Page 87 of Our Tricks

“Fine,” I cut in. “If that’s the call you want to make, then how exactly are we going to make that happen?”

“I’ve already planned ahead for that,” Corbin answered. “We just need to sit tight until nightfall, then join your team that’s going to attack tonight anyway.”

“So did you plan on hanging out in the back of the cargo plane, or did you have someplace sorted for us to stay as well?” Cam asked, crossing his arms, looking unimpressed.

“Look, I get you guys are pissed that I went behind your back, but you have to understand this mission can’t fail. As for where we’re going to stay, there’s a hostel nearby I reserved for us,” Corbin explained.

Grabbing my pack full of supplies, I shouldered it and gestured for Corbin to go ahead. “Lead the way.”

Really, Corbin was making this so much easier for us, but I wasn’t going to let on. As the rest of his team followed after him, I spotted Magnus talking to Billy and knew he’d settle things. The hostel wasn’t all that far from the airport, and I suppose he planned that since he wanted to have quick access to move fast tonight.

Too bad so sad he was never going to get the chance.

Our plan had been to nap, eat, and recharge in any way we could, knowing it would be a long and bloody night. Gator had called, and Eagle filled him in on the changes, and like the others, they were more than capable of making shit happen tonight. In fact, he went as far as to say he was glad they didn’t have the downtime to get people nervous. I had to agree with him on that—one reason I was so impulsive, I suppose. You don’t get as nervous if you don’t second-guess and just do.

When dinner time rolled around, we all gathered in the dining area where our hostess was serving large platters of amazing-smelling Mexican food. I dug in and stuffed my face knowing we didn’t have much time. Jaxson walked out of the kitchen with a huge pitcher of agua fresca and filled everyone’s glasses. The fruit-flavored drink was the perfect mask for the sleeping drug that Jaxson had spiked it with. We’d planned to do it with some sort of toast, but damn, Corbin was making this too fucking easy.

One thing you should always keep in mind is that when you’re working with criminals, we do criminal acts.

Just as Jaxson promised, these assholes were passed out cold in the enchiladas not five minutes later. Magnus had paid the hostess off and told her she didn’t have to do anything but make sure she didn’t take in anyone else for the night. She didn’t even have to move the guys. They could stay right there at the table for all we cared. Gathering our things, we headed out, knowing that Billy would be ready for us when we got there.

As we planned our own Marco takedown, we’d found an airstrip that was probably used by other criminals to smuggle drugs in or out of the state or country, for that matter. The trouble was finding one big enough a cargo plane could land on. That was no longer a concern since we were moving to plan B of Destroy Marco Tesoro. With this plan, Billy didn’t even have to land, and I’d secretly been hoping we’d have to do this plan. It was one that I’d come up with, but at this point in the game, I don’t think it mattered who called the plays.

“Alright, let’s arm up,” Sprocket called out once we were in the air. The flight would be roughly forty-five minutes, and we had a lot to fucking do.

Yanking the tarps off all the crates we’d kept secret from Corbin, we cracked open the lids to reveal all the weapons we’d requested. There were also other things like bulletproof vests, black face paint, and stocking caps to cover our hair. Part of the plan was for Marco not to know who exactly was attacking them. Before getting lost in the battle preparation, I pulled out my phone and sent the signal to all three team leaders.

Dax: Light his ass up!

As we geared up, Marco was getting hit in three valuable places, which I hoped had him peeing himself. Even just a little would make me happy.

Already wearing tight black pants and a skin-tight long-sleeve black shirt, I slipped the bulletproof vest over my head. These were new on the market, were super thin, and left you fully mobile while still being able to stop a bullet and keep you alive. Then I strapped on my thigh holster that held one of my 9mm semi-automatics and two of my knives specially made just for that purpose. Then I put on a utility belt with a pouch and added extra ammo. I added the extra knife on my hip then added a smoke bomb, two grenades, and a stun grenade on the other side. The last piece I slipped on was my shoulder holster, where I fit the other two 9mm guns.

Not taking any chances that my hair would give me away, I made sure to black out any skin that could be seen in the gaps of the ski mask. Everyone else was just doing the black face paint and the beanies. Tugging on a leather jacket to cover all my weapons, I was finally ready.

Void and Picasso were over at the tank loading up the ammunition from the crates. This tank didn’t have an autoloader, so Void would have to do that part himself. But he also got to be in charge of the machine gun, so he was as happy as a motherfucking clam. Looking at the thing, my heart pounded in my chest, hoping to God that what we did a whole week ago was going to be enough to make this work.

Harper came to stand next to me, looking at it the same way I was. “You know, if you told me three months ago that I’d be going into battle with you operating a tank, I would have checked you into a mental hospital.”

“If someone told me that you’d be standing next to me right now, engaged to three assassins, and ready to take on one of the biggest Mexican drug lords, I’d say fuck yeah,” I teased, grinning at her. “Guess that’s a little fucked-up, huh?”

“Babe, what are best friends for if they won’t go into battle with you?” Harper countered. “I always said that you would keep my life interesting.”

That made me laugh. “You know Wes tells me that all the time too.”

“Neither of us has been wrong about that, have we, shortcake?” Wes commented as he stood on my other side. “It started as the three of us, so it only seems fitting we should face everything life has to throw at us together. Took Harper longer to get on board, but hey, the gang is all here.”

Rolling my eyes, I elbowed him in the side. “Now you have to go and make it all sappy and shit, completely ruining the moment. Besides, it’s the twelve of us now,” I reminded him.

“Yeah,” Wes drawled. “One big happy criminal family, waging war together in our free time.”

“Sounds like my kind of family,” Cam commented. “Think I can be a part of it?”

We all turned to look at him, and I burst out laughing. Someone had taken it upon themselves to send a hat that looked like a knight’s helmet. It had the whole face shield thing made out of sweatshirt fabric.

“You really are the black knight now.” I giggled.

“Seems only fitting for this adventure, don’t you think?” Cam grinned.