Neo bites back a choked laugh and takes another large swig of his eggnog. “What are the chances the house is going to burn down before Christmas?”
“Hm,” I say and touch his cheek gently. “I think the odds are in Samson’s favor.”
26
WYLDER
“Of course these assholes are working out of a yacht,” Neo says with a roll of his eyes. He leans forward to get a better view of the upcoming marina, the Medieval helmet Cade gave him on his lap. I’m not certain it’s going to give him the best protection, but given I don’t intend on him actually getting anywhere near these fuckers, it’ll do.
Samson is driving our SUV, and Matthias, Cade, and Harley are in the one immediately behind us. We got the go-ahead message from Dante earlier in the day, so we’re locked and loaded. Each of us is stocked with weapons, our bodies covered in armor, our faces covered in black paint. We’re going in invisible.
With the help of Neo, we’ll be ghosts.
He sits back and pulls open his laptop, putting the helmet on his head and clacking away as we park under the cloak of darkness.
“I’ll be in their systems in a few minutes. And then you’ll be ready to go.”
Samson presses the radio, letting the other car know what’s going on.
“Righto,” Harley chirps back. “Over.”
“That kid is way too soft for his own good,” Samson grumbles. “He’s gonna get himself killed one day.”
“No, he won’t. Soft doesn’t mean less lethal. He’s just as dangerous as you. If anyone is going to get someone killed, it’s going to be you on an off day.”
Neo starts humming slightly, and I glance back at him. He looks ridiculous, all done up in body armor and that metal helmet. But it’s the only way I feel safe. It helps that the vehicles are also bulletproof.
And Neo won’t be stepping foot outside of it. It was the only way I would agree to let him accompany us.
We’ll be fine.
It has to be fine.
“I’m in,” Neo says triumphantly. “Looping the CCTV now. Then I’ll deactivate any alarms.”
Samson hops out and pops the trunk, strapping guns and ammunition onto himself. Everyone else does the same. Except me. Instead, I turn around and glance at Neo, taking him in. His blue hair is peeking out from the lip of the helmet, his body wiggling as he types, the scrunch of his brows as he focuses.
“You promise you’ll stay put?” I ask.
He blinks up at me before his eyes narrow. “Seriously? You interrupted my genius for that?”
That’s not an answer, and he knows it. I glare at him until he rolls his eyes and tells me what I need to hear. “I promise. Now go. Kill the bastards so I can go to bed. I’m tired.”
My lips curl up slightly, and I lean back through the front two seats to grab hold of his shirt. He gives a quick squeak as he catches his laptop from sliding off his lap, but it dissolves into a sigh as I take his mouth with mine.
After kissing him breathless, I reluctantly pull away. “Do not leave this car. Do not get yourself killed. I mean it. I will be very upset if you do.”
He knocks his knuckles on the metal helmet and rolls his eyes. “I’ll be fine. I have my very sturdy helmet.”
I chuckle and then step out of the SUV, moving to grab another pistol and a semi-automatic rifle. I want them easily accessible when we breach the dock and the yacht. I want to be able to set this entirething up on fire so I can go back to life without looking over my shoulder.
Or as much as I can, anyway. Being The Firm always comes with danger.
I just don’t want it to be the Umbra.
Hopefully it ends tonight.
My monster growls in approval. He’s been quiet lately, his urges and needs satiated by Neo.
