Page 74 of The Specialist

My grandmother’s warning came back to me.

This was my crossroads. I had to choose carefully. My plan to save Sofia had to be executed with absolute precision. Her life was in my hands. And without her, I had no life.

Damien’s hands were clenched into fists on the table. Marcus and Julian both stood, coming behind us, but not speaking. It was Matteo who spoke up.

“Get rid of the picture in your head, Egan. Both of you. You can’t let it mess with you. Sofia is alive. She is going to remain alive. We are going to make a plan, and you are going to get her back.”

“I have to figure this out,” I said between tight lips. “She is surrounded by explosives. The room is rigged. I saw the wiring on the floor. We go in, it kills her and us.”

“No,” Marcus said, standing with Matteo. “We’re going to outsmart him. You are going to help us learn fast. I was mirroring your device. I captured all the images for you to study.”

“Good. But I don’t know where she is,” I said, my fear overwhelming me. “I can’t help her if I can’t find her.”

My words spurred Damien into action. “I’m going to fucking find her tonight. And Matteo is right. She’s alive, and she’s going to stay alive. I refuse to let her die or anything bad happen to you.”

Julian came behind me, his voice low. “Have faith in us, Egan, the way we trusted you. We will not let you lose her.”

I shut my eyes, the tears gathered in them making it impossible for me to focus. Julian squeezed my shoulder, his tone sympathetic. “Tamp down your fear. Lock it away. We need your head clear. Sofia needs your head clear. She needs Egan, the Specialist. Not her lover. You have to remove your emotions for her.”

“How do I do that?”

Matteo clapped my other shoulder. “You draw on your hate for Ivan. Get mad, Egan. Hold on to it. Let it settle in your bones and your head and remember what you have to do. Above all else, remember that. We’re here for Sofia. Only she matters. We get her out, we kill Ivan and his cronies, and we all go to the island and fucking move on.”

His words sank in. I met Damien’s eyes. I saw his fear and worry. He saw mine. I huffed out a long breath and thought of Ivan. Of Sofia’s fear and the promise I made to her. I released my anger, letting it build. I felt the rage fill me, cresting over my fear.

“Let’s go. I need my woman back.”

* * *

An hour later, my phone buzzed again. I went into the parking lot with Marcus and Julian and allowed the metal door to lift. Alex drove a truck in, smirking as he got out of the cab.

I was surprised he’d come alone, but he knew if I killed him, Ivan would hurt Sofia.

“Who are you friends?” he asked.

“Let me introduce my crew,” I responded. “This is None-of-your-goddamn-business, and that’s Wipe-that-smile-off-your-face-before-I-shoot-you. They aren’t much for talking. They prefer to hit things I tell them I don’t like.” I paused. “They know I despise you.”

He glared at me, opening the back of his truck. “Here are your materials.”

Marcus and Julian moved the items carefully. None of it was explosive. I had all the really dangerous items already. As if I would trust Alex to even touch explosive material. I didn’t need any of it, but if it kept one asshole busy, I was good with it. HJ would supply the real material needed.

“What are the espresso beans for?” Alex asked.

I had added that to the list just to amuse myself. “So the bomb smells good when it blows.”

He frowned. “You are an asshole.”

I stepped into his space. “And if you are responsible for so much as a scratch on that woman you’ve kidnapped, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and make you suffer.” I squeezed his shoulder hard, making him flinch.

I also activated the invisible tracker on his hoodie.

“Now, fuck off.”

“Don’t try anything. She is rigged to blow,” he taunted me. “You think I’m an idiot, but I took out your water pipes and that stupid gallery. I will enjoy watching her die if you cross Ivan.”

I turned my head, counting to ten. It didn’t work. In a move he didn’t expect, I drew my fist back and hit him in the nose. Just like Ivan. The crunching of his bones was satisfying. His howl of pain was music to my ears.

“Get out. I don’t want to see you again.”