Page 224 of The Reluctant Hero

That feeling hits harder.

I start shaking my head, but they ignore me.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll have one of us with you at all times,” Gabriel starts, and Jake cuts him off.

“I’ll take the night shift.”

While everyone is trying to melt Jake with their glares, I take in what he’s saying.

“You’re setting yourself up as a buyer?” I ask, trying to pin down what emotion I should settle on without success. It’s a wild swirl of anger, panic, concern, and dread.

Jake’s phone chimes with a text, distracting him from derailing the conversation.

“I am. There’s an easy in with it. They need money. I have it,” he gestures to the ridiculous spread of food and the paintings on the wall.

He’s right. But if he’s this blatant about it, they won’t bite. Will they? It was a lot of money. They have to be freaking out.

“I don’t like it,” I shake my head again. “If they figure out what you’re up to, it’s all downhill. We can’tallhide here.”

“It’s a quick solution. You made a vacuum and I can fill it,” he brushes me off without a second thought. “I have a meeting this afternoon to begin everything.”

He isn’t going to listen.

This is an excellent reason why they have their mystery team, and I have mine.

“Have fun with that,” I bite out and shove my chair back, ready to make my own moves.

Back in my room, I lock the doors and settle in the bathroom to make a phone call.

Shade picks up and immediately starts talking.

“No photos. Matthias is still in town with several men on the ground, acting like they have no idea why they’re here. Blake’s house was raided but not trashed. I was able to pick through before the cops got called out for a suspected break-in. Someone has set up a missing person alert for you. Gabriel has himself set up as bait to attract some little fish, hoping for a bite. What do you have?”

“Good morning?” I say dryly. “I’ve got jack and shit. Still under house arrest. I haven’t had enough coffee to handle you right now. Can I call back?”

“House arrest is probably for the best,” he says in a reasonable tone I want to rip into shreds.

“Fuck that. I want my pound of flesh, Shade,” I rage as quietly as I can.

“And you’ll get it, I’m sure,” he sighs.

“Can you get me some pictures of the properties that are left? Maybe look into any weird purchases made by the lawyers or judges in the paperwork?”

“Yeah,” he mutters, and I hear paper shuffling in the background. “South has been around to all the places listed here. I’ll dig in for more.”

“Does calling you count as a check-in?” I hope it does. If not, it’s a text she won’t respond to.

“It’s been two days. She’s coming for a personal visit.”

I blink in surprise at his disgruntled tone. I open my mouth to tell him that’s a horrible idea, but he’s already hung up.

Looks like it’s time to get ready to go.

I try not to be gleeful about it and fail miserably.

48

Master

---