Page 34 of The Secrets We Share

“My hero.”

The entire houseis finally awake and surrounding the coffee table in the small living room. James heard from his contact, who scouted the location, reporting that a whole section of the church was blocked off, with a little too much security. It’s where we’ll start.

“You’re not coming,” Keira tells Stacey.

“Why not? I’m the only one they won’t be expecting.”

“Don’t be naïve. My father’s been watching me for much longer than I want to think about. He’ll know exactly who you are. Plus, you don’t mean shit to him. If you get in the way, I wouldn’t put it past his men to put a bullet between your eyes.”

“But—”

“No.” James’s rough tone cuts through her persistence. “You’ll stay here.”

How they stare at each other, having a silent conversation all their own, is beyond telling. But she relents and sits back against the couch, crossing her arms over her chest in a sullen pout.

“This video they sent to his inbox had nothing else to say? Just the coordinates in the email? Were you able to trace who sent it or from where?”

“Look at my little protégée. Knowing all the right questions to ask.” I lean into her, kissing her temple as she preens under my compliment.

“The IP address pinged to a computer at the church. They didn’t even try to mask it since they weren’t trying to hide the location.”

“Do you really think they’re keeping him hidden at the church?” Keira asks.

“I think they want it to look that way. But if it were me, he’d have been taken elsewhere before the email was sent. They want us to rush in, and it’s the perfect time for Domenico to get his hands on you, and if not you, then me. He knows that’s just as good.”

“Aren’t you guys just playing into his hand?” Stacey throws out, more observant than I’d expect from her.

“I’ve got that part covered. The bodies on the door aren’t an issue. We get in, check the space and get out. Suppose your father’s there, great. If not, I wouldn’t be surprised if we pick up a tail on the way home. Which is why I think you should stay here with Stacey, Keira,” James adds.

Oh, shit.

Her eyes swing to me, but if she has a problem with this idea, she needs to say something. I’d be happy to leave her here, where I know shit isn’t going to go sideways. But there’s no way in hell my girl isn’t going to park her ass right in the middle of all the action.

“Listen here, you can boss my bestie around all you want, and I won’t even comment on it. But try to tell me where I can and can’t be, and we’ll have a serious problem, James. Trust me, you want me on your six more than this guy. I did teach him everything he knows.”

I cover my proud smile behind my hand as James stares Keira down. He’s worked with me for years, but my specialty has always been blades. Keira’s not lying. Her knowledge and skills with a firearm far outweighed mine before our trip to Colorado. I’d call us even now, but I don’t plan on telling her I think so.

“Fine. But when we get there, you will listen to me. Do you understand?”

“Aye, aye, captain,” Keira mocks back, saluting him with a lazy finger. “So, when do we go?”

“Tonight.”

SIXTEEN

KEIRA

Fallout - UNSECRET, Neoni

The guys spent the afternoon prepping for every contingency under the sun, while I hit the gym and took the longest shower known to man. We left Stacey at the house with Cinder and explicit instructions to leave if we weren’t back by morning—another house in James’s long list of options pre-programmed in the GPS for her.

The giant blacked-out SUV feels like a target board as we drive to our target. It doesn’t matter that the glass is bulletproof, or that the undercarriage is covered in Kevlar; the air inside is thick with tension. The guys in the front seats add to the issue with their stark silence.

The possibility that if shit goes south, I’ll be handed back over to Daddy Dearest has me running through the blueprints in my head one more time. We’re entering at the back of the building, coming in through the old classroom wing that should be abandoned. From there, we’ll be able to locate the entrance to the maintenance tunnels. But that’s where it gets dicey.

My hands drift across my body, slowly taking stock of the weapons Harkin loaded me up with. My standard side carry, a backup strapped around my ankle, not to mention a few trusted blades scattered about. He double-checked that both of our trackers were emitting our location, which Stacey now also has access to, so she can keep an eye on us.

“I’m parking a few blocks over. We’ll separate and meet at the entry point,” James instructs, speaking for the first time since we left.

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