Melt - Rique and Miranda (Complete)

20 - Livestream

Rique

Hell couldn't be worse than this place. Idly, I pick my way through the emptied town, thinking about how ironic it is that wolves believe in hell, but not in heaven. At least, not the way that humans do. I wonder what Miranda believes? I'll ask her if I remember.

We have destroyed most of the cartel's stronghold in the north of Mexico in just under two days. From the private residence of Benito to the town where the Carabona pack resides, it is all in flames and ruins.

"This is fucked up," Jose mutters to me.

I nod. This is fucked-up. When my cell rings, I answer it absently as I sightlessly stare into the desert through the shattered window. I don't even realize that our phones are back online after being shut off by Miranda's mother to control the cartel's communication.

"Rique, your mate and brother disappeared," Juan wastes no time in telling me.

"Where?" I snap out. I start walking out of the broken-down two-story building I'm standing in. By the time I hit the staircase, I'm jogging.

"Into the desert," he replies grimly. "Roughly in your direction. You want me to send someone after them?"

And risk all of those we left behind? "No," I reply shortly. "I know where they're going." I signal Carm and quickly explain it to him. "Going to the brothel."

He nods, his face as hard as stone. We found too much in this desert town, including his younger hermano, Bembe.

"Tu bruja?" he asks.

"Mi hermano y mi bruja" I reply.

His cell phone chirps. He answers it before it's done with one ring, "my omegas?" he barks. A faint smile crosses his face. "Good." The smile fades. "No lo detengo." Carmichael hangs up and looks at me. "Nico is at the brothel, too. Says tu bruja has a plan."

"Merde."

—

Miranda

"Oliver," I hiss into the phone, "I have fourteen customers on the hook right now with the promise of dozens of leads. Dozens, Oliver."

"That's the problem, Miranda. You're asking me to track a video feed to multiple users with multiple security measures through multiple sites in countries that don't allow monitoring."

"Which is why," I purr, "I called a mage with tech abilities."

"Sweetheart-"

"Oliver," I cut him off. "So many leads. If even ten of those pan out it could mean the difference for so many girls. Please."

"When are you broadcasting?" he asks, sounding resigned.

I look at the shiny black helicopter on the helipad. The man who landed isn't one I recognize. Cort ran some facial recognition software and didn't get a hit, yet this man has some serious money. Putting all the pieces together tells me that this 'client' at the brothel is ultra dangerous.

"We've sent out the notice, already. I want to start as soon as possible," I murmur.

"Gods, Miranda. Alright... I can do it, but I don't know how many leads I can track all at once with such short notice."

I blow out my breath. "Thank you, Oliver."

"What are you doing, exactly?" he asks.

"A sex tape," I reply bluntly. "You can do it? Make sure you have good camera angles?"