“No,” I butt in. “This doesn’t change anything. We still need to get her out as quickly and quietly as possible. There are too many of them, and we have to get back with Elizabeth unharmed.” I grit my teeth, hating the need to wait, but I need to keep my promise and come home in one piece. Patience isn’t something I’m used to, but it’s about time I start practicing. “Avery’s time will come, but it’s not now.”
The car falls into charged silence, allowing the anticipation to creep in. We’re going in mildly unprepared, with little to no room for mistakes, and have a four-year-old’s life to protect. There’s no way to know if she will come with us willingly, and I’m sure she’ll be scared out of her mind. It’s not like we could warn them, since it’s obvious they know of the cell phones they use to stay in contact. We couldn’t have the Society or anyone else in that house learning of our plan, and the uncertainty will be our downfall if there is one.
We pull the SUV off the road and into the forest, swaying side to side as Danielle drives it through the terrain. She mapped this out herself, so I’m assuming it’s safe enough to tread. If anything happens to this car, we’re fucked. It’s as plain and simple as that. Since this is unfamiliar territory and the airport is over twenty miles away, the getaway vehicle is essential. Surely my cousin didn’t fuck that up.
This rocky ride makes me question that, though. The undercarriage clinks and bangs, only increasing my worry. One of the tires bounces back harshly after we run over what I’m assuming is a gaping hole, and even Alex lets out a breath of relief when we keep going. Once faint lights from the mansion glimmer through the trees, she stops the car and parks, and we all get out so quickly that we practically pile up on one another.
“You guys are so dramatic!” she whisper-yells and hops out of the driver’s seat, immediately pointing towards the house. “Elizabeth’s window is on the third floor, fourth from the left.There’s no balcony or ledge to hold on to, but the window should be big enough for you all to climb in and out.”
“How long is the rotation inside, again?” Zeke asks her.
“About ten minutes, but the outside is only five. Which is why I have this…” She steps around to the back of the car and lifts the hatch before we can step up beside her. A large case lies across the entire trunk space, looking almost exactly like our other sniper rifles.
“You’re going to kill one of them?” Alex’s tone is surprised, and I can’t say that I feel much different. I’m not sure Dani has ever killed anyone, and I don’t want today to be the first. The overprotective urge I tend to get with my family comes barreling in, but she stifles it with a shake of her head.
“Not kill, tranquilize. It’s quieter, and as long as I hit him at the right time, it’ll give you guys a few more minutes.”
“Are you sure you can hit him?” I ask her cautiously, because I’ve never taught her to shoot a pistol, much less a rifle.
“Please.” Her eyes roll. “You boys aren’t the only ones that get to have fun with all the toys.” She winks at me, trying to play it cool, but I cross my arms and stare down at her, because I know she’s full of shit.
“Danielle.”
“Damien?”
“Who taught you how to shoot that thing?”
Her gaze is completely unmoving now. She doesn’t even blink. Her mind is jumping from one idea to the next, trying to come up with something to say.
“Uncle John,” she lies, and my eyebrow immediately lifts.
“Myfather taughtyou, one of his nieces, how to shoot a tranquilizer rifle?”
It’s dead silent again. Her eye twitches ever so slightly before she groans.
“Okay! Alright, fine. He taught Zander, then Zander taught Kelsey, and Kelsey taught me, okay? Just let it go, D.” She huffs and pulls a harness out of the trunk, then slips it over top of the harness I already have on. “This is just like a baby carrier, but it’s strong enough to hold her. She’s a small little girl. So, just make sure you tighten it enough before climbing back out of the window, okay?”
“Don’t let a kid fall three stories to her death. Yeah, I got it.” I give it a good tug to test its hold.
All I can think about is holding my own little girl in something like this—or better yet, in my arms. Elizabeth is Victoria’s little girl. We need to do whatever it takes to get her out and back to her mom, because that’s exactly what Victoria is to her. She doesn’t have to keep justifying their relationship. I’ve noticed how every time the wordsisterleaves her mouth, it hurts her a little more. That shit stops tonight, and I never want to hear it from her mouth again.
Dani pulls the rifle out of the back and throws the strap over her shoulder like she’s done this a hundred times. It makes me realize how much has changed. I’ve always been so careful about what my family does in this organization that I never thought to consider what theycoulddo. Dani’s proving that it’s about time I start thinking differently.
“You guys are going to go about twenty yards that way.” She points to the North-East, diverting from the conversation that we’ll inevitably have later. “I’m going this way.” Then she gestures to the North-West. “Once Carter signals you, it’s about thirty yards from the tree line to the house. So, you’ll have to be quick.”
“Don’t worry about us, Dani,” Zeke interjects. “You just shoot that mother fucker and then get back to the car, alright?” He ruffles her hair and lightly pushes her shoulder, gesturing in the right direction before I have a chance to argue. “She’ll be alright,D.” He pushes me onward as well, but I manage to catch her face in time to see her wink at me. I nod back at her and give her a sincere grin as pride and worry battle in my chest.
Carter gets back into the SUV, and Zeke and Alex flank my sides, practically shielding me from the woods as we move. It makes my nerves spike. The last time I was in a place like this, it was forthem. I was in so much pain, and I could barely stand upright from the drugs. It’s different now. I’m healed and in control. I need to grasp that reality and hold onto it.
We stand just inside the tree line, waiting for the go-ahead from Carter. The outside is decently lit, and the light inside Elizabeth’s room is on as well, giving me a target to focus on.
“Remember, we’re going in stealthily. We won’t have long before they realize something is up, and wehaveto get her out of here. There’s no telling what she’s already witnessed. Let’s not traumatize her any more.” I bounce on the balls of my feet, centering this anxiety.
“Get the girl, get back to the plane, and get home. Easy.” Zeke shrugs, despite his already-clammy forehead, and Alex nods, seemingly agreeing—although, the opening and closing of his fists tells me he’s just as nervous about this as we are. My eyes lock onto the target window, and I focus on the pounding of my heart. Each wallop marks us one second closer to starting, and then the thumping stops the moment my earpiece crackles to life.
“Go. Go, now,” Carter relays, and we push off, sprinting onto the property in a race. It’s easy enough to navigate, and the yard around the home is well maintained, making our path clear. My stomach drops when I see one of the security officers round the corner of the large building, but in an instant, he’s thrown to the side and into the wall, falling down and out of sight.
“Got him. Headed back to the SUV,” Dani’s voice comes through the coms. A small relief washes over me, boosting mymomentum. We reach the wall in what both feels like a matter of seconds and hours, and we don’t waste a moment to move forward, knowing we have less than ten minutes until indoor security walks in to check on Elizabeth.
