The property is surrounded by a ten-foot tall fence equipped with motion-detector security cameras every few feet. There is a guard shack outside the entrance, and the front gate can only be unlocked with an electronic keycard.
There's also a panic button inside the shack that the guard can press if he suspects any suspicious activity, locking down the entire place and alerting everyone inside.
Even if we make it past the guards stationed out front and the fence, we need to take down the numerous guards and dogs stationed every several yards throughout the inside perimeter.
The mansion itself is impressive with bulletproof windows that could withstand a firing squad and heavy-duty steel entrance doors that could hold back a fucking tank.
The more data Lucien collects, the more frustrated he becomes. He's worried we're not going to get her back, but I have full confidence in him. If anyone could get her back, it would be him.
I watch his fingers move furiously over the laptop keyboard as he punches in a bunch of strange code and symbols that I can't even comprehend or attempt to follow. "I'm sending a message to her watch," he explains.
He's been working with his hacker buddy, Miles, for a while now. Miles taught Lucien everything he needed to know about hacking. There's not a firewall too strong or too complicated; no code they can't crack; no security system too advanced. They are the best of the best.
I hover over his shoulder as he stops typing. "Did it work?" I ask him.
"I think so," he says. "Just in case she's not alone, I'll only allow it to flash for a few seconds."
We wait while the messageI'm coming for youis transmitted to Adeline's watch.
And then with a few quick keys, Lucien ends the message.
"I'm going to work with Miles on trying to break into the power grid."
I give him a nod and let him continue on with his work. Then, I walk over to the corner of the warehouse where Katya is sitting by herself, stewing in her own misery.
Ever since we left the island, she's been…difficult. I can't describe it any other way. It's as if she wants to pick a fight with me over every little thing. I know it's really stressful right now and our sole focus is on Adeline, but she needs to understand that she's part of the team now, whether she likes it or not.
Her blue eyes meet mine as I approach. She does not look happy to see me.
"One of Wraith's men has volunteered to stay behind with you," I tell her. There's no way I'm letting her go on this mission with us. There could be lives lost, and I don't want to constantly be worrying about hers when I'm trying to save both mine and Lucien's.
Her small fists ball in anger as she suddenly stands and storms towards me. "I'm not staying here with some goon I don't even know while you're off saving the day!" she hisses.
Damn, I almost missed her firecracker attitude that always turned me the fuck on. But right now I don't need her fucking attitude. I need her to comply. "The decision's already been made. You're not going," I declare adamantly.
"Oh, so what are you going to do with me then? Tie me up again and force me to stay here?" she snaps.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do," I tell her even though I have no intention of actually tying her up. The 350-pound musclebound dude with more scars and tattoos than I can count should suffice in being the perfect babysitter. No ropes required.
Katya huffs and puts a hand on her cocked hip. "Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? You and your littlekinks," she says loud enough for everyone in the warehouse to hear.
I throw my hands up in the air exasperatedly. "It's too dangerous for you to go, Katya. We could all die.Icould die," I tell her adamantly, trying to get through to her.
I expect her to back down, knowing that I'm putting my life on the line and that I'm not willing to risk hers. But she surprises me by folding her arms across her chest and asking, "And then what would happen to me if you never come back? I'd be left here to starve and die!"
I shake my head in disbelief. Did last night mean nothing to her? Does she not even want me anymore? "What is your deal?" I hiss at her.
"My deal is that I'm not going to stay here. I want to go."
"Fine," I say, finally giving in. "But you stay with me."
She doesn't agree nor disagree, and I'm tired of bickering with her like an old married couple.
We'll sort our shit out after we get Adeline back. Right now I can't focus on anything but that.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lucien approaching the group of government agents, who are huddled together in the opposite corner, talking in hushed voices.
I follow Lucien just as I hear one of the agents say, "This is going to be fuckin' impossible. A goddamn suicide mission. I certainly didn't sign up for this shit."
