Zander chuckled. “On slow nights. This was a simple one... bail jumpers are no challenge. Plus, these jobs pay for the ones that are not so easy...”
“Mmm, like that asshole last month that stole his kid from his ex-wife and left her a note saying she would never see her son again.” Nix’s face was tight with rage at the memory.
“Calm down, big guy. I don't think she has anything to worry about again. You made sure of that with the number of pins they had to put in the bastard’s leg when you were done.” Zander patted Nix on the back in what was supposed to be a soothing manner.
“Well, I had a blast,” Ronin said. He couldn’t help but sigh wistfully when they pulled into the parking spot beside his car. Ronin looked down at his watch. It was well past the time he could even think of calling to apologize for missing his meeting. And even though he felt bad for skipping out, he couldn’t regret choosing to go with his buddies—he’d had more fun the past few hours than he'd had in months.
“You’re not going to make the meeting now. I’m sure the Alpha you were going to meet is long gone.” Maddox put an arm around his neck in a mock headlock. “Come back in and have a few more drinks with us. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Maddox was right. The Alpha would have given up on him showing up ages ago. Ro felt a little bad for not even sending a text... but not enough to regret going. Ronin could already hear the ass chewing he would get from Rick when he found out that he was a no-show... if he hadn't already.
Well, if he was going to get in shit, he might as well take it all the way. “You’re right. Let’s finish the night off right.”
They headed back into the bar with Zander leading the way. They even managed to snag the same table they had been at earlier in the evening. Ro would swear Robbie had been waiting for them to come back because he made a beeline for their table to get their orders. “Glad to see you’re back,” he smiled widely, mostly at Zander. “What can I get you all?”
They all ordered beers and two large platters of wings for the table, alongside some trashcan-loaded fries—one of the perks of being a shifter was their fast metabolism. Robbie took their orders and hurried from the table, leaving them alone to get back into the conversation.
“You did well out there, Ronin,” Nix said. “Ever think of jumping over to our team?”
“I believe we already bat for the same team,” Ro replied, tongue in cheek.
“He’s got you there.” Zander snickered.
Nix let out a chuckle, but his friend wasn't deterred by his glib response. “No, really, we would love to have you.” Nix's eyes on him were serious.
He let out a sigh. “I don't know, man... maybe, but even if I did, my family was happy when I got out of the 'bullets flying at my head' business... We all know even those will kill us.”
“I hear that,” Maddox nodded, “but this time we pick what kind of prey we hunt, you know. Way less danger.”
Ronin let out another sigh. “Maybe. I know after this setting up shit between packs, I gotta find something to do. It’s not all that exciting, and I'm pretty sure Rick only sent me 'cause he saw I was getting restless.”
Robbie came back with their beers, and Ro stopped talking as he passed them out. Ronin immediately took a sip from his.
“I’ll be back with your food in a moment,” Robbie said, before leaving.
“I did enjoy the tagalong, though.” He grinned at his friends. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Anytime,” Maddox said. “Really… any time, brother.”
Ronin nodded, acknowledging Maddox’s words. He realized he had some thinking to do. Since he’d gotten back, he worked with Roman at his construction company, helped out at the firehouse in town, and he’d even pitched in on the pack farm for a while. It was time he decided what he wanted to do.
Ro was about to take another sip of beer, but then his phone started to ring and vibrate in his pocket. He cringed as he shifted to the side to get it out. He saw right away that it was Rick calling.
“Well, it was nice knowing you,” Ronin muttered to the guys, then answered the call.
“Hey, big bro. I’m sorry. I can explain. I didn’t mean to miss the meeting tonight. It just sort of happened. I’m so sorry. Are you mad? You're mad, aren't you?” He knew he was rambling, but he figured if he got it all out, Rick would be less inclined to bite his head off.
“Ronin… quiet down,” Rick ordered. “I’m not calling about that. That can wait, but we will get back to you skipping out on it later.”
Ronin frowned. Okay, so that was the last thing he’d expected Rick to say. “Um… okay. What’s up?”
“I have Rome here,” Rick said.
“Hey, Ro.” His twin's voice came on the line.
“Rome. What’s up? What's going on?” Ronin asked. All the mens’ eyes fell on him immediately.
“Remember Devon?” Rome began.
“Of course I remember my twin’s mate,” Ronin interrupted his brother. “Is he okay?” He couldn’t help the note of panic in his voice… If anything happened to his brother’s mate… Ro shut his eyes tightly. He refused to even imagine what would happen to Roman if he lost Devon.
“Everything is fine... perfect, actually.” There was almost a reverence in Roman’s voice that Ro had never heard before.
Ro released a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding. “So what's up?”
“After Dev and I mated, I found out some things, Ro.” His brother took a deep breath, and he could tell Roman was trying to calm himself down. “I need your help.”
“Anything, Rome. You know this,” He reminded his brother.
“I know.” Roman sighed deeply and began telling him about everything his mate had gone through, and about the Alpha that had put him through it. How the Alpha was also holding other omegas hostage and selling them like they were cattle.
