Vic’s eyes widened. “The Jacksons are already headed out. And Mrs. Cooper. They were in the hall—”
Alyssa shouldered forward. “I got them. I know what to do.”
Simon’s heart lurched at that. His brave woman pushing forward like the boldest army ranger. He had to stop himself from grabbing her back. But she was safer away from him, so he stepped aside.
“Vic, go with her. Guard her six.”
“No. It’s not me they want.” That was Alyssa, her voice hard and quiet. Then she looked at her brother and the two communicated something silently. It was quick and intense, and though Simon didn’t understand how it worked, he could see when Vic locked into her opinion.
“She’s right,” Vic said. “I’m your beta. My place is with you, guarding your six.”
Simon didn’t like it. Hell, everything in him rebelled at it. He wanted his mate safe, and he sure as hell didn’t fight with a team. But the military had drummed that particular idiocy out of him. They needed to end the mastermind behind this attack. And that would require stealth and coordination. Much easier done with a partner.
So he bowed to the logic of the situation, though he still hated it.
Worse, they were out of time. He could hear people upstairs coming out of their apartments.
“I’ve got this,” Alyssa said, and he nodded.
“Go fast and quiet. And be careful.”
“Roger that,” she said. Then she flashed a quick grin. “I’ve always wanted to say that.” Before he could manage to process her humor, she was slipping out and down the hallway. Which meant he had to focus on what he needed to do.
“Got any rope, Vic? Mountain-climbing equipment? Something?”
“Yeah, in my apartment.” Then Vic nodded his understanding. “You want up on the roof.”
“I need to see what’s going on.”
“This way.”
Vic led as they eased out of Alyssa’s place and up the stairs to the second floor. All of Simon’s senses had been attuned to where Alyssa went ahead, whispering to people on the stairs, and sending them toward her apartment. He wanted to protect her, but he needed to trust in her strength. She was calm and smart. She’d be fine so long as he kept Joey away from her.
But he had to find the bastard first, assuming this wasn’t just a random robbery. So he crept after Vic and tried to listen to the sounds coming out from the laundromat. Even in the stairwell, he could hear coins tumbling on the ground. Guess they’d broken at least one machine. Then a voice, muffled and faint from the distance.
“Hurry your asses up. I told you five minutes, no more.”
He knew that voice. It wasn’t Joey’s, as he expected, but someone else he’d talked to recently. One of the shifters.
Hell.He paused, wondering if he should burst in there and take the bastard out now, and then look for Joey. But there were too many unknowns. And a ton of people still in the building.
Best to stick to the plan.
He followed Vic up the stairs, stopping another three from running toward the front door. Whispered communication sent them scrambling for Alyssa’s bedroom window. And then they were upstairs in Vic’s quarters.
His place was surprisingly organized. Messy, for sure, but in controlled areas. That corner for papers and books. That corner for entertainment of all kinds.
“All the climbing gear is in the hall closet,” Vic said as he gestured. Simon was already there pulling out rope and equipment when he realized Vic was running water in the kitchen. Even though he knew the answer, Simon spun around and demanded an explanation.
“What are you doing?”
Vic put a full glass of tap to his lips, pausing long enough to say, “Gearing up.”
“Negative!” Simon snapped. “I don’t need you drugged up and smelling to high heaven. I need you thinking.”
Vic paused, but he didn’t put the glass down. “I’m a better fighter as a hybrid. Stronger. We don’t have a gun. We’ll have to fight hand to hand.”
Simon snorted. “Bullshit. You always have a gun. Where is it?”
