Behind the Mask

Chapter 82

Nate's POV

Kota and I were the last to arrive at the abandoned-looking warehouse. When Mel, who turned out to be a sassy older woman with a shotgun, led us to the underground bunker, my mouth dropped. This was some high-tech, next-level shit. Dominic was sitting on a metal bench while Sean drew blood samples, and hair samples and swabbed his mouth. He looked horrible - his face pale, dark circles under his eyes.

"Finally," Marc said when he saw us walk in.

"What's going on and why the hell aren't we breaking doll out now?" I demanded.

Dominic was rolling down his sleeve as he spoke, "She's on a highly secured compound about fifty minutes from here in Plano, but we're outgunned. I followed up on the lead with the drugs and found myself meeting Senator Whit Diggins. I've learned he's part of the current Academy board, and for now, Marissa and Jackson are staying with him."

"That still doesn't explain why we are here and you look like shit," North barked.

Dominic paled even more if such a thing were possible. "They drugged me and her, they filmed us, took samples, I...I hurt her," his voice broke and tears fell down his face. Raven stepped closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder, but didn't say anything. We all waited for him to compose himself then sat in horror as he explained the events that unfolded over the last twenty-four hours.

Without a word, Victor pulled up the tracking system on his laptop and showed us her location. She was still at the Senator's compound. "Do you trust they will deliver her and Jackson to Italy?" he asked Dominic.

He nodded, "I think they will. The money is substantial and I've already wired the first ten million to the account."

I let out a frustrated sigh, "So we wait and pray nothing else happens to her."

"Are you fucking kidding me!" Gabe's voice came through the speakers. "Get her the fuck out of there now, you assholes!"

"Gabe, I know you're worried, and we want her out too, but we can't do that without risking both her and the baby's lives. Take a look at the footage Corey just sent. It's like a military compound," Owen explained, trying to soothe him.

"Goddammit Owen, she's suffering," he whined.

"I know love, but once she's in Italy we can help her recover, take out Jackson, and orchestrate the final attack on all of the Academy," he said gently.

"Does she know," Gabe whispered, "does she know I'm okay?"

"No," Dominic said in a pained voice. "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell her with the cameras and the risk of her saying something accidentally with the drugs they're using on her." He groaned, "Convincing her you were dead was part of the way they gained control. She's terrified they are going to kill all of you, that's why she risked the text about Sean. She's on autopilot, complying and biding her time."

"Which means her trauma will be all the worse when she is finally free," Sean added. "No matter how much she asks, she cannot be left alone - hell I'll even take the blame for putting cameras in her room and bathroom!"

"Sukin syn!" Raven swore as he looked at his phone.

"Raven, what's happened?" Corey asked him.

"Father has learned the Judge wants to send malen'kaya shalun'ya on a mission en route to Italy. Academy is going to send her to the Giovanni's but she has a stop in Greece on the way. It's a hit."

"Do we know who?" Kota asked.

"Lily Anderson."

His answer hung in the air, sucking the wind out of all of us. Lily was like an aunt to all of us. Hell, she's one of the only reasons we all survived Sang leaving us.

"Why her? I mean, the Anderson's left the Academy a few years back. What threat could they possibly hold," Axel asked.

"Knowledge," Sean said bluntly. "Think about it. Lily has been a therapist for decades. That woman knows more secrets than the CIA. Which means she most likely knows all of the current Academy players without even realizing it." We all groaned. He's right.

"So how do we handle this? I mean we can't let Marissa kill her, but we also can't risk the Academy finding out we stopped her," Brandon asked.

"Mama," Kota said. "I can have mama call her. They still talk regularly, so it won't look out of sorts. Corey and Victor can scramble the phone location and she can drop hints about a secure line. Once it's secure, we warn her - hell, we find a way to fake her death so that the Academy thinks Marissa did her job."

"We may have some contacts that could help set up the scene," Silas said while North nodded, already pulling out his phone.

"Prépei na milíso ston Nico Pappas, na tou po óti eínai o North Taylor," North said into his phone as he walked to the edge of the room.

"Wait, did he just call Nico Pappas?" Dominic gaped. "As in the son of Atlas Pappas, head of the Greek mafia?"

Silas shrugged, "We grew up with him."

Kota rolled his eyes, "I think we need to have a long family meeting when this is all done."

I laughed, "Don't you mean a long punishment session, Master." He scowled and gave me a harsh look.

"I'll remind you of that when you're tied to the bed, begging me to cum, little boy," he growled.

"So what do we do?" asked Luke through the speaker.

"Tell mama to call me and we'll coordinate with Silas and North's friend," Kota answered.

"Father says he'll keep us posted," Raven said.

"I think a few of us should stay here, but the rest of us should return to Italy and help coordinate the final strike against the Academy," Axel suggested.

"Silas and North should take lead on the situation in Greece," Owen added.

The room was filled with agreements. It was decided that Corey, Raven, Kota, and I would remain in Texas, while Silas and North traveled to Greece to meet up with their friend. Everyone else would return to Italy taking two jets to avoid Dominic being spotted with them. We knew the Academy was watching us, so all of us leaving suddenly would be far too suspicious. They knew we would still be searching for her.

****

"What are you thinking," Kota asked as we drove down the road and headed back to the hotel.

"It's killing me knowing she's so close but we can't help her," I admitted. "I just want to burn the fucking Academy to the ground, Kota. First, we almost lost Gabe and now we know what they're doing to Marissa. I can't stand it - I need to hit something."

"Pull the car over," Raven said from the back seat. Kota gave him a confused look but did as he said. "Get out, Nate." I stepped out and he came around to my side. "Hit me."

I scoffed, "Raven, I can't hit you."

"You need this. We spar. Now, hit me," he said, putting up his fists. I half-heartedly swung, but he dodged. "That was just sad, now hit me - we've sparred dozens of times, Nate." I got mad. Why was he pushing this, what was the point? This time I swung full force, landing a hit to his shoulder. He swung back and before long we were brawling. I'm not sure how long we fought, but when we both fell to the ground we were panting and bloody. "Better?" he gruffed.

"Yeah, man. Thanks," I said, wincing as I took his outstretched hand and stood.

Kota and Corey just smirked at us as we got in the car. 

Author's Notes: A short filler chapter, but the plan is now in motion.