Jace (River Pack Wolves 2)(25)

“What’s up?” Piper asked. They were the first words she’d spoken during the trip.

Daniel hesitated to answer, then said, “I just got an email from Noah.”

“What?” Piper rose half out of her seat, but then slumped back down with the jostling of the van. “What does it say?”

Daniel held up his phone and read the email aloud. “Hey, Daniel, I heard you were worried about me. Wanted to let you know I was fine. Just taking a little time to relax. I’ll be back up to speed in no time. Don’t worry about me. Stay cool, bro.”

Daniel and Piper exchanged a look, and both of them seemed freaked out by the email, but Jace couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. “So… what? Is he really okay?”

Piper shook her head, and Daniel seem to agree, but he was scanning the email again.

“He said back up to speed.” Piper’s voice was filled with dread. “That’s what we said when we were kids after…” She glanced around the crowded van. Jace was sure she didn’t want to spill whatever personal family secret this was amongst a bunch of shifters she didn’t know.

“After something bad happened,” Jace filled in for her.

She looked relieved and sent him a grateful look. “Yes. If he really wanted to say he was fine, he would’ve said something more like I’m dying of dysentery, but I’m sure I’ll be over it in a few months. If not, don’t get weepy at my funeral.”

Jace only knew a little about her family and the asshole who was their father, but he could imagine the level of gallows humor was pretty intense. “So his email is code for something’s really bad. Like in Olivia’s vision with the hospital beds?”

Piper just nodded.

Daniel’s jaw was tight. “Should I answer this?”

“Leave it for now.” Jace glanced up front to the driver, who gave him a nod in the rearview mirror. “We’re almost there.”

They piled out of the van. This dark corner of Seattle was filled with rusted out warehouses and abandoned buildings.

Jaxson brought out the GPS and pointed down the road. “It’s about three blocks that way. I think we should send an advanced scout. Jace?”

He nodded his agreement. “I’ll take Piper, and we’ll signal back with a text once we’ve checked out the situation. If we need to plan a larger assault, we might have to wait until dark and call up some reinforcements.” Jace reached for Piper’s hand, but she was already heading off in the direction of the warehouse or hospital or whatever this place was. He gave a small shrug to Jaxson’s questioning look and jogged after her.

When he caught up, he said, “You know, we’ve done a few operations like this before. You might want to use some of our expertise and not just always run off by yourself. More likely to achieve success in our mission objectives that way.” He tried to keep his voice light, but in order to get her brother and the others out alive, she needed to not go off half-cocked.

She checked her pace. “I really do appreciate your help. I’m just used to working alone.”

It made him cringe—he had a feeling alone was what she felt most of the time. “I know. But we’re in this together now, right?”

“Sure.” It was the most negative form of a yes that Jace had ever heard.

He just shook his head. His GPS showed them approaching the coordinates—the target was just another rusty warehouse like all the others. Jace tugged Piper around the corner, out of view of the building. Then he peeked around and took a quick scan.

“Not seeing any movement,” he said.

She did a peek-check as well. “I think we need to get closer. Those low windows could give us a preview of what’s waiting inside.” She gave him the most honest look he’d ever seen from her. “We need to be careful. If they’re in hospital beds, it might be hard to move them. We need to count the guards, assess the weapons, and make a plan to take them all out at once. Give us time to move the prisoners.”

He gave her a small smile. “You know, I could use someone like you on my other missions.” Not only was it true, it made him want to shove her up against the wall and kiss the hell out of her. Which really wasn’t appropriate at the moment. “I don’t suppose you’d consider joining the pack?”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding me? You guys don’t have near as much fun in your jobs as I do.”

He snorted a laugh. “All right, we do this your way. I’ll take one of the near windows, you take one closer to the door. Get a peek-check, then reconvene back here. Acceptable?”