CAGED (Mackenzie Grey #2) (4 page)

Times had changed. I was no longer the clueless werewolf who was scared to get her hands dirty. I was tough, confident, and I kicked ass.

I took two steadying breaths and then morphed back to my human self—tucking the wolf away for when I’d need her again. I pulled out my cellphone from my leather jacket and dialed the station.

“Hey-yo!” Lou answered.

I cleared my throat. “I need a clean-up.”

I hauled ass to the SIU. It was already dark out so Roman would most likely be there—at least I hoped so. We needed to hatch a plan and catch ourselves a bad guy. And I knew exactly where to go. I took the 733 bus back downtown, got off on Main Street and 7
th
, and ran the quarter mile to the police station.

The Supernatural Investigative Unit was located in a three story building in a more desolate area of Downtown Los Angeles. The first floor housed a small lobby with a receptionist at the desk. We never learned their names because the turn over for that position was unreal. The kinds of “people” we caught that passed through this building could give any human nightmares. To the right of reception was a small coffee stand and to the left were the elevators. On the second floor where I was headed, was the squad room.

“Third Eye Lou, where you at?” I burst out of the elevator and into the office.

“Back here!” the old man attempted to yell, his voice cracked from age and too much whisky. “Whatda’ya got for me?” He came out of our break room in the far right corner of the office. Newspaper in hand, he found one of the four desks that was assigned to him and plopped down. His desk was the only one with three computer screens and a laptop. He was our tech guru. There wasn’t anything Lou couldn’t figure out, which was why he had to accompany Roman and I out on the field last night to hack into Danny’s computer. Other than those rare occasions, Lou stayed at home base and out of danger.

“The codes, Lou, I know what they are!” I grabbed the rolling chair from my desk and slid over to him. “They’re cargo containers from the docks. I think whoever is snatching up Sucubi, they’re shipping them somewhere. I don’t know where, I haven’t figured it all out yet.”

“Hm,” Lou tapped his chin and pushed his reading glasses up the bridge of his nose. “You might be on to something. The numbers and letters are scrambled but it could be a way to throw someone off in case it’s found. Let me play with them for a sec.”

I nodded. “Is Roman here yet?”

He grunted. “You two have been quite the pair as of lately. Anything you want to discuss?”

I leaned back on my chair. “It’s none of your business, Lou.”

“Everything’s my business, Ace,” he tipped his fedora back and pointed to his third eye on his forehead. It blinked a few times before it scanned the office. “And I only ask because I worry for ya. Rome is a good guy, but he isn’t the steadiest mate. Just be careful, I know how you wolves are.”

“I’m not like most wolves, and we have an arrangement. It’s all good Lou,” I said as I fiddled with the pens Lou kept scattered on his desk.

“Talking about you not being like most wolves…where is it you said you’re from again?” he asked, his gaze crawling over to me from the computer screens.

I sighed. “How many times do we have to have this discussion? I come from a sma—”

“A small Pack in Wyoming…I know,” he said going back to the numbers on the screens. “You still sticking with that story, Ace?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Now put that eye away, it gives me the heebie-jeebies,” I shivered as he adjusted his fedora.

He laughed. “What happened to the big bad wolf?”

I shrugged. “Whatever, just get me those cargo shipments and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Sure thing, Ace.”

I wheeled myself back to my desk and walked toward the elevators for the third floor—our in house gymnasium. It had everything from treadmills to our very own boxing ring. As I pushed the up button, the elevator doors pinged open and Roman was standing there. He wore a dark green shirt that brought out the green flecks in his hazel eyes. His dirty blonde hair was messy as usual, and that smirk on his face was enough evidence that he knew how good looking he was.

“Well isn’t it my lucky day, just the beauty I wanted to see,” he said as he pulled on the front of my t-shirt and dragged me into the lift. He pushed the red emergency brakes and stopped the elevator from moving.

“About last night…are we good?” he asked, his eyes squinted.

“Why wouldn’t we be?” I quirked a brow as I avoided the topic. I felt silly having brought it up, and wanted to forget I mentioned anything. Did I want more than a friends-with-benefits relationship? Yes, but did I want it with Roman? I wasn’t sure.

