Marcus shakes his head. “Stupid motherfuckers.”
“Agreed,” Liam says.
“Tonight isn’t about retrieving the stolen weapons or even retribution,” I say. “That’ll come later. Our task is to plant surveillance equipment. Once we have solid evidence against them, my father will take it before the leaders.”
Marcus frowns, the expression tugging his scar, making it more grotesque. “Are you saying we don’t get to kill anyone tonight?”
“No, you bloodthirsty fuck. That’s going to have to wait for another summons.”
“You really know how to ruin a man’s fun, recruit.”
Liam, ever the strategist, taps his finger against the blueprint displayed on the tablet. “The surveillance tech we got from the McKenzie bastard… is it satisfactory? I mean, it has to be undetectable and work the first time around. No second chances on this one.”
“It’s the best we’ve got,” I assure him, pushing the tablet closer so he can see the specs again. “Night vision, motion sensors, encrypted data transmission—once these are in place, we’ll have eyes inside the Gage’s operations.”
“And if we’re caught?” Liam’s question hangs in the air, a stark reminder of the risks involved.
I shake my head. “Not an option. We do this clean. In and out, no traces. We’ve mapped out the security rotations for all five locations in the designated cities, blind spots, everything. Marcus, you’ll handle the main entrance incursion. Liam, you’re on tech deployment.”
They both nod, understanding their roles without further explanation. Despite their prowess and reputation within the family, my position as Edward Donovan’s son places me above them in the chain of command. This isn’t a matter of arrogance; it’s simply the way our world operates. My decisions carry the weight of my father’s authority, and with that comes both power and heavy responsibility.
If things don’t go according to plan, it’s not my cousins that my father will punish.
“And you?” Marcus asks, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s your part?”
“I’ll plant the primary devices in the main storage areas,” I say. “That’s where they keep the bulk of the stolen weapons. If we can prove they’re stealing, the Gages are fucked.”
“That makes my dick hard.” Marcus grabs his cock with a smile. “Not as much as killing, but I’ll take it.”
Liam nods, his expression serious. “They should’ve made a deal with us instead of taking our shit.”
Marcus folds his arms over his massive chest. “Like I said earlier, they’re stupid motherfuckers.”
“Stupid or not, we can’t let this go unchecked,” I say. “Are you armed?”
“Is pussy my favorite snack?” Marcus scoffs. “Of course, I’m armed.”
“Same,” Liam says.
I get to my feet. “We have an hour to arrive at the first location and get into position.”
Marcus rises too, and pulls out a firearm, cocking the weapon. “Yippee ki-yay.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “I’m of half a mind to shoot you.”
I blow out a breath. “Same.”
Chapter 37
DELILAH
The sound of laughter fills the living room as my little sister, Sandra, places her last tile on the board. “And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you use all of your letters.”
Emily groans in defeat and smacks the coffee table. “You’re the baby, so how are you beating the rest of us?” She rearranges the letters on her rack and looks at me. “Isn’t that college of yours teaching you anything?”
Gloria shoots her a look of reprimand. “This game isn’t just about education, Emily. Sometimes it’s about making do with what you’ve been given.”
My foster mother, ever the nurturer, walks into the kitchen and comes back to fill our empty snack bowls. The scent of freshly popped popcorn mingles with the warm, comforting atmosphere that only a home can have.
