Page 101 of The Thief
"The address is in my pocket."
I find the piece of paper and read the address. It's the same one we found in Marcus' house.
"It's a trap," Maverick says.
"Of course it's a trap. But I'm walking into it anyway."
"Freddie—"
"They have her. Nothing else matters."
I help Henry to his feet, making sure he's stable enough to stand. The head wound looks worse than it is—superficial bleeding, no sign of serious trauma.
"I'm coming with you," he says.
"No. You're hurt, and someone needs to coordinate with the others."
"She's my granddaughter."
"And she's the woman I love. I'm not losing her."
Henry nods, understanding. "What do you need?"
"Backup. But at a distance. If Trace sees an army coming, he'll kill her before we get close."
"And if it's a trap?"
"Then I'll spring it and hope I'm fast enough to keep her alive."
I'm already moving, checking weapons, grabbing spare ammunition. Time's running out, and every second I waste is another second Trace has to hurt her.
"Freddie," Maverick calls as I head for the door. "For what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing."
"Even if it gets me killed?"
"Especially if it gets you killed. Some things are worth dying for."
Yeah. Some things are.
And Alastríona Gallagher-Grey is definitely one of them.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
alastríona
Pain in my scalp tears me from sleep like a blade through flesh.
There are hands in my hair, dragging me from the bed, and I'm screaming before I'm fully awake. The world spins as they haul me upright, my feet barely touching the ground.
"Get off me!" I thrash against their grip, trying to break free, but there are too many of them. Three men, all bigger than me, all professionally silent as they drag me toward the door.
I manage to get my feet under me and drive my elbow back into one of their ribs. He grunts but doesn't let go. The second man produces a cloth from his pocket and presses it toward my face.
No. Not like this.
I bite down hard on the hand holding the cloth, taste blood, hear a satisfying yelp of pain. I use the momentary distraction to break free and stumble toward the window.
If I can just reach the glass, break it, and scream loud enough for someone to hear?—
