Chapter 6

In the next fight in the ring, Kennedy increased his bet on Brandon. Since the latter had accepted his offer, Kennedy showered the fighting arena with his money. It was evident that Kennedy had scored the best fighter of all time. Brandon lived up to his expectations and continued to defend his winning streak. Kennedy acted not more than a sponsor instead as an employer at this point.

“I agreed to take your offer, not your money,” Brandon said, putting several stacks of a hundred dollar bills on the table. “If a fighter is what you needed, you got it. I got money from the fights.”

Kennedy rubbed his temples. “Consider it as an investment. It’s just a few grand. Nothing big. I invest in you, and you win the fight for me. Maybe use the money for treatments.” He pointed to the severe cut on Brandon’s lips. “I have another job that might be suitable for you.”

 Cohen had given Brandon the green light to begin infiltration into the enemy’s fortress. Brandon knew the risk of infiltrating the enemy’s fortress on his own, but he was up for the challenge. This was what he trained for. He infiltrated far dangerous enemy’s fortress before. This time wasn’t any different. If it wasn’t enough, he got to improvise with anything.

Kennedy clasped his hands. “You’re paired with Celeste for the time being. She knows what you should do.”

Celeste was leaning against the wall as she looked out of the window. “We have a business in one hour. Is he suitable for that?”

“We’ll never know if we don’t try.”

She hummed, “Let’s go then. No time to waste for another small talk.”

“Always the punctual one.” The vampire chuckled. “Alright, you both can go.”

Brandon growled mentally as his wolf hated it when someone, who wasn’t his Alpha, commanded it. The Gamma agreed on that. It was against his nature to receive an order from someone who wasn’t his Alpha. For the sake of his mission, he swallowed his frustration and obeyed this order. Celeste walked ahead of him with her hands tucked inside her jeans pockets. She hadn’t said much since she came with her boss. Well, Strauss was Brandon’s boss for now, even if his nature rejected that.

They hopped into a black Hummer, and the driver drove it. Brandon didn’t know where the vehicle was taking him. But, he knew he would witness one of the businesses run by the vampire. He had to endure this mission as long as he didn’t receive any confirmation about the girls’ whereabouts.

Brandon learned all the nooks and crannies around for the first week he was in the town. It didn’t take him long to figure out the entire town. For now, he realized the vehicle was heading in the direction of the shipping dock about one hour from the town.

“Your job is to watch my back even if I don’t need it,” Celeste spoke to him with her eyes fixed outside. “We’re dealing with a very important client. Let me do the talking.”

“Understood.” He responded short.

They arrived at the shipping dock with several other cars waiting there. The black Hummer parked in the middle of the five vans while four other black cars were ahead. They were a group of Japanese. Could they be part of a Yakuza’s clan?

“Ah, you’re here at last.” A strange-looking man said. “New face, eh?”

Celeste walked past him, “Did you bring the money, Leto?”

“Money is good. They wanted to speak with you since you’re the right-hand man.”

She rolled her eyes but headed to the group of people ahead of them. “Keigo, I thought we don’t have to do this pleasantry anymore.”

“Tsk, Celeste, is that how you greet an old friend?” the Japanese man named Keigo smiled. “It had been a while since your boss ordered the same package.”

“Demand increases lately. Kennedy is expecting the cargo as soon as possible. So, make the chat quick.”

Keigo laughed and raised his hands, “Alright, alright. Hand the money, and we’ll be on our way.”

Leto went to them with two briefcases and handed them. Brandon watched the interaction between the two men.

“Stay beautiful, Celeste.” He waved off before their cars left.

Brandon’s hand clenched. It seemed Celeste wasn’t even interested in it. Her arms crossed her chest as she stared at the red cargo container.

“Open it,” she instructed one of her men nearby.

He unlocked the padlocks, and another man came to help him to open the door. Brandon’s eyes widened for a moment when he saw the content of the cargo container.

Human girls.

“Load them up in the vans.” She commanded once again.

The Gamma clenched his fist as he watched the men load those human girls into the vans. It seemed like the man named Keigo smuggled them into the country without their parents. The girls didn’t look older than eighteen to twenty years old. From the look of their clothes, they had been in the worst places before they ended up in that cargo container. None of those girls resembled the ones in his mission file. But, it didn’t matter. He would find a way to free them as well.

He couldn’t fail on this mission as many lives depended on its success. As much as he wanted to fight these men and rescue those girls, Brandon had to keep his mind straight to the final goal. He had two objectives, and he couldn’t fail either one.

Celeste looked at him with a serious expression. “You’ll get used to it.”

No, he couldn’t get used to it no matter how many times he was going to witness it. This was against the things taught to him during his training. To force a living being to be a slave wasn’t something Brandon could get used to. This wasn’t a consensual contract.

“Understood,” he replied.

“Master Georgio would be happy to see his new girls,” Leto joined him and Celeste. “With a little makeover, these girls would be stunning for their Master.”

That made Brandon even angrier. He was close to punching Leto, but the Gamma restrained himself. He never expected his mission to get this intense. Every cell of his blood was boiling. These girls were going to be sex slaves like those girls he needed rescue.

“Let’s not keep them waiting,” Celeste said as she headed to the Hummer. “No match tonight, Dante. Everyone is needed for the meeting.”

Meeting? Could it be the auction?

Brandon wasn’t so sure. If those wretched men already booked those girls, then Kennedy wouldn’t auction them. They would be sent off to their Master. The auction only happened if nobody booked the girls. At least, that was what Mira explained to him.

“Thinking hard would make you look a lot older, Dante.” Leto grinned after he tapped Brandon’s shoulder twice. “Get yourself together, new guy.”

“Relax, Brandon. You look tense.” Someone spoke in his mind link.

The Gamma’s ears peaked as if the person spoke directly to his ears. “Vincent?”

“Thought I could lend a hand to you. By the way, I got a piece of new information for you from Alpha Cohen.”

“Where are you? What information?”

“I’m at the crane. I met a new friend. He’s an amiable dude.”

Brandon looked up to the crane. Vincent was standing at the crane used to lift the cargo containers from the ship and around the dock.

“About your information, there is one hell of an angry Alpha heading to this town with his Elite Enforcers. His name is Elliot Walker. Two of his cousins went missing and five other women from his pack. He suspected Strauss might have something with it. To give you a head up, he might blow your cover if you guys meet up while you’re with those folks.”

“He was my superior back in the Council. Can’t Dalton handles him?”

“Alpha Elliot renounced yesterday because he blamed the Council couldn’t help. Much less solving the case. Dalton and Alpha Cohen hadn’t taken the renouncement seriously yet. But, if Alpha Elliot blows your cover, there is a chance that he will face a heavy penalty from the Council. Alpha Cohen wanted you to handle the situation before it gets serious. It’s a chance for Alpha Elliot to escape the heavy penalty.”

“Do you know where his current whereabouts?”

“Negative. I’ll keep on tracking and inform you of any progress.”

“Be careful. Alpha Elliot was a commander of the Stealth Special Task Force. Staying invisible is his expertise.”

Vincent laughed in the mind link. “I worked with many ghosts throughout my life. I think I can track him just fine. After I find him, you do the talking.”

Brandon sighed in frustration. Things had to get even more complicated than it already was.