Page 77 of Kill Me Sweetly

My skin felt as if it were on fire, yet every part felt like ice. Rage coursed through my veins.

“Did you see where they put him?” I growled.

“They went through the front door, then brought him into some white room. The Zone, I’m guessing. I’ve kept radio silence, not wanting them to figure out we were listening and watching. But I’ve also been recording. I got Harper Reese confessing to everything.”

“That might help.” Mason jumped forward between us. “What if we leak it to news outlets? We can’t call the police because we don’t know which are good and which are bad.”

We didn’t have time to try to get the stations to agree, but I had another idea. “Nick, remember when Noel hacked the radio station that time on a dare?”

“Uh, maybeeeee?”

“Can he hack into news outlets? If some locals get it at the same time, it’ll spread. And fast—I just know it.”

“I don’t know, Shep. That’s not going to be as easy as you think.”

“Then stop talking to me and find out. We have to get in there. I’m either walking out of here with JJ, or I’m not walking out.”

“Understood. Keep an earpiece in and I’ll let you know when I do.”

I disconnected the call and looked at Gabe. “You don’t have to come with me.”

Gabe snorted. “Like hell I’m not. If those fuckers don’t kill me, Mason sure would.”

“Oh, I’m coming too.” Mason smacked Gabe’s shoulder.

“Absolutely not. You need to stay with Four.” Gabe slapped a gun and earpiece in Mason’s hand. “Someone gets in, you let that be the last thing they ever do.”

“Gabe, come on, there are two of you and Lord knows how many in there.”

“Babe, please.” He cupped Mason’s cheek. “I need to know you’re safe. I won’t be able to concentrate if you’re in there, and then it would get us all killed. Please.”

I couldn’t see Four’s expression through the mirror, but I imagined it was either placid or disgusted. I’d laugh if I wasn’t so fucking stressed out.

“Fine, I’ll stay. But if I start seeing guys running in there, I’m right behind them.”

Gabe smiled. “I’d expect nothing less.”

After they kissed, they broke apart. “Are you both finished? JJ’s life is hanging in the balance here.”

I was done waiting. I opened my door turned and tossed Mason the keys, which he fumbled since he had a gun in the other hand.

“If we come out running, you’ll need to be ready to drive us out. Get in the driver’s seat. Four, no one can see you there—you’re safe.”

“Shep.” He shifted in his seat. “In the basement, there’s a red door that leads to the sewer. The red door needs a key; every guard has a set of keys.”

“I’ll remember that. Thank you, Four.”

He dipped his chin and stared out the window.

I’d brought enough gunpower, knives, and other fun things we owned, for Gabe and me to have a variety of ways to take these people out and bring JJ home. I hoped Noel could get Harper’s confession out there; it would cause chaos and if it dismantled his empire, it had the capacity to take all the corrupt people who used Harper’s services to fall with him.

Gabe and I popped our earpieces in as we raced to where the tree line began and carefully yet swiftly rushed through the woods. We could see the large house from our vantage point, but the brush was thick and the trunks of the trees large enough we could hide behind them if need be.

In the backyard, there were about ten boys of all ages. Some were running, others sparring. It was like gladiator training. One kid, maybe fourteen, was throwing knives faster than I could blink.

About three guards were out there, and sure enough there was the door just like Four said, perched open with a big rock.

“It can’t be this easy,” Gabe whispered beside me.

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