“In a practice bull along with a stash of cash.” Mel holds up a handful of one hundred dollar bills.
“You took it?” I hiss, scolding her. I can’t help it because it was an incredibly reckless, infantile move. “Removing those things could backfire. What if she notices they’re gone?”
“There had to be a cool mil in there, along with a bunch of other jewel baggies. She won’t miss one unless she inventoried before tonight.” Mel shrugs. “Besides, this could make a big difference for a girl like me. I earned this and, if I don’t get whacked tonight, I’m starting over again. This pouch will help me.”
Avery reaches out, takes Mel’s hand, and squeezes it reassuringly.
We’re taking too long, and I feel my nerves fraying. “That’s a lovely story, but we need to get the fuck out of here. Where’s Henry?”
“Still in the computer room,” Mel says, but as we step in front of the door, he’s gone.
I swear and shove my hands through my hair. I need to get that moron out of here before he gets caught, but I don’t know where he went. I shoot a text to Marty and continue shoving the girls toward the door.
My phone buzzes:
MARTY: HIDE. THEY ARE HERE.
“Shit.” Something inside me snaps and clicks into place. I’m on autopilot. I usher the girls to the basement. Just as the back door opens, we're swallowed by the darkness, safe to observe several pairs of feet shuffling by, each making a distinct sound. The click-clack noise of Black’s heels is easy to identify. The thick leather soles of Vic’s shoes make a silent swish. The other men scuffle behind them, totaling eight.
A silver beam of moonlight cuts through the basement window, illuminating Avery's face. Her big brown eyes glance at me, near panic. She whispers, “What do we do?”
I shake my head and put a finger to my lips. Knowing Black, she has the entire place bugged. Unless Henry left the security system in chaos mode, she’ll see us. Cameras are concealed in the upper corners of the basement walls. I saw them in the security room when we entered the house.
Mel gestures toward the tiny windows leading to the side lawn. She tips her head and moves her eyes in a way that tells me exactly what she’s thinking.
I nod silently and step closer, whispering so low it barely makes a sound. “I’ll boost you up. Mel first, then Avery.”
Avery turns toward me with her eyebrows knotted together. “What about you?”
“I’ll be fine. Just go.” My voice tells her this is not open for debate, so she doesn’t argue.
Mel unhooks the latch and points to a spot in the shrubs. “Meet me over there, Avery. Sean, we’ll see you back at Henry’s.”
I nod tightly and lift her with ease. Mel shimmies through the tiny window and rolls onto the grass. She rights herself and crouches as she slips into the shadows.
I step toward Avery, heart pounding as fear tries to take hold. I shove it down and swallow hard. As I grip her thighs and lift, she looks down at me, pleading.
“Don’t make me leave you here. Sean, I can’t—”
“You can. I’ll be fine—especially if I don’t have to worry about you. Meet me at Henry’s. I’ll see you soon. Go.” I hold her up to the window ledge, waiting as she grabs hold and crawls out onto the lawn. She rolls on her side and looks down at me, worry filling her dark eyes.
She reaches back through the window and touches my cheek with her fingers. It’s a soft caress, the kind I’d been afraid of before I met her. “Be careful.”
Her eyes tell a different tale, swirling with anxiety so intense it’s impossible to hide. Her neck is rigid, with every muscle corded tight. Her hand quivers slightly, but I don’t comment. She’s stronger than she thinks she is, and, when pushed, Avery turns into a tiger. She thinks she’s some frail flower, doomed to wilt at the slightest difficulty. She couldn’t be more wrong. Her ability to explore new things with me—like the tank, for example—show she’s able to hold it together when she’s most vulnerable. People like that are rare. She doesn't know the extent of her strength, not yet. When push comes to shove, she’ll find out. The floodgates holding back that truth will strain and crack. Only then will Avery know who she is and what she’s capable of, and not a moment sooner.
I take her hand and kiss her fingertips, mouthing, GO.
I step away and close the window as Avery fades into the inky black landscape. Mel is skilled with her knife, so if they get spotted before they're off the property, I expect she’ll win. As long as a gun isn’t involved.
I can’t think about it. My stomach churns uneasily, and I move to the back of the room looking for a place to bunker down. That’s when I hear the small whisper.
“Pssst.” I glance around in the darkness, not seeing a thing, but I recognize the voice—the ridiculously feminine and formal call. It’s Henry.
“Over here, you massive oaf.” Henry leans out from under the staircase and waves me over. I duck underneath just as the lights flick on and flood the room. Henry lowers his gaze, blinking as he adjusts to the brightness seeping under the stairs.
The room is unfinished for the most part. The small space under the stairs has a concrete shelf to support the steep staircase above. Henry jerks his head to the side and climbs, shifting over to make room for me. I don’t fit as easily as he does. I have to shimmy myself in place, stomach down on the cold cement, with my shoulder overlapping Henry’s.
He glances up at me, murmuring, “Next time I’m the big spoon.”
I punch him lightly in the kidney, and he winces. “Shut up,” I hiss.
Voices carry down
from the landing above, followed by the sound of footfalls creaking on the staircase, until several men are on the basement floor. I can see their ankles as they pass.
They’re talking to one another, and I don’t recognize any of their voices. “Why are we keeping the bitch? This is going to blow up in his face.”
“You weren’t paid for your brain, Gragg. Grab the barrel and lift on three. One. Two. Three.”
Huffing, Gragg groans, “Even so, moving her is risky.”
“These aren’t for Ferro—they’re for Vic’s kid sister.”
Ice shoots through my veins. I strain to hear more, as they move up the stairs.
“What’s got him so obsessed with her anyway? She’s a distraction,” Gragg complains.
“Right, and the sooner she’s gone, the better he can focus. So stop talking and lift the fucking barrel already.”
Gragg curses and pauses before reaching the landing. “Got it. Get the girl, shove her in here, give her to the boss, and get more cash than we can spend. I’m down with that. It just seems like a waste of time.”
“Since when is earning massive amounts of money a waste of time? Lift the goddamn barrel, and let’s get the fuck out of here. The girl was spotted. We’ve got to grab her before she vanishes again. I’m not taking a bullet for that bitch, and Vic won’t stop until he gets her, so let’s move already.”
Gragg protests, “Yeah, but I don’t get it.”
Several swearing voices scold Gragg simultaneously. He stops asking questions, and when the rest of the men are out of the basement, the room goes dark.
Henry whispers, “They’re headed to my mansion to take Avery.”
I was thinking the same thing. I shove off of Henry and fall on the floor, frantic to warn her. Rushing to the window, I peer outside. Marty is pacing with another man. Shit. I can't leave this way while they’re standing there. I’ll be spotted and shot.