Page 108 of The Art of You

“This is TOC. Looks like the house is empty. Everyone is now in the vehicles,” I shared. “Two still on the perimeter and two in the tower. The front SUV is about to roll out.”

From the corner of my eye, I spied Keith’s balled hand move to his lap, disappearing beneath the makeshift desk.

An uneasy feeling snuck up on me, and I leaned back in my seat, the Glock butting against the chair, a solid reminder of Hudson’s concerns.

Before I could ask Keith if he was okay, or check in with the team, Hudson’s phone began ringing. I’d forgotten he’d left it in the van in case Adelina or Enzo called with news.

“Don’t answer that now.” Unlike how he’d spoken to me before, Keith’s voice was sharp and abrasive.

Hello, concerns times ten.Something was definitely off.

While I didn’t want to follow Keith’s orders, I was currently too focused on what was going down on the screen to answer Adelina. Constantine gave the go-ahead to Hudson and Roman, and they didn’t miss.

They nailed their marks in perfect and impressive timing. Four tangos down. Two each.

“Good work,” I whispered, remembering Hudson needed to hear me so he wouldn’t worry.

“This is Alpha Three. Snipers in the tower are down.”

“Echo Four here. The perimeter is also secure. You’re clear to move in.”

“Roger that. Alpha and Delta, you’re a go,” Constantine directed, and now all I could do was sit back and watch the scene unfold like a movie.

My brothers and the others moved into view now, breaching the property and shooting only at the second and fourth SUVs, leaving the ones with the child and the boss alone for now. The nonstop ringing from Hudson’s phone served as a soundtrack to everything playing out, but I also knew the radio wasn’t live, so the rings wouldn’t transmit and distract the teams.

“Silence that fucking thing, or I will.” Keith’s bone-chilling words were as unsettling as his tone. He’d gone from the semi-charming guy who’d spilled his coffee on me earlier to creepy phone-caller guy in a horror flick.

The calls stopped before I could act on his command, and with Keith deeply focused on the action on the screen as if hisown life depended on the outcome, I took the opportunity to reach for the phone.

Before I could grab it, he caught me off guard, securing a strong grip of my wrist.

“Remove your hand from my body, or so help me, when they come back, they’ll sever it from your arm,” I ordered, trying not to let fear take over.

Keith swiveled his head to meet my eyes, and they were as dark as coal and downright terrifying. The mask had been lifted, and whoever he’d been pretending to be before was gone. He’d pulled off the poker face of all poker faces, and Hudson’s bad feeling was staring back at me instead.

I went to open my mouth and scream for help from our guys outside, but sealed my lips together when I realized he had something pointed at me.

His right arm still seemed to work just fine despite the injury carefully concealed by a bandage, and he was gripping a 9mm.

I calculated my options and what to do. He’d shoot me before the van doors ever opened if I did yell for help, and I had no clue how to access the gun at my back and defend myself with a trained operator holding on to me.I’m screwed.

He kept his dark eyes pinned on me as I searched for strength and resilience to think through this massive problem. “How do you fit into this? Who’s Rose Green to you?”

“TOC, come in, this is Alpha Three. Are you good?” Hudson asked over the radio.

“Tell him you’re fine,” Keith ordered. “And you better sell it, or I’ll remove you from the equation. Then your death will distract them. Get them killed.”

I closed my eyes as fear officially hijacked my thoughts. My brothers and Hudson couldn’t lose me. They’d never . . . just no.I have to live. I have to.

“Bella, come in.” Hudson chucked protocol out the window and went right for it, worry taking over.

“Answer him, goddammit,” Keith ordered. “They have a mission to complete.”

I opened my eyes, and with my free hand, reached for the controls. “This is TOC, we lost connection for a moment, but we’re back. I’m here.”

“Roger that. Good copy,” Hudson responded immediately, and I bought myself two more minutes before he’d panic again.

Keith was right; they had a mission to focus on. I couldn’t let anything happen to them because of me.

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