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“What did you just say?”

“I am going to break into Lana’s estate. What are you not getting?”

“What are you not getting? You can get killed by her highly trained guards, M!”

“No, but–” Hana slams her hand on her bike, and I’m startled by her sudden outburst. Her brows are furrowed, and her lips are pressed into a thin line. Oh shit, she is angry.

“Noa.” The use of my real name indicates that she is not fucking around. “You can’t go without our team. They will murder you.”

I wave my hand to dismiss her concern. “I won’t be killed. They are outmatched.”

“We can’t afford to lose you, asshole. I can’t afford to lose you.”

“Why are you so upset about this?” My question is genuine, I can’t grasp why my cousin is so upset. She walks towards me in angry strides and for a second, I think she is going to hit me. But then her arms wrap around my waist.

“I can’t lose the person I love the most in the world. My life has been a shit show, and you are the only one who has been a constant in my life.” Her plea for me not to end my life like this is concerning. And heartwarming at the same time. I didn’t believe that Hana cared about me this much. Or anyone for that matter.

I wrap my arms around her neck and shush her. “Hana, you are like my little sister, and trust me when I tell you that I won’t leave you.” I try to calm her down in the softest tone I can muster. She breaks away from my embrace and slaps me. Hard.

“I will be in your ear the entire time, and if I sense that shit is about to go sideways, I’m calling Sara,” she negotiates with me. Normally I would ignore the desperation in anybody’s voice because emotions fuck you up, but with Hana I can’t do that. In a way, I have raised her, and I would not forgive myself if anything happened to her.

“Fine. But you have to understand something, Hana,” I tell her as we both put on our helmets. “Lana ripped my heart out and bruised every sense of decency I had left in me. That shit can’t go unpunished.”

“I understand. But that doesn’t mean that I need to lose you because of your vendetta against her.”

***

Hana and I are sitting in my study, and I’m anxiously waiting for her to explain what she has found. Her fingers are flying over her keyboard as she is looking up what that patch of land means to Lana. She discovered there is technical activity on that estate, and a lot of it. My little h–Lana–did everything she could to conceal the fact that that house is up and running. Hana is trying to get into their network because through her search, she discovered there is a server that connects directly to their security system. Lana is hiding something on that estate, and my guess is personnel files. Why? Because I would do the same thing.

“I’m in their system!” Hana celebrates, and she can’t contain her satisfaction. Neither can I.

“Do they know that you are in their system?” She blinks at me, slow and unimpressed; one brow is lifted, and that alone explains to me how stupid my question sounds.

“No. They will know that something is wrong once I disable everything when you are there.” Sounds logical.

“What do you mean by disabling everything?” I ask her.

“Everything. Their security systems will be closed down, and they won’t be able to reach anyone. Lana will also not be able to check her cameras during that time.”

“You are the best.”

“I know,” Hana smiles at me, before it falters. “As discussed, Sara is on standby. Please be safe, Noa.”

“I will.” Lana won’t know what will bite her in the ass. The Devil will taint her association with religion. Me.

Chapter five

Noa

Idress for silence–everything fitted, controlled, nothing that slows me down or makes a sound. The jacket hides what matters, the gloves erase what I touch, and every step lands exactly where I intend. The machete rests against my back, steady and certain–same as me. And I feel even more secure with the gun that’s tucked away in my pants.

I am hiding behind the bushes that adorn the outer part of the estate. Hana also discovered that this villa isn’t just a random house; it’s Lana’s armory.

Halle-fucking-lujah.

The soft waves of the wind are the only thing keeping me grounded. My heart is racing a thousand miles per minute, and I know it sounds absurd, but that’s the situation I am in. I am about to break into the armory of my ex-girlfriend.

“Hana, I’m in position. How many guards are there?” I talk through my earpiece.