.
Volume 4 will be released soon.
Thanks again for your support and if you want more information or sneak peeks, join my Facebook group and sign up for my newsletter.
About the Author
Megs Pritchard lives in England and is a mother to two small boys.
When she isn’t working or being mummy, she is busy writing about complex characters that know the harsh realities of life but want a HEA.
A lover of M/M and M/F romances she believes everyone deserves to be happy, healthy and loved.
Growing up in a military family, Megs has traveled Europe and has a great deal of respect and gratitude for all the men and women who have and who still serve.
Her dream job was to be a Bomb Disposal Expert and even had her own ‘kit’ when she was younger.
She is currently working on two MM series: Rescue Inc., and Falling in Love and MF series, Evolution.
You can learn more about Megs’ writing at:
www.megspritchardauthor.com
Also by Megs Pritchard
Valentine’s Surprise - Standalone Novella
Growing Pains – Standalone Novella
Crossing Desires Series
Awakening
Struggle
Terrible Twos - Standalone Novel
Second Chances Series
Take A Chance
New Beginnings
The Bonds Within
Breaking Free
Rescue Inc
Mate of Mine
Forever Mine
Mine to Protect
Mine to Keep
Say You’ll Be Mine
Please Be Mine
Mine for Eternity
Mine to Love
Rescue Inc Collection Vol 3 Page 21
