Page 41 of Killer Confections

I toss the photo across the car’s top and he picks it up, his brows raising. “Not exactly my type...”

“Hope you like your women dead,” I smile. “This bitch dies tonight.”

He shrugs, “I can’t get behind necrophilia, but I’m sure she would look just fine gurgling on her own blood.”

“Let’s see if we can find out where her succubus lair is.” I throw my head toward the hotel’s doors, and he grabs his bag off the back seat before we walk to the hotel’s entrance.

I lift my phone, taking in Loxley’s curled-up form as she dozes off with her book slipping from her fingers. Fuck, that’s adorable. I kiss the screen. “Be good. I’ll see you soon, Short Stack.”

“You’re deranged.” Dom shakes his head, pushing in front of me as he greets the woman at the check-in desk.

I tuck my phone away, taking in the hotel’s lobby and subtly noting where the first-floor cameras are.

It isn’t shabby. It’s clean, the creme-colored floor sparkling under the low lights. There’s a sitting area with deep maroon chairs positioned in front of a roaring fireplace. The bar is empty, but a worker stands behind the counter, taking stock of what needs to be replenished. There’s the low hum of classical music over the speakers and I hear the distant ding of an elevator.

Three cameras in the lobby. One positioned near the front desk, one next to the bar, and another pointing down the corridor that leads to the elevators.

“Third floor,” Dom says, handing me one of the key cards. We head to the elevators, the silence stretching between us as he does his own evaluation.

We step out onto our floor before turning right and I spot another two cameras. Our door is three down, and Domscans his card before opening it.

“Fuck,” he slams his bag down after taking in the one king-sized bed.

I laugh loudly, “You gonna warm me, tonight?”

He curls his lip. “You touch me and I’m stabbing you.”

We get to work setting up our equipment and laying everything out on the bed. I load two of the pistols, shoving one into my waistband before handing the other to Dom.

He takes it before setting up the laptop Connor assigned for stakeouts. My phone rings, and I answer, putting it on speaker.

“Hey, guys!” Alana, another tech for the syndicate and Connor’s long-time girlfriend, shouts into the speaker.

“Hey, Al,” I greet. Dom calls out a quick ‘hey’ before returning to the laptop.

“I’ve already spoken to Thalia, but it looks like Ms. Jane isn’t at the hotel. I tracked her license plate to a bar near the business district. Do you want me to send a visual?”

Dom and I share a look. We told Thalia to focus on the hit while we took care of the Jane situation, but it seems my sister is having a hard time taking direct fucking orders. I mean, I don’t blame her, because I wouldn’t listen to me either. But this came straight from Rowan. He wanted her to lie low since the Calaway hit is high profile.

“Why did you tell Thalia?” I ask.

There’s a light hum from the other end of the call before I hear the sounds of keys tapping. “She told me to tell her where Jane was,” Alana responds, sounding distracted by whatever she’s doing.

“Fuck,” Dom’s shoulders drop as he shakes his head.

“Do you have Thalia’s location?” I ask, feeling the storm before it even breaks.

“Just sent it,” the tech responds, and my phone dings.

“Of course.” I turn the tracking beacon to my friend, letting him see just how close my sister is to Jane. “New plan,” I announce. “Get us Jane’s current location and we’ll handle thisnow.”

“Umm,” Alana types on her keyboard, the line silent until she finishes. “She’s leaving? I’m confused. She’s been there all day. Wait, Thalia is leaving too. She’s supposed to meet up with you guys…”

“Shit,” I curse. “Thalia has been compromised. How long until they reach the hotel?”

“Thirty-two minutes,” Alana says. “I’m sending the traffic camera feed to the laptop.”

Dom clicks open the file and we watch as Alana switches the cameras, following the two women as they traverse the city.