Chapter 76 Going In Blind

Chief

"Make sure there's a disturbance on the ground floor. Hathaway and his men will move to secure that area," I instructed my lieutenant. "I'll instruct the pilot to maneuver the bird away from the entrances of the hotel so they won't see us. They won't know what hit them until it's too late." He nodded his head and proceeded to call a few of our men who were in the vicinity. I approached one of my men who was on his laptop scanning the floor where Second was located. "How many people are on that floor?"

"Sir, there's about thirteen mobile, one stationary," he answered. I looked at the screen and confirmed the location of our target.

"He's our target. Send the coordinates to our men." I nodded at my team. "Let's move."

We boarded the helicopter, all armed and ready. We buckled up and I gestured to the pilot to fly the bird into the sky. I rolled my neck around to take the kinks out. This was a simple extraction, a walk in a park in my book. Just another day of a life of a mercenary.

I looked at my men and saw they were comfortable except for one. He was sweating and he looked nervous. This was strange even for me. I have never seen any of my men panic or worry.

"What's wrong with you?" I growled at him. The eyes of the rest of my men turned to the wolf I spoke to.

"Sorry Sir. Just butterflies in my stomach that's all," he yelled.

"That can't be it, Mason. What's wrong?" I asked him once again. I saw him hesitate for a moment then he shrugged his shoulders, deciding it was best for him to speak the truth.

"Sir, I had a dream, a vision of some sort with a black wolf telling me if I continue down this path, I won't see daylight ever again," he answered. I laughed.

"Did you tell the black wolf to just "Fuck off"?  Because I would." I was expecting the rest of my men to laugh at my statement, but I noticed the anxiousness in their eyes.

"The black wolf said something like that to me too," one of the other men said.

"Same," said another. The rest also nodded their heads, acknowledging they too had a vision of the black wolf.

"Did the black wolf say anything to you, Chief?" Mason asked. I shook my head as my response, obviously lying to them. But I'm great at lying because I was trained to hide the truth. "That's a good sign, Chief. The black wolf was probably just a nightmare." He looked at the others. "No need worrying. The black wolf is a crock of shit." I had to admit though, Mason was wrong to assume that. The black wolf was very much alive and well and angry.

When I heard the black wolf howl, it caused me so much pain. I was at home, lying in bed with the woman I loved, when it happened. I became violently sick and through it all, she stayed with me, nursing me back to health. The next morning, I felt much better, but the black Wolf's words seared in my memory throughout the day.

"Death will befall you if the alliances you have with the rogues will not be severed," the black wolf said. "The woman will spit on your grave and forget you once she finds love in the arms of another."

Spit on my grave? That's not possible. She loved me. I was taught to read a person and trained to be a walking lie detector. I saw how she looked at me when we were together, she honestly loved me.

In the beginning, I was hesitant to open my heart to her. She was beautiful while I had a face only a mother could love. I saw the stares when we were out in public, how the people either ran or cowered at the sight of me. But not her. She looked at me like I was the most precious gift anyone could give her. She made me so damn happy, I reciprocated that happiness by giving her the world. A new apartment, a new car, jewelry and fancy clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. Whatever money could buy, I gave her.

One day while we were walking by a jewelry store, she looked at a diamond necklace that was on display in the store window of a well-known jeweler. She stuck her nose on the glass paneling and sighed. "It's so beautiful," she said, her voice husky.

I didn't hesitate. I took her hand and said, "Come on. Let's see if we can buy it for you. It'll look beautiful around your neck," I told her.

"No, Sylvester. It's probably expensive," she said, hesitant to walk inside the jewelry store. This is why I loved her. She always tried to talk me out of buying things for her. The apartment I bought for her was expensive enough she would always argue.

"I won't take no for an answer," I told her.

"But it is so impractical to buy something like that for me. I would prefer a new refrigerator or a washing machine," she argued.

"I can buy all of that for you too. Right now, I want to see you wearing the diamond necklace," I argued back and tugged on her hand again. This time, she did not fight back, and so, we entered the jewelry store together.

Unfortunately, the diamond necklace was too expensive for me to buy it for her then and there. I actually felt embarrassed I couldn't buy it for her and I also felt like I let her down. I did see the disappointment in her eyes when we learned of the price. What happened that day made me feel small. I vowed I would earn as much as I could so she would never have to think about money ever again.

I rescue Second from the Four Seasons and kill this Diana Lockwood-Crowne, I'll be able to buy her that necklace. I already bought her all the appliances and furniture she needed for her apartment. Now, it was time to buy her a diamonds. I was already planning to buy her a diamond ring so I could ask her to marry me. I knew in my heart she would say yes. I didn't care if the wolves would frown upon us because she was human. Anyway, I had a partnership with One. I could be his mercenary if the High Lord Wolf would decide to release me from my services as a Wolf Troop.

"Sir, we are near the hotel," said the pilot I nodded my head.

"Men get ready and remember no witnesses." I took a silencer from my pocket and began putting it on the end of my gun. "Tell the men to go ahead with the distraction on the ground," I ordered my lieutenant. We all had earpieces on and I heard him give the green light to my men on the ground.

"Bravo team, you have green light. I repeat, you have green light, over." We heard static. My lieutenant furrowed his brow, surprised we didn't get a response. He waited a bit before trying to contact them again. "Bravo team, this is Alpha team. You have a green light for the diversion. I repeat you have a green light. Do you copy? Over." We heard static again. What the fuck is happening down there? "Sir, I'm just getting static. Do we proceed as planned or do we abort the mission?"

"Ask HQ if there has been any change in the number of people on the floor." My lieutenant nodded.

