Page 89 of No Mistakes
The sound of the front door opening catches my attention, and my brow furrows. It’s way too early for anyone to be heading out, especially in this cold.
I stay where I am, listening carefully to the steps. They’re too light to be Gunnars. Too uniform to be Carters…
I pop my head out of the kitchen doorway, spotting Flynn still hunched over the map in the same spot I left him in. My gaze flickers to the door, and as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking, he speaks up. “Eva. She said she left something in the car yesterday.”
A slow grin tugs at my mouth. Perfect.
I push away from the door, moving silently towards the hallway, every step light on the old floorboards. The front door opens, and she slips through the gap carefully, shutting the door.She stands there for a moment, her head tilted back slightly as she breathes deeply, shaking off the cold.
I step up behind her, close enough that my voice cuts through the air.
“Boo.”
She spins around, facing me before I even have a chance to say anything else, and I jump back. Her hand moves faster than most people can think, like me, for example, as I flatten my back against the wall.
I don’t flinch when the knife lands next to me, just inches from my face. I tilt my head, a slow smile tugging at my lips as I watch the most beautiful woman alive glare at me with pure rage.
“You know,” I murmur, “You could’ve just said you missed me… Instead of throwing sharp objects.”
Her eyes narrow, lips twitching like she’s deciding whether to throw another or just stab me where I stand.
“You snuck up on me at three in the damn morning, Axel, you’re lucky that’s all I threw.”
I glance at the knife still stuck in the wall. “Lucky? You missed on purpose, Buttercup.”
She walks past me, her shoulder grazing mine as she walks towards the living room, ignoring my comment. A low chuckle escapes from my throat, and I pull the blade from the wall, spinning it lazily in my hand before setting it on the hallway table. “Coffee’s ready,” I shout, walking into the kitchen, pleased with myself.
By the time everyone is gathered in the living room, the air has changed significantly. The map is still spread across the table, except this time it’s joined with notes, markers, and photos. Everyone takes their place around the room. Gunnar is at the far side, leaning against the wall, sipping his coffee. Carter is perched on the arm of the sofa, and Ant is silent but watchfulas he takes in the scene before him, his gaze flicking between us and his laptop. Eva is curled up at the end of the sofa, Mandy next to her, both of them wide awake while they talk about anything and everything.
I plant my palms flat on the table and look at each of them. “Alright. Listen closely. Tonight isn’t about negotiations. It isn’t about deals. We’re walking into a buyer’s meeting, an auction where girls of all ages are treated like merchandise. And we’re going to burn it to the fucking ground.”
The room falls silent as everyone stops what they’re doing, every bit of attention on the words I’m saying. “Mandy,” I continue, my gaze locking on her. “You’ll be on the inside, posing as one of their workers, blending in, keeping your ears open. They won’t suspect you, and you’ll be close enough to know who’s who before we make our move.”
Mandy nods, “And how will I get this information to you?”
I point across the room to Ant, and he pulls a device out of his bag, chucking it in my direction. I catch it effortlessly, holding it up for her to see. “You’ll have this hidden microphone. We will be able to hear every word that is said, including yours.”
I throw it in her direction, letting her inspect it. “So basically, I get to play dress-up and then drop the curtain when shit hits the fan? Sounds like my kind of night.”
Eva groans, elbowing her. “Do you ever take anything seriously?”
Mandy throws her head back against the cushions, smiling at her. “Not if I can help it.”
I slam a hand against the table, my stare cutting through them as they both fall silent. “This isn’t a joke. One wrong move and they’ll see right through it. And if that happens, you won’t be walking out.”
The weight of my voice leaves no room for argument. Eva shifts in her seat, “And me?”
My chest tightens at the thought of her being hurt, but I keep my tone steady. “You’ll be staying close to me. I’m not risking the chance of losing you again.”
Her eyes soften, but I don’t let myself get lost in them. Not now.
I drag my gaze across the room, landing on each of my brothers.
“Axel,” Gunnar mutters with a grin, like he already knows what I’m about to say.
“Your job’s simple,” I tell him. “Force. You’re our hammer. When this meeting cracks open, you hit first and hard. You don’t stop until no one’s left standing.”
He cracks his knuckles, grin widening. “Music to my ears.”
