Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

SHEP

Angel and I were able to get Wes to the basement without Four or Max noticing, which was likely for the best. We weren't sure how Four would react to seeing someone from the consortium in person.

He was strapped to a bed and elevated into a more upright position. Angel was monitoring his vitals since GHB was no joke. We needed answers, and dead men told no tales.

"When will he wake up?"

Angel shrugged. "When he does. Everyone reacts to GHB differently."

The door to the basement opened, and someone came racing down the stairs.

"Shep, thank God." Noel winced once I faced him.

"What is it?"

"We have a problem."

I knew that look in my brother's eyes. "It's JJ, isn't it?"

He nodded. "Everything was going well until JJ and Mason went and saw the girls. I don't want to say JJ snapped but…yeah, he got demanding and angry and raised all the red flags, waved them around and figured what the fuck, I'll blow them up too? Of course that caused the dickheads to want to keep JJ and Mason there and wouldn't let them leave. But JJ's smart and explained they couldn't just do that, because Connor, aka Gabe, would get suspicious if they didn't return. They seemed to agree to let one of them inform Gabe. JJ made Mason go and tell him that they were needed there and to come get them later."

Angel huffed. "Like Gabe would leave Mason."

"Exactly. And I think that's what JJ thought too. Gabe got Mason, and it took everything he had to get just him out of there."

"Hold up." My hands clenched. "Are you saying JJ is still there at that pink house of nightmares?"

"Actually, no. His camera and earpiece are still on. We can see and hear everything. He was thrown in a van, and he's going somewhere." Noel jerked his head at Wes. "I bet he'd know. We need him to wake up."

I glanced at the unconscious man. "He'll be good for information, but we would have to break him and that can take a while. I have no doubt when we get him talking, we'll get a lot."

"Where would they take him?" Angel asked.

"I think I know who can tell us." I raced up the stairs, Noel on my heels. Angel would stay with Wes until he woke. He'd be updated, however.

"Shep." Nick stood from his chair. I could see JJ on one of the monitors, at least an outward view. He was in a vehicle and from what I could tell, he had some serious muscle in there with him.

"Don't take your eyes off that fucking screen, Nick."

With a grim expression he sat down, doing exactly what I asked. I turned to where Four was on the couch, eyes pinned to the computer too.

"Where are they taking him, Four?"

His voice was soft, and it trembled. "Where the angels wept."

"The place you return to after your jobs are done?" Shit, now Noel being angry that they couldn't dig into the houses made me realize how right he was. They needed more time and more help. We definitely needed to work out a better system.

He nodded.

"Get Gabe on the phone. Tell him to meet us at the shop—they're closer to there than here," I ordered Noel, who didn't question me.

"Max, go to the basement, and tell Angel I'm going with Four to the shop and to get JJ."

He got up and didn't hesitate to do as I asked.

"I don't want to go back," Four whispered.

"You're not." I kneeled before him. "I just need you to show us how to get there. Noel and Nick haven't been able to locate it. You'll stay in the car."

He peeked at the screen and then to me again. "He's too old; they won't keep him."

I didn't want to think what that meant. "Let's get going."

"Angel said he will work on Wes when he wakes up and get whatever info he can and contact you," Max informed me. "He also said ‘Be careful, bring JJ home, and burn the castle to the ground.'"

"Right, well, I'll get JJ home, but I don't know about burning shit unless I have no choice."

Max shrugged. "I'll help here, where I'm needed."

"Thanks. Come on, Four."

He stood and slipped his shoes on. I went out the side to the garage and got into one of our more secure vehicles. This one was bulletproof, and you couldn't see in. Four would be safe inside.

I called Nick while I drove. "Update me."

"He's just arrived; they said to take him to the Zone room."

I regarded Four. "What's that?"

"When someone is sent to the Zone room, it's like solitary confinement."

Okay, that was better than a torture chamber.

"Keep me posted, Nick. We'll be at the shop as fast as we can. Let Gabe and Mason know the plan."

"Yup," Nick said and clicked off.

Gabe and Mason were in the back room of the shop when Four and I arrived. Mason shot out of his chair the second he saw me.

"I didn't want to leave him."

"Mason, I know, but I also know JJ would have started biting people to get the attention on him for you to run, so he was winning no matter what."

Mason nodded because he knew I was right.…That was how my vicious viper worked.

"Nick told me Four will direct us where to go and what, you and I are supposed to take this place by storm?" Gabe's brows rose. "I get it. I know what it feels like to have to get to your person, but we need a solid plan before we bust in there."

I turned to Four. "Is there any entrance to the building that is weak?"

He cocked his head, his eyes wandering as if he were visualizing something. "Sometimes we would go outside for free time. Not a lot. There was a blue door. Some of the guards liked to prop it open because it would lock from the inside." He then faced me. "They smoked in the yard. Once I heard them tell a new guard if he needed a smoke, prop the door."

I smiled at Four. "That's perfect."

"If we can get there and wait it out, someone will open it and we can get in." Gabe seemed to relax a little.

Mason huffed. "You still don't know if we can get close."

"You can," Four answered. "It's not like a prison. You'll see."

"Is it one of those, you can get in but can't get out?" I was afraid of that.

"No. It is made to look friendly; no one asks questions."

Mason furrowed his brows. "Alarm systems?"

Four lifted a shoulder. "Not in daytime. Only at night."

"Let's go." I pulled out my keys. "We need to see it; that's how we'll know."

All of us decided my vehicle was the best choice, and Gabe left his at the shop. Four sat in the back with Mason while Gabe was in the passenger seat.

"Okay, let's go."