Page 65 of Lethal Vengeance
For some reason, Sterling and Zane look satisfied with my answer. Just a minute ago, they were stressing the importance of the event.
“The attack must happen tomorrow night. We’ll either have Raider out or we won’t, but if you take out Armando, it won’t matter. Nobody will call the guards to give them kill orders,” Zane surmises. “The event gives us the perfect opportunity to strike both the facility and his home. We know where our target will be at a specific time. He’ll also be pre-occupied for several hours and won’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late. It’s too big to pass up.” Zane calmly lists the reasons behind his strategy.
“What are you going to do if we rescue Raider at the eleventh hour? If you don’t have a dress, you won’t be able to go. If you’re prepared, you can get ready quickly,” Sterling interjects, his eyebrow raised high.
I heave a sigh, knowing he’s right. If only I could clone myself.
A feminine laugh breaks through the clutter in my mind. I dart a glance in the corner and find Leo talking animatedly to Margot.
I walk over. “Excuse me. Can I borrow Margot?”
She immediately stands. “I’ll catch you later.” Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she follows me to the window. “What is it?”
Sophia used to get everything she wanted from me by using her sweet voice and pretty brown eyes. “You’re free to stay here, but I hope you won’t because I desperately need your help to find a formal dress and shoes for Armando’s event tomorrow night,” I say, my tone pleading. I throw in some puppy dog eyes, too.
Blue eyes assess me closely. “This isn’t an attempt to give me something meaningless to do, is it? I’d rather chew nails than shop.”
“I need a formal dress that will make me look fierce and have the ability to conceal a knife and a garrote—and they will be patting me down. Is that challenge enough for you?” I dangle the carrot in front of her, silently praying she says yes.
She shrugs, but I can see the interest in her eyes.
“Fine. Do you have any money?”
“Lots. Criminal activity pays well, don’t you know?” I reply, only half-joking. It’s the one thing I’ve gained over the past couple of years. More than I can spend in a lifetime. Lose your soul, become rich. “I’ll buy you some clothes, too. Fatigues for the attack tomorrow and some everyday items.”
“You think they’ll let me go with them tomorrow?” she asks with a snort.
“If you want to go, don’t let them stop you. Can you shoot?” I ask. When she nods, I shrug. “They want someone confident at their back. Keep being your usual self. I’ll make sure you go with them.”
She straightens her posture. “Deal. Give me your card.”
Snatching my backpack off the floor, I dig into the bottom of it. “I’d feel better if you took someone with you,” I reply, handing her my card.
She scans the room. “Leo, darling man, would you mind coming with me on a short errand?”
I stifle the laugh threatening to escape. Short errand.
A second later, I close the door behind them and return to Zane and Sterling. “Margot is going to do a little shopping for the both of us.”
Zane gives me an admiring look. “Delegating. Good answer.” He raises his hand and begins to count the people in the room. “We’ll probably need to order dinner in another hour. It takes a while to get food for twenty people.”
Dinner comes and goes. The phone is silent. Margot hasn’t returned yet, either. My head is pounding from worrying about everyone, but it’s keeping my mind off tomorrow night.
I’m going into this event blindfolded. With his brother, Julio, I planned every detail, from his kidnapping to his last breath. While I have picked out a location for Armando, I have no idea how I’m going to take him down and get him there. It makes my stomach cramp, but I refuse to let it dissuade me.
Zane’s phone rings.
Sterling and I look up.
He listens for a few minutes, then hangs up.
“Cruz is on his way back. Hugo wouldn’t talk,” Zane states wearily. He drops into a chair.
I walk over to the window. Thoughts of last night swirl in my brain. Out of all the men in this group, Raider’s calm acceptance of me and what I have to do centered me more than anything. Or maybe it was just the man himself. I sigh. Can I do this knowing his life is at stake? My hand creeps up to rub my chest. I long for the simple days before they got here, when my only emotions were rage and cold-blooded determination. I lay my head against the cool glass and stare down at the street.
Movement below catches my eye. Leo’s walking rapidly across the parking lot, his arms full of packages and a huge scowl on his face. Margot’s practically skipping beside him, her smile radiant in comparison. And satisfied. I assume she accomplished the task I gave her.
Minutes later, they walk in. Leo dumps the packages on the bed in the corner. With a grimace, he stalks off.
