Page 86 of Betrayed in Blood
I was grinning so widely as Devon led me out to the patio that I thought my cheeks would crack. I finally had a project.
Hold on, Mom. We’re coming for you.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Myriad shadesof pink signaled the first signs of sunset and played off the blue-gray lining of clouds as they built along the horizon. An unexpected light rain was forecasted for that evening, marshaling in cooler temperatures. Odd for this late-summer evening, but not a showstopper for my plans.
I glanced down at the sycamore tree from my vantage point on the window seat in my bedroom, already dressed in my favorite black cargo pants and a light, long-sleeve T-shirt. My armored security vest and utility belt lay across the back of a chair, waiting for the call to go.
I’d given Sergi the assignment of coordinating the six teams. Two nights ago, after dinner, Devon arranged for after-dinner brandy in the library, where he opened the discussion for everyone to share their ideas. They ranged from worry over the number of rooms in the house, not knowing how many vamps were in the manor, how many would remain behind rather than go to the party, to how to extract my mom and April.
Harlow and Trudy had been offered a room for the night but preferred going home with a promise to return in the morning for the planning session. Remus sent Elijah and Rachel to assist upon Decker’s request and my approval. It had been a long day, with a few squabbles, but everyone had worked well together before.
The one thing Devon’s cadre had taught me was that there was a time for guerilla tactics and a time for an all-out invasion.
I decided to use both. Everyone had a role to play, including several members of the security detail, which meant current lockdown security protocols had to be modified for the evening. Fortunately, Simone was happy to make the changes—as much as Simone could appear happy.
Once the training session was over, which lasted well into the evening, everyone either went home or to a room at the manor. We met one last time for a late lunch and a review of the plan before everyone went to temporary rooms to rest and change for the evening.
I was going over the plan for the umpteenth time when a light knock was followed by a question that pushed everything aside.
“Are you as jacked as I am right now?” Ginger’s soft voice was incongruous for the question.
I laughed out loud, grateful for the company. My response was provided with a boisterous, marine-style response of “Hell, yes, soldier.”
She all but bounced over to the window seat, plopping down to stare out the window. “It’s going to be a spectacular night. Do you know what we need? Lightning. And a touch of thunder to let them know we’re coming.”
We giggled like schoolgirls, and my pent-up nervous energy rushed out of me. It would be back before the mission started, but I needed the release of the roiling pressure. I gave Ginger a long look as she continued to stare out the window. She dressed in similar clothes to mine, but rather than cargo pants, she wore thick spandex pants and would add a thigh holster and utility belt once she was fully geared up. She was in the second invasion team with Lucas.
The two had fought side-by-side during their hunt for Philipe Renaud and theDe første dage. They knew each other’s moves, and I’d be an idiot to break up the team.
“Have you slept at all?” she asked, finally giving me her own perusal.
“Not much last night, but I got a couple of hours earlier. I nodded off in our last meeting.” I snorted. “Devon carried me to bed, and I slept like a toddler.” I grinned at her. “I think he mentioned something about drooling.”
She laughed and grabbed my hand. “This is a tight plan. Lucas was impressed by how quickly everything came together. Even Bella mentioned it when we went over our run-through this afternoon. We’ll get them out.”
“Assuming they’re even there.”
She gripped my arm and squeezed—hard.
“Ow.” I pulled away and rubbed my arm.
“Stop it. Right now. No doubts.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
We both turned as Devon strolled in. And while I scowled, Ginger perked up.
“Excellent. The calvary has arrived.” She stood. “You know she gets this way when she has too much time on her hands before a job. Harlow always had to piss her off to keep her focused.”
“Not an easy task, but knowing Harlow as I do now, he’ll get his opportunity. Until then, I’ll see what I can do.”
Ginger squeezed his shoulder as she all but bounced to the door. “I’ll see you at the checkpoint. Lucas and I are heading over to the safe house for last-minute drills.”
The door shut behind her, and I turned back to the window. I didn’t have to look to know Devon was checking my utility belt and vest. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust me to have everything I needed. Between my days as Pandora and the various missions I’d been on for House Trelane, preparing for a job was never a problem. It was Devon’s way of working off his own tension and nervous energy.
Strong fingers scraped along my back then massaged my shoulders and neck. I leaned into it, wincing as he pressed the knots that had built up in the last hour. After ten minutes and before I became completely limp, he tugged me off the bench seat and led me to the sofa.
