Erin Taggart strode into the room wearing an overcoat thatabsolutely did not fit her.She’d been playing at Sanctum so there was probablysome fet wear under the men’s jacket.She’d tugged on a pair of sneakers, too.“Li, where’s my girl?”
“Brody’s got eyes on a van across the street.They took herin there,” Liam explained.
Erin simply nodded.“We need to get her out of the van.It’stoo close quarters to start a fight there.Have they contacted you?”
“They’re trying to call right now,” Daisy said, holding upher phone.
“Damn it.”Erin’s jaw tightened.“We need a couple ofminutes to put people in place.Theo’s having to move around the long way sothey don’t see him.Ian’s with him.Brody, contact Big Tag and let him knowthey need to be behind the van.”
“On it,” his father said over the cell.
Nate could see the battlefield in his mind.One of the firstthings he’d done when he and Daisy had moved in was study the area around them.When her uncles came to visit, he would take a jog.Those long sessions weremore about becoming acquainted with the area than actual exercise.
He was getting plenty of workouts because his Daisy wasinsatiable.
“So Theo and Big Tag come in from behind.”He could see themmoving into position.“We need the targets in the courtyard.”
Erin nodded.“Boomer told me the courtyard would be perfect.He has an unobstructed view from the west side of Sanctum if they’re in thecourtyard.”
“Li, I think you and Erin should ease out the front and stayin the shadows around the parking lot,” his father explained.“Nate and I canuse the west side exit to come around on either side of the building, and thenthey would be in a nice trap.Even if Boomer can’t take them, they would befacing six of us, and there won’t be any place to run.”
His gut tightened.“How would we get them into place?”
He knew what was coming.
Daisy’s eyes lit up.“Me.I’m bait.”She actually smiled.“Ithink I can be good at this.”
Her cell trilled again.
“You’re going to have to answer them, sweetie,” Erin said,her voice tight.“If you can hold them off even for a few minutes, it will beso helpful.”
“So answer them but don’t answer them.”Daisy nodded andthen slid her finger across the screen to answer the call.“Hello?Excuse me,who is this?”She giggled.“Sure, Hunter.Try again.Like you don’t try toscare me all the time.I’m not some ditz who falls for it.”She hung up.“Thatshould buy us a minute or two.And I promise I can word salad them for a longtime.”
“Excellent, then maybe you won’t have to be bait,” Natepointed out.
“Daisy, I know I shouldn’t ask this of you, but they’regoing to have guns on Devi,” Erin began.
Liam puffed up a little.“Now, Erin…”
“We can handle it without risking Daisy,” Nate assured them.
“But this is all about me,” Daisy argued.
“I’m worried about how close they’ll keep Devi to them.IfBoomer can’t get a shot or if we end up in a standoff…” Erin began.
“Devi could get killed.”Daisy shook her head.“I’m notletting anything happen to Devi.”
“You’re not allowing anything at all, girl,” her fatherannounced.
“Da, I can handle it,” Daisy replied stubbornly as her phonewent off again.“You’re wasting time.Get into position.”
Erin was already moving.“We need a distraction, Daisy.Something that will make those men drop their guard for a second or two.”
A silent look was exchanged between the two women, somecommunication Nate didn’t get, but Daisy nodded her aunt’s way.
“I know exactly what to do, Aunt Erin,” she said resolutely.“I won’t let you down.”
“Daisy, stay bloody well safe, girl.”Liam moved out behindErin.
