Page 70 of What's Left of Me

The rest of the day consisted of planning everything perfectly. One drone would stay with Four and Hazel, watching Lizzy’s place. The others would watch the cabin and surrounding areas to make sure it was safe for Shep, Gabe, and Angel to go in.

I felt useless just sitting here while the three guys put themselves in danger. But what could I do?

Before lunch Shep left with Hazel and Four and said he’d be back in a few hours. I hugged Hazel and told her to wish Lizzy a happy birthday for me. I couldn’t wait until I was able to go to parties again—hell, until I could just go buy milk without thinking he was waiting for me to grab me and run.

Mason was focusing on finding more information on Adonis, but it felt pointless since the guys were just going to kill him. I guess part of him wanted to know the why and how. I sat beside him as he did his thing, learning little tidbits. He found a couple of photos, but it seemed they were ones of him skiing with a mask on. One was him on a motorcycle with a helmet on so you couldn’t see his face.

“Maybe he was a masker in public.” I thought about it. “A lot of people still wear them. Perhaps that’s what he does.”

Mason smiled at me. “That actually makes a lot of sense.”

When the sun went down, Shep, Gabe, and Angel walked out of the house with a wave—and in Gabe’s case, two middle fingers—to Nick and Noel after they shouted, “Don’t die!” to them.

The rest of us sat in the chairs and stared at the monitors. This had to go perfectly because if they failed, Adonis wouldn’t give them a second chance.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Noel

Sometimes it washard to be on the sidelines of things and not in on the action. When Shep killed the man who’d had JJ beaten almost to death, I’d been proud to be there with him and support what needed to be done, to be in the thick of it. Unfortunately, Nick and I were the best with tech, and that often meant we were behind the screens while our brothers were in dangerous situations.

Like now. Angel, Gabe, and Shep were closing in on the cabin, and I hated that more of us weren’t with them. We had eyes on them every second, but we weren’t close enough that if something happened we’d get there in time. Maybe if Four was with them, I’d feel better.

Speaking of, I glanced at the drone rotating around Lizzy’s place. Her birthday party was a lot more active than Hazel had led us to believe. I didn’t know the people coming and going, but Four was inside, and he’d let us know if something was amiss.

“Five minutes out,” Gabe said, and I switched my focus from Lizzy’s party to them.

The drone above the cabin showed no outside movement. I’d lowered it a few times and could see any activity behind the curtains, so we knew he hadn’t left.

“There are three ways into the cabin. Front door, back door, and a side one. Split up, enter at the same time. That way he can’t run out,” Nick informed them.

“Got it,” all three of them responded in unison.

“Be safe,” I added.

Phoenix’s hand rested atop mine, and he gently squeezed. I returned it and added a small smile.

Gabe, Angel, and Shep exited the car, far enough away and hidden so that Amo wouldn’t see them. They tapped the doors shut and stealthily slipped through the trees toward the cabin, weapons in hand. Angel took the front, Shep the back, and Gabe the side.

“Counting down,” I announced. “One, two, three, go.”

They kicked the doors and entered. The aerial view kept watch in case Amo tried to sneak out while they walked deeper into the cabin, and we had great vantage points, thanks to their body cameras.

It was larger on the inside than it had seemed on the outside. Gabe’s entry was through the kitchen, and it was vacant. Angel’s was the living room, which was also empty. Gabe’s view showed a mudroom that led to a small dining room, also with no Amo.

“There are stairs, Angel whispered. “Gabe, stay on the first floor. Shep, with me.”

Gabe stationed himself at the bottom of the stairs and rotated his view slowly. Angel ascended the steps, Shep close behind.

“It’s quiet,” Shep said.

“I know.” Angel reached the top and turned right, Shep went left.

There was one bathroom and two bedrooms on the top floor…and no Amo.

“What the hell? We saw movement, and no one has exited that cabin.” Nick released a frustrated growl.

“He has to be in there, hiding,” Mason surmised, and I tended to agree.

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