Page 34 of Jezebel’s Liberation (Hellfire Hackers #1)

D read pools in my stomach as I weave through traffic toward the new address. I wasn’t lying when I told Jez and Demon I didn’t like this turn of events. It feels like a trap, and it’s one I have no idea how to stop.

The ride takes less time than I predicted, but when I reach the abandoned restaurant, there are no vehicles or bikes in the weed-filled lot.

“What the fuck?” I mutter.

As I bring my bike to a screeching halt, I yank my phone out of my pocket and hit the speed dial for Jez’s burner. The endless ringing mocks me while I wait for her to answer.

“The number you’ve reached is not available. Please leave?—”

I disconnect the call and try Demon, but I get the same result.

“C’mon,” I say. “Answer your damn phones.”

I try each of them several more times, and each one is as unsuccessful as the last. Next, I call Diabla. When she doesn’t answer, I call Jinx, Loki, and Bela, all of whom also don’t pick up the fucking call.

I pull up the text we received earlier, the one with the new address, and work some hacker magic. It doesn’t take long for me to figure out that I’ve been had. Demon and Jez sent me on a fool’s errand in some misguided attempt to protect me.

I’ll kill ‘em. Right after I make sure they’re safe and kiss them breathless, I’ll kill ‘em.

For a brief moment, I consider calling Soul but decide against it. It might cost me the ability to earn my patch, but calling him will take precious time that I don’t have. I load the correct address into my GPS and take off out of the parking lot.

It takes me almost an hour to get to the original location, and when I spot Jez’s Charger and Demon’s Harley, I release a breath.

At least they’re here.

I just hope they’re still alive.

While I gather the weapons stashed in my saddlebags, I survey my surroundings. There are several cars parked along the side of the building, and I’m guessing those belong to Stewart and whoever else he invited to this little party.

As soon as I’m armed and have a gun in my hand, I make my way around to the back. When we were planning for this location, blueprints revealed two entrances: front and rear. The rear entrance opens into a hallway, and I’m hoping that it’ll allow me some element of surprise.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I whirl around at the familiar voice, lifting my Glock to point at Agent Bett’s face, but a sharp pain sears through my skull before I can squeeze the trigger.

“You’ll never get the best of me,” I hear him snarl as I fall to my knees.

I open my mouth to argue, but my vision blurs right before my world goes dark.