16. Chapter 16 The Midnight Heist

Chapter 16: The Midnight Heist

G rum

Joy and I are outside the warehouse that looms before us, a boxy silhouette against the starless sky. My heart pounds as my thoughts revolve around keeping Joy safe. It’s more important than unearthing the evidence. Her hand finds mine in the darkness.

“Last chance to back out, Joy,” I whisper, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze as I allow the sound of my purr to surround us, hoping it helps settle her fears.

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with determination even in the dim light. “Not a chance, Grinch. We’re in this together. Oh, and by the way, did I mention I love that sound?” She presses her hand to my chest to feel the rumble.

Emma’s voice crackles through our earpieces, startling me. “Security systems disabled. You’re good to go.”

Kam makes quick work of the side entrance lock, his skilled fingers moving with practiced ease. As the door swings open, revealing a large, high-ceilinged area filled with boxes, I realize this is it. There’s no turning back now.

“Remember the plan,” I murmur, switching on my flashlight, glad the windows are boarded up and the light won’t give us away. Its beam cuts through the gloom, revealing towering shelves and scattered crates. “In and out. No heroics.”

Thornn stays at the door.

Joy nods, her brow pleated with concentration. As we make our way through the maze-like interior, the enormity of what we’re doing hits me full force. We’re breaking the law, risking everything for a chance to right a wrong. The weight of it settles in my gut like a predator lying in wait, ready to pounce.

“Bingo,” Kam whispers, pointing to a door at the far end of the warehouse. “That’s gotta be the office.”

Emma hurries over, connects her tablet to the electronic lock and her fingers fly over the screen as she runs a decryption program. The seconds tick by as we wait in silence. Finally, a soft click echoes through the cavernous room. “We’re in,” she grins, pushing the door open.

The office is smaller than I expected. It contains a desk, a chair, a filing cabinet, and a computer. No frills here, just enough to organize a multi-million-dollar theft ring.

“I don’t know if he’s dumb enough to have used the same password here as he did on his work computer.” Emma’s tapping quickly on the keyboard. “What do you know… he’s smart enough to steal millions and dumb enough to re-use passwords. We’re in, boys and girls.”

Kam takes up his position by the door, his eyes scanning the warehouse beyond.

“Guys,” Sarah’s voice comes through our earpieces, tense and urgent. “We’ve got movement outside. A car just pulled up.”

“Shit!” My stomach drops. “How many people are in it?”

“Not sure. The windows are black. He, or they, are heading your way.”

“Shit,” I growl, looking at Joy. Her eyes are wide as her frantic search through the desk drawers intensifies. “We need more time.”

“I’ve got this,” Kam says, slipping out of the office before I can protest. “I’ll create a distraction.”

Seconds later, the sound of crashing metal and falling boxes echoes from the opposite side of the warehouse.

“What the hell was that?” A gruff voice calls out from somewhere in the warehouse. Then all hell breaks loose as shouts and strident sounds of fighting come from the front of the warehouse. I send a silent prayer for the Goddess to protect Kam and Thornn.

“Come on,” I urge Joy and Emma, my whisper tight with urgency. “We need to hurry.”

Emma’s fingers are flying on the keyboard as Joy crouches, scavenging through the file cabinet’s bottom drawer. Footsteps pound through the hall, accompanied by shouts and the beam of a flashlight sweeping across the warehouse floor.

“Got it!” Joy exclaims, holding up a stack of papers.

“Just a few seconds more for this to download to my jump drive.”

I’ve never heard Emma’s voice so tight and urgent.

Frantic footsteps are approaching and grunts and the sounds of flesh on flesh are getting louder as Emma whispers in triumph as she confirms, “This should be everything we need.”

Just as I urge, “Let’s bounce,” the office door bursts open, revealing a burly security guard—not the same one we encountered before.

“Freeze!” His shout shatters the silence. His gun is already drawn and aimed at me, since I’m more of a threat than the two women.

Time slows to a crawl. Without conscious thought, I lunge forward, placing myself between Joy and the barrel of the gun. “Hide!” I roar, my voice so loud it echoes off the walls.

A deafening crack splits the air as the guard fires. Luckily my orc reflexes help me dodge to the left. Instead of piercing my chest, the bullet grazes my biceps. With a guttural growl, I charge at the guard, my bulk slamming into him with the force of a freight train.

We crash to the ground, grappling for control of the weapon. This guy is strong, but I’m fighting for more than just myself now. I’m fighting for Joy, for justice, for my community. With a roar that comes from the depths of my being, I wrench the gun from his grasp, sending it skittering across the floor.

