46. Tori

Chapter forty-six

Tori

*ARDEN*

I 'm amazed by how Tori looks. She is a pretty girl, obviously, but Aurelia and Nox have dolled her up to make her look even more innocent and sweet.

"What do you think?" Tori asks while she twirls around in front of us.

"You look… amazing," Lion says, completely in awe.

Nox elbows him playfully. "I didn't know you were one for the cute look."

"She looks great, sexy and cute," Lion says. "No matter what she is wearing; also in sweaters and shirts. I'm just amazed she looks good like that too."

Tori looks flustered but happy, while Nox hides a smirk and exchanges a gaze with Aurelia. I'm always amazed at his and Aurelia's people skills. They always seem to know how to push certain buttons. Nox even more so than Aurelia. He really is born to be beta.

"Did Zoé and Leila lay out the bait?" Eric asks.

"Yes," I say. "Leila was a great help. She made sure Zoé's request sounded urgent, sophisticated, and arrogant."

"She put a lot of pressure on them," Gustave agrees. "Even told them that if they can't provide them with their order, she will look somewhere else. I thought it was risky to put that much pressure on them, but it worked."

"Night has a huge ego," Emilien says. "From what we know he has more than a few narcissist traits. And Leila is a princess through and through. She knows how to play these people."

"Is Tori properly chipped?" Lion asks.

"Yes, we made sure to have two chips on her, and we'll follow her at a safe distance," Eric says.

"I've posted several social media posts from her, about how excited she is to be in Paris," Aurelia points out. "Hashtag Blooddonation, and all that."

I've never been much on social media, so I'm glad Aurelia handled this part of Tori's cover, making sure she was as loud and obnoxious about it online as possible. Zoé and Gustave assume Night and his men are scanning social media and their other sources for certain trigger words that alert them. She even posted her fake appointment with the hospital.

The talk you had with Eric. It was about your father, am I right? Aurelia asks me.

I avoid her gaze, feeling how grief is filling me. What I suspect is a secret between the both of us and now Eric. I told Eric everything and asked him to spread certain rumors about Tori in the pack.

Seeing how PJ is dead and no longer Night's contact in the hospital anymore, we decided we needed to alert someone else. It's the reason I made sure to blab the news that one of my friends with AB negative blood will donate to the ranked members of my pack, well aware that it will somehow reach my father.

Part of me wishes he isn't the one who sold out Léna and Coralie and that no one will come to trail Tori later this evening. I hope that I'm wrong.

But I doubt it.

I'm so sorry, Arden, Aurelia says sadly.

Let's get the girls back, I mutter. And, then I can finally move past this.

Aurelia nods before turning her attention back to her friend, continuing to brief her on what she should do in case she indeed gets kidnapped by Night. I step out for a short moment, taking a deep breath. Please let this all work out.

I can't live with myself if Léna and Coralie get hurt because of me, and if Meg is lost too.

"Arden?"

I turn around to look at my brother. "Hey." I smile.

"Nervous?" he asks.

"I am," I admit. "We did everything to make this work," I say. "But part of it relies on luck. They have to take the bait. They have to seek out Tori."

"But there is a plan B?"

"Yes," I reassure him. "You, Gustave, and Emilien have been tirelessly working on the geographical profile, and narrowed down the places the girls could be held at. While Tori is out there, playing bait, Eric will have teams simultaneously looking for them."

"Thank you," Vander whispers. "For doing this."

"Not doing it was never an option," I tell him.

"I—" he pauses. "Arden, they took Léna because she is my girlfriend." He looks at me, and to my horror there are tears in his eyes. "Was Dad involved?"

"I—What?" I stumble over my own words, not sure how to answer.

"I'm not stupid," Vander says. "I saw how you reacted last night when I mentioned him. You are a terrible liar." He looks at me through begging eyes. "Please tell me Dad didn't do it."

I reach out my hand and touch his shoulder before leaning my forehead against his. "We don't know anything for sure, Vander."

Vander lets out a shaky breath. "Why did he do that?"

"I don't know. I've been racking my brain ever since I felt he could be involved," I mutter. "I truly don't know, but I promise I will do everything to save Léna."

"I trust you," Vander says. "I'm so glad you are my brother. At least I have you in my life."

"I'm happy about having you as my brother, too." I smile. "You are my best friend and my brother. A double win." I pause. "And you are truly okay with staying here today? No secret plan to follow us to save your girlfriend?"

"I don't want to sabotage the mission," Vander says. "If something happens to Léna because I'm reckless, I'd never forgive myself. I will stay here and help the office team."

I feel more at ease knowing he understands, and that he is going to be with Gustave and Zoé, who will closely monitor Tori's movements on their screen and make sure we follow her signal.

Gustave offered for Vander to stay with them to help with watching Tori. I don't know when I stopped seeing Gustave as my former bully and instead as someone I would call a friend. I'm glad I didn't let my initial resentment stop me from hiring him.

*AURELIA*

Nox and I separated from the other groups, which are led by Arden and Eric, to trail Tori on our own. We decided we would do that from above, which means climbing over the roofs. The fact that the hospital is located in the old part of the city helps. Fortunately, it's winter, and it gets dark early here. Tori's ‘appointment' is at five p.m., which means the sun is already setting.

