Page 232 of Bossy Hero

Sue stiffens, popping off my lap to match Sammy’s energy. “Oh... well, yeah. They can’t be in two ports at the same time.”

My daughter shifts to her knees, resting on her ankles. “What do you meantwo ports?”

Sue looks nervously between us. “You didn’t know the plan changed?”

Like a choreographed move, my daughter and I shake our heads at precisely the same time and speed.

Sue fidgets with the hem of her nightshirt. “Oh shite. I wonder if I’m allowed to talk about this.”

I place my hands over hers to halt her nervous twitching. “Doesn’t matter. Tell us what you know, and if anyone has a problem with it, send them to me.”

Sammy flings a thumb in my direction. “She’s banging your boss. I think it’s safe to spill the beans.”

Sue nibbles at her lip, her gaze darting to the ceiling. “Well, they didn’t tell menotto say anything.”

I pulse our joined hands. “It’s fine to talk to us. What happened?”

She worked in the office yesterday and this morning, so she must have overheard something. Or maybe she was assisting with the planning.

Everything seemed fine when Leo dropped her off with us at dawn before he left for Miami. He and Sawyer said their goodbyes, reminding us to be safe while they’re gone.

No mention of plans changing.

Whatever’s happening must not impact us, or they’d have moved us. The plan is for Sammy, Sue, and me to stay here with the babies during the entire mission. With us all in one place, we’re better protected. We’ve got three guards watching over us—Henderson, Aaron, and Josh. And CPD is sending police cruisers by for hourly check-ins.

After heaving a deep breath, Sue explains what Redleg learned from Katia’s phone calls with the mayor and her conversation with Nikolai.

When Sue pauses for air, Sammy jumps in. “Lenkov is moving his shit out of TampaandMiami tomorrow?”

“Yes. We identified two berths at Tampa that Lenkov will most likely use. Leo’s team went to Miami this morning, as originally planned. Big Al’s team will be at the Tampa port.”

My son’s leading his own team without Alan’s guidance or backup. I’m not a fan of that. Despite knowing Leo’s an incredibly capable man, he’s still my baby.

On the other hand, this change also means Alan’s still in town. In the midst of this panic, it makes me feel a bit better to know he’s nearby. I wish he’d told me, though.

Then again, what would be the point? He knows it’d only make me worry. He’s also probably been working around the clock to deal with the last-minute change. In addition to helping with the twins, I elected to stay here so he could focus entirely on the mission. No distractions.

Sammy tugs a pillow onto her lap, wrapping her arms around it. “Which team is Sawyer on?”

“He’s with Leo in Miami.”

At least my sons are together.

“Why didn’t they all stay to focus on the Tampa portion of the move?” My tone comes across as whiny, but I can’t seem to suppress it. “There were like five or six spots to cover in Miami. That was already too many. And now they’re spread even thinner.”

“Yeah, it sounds like the odds are better in Tampa,” Sammy adds.

Sue raises her shoulders to her ears. “They considered focusing on only one port. Ultimately, they decided to divide forces after Boss talked to Chief Bigsby.”

I wring my hands in my lap. “Why? What did Bigsby say?”

“That he hasn’t been in contact with Katia for eight days.”

Sammy abandons her hold on the pillow to twist her hair nervously over one shoulder. “And? Is that unusual?”

Sue bunches her mouth on one side. “At any other time, it wouldn’t be alarming. Now? It’snota good sign. Especially since we know Lenkov’s plans now include the Tampa port, and she’s failed to inform her father of the change.”

My heart and stomach clench. “Do they think she’s gone to the dark side like Yev?”

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