“You’re right. I’m just being overprotective, I suppose.”
“I like that. It shows how much you care for me, but babe, I’m okay. You just get out there and do your thing and hurry back to me. I’ll be waiting.” There was a slight pause before he continued. “But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t call me as often as you want. I’d love to hear from you.”
Nix laughed. “I know and same to you,” he said. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“I have a myriad of loved ones back here, who I’m sure will gladly come to my aid,” he said. “But I’ll keep that in mind.”
Nix noticed that Dax had come back into the camp and everyone had gathered around him. “I have to go … for now. I’ll call you later. I love you.”
“I love you too! Be careful!”
“I will. Bye, baby.” Nix disconnected the call. He sat there for a moment, his heart settling and a sharp pain stabbing him in the pit of his chest. River was fine. He was sure of it. With that reminder, he went over to where Dax and the other men were.
“Okay, thanks to one of my sources—whose identity I can’t reveal— I found out that there’s a camp about two miles from here. The kidnapped omegas are kept prisoner there by an alpha boss known as Tre. We will get some sleep in and then head out first thing tomorrow morning. I have a map of how to get there.” He held up a piece of paper.
Nix stood there and looked at the printout of the map. The omegas were in danger; he could feel it in his bones. Waiting even one night could endanger them even more. “How about a couple of us head out there tonight,” Nix suggested, “do some recon and get the lay of the land.”
Dax turned to him. “We all need to be well-rested before we head out there,” he said. “I think it’s a better plan if we just wait it out tonight and then head out.”
“But we could see what crazy-ass shit we’re getting mixed up in. I really think it’s a good idea to check things out before we go there.”
“I kind of think Nix has a point there,” Maddox said in agreement. “I’ll go with him. We can check the place out and report if there’s anything we need to be on guard for.”
“You know information changes so fast. What if what you got ain’t up-to-date anymore?” Nix said.
Dax looked between Maddox and Nix. Nix could almost hear what Dax wanted to say to him, and it was likely something along the lines of ‘calm the fuck down’ and ‘rushing in would get you killed.’ His friend probably knew Phoenix would do anything to get home quicker, but he wasn’t wrong. In the field, things were always fluid. Recon and knowing your way out was the difference between coming home in one piece or returning in a body bag.
Instead, he nodded. “Fine. You two go and get back here within the hour. I’m not messing around. If you’re not back, then there will be consequences.” He arched an eyebrow, and both Maddox and Nix knew there was no point in arguing with him.
Maddox and Nix got into the van, and Nix looked out the window to where Dax and the rest of the team stood before he turned to Maddox. “There will be consequences,” he mimicked.
Maddox snickered and started up the van. “We’re taking a chance here. We both know that, but I can sense something is driving you to want to do it this way. What’s up? Wanna share?” Maddox backed out of the spot where they’d parked and headed in the direction of a building marked on the map Dax had gotten his hands on.
Nix considered Maddox’s question. He did want to let someone else in on what his mission was, besides the obvious, which was stopping the operation. “I used to live in Rose Hills,” he started. “I have reason to believe that I might have family there.”
Maddox glanced at him from the corner of his eye. “That’s deep,” he said.
Nix snickered. “I turned out alpha, so I wouldn’t have been useful as an omega being sold in some kind of sting operation. But who’s to say that I don’t have family caught in this trap? I just have this nagging feeling that there’s a part of me out there, and I feel it in my gut.”
“I get it,” Maddox said.
Nix turned his head to look at Maddox. “Let’s keep it between us for the time being. I don’t want any of the men making assumptions that I haven’t got my head in the game. Okay?”
Maddox nodded. “I got your back, bro. You can count on me.”
Nix believed him, and they drove the rest of the way in silence. When they got to where they assumed the map was taking them, Maddox pulled off to the side of the road.
“I think this is it. Don’t you?” he asked.
Nix nodded. “It appears so. We’ll go the rest of the way on foot.” They got out of the van and headed into the woods. They moved soundlessly as they inched deeper and deeper into the forest. His training kicked in.
As they cut through some trees, a strong burst of emotion suddenly washed over Nix. He stopped walking and just stood there. Maddox came up behind him. “What’s wrong?” he whispered.
Nix shook his head. He couldn’t place the feeling, but it gnawed at his insides. There was definitely someone on the other side of the trees—someone of the same blood as Nix. He inched closer to the trees and peeked through an opening between a couple of branches. Several omegas were standing around and talking. He scoured the wooded area, and his gaze landed on a young, male omega. He was standing up against a building, his own eyes darting around like he was searching for something. Nix kept his eyes intent, a strong connection drawing him to the man. The omega looked around once more, then stepped away from the building and walked around until he disappeared behind a stone fence.
Nix stepped back. He had the overwhelming urge to burst through the trees and go to the omega’s rescue, but he couldn’t do that. He turned to Maddox. “Let’s go,” he mouthed.
Maddox peered through the trees, trying to look for what Nix had seen, but only Nix could feel the emotions inside of him. He rushed back to the van. His mind raced with so many words he wanted to say, and there was so much he wanted to do. He got into the passenger side of the van, and it took a few minutes before Maddox joined him.
