Page 46 of Lethal Vengeance

“Good. Failure is not tolerated. You already have one punishment awaiting you. Don’t make it worse,” he cautions me. He picks up his phone and opens an app.

Rage eclipses the nervousness. Unable to speak, I nod and look down at the notification on my phone. Payment made.

“Don’t worry. I know you will complete this job. And after my visitors leave, we’re going to celebrate with you as my honored guest. It’s time you met my top men and, of course, my family,” he divulges, unaware of the bomb he just dropped on me.

My intel said the twins were orphans. Where the hell did he get more family?

21

ZANE

“Listen up! Here’s the plan.” I turn the 3D building around until we’re facing the side door closest to the rear. “This is our entry and exit point. Once we’re in, Quinn will masquerade as one of the girls and make her way to Margot.”

“The two will slip out to the restroom, where they will change from the scrubs into guard uniforms. From there, they will take this route to the corner of the facility where Sterling will be waiting for them. Raider and Cruz will post themselves here and here to cut off any potential threats,” I instruct them, jabbing a finger at various areas of the building while I scan their faces to make sure everyone is on the same page. “It should take one hour. Max. If we can cut it shorter without jeopardizing the mission, let’s do so.”

Cruz and Quinn’s eyes meet, and something heated flashes between them. She licks her lips, almost like it’s involuntary, and my train of thought vanishes.

“Ahem,” Sterling murmurs next to me.

Scowling at the two of them, I finish the orders. “Right. Does everybody understand?”

Nods all around the table.

“Good. I’ll take point outside to cover everyone. Comms and trackers required. If something doesn’t go according to plan, I’ll hear it and be ready. We leave in two hours.”

Quinn strides over to her bag by the window, with Cruz following silently behind her. His hands slide around Quinn’s hips and pull her back against him. She inhales sharply and pushes further into him. My eyes are drawn to the lack of space between them, and my body pulses with the thought of it being me instead of him.

Where the hell did that thought come from?

“How long do you think that’s been going on?” I ask Sterling, who’s also watching the two of them.

“A few days,” he murmurs, a hint of longing in his voice. “Are we still planning to leave tomorrow?”

My shoulders drop. Rescuing people is what I do, but for the first time, I want to hand off the responsibility to someone else. “We need to take Margot home.”

Sterling’s eyes flick to Quinn. “I’ll go with you, but I’m not staying in Miami.”

My eyes dart around the room. Every single one of us has one eye on the woman in the corner. “Neither am I.”

* * *

“Movement ahead.”Sterling’s clipped voice comes in quietly over comms.

“Where’s Quinn?”

Murmuring in the background.

“Bloody hell,” Sterling cusses. “Let’s go. Z, on our way. Package of one. I repeat, package of one.”

Where is Quinn?

Looking through the scope at the rear door, I wait for them to appear. “Copy.” A few seconds later, two “guards” exit the door and head to the gate in the corner of the facility.

“Cruz, check in,” I command.

“All clear. Heading out now,” Cruz replies.

Through the scope, I see a shadow slip by the rear door and head toward the gate. Two down. Two to go.