Rounding the corner a block from where he left Amanda, Angel stepped off the bustling sidewalk, ducking between two weathered brick buildings into a narrow alley littered with discarded newspapers and empty bottles. The street traffic noise diminished to a faint murmur as shadows cast by the late-afternoon sun created pockets of concealment between dumpsters and fire escape ladders.
After a quick scan to confirm he was alone among the urban debris, he tapped his earpiece and whispered, "Angel to Charlie, come in."
"I'm right here." Her reply didn't come through the earpiece but from behind him, startling him.
Quickly regaining his composure, he huffed softly, "Did you follow me from the coffee shop?"
He felt her rest her invisible head on his shoulder. "I got there just as you and Amanda were coming out."
There was something in her voice.
"You okay?" He sensed her worry and realized she'd seen Amanda kiss his cheek.
"She still loves you, doesn't she?"
"I don't know," he answered honestly, "but she has always been there, watching out for me, and I'm grateful for that."
"You should be. It's very sweet of her." She pressed herself closer to him. "I think without her, you wouldn't have made it this far or saved so many lives."
"You're probably right," he agreed. Slipping his arm around her invisible waist, he was well aware of how awkward it would look if anyone passed by. Realizing she'd avoided the question, he pressed, "Are you okay, Charlie?"
"Yes." While there was no hesitation, her voice had softened considerably. "I trust you, my knight."
However, the way she pressed herself firmly against him carried a clear hint of possessiveness. Just as quickly, she pulled back, her tone more serious. "Angel. I found the girls."
His body tensed. "Report."
"A box truck, like those U-Hauls, pulled into a warehouse near the Florida Avenue bridge, and four men took some bound girls inside." She paused, hesitant to continue.
He'd been right. They'd switched vehicles en route. He'd have to update Amanda in case other shipments were due in. Her pause spoke volumes.
"You wanted to charge in." He voiced her silent struggle.
"I did. But I wasn't going to disobey your orders. You said others could be inside; if I had, I could have endangered all of them. It's hard, though. Angel, they were so frightened."
"If it helps, I'd have wanted to go in right away myself. Every second counts in these situations. But we have to do this right if we're going to save them all."
"I know." She paused again. "Did you lie to Amanda about calling her?"
"No. Not entirely. I don't trust the SAC's procedures, though. She called me in for a reason. She knows I'm the best chance for these girls. That we are the best chance for them."
She hesitated only a second before confessing her concerns. "Angel, I'm not sure if I'm enough for you on this one. The girls come first. I'm scared for them far more than I fear being discovered."
This is what he had feared since the first night: that something would happen requiring her to expose herself. He was reluctant to trust Amanda to meet Charlie even under calm circumstances. But if it occurred during a mission? Amanda was a professional, but any normal person who was confronted by a demon would likely shoot first and ask questions later.
He double-checked: "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'll do what I can, but I'd feel better if we had help."
He had already been debating how to proceed, but her concern solidified his decision. "Okay. Let's go get our stuff. I'd like you to show me the warehouse on Google Maps so I can access the architectural plans for it. We have almost two hours before it gets dark; then we're heading to the warehouse. I'll call Amanda once we're on site, giving her time to rest and us a head start."
He hesitated, then gave her the permission she needed. "And if she sees you, she sees you."
"Thank you, Angel."
He hummed an acknowledgement and checked the street. "Since it's so crowded, you run ahead and let Cassie know the plan. I'll follow and see you back at the apartment in a few minutes."
"Yes, sir!" She affirmed.
He then felt her lips brush the same cheek Amanda had kissed, and the warmth of her breath against his ear.
"I love you," she whispered.
Angel heard her soft steps move around him, and then silence as she faded off into the crowd of tourists. He paused briefly, letting his fingers brush his face. Although she hadn't admitted it, or maybe even felt it consciously, he knew she was jealous of Amanda. Her sudden confession both surprised and warmed him. He also realized it carried an undertone of possessiveness. This made him worry that if the moment came, she might reveal herself to Amanda for all the wrong reasons.
With a sigh, he moved into the crowd toward Cassie's shop, setting those emotions aside. Right now, all that mattered was saving the children.
Reaching the apartment fifteen minutes later, he walked in to find Charlie already organizing their equipment. Cassie was at the kitchen table, on her laptop, searching for floor plans for the warehouse. She nodded when he entered, and he returned the gesture. Excusing himself, he went to the bathroom to freshen up.
A short time later, he joined the women in the living room. "Sis? Are you okay with us using your car tonight?"
"It's yours as long as you need it. Charlie filled me in on everything. I'm gathering the floor plans as we speak."
He chuckled and sat in the chair next to the couch, which was covered in their usual supplies. "Didn't leave me with anything to do, did you, Charlie?"
"Cassie gathers intel; I arrange supplies; you make the plan," she quipped as she sat down in another chair, near him. "And two out of three are just about done."
"Just about." He flashed her a mysterious wink as he reached under his chair to pull out a duffel bag she hadn't seen before.
She raised her eyebrows—interest piqued—and leaned in as he unzipped the bag.
Reaching in, he explained, "I figured it was time you had your own means of taking out the bad guys."
When she saw his gift for her, her eyes sparkled, and new ideas for using it started flooding her mind. He smiled at her reaction and explained how to operate the equipment.
A few minutes later, Cassie called them over to the computer and showed them the plans. The warehouse blueprints glowed on her laptop screen, revealing multiple entry points, ventilation shafts, and interior layouts across three floors. Angel traced his finger along the digital corridors, pointing out the best infiltration routes. These included a loading dock with limited visibility, emergency exits that could serve as escape paths, and blind spots where Charlie might get a drop on her targets. Charlie absorbed them all, memorizing every potential advantage and threat.
Soon, the sun disappeared behind gathering clouds, giving way to long shadows stretching across the city as dusk settled in.
Angel checked his watch. "It's about time."
"Amanda?" Charlie ventured, wanting to be sure he still planned to include her.
"I promise to call her once we get started. That way, I can give her a rundown on how many there are. You'll be able to sense them and provide me with numbers. Then she'll radio in the backup."
She nodded, satisfied. "Got it."
"I'll monitor the Frequencies, see if I pick up any chatter from incoming vessels or trouble elsewhere," Cassie added.
"Good." He picked up his duffel bag and nodded to Charlie. "Are you ready?"
"Fuck, yes!" Her eyes pulsed with a crimson glow.
The siblings saw the lights flicker in the kitchen from Charlie's burst of power and knew for certain that those assholes who'd taken the children didn't stand a chance in Hell.