“Thassit then,” Aisling said as she looked back where, faintly, they could see the hint of a fiery glow on the clouds.
“Let’s hope that’s it,” Peyton said, meeting her gaze.“If we have to do this again, I’d almost rather get a nuke from some failed Eastern Bloc state and use that.”
She fist-bumped with him.
By the time they were in the air and on their way to Norway in the cargo plane, Aisling’s stomach finally loosened a little.
That was a lot of time for old horrors to try to push to the forefront in her brain as she lost herself in the drone of the plane’s engines.The final total rescued count was forty-seven: fifteen children and thirty-two adults.Some of the rescued had been tortured and injured, and their bodies mangled, but they enthusiastically wanted to be rescued.
And still, despite the horrors of some of their injuries, none of them had been a fraction as bad as the ones they’d left behind.
The total she’d heard of the euthanized was nineteen, and of all of them who’d been conscious, or otherwise able to communicate with the Primes, they’d all wanted to die, which broke her heart.
But she hadn’t been in their shoes, and she remembered her mates who’d died in action.
She’d never judge those who didn’t want to stay.And she’d give a hard punch in the snout to anyone who dared to even hint that they hadn’t tried hard enough to bring them home.Their lives had been stolen from them, their agency ripped away, as well as Goddess knew what else.
The least they could do was honor their last request and give them that dignity.
She sat toward the front of the cargo area while Peyton remained at the back of the plane with Bryn and Callum.And when they finally touched down in Norway to refuel, Aisling immediately pulled out her phone, gave thanks for a signal, and texted Aisling that they were all safe and hadn’t lost a single teammate.
Tamsin almost immediately replied with a line full of hearts, making Aisling smile.
Then:
I love you!!
Aisling closed her eyes and breathed a contented sigh.Barring any unforeseen accidents, she would, hopefully, soon be back in her beloved’s arms.
Love you, too, pet.Will text from Wales.Phone off now.
Only then did Aisling close her eyes, tip her head back, and try to catch a little shut-eye.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Aisling
Seven hours later,the plane landed on the small private airstrip not far from the estate, and Aisling accompanied the first wave of transfers via helo.
“How long do you think the ketamine will hold the big guy?”one of Trevor’s men asked as he helped Aisling unload another gurney.
“Probably not much longer,” she muttered.“I’m glad Peyton volunteered to take point with him.He scares the feckin’ hell outta me.”
They quickly moved people into rooms.The children had to share rooms, and they doubled up several of the adults who were ambulatory and didn’t appear to be as badly injured.They had more than enough beds, but once they were all awake and cogent, then they could discuss rearranging the rooming situation with the adults, if necessary.
Peyton stayed with Callum and Bryn at the airfield in case they awakened before they reached the estate.
Finally, Bryn and Callum were brought in last and taken up to the largest suite.Peyton didn’t want them with anyone else because of Callum’s Prime Alpha status.
He also wrote a note in marker on a sheet of paper and taped it to the inside of the door, where they would see it.
My name is Peyton Bleacke, Pack Alpha of the Targhee Pack.I am Charlie Bleacke’s son and Duncan Lister’s grandson.Badger Williams is one of my closest men.You are safe now, in Wales.We rescued you from the lab.I will wait outside this door until you ask for me to come in so we can talk.The door is unlocked.You are free to come and go, but please do not harm any of the personnel.They are from various packs and are here to protect and care for everyone we saved.We destroyed the lab and killed nearly all the personnel.
Before he stepped out of the room, he turned to Bryn.“You may awaken.”He snapped his fingers three times, which was the code the Primes had given to everyone they’d put to sleep like that.
“Ye think it’ll work?”Aisling asked when he closed the door behind him.“The note, I mean?To keep ’em calm?”
He sighed as he looked at her and Trevor.“I fucking hope so.They’ve been through enough.But let’s clear everyone else back, just in case.We have no idea what his mental state is, and I really don’t want to have to tranq him again.Hopefully, having Bryn with him will keep him calm.”
