Red splotches over it could only be blood, but he ignored that as he made out the words. An address?
And a time.
He lifted his gaze to Sam as Daniel snatched the paper from him. “She knew where the auction would be?”
Sam nodded. “It has to be. I bet they didn’t expect her to wake up, let alone be able to tell anyone. She must have wanted to get out one last message.”
Daniel was on his phone a moment later, stepping away from the group, no doubt contacting the FBI for backup.
Suddenly, Kyle wished he’d gotten to know her. He wished he’d had the chance to meet her, because right then, she might have been the only thing that stoodbetween his mate and the same fate that Anne had suffered.
Daniel walked back in, his lips twisted into a grimace. “They won’t do anything.”
“What?” Trent was the one to rise that time, his voice nothing but fury. It was one of those times Kyle had to remember that Trent wasn’t one to push too far.
“They said they would set up outside the auction and wait, picking up people as they left so they could get as many as possible.”
“What if they miss her? What if they miss grabbing the person who has her?”
Daniel ran his tongue along his teeth, his voice calm even though his face wasn’t. “They don’t consider Alison a high priority. She doesn’t have any special information and she isn’t an agent. They see her as an acceptable casualty.”
Kyle bared his teeth at that.Acceptable casualty?It was a good thing no one had said that to his face, or he’d have decked the fucker. “They really expect us to just sit outside and hope they find our mate? That we’re going to leave her there for one fucking second longer than she has to be?”
“They’ve taken us off the case officially. We were ordered to fly back home and let them finish it.”
“Well, fuck that.” Trent’s voice left no room for debate. “There’s no way I’m sitting this out. She’d never do that if it were any of us.”
Kane rose and walked out of the room, silent, which was rare for the man.
Kyle narrowed his eyes, thinking about what Alison would have done if it were Tiffany who was missing.
“I’m not waiting to see if this turns out okay,” Kyle said. “I don’t give a shit about what they want. I’m damn well going to get my mate.”
Trent nodded. “Me too.”
Daniel didn’t move at first, as though it was the hardest choice for him. It was, though., He’d been devoted to his job forever, and now he had to actually pick between it and her. If they went, if they disobeyed the order, they were done as FBI agents. That life was over.
And they had no idea if Alison evenwantedthem.
Daniel shook his head. “Fuck it. Let’s go.”
Kane walked back in, a bulletproof vest over his black shirt, a gun strapped to his hip. At Kyle’s stare, he lifted an eyebrow. “What? She’s annoying as fuck, and I am constantly afraid she’ll castrate me for funsies, but she’s family.”
It was then that Kyle really looked around. He’d been so focused on his conversation with Trent and Daniel that he’d stopped paying attention to the others. The commotion was quick, but steady.
Anyone able-bodied was already preparing, with the few who were less able to fight helping to pack and prepare.
As he gazed across the room, the alphas and omegas willing to ignore any risk in order to protect one of their own, Kyle sucked in a deep breath.
This was what Alison had created, even if she never realized it, and anyone who dared to hurt her had just called hell down on themselves.
Chapter Twenty-One
Alison’s wrists itched from the new cuffs they’d put on. No collar—that would be for her new owner to choose.
When women had come to clean her up and get her dressed, Alison had tried her best to convince them to help her. They weren’t mean, but it became clear they’d never do a thing for her.
Fear was a powerful motivator, and these women had been beaten down for too long. Besides, Galen had hovered, staringfartoo intently when she’d changed.
