Stealing Beauty

Part 23- Not All of France

*Konnor's P.O.V.*

I stayed up the rest of the morning, my mind racing too fast for me to sleep. What happened if we got there and it was too late? Would I get to see Natalie again? Or what if we got there just in time to see her take her final breath? I know she's been fighting since she was taken.

And to hear about all the things they've done to her...

I was sitting at the edge of my bed, in a full on rage. We weren't to wake anyone until 5AM sharp, then we'd head to the base where we'd figure out our game plan.

Then I would have my soulmate back in my arms.

5 AM came sooner than I thought. I was already dressed, my hair disheveled and my clothes thrown on messily. I didn't give a damn to clean up for when I saw her again; all I care about is having her next to me as we walk with destruction, torture, and heartbreak behind us.

I walked out of my room and down to Alex's, but it seemed he was all ready to go, Maisy trailing behind him. She wasn't sure of it yet, but she would have to help take down her own sister.

"You found Natalie!" She said, her arms wrapping around me as if some sort of congratulations. I swiftly hugged her back before I let go. I should tell her, but not here in her sister's home.

I checked on everyone else to make sure they were ready to go down to the base. I could smell breakfast coming from the kitchen, and wondered if the food was for us as a way to cover up Maeve and Luca's dirty deeds.

Speak of the devil, her heels were clacking up the stairs as we walked sluggishly down the hallway.

"Oh goodie! Everyone is awake!" Maeve clapped her hands together in excitement. She seemed so well put together- as if she didn't spend the beginning of the morning treating prisoners like livestock. "There's breakfast down in the dining room, all prepped and ready to eat!"

"Thank you sis, but no thanks," Maisy said, a restful smile on her face. "We have urgent business down at the base so we might just take something to go."

"Urgent business? Oh my goodness! Did you find Natalie?" She sounded excited, like she was as hopeful as everyone else.

"No-" I said quickly, before anyone else could answer. "But, we have a few clues that could lead to finding her. Sarg wants us to look at them right away."

"Well, that's one step closer than we were yesterday!" She cheered.

We?

I swear I wanted to rip that bitch's hair out and choke her with it.

"Yeah, it's great news," I said, trying to keep the rage behind my eyes.

"Anyways," Jackson interrupted, "we need to get going." He started towards the stairs, but stopped abruptly. "We'll catch you later, Maeve."

I smirked to myself as I shuffled past her, but she didn't notice.

"No pun intended?" I asked Jackson when we reached the foyer. He chuckled for a second, then his face turned back to seriousness. We all loaded up in our cars and took off to talk to Sarg.

"I want the whole prison surrounded, 5 guys on each entrance and 5 guys in a chopper!" Sarg was barking orders as everyone scrambled to prepare. "I need 3 people on Overwatch- that includes you, Robbins," he pointed his finger at Zander, who laid his crutches on the ground as he fired up the computer.

"Where do you want me?" Maisy chimed in, handing me a cup of black coffee.

"Uhhh actually, Maisy, can I talk to you for a second? Privately?" I led her out of the room and into a vacant hallway.

"What's going on?" She asked me. I sighed before taking a swig of my hot coffee. It burned my taste buds, but I didn't really care at this point.

"There's something you need to know before we go out."

She looked curious, but I continued.

"The King and Queen we're going to capture... well, we know their identities."

"Who are they?" She asked. "I'm ready to capture whoever did this to these poor innocent people."

I looked down, swallowed the lump in my throat, and looked back up at her.

"It's actually Luca and, your sister."

"Oh." She looked down, disappointed in her sister.

"Now I understand if you don't want anything to do with this now that we know who the suspects are. No one is forcing you to do anything about this. I just wanted you to know who we were after before we threw you in the cold water."

"Let me tell you something about myself," she looked up at me, a specific look of pain but drive in her eyes.

"Yeah?"

"No one makes me do anything I don't want to do. I'm on y'all's side, no matter who it is we're going after. Yeah you can't choose your blood family, but I found an even better family in this team. She was never a good sister to me. Don't get me wrong," she sighed, "I'm disappointed that she would stoop this low but that was her choice, and I'm going to make a choice as well, and stand by this team."

I couldn't even tell her thank you, I just nodded. She left me speechless with her determination. She nodded back at me and walked down the hall, chin still high in the air.

Before I knew it, we were loading up in a vehicle, ready to deploy into destruction, find my darling Natalie, and save her as her knight in shining armor would. I looked around me, making eyes with Ray who was loading her pistol. She looked well kept and ready for the bloodbath. I just hoped she wouldn't take it too hard if she has to take a human life.

I looked at Maisy, her blonde hair falling out of her bun. She was looking down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs, and probably trying to comfort herself as she knew what was about to come after her sister. I prayed for her silently, because only God knew what wheels were turning in that little head of hers.

Just as I looked away, Alex reached for her hand, and they intertwined their fingers. He didn't say anything, as usual, but he had a genuine but sympathetic smile on his face. At least they'll have each other when this is all over. I was uneasy on whether Natalie would make it out alive. I didn't care if I did, as long as she did. Karsyn needed her mother more than she needed me.

I took a glance outside, and I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed the beauty of France sooner. The hills seemed to roll for miles, Spring coming to life within the green grass. We passed a few vineyards, rows and rows of trees growing grapes that would be picked and harvested at the end of the summer. My knee bounced with anticipation as we turned onto Maeve's street. I wondered if she was home, or if she was back at the prison, torturing and beating victims and convicts senseless.

We traveled a few more miles before our first stop. Mason got up, grabbed his rifle and exited quietly. He would find a nice place under or on a tree, out of sight, sniper loaded and ready to shoot anything that spoke with a sickening French accent. I said a silent prayer for him as well, because it seemed he may have the easiest job out of all of us.

We found a spot to park and unloaded, assumed our positions of attack. Some went to the front, the back, and the rest of us went for the trapdoor entrance Jackson and I found.

But as we walked, thinking about all that Natalie had been through and all that we would have to do to get her back, one thought was clear.

Not all of France was beautiful.