He heard a bottle break and looked up to see Nix had actually squeezed the bottle in his hands so hard that he broke it.
“What do you need me to do?” Ronin asked. He was barely holding it together. He couldn't imagine how Roman had felt hearing what his mate had been through—or Devon. Ronin couldn't wait to get his hands on this Anton person.
“We can't leave those omegas there to suffer, and Devon is terrified that Anton is still looking for him. For the past month we’ve been mated, he’s woken up at night screaming.” Ronin didn't need to see Roman to know how affected he was by that.
“We need to shut the bastard down,”—it was Rick who spoke that time—“and rescue the omegas he still has.”
“And teach him that Devon and every other omega is off limits,” Ronin finished.
“Exactly,” Rick said.
“We're ready to do whatever it takes to find this Anton.” Maddox's voice was cold as he spoke.
“Rome, Rick, I'm with my teammates, and it looks like they're in.” They were already talking back and forth, talking plans and what they would need.
“Of course we are,” Zander said, like he was silly to even doubt the fact.
“Send all the details you have and we’re on it,” Ronin said. He thought back to earlier in the night, and Ronin knew his team would be perfect to help him out. “No one is going to mess with an omega—especially my brother-in-law—and get away with it,” Ronin added.
“I knew you were the one for this,” Rick said. There was something in his brother’s voice he couldn't quite read, but since Rick wasn’t yelling, he wasn't going to ask.
“Thanks, Ro,” Roman added, the gratitude unmistakable in his voice. “Devon needs this man to pay for everything he did to him and everything he’s doing to the others. The sooner he pays, the better, and then maybe my mate can get a good night’s sleep.”
“Absolutely,” Ronin agreed.
“We might send Finn and Dax your way,” Rick said.
Ronin looked at the other men, brow raised in question. “Let's see what's what, and if we need the backup, I'll let you know.” Mad
dox nodded in agreement to his suggestion.
“Make sure to call if you do,” Rick said. “Don't go in alone if you need backup.”
“Don't worry, Rick.” He couldn't help smiling at the concern in his brother’s voice. “I have no intention of going in there alone. Maddox, Nix, and Zander are here, and they’ll help me. I trust them with my life.”
“We've got his back,” Maddox spoke up, reassuring his brother.
“Just get us the information of where this asshole is, and we'll handle it. You can count on me.”
“We know we can. Be safe. We'll get you everything we can,” Rick said. “And we'll talk later.” He knew that was brother and Alpha code for You'd better check in. Rick disconnected the call first, then Ronin hung up.
“So, what’s going on?” Zander asked. “We didn't catch all of it."
Ronin gave a brief rundown of Devon and where he came from. The more he spoke, the angrier his men got. The fire in their eyes told him that Anton was in a world of trouble.
“Fuck that. Nobody gets away with that. I don’t care how powerful they think they are.” Zan’s face was all serious. Gone was the playful guy that had been flirting with Robbie.
“Zan is right,” Nix said. “We need to teach the bastard a lesson.”
“You mean kill the fucker,” Zander spat.
Ronin nodded, but he couldn't help teasing his friend. “What about your hot date?”
Zander shrugged. “Don't be an idiot. You know this comes first. There’s plenty of time for sex later. Besides, celebratory sex is epic.”
Zander looked over to where Robbie stood, and all their eyes followed. The poor guy had been watching his friend between serving tables. “I’ll explain it to him. Besides, this is exactly what we need to do. No way we sit back and watch shit like this happen without doing something about it.”
Ronin nodded in agreement. The moment Roman had explained what was happening, he already knew he was in—and not just because of Devon.
They couldn’t wait or something could happen to one of the omegas. They needed to move now because the next person might not be as lucky as Devon... they might not make it out.
He might not have been looking to settle down with a mate of his own quite yet, but it didn’t change the facts. Omegas were precious and they deserved to be treasured, not treated like property or sold to the highest bidder.
Ronin knew he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that those omegas were safe. Everything.
Chapter Four
Ronin
Ro had left the guys at the bar and headed back to the hotel, where he managed to get a couple hours of sleep. When he finally woke up, it was almost three in the afternoon, but he was still able to shower and then grab all his stuff in time for a late checkout.
He met up with the team at the house they were renting to get everything started and see what Maddox had been able to find, and, as usual, he didn't disappoint.
Maddox was there, scouring the internet, seeking out information and surveillance guys. For lack of a better term, he was a hacker. In his own words, he was a “new school hacker…” a hacker that could kick ass and take names.
The guys were already prepped and waiting for him when he arrived, so he tossed his stuff to one side and checked out the gear they'd packed for him.
“We’ve got a small problem.” Ro heard Maddox say as he turned back to the group when he was done.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, after doing some digging on the internet when we got back here, it seems that Anton took off right after Devon made his escape.” Maddox clicked the mouse a few times and turned the screen so Ronin could see. “I got in touch with a few of our contacts, and they gave this area as the location where the alphahole set up his ‘business.’”
Ro stared at the screen and commented, “Lots of woods and no other people around.”
