My Hockey Alpha

noveldrama

Chapter 0796

Nina

Finally, it was time.

After two days of preparations, we went to collect Ronan from his cell. Much to my surprise, he stayed calm, not even needing to be guarded as we made our way out to the truck. After the four of us-myself, Enzo, Ronan, and Luke-climbed into the truck, we pulled out and began following the directions to the location.

The drive to the location Ronan had revealed was tense and filled with apprehension, and the length it took to get there didn't make it any better. Although the car was quiet, save for Ronan's occasional direction regarding a turn in the road, I just couldn't seem to shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap.

However, I felt oddly reassured that he was telling the truth. I couldn't quite explain why, but I could sense it; maybe my wolf's sixth sense was kicking in. Ronan had proven himself untrustworthy in the past, and it was hard to forget the anguish he had put us through during... well, everything, but he had grown somber since our promise to get him help.

Maybe that was all people needed sometimes. Help getting out of a bad situation.

As we neared the remote forest area on the outskirts of a neighboring town, Luke piped up from the backseat." This is actually not too far from where I saw Edward at that gas station a while back."

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Edward's name. Ever since his sudden return, no matter how brief, I had felt more on edge at the sound of his name than I had in a very long time.

"You're sure?" I asked, twisting in my seat to look at him.

Luke nodded solemnly. "Positive. It can't be a coincidence that Ronan led us here."

A heavy silence hung in the air as we processed this new information. Could Edward be tied up in all of this, somehow? The thought made my stomach churn.

"Do you know anything about that, Ronan?" Enzo asked, meeting Ronan's steely gaze in the rearview mirror." About Edward?"

Ronan furrowed his brow for a moment, then shook his head. "I told you all I know."

There was a heavy silence, but none of us pressed the matter. I believed Ronan; it was clear that he truly knew nothing more than the orders given to him by some mysterious messenger.

Finally, we reached the coordinates Ronan had given us a small, nondescript warehouse nestled deep within the forest. It was well-hidden from prying eyes, surrounded by dense foliage and accessible only by a narrow dirt road. We had parked the truck in some underbrush a while back and had walked the rest of the way, keeping off the path in case of being spotted.

As we approached on foot, Ronan cast a furtive glance around before turning to us. "Well, this is it," he whispered. "The only place I know."

Enzo, Luke and I exchanged glances before we carefully crept forward, peering through the underbrush. The small warehouse was unassuming, and completely dark. But it was the middle of the day somehow, I had a feeling that most of the dealings here went on at night.

"Tell us what you know," Enzo finally whispered, glancing over at Ronan.

Ronan let out the tiniest of sighs as he peered through the foliage. "About once a month or so, I'd meet with my boss here to give him updates on you guys and get new orders," he said. "But I never went inside. I'm not sure if I would have wanted to, if I was even allowed."

I cast him a curious glance. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "I can't really explain it," he said. "The place just gives off... bad vibes. My wolf would always get uneasy whenever we'd get close to the building. I don't know exactly what goes on in there, but I have a feeling that it's not pleasant."

Enzo and I looked at each other, our eyes widening. If that was true, then I had likely dodged a huge bullet by not allowing myself to get kidnapped.

But that just made the reasons for this mysterious "Schreiber" family wanting my baby all the more sinister.

Finally, Enzo straightened and walked over to Ronan, his expression steely. "Well, you've held up your end of the bargain," he said. "Now it's time for us to hold up ours."