Page 77 of Pure Vengeance

“We know some things George doesn’t. He doesn’t know about the hidden passages and access hallways for the staff.”

“How did you find those?”

I shrugged and my cheeks heated. “I used to love Nancy Drew mysteries. I got bored one day and started tapping on walls. He doesn’t know I’ve spent the last six months shooting every one of these firearms until I could pick a single leaf off a tree.”

“True, but he’s going to have guns too, and we still can’t use them until Saoirse is out of their reach.”

“Call them my plan B. Anyway, the other thing he doesn’t know is how much time I’ve spent at a mixed martial arts studio.I’m fast and strong, and more importantly, I know how to be quiet because my life depended on it when my father was alive.”

A muscle twitched in his cheek, but he nodded. “Okay. What else?”

“George doesn’t know I’m not afraid anymore.” I slid the pistol into a holster at my waist. “Unfortunately, he’s impatient. He’s not going to give us two hours, so I need to get into position.”

“Okay.” Lachlan rubbed his face, then sighed. “I trust you. Tell me what you need.”

I checked the window, making sure no cars approached before returning my duffel to the closet. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”

Lachlan

After wiping my damp palms on my pants, I checked my watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. Natasha was already skulking upstairs, waiting for me to send George, Enrique, and Matt looking for her.

I hated her plan.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of a better one that would allow me to protect both her and my sister. At least Natasha would have advance warning from the security app we’d installed on her phone. The proximity alarm would alert both of us the minute they breached the borders of my property.

Finn would have come up with something, but if George was to be believed, my oldest friend was gone. I’d have to grieve his loss later. Despite my worry, I couldn’t help a small smile.Natasha’s plan was probably close to what Finn would have done.

“Fuck.” In an attempt to relax, I took a few deep breaths and moved my head from side to side to release the tension in my neck.

I’d watched Natasha train with sparring partners a few times, and she rarely lost. If she could win against trained fighters, she’d be deadly against George, who was twice her age and spent more time drinking than he did in the gym. Matt wasn’t much better, but Enrique…

He might be a problem, but I had to trust Natasha was ready for him. There wasn’t another option.

My phone buzzed a warning, making me flinch with surprise. Cursing, I pulled myself together and sent a quick text to Natasha.

They’re here.

I heard. Phones on silent now. You know what to do.

I still hate this plan.

I still don’t care.

“God, I should spank you,” I muttered as I silenced my phone and slid it into my pocket.

Steeling myself, I went to the door and opened it, then waited for a black SUV with tinted windows to park at the head of my driveway.

Christ, could they be more cliché?

I folded my arms across my chest and waited as George got out of the front passenger seat and strode toward me—without my sister.

“Where’s Saoirse?”

“Where’s Tasha?” he countered, smirking at me.

He was clean-shaven, with light brown hair and watery blue eyes, and reminded me of an elementary school bully who forgothe wasn’t ten anymore. And like most bullies, he needed just one person to make him stop.

I was self-aware enough to include myself in that description. Natasha had been the one to stop me.

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