“And,” Maddox added, “it’s just outside his former pack’s boundaries. This area isn’t claimed by any pack, actually.”
Zander had walked over and as he glanced at the screen said, “Perfect spot for a rogue alpha to hide with impunity.”
Ro nodded in agreement as Nix stood up and headed over to the gear. “Are we ready to get this show on the road?”
The four of them headed out and split between two vehicles—Zander and Maddox taking the truck where they stowed all their gear, and Ro getting into the van, with Nix driving. They just hoped it would be enough space to fit the omegas they found.
“Okay, I did some more scouring on the web for us for when we get there,” Maddox said. Zander looked over from the driver’s seat when there was no reply from Ro or Nix.
“Can you hear me?” Maddox asked into the earbuds that they were using to communicate with each other.
“Loud and clear,” Nix said through their earpieces. “What’d you learn?”
“Okay. So there are no cameras that we can hack into, so once we get to this warehouse, we will be going in blind.”
“Great,” Ronin muttered, rolling his eyes.
“It’s not ideal,” Maddox agreed.
“It's fucking awesome is what it is.” Zander whooped. “We are fully armed and loaded, and this asshole won't know what hit him.”
Nix chuckled. “Zander is right. Anton is the one that needs to worry cause he sure as fuck won't know what's hit him.”
“Devon did say something about other men there too,” Ronin reminded them. “Aside from the Johns, there are other assholes that help keep the omegas in line.”
“I hate to even imagine how they achieved that.” Nix's grip on the steering wheel tightened. Ro was worried his friend would rip it off. Nix hissed, and he could tell his friend was on the edge, his tiger close to the surface. “He clearly has some assholes that think being an alpha means demeaning omegas. It pisses me off just thinking about it.”
“The bastard will get what's coming to him.” Ronin tried to soothe Nix, but he understood his friend's anger.
Nix glanced his way for a moment. “Fuck, yeah. The bastard won’t know what hit him. We’ve got this.”
Ronin wasn’t worried. From the moment he chose to see this through with his team, he felt confident that they would be able to do it.
“Ro's right.” Maddox’s voice came through in their ears. “We may be going in blind, but we've all been through tougher situations. And remember, the omegas are the mission. Getting them out is the mission. We can’t forget that.”
“You’re right,” Nix said. “You're very right.”
“And if we happen to spill some alphahole blood... well, that's just gravy,” Zander said, chiming in.
“Fuck yeah,” they all chorused in unison.
Ronin was certain that they would get the job done. He trusted these men with his life. With that thought in mind, he sat back and closed his eyes as they drove the rest of the almost six hours to get to the location... a warehouse, according to Maddox’s sources.
If they had started in Wildwood, he realized it would have been over a day’s drive.
Although Devon had called it a pack, what they’d learned said it was nothing of the sort. It was really just Anton—and whatever lackies that had run with him—using omegas to earn money.
The satellite image had shown run-down and falling-apart buildings. From the intel they had gathered, there had been a pack here years ago, but eventually it had been abandoned as the population dwindled. With the history Devon told of Anton trying to force matings and breedings during heats, this made it the perfect place for Anton to hide his current operation.
Ronin wasn’t surprised a man like that would turn to selling omegas to alphas against their will.
They were the antithesis to everything being an alpha stood for.
When they were just ten minutes away, they stopped at a rest area. Zander pulled into the parking spot next to Maddox, and the four of them got out.
“I appreciate you guys coming along with me,” Roni
n felt the need to add one more time as they walked into a building that held the restrooms.
“You know we've got your back anytime,” Maddox said. “That’s what teammates are for.”
“What Mad said. Don’t mention it,” Zander chimed in.
“Besides, we’re all doing this because we want Anton to pay just as much as you do.” Maddox added, “And, if he’s as bad as you say he is, then there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s an Alpha who needs to be taken down and shown that he’s not going to get away with this.”
There was something in Maddox's voice that said maybe this wasn't just about Anton, but now was not the time to get into it.
It didn't take them long to use the rest stop, and they were done in five minutes and back on the road.
“Okay, guys. We are just about to cross the bridge that will put us only a couple of miles away from the warehouse,” Maddox informed them. “We’re going to have to park just past it so we stay out of sight.”
They drove a little further before Maddox told them to stop. “This is close enough.”
There and then, Ro’s breathing steadied and the calm that hit him before a mission set in.
They were far enough from the warehouse that the vehicles shouldn't be seen. Ronin was about to speak when, for some reason, his wolf roared to the surface. Ro had to fight not to let his wolf take over, but he could almost swear the beast was trying to break free and make a run for the warehouse.
“What’s wrong?” Nix asked. He turned the van off and faced Ronin.
“Everything good? What’s going on?” Maddox asked over the earbuds.
“Hold up,” Nix said. He focused on Ronin, his brow raised in question.
Ronin shook his head trying to clear it, but he couldn't help feeling like something was pulling him in the direction of the warehouse. And it was making his wolf restless.
“Do you sense that?” Ronin asked.
Nix frowned. “What? I'm not getting anything.”
Home in His Arms Page 3
