Page 68 of Mad Love

“I’m sorry,” Charles spoke up, “you’re going to blow something up?” He frowned as his gaze bounced from person to person.

Knight shrugged a shoulder. “I mean, sort of?”

“Will it put Maddie at risk?” That was all I cared about.

Royal pressed his lips into a flat line, his blue eyes dark with concentration. “It minimizes the risk to her as much as possible.”

“How?” Ash demanded.

“We drive one of those big ass trucks off the cliff,” Bishop stated.

“And maybe add a few extra things to help it go boom when it hits the ground,” Knight chimed in.

Bishop nodded. “The explosion diverts attention from the guards at the house. We time it with an assault on the guards at the front gate. Take them out and haul ass to the main house.”

“And then what?” Charles looked astonished and disturbed.

Royal shot him a dark look. “Kill anyone that gets in our way.” He looked at Tyler. “Can you monitor shit from the computer? Tell us where the guards are?”

She nodded, eyes wide. “Uh, sure. Inside, too. There aren’t many cameras in the house, but it may help.”

Fear churned in my gut. “And what happens in the five minutes it takes us to get from the main road to the house? Maddie could get hurt if Gary—”

“He won’t,” Tyler said, her voice soft and somber as her gaze flicked to Charles. “He’s been too busy making plans to bother with her, and she hasn’t left her room since…” She swallowed and looked away.

“Since what?” Icy slush filled my veins as my bones turned leaden.

Tyler and Charles exchanged another glance full of something that scared the shit out of me.

Tyler blew out a long breath. “I didn’t get access into their system until the last time Chase was at the house.” She inclined her head at Charles. “After the first time he met with Gary, he gave me an idea of the set up. I had a feeling the security system was closed off so it couldn’t be hacked.”

Court scoffed and looked at Ash. “Probably knew you’d hack it in minutes.”

Tyler rolled her eyes. “Sure he would’ve.”

Ash shot her an annoyed look.

“Anyway,” Tyler went on, looking at me. “The second time Chase went back, I had him help me get access to the house. Most of the few cameras inside are aimed at the doors, and one is in Maddie’s room.”

“He wanted to make sure she didn’t run,” Bishop mused.

Tyler nodded. “Yeah. So, after Chase left the second time, I managed to hack their system and saw…” She trailed off, biting her lower lip. “Look, maybe it’s easier if you just see it for yourself.” Turning her attention back to the computer, she started clicking buttons.

“We’re going to get everything ready to leave in a few minutes,” Royal informed me, filling the uneasy silence that settled in the room as Tyler worked.

Court nodded. “I’ll grab Linc.” Then he pointed at Ash. “You good to stay back with Bex and these two?”

“Of course,” Ash agreed, watching all four brothers leave the room.

“Okay,” Tyler breathed, lifting her violet eyes. “For what it’s worth? I’m sorry.” She passed me the screen, cued up to the video.

Swallowing down my emotions, I took the computer and pressed play.

And watched my world go fucking red.

CHAPTER 26

MADDIE

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