I open the car door, and the world goes black.
27
RAMI
“So, Rami,”Baba says, approaching me with a warm smile. “How’s it going with Truett? You two obviously have chemistry, but before the whole awkward boyfriend exchange with your dad, Truett struck me as someone who likes to keep it casual.”
I run my hand through my hair, the texture Truett added alive on my fingertips. “It’s new, whatever this is, but it’s more than just a fling.” My cheeks go hot as I remember what we did last night. “I like him a lot more than I should, but I can’t seem to help it.”
Baba sends a fond look to Dad, who is teasing Maverick. “I know that feeling all too well.”
As we’re smiling, Honoré sits forward, looking at his phone. At the same time, Maverick’s hand goes to his chest.
“Something’s wrong,” they say at the same time.
Maverick looks to Honoré. “Is it Holmes? Is something wrong with Holmes?”
Maverick always knows when Holmes is in trouble, and it’s just now occurring to me how difficult it’s been for Holmes to keep his real job a secret.
Honoré shakes his head, looking right at me, his expressionmaking my heart beat double-time. “Holmes just texted me. He heard a shout and squealing tires, then raced over to Truett’s car. The driver’s side door was left open, and Truett was nowhere to be seen.”
Dad grabs his phone and starts texting immediately. Seconds later, he’s nodding at the screen. “Jake’s on it. He’ll grab the security feed from the garage.”
As we crowd around Dad’s phone, the door to the stairs opens, and Holmes jogs in, quickly making his way into the living room. “What happened to him? Did you see?”
“Jake’s sending me the feed right now.”
Dad taps the link that comes through, and we watch, breathless, as a van pulls up and three men in black military gear jump out. They black-bag Truett before he even knows what’s happening. He fights back, swinging blind, until one of them slams the butt of his gun into the side of his head. Truett crumples, and they toss him into the van like he’s a sack of potatoes.
The video loops and plays again. It’s worse the second time.
Baba holds up his phone. “Wimberley’s scrambling a response. We’ve got a description of the vehicle, and they’ll have air support within the next five minutes.”
“What can we do?” I ask.
Baba shakes his head. “I’m supposed to tell you that we wait for the guys in the helicopters to take care of everything, but…”
Silas disappears down the stairwell with Cupcake, not even bothering to wait for the elevators, and Dad isn’t in the living room anymore. Just as I’m wondering where the hell Dad’s gone, he comes back from the bedrooms, putting on his combat gear from last night, his boots loose on his feet as he zips up his pants.
Dad’s half-dressed presence goes off like a military command. H and H race back to their rooms, as does Baba, and Maverick is left standing in the living room, baffled. “What’s going on? What’s happening?”
Oakley stands there, impassive. “What, exactly, isWimberleyscrambling?”
“Don’t have time to explain it right now, but we will tell you what we can when we get back,” Maya says, also heading toward the back.
Maverick’s confused concern is now bordering on hysteria. “Youarecoming back though, right?”
No one has an answer for him.
I race to my room. God, I can still smell True in here, the sex we had, that musk on his skin I can’t get enough of. I cut through the bathroom into the walk-in closet, panic flaring as I snatch clothes off the shelves. Standard running gear’ll hafta do. Breath tight and shallow, I change right there on the closet floor.
Stepping into the bathroom, I curse myself, then pivot back to the closet to punch in the code for my wall safe. Out comes the gun and a spare magazine. My hands are shaking as I check the weapon and move through the room.
“Get it together, Bash,” I chant to myself.
Also, fuck those guys for kidnapping my boyfriend.
By the time I make my way back to the living room, my fathers, my sister, Holmes, Honoré, and Silas stand there, looking ready for an incursion. While everyone looks pretty fucking intimidating, Sy is a terrifying specter in black combat gear, more weapon than man, and he’s wearing his darkest sunglasses. He’s left Cupcake behind, like maybe he only needs support in the absence of overwhelming violence.