“Ace,” he whispered and pulled me closer to him. “Don’t do that. Talk to me, I care about you and the last thing I want to do is mess with your feelings.”

I shook my head and looked down at his chest. “I don’t know, Rome.” My mind recalled what Lou had just said—
Roman is a good guy, but he isn’t the steadiest of mates
. I didn’t need anyone to remind me. I’d been a witness many times of Roman’s flirtatious nature. “Are you sleeping around?” Verbal diarrhea got the best of me. I wanted to palm my forehead in embarrassment.

He stilled.

“You think I’d do that?” he asked. His hazel eyes bore into me. “Because I wouldn’t, Ace.”

“This is stupid,” I chuckled awkwardly and attempted to step away. “I’m being stupid, let’s just forget I brought it up.”

Roman slid his hand in mine. “You’re not being stupid—you’re a wolf. I understand your kind believes in monogamy, and I don’t need anyone but you, Ace,” he grinned and kissed the corner of my mouth.

“Not now, Rome,” I shook my head and tried to cover up my excitement. He wasn’t sleeping around—I was relieved. I didn’t want to end things, but if he was, I knew that was what I’d have to do. “I saw Jorge today and he told me where to find our baddie.” I changed the subject.

That caught his attention. “Oh?”

“The numbers are cargo containers! Whatever they’re shipping, we have to get to it before it leaves,” I said. “I got a name—Ron—do you recognize it?”

Roman shook his head and pulled the emergency knob, opening the elevator doors on the second floor. We exited and walked in the squad room. “Can’t say that I do, but who knows, might be an alias.”

“Ace!” Lou yelled. “You were right. They’re containers located at The Port of Long Beach and they leave tonight for South Florida.”

I snapped my fingers. “I knew it! Let’s go!”

“Hold on there, Ace, we can’t go by ourselves. After last night, we need back-up,” Roman suggested. “Do you know who the shipyard belongs to, Lou?”

Third-Eye Lou began typing on his computer. “Hold on a sec…there! They belong to a Ron Goldstein.”

Roman and I said at the same time, “Definitely an alias.”

“Where is the shipment located?” I asked as Roman walked to his desk and made a call.

“Pier G, off the Southeast Basin,” Lou answered.

I nodded as I went to my desk and opened the bottom drawer that held my duty belt and gun—clipping everything on. I headed to the office closet and pulled out two bullet proof vests for Roman and I. Placing his on his desk just as he cooed on the phone.

“Aw come on, babe, it was just one time. No big deal,” he said. “I also have a box of jewelry with your name on it. Do us this solid and it’s yours,” Roman paused and crossed his fingers. “Great! Thank you, doll face.”

“Who was that?” I asked as he hung up the phone.

“I just spoke with Alana, the Water Nymphs are on their way.”

***

The weather was chillier than inland; the Pacific Ocean gave the wind an extra kick. We drove through the tunnels of the Port until we reached Pier G. I tapped my ear bud to make sure it was in place to stay connected with Third Eye Lou back at home base, and the Water Nymphs were already in position waiting for our command. Once we met a dead end, we parked the Jeep and walked through the shipyard, eyeing the cargo containers for the numbers on our list.

“Lou said they’re closer to the docks,” I said as we walked at a fast pace. Adrenaline coursed through my veins and I couldn’t resist the grin that spread across my face. The anticipation of danger was my new choice of drug.

“There,” Roman pointed to the second to last row of containers. “That one’s on our list.”

We stuffed the paper that had the list of cargo shipments in our pockets and ran to the end of the dock. It was only a few feet away from the Southeast Basin where the Water Nymphs were located.

Roman drew a small black pouch from his pocket and unzipped it. Choosing a tension wrench and diamond pick, he put the rest of the tools in his pocket and went to work on the locked compartment.

“Hurry up,” I said as I stood as lookout. I peered around the shipyard as I heard voices. “I think someone’s inside, Rome.” I turned back and watched over his shoulder.

“It’s all about the tension,” Roman smirked as he turned the small wrench clockwise until the lock unclicked. “There.”

