Page 161 of House of Payne

I search her face. “Are you sure?”

Katia nods.

I’m relieved to know I haven’t been duped, and that London wasn’t sent to blindside me.

It also makes everything worse.

It would’ve been easier if she was a rat. Then I could just write this whole thing off as a lapse in judgment and lick my wounds in silence.

I take out my Glock and examine it intently. “Is everything ready?”

“I’ve made it clear to the men that anyone who breathes a word of tonight will have to answer to me.”

The barest smile stretches out across my face. “Good.”

I can’t afford Mathew getting a whiff of what we’re about to do.

Executing a rescue against my family’s wishes will be hard enough without considering who I’m going up against.

The Everetts and Fitzpatricks need to know they can’t get away with this, consequences be damned.

The element of surprise is one of the few things I have going for me.

There’s too much on the line, but it’s also too late for me to back down.

I stroll out of the mansion, adopting a blank expression. I do a quick sweep of the floor, pausing to talk to a few clients. Somewhere in the shadows, I know Mathew is watching and waiting to swoop in if I step out of line. I make inane chit-chat as I do another turn, nodding to some of the women. When I’m sure Mathew has lost interest, I duck down one of the hallways and wait. A heartbeat later, Katia slithers into the shadows next to me and peers out. Slowly, we creep down the hallway.

Once we reach the back door, Katia whispers something into the phone, and Carlisle rounds the corner. He reaches into his pocket and presses a finger to his lips. Katia points her flashlight at the scanner nextto the door, and I roll my shoulders. After punching in a few numbers, the door hisses open, and a musty smell pours in. Katia goes first, and I follow, with Carlisle bringing up the rear.

The tunnel is damp and quiet, save for a quiet dripping somewhere deep inside.

I keep my eyes fixed ahead.

Katia blazes confidently ahead, taking a few more turns before we reach a ladder. She pulls it down and glances back at me before jumping up, her movements quick and lithe as she snakes her way to the top. She throws open the hatch and sticks her head out. A moment later, she looks down at us and nods.

My hands are sweaty as I grip the ladder and quiet my breathing.

At the top, Katia reaches out a hand, but I don’t take it.

I hoist myself out and pause to dust myself off.

Carlisle is the last to emerge, and he stops to slam the hatch, grimacing when it bangs loudly. I look up to see that Katia is already studying the alley we’re in, her eyes darting back and forth. She and Carlisle check behind the dumpsters and do a quick circle before returning to me.

A silver sedan waits by the curb.

A few storm clouds are gathering in the distance as I quicken my pace and ignore the buzzing in my pocket.

I throw myself into the backseat and ignore the warning signals going off in my head.

I’m coming, London. I know you’re probably going to hate me when this is all over, but at least you’ll be alive to do that.

Carlisle slides into the driver’s seat and revs the engine, the sound slicing through the stillness of the night air. Katia is the last to get in, turning to face me in the back.

Is she waiting for me to call this off?

I can tell she is, and I almost want to agree with her.

I don’t see this ending well, but it doesn’t matter.