He actually glares at me. “Why do you want to meet Polina?”
“I want a collector’s fee,” I lie. Okay, it’s not a lie. It’s a half-truth.
He stares at me for a few minutes and then relents. “I’m not having you go there with just Blond fucking Fight Club for backup. He has no idea how to shoot a gun, never mind drive a car.”
I was going to keep Lorcan out of this because he’s got a target on his back, but this is my idea so I know it’s not a trap. “Fine, I’ll take everyone.”
Outside the medical center, Quinn draws me aside, her voice low. “This is for the IDs, right?” When I nod, she adds, “I don’t get why you can’t just ask Lorcan for the money you need.”
I just look at her. “Quinn, when have I ever liked to beg money from a man?”
She rolls her eyes. “This is hardly begging, and he’s loaded. He can afford it.”
I shake my head. “I can’t ask for more. Not for this.” Not when I’m planning on using it to leave him.
She sighs. “Fine, I get it. Just don’t get yourself killed.”
She walks back over to a spaced-out Dante and starts fussing with the bandage.
I don’t tellLorcan what we’re doing straight away. I ask him to drive me to the address Dante sent me to pick up a courier drop-off, which seems harmless enough. Jude comes too when I ask him, mainly because he’s bored. I don’t blame him. We’re both going out of our minds having to stay on the school grounds all the fucking time.
Saskia coming along was not my idea, but she gets in the car with us anyway when Lorcan drives Dante’s Mustang around to the boarding house to collect everyone.
Lorcan glares at his sister in the rearview mirror. “Sas, what are you doing?”
“If you’re all going, I’m not staying here alone with that killer,” she says, clipping her seatbelt in place.
“He’s drugged and cuffed,” I say to her.
“And what if he escapes? No, I’m coming with you.”
Lorcan grits his teeth but doesn’t argue. I’m sitting shotgun, so I glance in the mirror at Jude, who is tapping his fingers anxiously on the door car, staring out of the window. He looks much better than when we first got out of St Michael’s. The haunted look has gone. And he’s not drinking, thanks to Dante’s influence. As much as I hate Dante right now, he does have a positive effect on the boys.
The abandoned warehouse arranged for the meet is halfway between London and Whitechapel, in Hayes. It’s getting dark by the time we get there, which works out for the best because it’s easier to park closer and still stay hidden in the shadows.
Lorcan pulls up and switches off the engine. “So, what am I looking for?” he asks me as he opens the car door.
“There will be a black duffel bag inside the main area. Just get it and come back out.” I produce two of Dante’s guns. “Take this.” Lorcan hesitates but then takes it, checks it, and tucks it into his jacket.
I hand one to Jude through the seat headrest. “Jude, go with him. He’ll need back up.” I have no idea if Jude even knows how to take the safety off, but there’s only one way to learn.
“I wouldn’t say no,” says Jude.
Lorcan frowns as Jude gets out too. “What the fuck for? You said this was simple equipment pick-up?” he spits at me through the open car door.
“I lied. Polina is dropping off payment for Dante. He told her you’d be collecting it for him.”
“You fucking what?” Lor says, seething at me. “Fucking hell, V—” he runs his hands through his hair. “We’re not doing this. Jude, get back in the car.”
Jude gives him an incredulous look as another car’s headlights beam into the warehouse’s parking lot. “We’ll look like right dicks if we left now, mate.” He sighs.
“If you don’t do it, Saskia and I will do it,” I hiss at him, leaning over the middle partition so I can look at him.
“I’m ready to. Just hand me the gun,” Saskia adds, backing me up, scooting forward to join the fray.
The weekend before her supposed wedding, I took Saskia to the shooting range. She asked me to, and I was trying to fill my day up with things to distract me from Dante stalking and hunting me. I was also gathering as much information about Joseph as I could. It turns out that Saskia, like her brother, isn’t a bad shot.
That clearly sends the fear of God into Lorcan because he gives me a crazy look, slams the door in my face, and storms off toward the warehouse doors. Jude strolls after him, looking back only once to give me a wink.
“Jude knows how to shoot a gun, doesn’t he?” asks Saskia, her voice filled with worry.
“I have no fucking clue,” I say, letting all the air out of my lungs in one go.
She glances at me. “Did you bring any more guns?”
I nod at her. “Of course, I did.” I take another couple out of the bag and hand her one.
“There’s a plan, right?” she says, checking the barrel and the safety like I taught her.
“Yep.” I check my own gun. When the people from the other car have gone inside. I nod at Saskia, who is giving me one of those Cheshire cat smiles as I tell her what the plan is, “We’re going to kidnap Polina while the boys create a diversion.”