Page 31 of Vengeance

“Addy’s boyfriend?” the blonde adds skeptically.

“Fiancé,” I correct.

The sandy-haired one groans and curses in something that sounds like French before saying, “You’re Viper?”

I was prepared for them to ask more questions than that, but then I remember that these two are one of the few who are privy to know about how involved me and Dele are. Dele specifically asked for those two almost a year ago when we found Pray’s little child army and needed to help Wyan secure it.

“That’s something that you can discuss secretly among yourselves later. Now. Where’s Dele?” I ask.

They nod for me to follow them, though they wisely keep me between them and don’t let their guard down as they lead the way across the grounds. Just in case I really am here to help Pray.

As we cross the wide expanse of yard, the two explain to me that the plan is get Dele to the Uccello’s private jet and out the country. In Italy, they can seek refuge with family there so they can plan what the next move is while secure in the knowledge that Pray definitely has no presence there.

We arrive at a large luxury garage door that begins to lift as soon as we arrive. When it’s high enough, I duck under it to find a large black SUV in front of me with Eileen in the driver’s seat. I don’t waste any time going to the driver’s side and opening the door. I glance in to ascertain that Dele is in the car with the children in the back. Velia is with her. I’ll ask her where Isabella and Bond are later. Right now, we need to get away.

“Move over. You’re going to need me to drive if we have any hope of getting to that fucking plane.”

14

Viper

Eileen wastes no time moving out the driver’s seat, pulling herself into the back where Dele is rather than the passenger seat. Instead, the blonde guard sits in the passenger seat while the other gets in the back. He crawls to sit with the children.

I don’t wait for any of them to be secure, though, as I put the car in drive and ram my foot on the gas to speed off the estate.

“Where are we going, Eileen?” I demand.

“I’ll give you directions as we go.”

Right. Using GPS in these situations pose a massive security risk to say the least.

Eileen directs me to the back gate where guards are waiting to open it and let us out as we approach. I zoom out them and into the long private road that leads to the main road along the estate. As I approach it, I become aware of two cars giving chase behind us. Of course, Pray had people waiting. Unsurprisingly there are more blocking the road.

“Hold on,” I say at the same time as Eileen says, “Right.”

I swerve off the road onto the brush and grass on the side of the road to get around the men blocking the road before making a sharp right turn. I hear the ping of bullets hit the car, but ignore that when I hear Dele suddenly grit in pain.

In the rearview mirror, I see she’s gripping Eileen’s hand and grimacing.

“Pray hurt you,” I immediately surmise, and if I didn’t have to personally ensure Dele’s safety, I’d be personally ensuring Pray’s end and making sure there were no remains to ever find.

“She’s in labor,” Eileen says calmly.

That’s worse.

“Oh, fucking, come on,” I growl but concentrate on the road.

“That’s what I said,” Dele manages before she squinches her face in pain and can say no more.

Cars come up behind me. A dozen if I’m counting right. I have to give Pray credit for not underestimating us. I here bullets bouncing off the car again. The blonde man next to me let’s down the window, leans almost half his body out and begins returning fire while the sandy haired one does the same from the back seat.

It’s not going to do anything except slow them down, but that’s enough for me to keep a good enough distance between them.

“Left,” Eileen says when I get to the next road.

As soon as I make the turn, three cop cars that had been sitting come to life and speed behind me.

“Get back in,” I say to the blond next to me, preparing to do defensive maneuvers to get them off our back.

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