“No, we’re headed to meet Vade. He’s got the tracking bracelet ready to go. We’re going to pick it up. I have to make sure the software works properly with my computer.”
“Hey Nick!”I hear my cupcake in the background and my heart constricts. She should be with me.
“Where are you? I need you to help Lucas lock Tito and Kaleb in the warehouse cellar. They won’t be there until five or after.” They promised me they would be there at four. Not surprising that punctuality means nothing to pieces of shit like that.
“Just pulling up to Diamond Aces. Vade left the tracker in his office. I need to be there when she goes in unless you’re going to run the surveillance details.”
“Fine, let me call Vade.” I hang the phone up and click Vade’s contact. This day is going to shit fast. I can’t do that, that’s not my specialty.
“Hello?”
“I need you to meet Lucas at the warehouse so I can be with Maya when she goes in.”
“I’m running the last of The Lucky Rabbit employment checks, I can finish them from my phone while I’m watching the exit, but I can’t focus on them and be at the warehouse too. She will be fine if you’re a few minutes late.”
I tense and grip the steering wheel hard. We had everything worked and now it’s going to shit. When things slow down, somebody is going to fucking teach me about technology.
When I don’t say anything, Vade speaks up again. “Have any of us ever let you down? We’ve got this, Nick. Nothing is going to happen to her. I can see the exit Lucas was going to cover and my own as well.”
“If a single hair on her head is damaged, I swear to all things holy and unholy this planet will burn with a fire so hot, it’ll make hell look like a vacation destination.” My blood pressure starts to rise to dangerous levels. I’m going to pound these bastards’ faces extra hard for this shit.
“Wiping out all life on Earth is not an effective way to end this mission,” Vade chuckles. “I never thought I’d see the day you fell in love.”
That makes two of us. “Don’t take your eyes off of her.”
I head to the warehouse, hoping they’re earlier than expected. Lucas is already waiting outside. Once inside, I reorient him to the layout and give him a rundown of the plan, which is pretty simple. Each take one down, jab a needle in their neck, and lock them up for later.
I’ve got my .45 on my side in case shit gets sideways. Lucas is always packing too. Since we’ve paused shipments for the moment, it’s just the two of us with no back up, but I don’t foresee needing any.
4:30 p.m. It’s almost time for Maya to head in, and with everything going on, I forgot to tell her I would be late. I shoot her a quick message:
I’m running a little behind. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Five-forty-fucking-five. My annoyance flares. Fifteen more minutes and I’m leaving. My phone rings, it’s Vade.
“Yeah.” I don’t have a good feeling about this. They better fucking show up.
“Have they pulled up yet?” he asks.
“Not yet. Is Maya ok?” Everything better be ok with my cupcake or they’re all going to learn what the seventh circle of hell feels like.
“She’s fine. There’s no record of employment anywhere within The Lucky Rabbit for Kaleb Cherry. I doublechecked to be sure. I also called the justice court, there’s no charges pending there either.”
“Is that so?” I grit my teeth. Kaleb has been playing a game. Son of a motherfucking bitch.
I crack my neck. That motherfucker is going to wish he was never born. Lawyers don’t typically need to call and verify the validity of charges. Everything in Kaleb’s casefile, right down to the police report, appeared legitimate.
Just as I pick up the phone to call judge Vernon, a blacked-out Escalade pulls in. I guess Tito has found a way to either clean up his act or he’s moving bricks, because that sure as hell isn’t Kaleb’s ride. The setting sun creates a glare on the windshield, preventing me from getting a look inside.
As the car parks, I glance over at Lucas, and he gives me a slight nod letting me know he’s ready for more. A movement behind me catches my eye. There’s a boat trolling in front of the dock, which normally isn’t unusual, but this one appears to be stalled.
Kaleb steps out of the passenger seat, more cleaned up than I have ever seen him. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle. The driver’s door opens, and none other than Logan Bradley steps out.
Fuck. This is a setup.
“Don’t kill them if you can help it. I need these motherfuckers alive for interrogation,” I order. Lucas knows Logan and probably figured out what’s going on, but my rage is taking over.
POW, POW, POW!