“Will you stop trying to show off your lock picking skills to uh…” I looked around us, “no one, and just open it up already.”

He chuckled. “Okay, okay, sorry for wanting to bask in the art of breaking and entering.” Roman unhooked the rod that locked the door, and swung it wide open. We both froze.

“Holy…” Roman started.

“Shit…” I gasped.

About a dozen women huddled in the back of the container—their clothes tattered, and their skin blotched with dirt and bruises. Greasy hair framed their terrified expressions, as an odor escaped toward us that made me swallow a gag. The smell of feces invaded my sensitivity and I wondered how long these women had been kept imprisoned.

“Rome, Ace, report?” Lou said through our ear buds.

“Lou—call the cavalry—we found them…all of them,” I said as I slowly inched inside, my hands outstretched in defense. “Hey…we won’t hurt you, we’re here to help.”

Their glossy wide eyes of terror would haunt me for years to come. I couldn’t imagine what they had been through.

“W-Who are you?” one of them asked. Her hands were spread out, as if protecting the others from us.

I gulped. “I’m Ace, and that’s my partner Roman,” I pointed behind me. “We’re part of SIU, we’ve been looking for you all for months.”

Many of the women relaxed as understanding dawned on them.

“You’re the Sucubi?” I asked.

A lot of them nodded in response. “Yes,” said the one I assumed was their leader. “We need to hurry, these compartments have silent alarms.”

“Shit,” I muttered. “You heard that, Rome, Lou?” I yelled back.

“I’m on it, disabling them now,” Lou said.

“Alright, let’s hurry up then,” Roman said, motioning the women forward. None of them moved.

“It’s okay,” I reassured them. “You can trust him.”

With some hesitation, they started moving forward and Roman herded them toward the road where our car was and a bus was on its way.

“My name is Sonya,” the leader introduced herself. “They’re more of us in other shipments. I’ll show you which ones.”

“Lou, we might need another bus,” I said. “How do you know they’re more?”

Sonya shivered. “We sometimes hear their screams in the middle of the night.”

***

I nodded and gave Roman a heads up before I left. Sonya and I walked around a few more cargo containers until stopping at another one I recognized from our list.

While I picked the lock, I asked, “How long have you guys been here?”

“It varies. Some of us have been here longer than others. I was taken around three weeks ago,” she said as I unlocked the door.

I was able to open three more containers with Sonya’s help, when a commotion by the road drew my attention. The shriek of multiple women rang out in the night, and I growled—my wolf making its presence known.

“What’s going on, Lou?” I said as I ran back to the entrance.

“Roman has company, Ace. Ogres—lots of them,” Lou said.

I stopped running and looked around. There were many frightened and tired faces that were in no position to fight, even if it was for their freedom. I scanned the area and I realized we were only a few feet from the Basin.

“Tell Roman to lead the Ogres toward the water. And what’s the ETA on back up?”

I started running in the opposite direction toward the Nymphs.

“They’re five minutes out and Rome is headed your way.”

“Good,” I said as I growled into the night. My canines and claws emerging, and my face morphing to half wolf—half human.

A few seconds later, I saw Roman sprinting at full speed as a gaggle of Ogres chased him. His arms pumped at an inhuman speed, as his knees almost hit his chest. “Now!” he yelled.

My thumb and pointer finger pinched my lower lip, and I whistled into the night. A splash in the water was the only hint that the Water Nymphs heard my call.

I crouched on all fours as Roman skidded to a stop before me and whirled around to meet our incoming threat. “Ready?” he asked, not a bit out of breath.

“I was born ready,” I gloated and he rolled his eyes.

The Nymphs shot out of the water and landed on either side of us. Their wild beach waved hair in crazy knots, shells braided into strands, and their eyes a glowing black. They were a mix of cuteness from The Little Mermaid and psychotic-serial-killer Helena from
Orphan Black
. If they weren’t on our side, I would have been terrified of them. They were vicious water creatures who could only be appeased if offered shiny things. Roman promised them an array of silver costume jewelry for their assistance. About twenty Nymphs joined us, baring their razor sharp teeth at the enemy.