Before I had time to say anything, Bridget chimed in. “Kat’s bugged Antonio, and she knows he’s kept things from her. She and Sophie are going to go check out a bunker.”
CJ’s faced paled at Bridget’s words. I wasn’t sure if he was worried I might get hurt or if he thought I told Bridget about him being hired at AA Security.
“You heard all his conversations today?” CJ croaked out.
Bridget gave CJ a puzzled look. “Of course she did. Didn’t you just hear what I told you?”
He nodded and cracked the beer in his hand. He took a couple big gulps. I knew he was worried about what was said. I needed to put his worries aside. It wasn’t my place to tell Sophie and Bridget he had taken another job.
“I told them everything Antonio talked about with regards to Juan.”
CJ nodded at me. He understood I hadn’t let his secret out of the bag. He would have to tell her soon, or she would figure it out on her own.
Conversation about how we would run the op flowed for the next hour. Once Antonio left for the office and I dropped Ant off at school, I would head over to White Hat Security. Bridget had a camera and ear coms I would wear that would link back to her servers and record everything I see or hear. That way, everything we saw or heard would be recorded.
We could come back and analyze the video afterward to see if there was anything we missed.
I looked down at my watch and noticed it was late. We needed to stop by Antonio’s parents’ house and pick up Ant. He loved to spend time with his grandparents, but I still had a hard time being away from him for too long.
“I think it’s time for me to head out.”
I said my goodbyes to the women in the room. We all confirmed the time we were meeting tomorrow. CJ was the last to walk up and give me a hug goodbye.
“Thank you,” he whispered in my ear.
If I could hold his secret, he needed to hold mine. “Please don’t tell the guys what I’m planning.”
I felt his body stiffen under my arms, but he agreed. He wasn’t happy about it, but I wasn’t happy keeping information from my sister and Bridget, either.
As we pulled apart, the door to the apartment swung open. Antonio stood in the doorway with a scowl across his face.
“Why do you have your hands on my wife?”
I walked over and wrapped my arms around Antonio’s waist. “Stop, hun. We were saying goodbye. He’s going to be my brother in-law, you can’t get jealous of your gay future brother inlaw.”
“I still think a goodbye handshake is better,” he grumbled as he led me out the door.
The next day would be an eventful one. I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. I felt slightly remorseful about the secret I was keeping from Antonio.
8
Kat
I gripped the steering wheel and glanced at my surroundings. A small fishing cabin sat in the middle of the property. I reached over to the passenger side and grabbed the piece of paper with the coordinates. I was in the correct location. I took a couple of deep breaths and stepped out of the rented SUV.
The gravel cracked underneath the soles of my combat boots. I reached to my side and checked for my Glock. I was rewarded with the feel of my gun. It made me feel safer for a moment.
I had promised Bridget and Sophie that I wouldn’t come to Nebula’s bunker. Zane had been called to Washington by his brother, and Sophie went with him. We planned to go to the bunker together when she returned on Friday. I was all for the plan to wait until she returned. But when I left White Hat Security earlier, I started to drive, and a half hour later, I ended up at the location I swore I wouldn’t go to alone.
The air in Florida was hot and sticky. I wasn’t used to it. Ant and I had spent most of our time in the northeast corner of the country. Every time I stepped into the Florida sun, I felt like I needed to take a shower.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and it made me jump in surprise. I pulled out my phone to see who was calling. When Sophie’s name flashed across the screen, my stomach turned with remorse. I ignored her call and put the phone in my pocket. Not two seconds later, the phone rang again. By the fourth time she called, I knew she wouldn’t stop.
“Hey, sis.” I leaned against the rental and took in the surroundings.
I heard her huff on the other end of the line. “Don’t ‘hey’ me. What have you found?”
I looked down the abandoned roadto make sure I wasn’t followed. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I couldn’t see anyone for miles.