My phone buzzed again, and I turned it back.
A message from control: “Perimeter breach.”
Fuck. I kept my expression neutral as I tucked the phoneback into my pocket as if I wasn’t in a hurry at all, but inside, my mind raced.
This complicated things.
I should’ve known Birdie wouldn’t just run away but instead cause trouble.
“In what way do you want my cooperation?” Vince asked.
I met his eyes. “That depends on how much you value your wife and sisters.”
I pulled out a business card and handed it to Vince.
He stared at the stainless steel card, which only had the symbol and a number engraved.
“You’re too cool to write your name on your card?”
I smirked. Even in a situation like this, Salvini managed to retain his sense of humor. I could appreciate that. “Sadly, I have to go now. But if you come to the conclusion that you want your precious wife back, you know where to call.” I nodded at the card in his hand.
“And what makes you think I’ll just let you walk out of here?”
Was he seriously trying to threaten me? Was he still unaware that he had run out of options? “Because I have your sisters and your girl, Salvini. And I just watched you with your father, ready to sacrifice everything for her.” With that parting blow, I turned around and walked out of there.
I strode through the hallway, my steps measured and unhurried despite the urgency thrumming through myveins. The confrontation had gone exactly as planned, yet the bitter taste of manipulation lingered.
When I reached the roof, my team was already in position. I looked over to Salvini’s helicopter, which was empty and parked on the helipad.
If I had more time, I would have sabotaged his helicopter so it wouldn’t start, but time was of the essence. I ran over to our smaller, more agile helicopter, avoided the whirring blades, and climbed aboard. We took off at breakneck speed. “Status?” I barked into my comm.
“Perimeter breach at the factory,” Martinez reported. “It looks like the one who escaped, the Raptor Security operator, came back.”
I stared outside. We’d already left the city behind. Props to having the fastest helicopter on the market at our disposal.
“We managed to jam the helicopter. But the Salvini family is mobilizing and on their way,” someone said through the comms.
Of course, they were. So the call Salvini got was probably his men informing him about the women’s whereabouts. He sure as shit kept his poker face in place.
I knew this plan was crap.
My stomach hardened. I should’ve anticipated Birdie’s resourcefulness and the possibility of her coming back for the other girls. “Let’s get ready to clear out of there, ASAP,” I barked the order into the comm. “Any movement from our other guests?”
“Salvini’s wife is still pacing. The others are quiet. But sir…there’s something about one of the twins.”
I tensed. “Explain.”
“She’s been probing a lot, trying all kinds of shit to get out of the pod.”
Of course, those girls couldn’t just sit tight and wait.
The rest of the flight was quiet while I stared at the landscape flying by. We wouldn’t have much time for evacuation, but at least they couldn’t use the helicopter at La Dimora, so Raptor Security and Salvini’s men would have to approach via land, which would slow them down. As for Salvini himself, he would probably be the first to arrive.
The helicopter banked sharply, giving me a clear view of the abandoned factory below. Movement caught my eye—a flash of dark clothing against the dull greenery as someone—a single person—darted across the perimeter, then hid under a tree. Was that Birdie making her way back in? I thought she would be farther along by now. “Where’s Birdie now?” I barked into the comms.
“Inside the building, freeing the captives.”
So the one hiding out here was one of the other girls? How incompetent were these operatives Grey chose for this mission? Well, at least she was still inside the fence.
