Chapter 72
#Chapter 72 – A n
“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 noting,” Victor growls, sliding into the driver’s seat. Stephen stays perfectly still for a
moment, working hard to keep his emotions from ying 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 nces at the rearview mirror as he puts the car in gear. The boy sits
straight in his seat, his face worried. “Why isn’t mommying 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.”C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.
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 ns 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,ing 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 imed 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,ing 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 ck 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 n,” 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 hourster, 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 ck 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’lle to the Walsh’s yard.”
Victor nods. They had formted this n earlier, in his office, before moving out. So far, all was going
to n. 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.”