"HQ, this is Alpha team. We need a confirmation on the number of bogies on the 45th floor. I repeat, we need a confirmation on bogies. Over." Static again. "Sir, coms are down. I suggest we head back. We can't go blindly. It's too risky." I looked at all our men and I saw the panic. My lieutenant was right. We go in blindly and we might all die. Better we plan things through and get all the information we need. There will be footage of the Christmas Ball and the men and I can take the time to study the people around Diana and Connor.

"Abort.Take this bird back to HQ. Men, once we get back on the ground, I want all of you to get as much information about Diana Lockwood-Crowne. Especially where she's been all these years. I want to know where she went to school, worked, if she has friends." I turned to my lieutenant. "Call Cavendish. He probably knows what we need to know." He nodded his head. "I'll call One and tell him to get proof of life first. Once we get that, I'll do the negotiations myself."

Better safe than sorry.

__________________

Diana

Such a shame most of the wolves didn't like seeing us in attendance. I could hear all their talk like they were right in front of me.

Uncle Mike disguised as Dos was approached by my grandfather. Obviously, my grandfather didn't like what was said to him, especially the threat that I may end his life so after the confrontation, my grandfather called One and told him to kill me instead. They did some bargaining, since One wanted the mage in exchange for killing me. In the end, Eric Lockwood agreed to do whatever he could to find Andrew.

The Wolf Troops who were assigned for our security took their work at heart. There was a lovely young wolf who wanted to come and join us, but she was harshly ushered away. Well, serves her right for listening to her father. You just don't take whatever you want.

After the dinner, I plan to go to each table and give each guest a handshake. Just a friendly reminder of the sins they have to pay.

"Diana, a rescue mission is on the way. Chief was tasked by One to extract Second from his prison," Onyx said.

"How do they propose to do it? By helicopter?"

"Yes. They have a team who will provide a distraction for the Wolf Troops here," Onyx answered.

"Communication is key for a mission to succeed. You stop communication, I highly doubt they will go with their plans. If they do, I will head upstairs so we can stop them."

"Leave it to me, Diana." Onyx's eyes glowed green and suddenly I heard a complaint from Kate, Ethan's sister.

"I can't get a single bar on my phone. I was about to make a phone call, too." Apparently, Onyx shut down communications for us too.

"Diana, the wolves have retreated. However, I still need those wolves alive," Onyx said. I was about to ask her what she meant when I heard a man's voice behind us.

"Kate, aren't you going to say hi to me?" I saw Ethan automatically stiffen. It was his father.

I turned around to get a good look at him. I clearly saw where Ethan got his height and physique from. Like Ethan, he was tall and even at his age, he had a good built. He had brown hair which had strands of white in them. He stood straight and exuded authority. It was his eyes though that made me squirm. When his gaze met mine, I saw his icy cold attitude towards me when a second ago, it was warm when he was staring at his daughter.

The Wolf Troop captain was blocking his path to us. Ethan, looked at me apologetically, and finally stood up to talk to the Captain. Captain Hathaway, nodded his head at Ethan, but gave Edward Crowne a stern warning which Edward clearly did not appreciate. He gave the Captain and his team a dirty look.

"Security is tight as well as harsh tonight, isn't it? I wonder why when they are protecting a half-breed," Edward Crowne said nonchalantly.

Alpha Connor and my dad stood up and faced him, but Ethan was quick to defend me.

"I don't care who you are to me, Father, but you'd better watch your tongue or I'll have the Captain here escort you out of the ballroom and out into the icy cold street," Ethan said.

"Actually, I'd do it without the help of the Captain," Alpha Connor said.

"Oh my, I didn't know she has everyone speaking for her. Why may I ask? You don't have a tongue?" Edward Crowne looked at me. I opened my mouth and was about to say something, when Harriet coughed.

"Edward, watch who you're speaking to," Harriet said. "She's more capable than you think." Edward sneered at me.

"Then you are capable of understanding that even though you are my son's fated mate, I will not accept you as a Crowne. Sophia Johnson is who I want for my son. Not a half-breed daughter of a missing Alpha who was stupid enough to have human relations." Alpha Connor had to hold back my dad who was about to pounce on him. This alerted Uncle Mike, who was several tables over, helping an elderly wolf.

"So what are you going to do, Edward? Kill her like you killed Enrique?" Didi said entering the circle we made around Edward.

"I did no such thing," Edward lied through his teeth.

"Father, I am Alpha of our pack and if you say another word against my mate, I will banish you like you did Aunt Diasy," Ethan warned his father coldly. "Diana is a Crowne because she is mated to me!"

"You can't banish me, Ethan. Remember you aren't suppose to turn your back on family."

"If you can't and won't accept my mate for who she is, we are no longer family," Ethan said.

"What is happening here?" The High Lord Wolf suddenly appeared at our table. He came from upstairs making last minute transactions and decisions for the nominations for High Councilmen.

"I just came by to say hello, Your Excellency," Edward Crowne said, bowing at him. When he lifted his head, he started to look green. I smirked.

"You mind your manners, Edward Crowne. You are clearly mistaken if you believe you are above all others. You go into a situation blind, you might die as a result." The High Lord Wolf paused. "You don't look so well, Edward. I think you should get some air. Captain Hathaway, have one your men escort Mr. Crowne outside for some air...before he vomits all over my guests." He turned to me. "Diana, my queen, it is time to formally introduce you."

I placed my hand around his arm and he guided me to the center of the stage. He was then given a microphone by the emcee.

"I would like all of you to give reverence to our queen, Diana Lockwood-Crowne. Please bow."

Gasps were heard all around. I scanned the wolves gathered in the ballroom. They did not bow.

Suddenly, the room went dark and I felt my lips move. Our menacing voice echoed within the vastness of the ballroom.

"Bow to your queen or death befall you."

Onyx was becoming impatient.