Page 64 of Pretty When She Breaks

“Yes,” she said.

This plan was getting worse and worse. Now he had to worm his way into the Lucas pack’s circle?

“I’ll approach them. Frame it as a matter between us. You’ve made it a lot easier by placing Ocean under their care. I may even be able to make the trade with them directly. Laurel, do you know how much the alphas in the Ring are worth?”

She shook her head.

“So, we’ll have to get that information. Make sure we have enough money.”

What money was he talking about? Was he planning to pull it out of his ass?

“Where would that information be?” Finch asked.

“My father’s office,” she said. “On his computer. I don’t ever see any files in there.”

“It’s likely to be highly protected,” Finch said. “Kaos, come up with a few options of how to get those files. Anything else we can get as well. Once you’re ready, Laurel, you’ll go and place the equipment.”

“Me?” she asked, her face going pale.

Great. Another part of the plan with too many risks. And that would take valuable time.

“Yes. You are the least likely to draw suspicion,” Finchsaid. “In the meantime, we need to increase our surveillance and access to the security systems here. Kaos will work on plans for how to do that. Laurel has provided us with what she knows of the systems so far.”

I chewed on my cheek as I double-checked each suggestion he’d made and again came to the conclusion that it sucked.

It had been a while since I’d been so engaged, and I’d needed to be sure.

“Nope,” I said, causing everyone to look at me.

Panic attack, panic attack, duh duh duh—Laurel looked surprised, and Finch looked annoyed.

“No way. This plan is bullshit.”

Finch’s eyes narrowed as they met mine. I gritted my teeth, even as most of me wanted to shrink away.

“Hacking high-security computers?” I continued. “Getting hundreds of thousands of dollars? Tricking the Lucas pack? Nonono. No. We need to do a jailbreak. One night, security shut down, brute force, distraction. In and out.”

I was breathing heavily, gripping the counter. He needed to listen to me. There was no way he hadn’t considered that option.

“Laurel, leave us. Don’t try to eavesdrop,” Finch commanded.

Laurel huffed and stood, glaring at us before stalking to her workshop and slamming the door.

“You know why we can’t just break him out,” Finch said, his voice infuriatingly level.

“I do?” I asked, surprised. I sifted through my recent memories. “No, actually I don’t.”

“It would burn every bridge we have into this place,” Finch snapped. “It would ruin our chance to take them all down.”

Ruin our chance? I gaped at him for a moment.

“What thefuck?!” I shouted, and Finch flinched. “Who cares about taking them down? We need to get Ocean out!”

“We can haveboth,” he insisted. “Freeing Ocean and getting revenge. We have to deliver justice, because no one else will. Redeem our pack’s name.”

He looked up and met my eyes, and I was surprised to see he actually looked conflicted. His eyes, normally so cold and hard, were filled with pain, and he sighed, shoulders slumping.

This was maybe the most emotional conversation I’d ever had with him.