Strangely easy, but okay…
Mathew and Caleb go in first, taking the left turn, while Vera and I take the right turn.
As soon as we step inside, my stomach churns.Oh, fuck, no.
I immediately recognise the flowery fragrance that hangs in the air, overpowering any pheromones and other scents.Well, we shouldn’t have worried about stripping our pheromones, you can’t smell any of them here anyway.
It’s from the flowers we encountered at the biotechnological research complex.Of course, we knew that the Hearts were involved with developing them, but why didn’t we consider that they might just flood the whole place with it.We thought they would use them in specific instances, but we were clearly thinking too small-scale.
“They’re using diffusers with essence from the pheromone flowers.”Mathew’s voice comes through my earpiece.“It might be best to put on a pheromone blocking mask.I don’t know if it will work, since this scent comes from plants, not people, but it’s worth a try.Also, keep anyone close to their heat out of the building.You can help with the kids or swap with someone on watch, but it’s not safe for you to come inside.I’m sorry.”
There are multiple Omegas in Mathew’s organisation, on the security team and the team that tends to go on missions, and this flower stuff could trigger their heat.Better safe than sorry, as there are too many dangerous people in here to take a risk like that.
“Here.”Vera pulls on my arm, motioning to a hidden door to one of the internal hallways.
These hallways are only used by the staff, to go places without being seen and so they can look into some of the ‘private’ rooms, to keep an eye on things when clients pay for ‘private’ time.And I’m pretty sure I know who they’re most worried about protecting in there.
Gross.
The hallway is dim, with only a strip of lights along the floor to make sure you don’t trip.Dim enough that even if the lights in the ‘private’ rooms are off, the viewing holes are hard to spot.
We slip into the hallway, the door closing behind us.The flowery scent is even stronger here, it’s almost overwhelming my mind.
Fucking hell, how are people supposed to think here?
“Mask.”Vera’s voice is quiet.“We’ve got to keep our cool.”
I nod, though she probably can’t see it, and then put on a pheromone blocking mask.Immediately, it becomes easier to breathe and my head clears.
I squeeze past Vera and take the lead.The hallway is only wide enough for one person at a time, this way I can protect Vera better.We’re going to the front of the building, get everyone out of there.There shouldn’t be many people there right now, the brothel is technically closed, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is gone yet.
As we reach the end of the hallway, I hear sounds on the other side of the door.People running around, moving things, and what sounds like fighting.
Vera touches my back.“I’m ready.”
With that, I kick open the door, gun at the ready, Vera following me closely.
It’s chaos around us.
A group of scantily dressed teenagers is cowering together in the middle of the room, arms wrapped around each other, looking like they’re sure their lives are going to end in seconds.
There are older people, men and women, wearing expensive clothes, trying to get out of the room.But Mathew’s people have blocked off all the exits, so no matter what they try, it’s no use.
Someone throws a chair through a window.A man is about to climb after it, already halfway through the window, when he stops moving and topples back inside, landing on the floor with a thud.A bullet through his head.
One bastard taken care of, probably by one of the snipers.
Now the real panic sets off.One of the teenagers starts to scream and the next moment, they’re all screaming.
That seems to make some of the people in the room angry, other people, it seems to only confuse.
I recognise one of the women who’s advancing on the teens from Luca’s description, she’s one of the people in charge.
Without a second thought, I shoot her.She’s not going to set one single step closer to them.She’s not going to hurt them ever again.
Not on my watch.
When others notice what I did, they step back from us, their eyes now fully on me.Good.If they focus on me, that means they can’t pay as much attention to Vera and the teens.