You know, Nox links me while we settle down on an abandoned balcony, both of us with binoculars in our hands. Eventually, you will have to choose a second beta to help with the workload. If you choose one, make sure it's someone who isn't as shady as the both of us.

When did it even happen that you pulled me into your shenanigans ? I tease.

Excuse me, MY shenanigans? He snorts. Yeah, right. You always had a bad influence on me. How did you even learn how to climb a house wall?

Are you kidding me, Nox? I grew up with five brothers. I can come and go without anyone noticing or asking questions. You should know that better than anyone.

Okay, so they are your brothers, but what about Alpha Elden? he asks. I think he would notice anything.

I grin to myself. Nox has the biggest admiration for my dad. He was originally sent to Silverlake as a child to kill my father. Obviously, it didn't work, but Dad spared his life and gave him a second chance. Nox has always been loyal to my father and our family since then. Dude kisses the ground he walks on. Not that I can't understand it.

I learned a lot from Nox, too. He was a trained assassin as a child already, and eagerly showed me his tricks.

I think Dad secretly appreciated that I learned from you how to be sneaky, I point out. He never minded me tricking my brothers. He just never liked it when I tricked him.

I watch Tori walk into the hospital, switching on my mic and earpiece. "Can you spot her?" I ask Arden.

"Yes, two of our men are in the hospital," he whispers. "Gustave still has her signal, too."

"Tori, can you hear me?" I ask.

"Yes," she whispers.

"Don't say anything, just listen. Make sure you stay in the hospital for at least 45 minutes. The doctor we set you up with is one of Eric's friends. Once you leave, take the side entrance that leads to the side alley and to a private parking lot."

Nox moves his binoculars to check the parking lot I just mentioned. It's mostly deserted and owned by the factory next to it for deliveries. He gives me an approving nod.

"It's the least safe place around here," I tell her.

Tori doesn't answer, but I did tell her to stay silent, so I try not to worry too much.

"Do you think she is doing it to prove herself to Lion?" Nox asks quietly once I switch off my mic again.

"I think she is mostly doing it to prove to herself," I say. "Though he did stir up her insecurities, unintentionally so."

"She didn't need to do it," Nox mutters.

"Of course she did," I say. "You guys just don't get it. Let her prove herself. She can do this."

"Girls are a mystery," Nox says.

"Not really." I chuckle.

"Do you think we'll find them?" Nox asks. "Realistically speaking."

I let his question sink in before answering. "I think we will find them," I admit, my stomach clenching nervously. "But I don't know in what state they'll be in."

"Yeah," he mutters. "That's what I'm scared of too. You know what scares me as well?"

"What?"

"It could have been me," he says quietly. "If I had continued living with my father, forced to participate in his crimes, maybe I would have become like Night."

"Nox," I say sadly. "You always had good in you. I think Night's father did enhance his issues, but deep down something was always wrong with Night."

"Still, my life would probably be a lot darker, and I would have done some terrible things," he mutters.

"But you didn't!" I say. "You are here now. You didn't grow up with your father. You have your life in your own hands, and you can help other children like you."

"You are right." He smiles. "Just a really humbling thought, though."

We fall into silence again as the minutes drip by. Here and there we get updates from the other teams, but for the most part it's quiet, which isn't bad.

It's forty minutes later that Arden informs me again. "Tori is leaving. Everyone, switch on your mics again, but stay silent to not distract her."

Nox and I make sure to do as he told us, so that we can hear Tori's movements and all of her interactions. We didn't want to accidentally disturb her, which is why only the team inside the hospital was in steady contact with her, but now that she is moving, we all switch our devices on again.

"I'm going to get picked up by a friend in half an hour," Tori says loudly to the doctor who is accompanying her.

"That's good to hear. Where exactly will you be picked up?"

"There is supposed to be a parking space somewhere," she muses, pretending she's unsure where to head to.

"Oh, you mean the one from the factory next to us," the doctor says. "You would need to take the side exit for it. It's dark there, I will get someone to accompany you."

Tori giggles. "Please, Doctor, I am going to be picked up soon. Don't bother anyone."

"If you say so," the man agrees. "Thank you for your help. It means a lot for us to get blood donations from such rare blood groups."

"It was a personal concern for me," she says seriously. "Mind if I take another picture of us? As I said earlier, I'm using this for my social media to spread awareness."

"Of course!"

Not even a couple of minutes later, the picture is on Tori's fake Instagram. It's then that I see that she posted another one earlier in her appointment. Smart girl! I knew she had it in her!

Nox pats my shoulder and puts his finger on his lips, then points in the direction of the parking lot. I grab my binoculars and scan the area.

There is a van, I link him.

Just arrived, he answers.

It's working, I say. Fuck, it's really working!

You sound surprised.

There was always a huge chance that it wouldn't work, even with Leila and Zoé ordering their victim, I point out. Update Arden silently, and then let's move.

Nox and I are about to quietly climb down from our spot on the house, when I hear a thumping sound coming from far below us. Before I can ask Nox if he heard it, too, I hear Tori's voice. "Who are you?" she exclaims. "Let me go."

I grab my binoculars, scanning the van, and notice a man sitting in it. Another one suddenly comes running to it from the side of the hospital, tugging Tori with him.

Nox! They had someone else on the inside of the hospital!

FUCK! Nox curses.

I'm not going to let them have Tori, I hiss. We can't let them get away!