“Okay, this has to be fast.”
Solene was confused. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a new assignment in Europe or something.”
Vi shook her head. “We don’t have a lot of time. You’re bugged. You have someone on the inside watching you, reporting to Burleigh as we speak. Your new babysitter? Darcy Fitzgerald? She’s working for him. Listen to me. I need you to go back in there, make up some excuse about working in your office for a while. Then we’ll slip out. I don’t want her to know we know.”
“But Hammer—”
“Can’t know. They bugged the security room too. I managed to disable your office cam. Deacon sent me. He said to tell you that he doesn’t want you turning into Brenda. So we’re going to meet him back at your place. But I’m going to get you there without anyone noticing. Once you guys do whatever Deacon has planned, I’ll stay behind and pretend to be you for a while. A blond wig and turning your lights on and off at your place should do the trick.”
Vi looked the same as she had before she’d left, only leaner. Long dark hair, deep brown eyes, an athletic figure with enough curves to set men to talking. Hell, Solene had seen the guys give Vi the once-over when she’d first met the woman, after Noel had first been shot a few weeks ago.
Solene went out and let Darcy and Annie know she’d be sequestered in her office for a while, having to look over the books for a financial review. Once she was back in the room, she silently followed Vi out the back, waiting by the exit door.
“Why are you here?” Solene asked
“Big Joe got some intel on Romero Burleigh and Sue Ahn.”
Through the window of the door, they saw a white Dodge parked some distance down from Solene’s car. A man sat inside, waiting in the driver’s seat.
Vi swore. “Shit. Look. Put this on.” She handed Solene a ballcap. “Use my car and go back to your place. Deacon will be there soon. I’m going to try to let Hammer know what’s going on without making it obvious. You got problems,chica.”
Solene grimaced. “Tell me about it.” She put on the hat, tucking her hair under it, then donned a large jacket Vi handed her. “My kids aren’t in danger, are they?” She felt sick at the thought.
“The bad guy seems to want you, not any kids. So far, at least.” Vi frowned. “We need to get this guy, Solene. I saw what he did to some of those girls in India. Bad stuff. Wherever Burleigh goes, he leaves a trail of broken women in his wake.”
“We’ll get him.”
Vi clapped her on the back. “Okay, take these.” She slapped car keys in Solene’s hands. “Red car. Go.” Then she opened the back door before Solene could warn her about the alarm.
Nothing happened.
“Alarm was cut.” Vi stated the obvious. “I told you. You’re compromised.”
Solene nodded. “Wish me luck.”
“Me too. I have to deal with Hammer.” Vi rolled her eyes.
Solene grinned then darted outside. She found the red car with no problem and drew no attention to herself in the baseball cap and tan jacket. Then she drove to her house, calling Deacon on the way. He didn’t pick up, and she started to worry.
But when she pulled into the house, she found him in his room packing a bag.
“Deacon?”
“Thank God.” He hugged her. “We got problems, Blondie. A new player who wasn’t supposed to be here.”
“Vi?”
“Wait. She’s here too?”
Too?“What’s going on?”
Gunshots answered for him.
Vi didn’t knowwhat to think. But she’d had more respect for Solene before she’d been forced to leave, courtesy of Big Joe’s orders.The oldSolene would have asked a million questions, then still went her own way. This woman seemed way too eager to do anything for Deacon.
Vi shook her head as she walked back to the storage room, snuck in, and got to work. She’d left a mess on the floor. Time to clean up. She shook him, testing to see if she’d used too much of the aerosol.
Hammer woke disoriented. The drugs did that.