When his fist connects with my jaw, stars explode behind my eyes. But the pain kicks my reserves into gear. I retaliate with a swift uppercut that snaps his head back. In a final, desperate move, I grab him by the shirt, stand with him in my grip, and pound him against the wall with such force that he crumples to the floor, unconscious.

I pull his belt off and turn him over, securing his hands behind his back.

Panting heavily, I stagger but keep my balance. “Joy! Emma!” I call, my voice hoarse. “It’s clear!”

They emerge from behind the filing cabinet, their faces pale with fear. Joy’s eyes widen as she sees the blood staining my shirt. “Grum! You’re hurt!”

“It’s just a graze,” I grunt, though the pain stings. “We need to move. Now!”

“Kam, Thornn, are you okay?” I project my voice into the warehouse.

Kam emerges from the shadows of the stacks looking rough and bruised but not bleeding. “Besides this piece of shit…” he looks at the tied-up guard with disgust, “there were two other thugs in the main room. Thornn took one down and I got the other guy by surprise. Thornn ran to get snap ties and duct tape from the toolbox in his vehicle. Those fuckers are secured and unconscious at the entrance. They weren’t able to make any calls out.”

“Good,” I say, already pulling out my phone. “Because we’re calling the cops. Right now.”

Joy looks at me, startled. “Will we get in trouble for breaking in?”

I’m just about to dial 911 when I’m hit with inspiration.

“Nope! Kam get Thornn and drag your two scumbags back here. Sarah, keep looking out for us in case we get any more surprise visitors. Joy, I saw a box of Christmas decorations in the back of the SUV. How about you bring those in here and we can wrap these guys up as a Christmas present for the cops?”

Joy’s face lights up and she dashes out of the office.

“Emma, choose something incriminating and send a message to every news station in L.A. Get ready to send it as soon as we make these guys pretty and I call the cops with an anonymous report of shots fired.”

“Yes, sir!” She salutes with a huge smile and gets to work.

Kam and Thornn drag in the two trussed-up and unconscious thugs just as Joy returns with the box of decorations.

The four of us make quick work wrapping a long string of lights around the three that we sat up with their backs together. Colored balls and ornaments are hung from their ears and collars and pants. Joy throws handfuls of tinsel with gleeful abandon.

We take pictures and leave all the hard evidence where we found it. Emma wipes all surfaces with some handy wipes from her purse, removing any trace of my blood. We’re all wearing gloves so prints shouldn’t be a problem. We all do a final survey and agree that it’s perfect.

“If the police are in on the coverup,” Emma holds up her jump drive, “we have this as backup. We can send it to the FBI.”

I call 911 and Emma sends pictures to the news stations.

As dawn breaks, we finally stumble out of the warehouse, exhausted but triumphant. The timing is perfect—we hear sirens wailing in the distance.

“Get some rest, everyone,” I say, my voice gruff with exhaustion. “We’ve still got a big day ahead of us.”

As the others make their way down the block to where we left the SUV, Joy lingers behind. She looks as tired as I feel, but there’s a spark in her eyes that makes it clear she needs to talk.

“Hey,” she says softly, stepping closer. “Thanks for having my back in there. You were… amazing.”

Before I can respond, she rises on her tiptoes and presses a soft kiss to my cheek. The touch of her lips sends a jolt through my entire body, leaving me speechless.

“Should we get you to the hospital?” The concern in her expression makes something in my chest tighten.

I pull my shirt off to reassure her. “Orcs heal faster than humans.” The wound is already healing.

“That’s amazing!” By the tone of her voice, I’m not sure if she’s amazed by how quickly I’m healing or by the size of my muscles. She makes it clear when she purrs, “I’ve got a long ride home. How about I stay at your place tonight?” Her little lie is obvious. She lives above her shop, right across the street from the Zone.

Her proposition feels as though I was zapped by lightning. Despite my fatigue, my cock rises to attention. Although her offer to stay at my apartment seems pretty blatant, I scan her face to make sure I got her meaning right. When I’m still not sure, I add, “Sure you can stay. I have extra blankets, and I can take the couch.”

“Perhaps rolling on the floor with that thug rattled your brains, Grum. We’re both going to be in your bed. Though I doubt much sleeping will happen.” The blazing look she gives me could turn tempered steel into a melted puddle of molten goo.

If there weren’t several cop cars speeding toward us, I think I might mount my little jingle bell sweetheart right here, right now.

“I don’t know when you got so bossy, Sleigh Belle, but aye-aye.” I give her a snappy salute and use every ounce of my self-control to not throw her over my shoulder like a caveman.