Page 21 of Building Haven
I put my hand over my lower belly.“Preferably before our kids are old enough to learn about places like that.”
I want to make this world a better place and I feel this is the way I can do that.
This is what Ireallywant to do.Not five or ten years into the future, but rightnow.
13
Mathew
“How many guardsare they expecting to be on duty?”I look at the blueprint of the biotechnological research complex we’ll be sneaking into for a job.“The place is well-covered with security cameras, but there are a couple of areas that are bare.Is that on purpose or is that where they put individual security guards?”
“They expect around twenty or so people to be on duty that evening.”Timothy points to the north side of the complex.“That’s where the security room is, right next to their break room.They also have a separate entrance into the complex, here.”
“Twenty is going to be tricky.It’s rare for there to be that much security for a place of this size.That means that there’s probably much more going on than what Allen told us this was going to be about.”I hate it when people try to fuck me over by giving me much less information than needed, or pretending that whatever they’re asking for is a lot less dangerous than it really is.
This job didn’t look that complicated.Get inside, grab some samples, get out.It’s items, not people.They gave us boxes to transport the samples in, they’re small enough to fit into a pocket, so easy to take with us.They promised us that the samples weren’t toxic or anything like that, so no extra danger to plan for.
“We’re sure that they’re not hiring us to steal samples of drugs from their rivals?”I sigh.I’ve been tired a lot lately, but I also feel like this job has been giving us more trouble than it should.Which isn’t making my mood any better.
“No drugs.You’ve known Allen for long enough to know that they would never touch drugs.I think we’d have heard about it if that had changed.”Timothy slides a page in front of me.
I sit down, staring at it, trying to make sense of what it says.It’s the overview of some chemical compound, giving the formula, something about various names and more information that my brain is refusing to take in.
“Pretend I’m me from a decade ago and explain this in the simplest terms possible?”I glance up at him and he smiles, nodding.
“It’s a chemical compound that can be cultivated in some types of flowers.At low levels, it helps soothe pheromones, which is mostly what they’ve been trying to perfect.The company we’re going to ‘visit’ has been trying to find a suitable type of flowers to consistently produce it.If they manage that, it would create a whole new market.It means we’re no longer dependent on diffusers and oils for pheromone soothing but that we can use flowers, which is supposed to be a lot safer.”
Supposed to be.I don’t like the sound of that.
“And at high levels?”
“Some researchers have speculated that at high levels, this compound could eliminate the need for Alpha-Omega compatibility during heat.Which would make constructed packs a lot easier to manage, as per the researchers’ papers.There are of course also other less savoury uses…” His cinnamon pheromones fill with bitter notes and I don’t need him to go into detail about those ‘other’ uses.
Human trafficking and forced mating.There are plenty of rich Alphaholes who see a very attractive Omega, only to find out that they’re not compatible and that they can’t mate the Omega.Those bastards would love it if there was a way to get rid of that ‘hurdle’.
I saw it plenty of times while working for the Hearts.Some rich Alphahole would come in, pick out the most beautiful Omega on staff, and when they realised the Omega’s instincts immediately rejected them, they would get irate.Something like this compound would solve that issue.
Any Omega would be fair game for any Alpha...Notsomething I’m the biggest fan of.The Suits Syndicate would have a whole new business to add to their arsenal of revolting income streams and that doesn’t sit right with me.
“Allen promised me that this job wasn’t any more dangerous than usual.”I slide the page with the chemical stuff on it aside and stare at the layout of the complex.“The blueprint also doesn’t look like anything more complicated than we’re used to.So, why do I have a bad feeling about it?”
“Number of security guards and the camera coverage, something doesn’t add up.And, of course, the separate entrances and exists for very specific groups of people.”Timothy steps back and checks his phone.“Derrick is putting together the team, but we’re still understaffed and this is looking more complex than usual.”
“I’ll join you.”Riley stands up from the couch, where she was carefully winding her new yarn into balls, while clearly listening in on our conversation.“I’ve not been on a mission in weeks and this looks interesting.If this goes well, I might join your organisation full-time.I’m not used to working in a team, but I’m willing to try it out.”
Timothy eyes me, questioning and I shrug, though my heart is beating fast at the idea of Riley joining us.
“I’ll let Derrick know.He’s seen you in action before, more than me, so he’ll have a better idea of what role would work best for you.”He types out a message, smiling, clearly findingsomethingamusing.
“Actually, I think I’ll also go.You need someone to sneak past any pheromone checkpoints.I don’t need to scrub my pheromones to do that.Less work for the team.I’m the best candidate for getting past the last layer of security and grabbing the samples.”I’d been considering this for a while now, especially as I learned more and more about the job and realised that between losing people the night we grabbed Vera and Caleb and the attack at the restaurant, we’re still short some highly skilled people.Getting to work with Riley is only a bonus.
“No.”Jorge jumps up from where he was sitting at the table, looking over some of Timothy’s notes for the mission, his chair falling over with a loud clatter.His pheromones are overwhelming and edged with something sharp.“You’renotgoing in.Get someone else to go in.It’snotgoing to be you.”
I stare at him for a moment, until I realise that he’s serious.He believes that just because he says so, I’ll stay at home.
Hell no.
Hellfuckingno.
