“Except that’s not true. Clara has been operating in Savannah for awhile,” I counter.
“Tybee Island, and another place outside of Savannah,” he explains. “We’ve become used to only existing within our city, and forgot how close in proximity we are to other places.”
“We need to change that,” Easton grunts, listening from the entrance to the den. He hasn’t been there long, only catching the tail end of the conversation. “I think that Clara is getting help, I’m just uncertain about who would do that.”
“I think if we find her, we’ll get those answers. Otherwise, it’s a needle in a haystack,” I admit.
“So when is the auction?” Lyle asks, his lips pursed.
That’s why he’s the lawyer, focused on the important details without any emotion. I wish I could cut myself off from how I’m feeling. The hurt, the worry, the disappointment in myself. Shiloh has his mask over his features, but the tapping of his foot tells me it’s thin at best.
“Tomorrow at two in the afternoon,” Shiloh breathes. “I need an address, but there isn’t one anywhere on the dark web that I’ve seen. I’ve asked, offered to pay for the information, and I was told it was ‘invitation only’.”
“So why announce the auction on a shady bulletin board at all?” Silas muses. “Is it to create a frenzy?”
“I think Clara is trying to do exactly that, as well as build up a clientele for when she rebuilds her omega inventory,” Shiloh says, his nose twitching in disgust as his own phrasing.
That’s how human traffickers see their omega captives, and it’s disgusting. I also have to hold back a rush of revulsion before I focus on my next question.
“She’s stalking our omegas, and she took Cassidy as well. There’s really no details about who is being auctioned off? What is she planning to do with Cass?” I ask.
“The auction doesn’t describe who is being sold, simply that there is a small number of omegas who will be available,” Shiloh sighs. “The sheer lack of information is concerning. She could quietly sell Bellamy and Winter, but with how she came in guns blazing at your warehouse, Lyle, I don’t think that’s what she wants to do.”
“Her actions are more in line with revenge and cash flow,” Lyle agrees. “So we’re running out of time.”
Pulling out my phone, I blow out a breath. I can’t stay in time out anymore.
Me
The auction is tomorrow. We’re losing the light and I know you’re going to need to pack up soon. Tomorrow, we need to extend the area we’re searching. There’s no other choice.
Abbott
Done. Fuck, tomorrow is too damn close.
Me
If you break the machines in the dark, we’re fucked.
“I told Abbott,” I explain, glancing up. “The gloves are off. Tomorrow, we will extend the search. I know we’ve only had the machines for a day, but we’re running out of time.”
“You’ll need bodies if you find them,” Easton says. “Not just your own men, but people to exterminate the crowd so they’re not a problem. We have no idea how many people will be at this thing.”
Lyle rubs the bridge of his nose before shrugging. I can almost see him throwing his lawyer hat into the trash and lighting the bitch on fire.
“We also need to destroy the bunker so it can never be used again,” he says.
“I was thinking about bombing the fuck out of it. I need to reach out to my supplier tonight to get me whatever he can,” I reply. “I have a smaller stash at the house, but I’ll need more than that. I have a really bad feeling that this thing is huge.”
“Who does the umbrella company belong to?” Silas asks. “Have you found that out?”
“I paid someone fifty grand to find out for me on the dark web forty minutes ago,” Shiloh says, not worried about the money.
Whatever it takes to get the answers, is what we’ll pay.
“And?” I growl under my breath.
“He was working on it,” he says apologetically, clicking something before he blows out a breath. “Just got my answer. Rowan Enterprises belongs to Winchell Rock. Fuck, why is he involved?”
