Chapter 72

#Chapter 72 – A Plan “Let’s go,” Victor says, stomping across the gravel drive. The Betas rush into motion, getting into cars, starting engines. Beta Stephen pauses, looking up at the stairs.

“Sir?” He asks, waiting for Evelyn to emerge from the house.

“She’s not coming,” Victor growls, sliding into the driver’s seat. Stephen stays perfectly still for a moment, working hard to keep his emotions from playing on his face.

“NOW.” Victor snaps and Stephen jumps, stumbling back into action, climbing into the back seat with the waiting Ian and Alvin.

“Where is mommy?” Ian asks, his face pressed against the window, looking for her.

“She’s staying here for a while,” Victor says, working hard – too hard – to keep his voice casual. “She says she wants to visit with your grandmother and your aunt for a little bit.”

“Oh,” says Ian, sadness seeping into his voice.

“Daddy,” Alvin says. Victor glances at the rearview mirror as he puts the car in gear. The boy sits straight in his seat, his face worried. “Why isn’t mommy coming home.”

“I just told you –“

“Daddy.” Alvin interrupts, his clear eyes telling Victor that he isn’t fooled.

“Don’t worry, Alvin,” Victor says, sighing and pulling out of the drive. “I’m going to get her back.

Tonight.”

The drive home happens in silence, everyone in the car consumed with their own brand of worry. When the boys get out of the car, they don’t sprint for the house with their usual vigor. Instead, they secure their backpacks on their shoulders and quietly walk up the driveway, lost in thought.

Victor follows them with his hands in his pockets, realizing that they’re little copies of his own silent worry.

“Sir?” Stephen pulls up next to him on the walk to the house.

“We’re going to go back for her,” Victor says quietly, absently, the plans forming in his mind as they approach the door. “He’s stolen her from me – he’s her Alpha now. But. We have to go back for her.”

Stephen shakes his head. “If she’s a member of his pack…then taking her will be an act of war, sir.”

“I know,” Victor murmurs. “We’re going to have to be very careful.” The men nod to each other and then slip inside the home.

“Hey,” Amelia says, coming over to him with wide eyes. She looks around at all of the silent Betas, the subdued children. “What’s happening? Is everything okay?”

“John Walsh has claimed Evelyn as his daughter,” Victor says, moving to the coffee machine to make a pot. “He’s keeping her on his property.”

Amelia’s mouth tightens as she listens, her eyes wide with shock. Victor watches her as she processes the information. He’s not surprised to see that Amelia isn’t exactly unhappy with the news, though she is concerned about what this means for her. Victor shakes his head, turning back to the machine, which begins to spit out the fresh, hot coffee.

Unbidden, the boys head into the living room and pull their books from their backpacks, getting started on their homework. Pouring himself a cup, Victor watches them, sorry to see them looking so scared and defeated.

“What can I do,” Amelia says, coming up to wrap her arms around his waist and look up at him.

“I’m going back tonight,” Victor says, taking a sip of the black coffee and wincing at the bitterness. He usually takes it with cream, but today – it feels like there’s no time. “He can’t take my boys’ mother from them without my consent.”

Amelia nods. She’s not happy about it, but she knows better than to counter Victor when he’s determined like this. “I’ll stay with the boys,” Amelia says, working hard to be helpful. She frowns, though, when Victor hesitates.

“I’m going to assign Stephen to them,” Victor says, looking down at her. “And Edgar, he knows them best.” There’s something in him, too, that doesn’t want Edgar to be a part of the mission to rescue Evelyn. But Victor pushes that part aside, unwilling to address it.

“Okay,” Amelia says, looking down, defeated.

“But you can stay with them too,” Victor says, cupping her face in his hand, feeling sorry. She is trying, after all, but still…a part of him does not trust her to take charge without Edgar and Stephen by her side.

“We’ll watch a movie,” Amelia says, nodding and smiling up at him. “Order a pizza. A nice quiet night.”

“That’s a good plan,” Victor responds, looking over beyond her head to where key members of his Beta team have gathered outside of his office, ready to discuss next moves. He nods to them, letting them know he’ll be there in a moment.

“Thank you, Amelia,” Victor says, draining his cup of coffee and moving away. “You’re a big help.”

“No problem,” she murmurs, watching him go. She understands that Victor has a responsibility to his children. But still, there’s a little bitterness, roiling in her stomach, as she sees the urgency with which he’s working to get this woman back in his house. After all, Amelia thinks, Evelyn will be perfectly safe in her father’s home.

Three hours later, Victor is back on the road with a small, select Beta team, chosen for their stealth and capacity for violence. Victor is riding in the open bed of the powerful truck, its giant wheels speeding along the highway, surprisingly agile and noiseless.

Victor is dressed all in black tactical gear, tools and rope strapped close to his powerful body. He stares steadily into the night, his face stern with purpose. Victor knows precisely what he has to do and is prepared to destroy anything that gets in his way.

“Sir,” Victor’s head Beta says, interrupting his thoughts. “Are you sure you want to take lead on this? It would be safer, sir, if I –“

Victor silences him with a look. “Thank you, Beta Franklin. I understand the risks. I will be taking lead.”

The Beta nods and the team again falls into silence.

The truck slows, turning off the highway, making its way through a town and then onto some back roads. It slows further to pull onto a dirt path, the driver turning the headlights off as they work their way further into the brush. Finally, they finish creeping forward and the engine goes silent.

The driver nods to the navigator in his passenger seat and turns to Victor. “Sir, as discussed, we’ve maneuvered ourselves to the back of the Walsh property. If you push through those trees,” he points to a grove to the left, “and head forward for about half a mile, you’ll come to the Walsh’s yard.”

Victor nods. They had formulated this plan earlier, in his office, before moving out. So far, all was going to plan. They were far enough from the house that it was unlikely that Walsh’s small Beta force would be patrolling here. But as they got closer, it was sure to be different.

“Good. You two will stay here,” he says, nodding to the driver and the navigator. “The rest of you,”

Victor looks at the remaining three Betas. “Will press forward with me. Remember, this is a mission that’s all about stealth and speed. It is our goal to get in and out without being noticed. Bloodshed only if absolutely necessary.”

The Betas nod, understanding. “Good,” Victor says, jumping down from the bed of the truck. “Let’s move out.”