“Aw, crap. I liked this shirt.” He slips his finger into the hole. I roll my eyes. It’s a black T-shirt. The same kind he wears every day.
“I’ll buy you ten new ones when we get out of here.” I start walking up the lawn. The back of the property is situated on a set of rolling hills. The one we just climbed and the one in front of us that will lead to the back of the house.
“So, what’s the plan exactly?” Bull rests his rifle on his shoulder as we move forward. “Are we just going in there and shooting the place up?”
“No. Shit like that is how you get yourself killed.”
“I like a good ambush in the morning.” His voice is laced with amusement.
“Oh, it’ll be an ambush,” I promise. “We’re just going to make them come to us.”
The sound of barking echoes in the distance.
“Dogs.” Gun spit’s, lifting his rifle.
“No.” I grab the neck and yank it down as two pit bulls haul ass into view.
“Stevie,” Gun mutters my name, worried.
“Trust me, please.”
Seconds later, I’m knocked to the ground by the two stocky dogs.
“Puppies, puppies, puppies.” I pet them as they whine and lick my face. “Aww, I missed you, too.” I sit up, scratching their clipped ears. They look mean as hell, but they’re big babies.
I stand up and wipe the slobber off my face as Doom and Hades jump excitedly around us.
“Sit,” I command, and their butts hit the grass. “Let them smell you,” I tell Bull and Gun as I pull out a handful of M&Ms from my front pocket. I told you, this whole night was premeditated.
Bull instantly connects with the two dogs. Gun, not so much.
“Don’t you like dogs?” I ask.
“I’m more of a cat person.” He groans as he pats Dooms head lightly.
“Here.” I hand Bull and Gun some of the M&Ms. “Feed them. They’ll love you forever.”
They both do as instructed, and soon the two beasts are on their backs begging for belly rubs. Once we are all acquainted, I send the dogs away.
“Go to bed!” I order, and they take off for the house. They shouldn’t be a bother. Baz and I are totally getting a pit when this is all said and done. I miss my puppies.
“Okay, so now what, pit bull whisperer?” Gun asks.
“Now, you two find a perch in the trees.” I point to the cherry blossoms lining the side of the house. “I’m going to cause a distraction and draw everyone out.”
“How?” Gun questions.
“I’m going to set the alarm off. At five forty-five, the guards change shifts. It’s when the house is most vulnerable. Regina’s escape route is out the back of the house. There are getaway cars stashed behind the pool house.” I point to the little house in the distance. Well, it’s little compared to the main house. A family of four could live in it comfortably.
“And what do you want us to do?”
“Pick off the guards as they filter out. I’ll take care of Regina.”
“What if she runs?” Bull asks.
“She can run, but it won’t be faster than my bullet.”
“How many bodyguards do you think are in there?”
