Page 99 of Queen of Spades

And yet, watching her snore against my skin only strengthens my need to keep her safe.

My phone vibrates loudly, and I snatch it up.

“Hello?” I whisper to keep from waking the snoozing omega.

“Why isn’t Kane answering my calls?” Ranger growls.

“He’s working out. What’s up?”

Annika wakes, blinking at me in shock.

It’s nearly silent.

I’m not surprised Ranger’s snarls woke her.

“At least twenty, possibly twenty-five men. That entire fucking area is a dead zone for surveillance cameras.”

My brain is still processing the information as Annika snatches the phone from my ear, putting it on speakerphone. “How far out?”

“Hello, Sparrow, you sound well. I’m glad. I’ve missed you,” Ranger says, but his tone is still as cold and dead as it always is. “Merrick was watching the two ATM feeds from that shit-hole town. Three SUVs passed seven minutes ago.”

“Jesus Christ,” she hisses. “And there’s only that one road in?”

“Technically, yes,” he says. “There’s a slight possibility there could be hunting trails or other dirt roads behind the property that lead to actual government-named roads, but nothing Merrick can see. It would be something only the locals are privy to.”

“So, we have no choice but to have this out?” she asks, climbing off my lap and starting to pace in front of the couch.

“You could run, but that would be a long drive to Virginia. You’d have to hope you didn’t even need to stop for gas.” Ranger sighs. “I have a friend and her team on the way. They won’t be there for at least two hours.”

“A cleanup team?” Annika asks, spinning toward the doorway.

That’s when I spot Ward. He’s watching and listening, just inside the entrance to the living room.

“Exactly,” Ranger agrees. “You know, I have to say, I’m proud of you. You kept yourself alive and hidden for longer than I thought possible. I genuinely hope that was due to your fear of the remaining Andrettis and not me.”

“I-I…”

“It’s no matter. Rally your men and prepare. Merrick says you have no more than ten minutes. Head for my home in Virginia once you’re done.” He clears his throat. “I have a surprise for you. Stay alive. Be aware, it’s highly likely Ezrah is with them.”

The phone disconnects as Annika’s hand shakes.

“The middle Andretti. Well, I guess the younger of the two that are still alive.” Her eyes are huge as they meet mine. “We need guns.”

“Fuck,” I grunt, shoving myself off the couch.

“I’ll grab Grady and Kane.” Ward takes off without a backward glance.

“There’s a balcony, right? That’s what that is on the second floor, like an outside porch thing?” She tosses my phone on the coffee table. “It’s time we play offense.”

My head tilts because I have no idea what that means, but I’m also part of this pack. I grew up in a world where I didn’t make it to sixteen without completing my first kill. I’ve purposely moved away from that kind of living in my adult life, but I still remember where I came from.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Annika

It’s clear the majority of the bags we brought with us were filled with guns and ammo. Watching Kane and Ward drop them on the living room floor makes my heart race.

“What’s the plan?” Grady asks, pulling me close to his chest. “Ward filled us in on what Ranger said, but what do you and Cas plan to do?”

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