29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter twenty-nine
Peter
I was making rounds at the lodge when a call came in from Lynette. An uneasy feeling washed over me. It wasn’t like her to call me.
“Is everything okay?”
“Jensen Maloy just dropped me and Dante off at the house.”
My eyes went wide. Why did the Don Supreme's interrogator drive her anywhere? “What? Why? Where’s Gage? Is Lianne okay?”
“I sent Gage back with Lianne, and I’m hoping he’s done being checked out by Doc. There was an attack and a fire at Sunny’s house. No one was hurt too badly, but her house is a complete loss.”
Holy shit.
I turned around and headed back toward the lodge, specifically wanting to go to the security office. “While I appreciate the update, is there any way I can help with this situation, ma’am?”
“I need you to check in with Edith. Nothing has popped up yet, but we’re still investigating. It’s noteworthy that Sunny’s house was in Vaux territory.”
My steps slowed as I processed what Lynette said. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Stay close to Edith while we sift through the wreckage of today. I’ll be in touch when I have more information.”
The call ended as I reached the back entrance to the lodge and let myself in. Worried and wanting more answers, I headed to the kitchen, hoping to find Edith there. She and Allen were busy cutting and prepping food for dinner when I walked in.
When she looked up and locked her eyes on me, they went wide. “What happened?”
I let out a tense breath. “Lynette called, and I think we need to take this conversation to your office.”
“I’ve got this, ma’am. I can hold down the fort while you take care of whatever Peter needs help with.”
Edith gave him a smile and a nod as she grabbed a towel to wipe off her hands. “Thank you.”
When we walked into her office, she shut the door behind me, locking it. “How bad is it?”
“I’m not entirely sure.” I relayed the short conversation Lynette and I had, and when I mentioned the name Vaux, Edith paled slightly, and I helped her to the chair before she fell down. “Edith, what’s wrong?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “All I’ll say for now is certain members of the Vaux family are the reason Hummingbird is where they are.”
What? “Are they hiding from them?”
Edith nodded.
“Why?”
“One of them tried to kill our bird.”
Oh shit.
I had so many questions. “Are you allowed to tell me anything else about this?”
She let out a deep sigh and shook her head. “I probably shouldn’t have mentioned what I did, but you needed to know, and I know you’ll keep it quiet.”
My mind raced with reasons why someone would hide someone from the Vaux family, but I didn’t have long to think about it, as my phone rang again. It was Lynette. I answered, immediately putting the call on speakerphone. “Do yo—”
“Are you with Edith?”
Edith leaned forward and answered for me. “I’m right here, Lynette. We’re in my office. How bad is it?”
“A flash drive was planted by an informant and discovered by Gage. The files found on it informed us that something is in the works with Hummingbird and the safe house.”
Edith’s eyes went wide. “Do we need to pull her out?”
Lynette let out a tense breath. “I think so… But we can’t do it right now.
It will confirm they are right, and we need to holdoff for at least a day to see if we can throw off their scent…
maybe buy us a bit of time.” There was a pause.
“Also, Lianne knows some now. I couldn’t not tell her after what came up on that flash drive.
All I told her was that I’m hiding and protecting someone using the project code name Hummingbird and that they are in a safe house of which the secrecy has been compromised. ”
I cleared my throat. “Are we going to tell Hummingbird?”
“Absolutely.” Lynette’s voice ran clear through the phone. “That’s my next call. Peter, I need you to keep a close eye on things until I say otherwise. Ryan is extremely talented, but he can only do so many things at once.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
Lynette ended the call, leaving Edith and I in stunned silence.
Hummingbird
Momma A:
My heart dropped into my stomach as I read the message.
No.
Now what?
I forced myself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly as I walked toward my security area and opened the cabinet holding the red phone that almost immediately started ringing.
“Hello?”
“Hummingbird, if it hasn’t happened already, I need you to move everything important to safety and stay there. The nest location has been compromised.”
Fuck. I instinctively looked at all the surveillance screens, scanning for anything amiss, and swallowed hard, willing my anxiety and panic to hold off before consuming me. “Immediately?”
“Yes. We haven’t figured out the timeline details yet, but something is coming.”
“What about Momma E, Tech, and Shield?”
“They know. Tech is doing his deep dive, looking for confirmation on the tip that came into today. Shield is keeping an eye on the nest.” There was a pause. “Stay safe, my dear. I’ll contact you again when I have an update to the plan.”
“What else could change?” My mind raced with all possible worst-case scenarios.
Lynette let out a deep sigh. “I might have to extract you.”
My knees gave out, and I dropped onto the futon. “What? Why? The bunker is a fortress. Is it really that bad?”
“It might be. Thus the need for you to move everything to where you’re taking this call.”
I glanced around the blast proof underground bunker under the cabin I’d called home for the past several years.“ Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m so sorry, my dear. I had hoped you could have had more time.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “Derek bought me time.”
She sighed. “He did, but it appears our extension ran out. Move what you need, but leave some things in the cabin so it doesn’t look abandoned, just vacant. Once you’re locked in, have a good cry. Lord knows I will.”
It was a small comfort knowing my chosen mother was as upset about this as I was. “Okay.”
“I’m so proud of you, my dear. I need you to know that.” Lynette’s voice cracked, immediately bringing tears to my eyes. “I’m doing everything in my power to keep you as safe as possible. What that looks like may change, but I will do whatever it takes.”
I nodded. “I know you will.”
The call ended, and I immediately shoved down all my feelings before running upstairs. Like Lynette said, I needed to pack myself up and go into full lockdown first. I could cry all I wanted later.
I ran into my old bedroom, pulled a duffle bag out of the closet, and packed up my most precious things, wrapping them in my lighter summer clothes.
There were a few books I didn't want to part with and several wooden figurines Derek had carved for me.
Once I'd taken that downstairs, I grabbed the heavy-duty plastic tote we used to transport supplies on the golf cart and brought it upstairs to use to transfer all the food and first aid supplies.
I repeated the process with the fridge stuff and then did one last walk-through.
I debated moving the two guns hidden in the living room and kitchen but decided to keep them where they were…
just in case. After making sure all the curtains were drawn, I stood in the middle of the living room and looked around one last time.
Will this be the last time I’m here?
Will I go to another safe house after this?
Will the third time be the charm?
Swallowing hard, I headed back to the bunker, shutting and securing the hidden doors before locking them.
Please let me make it out of this alive.