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My stomach flopped again. I peeked around the corner, not recognizing either person. They weren’t on our list. If we had time and the ability, we would save every single person in this shitty place. So I wasn’t going to leave them behind if I had anything to say about it.

We stayed hidden as more of them rounded the corner.

“You need to move. The cameras there are about to switch to a live stream. Move ten feet to your left. You’ll be hidden until they rotate again,” Sloane instructed.

We moved and laid low, waiting for further instruction.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a familiar voice said, and I saw red. “I told Lucinda she couldn’t trust you, but she didn’t believe me. I was honestly surprised you helped me kidnap Ellie. I figured you’d betray us right then, but you surprised me. This, however, is not so much of a surprise, Alastor.”

“Happy to disappoint. We will be going unless you have some master plan to keep us here,” a masculine voice said.

“It’s Ellie. She’s right there, Odie. You’re in the clear in twenty seconds. Hold tight.”

Those twenty seconds felt like an eternity, but when they ended, revenge would be ours.

Chapter 40

Odie

“Fuck you, Vaila!” Ellie screeched.

“She’s not worth it. Not yet. We have to get you out of here, Ellie.” Who the fuck was this guy?

“If he helped kidnap her, why is he rescuing her now?” Cy’s voice came through the earbud, but I knew she was musing to herself and the rest of our team.

All three of them were just out of sight. If we rounded the corner, they would be right there, but for now, we laid low and quiet.

“The cameras are down. You’re free to move.”

Iker and Leona didn’t budge. They would follow my lead on this. I had to decide if we jumped in and rescued her now or waited to see if more information would be spilled.

On any other mission, I’d wait, but this was Ellie. My judgment was skewed, but I knew what I had to do.

We waited.

“Ellie, let’s go.”

“Not so fast, Alastor. Did you think I’d let you leave?”

“Wait, why, Vaila? Why are you doing this?”

“You really haven’t sorted it out?” Vaila paused. “Payback. Your father’s idiocy led to your mother’s, my best friend’s, death. What better way to torture him than through you? I will admit that wasn’t initially the plan, but when I figured out what Lucinda was doing and jumped on board, everything fell into place.”

“What do you mean?” Ellie didn’t know how her mother died. She never asked, and we never told her.

My nostrils flared as Vaila spilled all our secrets.

“They weren’t in love. It was all political. Odie’s father was the only person besides his children that Gerard actually cared for. So after you were born, Callie was off, back in her position as one of the top team leaders, just like Odie. Then there was a threat on your life and his. Who showed up out of nowhere? Callie, because despite having no feelings for Gerard, she loved you. She died protecting him. A single headshot took her down that was meant for him.”

Silence fell over the hall, and I worried that they’d hear our breathing. I held my breath and waited.

“That’s all?” Ellie asked, and I was astonished. “I lived every day knowing someone could kill one of us for the hell of it. We all know that. You’re just a pissy bitch, Vaila. Instead of honoring her memory, you tarnished it. I trusted you. I looked up to you, and here you are, a coward, hiding behind my aunt and her operation. You’re scum and deserve a painful death.”

My jaw dropped open at the same time Alastor stepped back and tried dragging Ellie with him.

He glanced our way, and I knew he saw us. He kept walking back, pulling Ellie to him and covering her mouth so she didn’t give away our position.

“He needs to stall for ten more seconds,” Sloane ground out.